Hi everyone, it’s Robbie Cheadle with you today and I am sharing my reviews of a few delightful Christmas themed books that would make lovely festive season reads.
Mountain Laurel Christmas by Jan Sikes
Cole Knight, previously Albert Anderson, is famous and has achieved success beyond his wildest dreams as a singer under the tutorage of superstar, Corinna Smith. Now, Corinna is dead, killed in a car accident, and Cole is alone. Estranged from his sister and brother, the questions of a persistent journalist force his thoughts return to his childhood, the death of his father that precipitated the destruction of his family, and his eventual flight to Nashville and a career in singing.
This line of thought leads Cole back to his abandoned family home in an effort to track down what has become of his younger brother. Can Cole find happiness with his siblings, or is it to late?
I really loved this book. It is such a lovely feel-good story about the importance of family, just perfect for the Christmas season. I enjoyed the slow evolution of Cole from a heavy-drinking and lonely young man into a caring and sensitive person called Bert.
Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Laurel-Christmas-Jan-Sikes-ebook/dp/B09KJYMVT9
Miracles & Ghosts Past: A Christmas Collection Two by D.L. Finn
This is the second collection of Christmas themed short stories in this series. I enjoyed the first collection, and this book was equally entertaining.
While all the stories in this book are engrossing, I am focusing on my favourite three for purposes of this review.
The Christmas Train Mystery – this is an entertaining Agatha Christie styled near murder mystery. Rita books tickets for her husband, Morris, and her to go on a murder mystery train ride for their thirtieth wedding anniversary. As the story unfolds, the extent to which Morris has changed and become self-absorbed and selfish over the course of their marriage becomes evident and the ticket purchase triggers a series of events that change Rita’s life. In true Finn style, the story ends on an uplifting and happy note.
She’s Home Alone – a creepy short story about a young girl home alone during a snowstorm and a predator with bad intentions. I enjoyed the character of Debbie and appreciated her presence of mind and calmness in a scary situation. Having been the victim of a home invasion, I know just how scary such situations are. The intervention by the angel was uplifting and engaging.
Elevator Santa – this is another story I could relate to as I have also been trapped in an elevator and it is a most unpleasant experience. The paranormal element in this story was subtly included and I enjoyed it very much. Another delightful story that finished on a high note.
Finn’s books always leave the reader with a feeling of contentment and the knowledge that there are lots of wonderful people out there who are the ‘helpers’. I appreciate her positive messages about the spirit of humanity wrapped up in engaging stories. This collection is perfect for Christmas.
Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Miracles-Ghosts-Past-Christmas-Collection/dp/B0FP9WY412/
Bella’s Countryside Christmas: A sweet, heart-warming winter romance (Haileybrook Village)
I rarely read romance but I really enjoyed this book which is much more than a romance novel. I enjoyed the character of Bella, a woman who is successful in her career in finance but it has not brought her happiness in life. As a fellow successful woman in finance, all of Bella’s frustrations and miseries were highly relatable to me. I understood perfectly her enthusiasm for life in a small town she visited and met a pleasant and good looking man. Every time I go on holiday, I fall in love with the place I’m visiting and wish I could move their permanently away from my job and career. Of course, I’m not as brave as Bella so I’ve never actually done it like Bella did.
Bella attends a work conference situated at a venue near where she had planned to be married before her romance failed. She sneaks off to visit the church she’d chosen and meets a lovely man as a result of an accident with a Christmas tree. She plays hooky from her conference dinner and volunteers to attend a wedding taking place that evening at the church with the lovely man. His Plus One hasn’t materialised and Bella wants to help him out of an uncomfortable situation as the bride is his ex-girlfriend.
The lovely man, called Jack, falls hard for Bella and she likes him too but before they can exchange phone numbers after a delightful evening, Bella is called away by her flighty sister who is always needing financial assistance. One year later, Bella goes back to this same small town, this time with a job and a new life lined up.
This story is really delightful. The characters are beautifully drawn and I was very drawn into their lives and loves. The story revolves around a retirement village which I also found different and interesting. I liked the involvement of characters who were older. There are a couple in interesting sub-plots in this tale that keep everything ticking over nicely as the romance progresses.
