A heartwarming tale of a small town hardware store owned by elderly Mr. Nicholas where amazing things happen to those who believe.

Mr. Nicholas is a holiday novella with a universal message. Written by one of Mr. Rogers' closest friends, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood has a strong presence throughout this incredible story. JB is a young, sweet, boy with Down Syndrome who has incredible insight and perspective. His father, a writer, struggles to connect with JB after his birth and subsequently is facing a divorce from JB's mom Anna.

Enter Mr. Nicholas. In a Pennsylvania town with a Main Street like so many others, the hardware store remains shrouded in mystery. Mr. Nicholas seemingly can fulfill any request given-even in a tiny store. JB catches on right away while the town becomes more and more concerned with Mr. Nicholas and rumors take off. Can a cynical father find the magic of Christmas and become a believer? Pick up this one today. It will warm your heart. I loved the simple prose, the universal message and the faith this story carries throughout.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

A perfect short story that makes this a stocking stuffer for any reader on your list. Young and old will enjoy getting to know JB who suffers from Down's Syndrome. The father starts off as a jerk in the story but with the help of the local hardware store owner he comes around to seeing his son for the miracle he is. The book will endure for years as a Christmas favorite. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Paraclete Press for the gifted book!

A fast paced read full of heart about a man's life being transformed as he faces divorcing his wife and has to finally get to know his 10-year-old down syndrome son. His son opens his eyes to the wonder and ordinary and extraordinary magic of Christmas with the help of the jolly hardware store owner Mr. Nicholas. A feel good read for the whole family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Paraclete Press for my copy of Mr. Nicholas by Christopher de Vinck in exchange for an honest review. It published September 28, 2021.
I thought it was really sweet that Mrs. Rogers wrote the forward for this book, and the thread of Mister Roger's Neighborhood ran through the whole of the book.
I found the main character to be pretty unlikable, (as most scrooges seem to be at the beginning), but I think his character developed fairly well for a short-story/novella. I liked his son and the mysterious Mr. Nicholas was fun to read about as well!

Mr. Nicholas: A Magical Christmas Tale by Christopher de Vinck is a sweet story of a disjointed family that needs to give forgiveness and love to each other. I had thought from this story that this was going to be a children’s book but it is very much a story for adults. Adults who have perhaps lost their imagination, sense of wonder and the ability to accept others as they are.

At the heart of the story is Mr. Nicholas but it is more in how he is seen by others especially the ten-year old boy, JD. Instead of the usual limits that are thought of when a Down syndrome child is involved. JD has certain skills and insights that we can all learn from in this story. Not your usual Christmas story making it even more of a marvelous read because of that fact.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

Who doesn’t love a feel good Christmas tale? While this one does end with the Christmas miracle we all hope for, it happened way too quickly to make it plausible. The story definitely had all the elements, it was just not fleshed out enough to make it work the way it should have.

What a heart warming Christian fiction read about a strange neighbor(Mr. Nicholas) who sees what others truly feel in their hearts. After the birth of their son with Downs Syndrome, a couples already fragile marriage disintegrates. The man in this marriage is very self centered and wants nothing to do with his child until forced custody makes him slowly realize what he’s been missing in life with a little touch of magic thrown into the mix with an unusual workshop and deer his child says can fly.

The title says it all! Mr Nicholas - A Magical Christmas Tale. And magical it is.

I love all things Christmas and this is no exception. It is heart-warming, It is a book of wonder, of being a child again, of believing and it is beautiful. An easy to read and short book (I read it in one sitting) it is a book for young and old.

I recommend it for everyone as it will lighten your heart, lighten your mood and make you fell the joy of not only Christmas but of life itself.

What a wonderful book! It is a heartwarming Christmas story that will appeal to all ages. In my humble opinion this is a *MUST READ* book. I loved it.
I received a complimentary copy from Paraclete Press via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Very difficult to become immersed in and really no structure or storyline once you are. I do not recommend this book.

Wasn't it C.S. Lewis who believed a good children's story would also appeal to adults? This tale is of that caliber. Besides the mystery surrounding the odd Mr. Nicholas, the story stirs the heart on several levels. There's JB, the Down Sydrome child who figures it out; who introduces his own type of magic, yet is a catalyst to tension between his journalist, baseball fanatic Dad and his painter-driven Mom. Can this marriage be salvaged and reconciled? Add in the village folk who find Mr. Nicholas keeps them off keel. Will they ever figure out what that niggling aura of oddity is about him?

The tweaks and twists of the author's ingenious skill, lend to a thoroughly enjoyable read as he intricately weaves his story. This definitely should earn him a prestigious award or two. for he can certainly stoke a story and have it resonate for both children and adults.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

August 2021

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by the publisher.

<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/f6fd624ce81465997ca2d103ff9975a629a8a04c" width="80" height="80" alt="25 Book Reviews" title="25 Book Reviews"/>

<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/04b37ae7f3ff846e213a00a515d0a1f507bf1833" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>

This is a very quick read, but with a lot of heart, and it takes a little boy and an older man to show the true meaning of Christmas.
The magic of Christmas comes alive with the author's words, and we are gifted with a heartwarming story that will have you page turning for answers.
From Mr. Roger's Neighborhood to a clock with bellows to eight tiny reindeer, you will find yourself pulled into this sweet read.
One you won't want to miss!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Paraclete Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

I liked the bond Mr. Nicholas and JB shared. Jim, JB's father's description of his Down Syndrome son is disgusting. I was glad to see the father and son relationship grow. This is a hard book to review. Not for me.

I loved this story. So very inspiring and wonderfully told. It was a quick, easy read with so much love.

Mr. Nicholas is a delightful and heart-warming tale of how a sweet boy helps the people in his life believe in the magic of Christmas. Mr. Nicholas is an eccentric. Jim is a hardened newspaper man. Anna is a disillusioned artist and wife of Jim, and JB, anna and Jim’s son, is a kind-hearted, imaginative boy who opens the eyes of his disenchanted parents. This is a quick and worthy read. Mr. Fred Roger’s wife Joanne wrote the forward. If you enjoy Christmas stories, this is one you don’t want to miss. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. This book makes you think about Christmas from the eyes of a boy who has down syndrome. This book will put you in the holiday spirit.

I received an advance copy of, Mr. Nicholas, by Christopher de Vinck. This is a great book about the spirit of Christmas!

This was a lovely and heart-warming Christmas story. It will be sure to add magic and beauty to your holiday season. I highly recommend this fun and quick read. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Mr. Nicholas
By Christopher de Vinck

This is a Christmas story that children will enjoy, but it is really a story for adults who have lost their childish sense of wonder and a child's ability to see the world as it really is and to love it.

It is a short book, simply written. And yet, it contains some great truths about what we see and how we perceive it. It is a beautiful story, well told. I would recommend this to everyone – we can all stand to have our eyes – both physical and emotional – opened to the beauty in all of creation. Just because a creation seems imperfect to the naked eye, we often miss the perfect beauty it contains.

Thank you for this gem, Mr. de Vinck.