phyllish
Written on Sep 20, 2019
Two common threads run through the stories. The “Second Chance Coin” which the bearers discover holds far more value than the gold used to fashion it. And Charles Dickens, which shouldn’t be a surprise based on the title. The first two books contained in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas were previously released as stand-alone books. I have previously reviewed A Tale of Two Hearts and so I will not repeat the review here.
Michelle Griep applies her signature tongue-in-cheek humor to create characters who are endearing, quirky, and memorable in these stories and makes Victorian England come alive.
In 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, an unknown host invites an eclectic group to a Christmas house party with an intriguing boon offered to those who stay the full twelve days. The strangers never meet their host and are appalled at the poor fare offered. Yet the bonus for staying, while different for each guest, has each one determined to remain. Until a robbery, a fire, and countless “accidents” have them rethinking their priorities.
I may have loved the clever names of the characters even more than the story. Let me introduce you to a few of them.
Mr. Minnow, an eely thin man
Miss Scurry, a timid older woman who carries a box containing her friends. Mice
Mademoiselle Pretents, the Frenchwoman who looks down her nose at everyone else
The puzzle of the strange occurrences had me wondering. I was surprised to find who was behind the trouble and even more surprised to discover the identity of the host. This was a fun mystery!
The Old Lace Shop offers second chances, and not only to Bella and Edward. Full of surprises, this delightful story revealed the tender heart of the widow who was left with no reason to mourn the death of her husband. Her compassion for the blind women who peopled the town she now considered her home had her determined to find them employment other than begging.
The stories had deep inspirational messages as the characters were reminded to trust God and to look to Him for their help.
If you enjoy Christmas stories and Victorian-era fiction, you won’t want to miss reading Once Upon a Dickens Christmas.
Read my full review at Among the Reads
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.