Saturday, November 19, 2011

Review/Giveaway: Remembering Christmas

A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

Title: Remembering Christmas
Author: Dan Walsh
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: December 10, 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: 272-page hardcover
List Price: $15.99
ISBN: 978-0-8007-1979-1
Synopsis:
Can one Christmas change a life forever?
Rick Denton lives his life on his terms. He works hard, plays hard, and answers to no one. So when his mother calls begging him to come home after his stepfather has an aneurysm, Rick is more than a little reluctant. What was supposed to be just a couple days helping out at the family bookstore turns into weeks of cashing out old ladies and dealing with the homeless guy who keeps hanging around the store. The one bright spot is the lovely and intriguing young woman who works at his side each day.
As Christmas nears, Rick's old life beckons, the hurts from his past loom large, and the decisions he makes will determine more than just where he spends Christmas Eve.
With skillful storytelling, Dan Walsh creates a Christmas story that will have you remembering every good and perfect gift of Christmas.
About the Author:
Dan Walsh is the award-winning author of The Unfinished Gift, The Homecoming, The Deepest Waters, and Remembering Christmas. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his family in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.
What I Liked: 

Dan Walsh delivers all the ingredients of a classic Christmas story.  Tragedy, romance, a sweet little girl who isn't expecting much for Christmas, a cozy little bookstore with a great assortment of customers, and a realization of what's important - family and caring and love.

And the author adds in a nice little twist that I wasn't expecting - taking home the point that each person has value and deserves kindness, no matter their obvious outward deficiency.

I loved the message, the page-turning quality of the writing, and the setting.  The "memory" of the story is set in 1980 - when I was right about the age of little Amy in the book (and daughter of a Christian bookstore manager), so it was a definite walk down memory lane in terms of the music and toys and current events of the day that the author liberally sprinkles references to throughout.

Definitely a book I'd recommend adding to your Christmas list.

What I Didn't Like: 


There was one spot in the story where I thought, "Come on...  Really?"  It's where Rick, the main character, shows up with Barbie and Hollie Hobbie and Miss Piggy and Boby Softina and everything on the little girl's wish list.  Perhaps it's the equivalent of the old Christmas classics where a poor little girl ends up with the most beautiful porcelain doll she's been dreaming of but not dared to ask for.  But as the mom of a 4yo who's not shy at all about asking for Barbie and Disney and Strawberry Shortcake and all the other fad toys of the day, it made me a little concerned about the values we're passing to our kids when we give it ALL to them...

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.

57 comments:

Annette W. said...

I'm actually buying this book for my dad for Christmas (and then asking to borrow it)...but I will be happy to return it if I win!! Would love to win it!

Annette W. said...

I follow you!

Unknown said...

i am a follower and would love to win Dan Walsh's novel. Thanks for the giveaway

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a great read!

Anonymous said...

I am a GFC follower (blessedinwy)

Anonymous said...

HORTON111@AOL.COM

E-MAIL SUBSCRIBER

Anonymous said...

HORTON111@AOL.COM

GFC FOLLOWER AND I WOULD LOVE TO WIN THIS BOOK

Linda Kish said...

I would love to win a copy of this book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

sweetheart8181 said...

Oooooo another Christmas book! Yay! I love Christmas!

sweetheart8181@yahoo.com

I'm a follower too!

Marta G. (A Bilingual Baby) said...

Hi! I’d love to read this book. Thank you for the chance. Best regards from Barcelona, Spain, Marta martaplayita at gmail dot com

Marta G. (A Bilingual Baby) said...

Hi again! I follow your blog via email subscription. Thank you! Marta martaplayita at gmail dot com

daysease said...

Yay!! I would love to participate in this one! Thanks for offering it to internationals. Sending a big hug from Italy!!

:-) Celita

daysease said...

I am a follower, too!! Yippee!!! So excited! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

This book sounds like a great read.
Thanks for the chance to win it.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I follow by google as Marjorie/cenya2.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Merry said...

I've heard wonderful things about Dan Walsh, please add me to the drawing.
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

Merry said...

I'm a follower.
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

Julie W said...

Sounds like a good book! Thanks for the opportunity to win :)

farmermomwife at yahoo dot com

Julie W said...

GFC follower jwal90

farmermomwife at yahoo dot com

apple blossom said...

I wanted to review this book but didn't feel I had time to do it with holidays and all would love to win it thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

apple blossom said...

gfc follower
and email subscriber

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read this wonderful story

i'm a follower & email subscriber :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Renee G said...

Would love to read this -- I've heard quite a bit about it.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com

Renee G said...

I follow as Renee G on gFC
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

Anonymous said...

This sounds like an interesting book. Thanks for the chance.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Anonymous said...

E-Mail subscriber

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

mverno said...

i love to read books this would be good for me mverno@roadrunner.com

Simone said...

I love reading Christmas stories! Thanks for the great giveaway!

4teamrochester(at)gmail(dot)com

Kathy said...

Thanks for the chance to win!

crystletellerday said...

i like to read crystletellerday@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I love new Christmas stories to read. This sounds like one the whole family can enjoy.

drainbamaged.gyzmo at gmail.com

Unknown said...

GFC: Kathy Merkel

tracey said...

sounds like a good book, thanks
traceyj40@sbcglobal.net

tracey said...

GFC follower
traceyj40@sbcglobal.net

babytrees said...

I love Christmas fiction

theresa _ heppner at yahoo dot com

babytrees said...

new GFC follower

theresa _ heppner at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

i love a good book

jim.coyne2@verizon.net

Anonymous said...

i follow via GFC James

jim.coyne2@verizon.net

Melanie Montgomery said...

I wanna read this.

clarkmurdock@yahoo.com

Candie L said...

I am following your blog. Thank you

candieluster(at)gmail(Dot)com

ABCD Diaries said...

This sounds great! christinbanda at yahoo dot com

ABCD Diaries said...

gfc follower:) christinbanda at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I like the Christmas reads!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

AEKZ2 said...

I'd like to read this!

annettekz2@yahoo.com

Rhonda said...

I enjoy reading inspiring stories at this time of the year
rhondastruthersatyahoo.ca

Rhonda said...

follower
rhondastruthersatyahoo.ca

peterg201 said...

I think my MOM would like to read this

peterg201(at)gmail(dot)com

daveshir2005 said...

I would love to read this.

daveshir2005@yahoo.com

daveshir2005 said...

gfc follower daveshir2005

daveshir2005@yahoo.com

Lisa P. said...

Thanks for the giveaway!
lafittelady at gmail dot com

Lisa P. said...

GFC follower ~ Lisa Blogs

Amanda S. said...

Sounds like a good book! I'm a sucker for Christmas stories. :)

Sand said...

I would love to read this book.
ATREAU at GMAIL dotcom.

Bakersdozen said...

I would love to read this. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bakersdozen said...

Email subscriber. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

It sounds like an interesting book. I would love to read it. Thanks for the giveaway. garrettsambo@aol.com

Donna said...

It sounds very nice.
donna444444@yahoo.com