Once Upon a Christmas Carol By: Melody Carlson

"When a deep injury is done to us, we never recover until we forgive."  Alan Paton

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  Now that Halloween is past, we are officially entering the Thanksgiving/Christmas season.  Starbucks will soon have their Christmas or holiday seasonal drinks, the Christmas trees will soon go up, and plans for a special, memorable Christmas will be under way for many.  There are those who for many reasons, however, just strive to get through the next few months.  They may have past hurt or trauma from their childhood, painful memories associated with Christmas.  Even the Grinch and Ebeneezer Scrooge had a past that led them the point in their stories where they had no Christmas cheer.  Melody Carlson, in her new Christmas novella, gives readers a glimpse into how or why this can happen, but with the hope of how a little bit of love, family, and forgiveness can melt even the hardest of hearts.

In Once Upon a Christmas readers are first introduced to Carol Langstrom in Seattle, as she is wrapping up helping her design clients have the "perfect" Christmas.  She is on her way to the Bahamas, to escape Christmas and enjoy some much needed sunshine and warmth.  Growing up as a Christmas baby, with dysfunctional parents, Carol just tries to get through the Christmas season, so she can begin the New Year doing her design work for staging homes.   Packing as light as possible, with her coveted summer clothes she barely has a chance to wear, Carol makes it to the airport and onto her flight admist a weather pattern that is wrecking havoc across the United States.  Once on her flight, she feels all is good, until unexpected weather leaves her stranded in Grand Rapids, MI of all places.  Without an available hotel room, Carol is stranded.  Until she remembers that her mom has an estranged sister living in MI.  After some digging and research she finds she is less than an hour from the aunt she has never seen.  

Soon, Carol finds herself in a truck with a stranger, named Victor who she assumes is her Aunt's son.  After being pleasantly surprised to learn that he is just a family friend,  Carol is taken to her Aunt and is able to meet this relative, and find love and acceptance from a stranger.  What was only going to be a simple one night layover until she can reschedule her flight, turns into a Christmas that Carol will not soon forget.  She learns about love, forgiveness and family from her Aunt and Victor and his parents.  Christmas, Carol realizes, when with those you love is a magical and special time.  

Once Upon a Christmas is like finding that perfect Hallmark movie, country Christmas sprinkled with faith and love throughout.  This is the perfect novella is perfect for all of those needing to be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas,  and what Christmas love and forgivness looks like.  Perfect to cozy up with in front of a fire on a rainy or snowy evening (if you are like me and dont have that coveted fire place, a nice Christmas candle will work (I currently have my Bath and Body Works spiced apple toddy lit).  Get those cozy Christmas pajamas and go on a journey to rural Michigan that will lighten your heart and remind you of the true meaning of Christmas.  Simba agrees that this is the perfect four paw book to get you into the Christmas spirit, especially if your heart needs a bit of healing this year.  This book is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble (I am thankful I was able to check it out from my local library).  Happy Reading!!

 

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