I haven’t read many of Mary Alice Monroe’s novels, but she grabbed my attention and held me captive until the dramatic conclusion of Lowcountry Christmas. Who doesn’t love a story about a boy and a puppy, right? But Monroe’s latest release is about so much more than that. Lowcountry Stranger is about wounded vets suffering from PTSD and the service dogs that help them cope. It’s about a father down on his luck and a mother working two jobs to make ends meet. It’s about family love and the importance of being together during the holidays. It’s about tradition. And it’s about the sacrifices we make to survive. Monroe weaves a powerful tale that will keep you reading well into the night.
And speaking of late-night reading . . .’Tis the season for sleepless nights. I have cruised through several engaging books in the past few weeks. And I’m grateful for the diversion to keep me from stressing over the holidays. I highly recommend The Christmas Pearl, an older release by Dot Frank, one of my favorite authors. In fact, I bought a paperback copy for my mother’s stocking. Set in Charleston and packed with Southern traditions, this charming novel tells the story of a ninety-year old woman who seeks the help of a ghost from her past to save her family from their own destruction.
Last night I started Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson, and I’m already smitten with her quirky characters.
To keep me entertain while doing my holiday chores, I’ve been listening to the audio versions of The Mistletoe Inn and The Mistletoe Secret by Richard Paul Evans. His third in the series, The Mistletoe Promise, is a new Hallmark movie, and definitely one to watch if you get a chance. I can’t say enough good things about Richard Paul Evans. He offers his readers intriguing plots and interesting characters.
