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BOOK REVIEW: Christmas Homecoming
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by: Laura V. Hilton Dancing Word Reviewer
Title: Christmas Homecoming Authors: Diane Noble, Pamela Griffin, Kathleen Fuller
Publisher: HeartQuest Genre: Inspirational/Historical/Romance
Christmas Homecoming is a book certain to delight all romance lovers on your Christmas list. Set in the late 1800’s; it is a delightful anthology of stories, written by three talented authors about a prodigal returning home for Christmas.
In Diane Noble's "A Place To Call Home" when a mother dies in childbirth, Dr. Olivia Endicott-Jones becomes the guardian of an Irish baby. When she takes the baby home to her family’s mansion, Olivia is surprised to find she’ll be disowned out if she keeps the baby. Deciding to keep the baby girl anyway, Olivia returns to the hospital where she works determined to live there. Rory O’Kelly is sent by the Irish Brotherhood to kidnap the baby because the Irish insist on looking after their own; they won’t let the wealthy Boston Brahmin raise Irish children. When Rory goes to get the baby, he discovers that Irish twins have also been given to Olivia’s care. He is quickly convinced that Olivia is the best mother for the children, but will he be able to convince the Irish Brotherhood?
In Pamela Griffin’s story, Susannah Pruitt and Justin Rossiter are childhood sweethearts who are torn apart when Justin gets angry with his father and runs away from home. He joins a group of out-laws and is accused of killing Susannah’s father. Overcome with grief, Susannah is sent to live with a wealthy aunt. Hoping to return to her sister’s home, Susannah is stranded in the New Mexican desert when the stagecoach she’s traveling in breaks a wheel. Justin rides up and saves the day, but neither recognizes the other in “The Heart of a Stranger.” Can Susannah ever forgive Justin? Will Justin return to his father’s home and mend the broken relationships with his family?
Kathy Fuller wrote a delightful third novella. To pay off the debts left by her deceased husband, Josephine Patterson reluctantly returns to her hometown determined to sell her Grandmother’s farm. She’s shocked to learn that Benjamin Akers is named co-owner of the farm, and he refuses to sell! Determined to get her way, Josephine comes up with all kinds of brilliant and not so brilliant ideas. Can she possibly convince Ben to sell? Or will she find a “Christmas Legacy” instead?
I quickly came to like the well-developed characters in each of these stories. The pace is quick, making a satisfying read that can be finished in an hour or two. Christmas Homecoming is perfect to tuck into your purse or tote and carry along while you wait at appointments or picking up your kids at the bus stop.
Even though each of the stories is good, my personal favorite is ““Christmas Legacy.” I found these characters have unique traits that one doesn’t see in many books. I enjoyed every page of Christmas Homecoming.
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