I googled for “dysfunctional families” and was not the least bit surprised to see that this novel had won an award for the most dysfunctional characters in one novel. No, not really, none of that is true, except for the part that all the characters ARE dysfunctional! Goodness, what an unhappy lot. So many bad things and poor choices. I will say that by the end of the story, some of the characters showed growth and were headed in a happier direction. Some found happiness late in their lives, others much earlier. And that middle generation were last seen arguing. But who knows? Maybe that’s what made them happy. Anyway, I thought the writing was good, and I appreciated that the novel was a romance without being explicit about what happens in the bedroom. I just wish that some of the characters could have had happier lives sooner rather than later. ( )

This book is primarily a story about second chances and dealing with one's past. Grandma Ruby opens the doors of Christmas House (her bed and breakfast) to her dysfunctional family, in the hopes that they will come to grips with the past and move forward to a happier future. Grandma Ruby also discovers her own "happily ever after" in the process.

I would not consider The Christmas House to be filled with happiness and joy, although there are some of those moments in it. Some parts are downright depressing and dragged on too long for me. Themes include broken promises and families, pregnancy out of wedlock, disputes between sisters, and how the past catches up with our present and can affect our future.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )

The Christmas House by Victoria James is the story about three generations of women and how their choices in men have affected their lives. Grandma Ruby owns The Christmas House where the family will be spending the holidays. Charlotte, a professional organizer, arrives first and discovers that a boy she had a crush on when she was twelve lives next door. Wyatt is a cop just like Charlotte’s father who walked out on the family when she was twelve. Wyatt has an adorable twelve-year-old daughter who clicks with Charlotte. Olivia, Charlotte’s sister, arrives with her baby, Dawn and she is a hot mess. Add their unreliable mother and you have a family holiday. Each family member has a secret as well as issues that need to be dealt with along the way. I liked the flashbacks to Ruby’s life as she deals with being pregnant at eighteen and on her own. We get to see how she came to own The Christmas House and began the open-door policy on Christmas Eve. Ruby was my favorite character. She is a delightful woman who is strong, caring, and generous. Ruby has a big heart, and she was truly hoping the family would have a special Christmas. I also liked Wyatt and Sam. Wyatt’s wife left him and Sam. He is having to raise Sam on his own while we working as a police officer. He works hard to make sure she has the type of childhood he never did. Ruby and Wyatt’s Aunt Mary were busy playing matchmaker when not spoiling Olivia’s daughter, Dawn. There is plenty of family drama and emotions in The Christmas House. Charlotte needs to make a choice about her life. Is she going to let the past take away her chance at a happy future or she is going to leave the past in her rearview mirror while she gets her happily ever after? There is mild foul language in the story which is disappointing because they should not be in a Christmas tale. The Christmas House also delves into topics that some people might find upsetting (suicide, alcoholism, infidelity, child neglect, and abandonment). There are sections of the book that will have you smiling, but there are some areas that are depressing (and they dragged on a little too long). The moral of the story is that we are not perfect. We all have baggage and must decide if we will let it hinder us or make us better. One of my favorite lines from The Christmas House is, “It’s never too late for a happy ending.” The Christmas House is an emotional, dramatic Christmas story with an endearing neighbor, a meddling grandmother, a topsy-turvy pantry, an orderly organizer, a twirling tween, family fuss, and one magical home. ( )