A wonderful read that I highly recommend.
Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Bellas-Countryside-Christmas-heart-warming-Haileybrook-ebook/dp/B0DDTQK9NT
The Christmas Ghost: An Investigative Paranormal Society Adventure
The four members of the Investigative Paranormal Society are called in just before Christmas to assist with a suspected haunting of the local children’s home.
Roosevelt is keen to take the case which will present a welcome distraction from memories of his beloved wife, Sarah, whose passing has left him bereft, especially at Christmas time.
As the foursome start digging into the case, they unexpectedly come across some new information about an unsolved murder case. The victim was a a good friend of Sam’s and a supporter of the children’s home.
The four must unravel the details of Randell’s murder and engage with his spirit in order to resolve the haunting and enable the orphans to return home before Christmas.
This is an exciting and well-written short story.
Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Ghost-Investigative-Paranormal-Adventure-ebook/dp/B093TMYJXN
Hullaba Christmas: Lulu and the Snatched Santa by Teagan Riordain Geneviene
Hullaba Christmas is a entertaining and whimsical Christmas story full of this author’s wildly imaginative characters, some of which are human, and some of which are not. Lulu is tired of the desert and travels home to Grandfather’s speakeasy for the Christmas season. No sooner has Lulu started to settle in with a few Angel-bot friends and some giggle-water, than an automated reindeer-bot turns up with the astonishing news that Santa has been kidnapped. Lulu is the person who needs to help save Christmas, despite the despicable behaviour of the kidnappers who are determined to ruin Christmas, so that all the children of the world become selfish and self centred as a result of their disappointment.
Lulu is the same clumsy, independent woman of the world she has always been, and she agrees to take up the challenge of trying to save Christmas and deliver all the presents in a single night. Of course, she won’t be able to heed Santa’s requirement that once Christmas is saved, she stay out of the situation. Lulu couldn’t possibly do that and neither could her friends. They will have to travel to Santa’s home and try to save Santa too.
An enchanting and fast paced Christmas story that will fill any reader with delight and the Christmas spirit.
Here are universal purchase links:
E-book:
Paperback:
A Christmas Homecoming: A Short Story by Yvette M. Calleiro
This is a delightful short story about an eighteen-year-old girl finding and being accepted by her natural parents.
Mary’s adoptive parents died when she was seventeen and she has spent the past year up until her eighteenth birthday in the care of her disinterested and indifferent grandmother. Her parents had never hidden the facts of her adoption as a baby and your mother had given instruction to the family lawyer to provide the details of her natural parents to her daughter when she turned eighteen.
On receipt of these details, Mary decides to seek out her natural parents. She is anxious about their accepting her, but determination and curiosity give her the strength she needs to undertake a search for them.
Mary is a lovely young woman who has suffered loss with the death of both her parents. Even though this story is short, I warmed to Mary and wished the best possible outcome for her.
A wonderful short Christmas story to make the reader smile.
Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Homecoming-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B0DQK23BT8
Sir Chocolate and the Missing Christmas Harp (Sir Chocolate holidays, and high days books) by Robbie and Michael Cheadle
This is an Amazon review:
Sir Chocolate and the Missing Christmas Harp is another entry in Robbie and Michael Cheadle’s children’s books.
The Christmas harp is missing. What’s Santa to do? When I found out why the harp is missing, I had a good laugh. What a sweet turn of events.
There are limericks, photos of confectionery art, and beautiful dessert recipes along with the story itself.
Charming!
Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Missing-Christmas-holidays-books-ebook/dp/B0BNHX8XGC
About Robbie Cheadle
South African author, photographer, and artist, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, written and illustrated four poetry books and written and illustrated one celebration of cake and fondant art book with recipes. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.
Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
Social Media Links
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVyFo_OJLPqFa9ZhHnCfHUA
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle
TSL Publications: https://tslbooks.uk/product-tag/robbie-cheadle/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Robbie-Cheadle/author/B01N9J62GQ
Unsplash profile: https://unsplash.com/@r_cheadle
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