love to paint

Dan Walsh published his first novel about three years ago, I believe.  I read the first two novels and enjoyed them.  They were a bit cheesy, but I was impressed particularly by his first novel.  The second was quite predictable.  Recently he published his fourth novel, Remembering Christmas .  I sat down to read it, but found that it was a rare book that I had to pick up and set down.  You see, I never got drawn in.  Let me explain... Storyline:  The story is about Rick and the Christmas season that changed his life.  He hadn't planned to come down and visit his mom and stepdad.  But, his stepdad, Art, had a brain aneurysm and they needed his help.  He spends several weeks at the shop which bring about a change in his heart.  (Of course there's a little romance thrown in there.) Writing:   Mr. Walsh's writing in this book is fine.  This book didn't stand out to me, but it wasn't badly written. Plot:  The...

For the past three years, Revell has published a Christmas novella by Melody Carlson.  I have grown fond of them.  I remember the first one I read, The Christmas Dog .  What I loved most about it was that it was an enjoyable Christian novel that wasn't just a romance.  Then came The Christmas Bus and Christmas at Harrington's .  Both were those books you curl up with a cup of tea on a Sunday afternoon.  This year Melody Carlson wrote a new one, The Christmas Shoppe .  Just like its predecessors, it was a fun read.   Storyline:  There's all sorts of little stories in this one story woven together.  A stranger comes to Parrish Springs and purchases an old building on the main street of town.  It was desired by a coniving councilman who sets out to undermine her ability to open her shop.  There's the town manager who's divorced and raising her daughter with the help of her cantankerous mother in law.  There's the newspaper e...