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Midnight, Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve. Two cups of hot cocoa. Two high school friends . . .
and a promise made, never to be broken. While in their junior year of high school, Brady Jameson and Sarah Ashford have a chance encounter on a park bench during the magical, thinly veiled hours of Christmas Eve. From there, a special bond and friendship develop between them. Then, a promise is if unmarried after graduating college, they will return to the bench on Christmas Eve and begin their lives together. Over the years, Brady keeps his promise. Sarah, however, never shows, even though Brady knows she’s not married. Friends insist Brady “let her go,” but Brady made a promise to Sarah and Sarah owns his heart. And so, each year, he waits at the bench holding two cups of hot cocoa. Will Sarah ever return to the bench? Will she ever know how much Brady has always loved her?
and a promise made, never to be broken. While in their junior year of high school, Brady Jameson and Sarah Ashford have a chance encounter on a park bench during the magical, thinly veiled hours of Christmas Eve. From there, a special bond and friendship develop between them. Then, a promise is if unmarried after graduating college, they will return to the bench on Christmas Eve and begin their lives together. Over the years, Brady keeps his promise. Sarah, however, never shows, even though Brady knows she’s not married. Friends insist Brady “let her go,” but Brady made a promise to Sarah and Sarah owns his heart. And so, each year, he waits at the bench holding two cups of hot cocoa. Will Sarah ever return to the bench? Will she ever know how much Brady has always loved her?
- GenresChristmas
287 pages, Paperback
Published October 9, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 23, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were realistic and I cared about them from the very beginning. It’s a sweet Christmas story with a lot of heartache before the end. But I love a good ending and this one delivered!
October 26, 2021
This review by librarian Christine Barth was first published in the Oct. 2021 issue of Library Journal.
Clapp's (Under the Lights) modern-day Hosea and Gomer retelling replaces the Biblical couple with rural, white North Carolina teenagers. Brady finds his first love in Sarah, a beautiful and troubled young woman in an abusive relationship. Brady's friends tell him to leave her alone, but he follows his religious convictions and tries to help Sarah by folding her into his church youth group.
As the high schoolers are pulled in different directions, Brady and Sarah make a pact to meet at their special bench at midnight on Christmas Eve in five years' time. Clapp slowly follows Brady and Sarah as they grow and change. Sarah reaches out only when she hits rock bottom, while Brady remains faithful to Sarah even as friends and family urge him to move on and enjoy his own successes.
VERDICT: Clapp's novel will resonate with readers searching for peace in a busy holiday season, as a gentler take on the Book of Hosea's less-known redemption parable, which was also retold in Francine Rivers' classic Redeeming Love.
Clapp's (Under the Lights) modern-day Hosea and Gomer retelling replaces the Biblical couple with rural, white North Carolina teenagers. Brady finds his first love in Sarah, a beautiful and troubled young woman in an abusive relationship. Brady's friends tell him to leave her alone, but he follows his religious convictions and tries to help Sarah by folding her into his church youth group.
As the high schoolers are pulled in different directions, Brady and Sarah make a pact to meet at their special bench at midnight on Christmas Eve in five years' time. Clapp slowly follows Brady and Sarah as they grow and change. Sarah reaches out only when she hits rock bottom, while Brady remains faithful to Sarah even as friends and family urge him to move on and enjoy his own successes.
VERDICT: Clapp's novel will resonate with readers searching for peace in a busy holiday season, as a gentler take on the Book of Hosea's less-known redemption parable, which was also retold in Francine Rivers' classic Redeeming Love.
December 11, 2022
In Midnight, Christmas Eve by Andy Clapp, Brady Jameson was a high school junior out finishing some shopping on Christmas Eve when he saw a girl crying on a park bench. He approached her to see if he could help and discovered the girl was Sarah, the head cheerleader, girlfriend to the school’s best athlete. Brady provided a shoulder to cry on, and he and Sarah became friends.
Sarah’s boyfriend, Aiden, is not good for her, but she stays with him. Brady realizes Sarah has come to mean very much to him, but keeps his distance since she’s dating someone else.
After another chance encounter and another opportunity to comfort Sarah through another crises, she makes a proposition: that if neither of them are married within five years, they’ll meet at Christmas Eve at “their” bench and get married.
Brady agrees and shows up at the appointed time, but Sarah doesn’t. Their lives intersect at various times, but they never mention their promise. Brady comes every Christmas Eve, even when he tells himself he’s a fool for doing so. But Sarah never shows up.
Is Brady a picture of faithful love? Or is he deluded, letting life pass him by while he waits for an impossible dream?
I loved this book. It had me in tears in a couple of places. I appreciated that the characters’ faith was interwoven so naturally and seamlessly.
Sarah’s boyfriend, Aiden, is not good for her, but she stays with him. Brady realizes Sarah has come to mean very much to him, but keeps his distance since she’s dating someone else.
After another chance encounter and another opportunity to comfort Sarah through another crises, she makes a proposition: that if neither of them are married within five years, they’ll meet at Christmas Eve at “their” bench and get married.
Brady agrees and shows up at the appointed time, but Sarah doesn’t. Their lives intersect at various times, but they never mention their promise. Brady comes every Christmas Eve, even when he tells himself he’s a fool for doing so. But Sarah never shows up.
Is Brady a picture of faithful love? Or is he deluded, letting life pass him by while he waits for an impossible dream?
