The Gift of Christmas Past Review And Litfuse Tour

Posted by abakersp in Contemporary / 1 Comment

If you’ve seen the name Cindy Woodsmall, you are probably thinking Amish fiction. I know I would be. This book is not Amish, but do not let that stop you from reading it. Cindy still provided a wonderful story, with the help of Erin of course. Not only is it a great start to the Christmas holiday, it is a wonderful story of hope.

Check out the Litfuse Blog Tour  to see what others thought as well!

About the Book

 

Arson wasn’t the only fire that ignited between them.
Promises shattered.
Lies spoken.
She was arrested.
He returned to the safety of his wealthy parents.
Almost ten years later, Hadley and Monroe are both specialists in the field of speech therapy. They meet again . . . thrown together to help a four-year-old-girl rendered mute after being rescued from a fire.
Years of secrets and anger beg to be set free as Hadley and Monroe try to push aside past hurts and find common ground in order to help the traumatized child and her family.
Can the love of Christmas past drift into the present, bringing healing and hope for all?
My Perspective

I first have to comment on the cover – I really like it. I love the street lights glowing, the faint snowflakes falling, and the way the female just sort of looks over it all. It sets the tone for the setting, and reminds me of where I live on a cold snowy night. To be honest, I wanted to jump into the scene. It’s a beautiful book cover, and isn’t that what catches our eye first?

Onto the story. It was beautifully written and I found myself engrossed in the characters. First, it dealt with something I am totally unfamiliar with – going mute after a tragic accident. That really was my main focus when I was reading, was this sweet little girl. Who cares about the love story when you have this previous child who needs help, and you are aching to see saved. With each small victory you are screaming “yes!”, while others around you just kind of shrug and wonder why you are talking to yourself. It is so amazing to me how an author (or authors) can write in such a way that make you care about these characters like they are real. You begin creating your own ideas of how to cure them, and try talking to the characters about your ideas, but of course they can’t hear you because they are just characters in a book, and you realize that you probably should just keep reading.

Hadley and Monroe bring an almost Romeo and Juliet quality to the storyline. I am not going to lie. I did not like Monroe’s parents. At all. I found myself being so angry at them, but over time that anger turned into pity. Their situation made be stop and think about what I would have done if it were my child faced with the situation they were in. As I began to learn more about Monroe and his background, it all made sense. I still did not agree, but could see why they did what they did. They thought they were doing the right thing. And isn’t that what all parents do? But sometimes you have to take a step back, and look at the scenario with an open mind, and without discrimination. That being said, had Monroe’s parents done that up front, we wouldn’t have the storyline!

Out of all the characters, I really liked Hadley the most. She had so much to overcome in her life, and chose to not let it drag her down. I think she’s a great example to young people today. To get something in life, you really have to work hard, and Hadley is proof of that. I also liked how she did not immediately melt when she became acquainted with Monroe in her adult years. Some love stories will do that, which does not allow time for the couple to progress and the characters to grow. Hadley and Monroe came together at just the right pace, and in just the right way.

This is a story that will encourage you this Christmas season. It will put a smile on your face and remind you that there is good in the world. And there is always hope for a second chance. 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
Cindy Woodsmall is the “New York Times” and CBA best-selling author of eighteen works of fiction. She’s been featured in national media outlets such as ABC’s “Nightline” and the “Wall Street Journal.” Cindy has won numerous awards and has been finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol Awards. Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in Flowery Branch, GA.
Erin Woodsmall is a writer, musician, wife, and mom of three. She has edited, brainstormed, and researched books with Cindy for almost a decade. She is very excited about their first coauthored book.
Find out more about Cindy and Erin at http://www.cindywoodsmall.com.

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