A Christmas by the Sea: A Christmas Novella

A Christmas by the Sea by Melody Carlson takes us to Seaside, Maine. Wendy Harper is traveling with her son, Jackson from Ohio to Seaside just before Thanksgiving. Wendy inherited a beach cottage from her grandfather. It is an answer to her prayers since she has a slew of debts incurred from her deceased husband’s battle with cancer along with student loans. Wendy has managed to get a month off to renovate the cottage and get it listed for sale. Jackson is excited about the trip and wants to relocate to Seaside permanently. The cottage is in better condition than Wendy expected, but it still needs some work. She hires Gordon, the local handyman, to help with the repairs. Jackson is thriving in the new environment. He makes a friend, finds a dog and enrolls himself in school. One day Wendy is at the hardware store and meets Caleb Colton, a furniture craftsman. She is surprised by what she feels when near Caleb. Wendy admires his beautiful furniture (works of art) and his Christian values. Wendy knows she should do the responsible thing and sell the cottage. However, she is drawn to the town, the cottage and a certain woodworker. To stay in Seaside, though, she needs a steady income stream. Christmas is rapidly approaching, and miracles have been known to happen. A Christmas by the Sea is a charming Christmas story. I thought it was well-written with steady pacing. It is a wholesome story with a light Christian element. The Christian themes include the importance of having a strong faith in God, prayer, reading the Bible, trust in God, and know that He will answer your prayers but not always in the way you expect. I liked the characters with Jackson being my favorite. He is delightful with his infectious joy. I like how he learned to complete certain repairs courtesy of online videos (they are helpful). I enjoyed the descriptions of Seaside and the ocean. There is a wonderful scene where Jackson and Wendy are finding sand dollars on the beach (they are not easy to find). Colton’s furniture sounded beautiful along with the seashell creations made by Wendy. My one complaint is the ending was rushed along with the romance between Wendy and Caleb. An epilogue would have been appreciated (a year or two later). A Christmas by the Sea is a short book at only 167 pages. One of my favorite sentences is “God takes care of us and He will provide what we need.” My rating for A Christmas by the Sea is 4 out of 5 stars. Melody Carlson has given us another lovely Christmas story filled with love, hope, faith, family and joy.

A Christmas by the Sea By Melody Carlson It's that time of year again - time for another Melody Carlson Christmas book. You know without a doubt the ending won't leave you in the dumps and that there will be a touch of romance. Her Christmas books rank with Hallmark Christmas movies in my opinion. This year's offering is in the contemporary category and features Wendy Harper a struggling widowed mother to twelve-year-old Jackson. Life since the death of her husband has been difficult struggling to make ends met while paying off all the bills (medical, student loans, etc..). But when she inherits her grandparent's summer cottage in Seaside, Maine, she sees a way out of her mounting debts. But Jackson has other plans he is determined to call Seaside home and get a fresh start away from everything. Seaside isn't the same small seasonal destination Wendy remembers - it still has that small town feel and charm it's just a bit more grown-up than it used to be. But she still feels that selling the cottage after some much-needed work is her chance at getting a fresh start. Seaside offers some unexpected surprises that tug at her heart making her wish to call it home but wishes cannot provide the financial support that she needs to provide for herself and Jackson. And then there is Caleb Colton a stranger to whom she feels a connection. Being a responsible adult is never easy and Wendy is determined to do what is best for the future and she has little time to decide where it will be. If you are in the mood for an easy and quick read that leaves you ready for Christmas pick up A Christmas by the Sea - you just may want to find a seashell or two for this year's tree. At 166 pages you'll have time to get this one read without adding to the chaos that, for many, surrounds Christmas. This is a progressive story that moves along at a steady pace. Find a favorite corner and settle in with a cup of tea (or coffee or cocoa), and a cookie or two and some quiet instrumental Christmas music and immerse yourself in a seaside vacation. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Revell with no expectations except that I provide my honest opinion and in my opinion this one is a 3.5 star book..

I enjoy reading Melody Carlson's novels. I found “A Christmas by the Sea” to be a sweet, quick read. I finished it in one afternoon. It's a great story about small town USA. It takes place in Seaside, Maine. Melody does a great job of taking you down main street, describing the different stores, the town square, as well as walking along the coastal beach. You can almost feel the breeze and smell the salt water as the mist splashes your face. Wendy Harper has inherited her grandparents cottage. After a long three days drive across country with her 12 year old son Jackson, they arrive. Wendy plans to renovate the cottage and sell it as quickly as possible. She only has three weeks vacation, then she is expected back to Cincinnati for Christmas. She never expected to have such strong feelings about this summer home. She has not been back here for almost 20 years. The first scene between Wendy and Caleb Colton, I found to be hilarious. There is such a natural chemistry between Caleb, Jackson and his mom Wendy. It's as if they are meant to be together. You will fall in love with Jackson. He is such a smart, caring a likable guy. He is much older than his age, due to the fact of losing his dad so early. He has to be the man of the family now. The story wasn't totally about Christmas, it takes place during the three weeks prior, starting with Thanksgiving and leading up to Christmas. I would recommend this book by Melody Carlson. I enjoyed it very much. I received a copy of Christmas by The Sea from Revell Publishing through NetGalleys. The opinions expressed in this review are totally my own.