Review: A short but enchanting story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 17, 2012
Juliette Hill's Christmas Shoppe Magic is a simple story but one with a meaning that many may relate to or have related to some time in one's life.  The short story involves a family Christmas shoppe that operated year round in a quaint town in Maryland, which was owned and operated by the MacMillan family for generations.  And now, mother Patrice MacMillan is in need of passing down the tradition to her sons, Joe and Henry, whom already held careers in the high tech industry on the West coast.  However, she discreetly shows subtle hints when they come to visit for the holidays, closing the shop early weeks before Christmas, which would have been unheard of in the past.Although the story centers upon the shop, as readers proceed to the next pages of the story, the focus moves to son Joe.  He like his brother Henry lived a comfortable life in their successful businesses, especially Joe who was COO of his software company but somewhat lacked a personal life after his five-year relationship with Julia ended; he had no plans for a relationship and concentrated on his work.  But with the "magic" of storytelling, Joe's life with take a slight turn after his company experiences a downturn despite what appeared to be a good outlook for the business; he begins to contemplate his future.  And one night after he returns to Seattle after another routine holiday visit back to his mother's home, he confronts his past.  He receives a letter and package, which includes the contents of a letter that he wrote as a child to his father where he mentions his intentions of writing a letter to Santa and what he wanted to be when he grew up.  Along with the letter contained a reply from his father and a train that was the key to his destiny.In as little as 33 pages, the Christmas Shoppe Magic is an enchanting story that may lighten the heavy and busy holiday load that many may experience during the year.  With its thoughtful storyline and underlying meaning of family and home, it is one story worth reading.