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a lilac creek Christmas
Come along and share some Christmas spirit with Jasper and his family as they celebrate a Lilac Creek Christmas. Brinn can’t wait for Henry to arrive, and when he finally does, there is an even more wonderful surprise in store! This year there will be a lot of extra love under the tree!
34 pages, Unknown Binding
First published October 30, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
did-not-finish
February 19, 2022DNF @ 23%
I tried. I honestly tried, because I desperately wanted to enjoy the book with a cute dog on the cover and cure my Grinch-worthy mood with some Chistmas cheer. But nope, it just ain't happening - not with this book.
That's right, somehow a book that's barely more than thirty pages managed to annoy me so much that I couldn't even care enough to finish it. Maybe that says more about my mood than the book, but you'll have to decide that for yourself. In order to help you along, I'll provide a list of the reasons I didn't care for the experience.
* Characters - Aside from barely-useful infodumps about the children being adopted, readers are given very little information that would make us care about the characters. Who are they? Do they have personalities beyond the one child's trauma and the fact they have family traditions regarding Christmas decorations? Why should we care about them?
* Senseless Death - Sorry, but I prefer my fluffy dog books without random characters geing brutally killed off for the sake of plot. But, hey, what says "Christmas Spirit" more than an elderly person being burned alive in a rest home accident, right?!
* Female Death for Male Plot - Technically, this expands on the above point. See, in this case, one of the victims of the fire - the other remains undisclosed - is an elderly woman who we only 'meet' through her being used as a vehicle for an elderly man's trauma. Apparently, the rest home caught fire and she died in the fire so now the man is depressed (because they were close friends) and needs temporary lodging. Enter the main characters, who are friends of his and planned to have him over for Christmas anyway. Why couldn't it have been something minor like maybe he sprained an ankle or was just feeling sad and asked to come over earlier than planned? Why'd we have to get something so fucking depressing and unsettling thrown in, here?! I know the answer from other reviews, and it's not a good excuse: Yeeeeah, how about no?
* Too Much Filler - Look, I'm here for a story about a dog. Not to read an entire chapter about some family I don't care about decorating a Christmas tree, complete with annoying toddlers who speak like realistic children. Bah, humbug! What little glimpses of the dog we're given in the portion I read are frankly depressing, as well. The doggo who starts out the book is old and deaf and too tired to enjoy the festivities his humans are partaking.
* Poor Editing - I reached two typos in one sentence, and I finally just gave up because I wasn't enjoying myself anyway. The first was a missing word ("could tell that were" instead of "could tell that they were") and the second used "that" instead of "than." I just don't have the patience to mentally edit a book that's already annoying me so much.
I tried. I honestly tried, because I desperately wanted to enjoy the book with a cute dog on the cover and cure my Grinch-worthy mood with some Chistmas cheer. But nope, it just ain't happening - not with this book.
That's right, somehow a book that's barely more than thirty pages managed to annoy me so much that I couldn't even care enough to finish it. Maybe that says more about my mood than the book, but you'll have to decide that for yourself. In order to help you along, I'll provide a list of the reasons I didn't care for the experience.
* Characters - Aside from barely-useful infodumps about the children being adopted, readers are given very little information that would make us care about the characters. Who are they? Do they have personalities beyond the one child's trauma and the fact they have family traditions regarding Christmas decorations? Why should we care about them?
* Senseless Death - Sorry, but I prefer my fluffy dog books without random characters geing brutally killed off for the sake of plot. But, hey, what says "Christmas Spirit" more than an elderly person being burned alive in a rest home accident, right?!
* Female Death for Male Plot - Technically, this expands on the above point. See, in this case, one of the victims of the fire - the other remains undisclosed - is an elderly woman who we only 'meet' through her being used as a vehicle for an elderly man's trauma. Apparently, the rest home caught fire and she died in the fire so now the man is depressed (because they were close friends) and needs temporary lodging. Enter the main characters, who are friends of his and planned to have him over for Christmas anyway. Why couldn't it have been something minor like maybe he sprained an ankle or was just feeling sad and asked to come over earlier than planned? Why'd we have to get something so fucking depressing and unsettling thrown in, here?! I know the answer from other reviews, and it's not a good excuse: Yeeeeah, how about no?
* Too Much Filler - Look, I'm here for a story about a dog. Not to read an entire chapter about some family I don't care about decorating a Christmas tree, complete with annoying toddlers who speak like realistic children. Bah, humbug! What little glimpses of the dog we're given in the portion I read are frankly depressing, as well. The doggo who starts out the book is old and deaf and too tired to enjoy the festivities his humans are partaking.
* Poor Editing - I reached two typos in one sentence, and I finally just gave up because I wasn't enjoying myself anyway. The first was a missing word ("could tell that were" instead of "could tell that they were") and the second used "that" instead of "than." I just don't have the patience to mentally edit a book that's already annoying me so much.
July 18, 2021
A beautiful, heart warming, cosy read. I recommend the series highly
The Lilac Creek series is a treasure to keep. All the books are so full of compassion & warmth that each page flows with love that will warm your heart.
I rarely leave reviews as I find it hard to type now but just had to write about this little series because reading it is like having a hug & feeling that there is a power greater than anything else. That power is love.
My only sadness is that it has come to an end. How I would like for the story to continue. Perhaps that is the art of the writer, in that the epilogue leaves enough to fuel the readers own immagination.
The Lilac Creek series is a treasure to keep. All the books are so full of compassion & warmth that each page flows with love that will warm your heart.
I rarely leave reviews as I find it hard to type now but just had to write about this little series because reading it is like having a hug & feeling that there is a power greater than anything else. That power is love.
My only sadness is that it has come to an end. How I would like for the story to continue. Perhaps that is the art of the writer, in that the epilogue leaves enough to fuel the readers own immagination.
March 9, 2020
Julia and Sam are celebrating Christmas with their three daughters - Brinn, Emma and Kaylee, but on them downs the fact, that the home for for elderly gots on fire and Henry needs home. They, of course take him to their farm, which had belonged to Henry. While picking him up, there is strange dog, who seems to know Henry. They meet him again on several occasions and Henry believes, that his soul is of Anna, friend who died in the fire. For Christmas arrived also his daughter and her family. Julia suggest Henry stays with them forever, with the new dog Noel and his old friend Jasper.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2021
Did Noel follow her owner to the home?
It is nice to believe, Noel had found het mistress, made friends with Henry, and God would see they all stayed together. It IS, after all, the way God works to bless us!
It is nice to believe, Noel had found het mistress, made friends with Henry, and God would see they all stayed together. It IS, after all, the way God works to bless us!
May 5, 2017
Heartwarming Christmas Story of giving and love.
December 8, 2019
Yay jasper &family
I enjoyed this and i will indeed go read the other stories. I am happy that i already have them .
I enjoyed this and i will indeed go read the other stories. I am happy that i already have them .
December 21, 2019
Heart-warning
Short and sweet. A perfect Christmas story. Makes one believe life would be more peaceful if we opened our hearts to others
Short and sweet. A perfect Christmas story. Makes one believe life would be more peaceful if we opened our hearts to others
November 13, 2020
Anna
Adorable story. Considerable warmth and love. I recommend reading to children. Rating because more detail about new dog and her reason for choosing them as her family.
Adorable story. Considerable warmth and love. I recommend reading to children. Rating because more detail about new dog and her reason for choosing them as her family.
June 13, 2021
All lovers of sweet stories
I really loved these 3 books. The writing was done very well. I read the complete series in a day.
I really loved these 3 books. The writing was done very well. I read the complete series in a day.
December 3, 2021
Christmas
Excellent Book. It was easy reading and really showed what Christmas is all about Family and friends. Merry Christmas and God bless.
Excellent Book. It was easy reading and really showed what Christmas is all about Family and friends. Merry Christmas and God bless.
March 2, 2022
Great book
December 16, 2022
A nice little uplifting story.
April 27, 2023
my first book in a year
I enjoyed the short story as it was the first book, that I read in almost a year after my eye surgery. I had read it a few pages at a time.
I enjoyed the short story as it was the first book, that I read in almost a year after my eye surgery. I had read it a few pages at a time.
October 2, 2024
It was an o.k. quick read. 3☆
December 30, 2020
A Beautiful Christmas Story
I thought that this book was a beautiful Christmas Story and all about the true spirit of Christmas. I would definitely recommend it.
I thought that this book was a beautiful Christmas Story and all about the true spirit of Christmas. I would definitely recommend it.
March 6, 2014
This was a very heart warming short story! It's a good story to put you in the Christmas spirit. Although I haven't read any of the previous stories in this series, I didn't feel lost.
I loved that the author ended the story with an update on what happened in their lives after the story ended. If you like dogs, this is a sweet story that you will enjoy.
I recommend it to anyone who loves dogs and Christmas!
I loved that the author ended the story with an update on what happened in their lives after the story ended. If you like dogs, this is a sweet story that you will enjoy.
I recommend it to anyone who loves dogs and Christmas!
March 7, 2014
For those who remember Christmas' past.
For those who remember Christmas' past.
Everything is here for those of us who value the real meaning of Christmas. Love of family and friends combine with love of our pets, who qualify as both. Open hearts bring wealth without bounds
For those who remember Christmas' past.
Everything is here for those of us who value the real meaning of Christmas. Love of family and friends combine with love of our pets, who qualify as both. Open hearts bring wealth without bounds
November 17, 2013
This is a very nice Christmas story. It is pleasant and uplifting. Just the kind of story you want to set the tone for the season.
The characters are pleasant and easy to relate to. The story is simple and hopeful. A quick easy read.
The characters are pleasant and easy to relate to. The story is simple and hopeful. A quick easy read.
March 9, 2014
This is a short read that makes me want to read more by this author.
Dana has a comfortable way with words and writes a heartworming story
that draws you in and makes you feel like one of the family.
Dana has a comfortable way with words and writes a heartworming story
that draws you in and makes you feel like one of the family.
July 22, 2014
Lilac Creek Series
These books were very heartwarming, and sometimes made me feel that I was right with the family. I recommend this book to dog lovers and anyone who just enjoys family, caring and love.
These books were very heartwarming, and sometimes made me feel that I was right with the family. I recommend this book to dog lovers and anyone who just enjoys family, caring and love.
January 2, 2014
This was a sweet, family oriented story about a dog who wanders into their lives and helps to bond them all together in this heartwarming Christmas tale. A highly recommended read.
November 21, 2014
good
the way that this family can adopt animal's and people shows true love for man kind.the true spirit of Christmas.
the way that this family can adopt animal's and people shows true love for man kind.the true spirit of Christmas.
November 28, 2014
A Great Rainy Day Story
A Lilac Creek Christmas is a happy short story to read on a rainy day. This story brings you up and gives you a warm fuzzy feeling in you heart
A Lilac Creek Christmas is a happy short story to read on a rainy day. This story brings you up and gives you a warm fuzzy feeling in you heart
November 6, 2015
I love dogs and I love Christmas, so this should've been a winner.
Sadly, it wasn't really developed, so I didn't get to know the characters like I wanted.
Sadly, it wasn't really developed, so I didn't get to know the characters like I wanted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2013
A short, sweet holiday story with a couple of dogs and lots of love! Can't complain about that!
January 16, 2015
sweet, enjoyable - would read more by this author
July 19, 2016
This is the last book in this series, I loved all the stories!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews