Friday, September 22, 2017

The Christmas Blessing | First Line Friday

Merry Christmas in September! Seriously, for me, it's not too early to be pulling out the Christmas stuff. ;) I haven't read many Christmas books, so this was a new thing for me. Overall... well, just read my review to see my full thoughts!


What's your favorite Christmas book?
Do you have a first line for today?

~*~*~
Be sure to hop along to all of these other blogs and see what First Lines they have to share!
Please note that I may not fully endorse all of the books that these bloggers read or the content in these blogs.

Rachel - Bookworm Mama
Andi - Radiant Light
Robin - Robin's Nest
Kathleen - Kathleen Denly
Trisha – Joy of Reading
Jeanette – CJane Read
Iola – Iola Golton
Anna – Cross Romance



My Review
If you want a feel-good, happily-ever-after story with a Christmas flavor, this fits the bill perfectly. Amelia's story is a gutter-to-glory story of a girl whose life is shrouded by clouds of darkness.

The one element in this story that I would have preferred to be dealt with a little better was the fact that Amelia and James had a baby out of wedlock. It's mentioned that it was a mistake, but "they were going to get married anyway" and I just don't agree with that thought. According to the Bible, there are no exceptions to "the bed undefiled is honorable." So the fact that this story was about a single mom whose baby was born out of wedlock kind of put a damper on my enjoyment of it. Though I will say, though that was the element of the story, it was not at all detailed and spelled out. Just mentioned; I can appreciate that.

There were mentions of God's will, praying to God, following God, and Him having the perfect plan. It did still feel like the spiritual aspect was a little weak. I realize there is only so much one can put into a novella, but for me it was lacking.

The romance was very little in this book. It is more mentioned that things happened than detailing of emotions. So in essence, this wasn't really a romance book.

I greatly liked the doctor. He was just full of kindness and goodness and the perfect father figure. Amelia was a sweet girl too. She just didn't make all of the best choices.

Like I said, if you want just a sweet, short read, this is a good book for that. But I kind of can't overlook how the aspect of a baby from wedlock was kind of brushed over.

*I received this book from Revell and happily provided my honest review*

10 comments:

Fiction Aficionado said...

Oh goodness! I can't think of Christmas yet!

I'm featuring the first line from J. Rodes' "Charging the Darkness" on my blog today--great conclusion to her dystopian trilogy--but right now I'm going to share the opening of Rachel Dylan's recent release, "Deadly Proof":

"You can't call that a settlement offer." Kate Sullivan looked directly into the dark eyes of her opposing counsel, who represented a medical device company.

Have a great weekend!

Trisha said...

I’m currently reading The Keeper of Her Heart by Stacy Henrie
“It is not proper, Ada. And I will not abide it any longer”

1bgpayne said...

I love Melody Carlson's Christmas books!
Here is the line I'm sharing:
How dare the stars still light the night and the James River continue to flow, when the one who made Lettie’s life bearable was gone?
This is the first line from chapter 1 (not the prologue) of Carrie Fancett Pagels novella “Love’s Escape” in The Captive Brides Collection.

englishmysteriesblog said...

I love reading Christmas books! I noticed that the author I'm highlighting this week has some Christmas books. :)

Trixi said...

I don't really have a favorite Christmas book, but I love Christmas movies. I have my favorite, of course, that I hope to catch every year: It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, George C. Scott A Christmas Carol, and White Christmas. Then I also like to catch ones on the Hallmark Channel.

Here' my first line, finally got my review copy of An Inconvenient Beauty by Kristi Ann Hunter:

Prologue “The line between boy and man was never murkier than when a father dies too soon, leaving his son to walk through the foibles of youth while shouldering the responsibilities of adulthood.”

I've been waiting to meet Griffith FOREVER! ;-)

Caryl Kane said...

I enjoy Christmas books!

Mrs. Pollifax had attended church that Sunday morning, and her hat-a garden of pale pink roses and green leaves-still sat on her head as she ate lunch in the sunny kitchen of her apartment. - The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax (Book 2) by Dorothy Gilman

Happy Friday!

Anonymous said...

It is so funny that you mention reading a Christmas book. Only a little while ago, I picked out a Christmas book to read. "A Cold Creek Christmas Story" & "Christmas in Cold Creek" 2 books in 1. The first line is: If she didn't have thirty children showing up in the next half hour, Celeste Nichols would have been tempted to climb into her little SUV,pull out of the Pine Gulch library parking lot and just keep on driving. I guess my favorite Christmas book is "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.
Marilyn

Rebekah said...

I don't have a first line for you, but the book you reviewed is on my to-read list. :) You need some more Christmas books? I've got 8 Christmas books that are almost finished. (If I can get my files back and don't have to completely redo them.) Want the list?
Christmas Delays and other short stories
First Christmas in America
A Christmas Disaster
Christmas Eve by the Backdoor
Home for Christmas
At the Christmas Lodge
The Christmas She Wanted
Christmas Smiles


And if you want more, I have a whole list of Christmas books that I love to read! But I don't start reading them until after Thanksgiving. :) I just LOVE Christmas stories!

Andi said...

I knew someone would post a Christmas book soon. Can you believe it's just three months away. EEPS! Have a great weekend!

Amanda Tero said...

@ Fiction - haha! If it wasn't a review book, I'd not have thought of Christmas yet either. ;) And your first line... <3 LOVED THAT BOOK!!!!

@ Trisha - neat first line!

@ Andrea - aw, that is a sad first line! Makes me want to know how the story turns out though!

@ EnglishMysteries - this year is the first that I've really read many. I have two on my list to read still. :)

@ Trixi - ah yes, we've gotten plenty of Hallmark Christmas movies watched last year. ;)
I liked Griffith too. :) But I haven't read his book.

@ Caryl - thanks for commenting!

@ Marilyn - great first line!

@ Rebekah - wow, 8 Christmas books? I sense a theme the author loves. ;) :) :) I love your titles! :)

@ Andi - I know!!! :) :) :) :)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...