Week 2 - Christmas Reading Challenge 2015

The 13^th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle by Joanne Huist Smith

This story revolves around a family who loses their husband/father.  It also plays on the 12 days of Christmas as someone is leaving them gifts during the Christmas season.  The story is vivid and well written. I am able to feel sympathy for these characters; however, I found it a bit depressing.  I tend to like Christmas stories that are more joyful.  3/5 Stars

The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury

Crossed lovers, natural disasters, tragedy, it is all in this book.  I felt it was very reminiscent of the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  There is a few scenes that one can practically overlay this story on top of that one.  It was different enough to keep my interest though.  I did enjoy the crossed lovers storyline.  4/5 Stars

Santa Claus is for Real: A True Christmas Fable…by Charles Edward Hall

Charles Edward Hall plays Santa Claus in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in New York City.  This is a “true” story about how he became Santa.  It is a little out there in points, but it was never boring, that is for sure.  It is a quick read, and I enjoyed this one. Was it well written, eh, not really. But whatever.  3/5 Stars.

Movies:

Elf:  Will Ferrell is the best!!

The Flight Before Christmas: This was a Lifetime movie. I usually don’t watch Lifetime but Mayim Bialik stared in it as well as produced it.  Here she plays a half Jewish, half Catholic woman who takes a flight home for the holidays.  The reason for the trip as well as what happens during the trip make this story well worth the watch.  I love Mayim anyway, and her co-star Ryan McPartlin (hottie) were great together.  4.5 / 5 Stars

The Road to Christmas:  Apparently this is an older movie, but I’ve never seen it. And to be honest it took a while before I realized that the lead was Jennifer Grey.  Jennifer plays a high powered fashion photographer who is trying to get to Vale for her wedding to her Italian fiancé.  Her flight gets canceled and she has to find a way to get to Vale. She comes across a father and her 12 year old daughter and they offer her a ride.  Since this is Lifetime, I don’t have to tell you much about this, and we all know how it ends.  But I did like the interesting twist.  I was REAL bored, and this was on (This was on before The Flight Before Christmas that is why I was on the channel to begin with).  3/5 Stars.