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Annual Holiday Novella

Every holiday season, Melody Carlson has published a Christmas novella.  This year, The Christmas Pony, is being published.

The story begins with a little girl, Lucy, hoping for a gray pony.  Her dad has died and her mom and grandma are working hard to keep food on their table and a roof over their head.  Two strangers get stranded in town and end up staying at their boarding house.

The story is quite predictable--moreso than the last few holiday stories I've ready by Melody Carlson.  It is interesting that this story focuses more on the little girl than an adult.  It is told in light of what matters most to her and what she experiences.

The writing is fine.  I use the phrase "made for tv movie" a lot.  And that phrase also sums up this book to a tee.  If you're looking for a book that you just want to sit down with for two hours and a cup of coffee, and forget the cares of this world.  This is a fine book to pick up.  If you haven't read Christmas at Harringtons or The Christmas Bus, also by Carlson, I would recommend those first though.  I did enjoy them more than this one.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Revell Publishing.

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