Upon a Midnight Clear

by Gail Gaymer Martin

The Love Inspired "RM" series give today's spiritual female readers what they've been asking for -- contemporary inspirational love stories that reflect their commitment to life, love and faith.Capture this audience with three new titles of this unique blend of faith and romance every month. Their hearts and spirits will soar along with your profits!

A widower hires Callie, a live-in nanny, for his daughter after his wife's death. As the child and nanny become closer, the widower and Callie strengthen their relationship with God as they fall in love.

Genres: Christmas, Love Inspired, Christian, Romance, Inspirational, Fiction, Contemporary

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Multi-award-winning novelist, Gail Gaymer Martin writes Christian fiction for Winged Publications with many books published by Love Inspired and Barbour Publishing, where she was honored by Heartsong readers as their Favorite Author of 2008. Gail has 77 published novels or novellas with over four million books in print. She is the author of Writers Digest’s Writing the Christian Romance and a founder of American Christian Fiction Writers, a keynote speaker at churches, libraries and civic organizations and presents workshops at conference across the US. She was named one of the four best novelists in the Detroit area by CBS local news. Gail loves to hear from readers through her website contact and adds the reader's name to her bi-monthly drawing for a free book or two.

Reviews

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more of a 3 1/2 star than a normal 3 but not quite a 4 for me. A woman struggling with her past of being raped and adopting out her child. A man and his little girl struggling with the death of their wife-momma. All come together through their Faith and find each other and relief from the ghosts of their past. This appears from the front cover to be a 'Christmas' book but I wouldn't really say it is. It does start off at Christmas and end at Christmas but doesn't necessarily center around the holiday. So those that don't believe-celebrate the holiday this book you might still like. But those of us looking for a book of the season this one wasn't quite it, but the storyline is a good one.

[Romancing the Book · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review by Jen:
I have mixed feelings about these stories. But first, here is a quick summary of them.

In Upon a Midnight Clear, Callie takes a job caring for a troubled little girl and eventually falls in love with the child and her widowed father. But will a dark secret in her past keep them apart?

And in Secrets of the Heart, Kate longs for a man who shares her faith and values. She meets Scott who wants to share her life, but will a long-ago mistake keep them apart?

Let's start with the good. I found the first story to be more complete and enjoyable. The characters were more interesting and relatable... or at least easier to sympathize with.

Now the bad. The two stories were too similar to be bundled together. By the time I got halfway through the second story, I felt like I was reading a re-worked version of story one with some minor changes (names, occupations, ages). "Secrets" was also a little too preachy for my tastes and I found it hard to really like or care about the characters. My suggestion, read "Upon a Midnight Clear" and call it a day.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautifully written book and wonderful story-very easy and comforting read.

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is great for anyone who loves romance and restoring your faith in God's love

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Hamilton's wife died of cancer, now his 5 year old daughter and no reaction to anything and will not talk. He hires Callie Randolph an in home nurse hoping to make her smile again. This is unusual for Callie because she normally works with the elderly due to something that happened to her many years ago. After many years of no music in any of their lives maybe all three will once again with God's help music will come back to all three.

[Valita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed at the ending, but I don't want to spoil it for others.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very heartwarming love story. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Sonia Parham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart warming story

[Natalie Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute little book that I read in about a day. This is my second or third time reading this book.

[Katrina Lybbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. There were some hard things both Callie and David went through that made them perfect for each other. The little girl was so sweet and loved how she related to Grace.

[Theresa Lange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some sad, mostly happy!

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved book but was hoping Nattie was Callie's daughter and that because Nattie might of been born on Christmas and celebrated on different date like some do...

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not often that a problem with parental communication is part of a story and I appreciated that bit.
A quick, musical :) read.