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Love Finds You in the City at Christmas
Two heartwarming stories of Christmas past and present. In RED KETTLE CHRISTMAS, it s 1947, and police officer Mike Wolzak has inherited his family s Manhattan brownstone and the custody of his troubled younger sister. While on patrol during the Macy s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mike meets lovely Salvation Army bell ringer Karen O Leary, who is struggling to support herself and her young daughter. As their paths cross during the festive holiday season in New York, Karen teaches the tough World War II veteran how to support and love his family. In the process, he just might gain a new one. In MANHATTAN MIRACLE, a war-weary soldier who has served three tours in the Middle East, Max Wolzak, has come home to spend the holidays with his family in Manhattan. There, Max reconnects with Sarah Peterson, his sister s old schoolmate who now works for the United Nations. Sparks fly as the pair becomes reacquainted, but when Max realizes that Sarah will leave for the Middle East the day after Christmas, he has a decision to convince her to stay, wait for her to return, or go with her to the one place where he never thought he d return.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2013
8 people are currently reading
516 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Logan Herne
131 books505 followersMulti-published, award-winning, bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne is living her dream of being a published author and having the time of her life doing it. Born to a poor family in Rochester, NY, Ruthy draws on her early years and her many years of dealing with today's young families and businesses to create beautiful, heartfelt small-town stories of faith, hope and love... while adopting her favorite non-Scripture quotes "Plenty of time for rest in the grave" (Ben Franklin) and "No one can make you feel inferior without your permission." (Eleanor Roosevelt) and one can always depend on Yoda "There is no try. There is do or do not." Succinct... and true. :) She loves chatting with readers on facebook at Ruth Logan Herne or follow Ruthy on Twitter, visit her website or stop by Seekerville (www.seekerville.blogspot.com) or pop by the Yankee Belle Cafe where Ruthy and several lovely authors share recipes, facts, photos and just plain old life! (www.yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 26, 2022
Two Christmases, past and present, with a family connection. "Red Kettle Christmas" is a postwar Christmas while "Manhattan Miracle" is present day. The Wolzak family is a part of both stories even though two different authors contribute. I loved them both! Each story begins on Thanksgiving during the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. In "Red Kettle Christmas" there is a focus on the bellringers and the work of the Salvation Army in helping young unwed mothers. Our main character, Karen, was one of those years ago and spends some of her time off from nursing for the Salvation Army to ring the bell. She meets Mike Wolzak, one of NYC's finest, during the parade and their story is a heartwarming and inspiring read. In "Manhattan Miracle" we meet Max Wolzak, just back from his third tour in Afghanistan, and Sarah Peterson, a peacekeeper in the Middle East for the United Nations. They are reconnecting after the one date they had on September 10, 2001. Max's niece, Molly, is five going on thirty and she inspires them all to have a party for the homeless on Christmas. I loved the setting and the reminder that Christmas is not about the gifts under the tree, it's the gift we were given in the manger. Both stories are reminders to serve God through loving and helping others, not just at Christmas, but all year.
September 19, 2017
Love Finds You in the City at Christmas
Ruth Logan Herne
LOVE FINDS YOU IN THE CITY AT CHRISTMAS is two beautiful and heart warming stories by two wonderful authors, Ruth Logan Herne and Anna Schmidt. One story is set in the past, 1946 and the other in present day but they are both tied together. "Red Kettle Christmas" by Ruth Logan Herne is in 1946 and it is the story of a Salvation Army bell ringer named Karen O'Leary. While ringing the bell one day, she meets police officer Mike Wolzak who has all but given up on the holidays. Both of them are struggling with different things and aren't very forthcoming about their troubles. Mike learns that ringers dedicate their time to pay it forward for receiving help from the Salvation Army. He wonders what kind of help Karen has received. He thinks she is a war widow trying to raise her daughter on her own, but what will happen when he learns the truth.
"Manhattan Miracle" is the story that takes place in present day and introduces you to Max Wolzak, Mike and Karen's grandson, who has just returned home from active duty in Afghanistan and is not looking forward to the holidays at all. That is, until he runs in to his sister's childhood friend, Sarah. To please his grandmother, Max agrees to dress up as a Peanuts character and help handle the Snoopy balloon during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. When he sees Sarah again after so many years, they are both quite shocked, but agree to get reacquainted over the holidays. Sarah lets Max know that she is leaving the day after Christmas to work in Afghanistan but he isn't worried. They are just two friends getting to know each other again, right? As time races on, Max knows he has a decision to make and it doesn't come easy.
I loved both of the stories in LOVE FINDS YOU IN THE CITY AT CHRISTMAS and recently learned that Ruth Logan Herne is a local and new to me author. She grabbed my heart from the very first page and while she had it, she broke it for Karen and Mike. I really loved how both women, Karen and Sarah, held strong to their faith and let it guide them through life's challenges. I've read Anna Schmidt's stories before and will continue to do so. She knows how to pull her readers in and get emotionally invested in all of her characters lives. I'm looking forward to continuing this series as well as reading more books by both of these wonderful authors.
