Loraine's Reviews > The Christmas Note

SUMMARY: Gretchen Daniels has recently moved into a condo with her two children to be closer to her mother, Miriam. As they build a life together in their new community, they notice a mysterious young woman, Melissa McCreary, who lives next door. She has few possessions, little personality, and keeps to herself. One day a local landlord who is looking for Melissa knocks on Gretchen’s door for assistance. Melissa’s mother has died and in the coming weeks the landlord needs Melissa to empty her mother’s apartment. Gretchen reaches out and offers to help Melissa, but the apartment is a gut-wrenching shamble of a home. There is little worth saving except for a few photos and a note that is discovered on the crate beside the bed. It is unfinished, but in the two scribbled lines, Melissa discovers secrets about her family that she never could have imagined. Can two very different women embark on a journey that explores a long-buried need for forgiveness, hope, and redemption?

REVIEW: Donna Van Liere is a Christmas story writer par excellence. Every one of her Christmas books has made me laugh and cry and given me inspiration. The Christmas Note does not fail. The characters are true-to-life and the storyline filled with twists, turns, and surprises. The introduction of each chapter with a quote, was a great touch and many warmed my heart or caused me to do some pondering. With a smidgen of mystery and intrigue, family problems, and characters who all have their own strengths and weaknesses, this story definitely keeps you turning the pages. Another lovely and heartwarming Christmas read from a fine author.

FAVORITE QUOTES: "Grief can't be shared. Everyone carries it alone. His own burden in his own way." (Anne Morrow Lindburg quote)

"It's harder to let go of a bad relationship than a good one. With a good one you've got sweet memories and kind words. With a bad one you just got a whole lot of unanswered questions and open wounds."

"Grief takes a while but joy does come."

"When you say 'I believe" it has the same power as letting a tiger out of its cage."