Christmas is approaching, and Lena Markham finds herself penniless, friendless, and nearly hopeless. She is trying to restart her life after false accusations landed her in prison, but job opportunities are practically nonexistent. When a secondhand red coat unexpectedly lands her a job as Mrs. Santa at a department store, Lena finally thinks her luck is changing. But can she keep her past a secret? This tender story about fresh starts will charm readers as all of Melody Carlson's Christmas offerings do. Full of redemption and true holiday spirit, Christmas at Harrington's will be readers' newest Christmas tradition.
It took a while for me to get into this book and it was not normally what I would pick up for a Christmas read. I had been expecting something cheerful and special to the season. What I found in the pages of this short novella was something real to life. The problem with stories that are real to life, is that life is not always pretty. Quite often life is unfair and harsh, but also there is hope and bright spots where Christ and his love shines through.
Christmas at Harrington's or rather as I like to think of it as Christmas in New Haven is all about second changes. New Haven is indeed new, and a haven from difficulty. Although not perfect and evil lurks to bring us down searching out the goodness in people and life is worth the bad in the end. This book has a delightful ending and a great overall message. It does work out to be a good Christmas read and it something that I would definitely recommend for women's shelters and prisons.
*Thanks to Donna Hausler of Revell Books for providing a copy for review.*
Reading updates
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Started reading
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13 November, 2010:
Finished reading
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13 November, 2010:
Reviewed
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Started reading
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Finished reading
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13 November, 2010:
Reviewed