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In this article:
Legacy of Love by Hunter
The Last Holiday Concert by Clements
Memories and Mistletoe by Ford
Nutcracked by Adrian
Legacy of Love (Haven Manor #1.5) by Kristi Ann Hunter
5 STARS, Christian Christmas Novella, My format: fourth annual ebook read (I believe if you want this in a physical copy you have to purchase the collection it’s a part of)
Goodreads Synopsis | Buy on BookShop
Sarah has been the dowager’s companion for the last year, and Randall has finally started to notice.
Personal Review:
This is the fourth December in a row I have read this sweet Christmas novella and it just keeps getting better. I still laugh and I still cry at the same parts and I marvel at the way this book moves me every time.
The first best part is that Sarah, our beloved pianist from Haven Manor, is brought to life and explored in a brilliant way. The second best part is that, although Randall is new to us and we see only a small snippet of his life as far as characters go, he might just be my favorite Kristi Ann Hunter male protagonist. (I think I have said that about 3 other of her male leads, but this time I mean it.)
The third best thing is that life is celebrated in the *most beautiful way* with Grandmother, the dowager. Absolutely a gift, this story is. I have been in a different season of life with every read. This season I am grieving, and life and death are portrayed so wonderfully that the reading of the novella this time helped bring healing and hope to my heart. An author that can use fiction that way in a limited word count...talent beyond comprehension. I'm thankful this talent is shared with us.
Content Warnings:
death of loved one, but it’s beautifully handled, just read it :)
The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements
5 STARS, Middle Grade Christmas/Holiday, My format: hard cover
Goodreads Synopsis | Buy on BookShop
Hart gets on the wrong side of Mr. Meinert on the wrong day during chorus. So Mr. Meinert puts the class in charge of the holiday concert, and Hart is elected as director.
Personal Review:
How did this book about a bunch of 6th graders and a music teacher losing his job make me cry? That is some good literature. And I do believe I have found a great Christmas-season book for my lower middle grade readers to enjoy! It is not Christian but it is also not hostile to Christianity or Christmas music; I thought the balance was done well.
Hart is a character I didn't expect in a middle grade book and I was pleasantly surprised by him through the entire story. I'd like to meet his parents and figure out what they did to raise such a kid. Getting to see some of the inside world of Mr. Meinert was also an excellent part of the book. It gave a very realistic point of view for every age of reader that might pick up the book.
Being a music teacher myself, I loved all of the music scenes, particularly the final concert. This little book is a work of art.
Content Warnings:
none
Memories and Mistletoe (A Reindeer Pass Christmas #1) by Malory Ford
5 STARS, Christian Christmas Contemporary Romance, My format: YouTube audiobook
Goodreads Synopsis | YouTube Audio
Hannah accepts a temporary position at a bakery in Reindeer Pass to help out during their busiest season. Jayce is the city cop plus Hannah’s new landlord. Their crossing paths could be meant to be, or a complete disaster.
Personal Review:
This was super sweet, a perfect little story for the Christmas season, and I look forward to more in this series!
I loved how Hannah and Jayce first met. It was super cute and the first few times they saw each other were awkward and delightful. There were some moments where I was hoping for more interaction between them, but by the end I was completely satisfied and rooting for them!
I loved that Hannah was neurodivergent. I don't remember the details of her "diagnosis" but I loved how she came from a place of being considered different to Reindeer Pass where several people just accepted her as a unique individual. We are all a little weird in our own way, so it was a relatable message and a wonderful expression of what it means to accept those around us.
I also loved the way the characters' faith drove some decisions they made at the end of the book. That was a very sweet addition to the story that I really appreciated. I think Ford is a new go-to author for me!
Content Warnings:
there is one moment about a bear that my daughters were freaking out about as they came in and out of the kitchen while I was listening, but no real content warnings for adults :)
Nutcracked by Susan Adrian
3.5 STARS, Middle Grade Light Christmas Fantasy, My format: hard cover
Goodread Synopsis | Buy on BookShop
Georgie gets to dance the part of Clara in the Nutcracker this year, but discovers that holding the Nutcracker doll sends her to another world where she has to figure out how to save the real Nutcracker.
Personal Review:
This was a fun take on the Nutcracker story, involving a magical world AND the ballet. I enjoyed the story, the fun way that Georgie makes it into the Nutcracker world, and the friendship she develops with Noah.
There are some things that will make it hard for me to whole-heartedly recommend this to my 7- and 9-year-olds. There are some scary scenes with the magical mice that are just too dark for my girls. They freak out about the mice in the ballet so I don't think they would like it. The friendship troubles she has with Kaitlyn I also didn't feel were handled very well in the story. Georgie's mom gives her the advice to "cling" to the friendship (not my favorite language). But I thought Georgie handled it better than the advice she was given. Kaitlyn's mom also has a snotty attitude towards Georgie during their friend troubles and I wasn't a fan of that. The parents are under a lot of stress in the book, but I prefer the adults in middle grade books to be healthy examples, even when the kids are struggling. In this story, it felt like the kids had to figure things out for themselves, even when the adults were involved.
All that being said, my girls will probably enjoy this as teenagers, even though the main character is a 6th grader. They love the Nutcracker ballet and this book has just enough magic to be interesting but not so much to make it feel like fantasy.
Content Warnings:
battles/scary moments with life-sized mice, the kids sneak around and deceive adults a few times
I’m done with Christmas-themed books for this year. Have a very Merry Christmas!