The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson

This is a delightful Christmas novella. The writing is suitable for senior citizen readers but there is a surprise at the end so career age readers might like it too.

Miranda's eighty-five year old neighbor, Joy, has finally agreed to move to an assisted care facility by her sons in Phoenix, Arizona. Joy has sold the house in Chicago and is doing some final packing when she shocks Amanda by telling her she is driving an old RV to Arizona. An eighty-five year old driving an RV from Chicago to Phoenix just a couple of weeks before Christmas?

Miranda knows Joy should not take the trip by herself and insist she go along. Besides, divorced from her cheating husband and the house in foreclosure, what kind of a Christmas does she have to look forward to at home?

The journey begins, and it is a fun one. Joy, whose birthday is Christmas Day, has loved the celebration. She even hosts a blog, thanks to Miranda's help, on Christmas called Christmas Joy. She had recently held an online contest, asking for entries by people in need along the route she planned to drive. The RV is loaded and the duo takes off.

The deliveries along the way are heartwarming stories of Joy and Miranda dispensing much needed Christmas cheer. But the toll is heavy on the elderly Joy and she cannot complete the deliveries. Joy insists Miranda continue the journey. Miranda has no idea of the surprising Christmas she'll have.

This is a delightful Christmas novella. It's an inspiration to spread joy this season, just like Miranda and Joy did. I recommend it to older readers – but some younger ones will like it too.

You can read an excerpt of the novella from a USA Today interview here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Melody Carlson and her husband live in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. She is the author of numerous novels and novellas. They have two grown sons. You can find out more at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

Revell, 176 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this novella from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.