The Colors of Christmas Review and Giveaway!

Posted by abakersp in Contemporary / 7 Comments

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About the Book

Colors of Christmas cover

Name of book: Colors of Christmas

Author: Olivia Newport

Genre: Contemporary Christmas

Release Date: October 1, 2017

Christmas in Blue
Angela just wants Christmas to be over. Instead, she finds herself in charge of the town’s celebration, and everything goes from bad to worse. Can she rescue Christmas for the town—and herself?

Christmas in Gold
When eighty-year-old Astrid moves into an assisted living community and meets a young woman on the brink of despair, she resolves to stir up Christmas hope one more time.

 

Click here to purchase your copy.

My Perspective

Overall, I like both of these stories. But in all honesty, I liked the first one much better. I think it may have something to do with the order to books were presented. After reading Christmas in Gold, I had such high expectations for Christmas in Blue, which truly isn’t fair to the author. And unfortunately because of this the story fell a little bit flat for me.

In Christmas in Gold I loved hearing Astrid’s story. First, it was nice to have an older main character. The stories she shared with Carly were very interesting, and I picture myself sitting in a chair with a cup of tea next to her telling them. I found Carly’s story to be so sad and tragic, but a good example of what many young single moms may be going through today, or even just single women trying to break free of an abusive relationship. It certainly wasn’t a coincidence that Carly and Astrid both ended up at the retirement home. This story was touching, and a great reminder of how to treat others.

Christmas in Blue was still a sweet story, I just didn’t connect with the characters as much. It almost had that predictable “when it rains, it pours” feel to it, and every glitch that came up I could almost see it coming. However, through it all, it displayed the reminder that even when things do not go our way, God has a plan. We can stress about the holidays, or whatever is stressing us in life, but when we do that we tend to miss out on what’s important. I enjoyed the church service that was written in this story, and could picture myself in attendance. This was a great start to the holiday season for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Olivia Newport

 

Olivia Newport’s novels twist through time to find where faith and passions meet. Her husband and twentysomething children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is.

Guest Post from Olivia Newport

We All Have a Story

 

I’m younger than most of the people I exercise with. It started when I had a lot of pain in my feet and needed low-impact classes with the option of sitting down and learned I didn’t have to be a senior citizen to take their classes at my gym. Then I discovered how tough most of them are. Years later, though my feet are better, these are still my people.

 

A couple of years ago, while we waited for the younger and allegedly-but-not-really-tougher crowd to clear out of the group exercise room so we could invade it, a woman I would not have guessed to be 80, because she could out-cardio and out-lift me any day of the week, mentioned she had been widowed since she was 39. And she’d been widowed the first time at 19. And she’d grown up in Germany while Hitler was intent on destroying Europe and life was not easy.

 

Then the changing of the guard happened and I was left with my mouth gaping. I knew I had to hear this story. The next week after class, we went across the parking lot to Culvers for lunch and I scribbled notes on the backs of a pile of brown napkins while Astrid talked. Later she let me read the account of her life that she had written herself.

 

Astrid faced so many tragic circumstances, but she would be the first to tell you that God was with her even before she knew how to call on him. Many people with her life story would have found plenty of reason to wallow and stagnate. But not Astrid. Truly she is one of the most hopeful people I know.

 

Her story was the beginning of Colors of Christmas, which includes two stories. Astrid’s is “Christmas in Gold,” and the other is “Christmas in Blue.” Astrid inspired me to write about hope for a time of year when the Christian message resounds with hope yet so many people struggle to grasp hope for themselves. I pray these stories will help many recover a sense of hope afresh.

 

Olivia Newport chases joy in Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is.

Blog Stops

Books N Baubles, October 17

Christian Bookaholic, October 17

Bukwurmzzz, October 17

Janices book reviews, October 18

Singing Librarian Books, October 18

Moments Dipped in Ink, October 18

A Simply Enchanted Life, October 19

G.O. & D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, October 19

Bigreadersite, October 19

Reader’s cozy corner, October 20

Have A Wonderful Day, October 20

Reflections from my bookshelves, October 20

Blogging With Carol, October 21

Just the Write Escape, October 21

Zerina Blossom’s Books, October 21

A Greater Yes, October 22

Mary Hake, October 22

Daysong Reflections, October 22

A Baker’s Perspective, October 23

Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 23

Baker Kella, October 23

Smiling Book Reviews, October 23

The Fizzy Pop Collection, October 24

It’s Storytime With Van Daniker, October 24

Remembrancy, October 24

Carpe Diem, October 25

autism mom, October 25

Bibliophile Reviews, October 25

A Reader’s Brain, October 26

By The Book, October 26

The Power of Words, October 26

With a Joyful Noise, October 27

Pause for Tales, October 27

Splashes of Joy, October 27

Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 28

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, October 28

Karen Sue Hadley, October 28

Reading Is My SuperPower, October 28

Vicky Sluiter, October 29

To Everything a Season, October 29

Pursuing Stacie, October 29

Just Jo’Anne, October 30

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 30

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Olivia is giving away a grand prize of a Christmas Bundle Bonanza which includes 7 Jumbo rolls of Christmas wrapping paper, 2 sets of stick-on gift tags, 2 packages of Christmas cards and envelopes, 2 collections of Christmas novellas—18 stories in all, and a signed copy of Colors of Christmas!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c319

7 responses to “The Colors of Christmas Review and Giveaway!

  1. carol L

    Thanks for the review. This is a new Author for me and I am looking forward to reading it.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

  2. Kay Garrett

    Thank you for your perspective. I also loved reading the guest post from Olivia Newport.

  3. Thanks for your review, Jessica. I love celebrating Christmas and reading Christmas stories is one of my favorite ways to celebrate! I am looking forward to reading Colors of Christmas. I also enjoyed reading Olivia Newport’s background story of Astrid. It’s always neat to hear the story behind the story!