Synopsis:
The
time is World War II and the place is Lafayette, Indiana. The three
novellas in this collection tell the stories of the Turner siblings.
In
White Christmas, Abigail Turner is a Purdue student who also
works at Glatz Candies. She meets Jackson Lucas on the city bus. He
limps a bit, a result of polio when young. He's working at the puzzle
factory, trying to earn enough money to help his mom and sisters and
keep the family farm going. Abigail's sweetheart was killed at Pearl
Harbor and she is in no mood to even think about romance. Then
Jackson receives a foreclosure letter and he is sure there is no
hope. Abigail finds herself sympathetic to Jackson's plight. Her
father is a lawyer, and just maybe there is hope for the Lucas farm.
In
I'll Be Home for Christmas, Pete Turner is back in Lafayette
for a month furlough. He's done his fighter pilot tour and will be
going back to fly transport after Christmas. Walking the streets of
town, he's surprised to see a little girl looking into a shop window.
She's too young to be by herself. A precocious girl, Linnie strikes
up an ongoing, one sided conversation with Pete and he is able to
return her to her home. He meets Grace Kessler, Linnie's anxious
mother who has just found out that yet another day care person has
told her she won't take care of the active Linnie any longer. Grace's
pilot husband was shot down two years ago by the Japanese and she is
in no mood to get to know another pilot, let alone the adult version
of a boy who was mean to her when they were children.
In
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner
(“Merry” as she was born on Christmas Day) is a combat nurse in
the town of Nieuwenhagen, in the Netherlands. While she was still
training in America, the man she thought loved her and would marry
her had suddenly left for Europe. She is still deeply hurt from
David's betrayal. She knew he had a German background but had know
idea he would go back to Europe - to fight for the Nazis, everyone
supposed. When she catches a glimpse of a Dutch man with the same
eyes as David, she wonders.
Review:
This
is a great collection of novellas for the Christmas season. Even
though each novella is written by a different author, they seamlessly
flow together. It was fun to have a mention of the other siblings in
Abigail's story and later read about them in detail. Each of the
Turner siblings is unique. Each has to find their own way in a war
torn world. The character development is good, even in this short
novella setting. I really liked little Linnie. What a precious child,
even if she does talk nonstop!
We
get snippets of what life was like during the war years too. The pain
of loss comes through so clearly in Grace's life. She struggles with
the possibility of loving Pete but the hurt of having already lost a
husband to war is deep. And how does one celebrate Christmas when
there is such tragedy happening all over the world? Can the Turner
siblings find love in the midst of it all?
I
really like the idea of centering these stories around popular
Christmas songs of the era. That theme, as well as the character of
the Turner grandmother, tie the stories together like a Christmas
ribbon. This is a delightful novel for Christmas reading.
You can read an excerpt here.
I
am taking part in a blog tour of this book. You can read more reviews
here.
Tricia
Goyer is the author of more than forty books and has published over
500
Waterbrook
Press, 360 pages. Please visit your local Christian bookstore to
purchase a copy.
I
received a complimentary copy of this book through the Litfuse
Publicity Group for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
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