Graphic designer Natalie Pearce faces the most difficult Christmas of her life. For almost a year, her mother has lain in a nursing home, the victi...
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Dec 09, 2011
Lola4
rated it: 
This is a difficult book to review because, technically, I would say it was a well-written novel with realistic characters and an original storyline, and I do weary of the same old recycled generic plots. However, did I enjoy reading it--no--and it took me forever to force my way through it. I am giving it a relatively high rating because I recognize it was a well-written book that I just didn't enjoy, although you might love it and I might enjoy some other book written by this author. I found
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Dec 18, 2011
Suzanne
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This is a book of incredible heartache. Masterfully, author Myra Johnson, takes the reader through the sadness, heartbreak, and frustration of a family during the devastating illness of a loved one. Particularly touching was the point of view of the grandmother and the love of her husband for her.
The story bogged down a bit in the middle with the repetitive thoughts of Natalie and Daniel's failing marriage. After a while, I just wanted them to get things figured out. The subplot of the More...
The story bogged down a bit in the middle with the repetitive thoughts of Natalie and Daniel's failing marriage. After a while, I just wanted them to get things figured out. The subplot of the More...
Feb 14, 2011
Maureen
rated it:
This is not your normal Christmas Story. What should have been a happy family celebration ends up with the possibility of tearing a family apart. This is a story about personal forgiveness and family "Love". We have all been forgiven by accepting God's Grace, but this book shows how hard it is to forgive yourself! I did enjoy this book and would recommend it, and found it to be a good and quick read.
Product Description
Graphic designer Natalie Pearce faces the most difficult More...
Product Description
Graphic designer Natalie Pearce faces the most difficult More...
Sep 10, 2009
Jan
rated it:
One Imperfect Christmas is a book that will grab your heart and not let go. Natalie Pearce loves Christmas. She believes that Christmas is a holiday that should be celebrated all year long. She has a wonderful life, full of friends, traditions, hobbies and the love of a close knit family. But when tragedy strikes the family, Natalie gets mad -- at herself, her family and God. Her anger with herself and her refusal to accept lifes dealings nearly cost her the family and her job. However, a
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Dec 05, 2011
Tamara
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 27, 2009
Julie
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Myra Johnson's debut book is nothing but fantastic!! One Imperfect Christmas is a love story of sorts about individuals and family. Natalie is one hard-driven work horse trying to make her way into the graphic design world. Daniel is an ambitious basketball coach with a strong desire for the top teams. Lissa is a young, beautiful teenage girl facing all the pulls of teenage life. Natalie's parents, Bram and Belinda, are the picture of a perfect marriage. After a traumatizing event, will anything
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Dec 09, 2011
Jackie
rated it: 
Natalie Pearce is a middle aged woman who is headed for a mid-life crisis when her mother suffers a stroke . She feels responsible and blames herself for not being there (boohoo) but the guilt almost costs her marriage. I have no sympathy for her.
Although she seems hardworking she lacks the ability to make good decisions and doesn't think about anyone but herself and she ends up putting her daughter and husband through hell . Her guilt ridden conscience would get the best of her had More...
Although she seems hardworking she lacks the ability to make good decisions and doesn't think about anyone but herself and she ends up putting her daughter and husband through hell . Her guilt ridden conscience would get the best of her had More...
Nov 18, 2011
Lori
rated it:
What a beautiful story of faith, love and the power of forgiveness.
Natalie Pearce is pretty content with her life. She and Daniel are happily married and have a wonderful daughter, Lissa. One morning her mom calls to ask for help taking down the Christmas decorations. Natalie is expecting Daniel's parents later that day and just doesn't feel like helping her mom. Using her impending company as an excuse she tells her mom she can't possibly help her, and after getting her mom to prom More...
Natalie Pearce is pretty content with her life. She and Daniel are happily married and have a wonderful daughter, Lissa. One morning her mom calls to ask for help taking down the Christmas decorations. Natalie is expecting Daniel's parents later that day and just doesn't feel like helping her mom. Using her impending company as an excuse she tells her mom she can't possibly help her, and after getting her mom to prom More...
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Jan 01, 2012
Itsjustme-wendy
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This was a really good book. Kind of sad and very heartfelt.This story takes place over the span of a year from one Christmas to to another as the whole family strives for the perfect Christmas.
Natalie's Mother promised everyone a "Perfect 50th Christmas" but after her stroke takes over her body and her health, is this even possible? Natalie struggles to keep her life together but gives up on her marriage. Now she has something to focus on - The perfect Christmas for her parents, More...
Natalie's Mother promised everyone a "Perfect 50th Christmas" but after her stroke takes over her body and her health, is this even possible? Natalie struggles to keep her life together but gives up on her marriage. Now she has something to focus on - The perfect Christmas for her parents, More...
