J's Reviews > The Christmas Note

I loved that the book had a holiday theme and involved the military. I also liked that the author was from Franklin, TN. I was pleasantly surprised that this wasn't the expected sugar sweet story I expected, at least initially.

I didn't like how "Southern" it was - i.e. white trash and overly invasive/co-dependant characters. Almost all the women in the book had been divorced at least once. One main character didn't know who her father was because her mother was transient and promiscuous. The "stable" main character met her husband when she was in high school and he was the local police office - 7 years older than her. Gross!

It also rubbed me the wrong way how invasive the characters were with each other. One character seems to think it is her christian duty is pester the stranger living next door, who clearly wants to be left in privacy. Then, she welcomes this stranger into her home which is pathetically desperate and unsafe. And later, she bossily forces this woman she has know for mere weeks to make a major life step, under threat of initiating the action herself. The books seems to accept the idea that it is rude to mind your own business. In another scene, the parents landscape their daughter and virtual stranger's home without prior authorization or consent as a surprise gift - and it is seen as a nice gesture! If anyone messed with my landscaping without prior authorization they would be shot! The characters seem to take extreme liberties with each other's personal lives. If anyone behaved that way with me, they would quickly be shown the exit door.

Additionally, the author lacks exceptional writing skills. In areas the dialog felt awkward and in other areas the narrative seemed a bit too "down home". The entire work lacked the feel of sophisticated writing. The plot twists at the novel's end were unbelievable. Not a great book in any sense of the work, but also not offensive ...