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Bah Humbug, Mrs. Scrooge
Eleanor Scrooge finally has it all. Why then is she so dissatisfied? In fleeing her abusive childhood, she left behind the only man she'd ever loved--Bob Rachette. Years later, Eleanor's no-nonsense approach to her successful business alienates everyone... including Bob. Widower Bob Rachette feels responsible for Eleanor. But when Eleanor insists her business come before his family, Bob puts his foot down... and loses his job. Meanwhile, an accident forces Eleanor to reexamine her life, her priorities, and the love she gave up. Can the Lord use Faith, Hope, and Charity to break through her heart of stone? Or will this Christmas be like all the others in Eleanor Scrooge's life--a Bah Humbug? Fall in love with this inspiring love story and our entire collection of Christian romance novels from Heartsong Presents!
176 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 26, 2016
This is an inspirational, gender bended version of A Christmas Carol set in contemporary times. I thought it was a good twist, as well as some of the twists concerning the Rachette children. The characters were pretty true to the original, for the most part, when it came to mannerisms. The book was also very engaging and uplifting, especially for the holiday season. All in all, I'm glad I picked it up and read it this Christmas!
March 19, 2025
"God isn't interested in the things man or woman can do. He wants their unequivocal love and a personal relationship with each one."
January 3, 2018
The premise of this book was good, I mean a Christmas Carol retelling? With Scrooge being a woman? Set in modern times? Yes, please!
Little did I know, there would be a few problems of making Scrooge a woman.
Before I get into that I want to share a few things that I liked about the book.
What I Liked:
The way the story of Scrooge is told was great. And I can't say too much because one: the book is too short for me to say much, and two: too much of the plot would be revealed then and we don't want that, do we?
Scrooges is a fashion store, which gives the story a more feminine theme as it is told in a woman's point of view. But we still have Bob in accounting, but this time for the store. Brilliant idea. Especially loved how this helped the story to play out.
I also love the Christian theme of this book, that material gain is not something that is important or something we can keep forever, but it is God and family which is important.
What I Didn't Like:
Okay I know that the Scrooge character is supposed be rude, mean, and who-knows-what-else. But I didn't like the main character, Mrs. Scrooge one bit. I have no idea why people were still working for her.
This is a hard one for me, I usually love the Scrooge character and how that character changes for the better in the end. But even with the back story to help us like Mrs. Scrooge.... I still do not like her. After the back story I might have felt a little more for what happened to her, but the way she treated people especially Bob, I just didn't feel very much for her.
And Bob.... I realized that she was your first love and all that.... Nevermind.
Okay, I love how Bob is able to show Christians to love others so unselfishly..... But I could have gone without the romantic love. With the way she was treating him, it was almost like verbal abuse and he just let her walk all over him all the time and still thought he was romantically in love of her? Forgive me.... No don't forget me, I really, really dislike relationships like this.
Bob really could have walked out on her any time, find a new, probably even a higher paying job, and forget about her. I mean if all the experience he had at Scrooges, I really don't see how someone else wouldn't want to have him. I mean really?
As for Mrs. Scrooge.... How can you have an argument with him, then say you love him, without even helping him out in the ways that he needs helped. I mean, that's not love, that's abuse.
Another thing I didn't like was the ending. Sorry, but no, I had a hard time just accepting that.
The story seem to sometimes give out certain information, then later in the book denied that information was ever given. Okay, so the book never said that so and so happened? Really....
The book also seemed to head-hop from both Mrs. Scrooge to Bob. It was not too irritating actually, I just don't like to head-hop.
Content In Book:
1. Mentions of abuse (both physical and verbal, though not too detailed).
2. Mentions of alcohol.
Who Would I Recommend This Book To:
People who want a Christmas read. People who want a Christmas Carol retelling, despite all the problems I had of this book, it was still enjoyable.
Little did I know, there would be a few problems of making Scrooge a woman.
Before I get into that I want to share a few things that I liked about the book.
What I Liked:
The way the story of Scrooge is told was great. And I can't say too much because one: the book is too short for me to say much, and two: too much of the plot would be revealed then and we don't want that, do we?
Scrooges is a fashion store, which gives the story a more feminine theme as it is told in a woman's point of view. But we still have Bob in accounting, but this time for the store. Brilliant idea. Especially loved how this helped the story to play out.
I also love the Christian theme of this book, that material gain is not something that is important or something we can keep forever, but it is God and family which is important.
What I Didn't Like:
Okay I know that the Scrooge character is supposed be rude, mean, and who-knows-what-else. But I didn't like the main character, Mrs. Scrooge one bit. I have no idea why people were still working for her.
This is a hard one for me, I usually love the Scrooge character and how that character changes for the better in the end. But even with the back story to help us like Mrs. Scrooge.... I still do not like her. After the back story I might have felt a little more for what happened to her, but the way she treated people especially Bob, I just didn't feel very much for her.
And Bob.... I realized that she was your first love and all that.... Nevermind.
Okay, I love how Bob is able to show Christians to love others so unselfishly..... But I could have gone without the romantic love. With the way she was treating him, it was almost like verbal abuse and he just let her walk all over him all the time and still thought he was romantically in love of her? Forgive me.... No don't forget me, I really, really dislike relationships like this.
Bob really could have walked out on her any time, find a new, probably even a higher paying job, and forget about her. I mean if all the experience he had at Scrooges, I really don't see how someone else wouldn't want to have him. I mean really?
As for Mrs. Scrooge.... How can you have an argument with him, then say you love him, without even helping him out in the ways that he needs helped. I mean, that's not love, that's abuse.
Another thing I didn't like was the ending. Sorry, but no, I had a hard time just accepting that.
The story seem to sometimes give out certain information, then later in the book denied that information was ever given. Okay, so the book never said that so and so happened? Really....
The book also seemed to head-hop from both Mrs. Scrooge to Bob. It was not too irritating actually, I just don't like to head-hop.
Content In Book:
1. Mentions of abuse (both physical and verbal, though not too detailed).
2. Mentions of alcohol.
Who Would I Recommend This Book To:
People who want a Christmas read. People who want a Christmas Carol retelling, despite all the problems I had of this book, it was still enjoyable.
February 14, 2019
This is a modern, gender-bending Christian Fiction take on the holiday classic The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
Eleanor Scrooge and Bob Ratchett have known each other since Eleanor was a little girl. There was a moment one winter when eight year old Eleanor nearly fell through an only partially frozen pond but Bob was there to save her (almost a nod to A Wonderful Life there!). As she gets a little older, he's also there to handle her bullies in school. Growing up in an abusive home, Bob became the only man Eleanor ever really cared for, but life and adulthood ends up leading them in different directions.
Eleanor takes a job with a high end department store, later marrying her boss. After her husband dies, she takes over the business, Scrooges' Fashions. Eleanor is reunited with old friend Bob, now a widower, when he is hired on as the new accountant. The reader is introduced to Bob's home life with his young daughter. His daughter has had a time trying to find a way to be comfortable in her skin with her portwine stain birthmark (this used in place of Dickens' "Tiny Tim" character). Bob wants to work to put funds aside for removal treatments for the birthmark, even taking up a secret second job on the side, but he also doesn't want to deprive his daughter of family time. It's a tough balance.
No surprise, given the family name, but Eleanor takes the news of all this pretty poorly, her behavior toward him turning selfish and manipulative. She harasses him about the second job and full out demands he put work before family demands. By the way, with pretty much anyone that works for her, Eleanor has an excuse ready as to why pay raises are frequently denied. In the case of Bob, they fight, he refuses to bend to her demands, she fires him.
Shortly thereafter, an accident befalls Eleanor that has her re-evaluating her life choices. She receives visits from three spirits, but here (since we're now working on Christian Fiction terms) they're angels: Faith, Hope and Charity -- "which means love", as the story feels the need to repeatedly clarify for some reason -- who help guide her to see where she can make changes for the better.
