Lost December

I love Richard Paul Evans. Can you tell? I wonder how many books of his I have read, and in fact usually his books I want to buy and keep for myself. His stories are clean, but not filled with Mormon lingo that I go nuts. In fact when I first started reading his books I didn't think he was LDS, just an author living in Utah.

Lost December is another great story and in true Evans style teaches a lesson all at the same time. Luke is one lucky kid, well besides his mom passing away at a young age, his life was pretty nice. He had a great dad that taught him to work hard and that people where important. His Dad owns Crisp's Copy (what you haven't heard of them?) and has plans to pass the business off to his son when the time comes. As the time drew near the good father encourage his son to get his MBA and experience life away from home and family (I think secretly Dad wanted a wife and grand kids).

Luke goes, falls in with a crowd no parents what their child hanging out with and decided to blow his father off. When his money runs out his friends disappear.

Sounds like a happy Christmas story huh? To be honest it could have be set during anytime of the year, this one just happens to end at Christmas time. And like most of Richard Paul Evans' books it is a fast read.

Grade: B

The Christmas Box Miracle

I think every year I pick this book up and forget what it is about until I get a few chapters into it and then I think "oh yeah this isn't what I thought it was."

It is more of a biographical of how The Christmas Box came to be and the real miracle it was in Evan's life as well as so many others. It is amazing to read about all the different things that happened during this process of publishing and selling Evan's book.

It does make me want to read the Christmas Box, which is at my mom's house. Maybe next year.

Grade: C

The Christmas Wish

This is the 3rd time reading this gem of a book. I have to admit that it was a little predictable...but I am pretty sure it because I know the story so well, not because of the story itself.

It is such a sweet story and a mystery all wrapped up in one great book. It is about a successful Realtor working in New York who comes back to his home town after his Grandfather dies. His Grandfather left him the family realtor's office, Will's plan is to simply hire someone else to run the shop and return to New York and make the big bucks. He moves back in with his Grandma during the Christmas Season and renovation of the office.
Since it was Christmas time Will was also going to need to get his sweet Grandma something special. When he couldn't think of something himself he asked her and she asked for no presents this year but instead to find a woman named Vivian. Grandma had been reading Grandfather's journals see and found a woman she didn't know. How could Grandfather?

And that is where the mystery begins. Who is this Vivian? And can

Will discover the secret in time for Christmas?

It really is a great book, just don't read it three times...then it becomes too predictable. AND how awesome is this? They made it into a movie with Neil Patrick Harris no less. Look at the movie poster...it is oosing with love and the Chrismtas Spirit. I mean really Netflix will be getting my next order...no doubt the movie is what legends are made of (which is why no one ever hears of it)

Grade: B

Chritstmas Jars

Hope grew up wanting to be a big time newspaper reporter, she had worked her tail off getting to the top and was just waiting for the BIG story that would put her there. She didn't have an easy life by any means, she was raised by a single mother and wasn't wealthy or close to it. One very hard Christmas she received a much needed anonymous gift when she was feeling very broken. She decided that if she wrote a story about the gift-giver then maybe that would catapult her to the top of the newspaper world. Her search changes her life forever.

This is another tear jerker for me. I love this story. It makes me want to be the Maxwell mom. Don't know who that is? Well, you had better read the story then.

I am loving this reading Christmas stories only. Of coarse I should probably clean my house before starting another book!

Grade: B+

Promise Me

I love Richard Paul Evans. He is one of my most favorite author. His books are so well written, interesting and they often teach about love, hope and forgiveness. Many, if not all, of Evans' books have wonderful messages.

Promise Me is no different than any of his other books. What a wonderful story. It is about a woman with a 20 year old secret, and finally after so many years she is able to share her secret with someone else.20 years earlier was a dark miserable time for Beth, her marriage was falling apart and her daughter was sick with something that no one could explain or fix. Life was hard and then one Christmas she unexpectedly meets Matthew. The hottie that says hi...to her and changes everything.

The only thing about this story that I wasn't crazy about was that I wanted to know so badly what happened next that I finished it in 2 days. The curse of a great book. It is a sweet story set during Christmas time.

Grade: A

Favorite Quote: "Whatever I can do, baby. That's what I do, whatever I can do."

A Heart Like His

This is the 3rd time (maybe) that I have read this book-oddly enough it is the 1st time I have ever finished it. Go figure. I love this book though, especially the first half (duh). This time around I took my time in reading it...about 6 months. It was nice to read a chapter here and a page there and think about it and see how I can apply it in my life. It is such a wonderful thought provoking book.

The first chapter challenges the reader to open up their heart and let God's love in. The best way to do this is to serve, to think about others and make time for the moments we often pass by. The goal isn't to add more to our to do list, in fact it is quiet opposite. The goal is to simply open our eyes and heart enough to notice moments and people we can love and serve. Most often this can be done in a phone call, a short visit, note, or something else that we are probably doing anyway even taking the time to say hi to someone in the store, or being friendly enough that talking with a stranger isn't out of the ordinary.

I love this book, because it reminds me what "it" is all about and "it" isn't all about me.

Grade: B

The Christmas List

I love this time of the year when I can pick up only Christmas stories. I have three books that I own that I read every year. I hope to add to that number this year.

The Christmas List is about a man who wakes up one morning and reads his own obituary. If there is ever a moment that makes a person take a look at their life, it is seeing what other people thought of it after you die. James Keir didn't die...but he did get a good hard look at how people saw him while he was alive. After being angry and ready to destroy a few lives for the mistaken death, Kier realized that this was a second chance at life that not many people get.

This is a pretty easy read (I got through it in 2 sittings) but maybe that is because this is the 3rd time reading the story. I am learning quickly that with each year I am still deeply touched by the story and I end the book with tears streaming down my face and a pile of tissues close by. I love it!

If you need a sweet Christmas story-this is a great one.

Grade: B++ (or A- depending on how you want to look at it)

The Princess Bride

I know we have all seen this movie...multiple times in our lives. And if you are the last person in the world to not have viewed it...umm what rock are you living under? Oh was that mean? Sorry, but The Princess Bride is one of those great movies that is just fun to watch over and over. There are a few times that I have wondered about the book, but I honestly didn't think the book would be as fun or entertaining as the book. I kind of figured that it was a basic story and the movie people decided to make it the funny, exciting, love story that we enjoy so much.

WRONG!!!

The book had me laughing out loud in parts, and other parts where it was so intense I couldn't wait to get to the end...go figure since I knew how the story started and ended and everything in between besides the Zoo of Death.

It really is delightful. I can't wait for my kids to be old enough for me to read this to them before bedtime.

Since most everyone in the world knows the story already from the movie, it is a pretty easy read. But there are enough little bits added in that you don't want to go skipping around. William Goldman is a delightful author! This is a must read...so take a few days this Christmas season and sit down to read this fun book. If you have kids old enough for the adventure and fighting part of it read it with them. I would bet money it will make you smile!

GRADE: A+