Review: An Enjoyable, Uplifting Read Any Time of the Year!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 22, 2014
I read Susan Buchanan’s new novella while experiencing a bad case of the winter doldrums, and it was just the sort of hopeful, heartwarming tale I needed to boost my spirits. I closed my Kindle with a smile on my face after finishing The Christmas Spirit and felt like my time had been well spent with the diverse and fascinating group of characters populating it. This ensemble is led by the cheerful and magnanimous Natalie Hope who steps in to run a bakery in small-town Scotland when its owner needs to take a medical leave. In her own special (one might even say “magical”) way, Natalie touches the lives of many who frequent the Sugar and Spice.Finding a reason to go on after a devastating loss, finding your place in the world, finding the right person, learning how to embrace change, rediscovering what’s really important – these are all themes in The Christmas Spirit, and I have to give major kudos to the author for doing such an impressive job of weaving her character’s stories together. If I had to pick one, I’d say that elderly widower Stanley’s story affected me the most. He was such a sweet man and I wanted so badly for him to be happy, so it was really lovely to see him find a new lease on life. It was, also, nice to see the turnaround of the grinchy Meredith character. She was in dire need of an attitude adjustment at the beginning of the novella and I wasn’t sure how that would come about, but it did in a very organic and believable way.Don’t feel like you have to wait until the holidays to read this delightful, beautifully crafted novella. I think it’s one that will have meaning and bring joy year-round!I received a copy of The Christmas Spirit in exchange for an honest review.