Tag Archives: Christmas

Astronaut Nick by Brad R. Torgersen

Book Review, , ,
Overview
A Fantastic Holiday Season

Title: Astronaut Nick
Author: Brad R. Torgersen
In: A Fantastic Holiday Season (Kevin J. Anderson & Keith J. Olexa)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Science fiction
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: World Fire Press
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: “Meters deep,” Tessa said.

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Synopsis

Jimmy lives on Mars and he misses his old home on Ceres. But, his new friend Tessa has been telling him about Astronaut Nick. An Astronaut who travels around at night in a giant rocketship sleigh and delivers toys to the children.

Thoughts

I loved the science fiction spin of this short story. I’ve read / seen / heard a lot of short stories that feature a child not believing in Santa, finding out he’s real and learning a strong life lesson. This,however, managed to give a great science fiction spin to a fairly traditional tale. It also worked as a way to remind us of the old adage that “home is where the heart is”.

I found the flow of this story a little slow, until I reached the point at which Astronaut Nick actually arrived. The description of his suit was brilliant – and highlighted how a space Saint Nick would work. I loved how every small, traditional thing that I recognise from traditional tales is reflected in Torgersen’s version. Yet, it is completely new and unique – certainly not the kind of story that I was expecting.

 <- Close Knit ReviewThe Longest Night Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Charlotte’s Web by Erin McCarthy

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for an enchanted season book cover

Title: Charlotte’s Web
Author: Erin McCarthy
Series: Cuttersville #2.25
In: An Enchanted Season (Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy & Jean Johnson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: But this is Ohio’s most haunted town according to those paranormal investigators.

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Synopsis

Charlotte has been in love with Will for almost ten years, and this Christmas, something in their relationship is going to seriously change. Hopefully for the better.

Thoughts

I keep trying to find other things to read after finishing this novella. But nothing seems to compare to the vibrant and gorgeous innocence that runs rampant throughout this. Actually, the moment that I finished this, I jumped online and bought the other stories in the series. But, since I don’t tend to like reading ebooks, I now have to wait another month or more (probably more being Christmas time) until they arrive…

I was expecting something incredibly sad with the title of this story. I am still scared from the tale of the pig and the spider to be honest. So it was a pleasant surprise to find that there was nothing sad about this story what so ever. Charlotte has been in love with Will for years, and he with her. And, somehow the combination of Christmas and yearning helps to unleash Charlotte’s inner power. Or, you know… supernatural talents.

The combination of Christmas, romance, and passionate sex made this story hard to put down. Not the overbearingly cheesey Christmas story, but one that inspires love, romance and accepting your family… even if they are a little odd.

 <- Heiress for Hire ReviewChristmas Bree Review ->
Image source: Amazon

The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the cricket on the hearth charles dickens book cover

Title: The Cricket on the Hearth
Author: Charles Dickens
In: A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures (Charles Dickens)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Classics
Pace: Slow
Format: Novella
Publisher: Word Cloud Classics
Year: 1845
5th sentence, 74th page: I wouldn’t have missed Dot, doing the honours in her wedding-gown; my benison on her bright face! for any money.

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Synopsis

The title creature is a sort of barometer of life at the home of John Peerybingle and his much younger wife Dot. When things go well, the cricket on the hearth chirps; it is silent when there is sorrow. Tackleton, a jealous old man, poisons John’s mind about Dot, but the cricket through its supernatural powers restores John’s confidence and all ends happily.

Thoughts

Although this is a Christmas story, I don’t 100% see the connection. Having said that, I love the tale, and I love the emotional rollercoaster it takes you on. I just didn’t get the overwhelmingly Christmas-y feeling that I get from more modern tales set in the holiday season. Probably because this story had a lot to do with setting up that atmosphere and feeling.

Unlike the other Charles Dickens tales that I have recently read, this took me on a really serious roller coaster. Whilst the others did this, it certainly wasn’t to this point, and it made it that much more difficult to put down. The potential treachery of both the wife and the friend are hard, the conspiracy that runs through, and the spirit of the Cricket (which to me translates to the spirit of Christmas) all work incredibly well together.

I’m sure there are many potent and incredible meanings behind the words of The Cricket on the Hearth, but for me, it is a great, easy read. Characterised by Dickens’ fantastic style and writing, partnered with the lyrical speech of the 1800s. A great way to spend a slightly windy and blustering afternoon.

 <- The Chimes ReviewThe Battle of Life Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Melting Frosty by Maggie Shayne

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for an enchanted season book cover

Title: Melting Frosty
Author: Maggie Shayne
In: An Enchanted Season (Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy & Jean Johnson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Paranormal romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: Merry Christmas.

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Synopsis

Holly and Matt both have tragedies occurring around Christmas. Twelve years later, they’re thrown together and have to learn how to deal with their pasts, if there is any hope for the future.

