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True Love: 12 Christmas Stories, My True Love Gave to Me
Let's face it, life is messy and so are emotions. But, as Hellen Keller said, "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." This book was written with love, for someone the author loves, and who loves him in return. The twelve stories contain every emotion that we feel daily, but we're too afraid to let out. They are offered in the hope that readers will give themselves permission to really feel. To laugh, to hope, and yes... to cry. What better time of life than the Holidays to open that little door to our hearts that we slam shut and lock most of the time.
260 pages, Hardcover
Published September 17, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 4, 2022
All I can say about this book is…. I LOVE IT!!! Never have I read a book of short stories where tears streamed down my face almost the entire time and yet the whole experience made me happy. This book was written from a husband to his wife over a period of 12 years using the words of a beloved Christmas carol and, in my opinion, the author hit this one out of the park. The book is all about love and hope and inspiration and it is incredible.
Ben Bongers has taken some of our world’s saddest, most depressing topics; war, medical conditions, family, and the list goes on and he has turned those moments into some of the most beautiful and inspirational short stories this reader has ever seen. According to the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” each of the verses holds a special meaning that I never even knew about. I just thought it was a song. Each of the verses symbolizes something; for example, a partridge in a pear tree is trustworthy while ten lords a leaping are brave. He has taken each meaning and written a short story which describes that meaning, in the everyday lives of others, and he has done it in a hopeful, poignant, and inspiring manner that makes the reader, at least this reader, feel the love and the moral behind each storytelling.
As the author states in the beginning of his book, “life is messy and so are emotions.” This is so very true and these stories contain some of the unhappiest and messiest parts of life that one can imagine. In writing his stories, Ben has turned those parts of life into some of the most joyful, encouraging, and love-filled moments that you can imagine, and he is has done it with very skillful and descriptive writing that makes you feel like you are truly a part of the moment. The stories, although heartbreaking in many cases, actually bring the reader so much joy at how they turn out.
“True Love: 12 Christmas Stories, My True Love Gave To Me” by Ben Bongers is, without a doubt, the perfect example and presentation of how to find happiness in the most sorrowful moments and it truly shows us what the season of Christmas is really supposed to be about. I say 5 stars to this author and send my thanks to his wife, who was the catalyst for this book in the first place.
Ben Bongers has taken some of our world’s saddest, most depressing topics; war, medical conditions, family, and the list goes on and he has turned those moments into some of the most beautiful and inspirational short stories this reader has ever seen. According to the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” each of the verses holds a special meaning that I never even knew about. I just thought it was a song. Each of the verses symbolizes something; for example, a partridge in a pear tree is trustworthy while ten lords a leaping are brave. He has taken each meaning and written a short story which describes that meaning, in the everyday lives of others, and he has done it in a hopeful, poignant, and inspiring manner that makes the reader, at least this reader, feel the love and the moral behind each storytelling.
As the author states in the beginning of his book, “life is messy and so are emotions.” This is so very true and these stories contain some of the unhappiest and messiest parts of life that one can imagine. In writing his stories, Ben has turned those parts of life into some of the most joyful, encouraging, and love-filled moments that you can imagine, and he is has done it with very skillful and descriptive writing that makes you feel like you are truly a part of the moment. The stories, although heartbreaking in many cases, actually bring the reader so much joy at how they turn out.
“True Love: 12 Christmas Stories, My True Love Gave To Me” by Ben Bongers is, without a doubt, the perfect example and presentation of how to find happiness in the most sorrowful moments and it truly shows us what the season of Christmas is really supposed to be about. I say 5 stars to this author and send my thanks to his wife, who was the catalyst for this book in the first place.
February 25, 2026
I picked up True Love 12 Christmas Stories, My True Love Gave to Me by Ben Bongers expecting something light and festive, but what I found was much more personal and emotionally honest than I anticipated.
What struck me most is that these stories don’t try too hard to impress, they feel lived in. You can tell this book was written for someone real, someone deeply loved, and that gives it a sincerity that’s hard to fake. The emotions aren’t polished or overly dramatic they’re the kind we all recognize but don’t always admit out loud. There’s vulnerability here, especially in the quieter moments, and that’s what stayed with me after I finished.
Some stories made me smile in that warm, nostalgic Christmas way. Others hit unexpectedly deep. The holiday setting works beautifully because it mirrors real life, joy sitting right next to longing, gratitude mixed with reflection. It feels less like fiction and more like someone opening a door and saying, Here. This is my heart.
It’s not a flashy book, and that’s its strength. It’s intimate, reflective, and clearly written with genuine love. If you’re willing to slow down and actually feel something this holiday season, this collection is worth your time.
What struck me most is that these stories don’t try too hard to impress, they feel lived in. You can tell this book was written for someone real, someone deeply loved, and that gives it a sincerity that’s hard to fake. The emotions aren’t polished or overly dramatic they’re the kind we all recognize but don’t always admit out loud. There’s vulnerability here, especially in the quieter moments, and that’s what stayed with me after I finished.
Some stories made me smile in that warm, nostalgic Christmas way. Others hit unexpectedly deep. The holiday setting works beautifully because it mirrors real life, joy sitting right next to longing, gratitude mixed with reflection. It feels less like fiction and more like someone opening a door and saying, Here. This is my heart.
It’s not a flashy book, and that’s its strength. It’s intimate, reflective, and clearly written with genuine love. If you’re willing to slow down and actually feel something this holiday season, this collection is worth your time.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews