Review: Two Christmas Stories in One Book – I loved them both and highly recommend!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 1, 2013
The first story, The Shepherd of Caspar, takes place in the 1800s in Caspar Wyoming.  Siblings Sandy and Jacob Rawling, have taken over their parent’s farm after they were killed in a carriage accident several years earlier.  They have tried to continue family traditions and one of them was to select and decorate the Christmas tree for the Town Square.  There is a blinding snowstorm as the two set out to find and cut down the tree, but tragedy struck and Jacob falls into a gully.  He breaks his arm and his leg and it is up to Sandy to save him.  Out of the blue appears a man who calls himself “Gabriel”.  He points out a bright star in the night that can lead her horse to town to find help.  He simultaneously seems to guide the helpers to Jacob’s location so that his life can be spared.  He identifies himself as “The Shepherd of Caspar” but no knows where he came from or where he lives.  But we’ve all heard of the Arch Angel Gabriel and it’s my opinion that he appeared that freezing snowy night to save both Sandy and Jacob.  This is a true Christmas miracle averting a family tragedy.The second story, Snow Angels, is about a poor family with 7 children all struggling to help their family survive in the Portuguese area of town.  The youngest three sisters, Lydia, Bonnie and Dora team up to take care of their baby sister Mary and each other find love and security, whichever suits one best  It’s a story of family traditions of celebrating birthdays and Christmas Eve with Snow Angels in the back yard as they make their Christmas Wishes.  It’s a story about a nephew who is very close to his Aunt Dora and listens and learns about life and love and a Niece who is also close to her favorite aunts Lydia and Bonnie who looked after and loved their sisters Mary and Dora when they died.  It’s about love and commitment generation by generation in a family, not rich in money but in all the things that truly count.Both are wonderful Christmas books that should be read to children during the holidays.  They are short reads, but well worth it in substance.  I loved both stories and highly recommend The Miracle of Christmas.