Skip to main content

Review: Married Before Christmas

Married Before Christian book cover on blue background

It's always a treat to read a Christmas book that can whisk you away into the holiday season no matter what time of year it is (spring counts, right?) ๐Ÿ˜Š Married Before Christmas by Hannah Foster is one such book, and it's one that I would recommend adding if you're already compiling Christmas books to read!

Book Synopsis

While Heather MacLinn is still reeling from the unexpected death of her uncle, she discovers he’s left behind a will with some very not so twenty-first-century-like stipulations. If she’s to inherit the home she was raised in since she was twelve then she needs to be married by the end of the year. However, her uncle’s unplanned death doesn’t leave her with much time as Christmas is only just around the corner.

On top of grieving her uncle’s death, and searching for a husband, Heather’s mortal enemy Jed Canopy returns to her life to wreak more havoc. Or at least that’s what she thinks. But can Jed be an unexpected friend when unknown relatives start bringing trouble to her already heavy heart?

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

This was a fun read for Christmas with the marriage of convenience trope done in a very respectful manner. I enjoyed getting to meet Heather and Jed as they worked through the issues of forgiveness and repentance, and discovered what a new life in Christ means and looks like. Now that I've read all of Hannah Foster's books, I'm coming to appreciate just how clearly she writes so that there are no misunderstandings between characters. There is also a maturity in how she has her characters work together to answer questions and seek godly wisdom for the challenges they face. Everything is written in such a lovely manner that it's difficult to end one of her books without a smile.

As always, I enjoyed the supporting cast and how well they came around Heather and Jed to help them out during a crisis. I also loved that a Christian perspective on marriages of convenience was actually provided within the story, pointing to the sanctity of marriage and the lifelong commitment it entails. If you are looking for a cozy read involving childhood enemies and a Christmas deadline, Married Before Christmas balances both charm and prudence in a festive and loving manner.

Book Summary

  • Format of book: ๐Ÿ“ฑ
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Recommendation: ๐Ÿ‘

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

All the Cheese

I've been coming across content within the past several weeks that has stereotyped Christian books (and other mediums) as being cheesy on Christian accounts. While this isn't a new label or even a new topic, what has surprised me somewhat has been seeing more Christian authors jump into this conversation who wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. Although some authors will name others whom they believe are writing non-cheesy fiction, I feel as though the damage has been done by repeating this blanket statement. While readers have freely been engaging in this type of commentary for some time, it's been interesting to see authors chime in, where in some cases, there seems to be an emphasis on self-promotion over reflection. I'm not stereotyping and saying that all authors or even the authors I'm connected to respond with this tactic (because I really don't think they do!), but there are a few out there from my limited experience who seem to respond to this disc...

Fallen

This is a post that I wish I didn't have to write. Please understand that I recognize that we are all fallen; therefore, everything that we create is marred, imperfect, and tainted due to sin. What I'm exploring is what happens when there are authors or other creators who have acted in a way that harms others and there is little-to-no news of repentance or reparations being made. I'm not writing anything investigative as many skilled and brilliant Christians are already doing so. I'm more writing as a bystander who is grieved at some of the news that has come up and attempting to process it all. The first news that really impacted me was learning about the passing of Jennifer Lyell, former Lifeway Vice President, whom headlines have also called a Southern Baptist Convention abuse survivor . This hit close to home for a multitude of reasons even though prior to yesterday, I hadn't heard of her story. One of the reasons it affected me was because the professor who was...

Review: The Maker of the Mountain

I'm always on the hunt for children's books that share concepts about God in an understandable manner, so I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to read this book set in the mountains. The Maker of the Mountain by Sandra McCracken and Tim Nicholson is a story that I would be happy to share with the children in my life as it combines Bible verses with a map and delightful scenes in nature. Many thanks to Merge Public Relations for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis What is God like? Little Brown Bear is on an adventure to find the maker of the mountain and discover what he is like. Along the way, the bear meets new friends who share that the maker is like a bridge and a gate, a rock and a boat. And he’s always there to light our way home. This charming story offers: Imagery from the Bible to help young readers better understand what God is like A map of the bear’s world with corresponding Scriptures...