Sep 22, 2009
Clockstein
rated it:
One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson is a poignant look at how tragedy can shatter a family. Natalie Pearce loves her life, and although she may complain about her messy husband or her teenage daughter's attitude, she's happy working part time as a graphic designer and painting in her spare time. Three weeks after Christmas, she receives a phone call that brings her entire world to a shuddering crash; her mother has suffered a severe stroke and will most likely never recover. What brings Nata
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Dec 12, 2011
Ali
rated it: 
3.5 or 3.75 stars. I'm glad to have read this, though I made the mistake of starting to read this book last night in bed; I intended to read just a few pages before sleep and ended up reading the whole thing. I didn't know anything about this book before reading it, except that it was recommended on Amazon and had a Christmas angle. I wasn't expecting the religious focus of the book, which increased more in the middle/end of the story, but of course it fit. Most of the story/characters were
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Apr 05, 2010
Edna
rated it:
This is Myra's firt book, but she came out with a bang. If you want to read a book with a little of everything then this is it.
You have a Christmas story that has a little of everything. A workalolic, a basketball coach, a teenager, a mom that had a terrible stroke, and with God's help it all came together.
This book had a lot of sadness, but some good things also with a family that is very close and really love Christmas, the time of year we celebrate the BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST. Wha More...
You have a Christmas story that has a little of everything. A workalolic, a basketball coach, a teenager, a mom that had a terrible stroke, and with God's help it all came together.
This book had a lot of sadness, but some good things also with a family that is very close and really love Christmas, the time of year we celebrate the BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST. Wha More...
Oct 23, 2009
Janet Dean
rated it:
Myra Johnson’s One Imperfect Christmas rings with truth—not every Christmas is a picture-perfect celebration. Sometimes life deals a blow that brings even strong Christians to their knees. Natalie Pearce turned down her mother’s request to help put away her Christmas decorations. When her mother suffers an incapacitating stroke, Natalie is ripped apart with guilt and spirals into depression, driving a wedge that rips her family apart. Natalie and Daniel’s marriage looks doomed to failure, even a
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Nov 25, 2011
Christian
rated it:
The main characters spend most of this book indulging in selfish, stupid behavior, especially the female "lead" character who nearly destroys her life through her egocentric wallowing in guilt.
I know people behave like this in reality, but they are downright toxic to be around. I can not imagine any reason why I would care to read a novel—especially a moralistic, preachy novel—which spends nearly its entire length dwelling on this behavior.
The other characters s More...
I know people behave like this in reality, but they are downright toxic to be around. I can not imagine any reason why I would care to read a novel—especially a moralistic, preachy novel—which spends nearly its entire length dwelling on this behavior.
The other characters s More...
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Dec 25, 2011
Tina
rated it:
This is not the book to read at Christmas time. It is a tearjerker, with a happy ending. Anyone who has had any guilt about putting a family member off for a somewhat selfish reasons will sure connect with this book.
Natalie loves Christmas, but hates taking down all the decorations. When her mom calls asking for help taking her decorations down, Natalie makes excuses to why she can't help. Later, she gets the call that changes the next 11 months of her life. Her mother has a stroke More...
Natalie loves Christmas, but hates taking down all the decorations. When her mom calls asking for help taking her decorations down, Natalie makes excuses to why she can't help. Later, she gets the call that changes the next 11 months of her life. Her mother has a stroke More...
Dec 08, 2011
Didn't I say I was going to take a break from reading Christmas romance? Didn't I? Huh? Huh?
Well, I didn't. As I was perusing my Kindle, I found out I had down-loaded this freebie (One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson), and I couldn't resist.
That'll teach me.
It started out okay....for about 1/2 page. Then it got bad. And worse. And more depressing. And filled with despair. It's about a crumbling marriage. And a woman filled with guilt. And a daughter filled More...
Well, I didn't. As I was perusing my Kindle, I found out I had down-loaded this freebie (One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson), and I couldn't resist.
That'll teach me.
It started out okay....for about 1/2 page. Then it got bad. And worse. And more depressing. And filled with despair. It's about a crumbling marriage. And a woman filled with guilt. And a daughter filled More...
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Dec 26, 2011
Elaine
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Aug 21, 2009
Carla
rated it:
Myra Johnson’s debut novel, One Imperfect Christmas, puts together all that is perfect about Christmas—family, faith, celebration of life and the birth of Christ. It also gives us a glimpse into life’s imperfections—loss, guilt, self-doubt, and the pain of having a loved one suffer in illness.
Natalie Pearce faces the same frustrations many busy women do—the responsibilities of maintaining a home, trying to quell her temper with a husband whose job is top priority, and providing guid More...
