Bledsoe, Jerry. The Angel Doll: A Christmas Story
There are a few books that highlight some of the reasons the holiday season exists and the things that we sometimes forget to be thankful for. One such title is The Angel Doll: A Christmas Story by true-crime writer, Jerry Bledsoe. This story has believable and sympathetic characters, and Bledsoe effectively captures the authentic atmosphere of a Southern small town in the 1950s. The narrator's paper route buddy, Whitey, has a sick sister, Sandy, who finds great solace in hearing the story of The Littlest Angel over and over again. Both boys go to great lengths to find an angel doll worthy of Sandy's affection. The descriptions are heartfelt and poignant in this book, and the legacy of childhood pervades in their adult lives in ways that both boys would have never guessed as children. This is a book about real people finding a way to bridge real pain during the holiday season.
Greeley, Andrew M. Star Bright: A Christmas Story
A vintage Father Andrew M. Greeley tale, Star Bright: A Christmas Story, is all abut love and second chances. Jack Flanigan takes pity on his orphaned Russian girlfriend, who's studying at Harvard, and invites her home to Chicago for Christmas where neither of them--or anyone in Jack's family, for that matter--will ever be the same again.
Rimes, LeAnn. Holiday in Your Heart
In Holiday in Your Heart, fourteen-year-old country singing sensation LeAnn Rimes weaves the tale of the pressured life of a young star with a warm and endearing Christmas story that is sure to appeal to readers of The Christmas Box. In this short novel, a child country-music star who feels forced to choose between her family and the success she dreams about is guided by an angel to make the right decisions. A quick, appealing, sentimental read that is also a made-for-television movie.
If you are looking for lighter holiday-themed books, here are a few new mysteries in that vein.
Adamson, Lydia. A Cat on a Jingle Bell Rock
In the latest Alice Nestleton mystery, A Cat on a Jingle Bell Rock, everyone's favorite actress, catsitter, and amateur sleuth finds herself in the middle of a not-so-merry mystery when she agrees to help an old friend track down his charity's anonymous benefactor. When the generous patron is found dead, Alice soon becomes the target of a murderous scrooge determined to keep Alice from the truth. Cat-lovers will enjoy the antics of those felines, Tiny and Tim, and the beautiful line drawings that turn this book into a special holiday gift. A great cozy mystery and one of the best in this series.
Douglas, Carole Nelson. Cat in a Golden Garland Those of you who love cat mysteries will be excited at the latest Midnight Louie offering, the black tomcat detective with a nose for trouble is back in the eighth volume of Carole Nelson Douglas's popular series in Cat in a Golden Garland. The head honcho of a Madison Avenue ad agency forgoes his traditional Santa suit for a company party and hires an actor instead. Someone murders that substitute and Midnight Louie and his affable owner, Temple Barr, are on the case again.
Hess, Joan. A Holly, Jolly Murder Joan Hess's new novel, A Holly, Jolly Murder pits popular heroine Claire Malloy against Druids and Wiccans during the festive and murderous Christmas season. This fast-paced suspense tale has an irresistible Christmas setting and has intriguing sub-plots galore. If you enjoy Hess's Maggody series, give her Malloy series a try with this entertaining holiday mystery.
Adapted from The Wakefield Item column of December 4, 1997 by Leane M. Ellis.
Lucius Beebe Memorial Library - This page last updated 3/04/98 - lme.