Thursday, December 21, 2006

A Carol Christmas by Muriel Jensen

Carol is a dorm mother at St. Christopher’s Orphanage. She looks after 5 kids, 3 girls and 2 boys who haven’t been placed with a foster home yet. This Christmas is the worst because the orphanage is being shut down and so the kids will have to move somewhere else. When Mother Margaret’s brother Mike comes to stay, the kids connect with him almost immediately. Mike takes a shining to Carol and wonders why she is even there. These 5 kids need a miracle but can it happen and what will it be?

This is the first story that I have read by Muriel Jensen and it won’t be my last. It was a story that melted your heart and you had to keep a box of tissues nearby. She is a wonderful writer and I really felt a part of the story. I loved this one the most because there was so much more to overcome between Carol’s past and what to do with those sweet children. It was a perfect Christmas story to read.

My favorite character was Carol. She was sweet but had a rough exterior due to an unfortunate accident that had happened the year before. It was hard for me to read about what she had been through but I really wanted her to be able to persevere. I also liked Mike as well because he really needed a wake up call. The kids were terrific and it is hard to think about kids that are like them in the same type of situation. Of all the kids I really liked Frank. He was the oldest and he really wanted to have a family. I don’t think he really cared how it came to be but he wanted to have it.

This book was the perfect ending to the anthology and my favorite story of the three. I give this anthology a 6/5 and this particular story a 5/5.


I plan to read more of these authors in the new year. But now onto Tough Choices by Carly Fiorina. She is the former CEO of HP. I am curious to what she has to say.

Part 2 of Little Matchmakers: Mrs. Scrooge by Barbara Bretton

Samantha Dean has wanted one thing all her life to open up a restaurant. Now that one thing is about to happen but her daughter Patty has other ideas. She wants a daddy for Christmas. Sure, her biological father is in the picture but Patty wants a daddy that is real and stays at home. On career day, Patty finds the perfect man and his name is Murphy O’Rourke. Now all Patty has to do is get her mom and Murphy together and she has the perfect idea. But will it work out or is it just another dream.

This is the first book I have read by Barbara Bretton surprisingly. I hope to read more by her in the coming year. It was wonderfully written and it shows what kind of sacrifice people have to make in their lives but how you often get rewarded for it. The writing was excellent and I really loved how she was able to write the kids talking like kids. That’s not an easy thing to do sometimes when you are used to writing adult fiction but Barbara did a really good job with it.

My favorite character was Patty. She was a genius but only 11 years old. All she wants is a 24/7 daddy. She matches up her mom with people and it is pretty darn cute. Samantha was a good mom to her and I liked how she was really trying to get herself supported better financially. I also liked Murphy. This is a guy who could melt your heart. He completely falls for Patty and does a lot to keep her happy really. I don’t think either Sam or Murphy really knew what was going on right away.

This is a wonderful heart warming Holiday book. I can’t wait to read the last one in the series as well as many more I can fit in before December 31st. I give this story a 5/5 and it is certainly helping the final grade of the anthology.

Now onto the final story in the book, A Carol Christmas by Muriel Jensen. I might end up posting about this one today. We'll see.