The Christmas Blessing is a sweet Christmas novella. Set during WWII, Amelia lost her fiancé to the war. Now, an unwed mother with no money or job, she turns to her fiancé’s parents for help. But how will they react when they find out their perfect son had a fiancé and a child out of wedlock?

The Christmas Blessings is a heartwarming Christmas story. I liked the characters and felt so sad for the dire straits and difficult choices they had to make. In that time, people didn’t look kindly on unwed mothers, and for the father to die before he was able to marry his fiancé, even before knowing about his son, leaving her penniless and without a widow’s pension, was so sad to read about. I wonder how many real women were faced with those circumstances. The ending of this story, though, was perfect and beautiful. I loved it.

I recommend this to fans of sweet Christmas stories.

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I am not obligated to provide a positive review.

If you want a feel-good, happily-ever-after story with a Christmas flavor, this fits the bill perfectly. Amelia's story is a gutter-to-glory story of a girl whose life is shrouded by clouds of darkness.

The one element in this story that I would have preferred to be dealt with a little better was the fact that Amelia and James had a baby out of wedlock. It's mentioned that it was a mistake, but "they were going to get married anyway" and I just don't agree with that thought. According to the Bible, there are no exceptions to "the bed undefiled is honorable." So the fact that this story was about a single mom whose baby was born out of wedlock kind of put a damper on my enjoyment of it. Though I will say, though that was the element of the story, it was not at all detailed and spelled out. Just mentioned; I can appreciate that.

There were mentions of God's will, praying to God, following God, and Him having the perfect plan. It did still feel like the spiritual aspect was a little weak. I realize there is only so much one can put into a novella, but for me it was lacking.

The romance was very little in this book. It is more mentioned that things happened than detailing of emotions. So in essence, this wasn't really a romance book.

I greatly liked the doctor. He was just full of kindness and goodness and the perfect father figure. Amelia was a sweet girl too. She just didn't make all of the best choices.

Like I said, if you want just a sweet, short read, this is a good book for that. But I kind of can't overlook how the aspect of a baby from wedlock was kind of brushed over.

*I received this book from Revell and happily provided my honest review*

The Christmas Blessing was a book I read with mixed feelings…..and I am still not so very sure about it. I was looking forward to reading it, especially after reading Three Days, also written by Melody Carlson. From that book, I knew I enjoyed her writing style, her use of words, and the way she pulled you into a story.When I saw that I could review this one, I was excited, and waited — rather impatiently — for the book to arrive.

Well……not so very far into the story, I realized this was a strange book, and kept hoping for the repentance that should follow what actually happened in this story. I knew that there was a baby, already in this world. So I assumed there would be a background of a war marriage, a fatherless boy, and unknowing parents.

I happened to be right about everything but the marriage part.

Now, to be fair to the author, there was absolutely nothing inappropriate mentioned. There was barely any romance in the book, which is strange, knowing what happened. Several minutes into the book, you discover Amelia was not married, and you are told why through a conversation she has with a friend: because her fiance was called overseas the night before their marriage. Right after they have filled out the marriage certificate. And he never even knew about the baby. In a nutshell, that is how she tells it. No adjectives, no descriptions, just bare facts. And the remainder of the book is about how Amelia survives a harsh winter with a little infant.

Now, I had no issue with the writing of the book. I actually enjoyed it, looking towards the end when I just knew the main character would repent. I was drawn into her struggles, I enjoyed the flow of the words and the style of writing. The characters were well developed and fun to read about. But the main character, that Amelia…..well, she is the reason I rated this book only two stars.

See, I didn’t take issue with the way Melody Carlson revealed the truth about the baby. As much as some would like to believe it, I am not sheltered when it comes to certain social issues. I am actually quite well researched and opinionated. I’ve had a friend even state in wonder after a particularly intense discussion about unborn babies rights that she didn’t know I had that in me. I understand that in society — even in times past — there was sin in the world. Sin that resulted in children being born. I didn’t take issue with the language, or the writing.

