The Snowman Maker

by Barbara Briggs Ward

Over the years, Ben and Ellie never had a problem communicating. So when Ben seems distant, Ellie's confused. Her instinct tells her it has something to do with the contents of an old cardboard box his father insisted Ben take before he passed away. With the children grown, Ben's evasiveness adds to Ellie wishing the holidays were over.But it's Christmas -- the season of hope and love rekindled -- especially when going back to a wondrous place on a winter's night in the old sleigh decorated in pine boughs and silver bells -- the very sleigh that carried a little boy and that cardboard box on a Christmas Eve journey so long ago.About the AuthorBarbara Briggs Ward is a writer who lives in Ogdensburg, New York. She is the author of the award-winning Christmas story, The Reindeer Keeper, represented by Bergman Entertainment, Los Angeles, for option of film rights and chosen by Yahoo's Christmas Book Club Group as their December, 2012 Book of the Month. Her short stories and articles have appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Soul book, Christmas Magic, the Chicken Soup for the Soul book, Family Caregivers, Ladies' Home Journal, The Crafts Report, Highlights for Children, and is a regular contributor to boomer-living.com. Her projects include creator of the Snarly Sally book series. She has been a featured author on Mountain Lake PBS in Plattsburgh, New York and at Target book festivals in Boston and New York City. Barbara invites you to visit www.barbarabriggsward.com.Suzanne Langelier-Lebeda is an award-winning graphic designer/illustrator. She earned national awards for art and publication design as a coordinator of publications at the State University of Potsdam. Her projects have included illustrations for the National Park Service Cumberland Island National Seashore Visitors Center, Georgia; Renee Fleming Benefit Concert Materials, New York City; Adirondack Life and Country Living Gardener magazines; St. Lawrence University; Clarkson University; and graphic design for the permanent exhibit on History and Traditions at SUNY Potsdam. She is a member of the Adirondack Artists' Guild in Saranac Lake, New York. In her fine artwork she primarily concentrates on contemplative nature studies that explore intimations in nature by integrating watercolor, drawing, writing, and digital photography. Suzanne invites you to visit www.suzannelebeda.com.

Genres: Christmas, Contemporary, Holiday

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2013

About the author

I am a writer living in Ogdensburg, NY. I am author of "The Reindeer Keeper", released October, 2010 and selected by both Yahoo's Christmas Book Club and Yonkers, NY Riverfront Library Book Club as their December 2012 featured Book of the Month. Because of the positive feedback from readers, I followed with the release of "The Snowman Maker" in 2013 and in October, 2015, "The Candle Giver." The three Christmas-themed books stand on their own yet there is a thread connecting them-making them a heartwarming Christmas trilogy.
I have been published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul book-'Christmas Magic'; the Chicken Soup for the Soul book, 'Family Caregivers'; Ladies' Home Journal, Highlights for Children; The Crafts Report; and The Saturday Evening Post online. In June, 2017 I released an Amish mystery titled, "A Robin's Snow" available online in paperback, Kindle and Nook.
I have been a featured writer on Mountain Lake PBS and at Target Book Festivals in New York and Boston. I invite you to my website. My Blog can be found under the Author tab on my website: barbarabriggsward.com

Reviews

[Michelle Stockard Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, Barbara has written a poignant and heartwarming tale. As she did with The Reindeer Keeper, she has illustrated the importance of families, especially at Christmas.

In The Snowman Maker, we learn about a family who is affected by a history of adoption. The story shows us how an orphanage can be like another family and that the relationships fostered there can be lasting. It shows us the importance of finding out where we come from and that it's never too late to forgive and make a new beginning. All of this mixed in at Christmas time brings even more magic to the season.

I love stories set at Christmas, especially ones about family and traditions. Barbara is a master at telling these stories and I eagerly await her next Christmas book.

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not care for this at all. Every line of dialogue sounded like it was some quotable wise saying, it was schmaltzy, it was predictable, it was sappy, it was poorly-paced, and there was a MASSIVE plothole.

Okay, MINOR spoiler because happens during the beginning, but here we go.

How'd the main character not remember that he was adopted when it happened while he was six? I don't have to be a child psychologist to know that you remember things when you're six if they're as big as "I'm leaving my mom and being raised by two new people." No mention of a traumatic brain injury, either. Lastly, for a book that praises adoption, it sure did just brush aside Ben's adopted parents.

Anyway, I do not recommend.

[Karen H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is getting the benefit of the doubt. The story is good but--- it is so contrived, everything is rushed and unrealistic. Did I mention obvious? You know who.is Ben's father before you even know who his mother is and the great father reveal doesn't happen until like the second to the last chapter.

However, this is a Christmas book So I guess it is ok, since I am reading the book for the Christmasy feels right?! and Christmasy feels are running rampant through this book. I do wish the writing was cleaner and the story more coherent as there were places I wondered how we got to. But as I stated Christmasy feels aren't in short supply and that was the point and I can't give half stars.

[Jamy A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wanna build snowman?

This 3rd book is just as good as the first two! The characters and storyline above exceptional. Thank you for making my Christmas so special by writing these books! I highly recommend all 3! Merry Christmas!!

[Crissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!

[Diane Sugars · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just a two star story. Nothing spectacular at all about this one. There were several parts of this story that annoyed me and I say this one is one that you can skip.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

I am definitely in the mood for Christmas books and movies, and spend most of the month of December reading and watching them exclusively. When I found out that Barbara Briggs Ward had a new Christmas novel out, I was super excited. I read and reviewed her book, The Reindeer Keeper, last year and really enjoyed it. Her stories are truly full of the Christmas spirit and have a wonderful way of getting you in the spirit too.

The Snowman Maker is the story of middle-aged Ben and his hidden family history. He and his wife Ellie have had a long, great marriage with two wonderful children. Suddenly though, Ellie notices that Ben has been pulling away; he seems distant and sad. As it turns out, right before Ben’s father died, he revealed a long kept secret: Ben was adopted. Now Ben is determined to find his birth mother in time for the holidays so he can discover where he really came from. Aiding him in his search are his supportive wife, children, and fellow orphans who remembered him and his mother from the orphanage.

I thought this story was really sweet. A lot of people banded together to help Ben find out about his birth mom and there was a large sense of community amongst he and his fellow orphans, now all grown up. Ben’s wife, Ellie, was also amazingly supportive and loving, despite how distant Ben had grown to be. I loved all of these strong relationships.

I also thought this story was really atmospheric and lovely. I loved the snow and the Christmassy feel, the old stone homes and the horse drawn sleigh rides. I would just look at the cover and smile. It helped me envision the setting and I so badly wanted to visit there!

One thing prevented me from loving this story as much as I loved The Reindeer Keeper. I had a bit of a hard time with Ben. He seemed quite disrespectful about his “adoptive” parents, as he continually referred to them as. They were the ones who raised him and loved him; shouldn’t they have simply been his “parents?” I understand his desire to know where and who he came from, but he almost seemed to write his parents off completely when he discovered that they weren’t his birth parents. That frustrated me. Aside from this aspect, this was a great story for Christmas time, and I think that all fans of Christmas novels will really enjoy it.

[Rachel (Smelleykins) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy via a goodreads give away, and what a bonus to find it was signed by the author - Barbara Briggs-Ward as well! :)

I entered the competition because the cover of the book was adorable. Who can ever resist snowmen? It’s just so christmas-y and lovely i wanted it. I’ve never read anything by the author before so discovering this beauty was wonderful.

The book is centered around christmas and there is a huge emphasis on family. I think it’s what christmas is all about. But this book strips back everything and show’s the true meaning of christmas, and surprises. Lots of surprises. I loved it from start to finish. Yes at times it is slightly predictable and very happy, there was times I kept expecting something very bad to happen.

Barbara goes into great detail of describing the surroundings of all locations, making them seem so magical and perfect. I wish I could even just see the type of Christmas Tree Ben & Ellie were decorating and the Sleigh that Henry owned.

It’s a romantic book, but Christmas often brings that out in people. It shows the passing of time doesn’t alter a love thats meant to be. Surprises are good, in fact they’re great at christmas. It’s shows a family isn’t just blood but who you are surrounded by at times that really matters.

I loved it and I think everyone who loves christmas and happy endings will to. I did want to read this around christmas but temptation is hard to resist!

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was sent to me by the author as part of the First Reads program - thanks Barbara!

As I type this, I've just finished the novel. And I must say - I was absolutely blown away. This was my first exposure to Barbara's work, so I really didn't know what to expect. The first thing I noticed when I received the book was the gorgeous artwork by Suzanne Langelier-Lebeda. The detail in the cover painting is simply impeccable. Encouraged by the cover, I then found that the book was signed by the author! That was a lovely surprise.

The first few pages of the novel piqued my interest through extended flashbacks, dishing out character backstory in a refreshing and exciting way, a practice which was kept up throughout the novel. The characters were easy to relate to and far more interesting than the cookie cutter stock characters so often seen in Christmas and romance fiction. The imagery and insight used is beautiful, as well - the descriptions of the snow, the buildings, the feelings felt while remembering days long gone...glorious.

I prefer to keep my reviews spoiler-free, so I won't say much about the conclusion other than that it was a highly satisfying one that has encouraged me to seek out more of Barbara's work.

All in all, The Snowman Maker is a fabulous piece of Christmas lit, and reading it is akin to eating a big old slice of Ellie's famous spice cake, knowing Sophie's jam tarts still await you.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started out enjoying this story with a link to The Reindeer Keeper, but by the middle of the story I felt it becoming very predictable, and oooooey gooooey sweet! My suspicions of who Henry was were correct, my suspicions of what was going to happen with Maggie also were correct. I guess I wanted something a little different to happen, but it was all tied up very neatly in a big Christmas bow!
With that said, the book was still an enjoyable winter read, especially as the wind was blowing around my home and snowflakes were falling as I finished this book. Sophie was my favorite character in the book and I loved how the snowmen she made represented all the children in the orphanage, this was different than I expected and even though she and her "Benny" made snowmen outside, the story was more about each orphan having their own set of snowmen made by Sophie, and how she continued to make the snowmen long after the orphanage closed, because that was her way of "keeping in touch" with "Benny."
I also missed the lovely illustrations at the start of each chapter, they added so much to The Reindeer Keeper, and I am hoping they return in the final story of the trilogy The Candle Giver.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. It is a heart-warming story of Christmas and the importance of family. The story is somewhat predictable but that was part of the fun of reading it. I kept making predictions about who people were and how they were connected and then I had to keep reading to see if I was right. As a result, I could hardly put the book down.

It is Christmas time. Ellie is not looking forward to Christmas as much as she has in the past. Although her son will be home from college, her daughter is in working in Europe and won’t be home for Christmas. Her husband is acting strange and does not want to talk about what is wrong. Ben’s strange behavior started when his father gave him a cardboard box shortly before he passed away. Ellie finally looks inside the box and finds a collection of handmade snowman Christmas ornaments. This marks the beginning of Ellie and Ben’s journey to find answers to Ben’s past.

Disclosure: I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway on the premise that I would review it.

[Linda Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben felt that there was something missing in his life as an adult he chooses to explore a different path with surprise after surprise all along the way. I loved this book, OK I am still a romantic at heart and I do love Christmas, but who doesn't. This is a story to hold onto and give you hope, that good things can still happen. Plus love and family can deal with what life throws at them. And with that this book is a winner in my book of books and I will definitely will read more of Barbara Briggs Ward books in the future when I can get them. Oh another thing my senses where working along the same lines as the story as I to smell cinnamon cedar or perhaps it was the fact I was making apple, pear, & cinnamon juice the day before but thanks to Barbara it took me back. So you can imagine yourself in book looking at it all with them

P.S. A modern day fairy tale for the young and old or in between.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie is very concerned about her husband Ben. He seems depressed and isn't talking to her. Since this is out of character for her husband, she begins to worry. She's also slightly concerned about her children and some of the decisions they are making about their future. Can Christmas bring the miracle they all seem to need?

The imagery of the story places the reader in a Christmas wonderland and brings the holiday alive. The story, while predictable and a bit cheesy in places, was so heartwarming and enjoyable. It's a great book to curl up beside a warm fire with. Without giving any details away, I also appreciated the author's ability to put a positive spin on the mother giving her child up for adoption. So often the birth mother is cast in a negative light. So I really enjoyed this plot with a loving mother and a difficult decision.

I received this book free of charge from Goodreads in exchange for my honest review.

[Juli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a First Reads winner on Goodreads. I really enjoyed reading this book. It is the story of a perfect, wonderful Christmas and what it means to be family. When Ben's father is dying, he tells Ben that he was adopted. Throughout one magical Christmas season, Ben uncovers the truth of his heritage. I love all the little details in the book--like that they have special etched glasses that they drink out of at Christmas-time, etc. Everything works out perfectly in the story, which makes it quite unbelievable, but I still loved the story anyway. A book to be read while the snow is flying, snuggled up with a warm drink by the fireplace!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading The Reindeer Keeper, this was an incredible sequel. I felt as though I fell into the story and stood at the periphery of the action, watching the story play out. The love between the characters was palpable and I found myself crying through many parts of the story. It was lovely how Barbara tied The Reindeer Keeper into this story… subtle but enough to know the continuation of The Reindeer Keeper's characters. The book was heart-warming and I really wanted to be part of Ben and Ellie's family and their unconditional love for each other and others.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

great read didn't want to put the book down such a lovely ending my eldest daughter has just started reading it now

[Alaina Maxam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. it was hard to put down. it is a definite Christmas story that has a happy ending. I had my tissues ready because it is definitely a feel good story.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful holiday story about a man finding out in adulthood he is adopted and the Christmas magic of the puzzle pieces coming together with your birth mother and birth father.