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BOOK REVIEW: Yuletide Peril
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Click cover to purchase book
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by: Vickie McDonough Dancing Word Reviewer
Title: Yuletide Peril Author: Irene Brand Publisher: Steeple Hill ISBN: 0-373-44228-9 Genre: Inspirational/Romantic/Suspense
For the first time in her life, Janice Reid has a home of her own. Because of her parents’ bad choices, they moved frequently when she was a child and lived in decrepit places, and then Janice and her younger sister, Brooke, were taken from their parents and put into the child welfare system. Thanks to an uncle she never knew, Janice now owns Mountjoy, an old estate that’s been in her family for generations. As Brooke’s legal guardian, she also has the responsibility of raising a sixth grader. There are all manner of rumors about Mountjoy. Some folks say it’s haunted. Others say there’s a curse on whoever lives there. And Janice’s other uncle claims the house belongs to him. Janice is determined to fix up Mountjoy in spite of the speculation, but when she begins getting frightening messages and hearing strange noises in the house, she wonders if she’s made the right decision. Lance Gordon is principal of Brooke’s school. From the day he first met Janice, he’s been attracted to the somber woman. A thirty-year-old bachelor, he’s stunned and confused by his reaction. He’s happy to help Janice meet the townsfolk and fix up her new home, in spite of his reservations about her living at Mountjoy. When the problems escalate, Janice fears for herself and Brooke. Why is someone trying to drive them away from Mountjoy? Can she trust her heart to Lance, when most people in her life have disappointed her? Yuletide Peril is an intriguing tale of a young woman who’s lived a hard life, but is determined to make her future better. She is stubborn and tenacious and doesn’t easily trust people, but with God’s help, she’s trying. I really liked Lance’s character. He’s kind and caring, but doesn’t let people walk over him. The secondary characters add a lot to this story, including some good red herrings. I did feel that the author used the characters’ names too frequently, making the reading a bit stilted. Also, there were places where readers are pulled out of the characters’ viewpoint by the author’s narrative. Still, the storyline is interesting and intriguing and should hold your interest to the end. An unusual twist near the end adds to the conflict. Yuletide Peril is an interesting Christmastime romantic suspense that would make a nice stocking stuffer. (250 pages, $4.99)
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