Thoughts

This was a great, easy, happy Christmas read. One that reminded me of the reasons I love Christmas and making me want to go absolutely insane with the Christmas decorations this year. The title of this novella led me to believe that it would primarily be about snowmen and the song “Frosty the Snowman” kept playing in my head. It wasn’t, but it was still fun reading with the Christmas carol playing in the background.

I love the parallel stories of Matt and Holly in Melting Frosty. Both suffer a tragedy the Christmas near when they’re twelve. The trauma shapes both of the leads in completely separate ways. But somehow, this makes them perfectly matched for one another, and highlights the love and importance of family. It’s enjoyable watching the different ways in which very similar stories can affect two different people – in one it creates a sense of fully living in the moment, and the other, a need to completely distance himself from Christmas and all of the joy it involves.

There is something about Christmas that makes anything possible. I’m not sure if it’s all of the stories and movies that we always see during the holiday season, or just something that is culturally entrenched. Melting Frosty is a reminder that Christmas is all about love and treasuring one another. And one that I wish I could read again and again and again…

 <- An Enchanted Season ReviewCharlotte’s Web Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Run, Run, Rudolph by Lynsay Sands

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Holidays Are Hell

Title: Run, Run, Rudolph
Author: Lynsay Sands
In: Holidays Are Hell (Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Fiction
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: Jill waited until the pair was out of sight before turning anxiously to Nick.

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Synopsis

Jill’s brother and sister are shapeshifters and incredibly intelligent scientists. But she’s normal, until a madman decides to mess with her on the day of the Christmas pageant. Between running from an insane person, falling for Nick, and trying to learn all about her new skills, Jill is in for an interesting holiday season…

Thoughts

I laughed through most of this story. It was just one of those slightly humorous, feel good, easy reads that sweep you along. In fact, it swept me along so well that the “I’ll just read a chapter” thing went straight out the window and I read this entire novella in one sitting. Always a good indication of how much I enjoyed the storyline.

Jill gets zapped by some weird molecular destabiliser, finds out that there’s a mad man after her, and runs away. At first I couldn’t really tell where this story was going. She gets zapped, there’s a mad man and a love interest (you’d think I would have picked up on some of the storyline earlier). But it pretty quickly becomes a fun, intense journey that feels like a constant game of cat and mouse.

Although I enjoyed the chase in the story, my favourite part was the romance. Nick and Jill have this amazing simmering passion. But beyond the sexual tension, there is this great emotional connection and relationship. The fact that it starts to take place on a Christmas float, and at some point, a reindeer running rampant, just helps to add a little more flavour and laughter to the random adventures that help to increase the power of the relationship throughout this Christmas story.

 <- Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel ReviewSix Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

The Chimes by Charles Dickens

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the chimes charles dickens book cover

Title: The Chimes
Author: Charles Dickens
In: A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures (Charles Dickens)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Classics
Pace: Slow
Format: Novella
Publisher: Word Cloud Classics
Year: 1844
5th sentence, 74th page: So may each year be happier than the last, and not the meanest of our brethren or sisterhood debarred their rightful share, in what our Great Creator formed them to enjoy.

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Synopsis

“The Chimes” is Charles Dickens 1844 novella that concerns the disillusionment of Toby “Trotty” Veck, a poor working-class man. When Trotty has lost his faith in Humanity and believes that his poverty is the result of his unworthiness he is visited on New Year’s Eve by spirits to help restore his faith and show him that nobody is born evil, but rather that crime and poverty are things created by man.

Thoughts

It took me a little more to get into this than A Christmas Carol. Probably because A Christmas Carol is a story that I already know and love from the many different adaptations that I’ve watched. The Chimes on the other hand isn’t a storyline that I’ve ever read before or heard of.

Another reason I struggled to get into this story was because of the way that Toby is shamed in the first quarter for being poor. Although this is a technique utilised to highlight the Christmas spirit amongst the bells and chimes later, I found it a little hard to swallow. Until the last quarter, then I loved the way that the spirits and chimes all worked together to remind us of the Christmas spirit.

The Chimes works as a great way to remind us that it is the spirit of giving and love that is what should truly define the holiday season. Not how much money you have and what you can give people.

 <- A Christmas Carol ReviewThe Cricket on the Hearth Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

An Enchanted Season by Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy & Jean Johnson

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for an enchanted season book cover

Title: An Enchanted Season
Author: Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy & Jean Johnson
In: An Enchanted Season (Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy & Jean Johnson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Paranormal romance, Short story collections
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: Merry Christmas.

Synopsis

It’s the time of year when dreams come true, miracles happen every day, and love is the greatest gift of all. The holidays always seem to bring out the best in everyone, with heartfelt hugs for long-missed friends, sincere smiles in the spirit of the season, and a feeling of magic in the air…

This scintillating collection of paranormal romances celebrates the holidays as never before. From a shape-shifting leopardess who wants a packmate to be her soul mate to a sudden snow-storm that brings a surprise gift, these four tales by Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy, and Jean Johnson will stir your spirit in all the right places.