Natalie Pearce faces the same frustrations many busy women do—the responsibilities of maintaining a home, trying to quell her temper with a husband whose job is top priority, and providing guid More...
Aug 17, 2009
Myra
rated it:
Well of course I'm giving my own book 5 stars!
Only Love Makes a Christmas Perfect . . .
Christmas is the season of miracles, but when blame and
guilt keep people apart, a miracle needs a helping hand.
Natalie Pearce loves Christmas so much she’d gladly make
it a year-round celebration—until her mother suffers a massive
stroke while taking down the decorations. Natalie’s guilt over
not being there to help her mom soon builds a wall that sepa- More...
Only Love Makes a Christmas Perfect . . .
Christmas is the season of miracles, but when blame and
guilt keep people apart, a miracle needs a helping hand.
Natalie Pearce loves Christmas so much she’d gladly make
it a year-round celebration—until her mother suffers a massive
stroke while taking down the decorations. Natalie’s guilt over
not being there to help her mom soon builds a wall that sepa- More...
Dec 08, 2011
Colleen
rated it:
What starts as the sound of a perfect little Christmas novel to get you in the mood for the holidays, quickly turns into a roller coaster ride of emotion and anguish. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Johnson developed the characters and divulged into feelings of what could easily happen to anyone in life. I do not read inspirational titles often, but I was satisfied with the perfect mixture of a good novel with Godly tendencies.
Dec 19, 2011
Kathy
rated it:
This is a sad Christmas story. It deals with Natalie's sadness at what was always the family's favorite time of year. She blames herself for her mom's illness and by doing so has pushed everyone she loves out of her life, until her mom gives her a special gift at the end of the story.....it's a book you want to finish even though it does get slow at times, it helps you to appreciate this time of year.
Nov 17, 2011
Julie
rated it:
This was another book I downloaded free on my kindle a while back. I just loved this book. It about a couples marriage hitting a few bumps in the road due to an illness in the family. It's a very emotional book so if your like me and cry easily, have a box of tissues close by. I will be looking for more books by Mrya Johnson.
Oct 31, 2011
Karolyn
rated it:
This book was well written and a little predictable, but I it is a very touching story that did bring tears to my eyes. It helps remind us that we can only find true forgiveness and love through Jesus Christ and that he needs to be with us not only in the good times, but most importantly in the most difficult times.
Jan 11, 2010
Guilt over her mother's stroke leads Natalie to push family and friends away, and to overwork.
This book was so real, it was difficult to read. I would recommend it to anyone who ever lashed out in pain - all of us. But not during a crisis. The author reminds us healing and reconciliation are possible; there is hope!
This book was so real, it was difficult to read. I would recommend it to anyone who ever lashed out in pain - all of us. But not during a crisis. The author reminds us healing and reconciliation are possible; there is hope!
Jan 28, 2012
Amy
rated it:
Good book, interesting storyline, but about halfway through I was getting a little bored and impatient; sort of drug on but the end of the book made up for it. The book is about a family/extended family and how they deal with adversity. Faith based and good use and reminder of different bible verses which are referred to in different situations throughout the book.
Dec 31, 2011
Darlene
rated it:
A poignant story about wishes and reality. . . I found it touched a cord in me when tears were landing on the pages. A family torn by the unexpected stroke of the mother/grandmother set the stage for a very truthful view of how a family can lose their way and, hopefully, become stronger.
Dec 21, 2011
Dianna
rated it:
This is a wonderful Christmas story about family conflict, family love, a broken family and forgiveness. It gives a child's view of what parental separation can do and shows how far a child will go to try to fix the problem.
The lesson learned is that we must forgive ourselves and others in order to achieve happiness.
The lesson learned is that we must forgive ourselves and others in order to achieve happiness.
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Feb 06, 2010
Missy
rated it:
I saved One Imperfect Christmas to enjoy over the Christmas holidays. I picked it up one night and got to read about one page, but alas, my crazy schedule kept me from it. So finally, in February, I was able to pick this book up once again. Wow! What a great story. And it's not just a story about Christmas like I assumed. It's a story about a family struggling with illness, guilt, denial, selfishness...and ultimately forgiveness, letting go, honesty and the power of love.
True, I want More...
True, I want More...
Jan 01, 2012
Bridget
rated it:
It was a nice story; however, I feel like it just went on for too long. It seemed like there was too much in the middle and the ending was just okay. It needed more of a punch at the end to carry all that went on in the middle. I felt myself getting impatient half way through.
Jan 01, 2012
Debbie
rated it:
I enjoyed the storyline and the insight into a family struggling to stay together despite difficult circumstances. And I thought that the characters were accurately depicted as working at cross-purposes to what they truly wanted and needed. But I did feel that the story dragged at times. But I must admit that I was crying at the end - and cheering for the family!
