Saturday, October 26, 2013

A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS WISH (MELODY CARLSON)

 
 
Story Description:
 
Baker Publishing Group|September 15, 2013|Hardcover|ISBN: 978-0-8007-1965-4
 
Rachel Milligan is caring for her seven-year-old niece, Holly, at her home in Chicago when she receives devastating news: Holly’s parents have been killed in a plane crash.  Because Rachel is Holly’s only known relative, she assumes that she will be her beloved niece’s guardian.  However, custody is awarded to Lydia, a distant aunt who happens to be Amish.  Just a week before Christmas, Rachel takes Holly to the Amish community in the hopes of persuading Aunt Lydia to relinquish custody.  Instead, Lydia sets out to teach Holly to live according to the Amish way.  As family secrets emerge and old wounds are healed, Rachel realizes that she will do whatever it takes to ensure that Holly has the loving family she needs. 
 
Combining an Amish family saga with the anticipation of Christmas cheer and the promise of a budding romance, this newest Christmas story from beloved author Melody Carlson is sure to please. 

 
My Review:

 
Thirty-five-year-old, Rachel Milligan and her seven-year-old niece, Holly were spending time together in Chicago the week before Christmas.  Holly’s parents, Michael and Miri were away on vacation and Aunt Rachel was babysitting.  Rachel was Michael’s sister. 
 
Holly and Rachel went out and got a beautiful evergreen Christmas tree and lugged it home and up to the forty-ninth floor to the Milligan’s apartment.  They strung coloured lights and spent the rest of the day making home-made Christmas decorations to adorn the tree.  Satisfied with the job they’d done, they made hot chocolate and sat beneath the tree watching the coloured lights and singing the odd Christmas carol.  It was getting late and it had been a long and busy day so Rachel got Holly off to bed.  Holly was so happy she was almost glowing. 
 
With Holly fast asleep, Rachel sat in Michael’s favourite chair to relax and ponder over the days’ events.  Suddenly the phone rang and Rachel hurried to pick up the receiver before the ringing could wake Holly. 
 
On the other end of the line was a voice she didn’t’ recognize but what she was told would change her and Holly’s life forever.  And in less than a week, Rachel and Holly would find themselves driving from Chicago to Ohio to Amish country. 
 
A Simple Christmas Wish was a story full of love, redemption, and the true meaning of the holiday spirit.  Although I felt very saddened for Rachel and young Holly, I also felt the change in the characters involved in the story as the realization of what was “right” settled upon them like a fresh blanket of snow.  A Simple Christmas Wish would make a great family read around the Christmas tree over a couple of evenings.  I loved it!!
 
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."
 
 
 
 
 


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