Monday, September 9, 2019

Book Review - Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Krista Galloway is not a fan of Christmas. After her rough childhood in multiple foster homes, the holiday season just brings too many bad memories to the surface. But when she accepts a job as a city manager in the mountain town of Winter Hill, Washington, Christmas is part of the deal. The small town is famous for its Christmasville celebration, something that the city manager . . . well, manages.


As she tries to make her tiny new apartment feel like home for her and her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, Krista begins to wonder if this move was a mistake. She doesn't always feel welcomed in the close-knit town, and Emily continually wonders, "Where's the snow?" Can a friendly stranger and his family help restore Krista's Christmas spirit before the big day?


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including Romantic Time's Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

MY REVIEW:

What an absolutely delightful book! I was so ready to start reading about Christmas and cooler weather and there's nothing better than a book by Melody Carlson because her books never disappoint!

Krista and her daughter, Emily, are moving from the city they have always lived in - Phoenix where it's always warm - to a small, quaint town called Winter Hill in Washington, where the weather is a lot colder. It's a huge change for Krista but she has accepted the position of town manager so it's definitely a step up for her career. However, she made the decision in haste and now she's wondering if she did the right thing.

Winter Hill is all about Christmasvillle and Krista didn't know this. She has never been a fan of Christmas so this is a huge adjustment for her. There are some other disappointing aspects to her move as well, but she tries to have a good attitude throughout it all.

I really loved the characters in this book - even the ones that aren't very nice. As always, Melody writes her characters in a well rounded way and I felt like I really knew these people and cared about them.  I loved the character of Pauline and her son, Conner. I loved how they embraced Krista and Emily and both had such a wonderful outlook on life. Their faith was so realistic, too, and I loved how they showed care for others.

This book was wonderful in every way! I enjoyed each and every moment I got to spend in Winter Hill and it was a great first Christmas book for the 2019 season. I really loved it and give it 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me by Revell and the author.  I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book.



Blessings - Julie

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