Review: A Delightful Short Story for Christmas
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 4, 2013
“A Christmas Promise,” by Tamara Lynn Kraft, is set in colonial America. A few years before December 23, 1773, John Brunner and his wife Anna move from their familiar hometown of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to Schoenbrunn Village, Ohio as Moravian missionaries to the Lenape native tribes.Two days before Christmas, converted Lenape, Paul, and the elders call John away from the safety of their village to another settlement where they meet with the chief of a war-like Lenape band. Both John and Anna hide something from each other. John promises Anna he’ll return no later than Christmas Day, but hides the danger he is sure to be in. Likewise, Anna has her own secret that she hides from John. What isn’t hidden is her growing fear for their safety. When Paul is delayed, Anna frets, but God provides a traditional Moravian Christmas for her and the children through the aid of their Moravian church. Throughout this stressful time apart, God deals with John and Anna concerning their own failures to trust Him and each other. When God humbles them, they discover His Christmas promise of peace.I can truly say I enjoyed reading this little story and devoured it in one night. It captivates the reader quickly within the first five pages. The plot is tight, and the writing good. The story line uplifts, and the dialog moves the story forward. Personally, I would have liked a glossary at the back for the various words specific to the Moravians and the Lenape, but the context did provide some sense of meaning. I give it four and one half out of five stars.I read this book when the author, Tamara Lynn Kraft sent the back cover copy through the ACFW Historical loop and asked for additional reader reviews. She provided this story free of charge for that purpose and I am under no obligation to provide a positive review.