I just couldn’t get over the fact that this was a Christian book, written by a Christian author, and that Amelia Richards never once was upset about what she had done. I couldn’t come to grips with it.

I kept reading because I was sure there would be repentance in the book somehow. That she would see what she had done, and cry out to the Lord for forgiveness. I couldn’t fathom that a book written by a Christian may actually condone such a decision in a positive light.

But it didn’t appear like Amelia even considered it a sin. She was happy about the baby, happy she had something to remember her fiance by, and the way the book ended — which was good — still didn’t make anything that had happened previously right.

I am a girl who believes very strongly in total abstinence before marriage. My first kiss will be on my wedding day. (fun fact: I have dreamed up ways to hide this and make it more private, just so ya know……) Consider this: We are told in Ephesians to put on the armour of God, to stand against the wiles and attacks of the devils. But we are told to flee youthful lusts. Flee. Run away from. Run at get-outta-there-as-quick-as-possible speed.

I understand the temptation as much as I can, for a man to love a woman and make much of her. But this is the way in which we girls have been sheltered — our father has protected us from the overtures of any young man who might be “bothering” us, or have impure intentions. We actually have standards that we are expected to uphold with young men, and if a guy crosses that line…..well, we know Dad will have our backs. These standards have not been forced on us — at twenty-one years old, I am technically and legally old enough to make my own decisions. I choose to put myself under the direction of my father in this matter. Because I see the long lasting implications of compromise in this area of life in general, and I know how complicated and muddy the water would quickly become if I chose to navigate this portion of life by myself, without guidance.

And it was only this reason that I didn’t care for this book. I wouldn’t recommend the book to others because I wouldn’t want to think that reading this book had somehow justified their sin.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return or a review.
All thoughts are my own.
I was not required to give a positive review, merely an honest one.

What an awesome book. I really enjoy books set in the WWII time frame and this was no exception. This was a quick book to read with Amelia being a relatable character. I really felt for her and the choices she's had to make. The book had an unexpected ending as well. A nice, Christmasy type of book. I read through it in just a few days and hated to see the book end.

Rating: 5 out of 5

I received this book for free from NetGalley and Revell in exchange for a review.

Emotional, mind blowing story of a young couple who met during the war. He was on leave in San Diego, she met him and they fell in love. He's sent back to the war before they could be married, but she had his baby 9 months later. She goes to Montana to meet his parents and the story unfolds. Deeply touching, intensely frustrating, and the story twists in ways unexpected. Hard to put down!!!! This has got to be one of Melody's best works. For an author that good, it's saying a lot.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

It’s the first week of October, so what does that mean? Time to start reading Christmas books!!! :) Yay!! The first Christmas book I read this season was The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson, and it did not disappoint!! I literally read this entire book in one day, and that’s unusual for me! At first, I wasn’t too impressed with the author’s writing style, but it definitely got better as the book progressed. *Spoiler alert* This review contains a lot of details of the story, so you might just want to read the book yourself first! It’s a fantastic book and you won’t be disappointed!

This book was set during World War II, in the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season of 1944. The main character, Amelia Richards, had met and fell in love with a Navy Pilot, James Bradley when he was in San Diego on leave for Christmas 1943. He proposed, she accepted, and they even filled out the marriage license, planning to file it at the clerk’s office the next day. However, he was called away immediately to be deployed to the South Pacific, and the license never got filed. They spent his last stateside night together, and Amelia discovers some time later that she is pregnant. She and her fiancé have exchanged only one letter when all correspondence from him ceases. Amelia later finds out from the War Office that James’ plane was shot down over the Pacific and that he is dead. Amelia gives birth to a boy, whom she also names James. She is raising the infant alone and trying to work at the same time, but her financial situation becomes more and more difficult. Finally, she decides (the week of Thanksgiving 1944) that she is going to travel with baby Jimmy to Montana to James’ parents’ house.

Once she arrives, though, she is too embarrassed to meet James’ parents in person, and admit that she had the baby out of wedlock. Both she and Jimmy developed pneumonia on the long train ride from San Diego to Montana, and they both become sicker and sicker. Finally, in an act of desperation, she leaves Jimmy in the Nativity manager outside the Bradleys’ mansion. Amelia knows that James’ father is a doctor and that Jimmy can get good medical treatment there. James’ mother, who has been extremely depressed since learning of the death of her son in WWII, immediately takes to the baby and becomes much happier overnight. Dr. Bradley does some sleuthing to try to find the baby’s mother’s whereabouts. And when he receives a call at his medical office about a young woman desperately ill with pneumonia, he puts two and two together.

Amelia is so sick that she has to be hospitalized for several days. She eventually admits to Dr. Bradley that baby Jimmy is their grandson. When Dr. Bradley conveys that to his wife, she refuses to believe that her son could have fathered a child illegitimately. However, she loves the baby already and wants to keep him. Mrs. Bradley convinces Amelia to sign over her rights to them, telling her that they are better equipped to raise Jimmy than she is.

And that’s where the story gets exciting!! I about fell out of my chair as the story progressed!!! This is a spoiler alert, so beware! The next chapter beings “Somewhere in the Philippine Islands...” YES!!! James survived the plane crash, and he and his crew were found floating in the ocean by the Japanese, so he’s in a POW camp. He eventually escapes and is rescued by the Allies. And he makes it home for Christmas!!! And there’s a Christmas wedding!!

This book was soooo incredibly exciting at the end that I could barely read lol!!! Such a phenomenal book! I never, ever expected that ending!!

I highly, highly recommend this book. If you only read one Christmas book this season, let this be it!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Let me first say that I am all for a cheesy Christmas hallmark movie, so I am glad to try out a few of these shorter stories that are a little too long to be novellas, but short and sweet for the holidays.

This one is historical as it takes place in 1944 and Amelia Richards met a man just as he is shipped off and after he is gone she realizes she is pregnant. She ends up finding him on the deceased list from the war and she has almost nothing to her name. She sets out on an adventure to find his family and hopefully find some emotional and physical help.

I loved Amelia and her pursuit for help and to find family. I loved that I wondered how often these stories actually happened at this time and how many women found themselves on this same quest to find some family that may not know they exist and their connections.

My big question that I still haven't answered is, did I enjoy the ending and I am not sure. I can't say too much because I don't want to spoil a thing, but I am just not sure that it satisfied me.

The Christmas Blessing was a pleasant surprise. Carlson's books are usually light reads that I enjoy but don't love; The Christmas Blessing was different because I absolutely loved it! What a sweet story set around WW2.

I liked the characters and really felt for the heroine. I kept hoping for a Happily Ever After ending, even though it looked like that wouldn't be possible. I won't say how the book ended, but there was definitely closure and I think it ended well. All in all, I loved The Christmas Blessing and recommend it!

*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, only my honest opinion -- which I've done.*

Melody Carlson is known for her heart-warming Christmas novellas, and many readers kick off the season with one of her new books. For the 2017 holidays, readers are in for a treat. The Christmas Blessing is part romance, part family drama, and all feel-good reading experience.

In the midst of WWII, young mother Amelia Richards embarks on a life-changing trip with her 7-week old baby. From sunny San Diego, Amelia travels to Montana to find a family for her and her young son. But life is hard on Amelia — first she has her funds stolen, then she and her baby, Jimmy, become ill. Desperate to provide for Jimmy, Amelia makes a hard decision. Will Jimmy and Amelia finally find a home?

The Christmas Blessing is a quick read; I finished it in one day. But don’t think that it is not long on all the things you like about a novella from Carlson. Characters, especially Amelia and Helene, will capture the reader’s heart. Both women love their sons fiercely and are determined to protect them. The setting is perfect for a nostalgic Christmas read — small town Montana from Thanksgiving to Christmas. The quaint town, the snowy scenery, and the chill in the air will make you snuggle up in an afghan with a cup of cocoa or tea. The drama surrounding Amelia may be a bit old-fashioned, but not that different from struggles single mothers face today. Although Amelia’s plight seems hopeless, there is a definite happily-ever-after in store for her and the reader. Carlson also makes sure that faith in God is woven naturally throughout the book.

If you are looking for a book to get you in the holiday mood, then The Christmas Blessing is a good choice.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

I am so excited to start my Christmas book reviews for this holiday season with this new book by author Melody Carlson. I have eagerly awaited this book's arrival since I learned of its publishing date. I am a big fan of Melody Carlson and her Christmas books are a tradition for me.

The setting of the book is during WWII in the 1940s. Amelia Richards, a young mother who has a child out of wedlock, is struggling financially and emotionally with her newborn infant. She has learned that her fiance was shot over Japan in his airplane and is dead. She makes the decision to go and find James' family to help her with the baby. Many things happen, including both the baby and Amelia becoming very ill. She manages to sneak the baby into the manger on the front lawn of James' parents' home. She is afraid to meet them, worrying that the family might think she is just out to get money.

The story builds to an astonishing conclusion. A perfect ending to a Christmas story.

This is an easy read. I read it in about an afternoon and a half. Perfect for those holiday afternoons where you want to sit in front of the fireplace and sip some hot chocolate and read a wonderful story. There is some Gospel overtones to the story. It isn't very deep, and given that this is the Christmas season, I would have liked it to be a little more religious, but not everyone feels the same.

Melody Carlson creates characters you want to know as real friends. I fell in love with James' parents and as a parent, understood where they were coming from, even when it seemed harsh. I will look forward to her next Christmas story.

Author Bio: Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with combined sales of more than six million. She is the author of several Christmas books, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, Christmas at Harrington's, The Christmas Cat, The Christmas Joy Ride, and The Christmas Angel Project. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.

Amelia and her fiancé James had planned to marry right away, but she hears that he's been killed in the war, shot down with his plane. Hence, Amelia can't legally claim the benefits of a war widow, even when she gives birth to James's child, Jimmy. With nowhere else to turn, Amelia seeks out James's parents--even though they don't know that she and Jimmy exist in The Christmas Blessing by author Melody Carlson.

I've enjoyed a few World War II Christmas novellas in the past. Without reading much of the blurb for this one, I took a gander at the soft, Christmassy book cover and decided to check it out.

I think this story has much that fans of nostalgic WWII fiction will enjoy. The plot is serious, but not too heavy, and the holiday theme is strong. Except for the very end, which may be somewhat rushed, I found the pacing to be steady, even a bit slow at points, as characters stop to think or re-think things over maybe a little more than necessary. However, I can appreciate a complete tale on the shorter side that doesn't hurry through or skimp on all the important parts.

There's some "info-dumping" in the opening conversation, and although it's not unrealistic for a woman in Amelia's position to cry a lot, her sobbing loses some of its effect on the page when it happens over and over. Also, I hope this isn't something widely common that I'm just starting to notice in general now, but it seems that far too many sentences in the story begin with the word "And," until it feels monotonous. I'm not sure if this issue appears in the final version of the book; I read an ARC.

Overall, it was refreshing to find a holiday tale that wasn't completely predictable to me, and I think many other ChristFic readers will like this one.
__________
Revell provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.

Each year at this time of the year, I look forward to reading Melody Carlson's newest Christmas novella. This year's novella is "The Christmas Blessing" and it is one of my favorites (although I think I say that every year as well!). Amelia finds herself having to make a hard choice as she cannot afford to support herself and her baby Jimmy much longer. This leads Amelia to boarding a train with her baby son and traveling to a different state to a town she has never been, to meet her baby's paternal grandparents who have no idea who Amelia is or Jimmy. When Amelia arrives she cannot bring herself to face the couple who were to be her in-laws if not for James being shipped out and killed in the line of duty in the midst of the war. Amelia is forced to make a decision as to what is best for Jimmy even if it breaks her heart.


I absolutely loved this book! I enjoy books set during the World War II era anyways and I love Christmas stories so even before starting to read I knew I was going to love it and I did! I cannot even imagine having to deal with what Amelia had to with losing her fiancee, giving birth and raising a baby on her own and then having to face people who she is afraid will be disappointed and not like her and maybe not believe her. Amelia is such a strong character and does what she believes to be the best for her son even though she is terrified. As a mom, I get that as strength just seems to be there when needed for something for your kids, but also Amelia does not have a supportive family herself and that just adds to her anxiety and concern of meeting James' family. I love how the storyline plays out and the characters in this story as they all play such important roles. I highly recommend this to put you in the Christmas spirit!

This was a beautiful holiday novel! I enjoyed the holiday atmosphere and the emotional story. Melody brings her characters to life through her descriptions of them and the relationships between them. This novel is set in 1944. Amelia is struggling to take care of her infant son. She has learned that her baby’s father, James, was killed. Amelia’s situation becomes even more difficult and she decides to make contact with his parents. She has heard that they are wealthy and she hopes that they can help her. But then everything becomes hopeless for Amelia. Will anything get better before Christmas comes? This novel is about life during wartime. It is also about family, love, and the relationship between a mother and her child.

Sweet romance set in World War II. Amelia Richard's is at a cross roads in her life. With her 3 month old baby and the loss of her baby's father James, she leaves San Diego to go to Montana where James is from.

Ameila and James were set to be married before he was shipped out to the Pacific and months later shot down and killed. By the time she had heard the news of his death, she is pregnant and broke. She goes to Montana with the intend to share her son with James parents. Ameila is apprehensive and hopeful but her hopes are dashed when her circumstances take a hopeless turn. She relies on her faith and the love she has for her baby to make sacrificial choices in time for a Christmas blessing.

A short and redemptive story of the blessing we receive in the midst of painful circumstances.

A Special Thank You to Revell and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

I have such mixed feelings about this book. I’ve never read Melody Carlson before but I keep hearing amazing things. When the opportunity to review ‘The Christmas Blessing’ came my way I jumped on it. A Christmas story by a much spoken of author, how could I resist? While I liked the overall writing style and voice of this author this story should not have been my starter pack so to speak. It’s still a pretty amazing book but there were a few things that I couldn’t overlook.

Can we say predictable? With only one notable exception (that I will not spoiler you with) I knew where the story was headed at every turn. It may have meandered a few times but it never left the track outside that one time. Predictability and cliche are kissin’ cousins. Poor girl from a questionable family meets rich boy who is surrounded by love. Whirlwind romance, he goes off to war. Boy killed in war. Girl faces boy’s family with baby in tow, baby that no one knew about. It doesn’t end there but lets face it, I can’t just hand you the story, you have to read it. I feel like there is a glaring lack of depth in the character development and even the story development. There were definitely places this book took us that deserved (and were wide open for) more depth, more detail, just more. It would have enhanced the characters as well as the overall story. Sometimes it all comes down to details.

If you are ticking off all my bookish pet peeves listed in the proceeding paragraph then you are probably thinking why I rated this book so high. I have high expectations for books and characters and story. Here’s the thing. Sometimes writing can overcome certain flaws. I’m not sure if this book was supposed to be novella but I didn’t come across that feeling anywhere, except the number of pages. It fits somewhere between novel and novella. If I review from the novella perspective then I can forgive certain things like lack of detail. The author has a writing style that reached to me through my judgemental snarkiness. (You know you think it sometimes!) The characters weren’t fully functional in the world but they still griped my heart. The story line was spotty at times but it was still enough to pull me in. I didn’t care that I knew the story. I didn’t care that it was predictable and cliche and missing so many things. I was engaged. Sometimes, especially this time a year, engaged says a lot.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Decent historical/inspirational fiction with few surprises. Short, sweet story of resilient characters and the bumpy road to their HEA.

