Christmas Miracle

Sam has not wanted anything to do with Christmas since she lost her family on Christmas Day ten years ago. When Janie asks her to babysit five-year-old Shannon, she reluctantly agrees. A visit to the mall Santa is in the cards. On the upside, Sam has recently inherited a cabin. This is lucky timing. Circumstances dictate that she must move. The next door neighbor leaves something to be desired, though something about him looks familiar and he has useful skills.

The title of this work tells the reader what they might be in for, but there is a twist. Everybody but Sam and Aidan is underdeveloped, making it difficult to become invested in the story as a whole. Is that connection the miracle? On the other hand, the reader is told about the characters’ interaction with the world around them in great detail. This can get tedious at times, but can also be thought of as the author’s strength.  One doesn’t catch the true gist of the plot until late in the day and, once that happens, resolution seems to quickly follow – too quickly.

This Christmas story is full of description, but one has difficulty calling it strictly warm and fuzzy, making it worth a look-see if the reader is after something slightly different. 

Heather R. Nielsen