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Blessings of the Season: An Anthology
The Holiday Husband by Annie Jones
Addie McCoy has always dreamed of celebrating Christmas with a family of her own. Her prayers are answered when she meets Nate Browder. But Nate's only in town for the holidays. Can Addie convince him he'll make the perfect husband for Christmas—and all year round?
The Christmas Letter by Brenda Minton
Being a single mom during Christmas isn't easy. When a mysterious soldier shows up on Isabella Grant's doorstep, what's a single mom to do? With a little help from her twelve-year-old daughter and a handsome military man, love might be the perfect holiday gift.
Addie McCoy has always dreamed of celebrating Christmas with a family of her own. Her prayers are answered when she meets Nate Browder. But Nate's only in town for the holidays. Can Addie convince him he'll make the perfect husband for Christmas—and all year round?
The Christmas Letter by Brenda Minton
Being a single mom during Christmas isn't easy. When a mysterious soldier shows up on Isabella Grant's doorstep, what's a single mom to do? With a little help from her twelve-year-old daughter and a handsome military man, love might be the perfect holiday gift.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 15, 2022
I reviewed the first of this 2-story book in it's own space ('The Holiday Husband' by Annie Jones is a 3 star, and apparently can be reviewed by itself, elsewhere.). This one star review is for Brenda Minton's story, "The Christmas Letter", only.
If it were possible to give a book NO stars, this would be the one I would do it to. I don't think I've read anything so patently awful since... I can't keep track, anymore. It's BAD. Seriously bad. From the very first sentence. Would you like that sentence?
"No,no,no... if she doesn't see that he's using her, she doesn't deserve him." Which SHOULD be "if she doesn't see that he's using her, she totally deserves him", hello. Because if she's that dumb? She deserves to be used. (((((sigh.)))))
Followed by "Lizzie stood at the door, long, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail When she wore it like that, she still looked like a little girl and Isabelle didn't feel thirty-three." If Isabelle is thirty-three and Lizzie is her daughter? SHE IS A LITTLE GIRL, for the love of Pete!!!! GAHHHHHH!!!!
So about the story. Isabelle works at the diner. She's also a bookkeeper out of her house. She's also a mechanic at the local garage. She's also a single mother. It's... a *little* much, hello. Additionally, she does nothing more than watch Hallmark(/Lifetime) movies... which this book is apparently a replica of. It's schmaltzy and meant to be a steal from the Hallmark holiday romances, and it's so blatantly stolen from movies like 'The Christmas Card' that there's hardly a fresh idea in it.
It's CALLED the 'Christmas Letter', but there's no letter in the book, naturally. Because MINTON. Instead of writing, she TELLS us there was a letter. And cards, and packagers... HOW DOES A 12-year old put together packages to send to a soldier with money she doesn't have, no transportation without her mom, and no wherewithal to package up/send anything as a kid? I've done care packages - it's not easy for an ADULT to do - there are claim forms and regulations, and no little girl is gonna pull that off without her mom knowing, hello.
And that's the premise. Twelve year old writes to a guy as her mother, and he shows up in town half in love with her. Basically 'The Christmas Card' meets 'The Perfect Man' a la Hilary Duff. Which is nearly referenced, and it's KIND OF pitiful when you see other people's work in what's supposed to be a fresh novel.
And the WRITING...! HomiGAWSH, Minton can't write her way out of a paper sack, and this is NOT my first go-round with her. I just forgot how badly her stuff is. Like this:
"Chad drove to the parking lot of a deserted old gas station. The concrete was cracked and the weeds had grown up and then died in the cold winter. Cold. He liked that feeling. He liked the damp brisk air that smelled like wood smoke from fireplaces and drying grasses, and maybe a little fertilizer from a nearby farm." The writing is abysmal. I can't even begin to go into the lack of focus or flow or creative weaving of words to get cohesive ideas that is absolutely lacking, here. It's just PAINFUL.
I quit. I'm sorry, but as much as I wanted to read a story with the premise given on the blurb of this...? NO. Absolutely not. Someone else, do this better and let me know. I'll read it. But this is just garbage.
If it were possible to give a book NO stars, this would be the one I would do it to. I don't think I've read anything so patently awful since... I can't keep track, anymore. It's BAD. Seriously bad. From the very first sentence. Would you like that sentence?
"No,no,no... if she doesn't see that he's using her, she doesn't deserve him." Which SHOULD be "if she doesn't see that he's using her, she totally deserves him", hello. Because if she's that dumb? She deserves to be used. (((((sigh.)))))
Followed by "Lizzie stood at the door, long, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail When she wore it like that, she still looked like a little girl and Isabelle didn't feel thirty-three." If Isabelle is thirty-three and Lizzie is her daughter? SHE IS A LITTLE GIRL, for the love of Pete!!!! GAHHHHHH!!!!