The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson is the most delightful Christian historical Christmas read which will swell your heart and leave you smiling. Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without the latest festive offering from Melody Carlson and The Christmas Blessing is just perfect.
Set in 1944 there are the themes of loss and grief. War always brings suffering as mothers lose sons on both sides. The pain and grief is raw. It is 'intense pain and regrets." Every day is a day of pretending and a "manufactured smile." Life seems to have ended but we are still breathing. Every day we live with our pain, grief and anger - anger towards God "She had been angry at God for months." His plans seem to make no sense to us this side of eternity.
In spite of the anger, there is also great faith within the story. When we are down to nothing, we know that God is up to something and we need to exercise our faith muscle. "She could either give in to despair... or she could pray."
Set at Thanksgiving but without a penny to her name, the lead character makes a "Thanksgiving thankful list" which I think is a wonderful idea. To choose to count our blessings at all times.
The novel is about love and family. Two very different mothers are portrayed and the reader witnesses the unbreakable bond of the love of a mother. Sacrificial love is a beautiful thing.
Kindness is another theme. There is a wonderfully drawn doctor who just radiates kindness which spreads out, engulfing the reader.
Within the tale there are both hope and despair. We all have a choice to make - choose hope or wallow in despair. Whichever we choose will determine our attitude as we journey through life.
The Christmas Blessing is positively delightful. A really warm novel that I devoured in just one sitting. Every year I buy the latest Christmas offering from Melody Carlson and every year it is my favourite one to date.
Give yourself a treat and lose yourself in a Melody Carlson Christmas read... you'll be glad you did.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

The Christmas season just wouldn't seem complete without reading a Christmas novella from Melody Carlson. This year's offering is an historical romance set during WWII. The story is one that happened all too often during that time.

Amelia is working at the USO when she meets Navy pilot James and quickly falls in love. The two plan to marry but before they can go to the Justice of the Peace James has to ship out. Soon after James is MIA and presumed dead. And if things couldn't get worse Amelia discovers she's pregnant.

When the story begins we find Amelia struggling to provide for her and little Jimmy. She's a beautician but having a tiny baby isn't the easiest thing to juggle along with working. She's decided to head to Montana to possibly meet James' family and perhaps make a fresh start.

Poor Amelia sustains blow after blow until she ultimately can't stand back up again. She has agonizing decisions to make that force her to set aside her hopes and dreams and choose a selfless path.

As with all of Melody's stories this one tugged at the heartstrings and wound up being a lovely ending. (You can't have an awful ending for a Christmas story!) I'm once again impressed with her ability to pack so much into a small story without it feeling rushed. If you are a lover of Christmas stories treat yourself to this one. It would also make a wonderful little Christmas gift for someone that needs a little lift this time of year.

I received a copy of this ebook to facilitate my review.

This was such a sweet story! I shed a few tears. This is a story about a young woman with an infant, whose fiance's plane was shot down in the war. I'm not gonna give any spoilers but the story turned out differently than I expected (that's a good thing lol). My heart broke for Amelia. George was my fave character. He had a good heart and I loved how compassionate he was towards Amelia. While I wished that there some more certain moments between the characters, this was a nice novella,

The ending was lovely as well!

Carlson’s newest Christmas book is set during WWII. Amelia, falls deeply in love with James, a navy pilot ready to ship out to the Pacific. They planned to marry before James leaves, but his orders come early, and Amelia is left with paperwork to apply for a marriage certificate. Amelia finds she is alone and pregnant. A friend takes her and baby Jimmy in. Believing James is dead, she goes to his hometown hoping to connect with James’ parents. Jimmy soon becomes ill. Will she make a desperate decision, hoping to give Jimmy a better life?


I received an advance reader copy of this book from netgalley in return for my honest opinion of the book.