A Book A Week

What are your go-to holiday films? I have a list of favorites that I make sure to watch each year, and sometimes, I find myself extending my Christmas movie marathon well into the new year just to cover them all. One perennial favorite of mine is Christmas with the Kranks. Adapted from John Grisham's bestselling Skipping Christmas, the film didn't make a huge impact commercially or critically upon its release in the fall of 2004. Nonetheless, with its heartwarming message of community goodwill and boosted by the comedic talents of Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis, it has secured a permanent spot on my holiday watchlist.

Similar to the novel, the film follows Luther and Nora Krank (portrayed by Allen and Curtis, respectively) as they bid farewell to their young adult daughter Blair, who is embarking on a journey with the Peace Corps. The void left by Blair's absence triggers a case of empty nest syndrome, particularly affecting Nora, who grapples with the prospect of an upcoming holiday season without her. Considering the significant expense—over $6,000—that the Kranks incurred during the previous year's festivities, Luther proposes a radical solution. To both save money and find a fresh way to celebrate, he suggests diverting the funds typically allocated for decorations, gifts, and entertainment towards a ten-day Caribbean cruise. Luther is adamant about boycotting the traditional holiday celebrations, and after some hesitation, Nora eventually agrees.

As news of the Kranks opting out of Christmas spreads throughout their neighborhood, the community is left in disbelief at this unconventional choice. Vic Frohmeyer, the self-proclaimed block captain played by Dan Aykroyd, rallies the neighbors to persuade the Kranks to decorate their home. Despite facing a barrage of negative reactions, the Kranks stand firm in their commitment to embark on a cruise. However, everything takes a turn on Christmas Eve when they receive an unexpected call from Blair. She is back in the US and is on her way home for Christmas, anticipating all the usual family traditions. When asked if they are hosting their customary Christmas Eve Party, Nora caught off guard, impulsively says yes. Now, with less than 12 hours before their daughter's arrival, the Kranks find themselves needing to reverse their decision and hastily orchestrate a Christmas celebration.

Christmas with the Kranks takes John Grisham's concise story and injects numerous comedic moments for its stars to explore. Watching Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis navigate the preparations for a cruise, complete with tanning and botox mishaps, is one of the film's highlights. The movie boasts a supporting cast of character actors, each breathing life into the community as they grapple with the Kranks' unconventional decision to skip Christmas. However, the film has flaws, as it grapples with narrative inconsistencies and introduces a few peculiar subplots that seem more like attempts to extend the runtime than integral components of the story. The emotional moments can be heavy-handed, and the theme of a community rallying to help their fellow man isn't as pronounced as in the book. Nevertheless, this film has become a holiday mainstay in my household, serving as a suitable, lighthearted diversion during the festive season.

"In heaven, the great God will judge me, but here on earth I must leave it to you."

This time of the year, I'm craving any and everything that puts me in the holiday spirit. Christmas was a much more subdued affair last year due to the ongoing pandemic, but this year (thanks in large part to vaccinations) I'm making up for the lost time. The house is fully decorated, I've made Christmas cookies, cocktails, and I've finished with all of my holiday shopping. As I settle into the season and try to embrace the spirit of this time as much as possible, I've been drawn to reading books that do the same. Enter Andrew Klavan's novella When Christmas Comes, a holiday-themed mystery that seemed like just the book to bring the festivities into my reading. 

The setup is simple enough. A local teacher has been murdered and her boyfriend has confessed to the crime. The only problem is that no one wants to believe that he is the culprit. You see, he is a decorated soldier who the entire town has embraced as a hero, a symbol of the best things to come out of the city. Moreso, the couple seemed to have had the perfect relationship. Something simply isn't adding up. The town's authorities seem hesitant to investigate the crime, especially when all the evidence points to someone they revere. It is up to Cameron Winter, an English professor of all things, to step in and ensure that justice is served. As he takes on the unenviable task of investigating a war hero, he must also face the demons of his past. 

Some of the best Christmas stories have seeped in the things that haunt us. From Krampus to Dicken's ghosts, connecting with the spirit of the holiday often requires us to face the things that we fear. Klavan draws on this literary tradition by haunting his own characters. Each person we encounter in the short work is grappling with the implications of their pasts while working to embrace a brighter future. The mystery at the center of the narrative helps to drive the plot through each of the character beats, never letting the pace slow. The writing is at times a bit saccharine, a characteristic that I'd normally scoff at. Here, amongst the idyllic setting and Christmas theme, it gets a pass. When Christmas Comes concludes with an emotional swell that delivers on each of the moments that precede it while promising more for the characters even beyond the final page. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2021, 51)

I think it is safe to say that for many of us, this Christmas was anything but ordinary. My Christmas traditions usually consist of traveling home to see my parents, attending Christmas Eve church services, and celebrating the evening and following day with a large family gathering. Thanks to COVID-19, this was the first Christmas that I spent away from my family. There was no traveling, and holding our usual party was simply out of the question. Still, we managed to find ways of adapting our traditions to adhere to this new normal. Instead of attending church together, I watched it virtually. Instead of gathering around the Christmas tree to unwrap presents, we shipped gifts to each other and opened them during a FaceTime call. Fortunately, one of my personal traditions stayed exactly the same. As Christmas Eve turned to Christmas morning, I stayed awake, reading the final pages of a good book. 

When John Grisham, known more for his legal thrillers than Holiday-themed fare, published Skipping Christmas back in 2001, the idea of foregoing the holiday probably sounded absurd. In fact, Luther Krank's money-saving scheme of taking a cruise instead of practicing the family Christmas traditions raised ire and disbelief across his entire neighborhood. Krank did little to appease his community perception as a modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge. In fact, he relished in the opportunity to smugly rub his nonconformity in everyone's face. As such, he isn't the most likable character. But like the aforementioned Scrooge, Krank goes through a transformation. Through the power of a community coming together to bring the spirit of the season to an outsider, Luther Krank embraces that Christmas magic and learns to appreciate the smaller wonders of the holiday. 

I've read this book before, but this year saw the novel take on a deeper meaning for me. Sure, you'll have to overlook the unlikable main character and the all too convenient plotting, but there is something to be said about the idea of skipping Christmas this year. While we didn't skip our observance of the holiday, the way in which we approached it was vastly different. I think that Skipping Christmas mirrors our reality in some ways. How easy would it have been for us to simply put a halt to our celebration? In a year that has seen so much tragedy and despair, I'll admit that it felt a bit silly falling into the commercialism of decorating my home and buying gifts. But those are just trivial parts of what this season truly means. Like the neighborhood in the book, countless friends and families came together to keep the spirit of community that flows through this season alive. While 2020 certainly hasn't looked or felt like any other year that I've experienced, I'm glad that we made the effort to persevere through it all. More importantly, I'm thankful that we didn't skip Christmas. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2020, 51)

As the year comes to an end, it is important to reflect upon the days that have preceded this one. Today marks the final day of my seventh year of blogging and reviewing books. These seven years have seen much growth for me both personally and professionally. I'm a different person today than I was years ago, but the things that have always shaped me persist to this day. One thing that has certainly only continued to grow is my love of books.

On this day of reflection and celebration, it seems only fitting to review the final novel in Elin Hilderbrand's Winter series. Seven years ago, I wouldn't have even given a second look to Hilderbran's novels. A holiday-themed family drama just wasn't my preferred genre. As my tastes have diversified, I've come to appreciate the kind of character-driven story that  Hilderbrand's series presents. More life experience for me means that I'm able to better relate to the everyday challenges faced by the family in the books. Instead of turning away from a genre that was mostly unknown, I've embraced the series and have enjoyed it immensely.

Winter Solstice is the perfect conclusion to Hilderbrand's series. I won't provide any specifics about the plot because a summary just wouldn't convey the depth of the four novel story arch. Suffice it to say, this final book sees loose ends tied up and characters following the natural progression of their development. More than any of the other three books, this one really had me feeling like I was part of the family. Hilderbrand's writing placed me amongst the laughter and the tears as the Quinn family experienced life with each other.

Winter Solstice and the entire Winter series is a wonderful read for the holiday season. The themes of family, life, death, love, and loss permeate each page of the book through characters who are as engaging as they are dynamic. Hilderbrand's writing is able to convey varying emotions and alternating perspectives with language that is easily digestible by readers. I couldn't imagine a better book to end the year on.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2018, 47)

A new year brings new triumphs and challenges to the ever-engaging Quinn family. Kelley, the patriarch of the family, has been reunited with his estranged wife Mitzi after she left him for the family's former Santa. Kelley has overcome a health scare and is happy to have his wife back by his side, running the family's Winter Street Inn like old times. Kelley's eldest son is about to be released from his prison term, his middle son is raising a family and opened a successful business, and recent revelations about his youngest son's missing military group provide hope that has been absent for the last two years.

All the good things aside, it wouldn't be a Quinn holiday without some drama. Kelley's daughter Ava is currently juggling relationships with two men, his daughter-in-law is dealing with a secret opioid addiction, and his former daughter-in-law is the drug dealer! If all that isn't enough, the Quinns are diligently preparing the inn to host a family wedding all as the holidays approach. When a huge winter storm threatens to derail all of their holiday plans, the Quinn's are forced to confront their personal tribulations and come together to make the season a success.

With Winter Storms, the third book in her Winter series, author Elin Hilderbrand recaptures some of the magic that made the first novel such a delight. The previous novel had a lot of plot to lay down, so there wasn't as much time devoted to the quieter character moments that made me fall in love with the characters in the first book. With a solid narrative foundation set, Hilderbrand is free to let her characters dictate the pace and tone of her story. She deftly combines the magic of the holiday season with the real-world struggles of an everyday family to craft a drama that is both emotionally engaging and narratively intriguing. Winter Stroll is the perfect reading companion for the holiday season.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2018, 46)

The get-togethers are over, the presents are all unwrapped, and I'm left in the afterglow of another successful Christmas. Amongst the hustle and bustle of the season, I somehow found time to binge the rest of Elin Hilderbrand's Winter series. Book two, Winter Stroll, picks up one year after the events of the first novel Winter Street.  The Quinn family has certainly changed in the last year, but they are just as engaging as ever.

Kelley Quinn is finally settling into his next phase of life at the Winter Street Inn. His second wife has found happiness in her new relationship with the inn's former Santa. Kelley has rekindled a cordial relationship with his first wife who has used her fame and fortune to keep the struggling in afloat. One son is serving out a prison sentence for insider trading while the other has just welcomed a beautiful child into the world. Kelley's daughter finally seems to be in a relationship that provides the kind of love he always knew she deserved.

Things are really looking solid for Kelley. This weekend is the annual Christmas Stroll and it promises to be a time of family and fellowship. Still, troubles of the real world linger within the idyllic halls of the inn. Kelley's youngest son is still MIA after his military convoy was intercepted in Afghanistan. One year in and they still don't know if the men are alive. The facade of a picture-perfect holiday begins to fade further as revelations of unhappiness, second guesses, and a few people from darker times in the past emerge.

Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand is a book that felt like checking in on old friends. The previous novel really set the foundation for the family drama, and this book took the ball and ran with it. Each of the characters was fleshed out more from the surface level that many of them were written in the previous book. This sucked me into the world even more than before. My only real complaint with the novel is that it didn't end with any definitive closure. Instead, Winter Stroll tees up the next book for even more character development. Fortunately for me, I have the next two books ready to read!

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, or Goodreads.
(2018, 45)

The holidays are officially upon us. There may not be snow at my Texas home, but it is certainly snowing on the blog! Readers of the blog will know I usually stick to mystery/suspense novels as my primary genre. At the start of this year, I resolved to read a larger variety of books. I still read a ton of mystery/suspense stories, but I've added a lot more non-fiction, memoirs, horror, and even a few YA/romances to my list. In that same spirit, I've decided to read a few holiday-themed books to round out my year. Kimberly over at Caffeinated Reviewer gave a glowing recommendation to Elin Hilderbrand's Winter Series. Kimberly has never steered me wrong before, so I decided to kick off my holiday reading with the first novel in that series.

Winter Street follows the extended Quinn family as they deal with the various dramas of their life on Nantucket. Kelley Quinn, the patriarch of the family used to be married Margaret Quinn, the same esteemed Margaret Quinn who currently anchors the CBS Evening News.  Years ago, the couple divorced. Kelley moved himself and their three children away from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan to the decidedly quieter Nantucket. Kelley has since remarried. He along with his wife Mitzi run the Winter Street Inn.

The first signs of trouble in paradise arise when Kelley catches his wife making out with the inn's long-running Santa. Mitzi quickly announces that she's in love with the Santa and has been conducting a twelve-year affair with the man. She abruptly leaves the inn, leaving Kelley to pick up the pieces. What is supposed to be a happy time of year soon makes a sour turn as each of Kelley's children are faced with crises of their own.  Legally questionable business deals, an unexpected pregnancy, and a love triangle plague each of the children. Kelly and Mitzi's son, the youngest of the Quinn clan, is stationed with the military in Afganistan. This leaves Kelley to try to rally everyone together to have a Merry Christmas.

Other than Kimberly's review, I had no real expectations of what to expect from Winter Street of Elin Hilderbrand. I was afraid the novel would be full of the schmaltzy happiness that fills all of those cringe-worthy Hallmark Channel movies. What I got instead was an honest portrayal of family life during the holidays. The novel shifts perspectives to each character as they each deal with their holiday woes. My only complaint is that with so many shifting perspectives we don't really get to see the full depth of each character. There are three more novels in this series, so I'm sure we'll get to learn more about them. For now, Winter Street is a genuine portrait of a family that more closely mirrors the other families of real life than those in the movies or TV. Despite their imperfections, the Quinn family is the kind I can relate to and the kind I'm happy to start my holiday season with.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2018, 41)

"Dogs aren't takers, they're givers."

The last couple weeks have been a real whirlwind. I took a vacation the week before Christmas, and the holiday seemed to just blow right by. In the rush, I missed out on my usual traditions of holiday baking, Christmas movies, and parties. This week, I was so desperate to hang onto every last thread of Christmas, that I decided to read a Christmas themed book. I usually shy away from holiday novels, but it turned out that a book filled with Christmas cheer was just what I needed.

Mary Ann McCray is facing some drama at the local library. As a member of its board, she is arguing against replacing their longtime Santa that appears each year. The elderly man who normally plays Santa has simply gotten too old to fulfill the role. After all, no one wants to see their Santa attached to an oxygen tank. The board members insist the decision is not about how Santa appears, so Mary Ann suggests that perhaps Santa doesn't need to be a man at all. To her surprise, the board calls her bluff. Now Mary Ann must find a way to bring Santa's wife, Anna Claus, to life.

Just in time for the holiday, Abby and Link's marriage is falling apart. They recently put all of their savings into taking their two kids on a dream vacation to Disney World. Then Link lost his job and stared drinking. The last straw for Abbey came when Link got a DUI while the kids were in the car with him. She filed for divorce soon after. The family is thrust into complete turmoil. Their son wants nothing to do with Link, Link wants to escape the town and leave his family behind, and Abbey is trying to hold everything together for the sake of her children.

Todd McCray has just moved back home. The town has opened a new no kill shelter, and he's been tasked with running it. His intuitive connection with dogs and placing them with the perfect owners makes him a perfect candidate for the job. But his latest charge has left him befuddled. Elle, as he's come to call the dog, is an odd little creature. A strange mix of retriever and dachshund, she doesn't have the pure bred look most prospective owners long for. Despite his best efforts to train her as a service dog, Elle just doesn't take well to her training. She lacks even the most basic obedience behaviors. With a new job that leaves little time to baby her, Todd fears he may never find the perfect home for Elle.

In Noelle, Greg Kincaid captures the true spirit of the season in a simple story that is both emotionally engaging and easy to read. I was reminded of those holiday movies that play on the Hallmark Channel. You can see where the story is moving from a mile away, but you can't help but enjoy the journey it takes to get there. Noelle is the second book to follow the characters that were introduced in Kincaid's A Dog Called Christmas. Having never read the previous two novels, I can't say that my enjoyment of this one was diminished in any way. Kincaid provides enough backstory and introduction to avoid readers being lost at any point. Overall, Noelle was the perfect novel for me to hang onto the holiday season a bit longer. I'd argue that we need more books like it to help remind us what this time of the year is all about.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

(2017, 51)

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross is the nineteenth installment in James Patterson's Alex Cross Series. Initially, I was hesitant to dive into this novel. Despite having read all of the previous books, and enjoying most of them, giving Alex Cross a Christmas story seemed to be stretching things a bit thin. The Alex Cross series is one of the few projects that Patterson has maintained sole writing credit on, so I decided to trust that he would continue to deliver the quality that has remained in tact throughout the series.

The novel opens on Christmas Eve, as Alex is enjoying the holiday festivities with his family, after a mostly normal day. In this opening, we reconnect with Alex's children, wife, grandmother, and newly adopted daughter who readers of the previous novel will remember. As always, Patterson writes these family scenes with an honesty that is undeniable. Perhaps this is why Alex continues to be one of my favorite Patterson characters.

Of course, all of this peace and goodwill doesn't last. Soon, Alex is called to intervene on a hostage situation. A disgraced lawyer has taken his young children, ex-wife and her new husband, and a senator's wife hostage in his former home. Alex learns that the man, who suffers from severe drug addiction, is seeking revenge on the people he blames for his downward spiral, his family. As the hours progress, Alex tries to use his expertise and personal experiences to convince the man to free his family before he destroys Christmas for both his and Alex's families.

Across town, more trouble is brewing as a known terrorist is spotted in Union Station. The FBI has tried to keep tabs on her, but is genuinely surprised at her resurfacing. Alex was the lead the profiling on the initial investigation on her, and is called by the FBI to discover her motives before she takes action. As he attempts to unravel the details of her plans, he uncovers a terrorist mission that threatens the security and well being of the entire nation.

After a disappointing effort in the previous novel, Kill Alex Cross, I was happy to see Patterson return to top form with what is certainly the best Alex Cross novel in years. As with most of my favorite Patterson novels, this story finds the perfect balance between fast paced action and relatable character development. More than any of his previous novels, Patterson delves into the psyche and motivations of the villains and reveals deeper connections between them and his hero, Alex Cross. More so, Alex begins to question his years of risking his life and family for the well-being of others. This kind of tragic outlook juxtaposed against the cheery backdrop of the holiday season makes Merry Christmas, Alex Cross an undeniable hit.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and GoodReads.

(2013: week 13, book 11)