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Christmas Presents And Past
Each Christmas, he gave her his heart
Every Christmas gift Will and Dinah exchange is a symbol of their love. The tradition begins on their very first date in 1968, when Will arrives with an exquisitely wrapped present that shows he, unlike everyone else in her life, believes in her dream of becoming a chef.
It continues through every holiday season after that—whether they're together or apart.
But the tradition ends when tragedy strikes. After that,
only an unexpected gift can make things right.
Every Christmas gift Will and Dinah exchange is a symbol of their love. The tradition begins on their very first date in 1968, when Will arrives with an exquisitely wrapped present that shows he, unlike everyone else in her life, believes in her dream of becoming a chef.
It continues through every holiday season after that—whether they're together or apart.
But the tradition ends when tragedy strikes. After that,
only an unexpected gift can make things right.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2007
3 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Janice Kay Johnson
293 books192 followersJanice Kay Johnson is the author of over a hundred books for children and adults. Her first four published romance novels were coauthored with her mother, also a writer who has since published mysteries and children's books on her own. These were "sweet" romance novels, the author hastens to add; she isn't sure they'd have felt comfortable coauthoring passionate love scenes!
Janice graduated from Whitman College with a B.A. in history and then received a master's degree in library science from the University of Washington. She was a branch librarian for a public library system until she began selling her own writing.
She has written six novels for young adults and one picture book for the read-aloud crowd. Rosamund was the outgrowth of all those hours spent reading to her own daughters, and of her passion for growing old roses. Two more of her favorite books were historical novels she wrote for Tor/Forge. The research was pure indulgence for someone who set out intending to be a historian!
Janice is divorced and has raised her two daughters in a small, rural town north of Seattle, Washington. She's an active volunteer and board member for Purrfect Pals, a no-kill cat shelter, and foster kittens often enliven a household that already includes a few more cats than she wants to admit to!
Janice loves writing books about both love and family — about the way generations connect and the power our earliest experiences have on us throughout life. Her Superromance novels are frequent finalists for Romance Writers of America RITA® awards. Along with her books for Harlequin, Janice has written the Cape Trouble series of romantic suspense novels, and is about to launch a new series, Desperation Creek, set in rural eastern Oregon.
Janice graduated from Whitman College with a B.A. in history and then received a master's degree in library science from the University of Washington. She was a branch librarian for a public library system until she began selling her own writing.
She has written six novels for young adults and one picture book for the read-aloud crowd. Rosamund was the outgrowth of all those hours spent reading to her own daughters, and of her passion for growing old roses. Two more of her favorite books were historical novels she wrote for Tor/Forge. The research was pure indulgence for someone who set out intending to be a historian!
Janice is divorced and has raised her two daughters in a small, rural town north of Seattle, Washington. She's an active volunteer and board member for Purrfect Pals, a no-kill cat shelter, and foster kittens often enliven a household that already includes a few more cats than she wants to admit to!
Janice loves writing books about both love and family — about the way generations connect and the power our earliest experiences have on us throughout life. Her Superromance novels are frequent finalists for Romance Writers of America RITA® awards. Along with her books for Harlequin, Janice has written the Cape Trouble series of romantic suspense novels, and is about to launch a new series, Desperation Creek, set in rural eastern Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 24, 2022
I thought the title of the story was a mistake. Shouldn't it have been Christmas Past and Present(s)? But after reading this emotional powerhouse, I understand the author's meaning. Rarely do I find a harlequin romance that drains me, but in a good way. Ms. Johnson's window into a longstanding marriage did just that.
It was just 275 pages but the story packs such a punch. It began in 1968 and ended 40 years later . It covered the Vietnam war, the mistakes American politicians made, and the deep hatred many citizens felt. It was also a romance and a very good one. It was an emotional read and I couldn't stop turning the pages.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the target audience of this story and who would enjoy it most: if you are a member of the baby boomer generation, a spouse of a soldier or veteran or simply an old soul.
The ONLY reason I didn't give this book 5 stars was because of something that lingered during the last quarter of the book.
It was just 275 pages but the story packs such a punch. It began in 1968 and ended 40 years later . It covered the Vietnam war, the mistakes American politicians made, and the deep hatred many citizens felt. It was also a romance and a very good one. It was an emotional read and I couldn't stop turning the pages.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the target audience of this story and who would enjoy it most: if you are a member of the baby boomer generation, a spouse of a soldier or veteran or simply an old soul.
The ONLY reason I didn't give this book 5 stars was because of something that lingered during the last quarter of the book.
February 5, 2022
This was a beautiful book, gentle, kind, and so so sad. It tells the ups and downs of 40 years of marriage, and I absolutely could not put it down once I picked it up. Every feel you’d want from a romance as far as I’m concerned. A treasure.
December 30, 2011
While not a traditional Christmas story, this book was so compelling that I had to finish it. The story is set around Christmas time in the lives of a young couple who meet, marry, raise children, go through tragedy and try to find themselves. The beginning of the story is set at the time of the Vietnam war and had me thinking how can this be a Christmas story. But Christmas ties together the family and their lives. Also if you want some understanding about what the men and women who serve our country go through read this book. Once again not really a Christmas story or romance; but certainly a compelling insight into the lives of one family affected by the service of the boyfriend, husband, father to his country. I haven't read a book that so powerfully moved me in a long time.
