For Fiction Friday I am reviewing Lightening Up Christmas a collection of four Christmas novellas out next Tuesday.
Product Description:
Four Christmas lights. Four love stories. One season filled with faith, hope, and happily-ever-afters.
In Lighting Up Christmas, four heartwarming holiday romance novellas shine with cozy charm, clean romance, small-town warmth, and the gentle reminder that God can bring light to even the dimmest season.
In The Bright Side of Christmas by Amy R. Anguish, Holly Belle loves Christmas, holiday décor, and twinkling lights. Her new neighbor, Robert Bradshaw, prefers peace, quiet, and keeping her Christmas cheer firmly on her side of the duplex. But when Holly decides his grinchy heart needs a little holiday help, their battle over lights may lead to something brighter than either one expected.
In The Light of a Christmas Star by Heather Greer, Elena Bell is determined to make Tannenbaum’s Festival of Lights a success for the families depending on it. When rising Hollywood star Trenton Wills arrives at her B&B, he may be the answer to the town’s needs—and the beginning of Elena’s own Christmas romance. But Trenton has secrets that could dim more than the festival lights.
In ’Twas the Light Before Christmas by Mary Pat Johns, Cooper Blackmon enters the region’s biggest Christmas lights competition determined to win. Mandy Alvarez needs the prize money to save her family’s beloved Christmas Village. As rivalry turns to friendship and friendship glows into something more, only one can claim the prize. But both may have far more to lose than money.
In Pitch Perfect Lights by Regina Rudd Merrick, Holly Shepherd is facing her family’s first Christmas after loss while trying to create joy for her young siblings. When author Paxton Hollis returns home and quietly helps revive her father’s beloved light display, Holly discovers that hope can still shine, even through grief.
A charming choice for readers who enjoy clean, faith-friendly romance wrapped in Christmas lights, small-town warmth, and happily-ever-after hope.
Read Lighting Up Christmas and discover four faith-filled holiday love stories that glow with joy, hope, and the true light of Christmas.
My Review:
Thanks to the authors for my review copy.
I love the book and each story is well written. Often with Novella collections there are some better than others but not in this collection. Each book is special.
The Bright Side of Christmas by Amy R. Anguish.
Holly Belle loves Christmas, holiday décor, and twinkling lights. Her new neighbour, Robert Bradshaw, prefers peace, quiet, and keeping her Christmas cheer firmly on her side of the duplex. Holly is one who would have Christmas lights up year round if she could but starts in November. Robert comes from a family where Christmas is compartmentalised into one day. Decorating is considered over the top and a waste of money.
I loved seeing how Holly rubbed off on Robert. I also love how we learn more about why his doesn’t want so much decoration and see him change. There are so many fun scenes in this story and I love how it ended. Well, no that’s not entirely true I really wanted more of this story I didn’t want it to end.
The Light of a Christmas Star by Heather Greer.
Elena Bell is determined to make Tannenbaum’s Festival of Lights a success. Then Rising Hollywood star Trenton Wills arrives at her B&B and seems to want to join in could he be the answer. This year has been hard on some of the families and proceeds go to help them have a better Christmas. Trenton is trying to break out of his typecasting to play a hero at Christmas. The two hit it off until some information comes to light. Will the festival be a success.
We see how leaving out information even if it’s unintentional can cause mistrust and where it leads. I did enjoy this story also and would love to see this sort of festival. It helped reading it on a cold day in Australia. Again, I didn’t want the story to end but I do like how it ended.
Twas the Light Before Christmas by Mary Pat Johns.
Both Cooper Blackmon and Mandy Alvarez have entered the same contest for the region’s biggest Christmas Lights. Both are determined to win for different but both valid reasons. Both have Christmas light displays one being a drive through experience and the other a Christmas Village with things to do. Again, I really enjoyed the story and would love to experience both places. Although I would lean towards Mandy’s.
We have a couple of teen students of Mandy’s who add to the story, Mandy’s Grandmother and Coopers brother. I found this to be a charming story and could have kept reading. I wanted to experience the displays. I loved how it ended.
Pitch Perfect Lights by Regina Rudd Merrick.
Holly Shepherd is a school music teacher, and her students are in a choir contest. She is looking after her younger siblings after family loss and is struggling. Her best friend’s brother, author Paxton Hollis is home to ignite his children’s book series. They both offer to help Holly and at the same time the siblings help ignite is passion with ideas for his book series.
This story shows love in action. Holly was reluctant to ask for help but needed it. With Paxton and his sisters help she was able to manage and learn it’s ok to need help. For Paxton he found his voice again. This book even has an epilogue at the end which I really appreciated.
The whole series was really good. I would actually love to see a follow up novella with all the characters to see what happens next. Even the last story.
If you enjoy heartwarming Christmas stories give this book a go.