Review: The Christmas Edition by Robin Shope

Title: The Christmas Edition
Author: Robin Shope
Pages: 236
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press (November 21, 2008)
Genre: Christian fiction / Romance
Edition: pdf e-book from the author ~ thanks Robin!!



Take a moment to stop by my author interview of Robin here.

Special Note: I seem to have hit the mother-lode of wonderful books lately - this one is not to be left out! Another new favorite!! My only regret is that I do not currently have it in hard copy - but alas, for now, the e-book version will have to suffice ~ maybe Santa will be extra nice this year! ;) (Anyone care to send an email to my husband suggesting this book as a stocking stuffer??)

Perfect for : Personal reading

In a nutshell: I'm speechless - I simply don't know where to start that wouldn't give you spoilers! I loved this book. Enough said. . . . just kidding. This modern story takes us to a small town in Wisconsin during December, to a family-owned newspaper that has been in business for generations. With the threat of a new newspaper coming to the area, higher costs and no real increase in subscriptions, the paper needs a miracle - or a great new editor. Joe walks into the paper as if on cue, and hope begins to stir. Will Joe's past get in the way of his success and his new-found friends? And will Joe find a faith to help him get past his troubles? Is Joe really the answer to Lucy's prayers? You will have to read this wonderful book to find out!

From the publisher:
Lucy Collins has given up on Christmas since the painful break-up with her fiance. Things only get worse when a large newspaper is about to come to town and threatens the livelihood of their family run business, The Turtle Creek Newspaper. At the staff Christmas party, she makes a wish and what seems like the answer to her prayer walks in the front door to apply for the editor position, which they are hoping will bring new life to the paper. Not only is Joe McNamara a genius when it comes to the written word, but he is also gifted with ideas about keeping the newspaper afloat. However, Joe has a secret of his own that he is keeping from Lucy. If she finds it out, then what looks like a promising relationship will unravel, but it's Christmas time, the season of rebirth and miracles. Will the spirit of celebration be enough to heal two hearts? Or will the reality of deception make this the worst Christmas of all?

First Paragraph:
December 1

The usual winter blizzard blew into southern Wisconsin.

Lucy Collins carefully maneuvered her car through the snow that grew deeper with every gust of wind. She parked directly in front of her family
owned business, The Turtle Creek Newspaper, just as her brother, Mike, was making his second pass at clearing away the snow from the drive with the snowblower.

My Review:
I sat down the other evening (after the rest of my family was asleep) expecting to get a good portion of this book read . . . little did I know that I would push through the night, into the wee hours of the morning in order to finish the book! I loved the book from start to finish. The story immediately caught my attention, and there was just enough mystery surrounding the two main characters to peak my interest until the end, when all becomes clear!

Characters: Lucy carries a burden of her own, while Joe is trying to come to terms with his past, and create a new and brighter future. Lucy's family and friends are wonderful, and I especially loved Ulilla and Abe, whose friendship blossoms through the book in a small way.

Story-Line: After a broken engagement, Lucy has continued to make the family's newspaper business her priority. After praying for a miracle in the form of a new editor, she thinks Joe is that miracle when he walks into the office practically on cue. As the story unfolds we find that all might not be as it first appears. . . but with God, all things are possible.

Readability: I found the book easy to read. I got engrossed in the book from the start and didn't realize how late it was getting - I simply wanted to keep reading.

Overall: This is a charming story, just in time for the holidays (it also includes a GREAT recipe for Hot Chocolate!). It has it all - a little tiny bit of mystery (wouldn't call it a mystery by any means) surrounding Lucy's broken engagement and Joe's past, a little romance, some good deeds, and a great ending!

About the Author: (from the publisher's site)
I have a double major in Special Education and English with a minor in Theater. In high school I worked summer stock at my older brother’s professional theater.

Presently, I hold five teaching certificates. I am the Special Education Coordinator for Denton County Juvenile Justice Alternative Program.
For our first two years of marriage, my husband and I traveled overseas as missionaries before pastoring a church for six years. Rick still goes overseas each year for a month of ministry. We have been married for over thirty years and have two grown children. We live near Dallas, Texas.To date, my literary works include approximately two hundred articles in magazines such as: Live, Lookout, Mennonite, Christian Reader, Decision, Breakthrough and Today’s Christian. Other short stories appear in the books: A Match Made in Heaven, Stories from the Heart, The Evolving Woman, and in the New York Times bestseller, In The Arms of Angels by Joan Wester-Anderson. Ann Spangler also used one of my stories in her book, Help! I can’t stop Laughing. Another two-dozen stories have been published in the Chicken Soup books. One story, Mom’s Last Laugh, was re-enacted for a PAX-TV program: It’s a Miracle. I co-authored a thriller, The Chase, for Revell and sold 14,000 copies. My second book, The Replacement, was released in June 2006. The Candidate was released July, 2007. The first book in The Turtle Creek Edition series, The Christmas Edition, is out now. The Valentine Edition, second book in the series will be out early 2009. Wildcard is a stand alone and the release date is May 2009.

Visit her at shoutlife.com/Robin_Shope and http://write2robinshope.blogspot.com/

If you have reviewed this book and would like me to add a link to your review, please leave me a comment!

See my author interview with Robin here.