Saturday, November 12, 2011

Review/Giveaway: The Christmas Shoppe

A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

Title: The Christmas Shoppe
Author: Melody Carlson
Genre: Contemporary Christmas fiction
How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.
Entry deadline: November 25, 2011
Restrictions: Open internationally!

That's right, enter right here for this giveaway.  This is my review copy, so it has been gently read.

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Publisher: Revell
Physical Description: 176-page hardcover
List Price: $15.99
ISBN: 978-0-8007-1926-5

Synopsis:
The small town of Parrish Springs is not quite ready for Matilda Honeycutt.
A strange older woman with scraggly gray hair and jewelry that jangles as she walks, Matilda is certainly not the most likely person to buy the old Barton Building on the town's quaint main street. When it becomes apparent that her new shop doesn't fit the expectations of Parrish Springs residents, a brouhaha erupts. After all, Christmas is approaching, and the last thing the town needs is a junky shop run by someone who looks and acts like a gypsy. But as townsfolk venture into the strange store, they discover that old memories can bring new life and healing.
Once again, Melody Carlson delivers a Christmas story that will touch hearts and delight the senses. Sure to be a classic, The Christmas Shoppe is filled with the special magic the best Christmas stories share—that intangible mixture of nostalgia, joy, and a little bit of magic.
About the Author:
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books from Revell, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington's, which is being considered for a TV movie. She is also the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, The Jerk Magnet, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books in 2010 and 2011. She and her husband live in central Oregon. For more information about Melody visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/.
What I Liked: 

This was a sweet Christmas story with a touch of romance, but more about goodwill toward ALL mankind.  I think that's what I appreciated most:  the prompt to not just forgive past hurts and set grudges aside, but to build and cherish relationships with those currently in my life.

The author did a great job developing imperfect characters that are easy to relate to.  Most of them have good intentions, but are missing meaning or purpose in their lives until Matilda comes along.  Others experience about-face changes as Matilda's shoppe changes them completely.  Matilda has an effect on just about everyone - the "heroes" and the "villains," the ones who are trying to make a difference for good and the ones who want to take others down as they rise. 

And you realize we all have much in common - only by opening our eyes to God's gifts (not very pretty by human standards) can we truly be happy.

I work for a non-profit that owns and operates five thrift stores, and I suspect I will never look at used items the same way again.  I'll be wondering if they have a story to tell...
What I Didn't Like: 


The story was a bit slow-moving at times, but overall there was nothing I didn't like.  A sweet Christmas read.
Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Baker Publishing Group for the review copy of this book.

30 comments:

Cathy W said...

Love Christmas stories, thanks for the chance.
cjwallace43 at gmail dot com

Cathy W said...

Subscribe by email
Follow via GFC (Cathy Wallace)
cjwallace43 at gmail dot com

intensev5 said...

Thanks for the chance to win:) I need a good book to read over xmas

Linda Kish said...

I would love to read you gently read copy.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Cathy said...

Would love to win this Christmas book!
sunshine6892 at hotmail dot com

Cathy said...

I'm a follower via GFC
sunshine6892 at hotmail dot com

Charleydog said...

I love Christmas stories and if I win a Christmas story book, I always put it away so I can read it about a month before Christmas. Thanks for offering the contest.

pboylecharley(at)hotmail(dot)com

Julie W said...

Would love to win this!

farmermomwife at yahoo dot com

Julie W said...

Email subscriber

farmermomwife at yahoo dot com

Nancye said...

This sounds like a great book! Melody Carlson is one of my favorite authors so I know I will enjoy this one.

Thanks for the giveaway!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

GFC Follower
E-Mail subscriber

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a wonderful book!

Anonymous said...

I am a GFC follower

Anonymous said...

please enter me & thx for contest
thehighflyer3(at)hotmail(dot)com

Carrie said...

Would LOVE to win!

readingtoknow (at) gmail (dot) com

Carrie said...

I'm a follower!

readingtoknow (at) gmail (dot) com

Unknown said...

It's been awhile since i read a Melody Carlson novel. i love them, but haven't seen any in the city where we shop. i would love to win this one.

Valerie Taylor Mabrey said...

Sounds like a good winter read
vmkids3 at msn dot com

Anonymous said...

OH, would that I could... win this I mean. It has already caught my curious side, and the fact that it is a Christmas story would mean so much to me. Quirky and different. Like it already. Need some new Christmas material to brighten up the holidays. Thanks so much for the chance to win it... Hope you are well. Been a long time since we were in touch... Blessings, and Happy Thanksgiving!!


Celita in Italy

daysease said...

Oh, sorry, but I cannot seem to leave a comment under my google blog info, so I had to do so anonymously. I am a follower.

:-)
http://daysease.blogspot.com/

mrsdayseye at tiscali dot it

celita

daysease said...

Weird, it worked that time... excuse the third message. Do not pay attention to it, please... :-)

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read this christmas story :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Nicole C. said...

I would love to read this book.

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

Nicole C. said...

I follow on gfc.

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

sweetheart8181 said...

This book seems very interesting to me. I hope I win! I love Christmas!

sweetheart8181@yahoo.com

Oh and if you guys would I just started my own blog. I will be putting up my first review this week. Would you please follow me?
My blog is sweetheart8181.blogspot.com

Merry said...

I love finding treasures in junk shops, this sounds like it would be fun. Thanks for a chance!
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

Merry said...

I'm a follower.
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

thatlittlehouse said...

This looks like just the type of book I love, and I have enjoyed books by Melody Carson as well!

nblexp ( at ) gmail (dot) com

thatlittlehouse said...

I follow you publicly on gfc

nblexp (at) gmail (dot) com

Crystal F said...

Sounds great! thanks for the giveaway!!
crystalfaulkner2000 at yahoo dot com