As Julia Russell prepares for the Christmas gala at Emerald Crest, she recalls the events that led to her meeting Henry Lafferty the second, and the friendship that came from the meeting. Through everything that happened that year, she learned valuable lessons and helped one man and the rest of the town come together.

Phyllis Clark Nichols' Silent Days, Holy Night is a great book for several reasons. The story is entertaining and draws you in. Once I read a few pages, I wanted to keep going. The descriptions let you imagine what is going on and feel like you are there watching the events unfold.

The personality of each character is well developed and the characters are people you'd expect to meet in real life. The mannerisms and sayings of the Russell family reminded me of people I grew up around.

Beyond the plot, there are wholesome messages in the book. Faith, forgiveness, reaching out to and helping others, and the real meaning of Christmas are all woven into the story. Seeing how Mr. Lafferty, the Russells, and others work together and put their own conveniences aside to meet the needs of people serves as a reminder that we need to do the same during the hustle and bustle of Christmas.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book gives you all the wonderful feels for the Christmas season. It is filled with warmth and the heartfelt giving spirit of Christmas. It shows how we can meet someone and they can change our whole outlook on life in the best way possible.

The story follows Julia from her present-day party prep to her reminiscing why the house, Emerald Crest, means so much to her. Sixteen years ago as a young girl, she came upon the property of Emerald Crest with her father. Being a curious and inquisitive child, she took interest in Mr. Lafferty and bridged the gap between generations and worked to dispel small town rumors.

Readers will love this wonderful tale filled with life lessons, faith and comfort for the soul.

Julia is getting ready for a Christmas gala at a big mansion in West Virginia. And as she gets ready, she reminisces about how she came to this point. It all started 16 years ago when she was 10 and she first met the owner of this mansion. Mr. Lafferty was nothing more than a town legend when she met him. Rumors were he was an ogre who lived in a haunted house or something similar. So Julia is shocked to learn that her father is Mr. Lafferty II’s attorney, as her grandfather was attorney to Mr. Lafferty I. Julia does not meet an ogre when she has to accompany her father to the house because of the family’s car schedules. This girl with endless questions meets a man who is deaf and confined to a wheelchair but secretly has been the town’s greatest benefactor for years. Through Julia’s father he keeps tabs on who in town needs help and makes it happen, all anonymously. He also makes amazing bird sculptures and he is thrilled when Julia plays the piano because he can feel it if he touches the instrument. And it evidently brings back happy memories. Julia decides then and there she wants to get to know Mr. Lafferty more and find a way to thank him for all he has done for others without spilling the beans about his secret generosity. As older Julia continues to prepare for the party, she walks through memories about how that initial meeting with Mr. Lafferty, the months immediately following, and the first Christmas soon after changed many lives dramatically.

Anything I write about this book cannot do justice to it. I thought I was starting some cozy Christian Christmas romance based on the cover. But it isn’t a romance at all. It is a story about love and kindness changing lives. I’m not even sure whether to call it an adult novel or middle grade novel. About 3/4 of the story is told from 10 year old Julia’s perspective and the other ¼ is told from 26 year old Julia’s perspective. 10 year old Julia is quite smart and precocious though, so adults shouldn’t find her sections childish. And adult Julia is not so mature or adult-ish to preclude middle grade readers from finding her parts accessible and relatable. We’ll call it an any age story. Which seems fitting since the book is about a 10 year old befriending a kind but lonely 50 year old. It is truly an intergenerational novel. They both have much to learn from each other. Mr. Lafferty teaches Julia how to be still and calm (a minor miracle to her parents) in addition to sign language and wood carving. And by his actions he teaches her about giving to be kind and loving without wanting anything out of it, to focus on the good rather than the bad, and unconditional kindness and forgiveness. Julia teaches Mr. Lafferty to laugh and smile again, brings vibrancy and friendship to his life…and, well, I can’t spoil her Christmas surprise for him, but it is a very, very good one. And to see where they both end up 16 years after they first met is very touching (and cleverly done because the author lets us see both of them in the present without spoiling any of the reveals of how that Christmas affected their futures until she wants us to know). Make sure to have a box of tissues on hand for the ending. I like most of the side characters in this too. Julia’s parents are awesome in how they handle her (she’s way too smart for her own good as a 10 year old), and I like the influence that her paternal grandparents have in her life. Julia starts off returning insult for insult with a bully at school but in the end learns from Mr. Lafferty’s example of turning the other cheek. I wish Julia and her brother had shown some growth in their relationship in the past (she kind of treats him a bit poorly, talking all the time about how he doesn’t have much of a brain…of course he does not do much to prove to her otherwise). It was good to see that in the present the adult siblings seem to have a much better relationship. Finally, I liked how the author wove in a Christian Christmas message naturally via Julia’s Christmas surprise for Mr. Lafferty. I also liked how Julia’s understanding of God, Christian life, and prayer evolves over the course of the book. It isn’t the main message and not even really a main point any time it comes up, but there are little things she learns through watching and listening to others in the events that come along. It was tactfully done and adds to Julia’s character development. I really wish I could order this and get it in time for this Christmas season for our school library, but I think it won’t get here fast enough. Oh well, definitely ordering at least two copies to have on hand next Christmas because I’m recommending this one to everyone. If you’re looking for a non-romantic, touching holiday read that is good for anyone 8 to 108, you need to give this one a try.

Notes on content: No language issues (except two 5th graders trading creative insults). No sexual content. Two accidents in the past are mentioned, one that resulted in a fatality and serious injuries, and another that resulted in somewhat serious injuries. Neither is described in much detail.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Silent Days, Holy Night is a charming story with unforgettable characters. I like the way the nearly eleven year old Julia Russell tells how she becomes friends with Henry Lafferty, and the lengths to which she goes to be able to communicate with him.
It is a story about friendship, about seeing what can be done to improve a situation rather than what cannot be done, and seeing the goodness in others.
Although Henry Lafferty has been a recluse, which has led to all kinds of horrible stories having been made up about him, Julia finds out what a kind and loving person he is and really strives to make him happy.
Julia is wise beyond her years and is always asking questions. I particularly like to see the special relationship she has with her father.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Gilead Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I am so happy to have discovered this new-to-me author. Silent Days, Holy Night is a poignant story told by Julia Russell as she remembers meeting Henry Lafferty as a ten-year-old girl and their growing relationship. Ever the inquisitive one, Julia was more than excited to meet the reclusive Mr. Lafferty, and was astonished to learn that he could neither walk, hear or speak, but after discovering their shared love of music, Julia was determined to learn to communicate with the man who would become her closest friend.

This story is reminiscent of the children's classic Pollyanna, made into a family favorite movie. It too has movie potential, but far beyond a predictable Hallmark Christmas movie. Silent Days, Holy Night deals with the messiness of growing up, reaching out to others and not giving up when it is difficult, and selflessness. Adults will enjoy this story, but it would also make a great family read-aloud during the holidays, providing great fodder for conversation.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Gilead Publishing for providing me with a copy of Silent Days, Holy Night in exchange for my honest opinion, which is that this is a wonderful holiday story. I was under no obligation to write a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

For me today was not a silent day, in fact it was quiet chaotic. Which I say so you know how peaceful it was to dive into this beautiful Christmas read and have a Holy Night.

Phyllis Clark Nichols voice catches me off guard as a writer who effortlessly creates a world that is believably good, where excessive plot and shock value doesn’t need to move the plot along, because it is moved by characters that enchant the mind of the reader. Her writing has such an elegant style which I have difficulty comparing to other writers. Her plots move a little slower, but that doesn’t keep me from being edge-of-my-seat interested. The fact that she can entertain an audience through the story of a young girl, is not a talent most writers can boast. The humanity she shows in her writing is universal, no matter the age of the character being written about.

I particularly love the tidbits of knowledge that she weaves into the story, like a history of the full moon being called a beaver moon and the detailed description of birds that one of the character observes.

Her books are not just to entertain but to be savoured, so we might see the goodness of God left in the world and try our best to honor Him more. I wouldn’t recommend this book for someone in need of a fast-paced read but more for someone who needs a book to feed their soul. Which, let’s face it, is all of us during this very broken time in the world and thankfully it is the perfect season to get into Christmas!

I also am excited that there is a recipe in the back of the book for the ~famous~ Grancie’s pound cake cookies!

Recommended reader: no age restriction due to content. I would recommend as the perfect book for someone looking for a calming read by the fire!

This is a very heartwarming book that will kept you turning the pages to see what happens next. It is very well written and makes you feel like you are there. You will love Julia, I could just picture her in my mind. You won't regret getting this book. Thank you Gilead Publishing via NetGalley for the free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion and I highly recommend this book.