MY REVIEW:
“Colors of Christmas” contains two individual novellas centered around the Christmas season. Both stories are heart-warming and encouraging portrayals of hope for those who might not be inclined to celebrate due to personal pain or disappointments.
“Christmas in Gold” features Astrid who has been forced by an accident to move into an assisted living community. Her new life is vastly different from what she is accustomed but Astrid is determined to make the best of it. She quickly makes a few friends but is especially drawn to her physical therapist who obviously needs encouragement. This lovely story illustrates so well how our own suffering prepares us to minister to others who need hope to overcome the burdens they carry.
“Christmas in Blue” features Angela who is still grieving the death of her best friend and would rather just sleep through Christmas. When she finds herself in charge of the annual town Christmas celebration, everything that could go wrong does. With the help of faithful friends and a little boy, somehow they manage to pull it off. I especially enjoyed the chapter about the Blue Christmas church service on December 21 and the meaningful scriptures and comments made by the pastor. The Christmas Eve service near the end was also especially touching.
“Colors of Christmas” is an excellent book to prepare your heart for the true meaning and hope of the season.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Click to purchase
Christmas in Blue
Angela just wants Christmas to be over. Instead, she finds herself in charge of the town’s celebration, and everything goes from bad to worse. Can she rescue Christmas for the town—and herself?
Christmas in Gold
When eighty-year-old Astrid moves into an assisted living community and meets a young woman on the brink of despair, she resolves to stir up Christmas hope one more time.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Olivia Newport’s novels twist through time to find where faith and passions meet. Her husband and twenty-something children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is.
GUEST POST FROM OLIVIA NEWPORT:
We All Have a Story
I’m younger than most of the people I exercise with. It started when I had a lot of pain in my feet and needed low-impact classes with the option of sitting down and learned I didn’t have to be a senior citizen to take their classes at my gym. Then I discovered how tough most of them are. Years later, though my feet are better, these are still my people.
A couple of years ago, while we waited for the younger and allegedly-but-not-really-tougher crowd to clear out of the group exercise room so we could invade it, a woman I would not have guessed to be 80, because she could out-cardio and out-lift me any day of the week, mentioned she had been widowed since she was 39. And she’d been widowed the first time at 19. And she’d grown up in Germany while Hitler was intent on destroying Europe and life was not easy.
Then the changing of the guard happened and I was left with my mouth gaping. I knew I had to hear this story. The next week after class, we went across the parking lot to Culvers for lunch and I scribbled notes on the backs of a pile of brown napkins while Astrid talked. Later she let me read the account of her life that she had written herself.
Astrid faced so many tragic circumstances, but she would be the first to tell you that God was with her even before she knew how to call on him. Many people with her life story would have found plenty of reason to wallow and stagnate. But not Astrid. Truly she is one of the most hopeful people I know.
Her story was the beginning of Colors of Christmas, which includes two stories. Astrid’s is “Christmas in Gold,” and the other is “Christmas in Blue.” Astrid inspired me to write about hope for a time of year when the Christian message resounds with hope yet so many people struggle to grasp hope for themselves. I pray these stories will help many recover a sense of hope afresh.
Olivia Newport chases joy in Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is.
BLOG STOPS:
Books N Baubles, October 17
Christian Bookaholic, October 17
Bukwurmzzz, October 17
Janices book reviews, October 18
Singing Librarian Books, October 18
Moments Dipped in Ink, October 18
A Simply Enchanted Life, October 19
G.O. & D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, October 19
Bigreadersite, October 19
Reader’s cozy corner, October 20
Have A Wonderful Day, October 20
Reflections from my bookshelves, October 20
Blogging With Carol, October 21
Just the Write Escape, October 21
Zerina Blossom’s Books, October 21
A Greater Yes, October 22
Mary Hake, October 22
Daysong Reflections, October 22
A Baker’s Perspective, October 23
Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 23
Baker Kella, October 23
Smiling Book Reviews, October 23
The Fizzy Pop Collection, October 24
It’s Storytime With Van Daniker, October 24
Remembrancy, October 24
Carpe Diem, October 25
autism mom, October 25
Bibliophile Reviews, October 25
A Reader’s Brain, October 26
By The Book, October 26
The Power of Words, October 26
With a Joyful Noise, October 27
Pause for Tales, October 27
Splashes of Joy, October 27
Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 28
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, October 28
Karen Sue Hadley, October 28
Reading Is My SuperPower, October 28
Vicky Sluiter, October 29
To Everything a Season, October 29
Pursuing Stacie, October 29
Just Jo’Anne, October 30
Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 30
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 30
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Olivia is giving away a grand prize of a Christmas Bundle Bonanza which includes 7 Jumbo rolls of Christmas wrapping paper, 2 sets of stick-on gift tags, 2 packages of Christmas cards and envelopes, 2 collections of Christmas novellas—18 stories in all, and a signed copy of Colors of Christmas!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
https://promosimple.com/ps/c319
I’m really looking forward to reading Colors of Christmas. Sounds like an incredible read.
Nice review of Colors of Christmas. I enjoyed reading the two novellas showing the real meaning of Christmas and the hope it gives each one no matter their circumstances.