Book Review: Merry Humbug Christmas by Sandra D. Bricker

During the holiday season I actually got some reading done.  One of the books I read was from Sandie Bricker, her new Christmas book of two novellas.  I first discovered Sandie's books when she started writing for Summerside Press in their Love Finds You series.  I absolutely loved her book, Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas.  It was well-written, funny, insightful and God-honoring. I loved it so much I bought a copy for my mom and my sister.  I've read several more of her books since that 2008 release.  And I now follow her on Facebook and thoroughly enjoy her comments and posts.  


So when I heard she had a new Christmas book I knew I had to get it.  I loaded it up on my Kindle and waited for a lovely Christmas tale to unfold.  Like usual I loved her voice and heart warming stories told in her humorous way. They were enjoyable stories. Sandie is a talented author.  My one qualm with this book and especially the first story was that it seemed to lack a true Christian message.  There are Christians in the book but the Christianity was laid in place lightly.  

For example, in the first story the heroine, Joss, doesn't seem to be a Christian even though she throws up a prayer now and again. The hero, on the other hand, does have a strong faith.  I was expecting to see a transformation in Joss, a realization that she needed Christ in her life.  But it never came.  And the hero, Patrick, never seemed to have a problem that she wasn't a true believer. He still planned to have a relationship with her.  Perhaps I'm being picky but that bothered me.

Overall, though, they are two delightful stories that I would encourage you to read.




Blurb:
A Merry Humbug Christmas features two holiday romance novellas from hilarious and heartwarming author Sandra D. Bricker. -- the perfect gift to yourself or someone else at this most wonderfully stressful time of year. 

In "Once Upon a Jingle Bell," A Bah! Humbug cruise to the Mexican Riviera is Joss Snow’s answer to this year’s quest to avoid the holidays completely; at least until she’s rebooked on a different kind of cruise altogether. Candy canes, holly wreaths, reindeer and ornaments seem to be stalking her on the 12 Days of Christmas holiday cruise extravaganza. An escape back to land is her only goal . . . until she meets a kindred spirit in rugged Irishman Patrick Brenneman, and then the game is on! Avoid Christmas festivities at all costs . . . except maybe for that one stop under the mistletoe. 


New Years Resolutions

I'm not big on making resolutions. What happens to our resolutions anyway? Inevitably, we always break them. It's like promising God that you'll never sin again.  It's just not going to happen. So, no I didn't make any grand New Year resolutions this year. However, I do like to assess the past year and formulate goals for  to the future as a new year commences.

This year I want to eat healthier and exercise more.  I pray I'll read my Bible regularly and get up earlier. I hope to submit several new manuscripts to my publishers and get back into a regular writing routine.  I'd like to read at least 36 books this year. That's only 4 a month. And I pray I make my family feel loved every day of the year.

What about you? What are your goals for the next year?