This week end I cleaned out my rock garden, emptied the flower pots and planters, and got all the patio furniture hauled up to the shed until next year. The trees have turned color and I’m thinking someone dumped the pot at the end of the rainbow, because the yard is covered in gold. I realize in some parts of the country, it’s still summer, not in this part of Alaska. So with that knowledge, maybe you won’t think I’m nuts for having read a Christmas book the other day. Well, maybe you will once I tell you I can listen to Christmas music, read Christmas stories, and watch Christmas movies all year. (It’s 99 days ’til Christmas. Tee hee.) Anyway, about this book—Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe is twice as fun as other Christmas books because it’s actually two books in one cover
The first story, by Irene Brand, is An Appalachian Christmas. Set in the 1940’s at the war’s end. Julia returns from active duty with the military and is immediately given a new assignment—to take her deceased sister’s two-year-old son to meet his paternal grandparents. She takes the child on the long and challenging journey to the Appalachian village of Mistletoe, only to have her life threatened by the boy’s grandfather. Escaping Mistletoe presents as many challenges as arriving, or maybe more.
And Anita Higman penned Once Upon a Christmas Eve, which takes place in Noel, Missouri where Holly Goodnight and her father own an award-winning Christmas store. A published novel writer shows up and announces that he wants to write Holly’s story. However, he doesn’t ask it so smoothly; he walks in the store and asks if she’s the Holly Goodnight who was abandoned by her mother at the door of this very Christmas store as an infant. Her lifelong best friend comes to her defense, but Holly knows she would love to find out if her mother is still living and ask the obvious question, “Why did you abandon me?” Although this sounds like a tragic story, I laughed aloud a number of times at the banter between Holly and her best bud, Quig. And you’ll love the twists in the story.
If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll put some orange peel and cinnamon on the stove to simmer while I listen to some Christmas music.
I married my sweet wife 2 1/2 years ago, and ever since that day, we’ve had Christmas music playing in our house anywhere from November until . . . JUNE! I’ve actually grown to like it. Christmas is such a fun and meaningful season. Why not make it last? =)
Thank you for sharing!
Caleb Jennings Breakey
Refining Teen Writers and Readers into Rock Stars
Thanks for your comment. Nice to hear your story.
I ran errands today and listened to Christmas music. So nice…..
Blessings to you!
Anita Higman
Here in Colorado, the weather’s still trying to decide whether it’s still summer or ready for autumn. Me, I’m more that ready for winter and Christmas! As Caleb said, it’s just a fun and meaningful season. And, many deeply heartfelt thanks to high school choir, I’ve started singing Christmas music already, too. =)
Ahh, a couple after my own heart. I am in complete agreement with you.