#NetGalley Book Review: Patience for Christmas: A Holiday Novella

This is an entertaining historical Christmas novella by an author I really like.
Patience for Christmas: A Holiday Novella
by Grace Burrowes

File Size: 440 KB
Print Length: 113 pages
Publisher: Forever Yours (December 18, 2018)
ASIN: B07CRJ2QVP
Genre: Historical Romance, Holiday, Regency
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

A friendly holiday competition turns steamy in this Regency romance novella from the New York Times bestselling author of My One and Only Duke.
Previously published in Virtues of Christmas.
Advice columnist Patience Friendly's relationship with her stubborn, overbearing publisher, Dougal MacHugh, is anything but cordial. Dougal challenges Patience to take on a rival columnist in a holiday advice-a-thon, and sparks fly clear up to the mistletoe hanging from every rafter. Will Patience follow the practical guidance of her head or the passionate advice of her heart?

Review:
Patience is a determined young woman supporting herself by writing an advise column. A past betrayal by a young man has left her cautious of men and a natural champion for women. Patience’s columns have been getting a rival opinion from Professor Pennypacker.

Her publisher, Scottish, stubborn and overbearing Dougal MacHugh, challenges Patience to take on twelve days of advice against her rival. It would mean extra income for the publisher and the Patience too, even if it will cut into other activities.

Dougal sets out to work side by side with Patience to help choose the letters and get the columns completed. They banter with their opinions growing closer and closer while spending long hours working together. But Dougal has a secret that could cause a major backfire.

I totally enjoyed these feisty characters and the love that blossomed between them. The secret (easily guessed) is revealed to the reader long before it is inevitably revealed to Patience. The tension builds as the passion develops between the couple and we wait to see how Patience will respond to Dougal’s secret.

I enjoy Ms. Burrowes' writing style and this novella didn’t disappoint as I was thoroughly entertained. I recommend this as a quick, delightful Christmas romance. I recommend this author to readers who enjoy good historical romance with some heat but not too steamy.

Source: NetGalley 2018. This qualifies for 2018 NetGalley Challenge.

Audible Book Review: The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn

This is full of interesting history tidbits about Santa and other Christmas traditions.

The Autobiography of Santa Claus
By: Jeff Guinn
Narrated by: John H. Mayer

Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 12-10-04
Language: English
Publisher: Listen & Live Audio, Inc.
Genre: Biographical, Folklore, Memoir
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Narration

Publisher's Summary
Jump on Santa's sleigh for a journey through 17 centuries of Christmas magic!
This enchanting holiday treasure combines historical fact with glorious legend as Saint Nicholas himself reveals the definitive story of Santa Claus. From his birth in Lycia to meeting Mrs. Claus and all of his helpers, Santa relates the tale of how he spread his message of generosity and the goodness of giving across the world.
Families will delight in every entertaining chapter of this holiday classic, one for each cold December night leading up to Christmas!
©2004 Jeff Guinn (P)2004 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Review:
This interesting work begins with Santa choosing to share his own biography to a journalist who doesn’t quite have all the facts. He tells of his birth in Lycia in 280 A.D. and shares how his Christian faith and the baby Jesus influenced him to share his wealth with others. After years the legend of Saint Nicholas was developed around his gift giving to others in his home town.

He shares how magic became part of his story as he picked up friends along his travels and how he was given different names around the world. He also shares how many of the Christmas traditions, such as stockings, trees, yule logs and much more, began.

I was fascinated and delighted by his helpful friends who include Felix, Layla, Attila the Hun, Arthur of Britain and even Leonardo Da Vinci! I was even more interested in the history, for example, learning that Christmas celebrations were banned by American pilgrims, but fortunately celebrated in the Dutch communities.

I didn’t realize until I looked at the Table of Contents on the Kindle ‘look inside’ feature that the chapters are set out so they can be read one a night for the first 24 days of December. That is a good idea and I think would make the reading or listening more enjoyable than forging through it as I did. I recommend this to families to read and share with their children during December. The story is filled with the philosophy that "it is better to give than receive."  It would be a great way to encourage finding ways to share with others instead of focusing only on the anticipation of receiving gifts.

Audio Notes: John H. Mayer’s deep voice fits the work and Santa’s personality. He captures other voices appropriately too. The listening is engaging and fun.

Source: Audible 12/24/17 Daily Deal Purchase $2.95. This qualifies for 2018TBR and Audiobook Challenge.

Audio Book Review: 'Tis the Season (Main Street #3) by Ann M. Martin

This is a sweet Middle Grade story and an easy listen.
'Tis the Season (Main Street #3)
by Ann M. Martin
Read by Ariadne Meyers

Audio CD, 4 CDs, Unabridged
Published November 1st 2007 by Scholastic, Inc.
ISBN 0545025354 (ISBN13: 9780545025355)
Genre: Family Life, Holiday, Middle Grade, Tween
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0, Overall, Story and Narration

An unforgettable holiday story in Ann M. Martin's timeless new series

It's looking to be a hard holiday season for the girls of Main Street. For Flora and Ruby, it's the first Christmas without their parents around. For Olivia, gift giving and tree decorating must be balanced with the fact that both of her parents need jobs. And for Nikki, there's the presence of her mean, angry father to reckon with. Luckily, the girls have each other--and the community around them. As Camden Falls prepares for its annual festivities, Flora, Ruby, Olivia, and Nikki all find that the hard things become easier when there are family, friends, and neighbors to share things with.

Review:
Flora (10-11 years old) and Ruby (8-9 years old) have lost their parents and have moved to Camden Falls to live with their grandmother, Min. The girls have made new friends, especially Olivia who lives next door and Nikki. Flora and Ruby love helping and doing crafts at Min’s store Needle and Thread. This is the first year the girls will spend Christmas in Camden Falls and now they are learning to accept the joy of the season with the help of their friends and the love of close neighbors.

Olivia’s parents are struggling financially, and she is worried her parents will have to move out of town to start a new business. Nikki has always had to cope with an abusive father but this year he is leaving home for work elsewhere. The family waits to see if he will send any money home to help or if he will come back with his anger.
This is a middle grade story which is warm and easy to read. It shares problems that young girls might experience and shows how friends can help as well as a small, close community. The story addresses some adult issues like loss and grief, abuse and alcoholism. It also shares in a very touching way how others can be Santa’s helpers. This read fine as a standalone although I imagine starting at the beginning of the series would be good for the intended audience. I recommend this to tweens and their parents.

Audio Notes: Ariadne Meyers does a really nice job with the narration. She provides different voices for the characters and is able to portray the emotions of the children and the older characters. I enjoyed the listening experience.

Source: Purchased used at Library Book Sale. This qualifies for 2018 TBR and Audiobook Challenge.

Merry Christmas 2018

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

There are so many wonderful Christmas songs but this one popped out at me.

We have had a year of challenges that have only made us stand firm in our faith.
This is a time to stop and remember the most important things I need to share.
I am praying that my family and friends Remember that Jesus is the Reason for Season and have a VERY BLESSED CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Eve 2018 - O Come, O Come Emmanuel

REJOICE!