Ruth Logan Herne
LOVE FINDS YOU IN THE CITY AT CHRISTMAS is two beautiful and heart warming stories by two wonderful authors, Ruth Logan Herne and Anna Schmidt. One story is set in the past, 1946 and the other in present day but they are both tied together. "Red Kettle Christmas" by Ruth Logan Herne is in 1946 and it is the story of a Salvation Army bell ringer named Karen O'Leary. While ringing the bell one day, she meets police officer Mike Wolzak who has all but given up on the holidays. Both of them are struggling with different things and aren't very forthcoming about their troubles. Mike learns that ringers dedicate their time to pay it forward for receiving help from the Salvation Army. He wonders what kind of help Karen has received. He thinks she is a war widow trying to raise her daughter on her own, but what will happen when he learns the truth.
"Manhattan Miracle" is the story that takes place in present day and introduces you to Max Wolzak, Mike and Karen's grandson, who has just returned home from active duty in Afghanistan and is not looking forward to the holidays at all. That is, until he runs in to his sister's childhood friend, Sarah. To please his grandmother, Max agrees to dress up as a Peanuts character and help handle the Snoopy balloon during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. When he sees Sarah again after so many years, they are both quite shocked, but agree to get reacquainted over the holidays. Sarah lets Max know that she is leaving the day after Christmas to work in Afghanistan but he isn't worried. They are just two friends getting to know each other again, right? As time races on, Max knows he has a decision to make and it doesn't come easy.
I loved both of the stories in LOVE FINDS YOU IN THE CITY AT CHRISTMAS and recently learned that Ruth Logan Herne is a local and new to me author. She grabbed my heart from the very first page and while she had it, she broke it for Karen and Mike. I really loved how both women, Karen and Sarah, held strong to their faith and let it guide them through life's challenges. I've read Anna Schmidt's stories before and will continue to do so. She knows how to pull her readers in and get emotionally invested in all of her characters lives. I'm looking forward to continuing this series as well as reading more books by both of these wonderful authors.
December 28, 2020
Red Kettle Christmas;This story takes place in 1947.Mike Wolzak a police officer meets Karen O'Leary during the Macy Thanksgiving parade.She working at the salvation army red kettle.He is very interested in her but she is hiding something.I enjoyed theri story very much.
Manhattan Miracle:War worry soldier Max Wolzak meets his sister's old friend Sarah Peterson during the holidays and enjoyed their story very much.
Manhattan Miracle:War worry soldier Max Wolzak meets his sister's old friend Sarah Peterson during the holidays and enjoyed their story very much.
August 29, 2021
Two stories in this book -- one is a 1947 story starting with the Thanksgiving parade in NY City and the other one is a current day romance.
December 23, 2016
In 'Red Kettle Christmas,' it's 1946, and police officer Mike Wolzak inherits the family home. . . and the custody of his troubled sister. While on patrol during Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mike meets a Salvation Army bell ringer struggling to support herself and her young child. Over the holiday season in Manhattan, she teaches the veteran how to support his family. In the process, he gains a new one.
My thoughts: RED KETTLE CHRISTMAS is an adorable story about one of the Salvation Army's bell ringers and a police officer. It was fun seeing the diversity of cultures in this historic visit to NYC and meeting two very sweet individuals who both have hurts they must work through. I cared for both of these characters and enjoyed this slow moving story.
In 'Manhattan Miracle,' a war-weary soldier finally comes home. Max Wolzak is celebrating Christmas in the Manhattan brownstone where he spent much of his childhood when he meets Sarah, his sister's old schoolmate. Sparks fly as the pair gets reacquainted over holiday events, but when Max realizes she will leave for the Middle East the day after Christmas, he has a decision to make.
My thoughts: MANHATTAN MIRACLE is the contemporary in this story and features Mike's and Karen's grandson, Max, who has just returned from active duty in Afghanistan. To make his grandma happy, Max agrees to dress as a Peanuts character and be a balloon holder for Snoopy in the parade, but the last person he expects to see is happy, bouncy, Sarah, his little sister's old friend. An adorable novella about two old "chums" rediscovering each other and what happens when Schroeder meets Lucy in the Peanuts portion of the parade. Again, a slow moving story, but sweet.
My thoughts: RED KETTLE CHRISTMAS is an adorable story about one of the Salvation Army's bell ringers and a police officer. It was fun seeing the diversity of cultures in this historic visit to NYC and meeting two very sweet individuals who both have hurts they must work through. I cared for both of these characters and enjoyed this slow moving story.
In 'Manhattan Miracle,' a war-weary soldier finally comes home. Max Wolzak is celebrating Christmas in the Manhattan brownstone where he spent much of his childhood when he meets Sarah, his sister's old schoolmate. Sparks fly as the pair gets reacquainted over holiday events, but when Max realizes she will leave for the Middle East the day after Christmas, he has a decision to make.
My thoughts: MANHATTAN MIRACLE is the contemporary in this story and features Mike's and Karen's grandson, Max, who has just returned from active duty in Afghanistan. To make his grandma happy, Max agrees to dress as a Peanuts character and be a balloon holder for Snoopy in the parade, but the last person he expects to see is happy, bouncy, Sarah, his little sister's old friend. An adorable novella about two old "chums" rediscovering each other and what happens when Schroeder meets Lucy in the Peanuts portion of the parade. Again, a slow moving story, but sweet.
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January 11, 2017First novella is a Good book to follow Sarah Sundin's WWII series.
October 22, 2025
Be still my heart — I’m sure I heard the Hallelujah Chorus in the background as I finished this book. It is that good. That’s moving and uplifting and down-home Christmasy good. Both stories start with Macy’s Thanksgiving parade and that sets the mood perfectly. Both stories have adorable little girls who know the true magic of Christmas and how to share it. Another excellent way to set that special mood. But though there are similarities in these two novellas, each author’s distinctive voice creates a unique and heart-warming read.
In Red Kettle Christmas, Herne’s characteristic writing style swept me into the heart of post World War II New York City from the very first page. I love the way characters come to life at her fingertips. And I love how she portrays life and loss realistically, but always laced with hope. This novella has all the makings of a classic Christmas read.
Fast forward to present day and we get to read about the next generation of Wolzaks in Schmidt’s Manhattan Miracle. Interesting to jump decades and land at the very same place and the very same time. Love that link between the two stories. This is another touching read that gave me goosebumps at the Hollywood worthy finale.
https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/10/22/l...
In Red Kettle Christmas, Herne’s characteristic writing style swept me into the heart of post World War II New York City from the very first page. I love the way characters come to life at her fingertips. And I love how she portrays life and loss realistically, but always laced with hope. This novella has all the makings of a classic Christmas read.
Fast forward to present day and we get to read about the next generation of Wolzaks in Schmidt’s Manhattan Miracle. Interesting to jump decades and land at the very same place and the very same time. Love that link between the two stories. This is another touching read that gave me goosebumps at the Hollywood worthy finale.
https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/10/22/l...
December 31, 2023
I liked the fact that there was a clear connection between the 1947 story and the present day story. (And though she didn't play a huge part, it was nice to see Karen in the present day!)
I think I liked 'Manhattan Miracle' the best of the two stories, but only marginally. Sarah just was presented as the kind of woman I want to be . . . focused in on how others are feeling, and how she could help them feel better. I think it was a beautiful way to show how she lived out her faith.
Though the romances in each case were relatively quick, somehow, they didn't feel that way . . . the relationships seemed to grow naturally out of time spent together and shared values.
4.5 stars
I think I liked 'Manhattan Miracle' the best of the two stories, but only marginally. Sarah just was presented as the kind of woman I want to be . . . focused in on how others are feeling, and how she could help them feel better. I think it was a beautiful way to show how she lived out her faith.
Though the romances in each case were relatively quick, somehow, they didn't feel that way . . . the relationships seemed to grow naturally out of time spent together and shared values.
4.5 stars
January 3, 2025
I like to read Christmas stories during the holidays. This is one of the best that I have read! The book contains two stories that capture the essence of New York City during the holidays. "Red Kettle Christmas" by Ruth Logan Herne is set in 1947. "Manhattan Christmas" by Anna Schmidt takes place in the 21st century. Both stories follow the Wolzak family. Both stories open with the Thanksgiving parade. Both stories made me feel like I was in NYC! And both stories emphasize the value of love during the Christmas season.
November 21, 2023
Great Sweet Christmas Romance
January 1, 2015
SUMMARY: Two heartwarming stories of Christmas past and present. In “RED KETTLE CHRISTMAS,” it’s 1947, and police officer Mike Wolzak has inherited his family’s Manhattan brownstone… and the custody of his troubled younger sister. While on patrol during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mike meets lovely Salvation Army bell ringer Karen O’Leary, who is struggling to support herself and her young daughter. As their paths cross during the festive holiday season in New York, Karen teaches the tough World War II veteran how to support and love his family. In the process, he just might gain a new one. In “MANHATTAN MIRACLE,” a war-weary soldier who has served three tours in the Middle East, Max Wolzak, has come home to spend the holidays with his family in Manhattan. There, Max reconnects with Sarah Peterson, his sister’s old schoolmate who now works for the United Nations. Sparks fly as the pair becomes reacquainted, but when Max realizes that Sarah will leave for the Middle East the day after Christmas, he has a decision to make: convince her to stay, wait for her to return, or go with her to the one place where he never thought he’d return.
REVIEW: This books is composed of two linked novellas. The first "Red Kettle Christmas" takes place in Manhattan, and the two main characters, Mike and Karen, fall in love and marry. The second "Manhattan Miracle" is a story about Max, the grandson of Mike and Karen. I enjoyed the interconnectedness between the two.
I really liked the female characters in both books. Karen maintained her sweetness and faith although she had been through so much and was grateful for and appreciative of all that was given her. Sarah was a strong determined woman with a positive outlook who pursued ways to help others no matter what their circumstances.
The theme through both books focused on unwed mothers and the stigma, criticism, and ostracizing they so often receive from others even those who call themselves Christian.
Excellent writing by both authors and one of the better Love Finds You books.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "We do best when we live our lives as a prayer."
"Worry is not of God. We are in His hands, at His time. He wants us to not just believe that, but to know it. In our hearts, our souls."
"God places the paths before us. We choose the ones we travel."
"Evey time you smile at someone, it is an act of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." (Mother Teresa)
REVIEW: This books is composed of two linked novellas. The first "Red Kettle Christmas" takes place in Manhattan, and the two main characters, Mike and Karen, fall in love and marry. The second "Manhattan Miracle" is a story about Max, the grandson of Mike and Karen. I enjoyed the interconnectedness between the two.
I really liked the female characters in both books. Karen maintained her sweetness and faith although she had been through so much and was grateful for and appreciative of all that was given her. Sarah was a strong determined woman with a positive outlook who pursued ways to help others no matter what their circumstances.
The theme through both books focused on unwed mothers and the stigma, criticism, and ostracizing they so often receive from others even those who call themselves Christian.
Excellent writing by both authors and one of the better Love Finds You books.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "We do best when we live our lives as a prayer."
"Worry is not of God. We are in His hands, at His time. He wants us to not just believe that, but to know it. In our hearts, our souls."
"God places the paths before us. We choose the ones we travel."
"Evey time you smile at someone, it is an act of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." (Mother Teresa)
December 3, 2014
I always look forward to the Love Finds You books, but this one was a bit different and I wasn't sure I would enjoy it. It is a generational story, where the first story was set in the past and the second story was set in present day with the couple from the first story's grandchild. I didn't enjoy the first story much, but I understood why it was included in the book, as it provided a reference to the characters mentioned in the second story. The readers get to see their thoughts and actions to bring them to the happily ever after that we get to appreciate fully in the second story. I didn't care for Karen's aloofness to almost everyone she met, though I could understand it to a degree, especially given the circumstances she was forced to handle by the actions of others. The second story was much better for me, and I flew through it. It felt more relevant to me, and I found it interesting to learn about what Sarah did for a living, no matter how brief a look we were given. I also liked how she approached the world around her, which made her the polar opposite of Karen from the first story. However, I did appreciate this story more after having read the first story in the book. I've actually given it 3.5 stars, but I can't justify rounding up to 4 stars, as the first story drags it down too much for that.
December 21, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this story; it reads just like real life . . . it’s messy, complicated, sad (at times) – but there’s always hope. My life has been messy, complicated and sad. Most of the time, I had lots of hope – that things would work out, life would get better, and love would come.
For Mike and Mary Lynn, there’s love…
For Mike and Karen, there’s hope…
Ruth Logan Herne does a wonderful job, creating a story well worth reading – about the Salvation Army and a particular bell ringer. It was interesting to learn why people volunteer and how important it is to everyone involved.
Aha! Now I’ve got you hooked! I could add more, but that should be enough to nudge you to read this wonderful heart-warming tale. You’re gonna love it.
Due to time constraints, I won’t be reading or reviewing the second story in the book – yet. But hopefully I will get to it soon. Since it’s about Mike’s grandson, I’m intrigued with it… so watch for another review sometime early next year.
Happy Reading!!!
August 12, 2016
Two sweet stories--one historical and one contemporary--tied together by a family thread and the setting of New York City. The main characters deal with forgiving themselves of past failures and opening up to blessings of a future together. I liked the continuation of the family a few generations later, with the grandson who carried on the tradition of serving as a soldier, and who was learning how to reach out to his community as a Christian. The little girls in both stories--Laurie and Molly--sounded adorable. An enjoyable light read for Christmastime!
December 25, 2024
Second rereading-a nice set of stories. I enjoyed the familial tie between the stories and both are charming Christmas reads set in New York City.
November 29, 2013
Such a great start to the holidays!
October 10, 2018
Two excellent stories. I love Christmas stories!
December 7, 2016
Two feel good Christmas stories in one book. Fast read and uplifting!
(Also nice to read a book by Ruth Logan Herne, who went to high school with me!)
(Also nice to read a book by Ruth Logan Herne, who went to high school with me!)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews