A Family-Style Christmas

Stealing Home #1

by Carolyne Aarsen

A Family-Style Christmas by Carolyne Aarsen released on Nov 24, 1999 is available now for purchase.

Genres: Love Inspired, Romance, Christian, Christmas, Christian Romance, Harlequin, Contemporary

253 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Even with over 1.5 million copies of my books in print, I still feel like I haven’t written the perfect story. From my office in the woods of Northern Alberta, I’ll keep trying. Inspired by spectacular sunrises, breathtaking Northern Lights and long walks through wooded trails, the stories keep coming. To find out more about my life and my writing, check out my website at www.carolyneaarsen.com

Reviews

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood in foster care cost businessman Simon Steele his faith. But when he's injured in a motorcycle accident, nurse Caitlin Severn challenges him. She believes that returning to God—and reconnecting with his brother—will help him heal. Can he become the man she deserves by Christmas?
A beautiful story, with a traditional happy ending. Love, love, loved it. Just in time to start all the seasons... Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. 5 stars.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Stealing Home

[Sheila · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not finish this book. Simon is ridiculous.

[Anna Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book a four star rating, because I'm keeping it on my shelf... and I don't keep twos and threes. But for the record, it's the lowest version of a four star rating that this site has EVER seen.

This is the SECOND 'Love Inspired: Christmas' book that I've read that does NOT take place at Christmas. What.The.Heck?! Page 48: 'The September air was quiet, peacefully still'. And the book takes place over the next three weeks... skipping ahead 15/16ths of the way thru (Pg 230-something!) to early December, with the LAST chapter being Christmas (in what seems like nothing more than a ploy for a holiday engagement).

Also the 'family' in the title is misleading. She doesn't have children, he doesn't have children, they don't have children together in the book, they don't even start a family by the end. When Aarsen says 'family', she means the hero has never had a family, and he shows up to her family's festivities... having given her a ring in the car just moments before, without asking her father for her hand or anything. Just... voila - we're here, we're engaged... half of you don't know him, but Merry Ho-Ho!

((It bothered me.))

Other than that, the story is cute: Girl is a nurse. Girl sees guy get in crash. Girl prays him thru until EMTs get there. Girl stays with him all night. Girl is now his 'angel'. Girl gives him a Bible, visits him during her shifts at the hospital, falls in love with him. Girl wins him over, in the end. After he gives his life to the Lord, naturally - because this *IS* love, inspired, hello. It's a basic premise for a book, but I have to admit that Ms. Aarsen does a good job with it. I liked this one. It was an enjoyable hour of reading. The writing was solid, the characters appealing... I even *zinged*, and that's always a bonus, when the chemistry is there.

I did wonder a little at how much the larger-than-life, uber-independent, cocky and self-made hero tended to admit he was 'lonely' or 'hurting' or 'needing' out loud. It isn't something a person who really, truly is overly self-reliant would allow himself to say, I don't think. But for the sake of the book, I went with it, and it worked.

I was even impressed that the author dared leave off the NT and Psalms and go for Tanach... although she got scared with it and dove straight for 'they that wait upon the Lord... mount up with wings as eagles' familiar ground. Still, I have to give MAJOR points for the other verses, and for daring to touch a prophet book, to begin with. Color me impressed - and that's a rare thing to see happen!

Good book. I do recommend it. Even if it isn't a holiday read.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon has a bad boy attitude and a motorcycle and on a rain slick road a car bumps him and his world will never be the same. Caitlin is in a cab running away from a break up with her boyfriend, Charles and right before the crash Simon gives her a cocky grin and a wink and her world will never be the same. Wonderful romance with all kinds of issues. Simon's life story will bring tears to your eyes.
Caitlin's is so sad as well. Just a lovely Christmas story.

[ABookAddictHere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick story about trying to find a place to call home and someone to love . Caitlin helps Simon when she sees him crashbher motorcycle and despite her being off woek at the hospital, goes with him in the ambulance ans stays with him as he heals. He doesn't want to let her in but she still pokes a little until she finds out about his lost brotber and searches him out for Simon.

[Dorel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book's storyline. This book's storyline was sad 😔. I liked the Christian ✝️ theme in this story. I liked Simon's character. I felt for Simon. I liked Caitlin's character. I liked the ending.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most heartbreaking-to heartwarming book I have read in a long time. Simon and Caitlin the most precious to people you could meet. The faith was beautiful. 5⭐️ Highly recommend! Can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book, although it had nothing to do with a family style Christmas until the last chapter of the book.

[Cws]

YAI-Aar