Absolutely loved this book! It was hard to put down once started and let's just say some chores was put on hold! This is one for the recommendation!

This is a great read about two troubled souls that end up helping each other in dealing with their issues. The first one is a former marine, Chet, that is having trouble adjusting back to civilian life after two deployments to Afghanistan. Chet is dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and that compounds his issues of adjusting. Chet's family, especially his wife, is having a hard time figuring out how to help him adjust. Chet just wants to get a job and support his family and not deal with his issues.

The second character we meet that is troubled is a three year old boy, Ryan. This is the friends of Chet and his wife that have adopted Ryan. Ryan has an attachment disorder that leaves him trying to sort things out for himself and the family sort of not knowing what exactly to do.

Can Chet help Ryan since they are both having issues or will they be worlds apart in their issues and run from each other? This sweet read will leave you longing to help both of these characters and just encouraging them to not give up.

There are other issues that are addressed by Kathi Macias in this story as well that are very prevalent to our society today. I love that she took on these issues and made them something that was just an everyday thing. That's the way it should be. Well done Kathi Macias. I will definitely be looking for more from this author very soon!

Sweet, simple story about a man and his way back to faith.

Chet is a former Marine suffering from PTSD and a lack of hope, which is making his marriage suffer.
Ryan is a 3-year-old adoptee, suffering from attachment disorder.
Can they and their families heal?

Sweet story by an author able to induce certain warmth and care into her writing.

Certainly for the devout Christian reader, whom the novel can inspire and encourage in their way with Christ.

On a critical note, all the Christians here are incredibly sweet people, and non-Christian Chet is behaving not well, which I find being not realistic and even a bit shallow. We all sin and we all suffer.
So I would recommend this as sweet, uncomplicated story to encourage you on your Christian way.

Returning from combat deployment is no vacation and it sometimes leaves the soldier feeling like no one understands him except for his battle buddies. While life goes on, the readjustment is difficult for many. In Return to Christmas, post-deployment is difficult for Chet as he attempts to readjust to behind home with his family and having difficulty finding and keeping employed. It as not until he meets a quiet autistic child that he begins to open up.
The behaviors of Chet are familiar to me, as I work with wounded warriors full-time. I'm not a social worker, but sometimes I wonder if that's the next chapter for myself. Regardless, this story of Chet and his family and their journey to Christmas is emotional, heart-breaking, hopeful, and enlightening. In my experience with working with the wounded, ill, and injured service members post-deployment, their conditions are not always physical, but rather behavior health with chronic issues with sleep, anger, depression, headaches, and more.
Chet seemed to do his best when it came to caring for his child. This is one person who wouldn’t judge him nor does he feel judged. This is often the case with returning soldiers from combat-deployment. They seem to focus on their children. Maybe it’s because they have seen the value of life, or maybe it’s because they want a better life for their own child, whatever the case, their children seem to ground them, particularly if the child is young, like Chet’s.
This story lightly touches on the effects on the home life for many who return from combat-deployments. An easy and light read, yet heart-warming and touching storyline, Return to Christmas by Kathi Macias shows a fairly typical story of post-deployment soldiers. The support of family and friends is important, even though the soldier may not want it. The changes in behavior are typical for soldiers who have deployed to Operation Eduring Freedom and Opeartion Iraqi Freedom, resulting in isolation and difficulty to reintegrate into civilian life.
I am honored to have the opportunity to read and review this book that shows even a small glimpse of life with a wounded warrior. This book was provided complimentary for an honest review. I highly recommend this book to anyone who knows a recently deployed soldier or maybe just a military love story.