Not bad, but it was just a so-so retelling IMO. The dialogue got a little over the top saccharine in parts and is it just me or was there a continuity issue in there? Beginning of the story mentions there being six kids but by the end it's only 5?! Anyway, the Christian overtones start to get noticeably heavy toward the middle of the book. About 90 pages in it's just shy of reciting verses and some pages after that they are full steam into reciting the Nativity story almost verbatim.
Eleanor Scrooge and Bob Ratchett have known each other since Eleanor was a little girl. There was a moment one winter when eight year old Eleanor nearly fell through an only partially frozen pond but Bob was there to save her (almost a nod to A Wonderful Life there!). As she gets a little older, he's also there to handle her bullies in school. Growing up in an abusive home, Bob became the only man Eleanor ever really cared for, but life and adulthood ends up leading them in different directions.
Eleanor takes a job with a high end department store, later marrying her boss. After her husband dies, she takes over the business, Scrooges' Fashions. Eleanor is reunited with old friend Bob, now a widower, when he is hired on as the new accountant. The reader is introduced to Bob's home life with his young daughter. His daughter has had a time trying to find a way to be comfortable in her skin with her portwine stain birthmark (this used in place of Dickens' "Tiny Tim" character). Bob wants to work to put funds aside for removal treatments for the birthmark, even taking up a secret second job on the side, but he also doesn't want to deprive his daughter of family time. It's a tough balance.
No surprise, given the family name, but Eleanor takes the news of all this pretty poorly, her behavior toward him turning selfish and manipulative. She harasses him about the second job and full out demands he put work before family demands. By the way, with pretty much anyone that works for her, Eleanor has an excuse ready as to why pay raises are frequently denied. In the case of Bob, they fight, he refuses to bend to her demands, she fires him.
Shortly thereafter, an accident befalls Eleanor that has her re-evaluating her life choices. She receives visits from three spirits, but here (since we're now working on Christian Fiction terms) they're angels: Faith, Hope and Charity -- "which means love", as the story feels the need to repeatedly clarify for some reason -- who help guide her to see where she can make changes for the better.
Not bad, but it was just a so-so retelling IMO. The dialogue got a little over the top saccharine in parts and is it just me or was there a continuity issue in there? Beginning of the story mentions there being six kids but by the end it's only 5?! Anyway, the Christian overtones start to get noticeably heavy toward the middle of the book. About 90 pages in it's just shy of reciting verses and some pages after that they are full steam into reciting the Nativity story almost verbatim.
July 25, 2020
Eleanore Scrooge has everything, a business to run, a mansion on the hill, and employees that she scares and bosses around. Bobby Rachette has been her best friend since they were kids. At age 8, he saved her from falling into an icy pond. But, still, she treats him as just an employee. After an argument, Bob quits. Not sure how he is going to feed his family, he goes to work for someone else. Meanwhile, Eleanore is in a care accident. Faith, Hope, and Charity help Eleanore finally realize that family is more important than being the boss.
December 23, 2023
Written along the lines of A Christmas Carol
Eleanor Scrooge has it all she is wealthy owns her own business thinks she doesn’t need anyone or anything except Bob who she has known since childhood and he saved her from drowning
She loves to boss people and be pushy and only thinks of her wants and needs until she has an accident and meets Faith, Hope, and Charity and they make her reexamine her life and priorities .
A good Christmas read 🎄
Eleanor Scrooge has it all she is wealthy owns her own business thinks she doesn’t need anyone or anything except Bob who she has known since childhood and he saved her from drowning
She loves to boss people and be pushy and only thinks of her wants and needs until she has an accident and meets Faith, Hope, and Charity and they make her reexamine her life and priorities .
A good Christmas read 🎄
December 14, 2024
DNF after two chapters.
I hate 'The Christmas Carol'. I picked this up, because I thought the author might be creative with the idea and stray - A LOT - and make something that I could tolerate.
She didn't. It was awful.
If you want a beautiful, VERY far-from-the-original re-telling of this tale, watch Hallmark's "Ghost of Christmas Always". It's fantastic.
This is going in my donation pile.
I hate 'The Christmas Carol'. I picked this up, because I thought the author might be creative with the idea and stray - A LOT - and make something that I could tolerate.
She didn't. It was awful.
If you want a beautiful, VERY far-from-the-original re-telling of this tale, watch Hallmark's "Ghost of Christmas Always". It's fantastic.
This is going in my donation pile.
December 14, 2017
Wonderful story!
What a great way to retell A Christmas Carol. This was well-written with characters that were realistic - set in modern times. I definitely recommend this book.
What a great way to retell A Christmas Carol. This was well-written with characters that were realistic - set in modern times. I definitely recommend this book.
December 14, 2017
Bah Humbug, Mrs. Scrooge
Bah, Humbug, Mrs. Scrounge by Joyce Livingston is a great rendition of the Christmas Carol. I loved the 'ghosts,' Faith, Hope and Charity.
Bah, Humbug, Mrs. Scrounge by Joyce Livingston is a great rendition of the Christmas Carol. I loved the 'ghosts,' Faith, Hope and Charity.
December 20, 2019
A modern day twist
I loved this modernization of A Christmas Carol. I hope you'll enjoy it too. Merry Christmas everyone! A very Merry Christmas!
I loved this modernization of A Christmas Carol. I hope you'll enjoy it too. Merry Christmas everyone! A very Merry Christmas!
December 6, 2025
I love any Scrooge retelling!
December 27, 2016
A modern and romantic take on A Christmas Carol
December 21, 2016
Liked the way the book led you about Mrs Scrooge.
She wanted to make money by selling more in her department store.
Glad she and Bob were friends since Childhood. Her knew her well.
Good twist from The Christmas Carol.
She wanted to make money by selling more in her department store.
Glad she and Bob were friends since Childhood. Her knew her well.
Good twist from The Christmas Carol.
December 21, 2016
This is another take on the famous Christmas story of a person being visited by three ghosts. That may turn some people off, but I found this version very delightful. The basic idea is the same, but the twists that the author provided were very thought provoking. The only drawback I found was the author's choice of names for the main characters~~Mrs. Scrooge and Bob Rachette. I found this to be an attempt by the author to tie her story into the original. I think the reader can draw the correlation and allow the imagination to work. But it's a great Christmas read.
April 9, 2012
It was just a nice story showing the reader that material possesions are not what makes a person happy. Romantic love and family love is much more important as Eleonor showed after she realized what she had given up for fame and fortune.
December 18, 2016
Bah Humbug, Mrs. Scrooge is a great book to read!
I read this book years ago and have it in a box somewhere. It was great to read it again! It you ever liked A Christmas Carol, you will love this modern version!
I read this book years ago and have it in a box somewhere. It was great to read it again! It you ever liked A Christmas Carol, you will love this modern version!
December 31, 2016
So-so take on A Christmas Carol. I thought some of the parallels drawn were silly. And given "Mrs. Scrooge"'s personality and her treatment of him, I thought it impossible that Bob would have still carried a torch for her.
December 23, 2012
A christian based love story with all the characteristics of A Christmas Carol. Very cliche and predictable. It was a quick easy read.
December 15, 2016
Ebook
The Scrooge is a woman and she gets the visit from faith, hope and charity. She changes and marries her true love
The Scrooge is a woman and she gets the visit from faith, hope and charity. She changes and marries her true love
December 21, 2016
Good
this book beings about the things that makes this woman return to the Lord and how to show love and change
this book beings about the things that makes this woman return to the Lord and how to show love and change
December 25, 2016
It was OK. And I am being nice about it because it is Christmas Day.
December 31, 2016
A modern take
Joyce Livingston did a great job in her upbeat story. Definitely time well spent as we see a modern take on A Christmas Carol.
Joyce Livingston did a great job in her upbeat story. Definitely time well spent as we see a modern take on A Christmas Carol.
January 25, 2017
God's love shines through.
An excellent example of prayers and patience. Love is given when pride has fallen. Praise to the writer for sharing this story with us.
An excellent example of prayers and patience. Love is given when pride has fallen. Praise to the writer for sharing this story with us.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews