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MY REVIEW:<\/strong><\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “Colors of Christmas” is an excellent book to prepare your heart for the true meaning and hope of the season.<\/p>\n I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n ABOUT THE BOOK:<\/strong><\/p>\n Click to purchase<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Christmas in Blue<\/strong> Christmas in Gold<\/strong> Click here<\/a> to purchase your copy.<\/strong><\/p>\n ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/strong><\/p>\n GUEST POST FROM OLIVIA NEWPORT:<\/strong><\/p>\n We All Have a Story<\/p>\n I\u2019m 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\u2019t have to be a senior citizen to take their classes at my gym. Then I discovered how tough<\/em> most of them are. Years later, though my feet are better, these are still my people.<\/p>\n 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\u2019d been widowed the first time at 19. And she\u2019d grown up in Germany while Hitler was intent on destroying Europe and life was not easy.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Her story was the beginning of Colors of Christmas<\/em>, which includes two stories. Astrid\u2019s is \u201cChristmas in Gold,\u201d and the other is \u201cChristmas in Blue.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n Olivia Newport chases joy in Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is. <\/em><\/p>\n BLOG STOPS:<\/strong><\/p>\n Books N Baubles<\/span><\/a>, October 17<\/p>\n Christian Bookaholic<\/span><\/a>, October 17<\/p>\n Bukwurmzzz<\/span><\/a>, October 17<\/p>\n Janices book reviews<\/span><\/a>, October 18<\/p>\n Singing Librarian Books<\/span><\/a>, October 18<\/p>\n Moments Dipped in Ink,<\/span><\/a> October 18<\/p>\n A Simply Enchanted Life,<\/span><\/a> October 19<\/p>\n G.O. & D\u2019S QUILTS & BOOKS<\/span><\/a>, October 19<\/p>\n Bigreadersite<\/a>,<\/span> October 19<\/p>\n Reader\u2019s cozy corner<\/span><\/a>, October 20<\/p>\n Have A Wonderful Day<\/span><\/a>, October 20<\/p>\n Reflections from my bookshelves,<\/span><\/a> October 20<\/p>\n Blogging With Carol<\/span><\/a>, October 21<\/p>\n Just the Write Escape<\/span><\/a>, October 21<\/p>\n Zerina Blossom\u2019s Books<\/span><\/a>, October 21<\/p>\n A Greater Yes<\/a>,<\/span> October 22<\/p>\n Mary Hake<\/a>, October 22<\/p>\n Daysong Reflections<\/a>,<\/span> October 22<\/p>\n A Baker\u2019s Perspective<\/span><\/a>, October 23<\/p>\n Ashley\u2019s Bookshelf<\/span><\/a>, October 23<\/p>\n Baker Kella<\/span><\/a>, October 23<\/p>\n Smiling Book Reviews<\/span><\/a>, October 23<\/p>\n The Fizzy Pop Collection<\/span><\/a>, October 24<\/p>\n It\u2019s Storytime With Van Daniker<\/span><\/a>, October 24<\/p>\n Remembrancy,<\/span><\/a> October 24<\/p>\n Carpe Diem<\/span><\/a>, October 25<\/p>\n autism mom<\/span><\/a>, October 25<\/p>\n Bibliophile Reviews<\/a>,<\/span> October 25<\/p>\n A Reader\u2019s Brain<\/span><\/a>, October 26<\/p>\n By The Book<\/span><\/a>, October 26<\/p>\n The Power of Words<\/span><\/a>, October 26<\/p>\n With a Joyful Noise,<\/span><\/a> October 27<\/p>\n Pause for Tales,<\/span><\/a> October 27<\/p>\n Splashes of Joy<\/a>,<\/span> October 27<\/p>\n Jeanette\u2019s Thoughts<\/a>, <\/span>October 28<\/p>\n Christian Chick\u2019s Thoughts<\/span><\/a>, October 28<\/p>\n Karen Sue Hadley<\/span><\/a>, October 28<\/p>\n Reading Is My SuperPower<\/span><\/a>, October 28<\/p>\n Vicky Sluiter<\/span><\/a>, October 29<\/p>\n To Everything a Season<\/span><\/a>, October 29<\/p>\n Pursuing Stacie<\/a>,<\/span> October 29<\/p>\n Just Jo\u2019Anne<\/span><\/a>, October 30<\/p>\n Tell Tale Book Reviews,<\/span><\/a> October 30<\/p>\n Debbie\u2019s Dusty Deliberations<\/a>, October 30<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/divider2.png\" "\\"divider2\\"")
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\nAngela just wants Christmas to be over. Instead, she finds herself in charge of the town\u2019s celebration, and everything goes from bad to worse. Can she rescue Christmas for the town\u2014and herself?<\/p>\n
\nWhen 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.<\/p>\nOlivia Newport<\/strong>\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n