Thoughts

Naw. This collection left me with such happy, Christmassy, gooey feelings. All four of these novellas are simple, cute and incredibly sweet. They encompass the feelings of love and giving that to me is the true spirit of Christmas. After finishing every single one of these novellas, I not only bought something by each of the authors, but I just sat there with a feeling of bliss and happiness that there is still goodness in the world.

I know that the storyline is really good and sweet when it makes me tear up a bit. The fact that every single story in this collection did that to me is a fantastic indication of just how special this entire collection is. If you need something feel good and beautiful, this is certainly a reflection worth reading!

 <- Gifts of the MagiMelting Frosty ->

Image source: Amazon

Close Knit by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

Book Review, , ,
Overview
A Fantastic Holiday Season

Title: Close Knit
Author: Nina Kiriki Hoffman
In: A Fantastic Holiday Season (Kevin J. Anderson & Keith J. Olexa)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Family
Pace: Slow
Format:  Short story
Publisher: World Fire Press
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: They walked the mall after dinner.

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Synopsis

Leo has powerful family magic, but the magic of Christmas is about to show him that maybe there is another kind of magic that he needs to consider.

Thoughts

Christmas time has always meant family to me. But, sometimes that closeness and beautifulness of family can become a little too overwhelming. Sometimes becoming an adult means that the tightness of familial ties needs to be stretched and loosened. Hoffmanexplores this perfectly in this intriguingly different short story.

Instead of featuring a close knit family that is happy,healthy and merry – Close Knit features one that is inherently broken. All three generations that are featured. The fact that there is a magical that acts like a web between members just furthers the idea that not all relationships are healthy, and sometimes we need to work on things. Being close isn’t necessarily a good thing.

It took me a while to get used to a slightly open-ended ending in most short stories. They leave so much left unsaid, but, in the cases of tales like this, I love it. There is a sense of a great future ahead of Leo’s family, but also a sense of a lot of work left undone and a lot on the horizon.

 <- Naughty & Nice ReviewAstronaut Nick Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel by Kim Harrison

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Holidays Are Hell

Title: Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel
Author: Kim Harrison
Series: The Hollows #5.5
In: Holidays Are Hell (Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Fiction
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: The cold hit me, and I held my crossed arms close now for warmth.

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Synopsis

All Rachel wants to do is join local magical enforcement. But her brother has other ideas for her. When a séance to find out their father’s wishes goes wrong, all hell is about to break loose…

Thoughts

I read this because it was in a Christmas collection and I really wanted to get into the Christmas spirit. Yet, I’m still completely unaware as to what this has to do with Christmas. Other than the fact that all of the action takes place on the solstice.

Regardless of the fact that I specifically wanted a Christmas story, and didn’t get one… I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. And can’t wait to discover more of The Hollows series. Rachel is an independent and strong woman. But in a way that is completely different to every other strong woman I’ve read about. Normally they are physically able, and can kick box and karate or whatever form of self defence… but Rachel is actually incredibly physically weak. Yet, this is what lends her so much strength and power. And makes you root for her as she rushes around the city, after a ghost, trying to find a missing girl and a creepy, demented vampire.

 <- Holidays Are HellRun, Run, Rudolph ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for a christmas carol charles dickens book cover

Title: A Christmas Carol
Author: Charles Dickens
In: A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures (Charles Dickens)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Classics, Ghosts
Pace: Slow
Format: Novella
Publisher: Word Cloud Classics
Year: 1843
5th sentence, 74th page: A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you, for many a year!

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Synopsis

If I had my way, every idiot who goes around with Merry Christmas on his lips, would be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. Merry Christmas? Bah humbug!’

To bitter, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, Christmas is just another day. But all that changes when the ghost of his long-dead business partner appears, warning Scrooge to change his ways before it’s too late.

Thoughts

I have watched The Muppet’s Christmas Carol every Christmas Eve since I was in high school. I’ve just never managed to get around to reading the story. Until this year. And now I just can’t believe that I took so damn long to get to it!

A Christmas Carol is a great reminder of everything that Christmas is supposed to be about. Community, spirit, love and caring for one another. It’s a reminder that you should not only keep the spirit over the Christmas period, but also all year long. Giving, caring and treasuring those that you love. And honestly, this year, with everything that has been happening… I’ve kind of needed that reminder and the purity of this story.

I love the lyrical way in which Dickens writes. A Christmas Carol is actually my first ever Charles Dickens story and, again, I’m wondering why it took me so long to pick up his work. It was glorious and easy. Sweet and intriguing. And I loved the way that the words not only tripped off your tongue, but also drew you in so completely.

For those grinches, normal and people who are obsessed with Christmas, this is the perfect novella to read when you just want to feel that spirit of Christmas again. Just like when you were a child…

 <- A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures ReviewThe Chimes Review ->
Image source: Amazon