Book Review: A Bramble House Christmas

I think I was searching another Christmas book when I stumbled upon C. J. Carmichael's A Bramble House Christmas. This was not inspirational, but still delivered a cozy Christmas read. I thought this was going to be a clean read, but just before the end, in typical modern day fashion, the romance characters end up in bed before marriage (and that with a child in a nearby room - seriously?). The story held my interest.

Finn Conrad uses his pen name to book a room in the same hotel in Marietta, Montana, where nurse Willa Fairchild is spending the holiday with her young son, Scout. Finn is hoping to learn why his deceased father left a large portion of money to this nurse who provided care for less than two months. Is she a scam artist and what secrets is she hiding about her six-year-old son? As Finn investigates, he comes to know Willa and Scout and discerns the reason his father left Willa the money and a treasured heirloom ring. That ring holds mystery, as well.

The characters are believable. The romance is leisurely. Heartstrings are tugged. This could have easily been a clean romance. I did enjoy the story; it just saddens me that the foregone conclusion is that flirtation and chemistry will lead to premarital passions. Thankfully, descriptions were not graphic and amounted to a small intrusion in a touching tale. There is also a 2017 movie on the Hallmark channel. Click here to watch the trailer.

📒 Content caution

Merry Christmas 2025

Once again, life felt too depressing to send annual Christmas cards to friends. Besides, once I stopped sending cards, I realized that everyone else has abandoned the habit, as well. I think I received 5 or 6 cards last year. Written correspondence, though rare, is important! This make me sad!

In the final third of the year, we have settled into our empty nest reality. Things are quiet here. Thankfully, Sean is close enough that he sometimes returns home for a weekend (or week if he can snag it). We are also grateful that he knows other students returning home, enabling him to get a ride. Even so, we have made countless trips back and forth to the West Lafayette/Lafayette area, since both our younger sons are living there.

In August, Sean and Claire attended a Purdue game:

In September, Bryce and Elizabeth came to Purdue. Bryce was recruiting for his company and they took Sean to a game. We met up for lunch and the boys posed for me, squinting in the sun:

In October, Trev snapped a shot of his progress in the gym. He's been dedicated to sculpting his body and keeps very strict schedules and diets. He's hoping to one day compete.

In November, Bryce and Elizabeth returned to Indy to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. I'm sad I failed to get any photos of us all together. We also hosted my husband's older brother Rick and were so glad he could be with us instead of being alone on a holiday. He is missing his dogs, so he cuddled up with our Toby. Plus, he enjoyed watching his nephews play Rock Band together (something that makes my heart sing, as well).

At the end of November/early December, Bryce and Elizabeth bought a house. He sent me a video tour after they moved in. Praying they will be happy and blessed in their new home.

I was slow to put up our decorations this year. Indeed, I thought about only putting a small tree up in the living room, but Trevor begged to have the larger tree on the porch (he even offered to come help set it up for me, but I relented and put it up December 7th - late for me). I don't have the decorative touch many possess, but my boys love these decorations.

May you and yours have a blessed Christmas Day! And may God walk with you through every trial and triumph of 2026!

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Apologies! I am battling a new frustrating development in Blogger. G00gle is now adding links into blog posts unrequested. I am not proficient in the html script. I find it very difficult to know how to go in and remove their links without messing up the code so that everything reads as I desire. This is wrong! They have no right inserting themselves and their decisions into my writing. It is almost enough to make me abandon this blog altogether. At this point, I am altering my writing in hopes of avoiding words that trigger these intrusive links. Please bear with me as I figure this out.

Book Review: A Carol for Mrs. Dickens

Rebecca Connolly's A Carol for Mrs. Dickens provides a female protagonist for an additional consideration of Charles Dickens' famous novel, A Christmas Carol. This was an enjoyable, faith-filled jaunt into Victorian times featuring the Dickens family. It reflects several true historical aspects of this well-known family. In 1851, Catherine published a cookbook under a pen name. She and Charles also lost their 7-month-old daughter, Dora, in that year and Catherine struggled with this death. Charles often read from his own carol or from his family book, The Life of Our Lord, when celebrating the holidays. 

Historical details render a very human, conflicted image of this author (once my favorite author). On the one hand, he seemed determined to raise his children with an awareness of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, rumors say he was unfaithful to his wife. We cannot know if those rumors were true. Yet, he separated from Catherine in 1858, creating some division with other authors, including Thackeray and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. He even ignored her death with some sort of comment about where there once was writing, it was then blank. Poor Catherine! It must have been hard to be a spouse to a charismatic man much esteemed in the public eye.

Connolly's carol focuses on Catherine in her despair after losing her daughter. Catherine seeks a renewed vision of the true meaning of Christmas, not the one painted in her husband's well-received Christmas Carol. Through a series of three trips to forgotten memories, she finds her Christmas joy restored. These visions emphasize her husband's generosity and the joy of childhood wonder, the joy of new love relationships (especially hers with the younger Charles), and the joy of giving to those in need. Catherine grows and changes throughout the telling, as she leads the reader to prize the holiday and the various joys of the season.

Book Review: Heaven and Nature Sing - Highly Recommend

Heaven and Nature Sing: 25 Advent Reflections to Bring Joy to the World, by Hannah Anderson, is a book I wanted to place on my Christmas list. The writing is beautiful, and the insights fresh and deep. I wish I had read this earlier in the year so I could recommend it in time for Advent use. Since I listened to this in audio form, I struggled with two prevailing desires. I wanted to savor the words and take notes from the reflections. Plus, I hungered to see the illustrations provided by Hannah's husband Nathan. I'm so grateful someone recommended it in The Rabbit Room Chinwag group on Facebook and also grateful to find it available in audio form through Hoopla. Still, I think this is a book better consumed in hard form, and I would love to own a copy.

Heaven and Nature Sing contemplates various natural aspects of the Christmas story, exploring minor details like snowflakes, snakes, and swaddling clothes. It looks at Christ's birth through a new lens. It certainly earned its selection as an ECPA Christian Nonfiction Bestseller for Christmas 2023. I wish I had known about it in 2022, when first published.

Several points stood out. When feeling common and even sometimes worthless, we must remember that we have been sanctified and made holy by the Holy One. "When you feel common, remember that the holiness of God never runs out and His grace is as limitless as He is." I loved the Day 5 reflection on silence. Considering the silence between the Old and New Testaments, and the silence of Zachariah from his doubt (after years of pleading with God), was a great reminder for times when we feel we cannot hear God or He cannot hear us. She writes, "Our inability to hear God's words is no measure of His ability to hear ours."

Discussing family land, she remarks that inheritance is more about stewardship than about possession. She talks about our "kinsman redeemer," who takes responsibility for His offspring and calls us His own. How important it is to give our children a sense of the habits of faith! We long for peace in this chaotic world. She notes that in tolerance, we often ignore wrongdoing in order to avoid conflict. But, "the peace of God does not acquiesce." The habits and traditions of Advent rehearse the truth that, with heaven and nature, we sing, looking to the One who will crush the deceiver.

This is perhaps one of my favorite Advent books. I have been mentioning it to others. I also think this would make an excellent selection for a Christian book club in November or December. So much to contemplate and discuss. The thoughts are enlightening, personal, and universal.

Book Review: Christmas With a Crank

Before I was one-third into this Christmas book, I recommended it to others. In part, because I like anything Courtney Walsh writes. But also, I was sure it would appeal to a group member in my Bible Study Fellowship group. Her family runs a tree farm, just like the setup in this book. Not only will she enjoy the story, she might even implement some of the marketing genius cooked up in Christmas With a Crank.

When Olive and Liam were twelve, they were next-door neighbors. They even shared a first kiss in a tree house. But their lives have veered away from that storybook beginning. Liam's family moved to live on the tree farm they run. Olive dated his friend, Travis. Now, almost two decades later, Liam's parents are looking to sell the farm. They hire Olive to run a final extravaganza to go out with a bang.

The problem? Liam is grumpy. What a Scrooge! Why can't he see the value of his family's beautiful property and business? He lives in Indianapolis, where he works for a gaming company. He assures Olive he is only back for the holiday and does not intend to stay. But the chemistry flares up again. Can Olive remind Liam of the olden days enough to lure him back again? Can she turn his frown upside down?

You can always count on a clean and delightful reading adventure with Courtney Walsh. Her books present flawed individuals seeking solutions to their problems and soulmates for their hearts. Olive and Liam are relatable and endearing. The hubbub of Christmas unfolds with magic and mystery. She doesn't tie up everything with a glittery bow, but the ending is happy and hopeful. Thanks, Courtney, for another holiday romance worth reading.

