Sunday, November 13, 2016

Kissing Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

Finding Father Christmas, a Hallmark movie, airs November 13.
This is the third novella in the Father Christmas series. You can read my review of the first two here.

We are introduced to a new main character in this story. Anna is a niece of Andrew's first wife. She had visited England earlier to attend the wedding of her cousin Ian and Miranda. She had met Peter, Ian's best man, and fallen for him. After several months back in Minnesota, Anna has returned to England to celebrate Christmas with her relatives and friends. She has let her imagination form a romantic future with Peter. Unfortunately, he has another plan for his future and it does not include Anna.

Gunn has crafted another good Christmas romance. The story will tug at your heart. Openness and honesty are strong themes in the plot. We learn some interesting facts about structures in London as Peter takes Anna on a tour.

I would have liked to know a little more about Anna. Even though she is the main character, I felt she was not developed well. She is an artist and a romantic dreamer. How did she get to be that way, living in a sort of fairy tale world? How did this branch of Andrew's in-laws come to be in Minnesota? There was much action in this novella but I do wish there had been more background material. Gunn set the standard in the earlier novellas in this series, helping readers understand Miranda. I wish she had done the same here with Anna.

Nonetheless, this is an enjoyable story. It is a good portrayal of the true nature of grace and love. There is a Reading Group Guide included.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Robin Jones Gunn is the bestselling author of more than 90 books with five million copies sold worldwide. She and her husband have two grown daughters and live in Hawaii. You can find out more at www.robingunn.com.

FaithWords, 192 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My thoughts are an independent and honest review.

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