An Old-Fashioned Christmas: For the Love of a Child/Miracle on Kismet Hill/Christmas Flower/God Jul

by Sally Laity, Loree Lough, Colleen L. Reece

Four inspirational love stories from Christmases past comprise this collection. Includes 'For the Love of a Child' by Sally Laity, 'Miracle on Kismet Hill' by Loree Lough, 'Christmas Flower' by Colleen L. Reece, and 'God Jul' by Tracie Peterson.

Genres: Christmas, Christian Fiction, Christian Romance, Christian, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Sally Laity considers it a joy to know that the Lord can touch other hearts through her stories. She has written both historical and contemporary novels, including a co-authored series for Tyndale House and another for Barbour Publishing, nine Heartsong Romances, and twelve Barbour novellas. Her favorite pastimes include quilting for her church’s Prayer Quilt Ministry and scrapbooking. She makes her home in the beautiful Tehachapi Mountains of southern California with her husband of fifty years and enjoys being a grandma and great-grandma.

Reviews

[Sandy Wuorenmaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

More light reading for the busy holiday season--and to help me achieve my reading goal for the year!

[Bobbie Sue Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not very good. I bought it because of the cover and one of the authors is Tracie Peterson. But even her story didn't do much for me.

[BlueJeansAndTeacups · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 Inspirational Love Stories from Christmases Gone By

🎄For the Love of a Child by Sally Laity What ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1878
What do an ox of a Pastor, A crippled seamstress,  and and orphaned toddler all have in common?
Simply a God who loves them and has a plan for their lives suddenly in twined during a blizzard. What a sweet little tale of how God works all things together for the good of those who are called according to His purpose. 

🎄Miracle on Kismet Hill Loree Lough
⭐⭐⭐
1865
Civil War era tale of forgiveness. It's alright, w/faith & scriptures, but less than memorable.
 
🎄 God Jul by Tracie Peterson ⭐⭐
Each chapter begins w/a Swedish recipe which is fun, but I don't see myself baking any of them. I found Sigrid annoying & her brother even more so. The day their mother dies he announced that he & a 3rd sister plan to sell the house & land out from under her even though she sacrificed so much to care for their mother. 
Unfortunately, I didn't find her very likable. 
Erik, the kindly giant Swede is, but overall there's no depth to the characters. 
🎄 Christmas Flower by Colleen Reece
Mid 1920s, Alaska & The Appalachians
Shoshana & Wyatt's story of incredible faith is endearing & had me in tears a few times,  including a very sweet, unexpected ending. 
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall Rating = 3.25 ⭐

I purchased this paperback book. All opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation. 

𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 83𝓖𝓸𝓸𝓭𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓼 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓮 📚 2023

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another book of Christmas romances with four stories. One girl finds love in her neighbor, one finds love away from her home in Alaska, one finds love thru finding a small child in abandoned in the snow, and one finds love at the end of the Civil War.

[ANNETTE · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read with all stories, just fell short for me. The stories were all good.

[Pianosue · Rating 3 out of 5]

a 4-in-1 book of novellas. Good light reads.

[Sue J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four good stories!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute stories. Short and easy reads.

[Amy Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple of the stories were good and a couple were lacking.

[Shelly Dabbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed all the stories in the book. They were all different. Got to know the feelings of the characters at that time in history.

[Kelly Derlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting historical romantic fiction in each of the 4 stories.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains 4 short easy to read stories. All historical, Christian romances. I liked them all.

[Beverly McCall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology was an excellent way to start off one's reading selections during the Holiday Season. Four authors, Peterson, Reece, Lough and Laity penned inspirational love stories based in the late 1870s-1880s. Each protagonist seems doomed to finding their soul mate when divine intervention arises and romance blossoms and thrives. A welcomed change results from reading such Christian-based pieces. Each novella is heartwarming and echoes the wonderfulness of humankind when given a chance.

[Amancay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what possessed me to pick up a Christmas themed book in early September... but I did, and found that I'd apparently set it down after last winter's various bouts without power or internet... and it was half read already.

the last two stories are freshest in my mind, but I know it was the first I enjoyed most!

[Lauri · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Love of a Child was the best. There was a strong current of a weak woman who needed rescuing by a smarter man. And that God=country, city=sin.

[Cathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories!!! You can't fault a book(s) when they have your two favorite subjects. Christmas and love!!!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si

[Raving Redcoat · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, if highly formulaic, collection of short stories, dealing with love, Christianity, and Christmas. A very quick read.

[Tina]

Loved this book I can see more in my future

[Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An old-fashioned Christmas 4*
Miracle on Kismet Hill 3*
God Jul 3*
Christmas Flower 4*