Book Review: A Cross-Country Christmas

A Cross-Country Christmas is a sweet holiday romance. Courtney Walsh creates believable characters with conflicted pasts. It was easy to put myself in the main character's shoes because many of her hang-ups felt familiar. I especially related to her efforts to safeguard her heart by only approaching men she'd never consider. Years of unrequited interest led to self-protection mode. So if you're in the mood for a forced proximity, love-hate-love progression, give this seasonal tale a try.

Lauren Richmond rarely goes home for the holidays. Her family of origin doesn't inspire warm fuzzies. When her brother, Spencer, begs her to come home for the birth of his first child, she cannot avoid accepting a ride home with Spencer's best friend, Will Sinclair. This is the same Will Sinclair she pined for endlessly until he broke her heart in college. Or is he the same Will Sinclair? For some reason, Will keeps drawing out the trip, and Lauren can't decide if he deserves a second chance or not.

I expect marvelous stories from Courtney Walsh. This book is well-written and expertly paced. Even though it is a romance, and the reader can bank on a happy ending, Lauren keeps you guessing which way she'll land. I noted, too, that the book has garnered over 23,000 ratings on Goodreads. Now, that's a popular Christmas story. Although I'm eager to read the sequel, A Cross-Country Wedding, I think I'll jump first to her other holiday tale, Christmas With a Crank, before the holidays evaporate. I'd say I'm having more luck than usual in finding worthwhile Christmas stories.

Book Review: Christmas by Accident

Christmas by Accident, by Camron Wright, is a sweet holiday tale full of typical tropes. Enter a girl who loves Christmas and a guy who hates Christmas. They meet and fall in love. An obstacle develops. Yes, an accident happens (two actually). By virtue of these accidents, their lives are transformed.

I've been contemplating what kind of articles I could write about Christmas from a new angle. It is an incredibly difficult task. So much has already been expressed about the holiday. Indeed, it feels like there is "nothing new under the sun." This book even pokes fun at itself while it contemplates the overabundance of Christmas books.  Thankfully, the easy access on Hoopla made my treadmill time go by more quickly. (Despite my fall and the narrowness of the walking pad, I continue to carefully seek out daily exercise with audio book accompaniment).

I was unfamiliar with this author. However, after writing up this book review, I came across his name again. He has written a book getting great buzz, called The Rent Collector. He is a Mormon author from Salt Lake City, Utah. I'm glad I stumbled upon this Christmas book because researching the author led me to a podcast interview that I highly recommend. Camron remarks on the process of "Finding God's Plan for Your Life," on the All In podcast. Click here to find this half-hour interview with author Camron Wright.

Book Review: A Very Merry Matchup

Becca Kinzer's A Very Merry Matchup is a delightful and wholesome Christmas novella. What a task to come up with a new idea for a seasonal story. Kinzer's novella boasts a delicious blend of romance and humor. Indeed, it's like a Shakespearean comedy of errors. Misunderstandings lead to colorful confusion. Yet, when those misconceptions resolve, the reader gains a touching resolution.

Ivy West has a plan. She knows what kind of life she wants (nothing like what she grew up with), and she's working hard to get there. Beau Wall may be handsome, but his unstable career in baseball would never mesh with Ivy's perfect plan. Thinking someone should snatch him up, she plays matchmaker and pushes him to pursue her friend, Lucy. Alas, she's not the only one intent on making matches.

Through a hilarious myriad of mix-ups, Ivy lands at Beau's house for the holidays, convinced she's there to help celebrate Lucy's engagement. Beau and Ivy each arrive with a rambunctious dog in tow. They make an adorable couple, if only Beau (and his family) could convince Ivy to give him a chance. Thankfully, Beau can see through to her heart. He recognizes her wounds and her deepest longings. Her plan may not allow it, but everyone knows plans often go awry (and with Becca Kinzer, going awry means loads of laughs).

What a perfect pairing of humor and humanity. There is a depth of pain leading to Ivy's walls. Yet, the power of love softens and redeems it. I recognized Ivy's desire to avoid the mistakes of her parents. My teen struggles felt similar. I rooted for Beau and his loving family. Who doesn't want a family like that? Plus, having once had a rambunctious Goldendoodle, I loved the humorous comic relief the dogs provided. This is a holiday tale I recommend and will happily read again.

Book Review: Brightly Shining

Isn't the cover of this book a beautiful thing? And if the shimmering gold stars and snowy tree don't entice you, the accolades will. Indeed, the many glowing comments lured me in: "a magical modern classic," "dazzling contemporary fable of hardship and grit," and "absolute best that has been written in Nordic literature." Somehow, sadly, my experience didn't match these reviews. I don't know where these reviewers found "instant hygge and a warming of the heart" or "a song of unbearable beauty."

Brightly Shining tells the story of two young girls, and their alcoholic father, facing another challenging Christmas. Perhaps I'm simply too raw to read about addiction when it resides within my experience. The narration is well-done; the author nails the childish perspective in this scenario. Yet, I couldn't agree that this story inspires hope. It scoffs at faith; nihilistic perspectives pervade. It labels Jesus as a "great medicine man... that is all."

For me, this perspective was depressing and hope-dispelling. When you tear down the surest path to hope, what is left? Empty despair. This is exactly what these girls face and experience. Alcoholism and addiction are ever-present realities in this world. But, for me, faith brings the hope that invades the darkness. In this tale, the "brightly shining" star hides under a bushel. I ended this book in a real funk. I'd love to get back the handful of hours I invested. 

Book Review: A Christmas Spark

I think I read more Christmas books this past December than I usually read during the holidays. Perhaps it was an escapist venture. I don't know. A Christmas Spark, by Cindy Steel, is a clean novella, perfect for an evening by the fire, maybe even while vacationing at a cabin somewhere. Of course, I don't have that option, but the tale whittled away my treadmill time for a few days, anyway.

A Christmas Spark follows a typical rom-com plot line. Penny is heading to her sister-in-law's family cabin to hunker down and meet a writing deadline. When she arrives, she finds she will not be alone. Her brother's best friend, Chase, is already occupying the cabin and the blizzard conditions mean neither will be going anywhere. While he's drop-dead gorgeous, he will not let go of her middle school nickname, Blister. Back then, Penny was interested in Chase. That is, until she overheard Chase dis her to his friends, saying his dog is hotter than Penny. 

I could totally relate to this part of the story line. Penny, cut by the offhanded comment, has carried it around with her in her heart for years. When I was around ten, I had a crush on a boy at church. I passed him a note to say I liked him. He wrote back on the outside of the note (which everyone read as it travelled down the row), "The first time I saw you was on the front of a Mack truck." Of course, a bulldog is on the front of a Mack truck, I learned. That comment has never faded in my psyche. This line from the book resonated: "Now, I'm left wondering who has cracks in their foundation from a thoughtless comment made by me?"

The questions are simple. Can Penny forgive Chase and start again when he continues his playful banter? Will he ever let go of her pimple-reference nick-name? Will their honesty clear the air or merely open her up to further teasing? Alone in a cold, secluded cabin, Penny may just have to rely on Chase for warmth. This was a sweet, easy read that is perfect for any cold weather month.

December 2024 This and That

Somehow I didn't finish a re-cap of events in December in time to post at the end of the year, so bear with me as I look back now.

POEM:

Early in December, my sister (who is an officer in The Salvation Army) requested I write up a poem for her to use for her 3rd Sunday in Advent when she would preach on the wise men and the shepherds seeking. Initially, it was merely a poem. But just before I sent it to her, my devotional mentioned the song, "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing." What good fortune! It fit the meter and rhythm perfectly. So, they sang my poem, "Longing for Christmas," to that tune on the 3rd Advent Sunday.

I posted the lyrics on Facebook. A friend who lives in another country took me to task, saying I only shared part of the story. This person argued the emphasis should not be on the birth, but always upon the death of Christ, because that provides atonement. They said the Bible doesn't emphasize Christ's birth or provide a date. While I agree that atonement only was possible because our Savior died on the cross, I celebrate His birth, because without it, we would still be in darkness (and indeed, it often feels as if we are still in darkness in the current state of this world). I will give this more thought (couldn't during preparations for Bryce and Elizabeth's Christmas visit). Perhaps I will add a fifth verse to emphasize the Light willingly entered darkness and separation from the Father on our behalf to reconcile us to God when we trust Him and accept His gift of salvation from sin (as purchased through His death on the cross).

PURCHASES

Our old navy couch set was becoming unbearable because the pressure of reclining had caused the foundation to sag. In 2023, a friend and her chiropractor husband visited. He couldn't even bear to sit in our loveseat. He jumped up and made an excuse to stand during the visit. Thus, on Black Friday, we snagged a holiday deal. I'm thinking now, the pressure for a snap decision, within the sale window, was detrimental. 

I went in with two options in mind, but neither were available to sit in and try out (no floor models for those less expensive sets, of course). The sales clerk led us to the pricier models and encouraged us to buy a set with power reclining (our previous was a manual recliner). When I sat on the loveseat of the one we settled on, I could not believe the softness of the fabric. It was a lighter color than I'd wanted and more expensive than I wanted. Still, the window was closing, and we needed to decide. Because of the extra expense, my husband vetoed the protection plan. I'm a catastrophizer. The whole drive home, I had images of the dog vomiting on the couch or someone spilling a drink on the loveseat. But what's done is done.

The set was due for delivery on Friday the 13th. Hmm. What a fright we received when only the couch arrived. I again jumped to worry, envisioning our holiday visit with only seating availability for 3 people. Thankfully, my husband called and arranged the loveseat delivery on the Thursday prior to Bryce and Elizabeth's arrival. Once both pieces were in place, we realized the set didn't blend well with our carpet. We ordered an area rug, but it did not arrive until after Bryce and Elizabeth returned to Dallas. I'd love to say I feel no regrets, but I'm not sold on this new arrangement. Since the couch is so tall, my feet cannot touch the ground when I sit on it. The power reclining requires longer to right itself than when you just pull a lever. The color is not what I had hoped for. Again, what's done is done, sadly.

PUZZLES

In December, with extra time out of school, Sean and Claire and I worked on two puzzles. The first was a 1000-piece one with cereal boxes. Claire has wicked puzzling skills! If I couldn't figure out where a piece belonged, I'd hand it to her and within seconds she'd be popping it into place.

Our second puzzle was 3-dimensional and more difficult (I hardly helped at all). Here's the box and the final product of the Harry Potter Knight Bus:

PRESENTS

I received some fun presents this year. My husband gave me 2 purple t-shirts with phrases about reading, a book about C.S. Lewis's brother Warnie, and gift cards to my favorite fast-food restaurants. Bryce and Elizabeth gave me a wedding memento mouse pad, and a beautiful framed family photo (plus some chocolate - yum). Sean gave me a Harry Potter puzzle, so I see more puzzling on the horizon, but maybe not until spring break. Claire gave me a Harry Potter Monopoly game, which we played one day during the break (Sean won, but we all had fun, I think).

PARTIES

After Christmas, I went to a birthday party at a tea shop about a half hour away. They offer a British high tea and other such options. How thrilling to get a scone with clotted cream. We all wore tiaras, which was fun!

PROJECTS

I have gone back and forth about a project for the year. It feels empty, not picking up the prayer project I tackled two years in a row. I decided against printing out the whole Bible. My wrists can barely manage my morning pages (daily free association writing/journaling I do after my devotions each morning). Perhaps I could type a Psalm a day. That idea falls flat for me, too. 

Another goal is to spend time in fasting and prayer for my sons. I am starting slow, with liquid fasting (allowing only liquids). Then, I plan to build into more complete food fasting, until I'm fasting one day a week for the whole day. Again, I'm not sure I have the discipline and fortitude to see it through, but I hold the goal, nonetheless. Nothing is more important than lifting my children to the Lord.

I guess my primary goal is to purge excess junk throughout the year. I started off the first 3 days well and then fell off the wagon, forgetting to find 10 to 20 items to purge. On day 6, I managed my goal, only because I purged items as I put away the Christmas decorations. This is why a plan with structure is so important. I am trying to note how many items each day, so perhaps that will help me maintain the momentum.

How about you? Favorite presents? Puzzle exploits? Writing accomplishments? Goals or projects for 2025? I'd love to hear them. It might jumpstart my discipline and commitment.

Book Review: Christmas Baggage

Christmas Baggage by Deborah M. Hathaway was another holiday read to spur me into the holiday mood. I loved being transported to London with the main character. The whole time I was listening on Hoopla, I kept thinking of this Facebook video by Wonders of London, showcasing the Christmas lights in London. Don't have Facebook and can't follow that link? Try this one for Christmas videos on their You Tube page. It would be fabulous to be in London in December! Want to go there but can't travel? This book will transport you into the sights and sounds of London during the holidays.

Poor Claire Frost! Her boyfriend dumped her and, as usual, her parents would rather be on a cruise than spend Christmas with her. Then her best friend begs Claire to accompany her on a visit to relatives in England. She even finds her a discounted airline price. How can Claire say no?

From her first encounter with her friend's cousin, Liam, Claire is as frosty as her name. What a jerk he is! Who cares if he's drop-dead handsome! She couldn't possibly be interested in someone so rude and condescending. Or could she? Especially with that fantastic British accent. Swoon!

As the Amazon page articulates, this book is perfect for clean read romance lovers. It provides a happily ever after and warm Christmas feels in a British setting. It follows the popular enemies-to-friends-to-love-interests pattern. The book transported me to a world of wonder and magic. What better place to fall in love than London? What better time than at Christmas? 

Book Review: The Christmas Pact

I listened to The Christmas Pact in audio form on Hoopla in mid-November. This is the 1st in the 3 book A Mountain Springs Christmas series by Meg Easton. It is a sweet tale of two individuals facing great difficulty appreciating Christmas. Jack Meadows has never liked Christmas. When his sister asks him to make this Christmas special for his nephew, Aiden, Jack hires one of his employees, Noelle, to help with the task. Noelle, who normally loves Christmas, is facing the difficulty of celebrating without her deceased Gran-Gran (a name I struggled with - why couldn't it just have been Gran? Then again, perhaps it was more a difficulty with the narrator's reading style). If you are seeking a wholesome, quick Christmas tale, this book fills that need.

Mid-month Mention: Preparing for Advent

 

I'm not a strict Advent observer. Most years, I merely purchased the $1-1.50 chocolate Advent calendars available at Aldi. My boys loved eating their tiny dose of chocolate first thing in the morning, as we counted down the days until Christmas. I know there are families who make a far bigger production of it (reading a book of the Bible as they count down days, opening a new religious picture book each day for the first 2 dozen days of December, reading specific Advent devotionals). This year, I want to invest time each day in prayer, to count down the days until we celebrate Christ's birth.

With only one left at home (and a senior in high school, at that), I don't foresee this being a family activity. Still, I wanted to take time in mid-November to offer some suggestions of things I found online to aid in my approach to this coming Advent season.

1) Free Advent Templates - I discovered a website called Praying in Color. You can find a variety of Advent calendar templates as you contemplate ways to celebrate anticipatory days in December. I already pray daily for Facebook friends as a continuance of my 2023 Facebook Prayer Project. Thus, I may select an Advent-related word to focus on. I've also printed one of the blank block ones off for Sean and Claire to see if they want to come up with a calendar of activities.

2) Specific Daily Prayers - Perhaps I'll choose a specific prayer for each of the 24 preliminary days. The following 5 blogs offer prayers I might use:

• One Prayer a Day blog by Bob Hostetler - This is a blog I have followed sporadically for a long time now. Bob is a great guy, an author friend, and a man of prayer. His daily prayer blog is well worth following even outside of the advent season. (My favorite of his many books is The Bard and the Bible, recently re-released as The Shakespeare Devotional - in case you might be searching for an outstanding daily devotional as we approach a new year. Great Christmas gift idea!) 
• Time With Our Creator blog - Although this blog doesn't seem current (last post in 2023), I appreciated the most recent post with a prayer for casting all our anxieties on the Lord. How thrilling to see a Salvation Army song referenced in the post (Lt. Col. E. H. Joy's "All Your Anxiety"): "Is there a heart o'erbound by sorrow? Is there a life weighed down by care? Come to the cross, each burden bearing; All your anxiety - leave it there. All your anxiety, all your care, Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there, Never a burden He cannot bear, Never a friend like Jesus!" - visit this Hymnary page for the music and lyrics to this beautiful song. What a blessed reminder that I can leave my many current burdens at the feet of our Savior!
• Prayer-coach blog by Kevin Shorter - With a variety of prayer tips and helps, this blog offers several prayer lists that I might use (I may send this list of things to pray for addicted loved ones to my son).
• Prayer and Possibilities blog by Kathryn Shirey - Kathryn provides another idea: writing daily letters to God
• The Daily Prayer blog - This blog, offering a thought and a prayer, has been available as long as my blog (both started in 2008). Daily is a misnomer, as it seems the prayers are over several days, but I think they are beneficial and might be useful in this endeavor.

Book Review: The Wish Book Christmas

I wouldn't have sought out a Christmas book now, but The Wish Book Christmas is the follow-up novella to Lynn Austin's If I Were You. I enjoyed that one so much, I was eager to return to the characters again for my treadmill time. Thankfully, Hoopla had it available in audio form (at only 4-3/4 hours long). It was a splendid follow-up. I still loved the first book more though.

Audrey Barrett and Eve Dawson are raising their 5-year-old sons together in post-war America. When their boys' addiction to the Christmas toy catalog reaches a fever pitch, the two mothers vow to teach the boys something about giving back and expecting less. Both women struggle against forming new love interests. Yet as the events unfold, they learn more about forgiveness, second chances, and God's enduring grace. This feel-good novella is a great way to celebrate the spirit of the holidays (and was even fun when approaching spring). I may return to both of these again in the future.

Compilation - 15 Books About Victorian London

Photo by Hert Niks on Unsplash

My favorite era/location for study is Victorian England. As a teen, I fell in love with Dickens. As a young adult, I pursued a masters degree in history with a focus on Victorian history. Thus, I often read books set in that time/country. Here are some past reads (with links to my reviews) for those who might be interested in fiction or non-fiction about Victorian London:

Fiction:

1. 12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep - 1st in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series
2. A Tale of Two Hearts by Michelle Griep - 2nd in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series
3. The Old Lace Shop by Michelle Griep - 3rd in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series
4. Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
5. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens 
6. At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald
7. The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton
8. Kidnapped by River Rats by Dave and Neta Jackson

Nonfiction:

1. Dirty Old London by Lee Jackson 
2. The Victorian City by Judith Flanders
3. A Metropolitan Murder by Lee Jackson (I apologize - on further review, this is a mystery novel)
4. London by A. N. Wilson
5. Victoria by Catherine Reef
6. The Wicked Boy by Kate Summerscale
7. The Five by Hallie Rubenhold

Christmas Greetings 2023

(I found this beautiful image on Facebook, but no idea of attribution)

This will be an unusual Christmas for us, our first without all of our children gathered together under our wing. Bryce and his fiancée will be in California visiting her sister. It will feel quite strange without him. In an effort to lighten my mood, I decided to post some Christmas shirts I'd happily wear, some shopping signs, and two Christmas cards my sons gave to me when they were much younger. Hope this makes you smile, as well.

From the Piper and Ivy website, I noticed these three holiday t-shirts:

We cut back on our Christmas spending this year. I didn't send cards (nor did I receive many - a tradition that is passé). In light of that, here are two hilarious signs (one I found on Facebook; one I took myself when visiting Nashville, IN):

And for your holiday pleasure, the cards my sons lovingly presented back in the day:

The one from Bryce is impressive because he declared the extent of his affection - ha! The one from Sean makes me laugh because it reflects their sibling bond back then.

May you and your loved ones gather together and enjoy happy, fun, and funny times together, perhaps bedecked in your favorite holiday attire. May you recognize the significance of the season as we celebrate the birth of the Son of God who came in human form to walk a path to the cross to atone for our sin and reconcile us to the Father. May whatever grief this year has brought, be eclipsed by gratitude for what God has given.

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Additional bonus - here's a beautiful Christmas letter and photo I saw on a Facebook post from Alexander McCall Smith (author of The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency books) - well worth sharing:

A Christmas message from Alexander:

Dear Readers,

Here we are, once again on the very doorstep of Christmas. And in the room beyond that doorstep, is the New Year, ready to declare itself with soaring rockets and the linking of hands in song. The song that we sing in Scotland to mark the end of one year and the beginning of another is, of course, Auld Lang Syne, the words of which are attributed to Robert Burns. He certainly wrote a version, explaining that he had taken the words from an “old man’s singing”. Many songs are composed that way: inspiration comes from a snatch of song heard on the lips of another, and this is then worked up into a polished version.

Most of know the first verse or so, and then fade away a bit. But the later verses are very moving. I always find myself choking up a bit when I hear the words of this song, in particular the verse that runs: “We twa ha paidl’d i’ the burn/Frae mornin’ sun til dine/But seas between us braid hae roared/sin auld lang sine.” That means, more or less: we two have paddled in the burn together all day in the past, but since those days broad seas have separated us. That strikes me as being so poignant: time may separate us from old friends, as may distance, but we don’t forget our old friends and what they mean to us …

Sentimental? Of course it is, but there is nothing wrong in feeling sentimental about friendship, and love, and the simple cherishing of others. We need not apologise for wanting an end to acrimony and division; we should not have to explain why we yearn so desperately for people to love on another rather than shower invective on those with whom they may disagree; rather than to fight with one another; rather than to spend more and more money on working out new ways of killing one another. Oh, how we long for the moment when those who are currently sworn enemies take a deep breath and say that they want to be friends rather than enemies. Of course, that’s easier said than done, but until people start taking the first step and acknowledging the humanity of their enemies, there is no way out. Our poor planet will otherwise be condemned to endless arguments over territory and its control.

And it’s not without precedent. It happened in Northern Ireland, where old enemies set aside ancient resentments and agreed to stop trying to settle scores. It happened in South Africa, where Nelson Mandela, that most gracious of men, urged people to put aside the past and embrace one another. It can be done, even if at the moment the talk all goes the other way.

What would Mma Ramotswe say about the times in which we live? She is the wisest of people: what would she say this particular Christmas if one stopped her in the street in Gaborone and said, ‘What do you think, Mma, about what’s going on in our poor world right now?”

She would look up at the sky, I think, and say, “It is very bad – yes, it is very bad at the moment.” But she would not leave it at that: Mma Ramotswe has never been one for moaning, complaining, or shaking her head in disapproval. So she would go on to say, “We must remember that you do not change people by shouting at them.” And we would listen to this, and realise that she is absolutely right. You do not change people by shouting at them, you change them by telling them that you love them. That works. It just works. Mma Ramotswe is right.

Years ago I wrote a poem that included a line that I once used in the title of one of the Scotland Street books. The original said: “But what can I wish for you? Wish for love over Scotland, like tears of rain – that is enough”. We took part of that line and has it engraved in coloured glass in a window in our house in Edinburgh. Here is a picture of it.

I see that inscription every morning when I walk downstairs. And I stand by it, I think, although I might broaden it a bit to include a wish for love over other places too – where you live, where you are reading this right now; where people who are frightened and bereft live; where people who are unhappy for any of the many reasons why people are unhappy live; for all those places.

May I wish you all joy and happiness this Christmas and New Year.

With love,

Alexander McCall Smith

Book Review: The Old Lace Shop

The Old Lace Shop is the third book in Michelle Griep's Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series. I could not find it apart from the 3 book set, available on Hoopla in audio form. It is worth finding. I simply brought up the chapter selections and advanced to The Old Lace Shop. I liked this one as well as the second one.

The novel blurb on the Amazon website presents the premise like this, Recently widowed Bella White is finally freed from the domination of the overbearing men in her life, but when she enters into a business partnership with the handsome Edmund Archer, she begins to wonder if marriage is worth a second chance.

I enjoyed the setting, plot, and characters in this installment. Once again, the second chance coin makes an appearance and drives the story line. Realistic problems and a quick appearance from Dickens made this another gem. While the faith aspect is slightly pushed, I appreciated the message immensely. I needed to hear the wisdom of "Either your faith will move mountains or your doubt will create them." May my faith move mountains instead of making them in the coming year. 

Book Review: A Tale of Two Hearts

A Tale of Two Hearts is the second book in Michelle Griep's Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series. I enjoyed this one even more than the first. It satisfied my itch for Dickens at Christmas as it contained many more Dickens references and quotes. The characters were endearing. I eagerly rooted for their story to end well.

Mina Scott tends her father's inn while longing to spend her days reading books. If she has to be working, at least she gets to serve the dashing law clerk, William Barlow. Barlow's uncle is due to name an heir and leans toward one who is married. Thus, William convinces Mina to pretend to be his wife to convince Uncle Barlow of his suitability for the position. But, as the saying goes, "What a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive." Will their deception foil William's chances? Can Mina settle for pretending to be his wife, when she wants to be so in truth?

This novel is all about second chances. The second chance coin, that appeared in the first installment, appears again. Uncle Barlow and Mina's friendship is delightful. William comes to see his way to the truth. Charles Dickens even makes a brief cameo appearance, much like Alfred Hitchcock in his films. I agree with author Cynthia Ruchti's endorsement, "Charles Dickens would be delighted with the way [Griep] tucked into this story's pockets truths and observations he penned long ago." I think Michelle Griep and I would get along well.

Mid-month Mention: Holiday Hilarity and Hits

 

As the holiday season crawls into full gear, I offer this compilation of past posts that make me smile:

That time I unwittingly went out blinking (ha!) - a post from my early days of anonymous blogging

The curious Christmas gift Trevor received and consumed one year

Amazing snow art

A Christmas with many big hit gifts

My favorite Christmas decorations

Fun and funny Christmas ideas