Where Treetops Glisten: Three Stories of Heartwarming Courage and Christmas Romance During World War II in Readers Unite

Sep 23, 2014 Laura rated it it was amazing

he crunch of newly fallen snow, the weight of wartime
Siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories, filled with the wonder of Christmas

Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America's involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.

In Cara Putman's White Christmas, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee a he crunch of newly fallen snow, the weight of wartime
Siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories, filled with the wonder of Christmas

Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America's involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.

In Cara Putman's White Christmas, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements---until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.

My thoughts: This was a very sweet romance, with a hero that I couldn't help but fall in love with and a bubbly, sweet and intelligent girl who thinks her dad hung the moon. Even though Abigail doesn't want to have a relationship after her fiance died, she didn't reject friendship when a hurting, needy man crosses her path. I loved this story. I have only read one of Ms. Putman's books so she isn't an author really familiar to me. I might have to look up more of her books.

Abigail's brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theater in Sarah Sundin's I'll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete's friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he's no longer the bully she once knew?

My thoughts: This was a totally great story! I absolutely adored Pete! He had a difficult uphill climb to "give" the way his pastor suggested to this family. The black moment almost made me cry and made me absolutely furious at Grace. I know I'll sound like a broken record here, but I loved this story! I have read all of Ms. Sundin's books so far, and enjoyed them all, but I absolutely loved this Christmas novella!

In Tricia Goyer's Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, "Merry" to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that's precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.

My thoughts: i've read all of Ms. Goyer's books, too. I love how she gets to the heart of the action, showing us behind the scenes secrets of WWII that probably not many of us living today know about. HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS is set in a tiny village in the Netherlands. And God worked a Christmas miracle in hearts. Beautiful story. Though there were sad parts in this one that might cause a tear or two.

The Turner family believes in God's providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ's birth and His plan for a future?

Final thoughts: I know I said this before with other novella collections, but I am so glad other big publishers have started to do novella collections. These are such great reads at any time of the year. I highly recommend WHERE TREETOPS GLISTEN for a fantastic WWII holiday read! Historical readers will want to start their holidays off by reading WHERE TREETOPS GLISTEN.
...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 28, 2014 Natalie Walters rated it it was amazing

Oh, I really enjoyed this collection of WWII novellas so much. Rich in nostalgia, each story reminded me of the old Christmas movies where love and hope mingle timelessly. Truly, if you love Miracle on 34th Street (the original with Natalie Woods), White Christmas, and It's a Wonderful Life, you will LOVE this collection. Historical content adds the authenticity necessary to bring readers into an era where tinsel and mistletoe made the season bright in spite of the war threatening to diminish th ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 09, 2014 Brittany rated it it was amazing

I cannot speak too highly of this collection of Christmas novellas! All three of these stories are so very good! Be prepared to be transported back in time to the turbulent WWII era and follow the lives of three siblings as they find love during Christmas time. I loved all three stories and I really enjoyed how these books were connected.

There are many neat things about how these three stories flow together. Each novella, as well as the prologue and epilogue are titled with Christmas tunes that I cannot speak too highly of this collection of Christmas novellas! All three of these stories are so very good! Be prepared to be transported back in time to the turbulent WWII era and follow the lives of three siblings as they find love during Christmas time. I loved all three stories and I really enjoyed how these books were connected.

There are many neat things about how these three stories flow together. Each novella, as well as the prologue and epilogue are titled with Christmas tunes that debuted during the time period. I thought that was extremely clever and works so well for the book. It also put me in the right frame of mind as I was reading the stories. I grew up listening to music and watching movies from this era (thanks to a mother and grandmother who love all things classic). So, I was really able to “get into” these stories.

White Christmas by Cara Putman – The first novella follows Abigail Turner as she works her way through college and tries to determine the path that God set out for her. She certainly does not believe that the path includes a romance with Jackson Lucas. How could God expect her to put her heart on the line a second time, after she has already suffered so much loss? This is a beautiful and sweet story about trusting God and not allowing fear to rule your life.

I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Sarah Sundin – Abigail’s brother, Pete Turner, is home on furlough. He’s a fighter pilot and former wild child who has done a lot of things in the past that he regrets. When he comes face to face with a woman whom he used to torment as a child, and he realizes that God wants him to offer to help her by giving of himself, it makes for a very tension-filled story. Can Grace Kessler, a widow who struggles with trust issues, ever truly believe that Pete has changed? Grace’s daughter, Linnie, is precious and hurting. The kind way Pete cares for her and the patience Pete shows toward Grace really endeared him to my heart. This story does an excellent job of illustrating the way that God can thoroughly change a person’s heart, making them new from the inside out.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Tricia Goyer – Meredith Turner, aka Merry, is serving as a nurse overseas. Having barely survived the betrayal of the man she loved years earlier, Merry doesn’t see how she can ever really get past that life-changing day when everything fell apart. This story has danger and excitement in it, as well as the hand of God bringing together two people who have been giving their all for others throughout the war.

I highly recommend this great collection of WWII Christmas stories.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah, through Litfuse Publicity, in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

You can read this review on my blog at:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c... ...more

Like · see review