I loved this book. It had me in tears in a couple of places. I appreciated that the characters’ faith was interwoven so naturally and seamlessly.
October 26, 2021
Clapp's (Under the Lights) modern-day Hosea and Gomer retelling replaces the Biblical couple with rural, white North Carolina teenagers. Brady finds his first love in Sarah, a beautiful and troubled young woman in an abusive relationship. Brady's friends tell him to leave her alone, but he follows his religious convictions and tries to help Sarah by folding her into his church youth group.
As the high schoolers are pulled in different directions, Brady and Sarah make a pact to meet at their special bench at midnight on Christmas Eve in five years' time. Clapp slowly follows Brady and Sarah as they grow and change. Sarah reaches out only when she hits rock bottom, while Brady remains faithful to Sarah even as friends and family urge him to move on and enjoy his own successes.
VERDICT: Clapp's novel will resonate with readers searching for peace in a busy holiday season, as a gentler take on the Book of Hosea's less-known redemption parable, which was also retold in Francine Rivers' classic Redeeming Love.
As the high schoolers are pulled in different directions, Brady and Sarah make a pact to meet at their special bench at midnight on Christmas Eve in five years' time. Clapp slowly follows Brady and Sarah as they grow and change. Sarah reaches out only when she hits rock bottom, while Brady remains faithful to Sarah even as friends and family urge him to move on and enjoy his own successes.
VERDICT: Clapp's novel will resonate with readers searching for peace in a busy holiday season, as a gentler take on the Book of Hosea's less-known redemption parable, which was also retold in Francine Rivers' classic Redeeming Love.
January 6, 2022
I’d planned to read this book in the days leading up to Christmas, but the holidays were too rushed for me to settle into its pages. Three days into the new year, Midnight, Christmas Eve’s lovely cover summoned me from my coffee table. I’m so happy I didn’t pick it up and stash it away till next year. Turns out this sweet romance read just as well after Christmas as it would have before—but then, when isn’t there a good time to read an encouraging story of unconditional love and redemption.
Author Andy Clapp skillfully weaves threads of hope throughout the unforeseen twists and turns of his inspiring debut novel. Small-town southern charm, a close-knit circle of friends, and traditional faith-filled values make this contemporary story one that will warm your heart and motivate you to never give up on those you love.
Clapp’s effortless delivery and the book’s short chapters kept me turning pages. Go ahead. Pick it up and welcome the true spirit of Christmas into your life—whatever the season.
I look forward to more books from this author.
Author Andy Clapp skillfully weaves threads of hope throughout the unforeseen twists and turns of his inspiring debut novel. Small-town southern charm, a close-knit circle of friends, and traditional faith-filled values make this contemporary story one that will warm your heart and motivate you to never give up on those you love.
Clapp’s effortless delivery and the book’s short chapters kept me turning pages. Go ahead. Pick it up and welcome the true spirit of Christmas into your life—whatever the season.
I look forward to more books from this author.
July 11, 2022
At first, I didn’t feel like this book was going to be one that I’d add to my shelf. The writing was a bit “simple” for lack of a better word and it felt like it was being narrated for me. But I’m grateful I pushed on. I read on as time after time Sarah pushed Brady away and time after time, he stayed ready and waiting for her to love him. And I thought he needed to get on with life…just like his friends thought. But about half way through it dawned on me that the author was retelling a simple, yet powerful story - Hosea’s story. And I began to read it in a different light and to see the powerful love story it really was. So glad I continued on to be blessed by the story and Pastor Todd’s wisdom. ❤️
October 17, 2021
Andy Clapp’s Midnight, Christmas Eve ignites, in just the first few chapters, a spark of hope that true love never ends and fans the flames of undying love with each fast-moving chapter. Clapp masterfully brings to life the biblical account of Hosea and Gomer with modern-day characters, causing the reader to ponder God’s redeeming, never-ending love for His children, while turning pages to find out if love triumphs in the end. An excellent read!
- Julie Lavender, author of 365 Ways to Love Your Child: Turning Little Moments into Lasting Memories (Revell)
- Julie Lavender, author of 365 Ways to Love Your Child: Turning Little Moments into Lasting Memories (Revell)
November 24, 2021
The author brings the love story found in Hosea into today's world between Brady and Sarah where they both have to find patience during the storms of life. This book is truly a Christian book because it is based around a set of characters that learn how to live out their faith. You are going to be surprised how quickly this book is to read. Someone needs to make this one a movie!
November 3, 2025
I enjoyed this book from the beginning, but at times I began to get a little frustrated with the main character for not moving on. Then as I kept reading, I began to see that this book was a retelling of the book of Hosea, a beautiful story of God’s love and redemption. This story was sweet and convicting at the same time. A wonderful Christmas story to read anytime.
December 6, 2021
Captivating
Great Christmas read! Enjoyed this book very much.would highly recommend. Being from NC, made the book better. Very well written.
Great Christmas read! Enjoyed this book very much.would highly recommend. Being from NC, made the book better. Very well written.
December 31, 2021
Great Book! Looked forward to picking it up everyday. Hoping for a sequel! My kind of read and would make a great Hallmark movie!
February 23, 2022
A beautiful, heartwarming love story. I cried, I smiled, I laughed. This is one I will remember always. I look forward to reading more from author Andy Clapp.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews