A Christmas Homecoming: Short Story - eBook
4.3
5
7
7
A perfect short story for Christmas!!!
I truly believe that books don't have to be too long to get their message across to the reader. Especially at this time of the year where we often have very little time to do anything but last minute shopping, work so we can pay the bills, and spend the evenings with family. That's why I love it when you find an exceptional book you can squeeze in and still get something magical out of it. The Christmas season is more that just gift giving and the hustle and bustle of life, it's about coming to realize what's really important. It the season of hope and believing that the world in general will be a much better place if only for this time.
In A Christmas Homecoming by MaryAnne Diorio, we get that sense once we reach the end of the book. It begins with heartache, loneliness and death for a family facing what most would considered unimaginable odds. Sonia Pettit is still going through dealing with the recent death of her husband and all the things that often went unsaid. As with most circumstances dealing with death, it drives a family apart as each of them tries to find their own way to cope and move into a new sense of normal. Her son, Ben is becoming increasingly distant and bitter, her daughter Jody has left her family unexpectedly and without any logical reason and now resides more than a half a world away. Now with Christmas coming is there any way for this family after seven long years to find a way to reunite and find the love that held them together at one point or has too much time simply passed and allowed them all to become different people?
I received A Christmas Homecoming compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. At this time, this book is only available in ebook format and I am hopeful that this will soon become a print book after all the wonderful reviews. This is truly the story of unconditional love, forgiveness and hope that can become yours no matter how difficult any situation is that you are currently facing. This is the true message behind the Christmas season and I believe that MaryAnn Diorio did an exceptional job at bringing this to the conclusion to this short story. It would be the equivalent of about 53 print pages and just perfect for settling down with a warm cup of cocoa by the fire for some inspirational reading this Christmas. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and look to more by this wonderful author.
December 18, 2012
Heartwarming Novella
A Christmas Homecoming is a timely remind of what Christmas is all about! Why did Jesus come as a baby? To Forgive us our sins...that is what this story is about.
I can just picture how torn apart this family was when their daughter just up and disappeared. Then a member of the family dies...who would you blame? The stress, the heartache?
What will finally be the breaking point for Jody? Will Ben destroy his own life with drinking?
This is one precious story, and a really heartwarming read for this time of Christ's Birth.
I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
December 18, 2012
Great story of God's grace!
I was excited to finally read a novella from Harbourlight Books. I had been told about this publisher and I was not disappointed.
This little e-book was a short story but it was such fun to read. I enjoyed sitting down in one sitting and finishing it.
The book begins with a broken relationship of a mother and daughter which began when Jody the daughter decides to leave home and move to Australia. She was hoping to find freedom and excitement but was left with a broken heart and two children to raise on her own. She had no place to turn but to return home. Would she be accepted or rejected?
What I enjoyed about this book was the clear gospel message and the powerful story of forgiveness. No matter how difficult our journey may be~ forgiveness is always the way home and the way of recovery.
December 9, 2012
A Tale of Forgiveness
A Christmas Homecoming weaves a tale of regrets, forgiveness, reconciliation and hope wrapped up in this book by MaryAnn Diorio. It's a great reminder of the reason why we celebrate this Christmas season - Jesus.
Sonia Pettit finds it difficult to prepare for the holidays. Without her husband living anymore, and her daughter missing for the past seven years, it just doesn't seem like Christmas with just her and her son Ben.
Jody Pettit O'Dair has many regrets, the biggest is never letting her family know what happened to her. But now she lives half the world away and there is no hope of ever seeing them again. Besides, why would they want to?
I found this book to be a delightful read, and enjoyed the reminder of the reconciliation we can have with our Lord and Savior.
This book was provided free for review by Pelican Ventures Book Group-Harbourlight Books.
December 8, 2012