Robin Jones Gunn

I thought that this was a really sweet novella. With the text a dark green, this book immediately showed how unique it was even before I started reading. At the beginning of each chapter, a lamp post was behind the type, giving the book a cozy feeling. It had many references to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis and other musicals. I was hooked from chapter one with its slightly eerie beginning. Each character had their own, distinct personality. Julia was such a fun little girl, always with something cute to say. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. They have also been made into movies.… (meer)

I enjoyed the first book in this ChristFic series as well as the first related Hallmark movie. But I'll admit that overall, I didn't find enough vital or new/fresh material in this second book for a strong novella. I think the read would have worked better at the length of a short story or a novelette at most.

There isn't a compelling sense of a forward-moving plot through much of this read. It really felt to me like the story was idling, stretching out some parts and searching for activities to give the characters more to do until the eventual, main events that had to be saved for the last quarter or so.

Also, Miranda and Ian go from only exchanging first hellos at the very end of the previous book to being engagement-ready at the start of this one. Because I hadn't the chance to experience any process there and to grow into the couple's connection along with them, I couldn't connect with their relationship now. It all developed too easily off-page, and then it picks up and continues on here in such perfect fashion.

On that note, this story pours in plenty of familial and friendly warmth, affection, and goodwill in general, but it's to the extent that the read becomes oversweet. Again, with various events that play out too perfectly.

Still, I was interested in finding out how the one conflict would resolve in the end. I also plan on watching the second movie, which I'm guessing has probably done significant reworking to the original story to create more of a driving plot.… (meer)

I'm not certain which I heard of first: the Father Christmas trilogy of ChristFic books, or the related trio of Hallmark Christmas movies. In any case, I decided to check out the first book first, skipping the blurb and jumping in.

While I enjoy and love my share of holiday romances, there's such an abundance of them out there. Because warm and wholesome contemporary Christmas novellas that aren't romances aren't quite as easy to find, it was refreshing for me to learn that this tale isn't a romance.

Despite the fact that for the most part, the mild mystery here was predictable to me, I was most engaged as the points concerning the mystery unfolded. Between those points, though, the book would often take its time strolling through details about the setting and the minor doings of the characters. A time or two, it even felt to me like the story was prolonging itself by interruption, stalling the plot advancement with more minor doings.

On a different note, I can't say that every spiritual statement in the story jibed with me, and I found some of the message repetitive. It eventually became clear to me that the point of the tale is the faith thread—which ties up nicely right before the rather abrupt ending leaves the characters' other relevant matters at loose ends. It's obvious that this book begs for its sequel.

Well, I enjoyed the warmth and the overall Christmassy feeling of the read, and I'm interested enough in the characters' other matters to find out specifically how the next phase plays out. So I do plan on reading the sequel, perhaps after I watch the first in the trio of movies.

I reckon that unlike the book, the movie version is indeed a romance, which is all right with me.… (meer)