An enjoyable collection of new novellas sure to bring a bit of Christmas cheer!
Connected by a thread of family, faith and a special heirloom, this fine set of stories has something for everyone--historical settings, veterans of wars, family struggles, career challenges, dealing with loss, and a sprinkling of faith to bring hope. Starting in 1899 and skipping through to modern day, the stories highlight features from the turn of the century and the end of two world wars. Each one begins with a portion of Scripture from the Christmas story, pertinent to the tale. Good, solid characters, and a meaningful message add depth to each one.
“...we walk by faith with His Word as a lamp to our feet. And thank God for that lamp.”
The romances are tender and sweet. I especially enjoyed the last one set at an inn. The stories before it added special meaning to the heirloom, and the couple had a lot of fun banter. It was a lovely ending to the book.
Recommend for readers looking for a clean, uplifting read. 4.5 stars

While Shepherds Watch Are Keeping. By Susanne Dietze

"The hardest part of trusting God was being patient."
Lovely short story. Seth and Jessalyn story was a beautiful one of finding identity in Christ. Wonderful story filled with love.

The Wise Guy And The Star by Shannon McNear.
Lovely story bringing the beautiful and miracle of the Christmas season in earnest.

On Angels Wings by Janine Rosche
Elodie and Ben has had their own share of the complications of war and it's aftermath but the season of Christmas and helping veterans of war ease back into social soften the edge for both of them. She was oblivious to Ben's feelings for her but that didn't stop him from pursuing her.

Making Room At The Inn by Deborah Raney
Awwww sweet history surrounding Trevor and Benjie. Lovely story interlocked with a lot of beautiful history's filled with love and the gift Godly family. I enjoyed how their lives intertwined.


The most beautiful aspects of these stories is how each story is linked together, generations apart but linked with the sweet miracle and story of Christmas.

I recieved a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

Since I'm one of the authors in this collection, I'm only reviewing the first three stories, but I will say this is a delightful collection that is imbued with Christmas cheer and joy! I'm honored to have had the privilege of writing the final story, tying up the others with a big Christmas bow! I'm so excited for this story to get out into the world. Christmas 2020 needs the Hope these stories have to offer!

Such a wonderful collection of novellas, beginning in 1899 and ending in the present day. All have a certain nativity set in common and it was fascinating to watch for it in each one. Deborah Rainey had the last contribution and she ended the collection perfectly!


*My thanks to Barbour Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. This review is my own opinion.

Most of the authors were new to me but I have read many books by Deborah Raney. This is a collection of four novellas each written by a different author that center around the theme of Christmas and in particular a nativity set which becomes a heirloom. These stories are all short but sweet and have a great story to them. This is definitely a feel good book and I would highly recommend it! I was glad to be able to read material by new authors & I definitely look forward to reading more by each of them.

Thank you to the publisher, Barbour Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy to read. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of this book.

Barbour Books has selected four top-notch authors to write four tales, each centering around a single hand-carved nativity set that is passed down from generation to generation. Another theme that seemed to run through these stories is that the characters had a hard time pleasing their parents.

Beginning in the late nineteenth century, the nativity set first comes into the possession of Jessalyn who is staying with her uncle during the holidays. The nativity moves to Stella right after World War I, after meeting Nat Wise on a train. Nat adds wise men to the set before it gets passed down to Elodie and Benjamin after World War II. Benjamin adds an angel that he found in a burned out cathedral in France. The whole set finds its way to the attic of a Bed and Breakfast in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where Benjie and Trevor find it looking for some Christmas decorations. An Innkeeper had been added to the set, and Trevor carved the innkeeper's wife for the set.

This olio of stories centers around Christmas, but also about the heritage of one family throughout several generations. It is a five star collection, with two thumbs up, and an heirloom nativity set.

Barbour Books and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A sweet collection of four Christmas novellas. Easy reads with a nice theme throughout. Enjoyed reading these. Would recommend this book.

Centering on a nativity, and taking place through generations, these four novellas are heartwarming, sweet, and rewarding. What better way to escape the hot July sun than to sink into this book of inspiring Christmas stories. I've experienced a homey Christmas in July!

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book via NetGalley.

Love's Pure Light by Deborah Raney Shannon McNear, Susanne Dietze, Janine Rosche
This delightful collection of Christmas stories will warm your heart! Christmas in July is a reality as you read through this wonderful, touching, and original collection. Touched by the inspirational messages, these stories will remain in my heart through December and after. Enjoyed the continual theme found throughout. Really worth the read! 5 stars!

I enjoyed these multi-generational novellas set during the holidays. The continuity of the stories comes from a lovely hand-carved Nativity set. With each story the reader finds out a bit more about the family and how the Nativity plays a role in their lives. Each romance opens in a specific era. I am a little partial to On Angel Wings because it reminds me of my parents. My dad served in WW2 while mom waited on him at home. After I finished each novella, I was anxious to read the next. I recommend Love's Pure Light as a gift for Christmas or to read yourself. It will fill you with the holiday spirit. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This collection of stories reads just like a novel. There are four stories here, each from a different generation spanning through time from the late 1800s to as recent as the past couple of years. Each set of characters had their own set of quirks and difficulties, but in each case, the authors remained true to demonstrate God's love and grace. While each arc had its own romance, they were kept respectful and the growth to love was organic and believable. I enjoyed the second story the most, the one with Stella and Nat, as I felt it had the most banter, but humor itself was rampant throughout the collection, bringing a distinct levity to these Christmas tales. I know Christmas tales can sometimes feel repeteitive and cliche, but not one of these felt like a deux ex machina moment--the final end was expected, but how the characters got there was always unpredictable and wild. I loved every moment of reading this masterpiece from Dietze, McNear, Raney, and Rosche.

This collection of four novellas was wonderful. It was cozy and heartwarming and I enjoyed every one of the stories!

Review of While Shepherds Watch Are Keeping by Susanne Dietze: Corny though the title is with the main character's name, this is one of the cutest stories I've read set during Christmas time. Sweet and comforting.

Four well written novellas. I enjoyed each selection as the author focus on a family nativity through four generations. I recommend this collection. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

This is a heart-warming Christmas book with novellas written by four different Christian authors. We learn about a nativity set in the first novella carved by Jessalyn’s grandfather. Each novella spotlights a descendant of that man and an addition is made to that original nativity set. The first story focuses in and around a church in a small Massachusetts town where Seth is the pastor in 1899. The second novella takes place after WWI on a train ride from South Carolina to Kansas City and we see how God has a purpose for allowing strangers, Nat and Stella, to meet. The third takes place after WWII and we see how that war affected the characters and the struggle to adjust after coming home and how God opens doors for Benjamin and Elodie. A dream job awaits Benjie at a Bed and Breakfast that Trevor owns in the fourth. This is an inn she had visited with her grandmother, Elodie, when she was young. All of the characters were delightful, and the authors were able to transport me to the settings with their great descriptions. I highly recommend this Christmas romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. My review is completely my own. #LovesPureLight #NetGalley

I just turned off my kindle after reading this wonderful book. This will be a wonderful gift for all those who read this it. . My heart is just filled with the way this books just grew with each story, each author gave their own unique telling of the story as it passed from generation to generation, and the way the Nativity was in one.. I am in awe of these four authors and the way they wrote this book. I will be buying a copy when its published, yes it is that good! I can not say enough good things about this book,

I really enjoyed this light hearted, easy read. The novellas really drew you in, looking for the connection between them. It was interesting how they each tied in the people from the previous story. This Christan book is great to read at Christmastime, the short novellas make it easier if you have to take a break, although I read them all in two to three days.

I thoroughly enjoyed this compilation of 4 Christmas stories that are connected by an heirloom nativity set that is passed down through the generations of a family. Each author deals with a different generation, with different challenges and world events providing the backdrop. The characters are all well drawn and believable. The plots all kept my interest. I just wish I could read more about each of the couples introduced! This makes a delightful read any time of year, but it is focused on Christmas. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#LovesPureLight #NetGalley

This is a charming collection of Christmas novellas. They are sweet, captivating, and delightful. I highly recommend this lovely book.

Love"s Pure Light is a collection of four novellas, written by four different authors, that follows several generations of a family, with the stories tied together with the theme of Christmas, and a very special nativity set, handcrafted by an ancestor.
It makes for an enjoyable read, especially with the story carrying on from one story to the other.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.