So about the story. Isabelle works at the diner. She's also a bookkeeper out of her house. She's also a mechanic at the local garage. She's also a single mother. It's... a *little* much, hello. Additionally, she does nothing more than watch Hallmark(/Lifetime) movies... which this book is apparently a replica of. It's schmaltzy and meant to be a steal from the Hallmark holiday romances, and it's so blatantly stolen from movies like 'The Christmas Card' that there's hardly a fresh idea in it.
It's CALLED the 'Christmas Letter', but there's no letter in the book, naturally. Because MINTON. Instead of writing, she TELLS us there was a letter. And cards, and packagers... HOW DOES A 12-year old put together packages to send to a soldier with money she doesn't have, no transportation without her mom, and no wherewithal to package up/send anything as a kid? I've done care packages - it's not easy for an ADULT to do - there are claim forms and regulations, and no little girl is gonna pull that off without her mom knowing, hello.
And that's the premise. Twelve year old writes to a guy as her mother, and he shows up in town half in love with her. Basically 'The Christmas Card' meets 'The Perfect Man' a la Hilary Duff. Which is nearly referenced, and it's KIND OF pitiful when you see other people's work in what's supposed to be a fresh novel.
And the WRITING...! HomiGAWSH, Minton can't write her way out of a paper sack, and this is NOT my first go-round with her. I just forgot how badly her stuff is. Like this:
"Chad drove to the parking lot of a deserted old gas station. The concrete was cracked and the weeds had grown up and then died in the cold winter. Cold. He liked that feeling. He liked the damp brisk air that smelled like wood smoke from fireplaces and drying grasses, and maybe a little fertilizer from a nearby farm." The writing is abysmal. I can't even begin to go into the lack of focus or flow or creative weaving of words to get cohesive ideas that is absolutely lacking, here. It's just PAINFUL.
I quit. I'm sorry, but as much as I wanted to read a story with the premise given on the blurb of this...? NO. Absolutely not. Someone else, do this better and let me know. I'll read it. But this is just garbage.
February 6, 2022
This was a fun read. I liked the characters in both books. I could picture the people in The Holiday Husband in that department store window and it made me smile as I remember the outstanding window decor in downtown Philadlephia. Wish we could go back in time and have a do over like in the book. The second book, The Christmas Letter would make a great Hallmark movie. Even though it was predictable, it was fun to read and Chad sounds like a real hunk.
December 31, 2023
The first story, The Holiday Husband, was the best in this book. I enjoyed the part that took you back to the 50s. The second story was okay. It did bring in a part about veterans, which is good, but the story was pretty predictable. Nice Christmas read.
November 24, 2020
Sweet and sappy Hallmark reading.
November 23, 2023
Two cute shorter stories about romance at Christmas.
Read
December 21, 2009In The Holiday Husband by Annie Jones, you learn that God uses circumstances one may not expect to bring together two people. No way would Addie who was applying for a job expected to meet Nathan and Jesse, the owners' grandson the way she did. The humor of the beginning of this story draws you in.
Events that are unexpected can sometimes change the course of one's life or careers as it did for Nathan in this story.
Also Addie learned to appreciate the excessive decorating of her Mother and understand why it was so important to her.
The proposal was a delight.
If you aren't in the Christmas spirit, this will put you there.
In The Christmas Letter when Lizzie, 12 years old, writes to a soldier it gets out of hand. Soon she begins to write the letters as if they are from her Mother. Little did she dream the soldier, Chad, would show up on her doorstep to meet Isabella that he thought had been writing him. God has strange ways of bringing people together and fulfilling his plan.
To me reading this story it could have been set right here in the small town in Missouri where I live. That is exactly the way things are done in this town.
I enjoyed both books and they put me in a holiday spirit I wasn't feeling before reading them.
Events that are unexpected can sometimes change the course of one's life or careers as it did for Nathan in this story.
Also Addie learned to appreciate the excessive decorating of her Mother and understand why it was so important to her.
The proposal was a delight.
If you aren't in the Christmas spirit, this will put you there.
In The Christmas Letter when Lizzie, 12 years old, writes to a soldier it gets out of hand. Soon she begins to write the letters as if they are from her Mother. Little did she dream the soldier, Chad, would show up on her doorstep to meet Isabella that he thought had been writing him. God has strange ways of bringing people together and fulfilling his plan.
To me reading this story it could have been set right here in the small town in Missouri where I live. That is exactly the way things are done in this town.
I enjoyed both books and they put me in a holiday spirit I wasn't feeling before reading them.
December 1, 2009
2 Wonderful Christmas stories,One story based on a small town store, and the other story about a Daughter writing to a man in the Military and then he comes to visit her and her Mom..
November 20, 2011
I really enjoyed this easy read.
September 26, 2012
The Holiday Husband - ****
The Christmas Letter - *****
Loved both of the Heroes in these two stories :)
The Christmas Letter - *****
Loved both of the Heroes in these two stories :)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews