"Inspiring holiday collection to open readers' hearts, no matter what holiday they observe"
BURNING BRIGHT is a heart-warming collection of seasonal
stories encompassing the holidays of different religions.
With the common denominator being the town they all take
place in and a tiny little candle shop that is unusual and
mysterious, it will touch all who read it. In STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT by Anne Stuart, readers meet
Angela "Angel" McKenna, a new divorcee who is hoping to
rebuild her life. Will a new love with an old flame be the
answer to her Christmas wish? Brody Jackson has returned to
Crescent Cove, Vermont to lick his wounds caused by the
scandal surrounding the company he owned with his brothers.
All he wants is to hide from the world, but when Angel
shows up on his doorstep, he decides maybe it is time to
come out of his shell for a new start. What is a more perfect time for a renewal of life's dreams
than at Christmas? Angel is slowly recovering from the
crushing blow given her when her husband divorced her.
After suffering through one year where she had no desire to
celebrate the holiday, she decides this year is the time to
start. Angel almost puts Santa Claus to shame with the
amount of good cheer she spreads. Her newfound good will is
a delight to encounter for the reader. Brody starts out as
something of a Scrooge, with reason, but in the face of
Angel's spirit, and a rekindling of that old ember of
desire long ago sparked and banked, his turn around is easy
to understand. In RETURN OF THE LIGHT by Maggie Shayne, Dori Stewart was a
very important person in her Manhattan life. When
everything crashes down around her, including her fantastic
job and her key role in her local Coven, she comes home to
Vermont to find out what went wrong. She has lost her faith
in everything, including the Goddess, but maybe with the
help of Jason Farrar, the local police chief and an old
time fling of hers, she'll make a new start on the winter
solstice. Dori started out as a woman who has it all, and one who has
forgotten just who it was that blessed her with that gifted
life. When she loses everything she held dear, her faith
dies with it. Or does it? She forgets for a while how
important her beliefs are, but when her eyes are reopened,
the outpouring of relief and hope she feels changes her in
a good way. Jason has a hard time understanding her beliefs
at first, but later comes to understand just how important
they are to her. Another thing enjoyable about this story
is how the author takes the scorn that others have for
Dori's religion and turns it around, lighting up the whole
town with the spirit of fellowship and understanding. In the third and final story in the collection, ONE FOR
EACH NIGHT by Judith Arnold, Alana Ross, a local news
reporter, is holding her first Hanukkah open house in
memory of her grandmother. However, things get hairy when
Jeffrey Barrett arrives in town. His uncle was implicated
in an embezzlement scandal involving school board funds and
Alana is not afraid to report the facts or local
suspicions. As his uncle's attorney, Jeffrey tries to get
to the bottom of things, but finds he'd rather get up close
and personal with Alana. Will her holiday celebration
involve a new love? What seasonal collection at this time of year would be
complete without a Hanukkah story? Alana's faith is strong,
as are the memories she holds of her beloved grandmother.
Her entire celebration is as much about her holiday as it
is keeping her grandmother alive in her heart. It was fun
to read about the different delicacies that go along with
the holiday tradition. Jeffrey has his doubts about Alana,
feeling she is pushing too hard to ruin his uncle's
reputation, but as he learns more about her and her
history, he slowly comes to understand why she feels the
way she does about her news reporting. The steady
development of their mutual respect and love is believable
and pleasing to experience with them. This inspiring holiday collection will open readers'
hearts, no matter what holiday they observe. The mystical
touch of the ever changing candle shop and owner, helping
each woman fulfill her dreams with the right candle, gives
just enough of that feel of a miracle happening, to remind
everyone what this time of year is really about... rebirth
and renewal, and faith and love. © Kelley A. Hartsell, December 2004. All rights reserved.
Reviewed by Kelley Hartsell
Courtesy Love Romances
Posted January 26, 2005
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