June 19, 2019
I was a small child during the last years of the Vietnam War era, and unlike the hero and heroine of Christmas Presents and Past, have no first hand memories of the conflict or the political upheaval it caused. Learning about the events through their eyes has given me a new appreciation for this period in history that often goes undiscussed.
Christmas of 1968 is a special one for Dinah Gallagher because she finally has a real boyfriend. Will O’Keefe isn’t particularly tall, dark or handsome but he has the sweetest smile and most spectacular blue eyes she has ever seen. To her sophomore self, senior Will is smart, funny, sweet and charming. The thing she likes best about him though is that he’s a good listener. After only two weeks of dating he buys her a Christmas present more insightful than anything her brother or parents have given her: a professional chef’s apron. He understands it’s her dream to be a culinary artist, and for Dinah, the apron is not just a present but a statement. It says he believes in her.
Dinah understands Will as much as he understands her. She supports his plans to pursue his own course; his parents are advocating college but Will wants to be a carpenter. He loves the scent of freshly carved wood and the sense of achievement he feels when he builds something. With the draft presenting a real threat to his future, he knows he should enroll in fall classes but he just can’t bring himself to take that step.
This proves to be a huge mistake since the newly imposed draft ‘lottery’ system is not kind to Will and he finds himself being called up for service in Vietnam almost immediately after becoming eligible. Dodging isn’t an option for him. His father served in the Second World War and hates the thought of Will not doing his duty for his country. Will, who has marched at anti-war protests, hates the thought of fighting a meaningless war but goes anyway. He comes home a changed man.
Dinah had continued protesting the war while Will was gone, hoping to force the government to bring back the troops. This becomes one of many issues between them as Will struggles to assimilate to being home after the conflict ends. His refusal to discuss the issues he has or to get any kind of psychological help puts a strain on their relationship. It’s a relief when she gets accepted at a culinary school all the way across the country and breaks up with Will. It’s a pleasant surprise when she receives a going away/Christmas present from him: a hat to match the apron he had given her when they first began dating.
This breakup isn’t the end of their story but simply a hiccup in it. When they reunite several years down the road, they realize that for them, the only forever love they will ever know is that found in each other. See the rest of my review at https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
Christmas of 1968 is a special one for Dinah Gallagher because she finally has a real boyfriend. Will O’Keefe isn’t particularly tall, dark or handsome but he has the sweetest smile and most spectacular blue eyes she has ever seen. To her sophomore self, senior Will is smart, funny, sweet and charming. The thing she likes best about him though is that he’s a good listener. After only two weeks of dating he buys her a Christmas present more insightful than anything her brother or parents have given her: a professional chef’s apron. He understands it’s her dream to be a culinary artist, and for Dinah, the apron is not just a present but a statement. It says he believes in her.
Dinah understands Will as much as he understands her. She supports his plans to pursue his own course; his parents are advocating college but Will wants to be a carpenter. He loves the scent of freshly carved wood and the sense of achievement he feels when he builds something. With the draft presenting a real threat to his future, he knows he should enroll in fall classes but he just can’t bring himself to take that step.
This proves to be a huge mistake since the newly imposed draft ‘lottery’ system is not kind to Will and he finds himself being called up for service in Vietnam almost immediately after becoming eligible. Dodging isn’t an option for him. His father served in the Second World War and hates the thought of Will not doing his duty for his country. Will, who has marched at anti-war protests, hates the thought of fighting a meaningless war but goes anyway. He comes home a changed man.
Dinah had continued protesting the war while Will was gone, hoping to force the government to bring back the troops. This becomes one of many issues between them as Will struggles to assimilate to being home after the conflict ends. His refusal to discuss the issues he has or to get any kind of psychological help puts a strain on their relationship. It’s a relief when she gets accepted at a culinary school all the way across the country and breaks up with Will. It’s a pleasant surprise when she receives a going away/Christmas present from him: a hat to match the apron he had given her when they first began dating.
This breakup isn’t the end of their story but simply a hiccup in it. When they reunite several years down the road, they realize that for them, the only forever love they will ever know is that found in each other. See the rest of my review at https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
December 7, 2021
I picked this old category book out a little free library in my neighborhood. I enjoyed the story but was also fascinated by the how the story was structured and the romantic arc. We see the hero and heroine fall in love – almost puppy love—at the beginning, and then we see the progression of their lives through the years – moving from Vietnam war protests and the draft, to newlyweds and young parenthood, and more. The main conflict does not appear until much later in the book and if this wasn’t a romance novel with a guaranteed happy ending, the ending would have been in doubt at times.
I also really enjoyed seeing the world through the eyes of two young people who came of age during Vietnam. I would reread for a future holiday. 3.75/5 romance
I also really enjoyed seeing the world through the eyes of two young people who came of age during Vietnam. I would reread for a future holiday. 3.75/5 romance
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October 19, 2016BOring, boring, boring...could not even finish it!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews