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Where Treetops Glisten: Three Stories of Heartwarming Courage and Christmas Romance During World War II
The crunch of newly fallen snow, the weight of wartime
Three siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories, filled with the wonder of Christmas
Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.
In White Christmas by Cara Putman, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.
Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theatre in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?
In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.
The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and God’s plan for a future?
Three siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories, filled with the wonder of Christmas
Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.
In White Christmas by Cara Putman, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.
Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theatre in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?
In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.
The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and God’s plan for a future?
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 16, 2014
105 people are currently reading
2181 people want to read
About the author
Tricia Goyer
163 books1,676 followersTricia Goyer is a busy mom of ten, grandmother of two, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
December 13, 2023
2023 Review
Cozy, sweet, and wholesome.♡ I loved these just as much as the first time I read them.
2021 Review
4.5 stars
I picked this up mostly just for Sarah Sundin - I've been a fan of her for years but have never read this before so I knew even if I didn't like the other two stories included, I would at least like hers. I loved the first two, and the last one I found a little harder to get into, but overall I thought it was very well curated little collection of Christmas stories. :) The romance was sweet and not overly intimate, and the faith aspect of these novellas were so well done. It felt like true Christian fiction - not stuffy or preachy at all. It felt like the characters were truly living and practicing their faith as opposed to just random Christian points thrown in like other books I've read recently.
The first story was so sweet (if you've read and enjoyed The One True Love of Alice-Ann you'll like White Christmas) and I'll be Home for Christmas was written in true Sarah Sundin fashion. I liked the last one in the way that it offered a different perspective of the war.
Certainly give this a read if you've been looking for cozy WWII Christmas fiction.
Cozy, sweet, and wholesome.♡ I loved these just as much as the first time I read them.
2021 Review
4.5 stars
I picked this up mostly just for Sarah Sundin - I've been a fan of her for years but have never read this before so I knew even if I didn't like the other two stories included, I would at least like hers. I loved the first two, and the last one I found a little harder to get into, but overall I thought it was very well curated little collection of Christmas stories. :) The romance was sweet and not overly intimate, and the faith aspect of these novellas were so well done. It felt like true Christian fiction - not stuffy or preachy at all. It felt like the characters were truly living and practicing their faith as opposed to just random Christian points thrown in like other books I've read recently.
The first story was so sweet (if you've read and enjoyed The One True Love of Alice-Ann you'll like White Christmas) and I'll be Home for Christmas was written in true Sarah Sundin fashion. I liked the last one in the way that it offered a different perspective of the war.
Certainly give this a read if you've been looking for cozy WWII Christmas fiction.
January 11, 2022
I wanted to read this book over the Christmas holiday. Things got hectic, so I ended up reading it after Christmas. I’m really glad I didn’t wait until next year. I loved the first two stories the best. Louise and Linnie were my favorite characters. I really loved how the authors incorporated the characters’ faith in each story. It was lovely! 🙏🎄
March 27, 2020
How did I manage to put off reading this gem for so long? These three stories are beautiful examples of the short story form and how to create a brief story with vibrant and sympathetic characters. I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite of the three because each was unique and heartwarming. I’ll definitely be rereading these.
Thanks to NetGalley for a free reading copy. However, my review is based on the final paperback edition.
Thanks to NetGalley for a free reading copy. However, my review is based on the final paperback edition.
December 21, 2016
The first two stories were great the third and final story was a bit flat. One of the best Christmas story collections I have read.
December 8, 2025
I really liked all 3 of these stories and how they connected to each other. I loved that Grandma Louise was such a part of her grandchildren's lives, and how she was able to advise them and give them reminders about their walk with God, even from half a world away as in Merry's case.
I also loved that Abigail, Pete, and Merry all had other godly influencers in their lives who reminded them to not compare themselves to others, and to do good in the best way that was true to who they were, to accept God's miracles even when they didn't understand them, and to wait on God and not rush the timeline.
I also appreciated the references to each 'title song', and to Lafayette's iconic 'Glatz Candy' shoppe (which is now McCord Candies).
I also loved that Abigail, Pete, and Merry all had other godly influencers in their lives who reminded them to not compare themselves to others, and to do good in the best way that was true to who they were, to accept God's miracles even when they didn't understand them, and to wait on God and not rush the timeline.
I also appreciated the references to each 'title song', and to Lafayette's iconic 'Glatz Candy' shoppe (which is now McCord Candies).
December 16, 2022
Loved this book. It was fun to read about the Turner siblings and their family during World War II.
The three authors, some of my absolute favorites, wove their stories seamlessly. Great interview with them at the end of the book. And recipes for Cookies! Little Linnie was quite a six year old character . I have known children like her. She was very well portrayed. All subjects seemed very real.
Well done girls!
The three authors, some of my absolute favorites, wove their stories seamlessly. Great interview with them at the end of the book. And recipes for Cookies! Little Linnie was quite a six year old character . I have known children like her. She was very well portrayed. All subjects seemed very real.
Well done girls!
February 25, 2016
I have been enjoying reading WWII books recently and this one definitely did not disappoint !
January 2, 2022
1/5/2015
The last book I read in 2014 turned out to be one of my favorites for the year. Where Treetops Glisten is a collaboration novel that features the Turner family. The prologue introduces you to the family from the grandmother’s point of view, which I found to be sweet and a wonderful way to begin the book.
The storyline moves slightly forward at the beginning of the first official story, White Christmas by Cara Putman. In it, Christmas of 1942 certainly will be different for Abigail Turner. Her two siblings, Pete and Merry, are off helping with the war effort, which leaves Abigail to wonder how she may help others this holiday season. Jackson Lucas faces dark times for the holiday. On the brink of losing his family’s farm, he’s desperate to find answers and a way to assist his mother and sisters back home, while working hard in Lafayette, Indiana. When Abigail and Jackson meet, the question will be: Will they be able to open up to each other enough to help solve each other’s problems?
After that, we step into I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Sarah Sundin. This story sees Pete Turner return home on furlough, and he struggles to find feeling again after the difficult things he’s seen and done in the war. Can healing come to him in the form of a little girl, who searches for her daddy? Or will little Linnie’s mother, Grace Kessler, discourage any further contact with Pete when she realizes he’s her childhood bully? When their separate lives have no other option but to collide, both Grace and Pete must compromise and learn to adjust their perspectives if they’re ever to find the doses of healing they yearn for.
The third full tale in this compilation, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Tricia Goyer, travels with Meredith “Merry” Turner to the front lines of the war. She works as a nurse on the front lines, but the toughest battle she’ll face is the betrayal that broke her heart. It becomes impossible to shove aside thoughts of her lost love when she thinks she sees him in the midst of the Netherlands where she’s posted. Will her heart ever find solace so far from home?
Lastly, there is an epilogue, which is, again, in the point of view of the grandmother. These bookends (prologue and epilogue in the grandmothers POV) were such a darling touch to frame the features in that I was blown away by the beauty of the entire setup.
Earlier in 2014, I discovered Cara Putman when I read Shadowed by Grace. As you may remember, I absolutely loved that book. Well, when I found out she’d teamed up with Tricia Goyer, I knew I couldn’t resist such a treat. Cara immediately brought to life the time period that served as a backdrop for World War II in Where Treetops Glisten. Her research must have been quite thorough, for I felt completely immersed into the lives of Abigail and Jackson, and sometimes tripped my way back to reality when real life called for my attention. If Shadowed by Grace made me an instant fan of hers, her novella, White Christmas, ensured I’ll be a lifetime cardholder (a nod to former times when members of clubs held cards stating their membership).
I’ll Be Home for Christmas was my first sampling of Sarah Sundin, and I’ve got to tell you, it took my breath away. The character journeys all wove together perfectly, making me laugh and bringing tears streaming down my face. There’s an innocent quality to her work that is difficult to bring across in novels and even harder to describe. This woman had a challenge ahead of her with Pete’s journey, but she pulled it off with grace, talent, and a big dose of faith, which I love seeing in books. She’s definitely on my list of authors to keep my eyes out for.
Tricia Goyer has yet to disappoint me with her historical fiction novels, and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is no exception. The thing I find most satisfying about her books is how she seamlessly knits God and faith into her characters’ lives. Even when they struggle to find the footing of their faith, her characters seem to emanate whatever scrap of it they’re clinging to. The journey to strengthen their faith often helps me to bolster my own faith, as well, which is something I definitely appreciate in Christian fiction novels. When fiction meets reality … that’s where I feel most at home.
If you haven’t yet read Where Treetops Glisten, now would be the time to spend that gift card money you got for Christmas. This book deserves five stars for certain, and that’s what it’s getting from me. This book easily hit my top five favorites list for last year, and I’m hoping it will hit your top ten for this year too.
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.
12/22/2021
Just as lovely in audio as in paperback. This was exactly the sweet Christmas vibes I was craving. All three stories were right up my alley. I adore WWII stories, and to have them feature Christmas was an extra-special treat.
The last book I read in 2014 turned out to be one of my favorites for the year. Where Treetops Glisten is a collaboration novel that features the Turner family. The prologue introduces you to the family from the grandmother’s point of view, which I found to be sweet and a wonderful way to begin the book.
The storyline moves slightly forward at the beginning of the first official story, White Christmas by Cara Putman. In it, Christmas of 1942 certainly will be different for Abigail Turner. Her two siblings, Pete and Merry, are off helping with the war effort, which leaves Abigail to wonder how she may help others this holiday season. Jackson Lucas faces dark times for the holiday. On the brink of losing his family’s farm, he’s desperate to find answers and a way to assist his mother and sisters back home, while working hard in Lafayette, Indiana. When Abigail and Jackson meet, the question will be: Will they be able to open up to each other enough to help solve each other’s problems?
After that, we step into I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Sarah Sundin. This story sees Pete Turner return home on furlough, and he struggles to find feeling again after the difficult things he’s seen and done in the war. Can healing come to him in the form of a little girl, who searches for her daddy? Or will little Linnie’s mother, Grace Kessler, discourage any further contact with Pete when she realizes he’s her childhood bully? When their separate lives have no other option but to collide, both Grace and Pete must compromise and learn to adjust their perspectives if they’re ever to find the doses of healing they yearn for.
The third full tale in this compilation, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Tricia Goyer, travels with Meredith “Merry” Turner to the front lines of the war. She works as a nurse on the front lines, but the toughest battle she’ll face is the betrayal that broke her heart. It becomes impossible to shove aside thoughts of her lost love when she thinks she sees him in the midst of the Netherlands where she’s posted. Will her heart ever find solace so far from home?
Lastly, there is an epilogue, which is, again, in the point of view of the grandmother. These bookends (prologue and epilogue in the grandmothers POV) were such a darling touch to frame the features in that I was blown away by the beauty of the entire setup.
Earlier in 2014, I discovered Cara Putman when I read Shadowed by Grace. As you may remember, I absolutely loved that book. Well, when I found out she’d teamed up with Tricia Goyer, I knew I couldn’t resist such a treat. Cara immediately brought to life the time period that served as a backdrop for World War II in Where Treetops Glisten. Her research must have been quite thorough, for I felt completely immersed into the lives of Abigail and Jackson, and sometimes tripped my way back to reality when real life called for my attention. If Shadowed by Grace made me an instant fan of hers, her novella, White Christmas, ensured I’ll be a lifetime cardholder (a nod to former times when members of clubs held cards stating their membership).
I’ll Be Home for Christmas was my first sampling of Sarah Sundin, and I’ve got to tell you, it took my breath away. The character journeys all wove together perfectly, making me laugh and bringing tears streaming down my face. There’s an innocent quality to her work that is difficult to bring across in novels and even harder to describe. This woman had a challenge ahead of her with Pete’s journey, but she pulled it off with grace, talent, and a big dose of faith, which I love seeing in books. She’s definitely on my list of authors to keep my eyes out for.
Tricia Goyer has yet to disappoint me with her historical fiction novels, and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is no exception. The thing I find most satisfying about her books is how she seamlessly knits God and faith into her characters’ lives. Even when they struggle to find the footing of their faith, her characters seem to emanate whatever scrap of it they’re clinging to. The journey to strengthen their faith often helps me to bolster my own faith, as well, which is something I definitely appreciate in Christian fiction novels. When fiction meets reality … that’s where I feel most at home.
If you haven’t yet read Where Treetops Glisten, now would be the time to spend that gift card money you got for Christmas. This book deserves five stars for certain, and that’s what it’s getting from me. This book easily hit my top five favorites list for last year, and I’m hoping it will hit your top ten for this year too.
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.
12/22/2021
Just as lovely in audio as in paperback. This was exactly the sweet Christmas vibes I was craving. All three stories were right up my alley. I adore WWII stories, and to have them feature Christmas was an extra-special treat.
December 14, 2020
This is a sweet romance book, of three interwoven stories by three different authors. I love continuity when I am reading books in a series or in one volume with different stories by different authors and this fits the bill nicely. It also takes place during WWII, which is an era I am fascinated with, so that was a HUGE plus. It's also Christian, so I enjoyed that as well. No more than a few kisses here and there and God wasn't just the odd cameo, He was an MC, but not shoved down the reader's throat, which is always a delicate balance and I think they did it quite nicely.
I wasn't wowed by the characters in the first story and I DNF'd the second, as I don't find misbehaving children who cause their single mother grief to be all that entertaining. I also wasn't buying the fact that Peter was such a horrible little child when he was younger either.
My favorite story was that last one, Merry's. It didn't take place in America, it had a lot of sadness, but also joy. It felt like it had the biggest Christmas miracle of all and it didn't feel forced. I also really liked all of the characters in it.
So, all in all, 3 solid stars for this book. It was a good book for me to start my Advent reading with.
My thanks to NetGalley and WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
I wasn't wowed by the characters in the first story and I DNF'd the second, as I don't find misbehaving children who cause their single mother grief to be all that entertaining. I also wasn't buying the fact that Peter was such a horrible little child when he was younger either.
My favorite story was that last one, Merry's. It didn't take place in America, it had a lot of sadness, but also joy. It felt like it had the biggest Christmas miracle of all and it didn't feel forced. I also really liked all of the characters in it.
So, all in all, 3 solid stars for this book. It was a good book for me to start my Advent reading with.
My thanks to NetGalley and WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2014
This book is a perfect companion for the Christmas season. Rich in historical detail, the three charming novellas are connected beautifully, with characters you can fall in love with right away, and story lines that will tug at your heart. I love reading collections like this during the busiest season of the year. It's low-commitment--meaning, if you think you'll only have time to finish one novella, you'll still get a satisfying read. But if you're like me, after reading the first one, you'll find time you didn't think you had in order to read the rest.
~Jocelyn Green, author of Yankee in Atlanta
~Jocelyn Green, author of Yankee in Atlanta
December 27, 2018
4.5 stars
January 1, 2015
SUMMARY: The crunch of newly fallen snow, the weight of wartime
Siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories,
filled with the wonder of Christmas
Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.
In Cara Putman’s White Christmas, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.
Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theater in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?
In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.
The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and His plan for a future?
REVIEW: I really liked this collection of three connected stories. The World War II setting and the connection between the siblings in each story added to the depth and interest of the stories. The collaboration between the authors to make the connections so strong is obvious. The storyline grabs your attention through each family member and keeps your interest until the end. My particular favorite was Tricia Goyer's story of Merry. Its lesson that appearances can be deceiving was so appropriate. But each story displayed the hope of Christmas and the promise of this hope which was especially needed during the devastating times of World War II.
FAVORITE QUOTES:
WHITE CHRISTMAS
"But you have to choose whether to let fear and loss keep your world small or whether to let it expand to include others."
"The Psalms say He collects our tears. That's an image I have clung to a different times. No tears are wasted, unless you allow their cause to freeze you in place."
I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
"If Pete gave in faith out of his nothingess, God would replenish."
"Maybe that was the point of giving after all. He thought he'd given to fill others. He thought giving would allow others to fill him. But he'd had it wrong. Giving laid the holes bare and revealed his insufficiency to fill or be filled. To truly give, he had to lean wholly on God. The Lord alone could use him to help others, and the Lord alone could replenish his empty stores."
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
"Father says that for many years he has prayed for freedom, and it came in an unexpected way. But that's how God works. He uses the weak things of the world to defeat the strong....God also brings us unexpected gifts in unexpected ways."
"God knows the answer, sweetie, and He'll help you out. But it'll take stepping out of your safety zone. It'll take risking hurt. But it's then that we discover that God is who He ays He is. He didn't bring you this far to abandon you, to hurt you. You just have to trust that."
Siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories,
filled with the wonder of Christmas
Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.
In Cara Putman’s White Christmas, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.
Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theater in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?
In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.
The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and His plan for a future?
REVIEW: I really liked this collection of three connected stories. The World War II setting and the connection between the siblings in each story added to the depth and interest of the stories. The collaboration between the authors to make the connections so strong is obvious. The storyline grabs your attention through each family member and keeps your interest until the end. My particular favorite was Tricia Goyer's story of Merry. Its lesson that appearances can be deceiving was so appropriate. But each story displayed the hope of Christmas and the promise of this hope which was especially needed during the devastating times of World War II.
FAVORITE QUOTES:
WHITE CHRISTMAS
"But you have to choose whether to let fear and loss keep your world small or whether to let it expand to include others."
"The Psalms say He collects our tears. That's an image I have clung to a different times. No tears are wasted, unless you allow their cause to freeze you in place."
I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
"If Pete gave in faith out of his nothingess, God would replenish."
"Maybe that was the point of giving after all. He thought he'd given to fill others. He thought giving would allow others to fill him. But he'd had it wrong. Giving laid the holes bare and revealed his insufficiency to fill or be filled. To truly give, he had to lean wholly on God. The Lord alone could use him to help others, and the Lord alone could replenish his empty stores."
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
"Father says that for many years he has prayed for freedom, and it came in an unexpected way. But that's how God works. He uses the weak things of the world to defeat the strong....God also brings us unexpected gifts in unexpected ways."
"God knows the answer, sweetie, and He'll help you out. But it'll take stepping out of your safety zone. It'll take risking hurt. But it's then that we discover that God is who He ays He is. He didn't bring you this far to abandon you, to hurt you. You just have to trust that."
February 22, 2017
Yeah, I know exactly what you are thinking. I just read a Christmas based book in the middle of May. I am crazy and I know it. But, yeah, I just got into a Sarah Sundin kick and decided to read this! It is actually quite good! And, I am going to write a review, BUT I will not post it until the Christmas holidays this year. Yeah, I am being kind of mean, but it isn't even close to Christmas yet.
But, I will say that I really enjoyed this book!!
Since my siblings and I just put up our Christmas tree and decorations, I decided to do a Christmas book review!
Before I go any further into my review, I have to confess something. I read this book in the middle of the summer. Yeah, I am kind of weird like that, reading Christmas novels in the middle of summer. So, there you have it, I have confessed. And, I also love watching Hallmark’s “Countdown to Christmas” movies in the summer.
The reason I waited to post my review is so everyone wouldn’t be thinking, “Is she crazy? Posting a Christmas book review in summer?”
I really liked this book! It is nice when three or four novellas are put into one book. Novellas are really fun to read because they are short. They don’t take a lot of time–just ten to twenty chapters.
I am trying to decide which novella I liked the best out of the three. Each one was good so it is hard to decide. But, after a few moments of thinking, I have determined on my favorite. I’ll Be Home for Christmas is the one I enjoyed most. I do have to admit that I do like Sarah Sundin as an author in general. But, I read with an open mind! Each book was very good. I am not saying the other books were not good. They all were! I just thought that if I was reading a book with three novellas in it, I should say my favorite.
The cover was good too! It was creative. 4 stars to you as well!
So I would like to give this book a rating of 4 stars!
Title: Where Treetops Glisten
Authors: Sarah Sundin, Tricia Goyer, and Cara Putman
Authors’ Website: http://www.sarahsundin.com/, http://www.triciagoyer.com/, and http://www.caraputman.com/
This review is written in my own opinions and words.
But, I will say that I really enjoyed this book!!
Since my siblings and I just put up our Christmas tree and decorations, I decided to do a Christmas book review!
Before I go any further into my review, I have to confess something. I read this book in the middle of the summer. Yeah, I am kind of weird like that, reading Christmas novels in the middle of summer. So, there you have it, I have confessed. And, I also love watching Hallmark’s “Countdown to Christmas” movies in the summer.
The reason I waited to post my review is so everyone wouldn’t be thinking, “Is she crazy? Posting a Christmas book review in summer?”
I really liked this book! It is nice when three or four novellas are put into one book. Novellas are really fun to read because they are short. They don’t take a lot of time–just ten to twenty chapters.
I am trying to decide which novella I liked the best out of the three. Each one was good so it is hard to decide. But, after a few moments of thinking, I have determined on my favorite. I’ll Be Home for Christmas is the one I enjoyed most. I do have to admit that I do like Sarah Sundin as an author in general. But, I read with an open mind! Each book was very good. I am not saying the other books were not good. They all were! I just thought that if I was reading a book with three novellas in it, I should say my favorite.
The cover was good too! It was creative. 4 stars to you as well!
So I would like to give this book a rating of 4 stars!
Title: Where Treetops Glisten
Authors: Sarah Sundin, Tricia Goyer, and Cara Putman
Authors’ Website: http://www.sarahsundin.com/, http://www.triciagoyer.com/, and http://www.caraputman.com/
This review is written in my own opinions and words.
January 1, 2025
2024 Reread
So, it took me a while to get my hands on an actual copy of this book, but I'm so glad I did because I loved getting to read the stories again. Each one was sweet and unique. And I loved the ending!
I found it neat that each "story" was written by different authors. It gave an added feel of each sibling being unique and different. My favorite was the first story, but I liked the other two a whole lot too. The added touch of a short chapter at the beginning and end of the book with Grandma as the main character tied everything together in a lovely way. Even though there is a bit more "sensation" of kissing and touching than I like, it wasn't enough to turn me off.
I know I'll be rereading this book again next Christmas.
So, it took me a while to get my hands on an actual copy of this book, but I'm so glad I did because I loved getting to read the stories again. Each one was sweet and unique. And I loved the ending!
I found it neat that each "story" was written by different authors. It gave an added feel of each sibling being unique and different. My favorite was the first story, but I liked the other two a whole lot too. The added touch of a short chapter at the beginning and end of the book with Grandma as the main character tied everything together in a lovely way. Even though there is a bit more "sensation" of kissing and touching than I like, it wasn't enough to turn me off.
I know I'll be rereading this book again next Christmas.
January 1, 2022
White Christmas by Cara Putman: 4 ⭐️s
This was such a sweet, Christmas novella about how Abigail and Jackson fall in love. I loved Jackson. He was so sweet, and I loved how he cared for his family. I also liked Abigail. She was kind, and I loved her family. They had such kind souls. I liked how there was a little mystery added in here too. Also, Glatz Candies sounds like a magical place. This was my first book by this author, and I hope it’s not the last.
I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Sarah Sundin 5🌟s
Oh, I just absolutely adored this novella! I really liked Pete, and I loved seeing his character growth. He’s such a great man, and I loved that he was a fighter pilot. I could relate to him in some ways. Grace and Linnie were such precious girls, and I just loved them so much. Grace could get on my nerves how she wouldn’t trust Pete, but I can understand. That ending was so sweet!! I absolutely adore Sarah Sundin’s writing.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Tricia Goyer 3⭐️s
This story was just okay. It definitely wasn’t my favorite. I liked Merry alright. I thought it was cool that she was an Army Nurse. I felt like I didn’t get to really know David’s character, but he was also just alright.
Overall, this was a sweet, novella collection. The ending was very satisfying. My favorite story has to be “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” I read that the fastest. I recommend this to any WW2 lover. It’s also a bonus that it was Christmas! Also, the names were for the stories were so cute.
This was such a sweet, Christmas novella about how Abigail and Jackson fall in love. I loved Jackson. He was so sweet, and I loved how he cared for his family. I also liked Abigail. She was kind, and I loved her family. They had such kind souls. I liked how there was a little mystery added in here too. Also, Glatz Candies sounds like a magical place. This was my first book by this author, and I hope it’s not the last.
I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Sarah Sundin 5🌟s
Oh, I just absolutely adored this novella! I really liked Pete, and I loved seeing his character growth. He’s such a great man, and I loved that he was a fighter pilot. I could relate to him in some ways. Grace and Linnie were such precious girls, and I just loved them so much. Grace could get on my nerves how she wouldn’t trust Pete, but I can understand. That ending was so sweet!! I absolutely adore Sarah Sundin’s writing.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Tricia Goyer 3⭐️s
This story was just okay. It definitely wasn’t my favorite. I liked Merry alright. I thought it was cool that she was an Army Nurse. I felt like I didn’t get to really know David’s character, but he was also just alright.
Overall, this was a sweet, novella collection. The ending was very satisfying. My favorite story has to be “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” I read that the fastest. I recommend this to any WW2 lover. It’s also a bonus that it was Christmas! Also, the names were for the stories were so cute.
November 4, 2014
I've really been enjoying WW2 era books this year. There is so much history there that can be used as a background and the authors who I have had the privilege to read, have used these settings to their advantage. I have to say that Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman, and Sarah Sundin combined their creativity and these backgrounds well and made a wonderful novella collection.
I have to be honest and say that novellas can be hit and miss for me. My main pet peeve can be when there is no connecting factor to the stories. I didn't have to worry about this here. These three short stories were all connected through the family of the characters. With that connection it allowed who they were to be flushed out a little more then in other types of collections and you weren't left wondering, "What now?".
I'm going to do my best to not spoil any of these stories, so I will probably keep this a wee bit short.
All three of these stories take place in the days leading up to Christmas. Much loss has been suffered and there is a lot to over come with these characters. Each face these tragedies in their own way and they each have decisions to make. We are first introduced to everyone as a whole a year before these stories unfold and really bring out the characters. It is through this introduction, we get a glimpse them all and the raw grief they each have to battle through. And with that jumping point, as we dive into each of their stories, we find out what barriers they have put up and what barriers they need to tear down for their faith to be restored.
I will say, my favorite character through this collection was Grandma Louise Turner, the matriarch of the family. She was the back bone to the family always wanting to help and be there for her family. And her faith was wonderful thing to read about, especially in such a hard time.
This was a wonderful collection. If you love WW2 era stories, you will really like these. And if you love seasonal stories, it is a great Christmas collection!
Thank you to Litfuse and Waterbrook, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally posted @ http://wordsfromabookaholic.blogspot....
I have to be honest and say that novellas can be hit and miss for me. My main pet peeve can be when there is no connecting factor to the stories. I didn't have to worry about this here. These three short stories were all connected through the family of the characters. With that connection it allowed who they were to be flushed out a little more then in other types of collections and you weren't left wondering, "What now?".
I'm going to do my best to not spoil any of these stories, so I will probably keep this a wee bit short.
All three of these stories take place in the days leading up to Christmas. Much loss has been suffered and there is a lot to over come with these characters. Each face these tragedies in their own way and they each have decisions to make. We are first introduced to everyone as a whole a year before these stories unfold and really bring out the characters. It is through this introduction, we get a glimpse them all and the raw grief they each have to battle through. And with that jumping point, as we dive into each of their stories, we find out what barriers they have put up and what barriers they need to tear down for their faith to be restored.
I will say, my favorite character through this collection was Grandma Louise Turner, the matriarch of the family. She was the back bone to the family always wanting to help and be there for her family. And her faith was wonderful thing to read about, especially in such a hard time.
This was a wonderful collection. If you love WW2 era stories, you will really like these. And if you love seasonal stories, it is a great Christmas collection!
Thank you to Litfuse and Waterbrook, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally posted @ http://wordsfromabookaholic.blogspot....
October 2, 2014
In Where Treetops Glisten, the authors have written three Christmas novellas featuring one family, the Turners. In addition to the continuing family connection, the stories are further intertwined by their setting—Lafayette, Indiana—and the time period—World War II. Cara Putman, Sarah Sundin, and Tricia Goyer are each known for their skill in writing stories set during World War II, and nowhere do these skills shine brighter than in these novellas.
I loved the fact that the stories followed one family through the war, so when I finished reading the first novella I could pick up the continuing thread in the second and the third. In Winter Wonderland, Cara Putman tells the story of Abigail Turner, whose beau was killed at Pearl Harbor. Abigail has vowed never to allow herself to suffer loss again. However, a hard-working young man who is struggling to support his widowed mother tempts her to soften her stance.
I’ll be Home for Christmas, Sarah Sundin’s delightful novella, features Abigail’s brother Pete Turner, Grace Kessler, an over-burdened young mother, and Grace’s handful of a daughter, Linnie. This story is a delight on many levels. Pete and Grace each have issues to overcome, while Linnie persists in running away with the story.
Tricia Goyer takes readers near enemy lines in Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Merry Turner is a nurse serving in the Netherlands, close to the German border. Merry became a nurse in order to serve her country. She hopes by her service and the distance from home that she can heal her broken and betrayed heart. Sometimes gritty, but always gripping, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas brought me to tears a time or two.
This is the most enjoyable Christmas collection I’ve ever read, and I recommend Where Treetops Glisten highly. This book would make a wonderful gift for the readers on your list, but be sure to buy a copy for yourself. You won’t be sorry.
I loved the fact that the stories followed one family through the war, so when I finished reading the first novella I could pick up the continuing thread in the second and the third. In Winter Wonderland, Cara Putman tells the story of Abigail Turner, whose beau was killed at Pearl Harbor. Abigail has vowed never to allow herself to suffer loss again. However, a hard-working young man who is struggling to support his widowed mother tempts her to soften her stance.
I’ll be Home for Christmas, Sarah Sundin’s delightful novella, features Abigail’s brother Pete Turner, Grace Kessler, an over-burdened young mother, and Grace’s handful of a daughter, Linnie. This story is a delight on many levels. Pete and Grace each have issues to overcome, while Linnie persists in running away with the story.
Tricia Goyer takes readers near enemy lines in Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Merry Turner is a nurse serving in the Netherlands, close to the German border. Merry became a nurse in order to serve her country. She hopes by her service and the distance from home that she can heal her broken and betrayed heart. Sometimes gritty, but always gripping, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas brought me to tears a time or two.
This is the most enjoyable Christmas collection I’ve ever read, and I recommend Where Treetops Glisten highly. This book would make a wonderful gift for the readers on your list, but be sure to buy a copy for yourself. You won’t be sorry.
March 9, 2016
Heidi Reads...
This collection of stories was a pleasure to read and will make a great Christmas gift! Each story is very different yet connected by familial ties and common themes of service and giving. The first by Cara Putman was the sweetest with Abigail overcoming her fears and reaching out to someone with burdens greater than her own. The second by Sarah Sundin was the most dynamic since the relationship between Pete and Grace is turbulent and undergoing a change from resentment to love. The last story by Tricia Goyer brought the atmosphere of service on the front lines and the compassion that Merry has for the soldiers she nurses. Although they are not full-length novels, the stories don't feel rushed, but fully formed and well-resolved at the endings.
(Thank you to WaterBrook Press and LitFuse Publicity for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
December 26, 2016
A great trio of stories that seamlessly flowed from one to the next. The authors did a great job of keeping all the facts straight as they each wrote about one of the siblings. Heartwarming stories with good lessons/thoughts woven in. Been wanting to get to this one for a couple Christmas' now, so glad I finally did.
December 16, 2014
This is a lovely Christmas book with three heartwarming stories by three great WWII authors. One I will be reading again.
December 27, 2018
This family was so endearing. I loved how each story connected and featured a set of siblings. I'll Be Home For Christmas by Sarah Sundin was one of my absolute favorite Christmas novellas!
October 24, 2022
This sweet Christmas short story collection was great! I really enjoyed it. I did have a few problems, which I'll discuss because I'm whiny like that, but don't let that make you think I didn't feel that it was a five-star collection overall! Really, it was great.
Story #1:
This one was super precious! I enjoyed reading about Abigail's struggles to keep her own promise to herself (not to get involved with a guy until after the year) because obviously I'm a sadist who likes to see characters struggle. :P I liked Jackson, too, but I felt like there was a little more development needed with him, just 'cause he was so reserved at first that I didn't latch on to much. I found the whole thing with the farm interesting.
However, I liked Abigail a lot - I think she was my favorite of the siblings, actually - and Jackson was a pretty good match to her.
Story #2:
*sigh*
I feel like the amount that I am just drawn to Sarah Sundin's stories is edging on obsessive, so I wanted to find something to dislike about this story to lower the obsessive factor, but I truly am a huge fan of her, and I just adored this story.
Maybe I can say that there were a couple points where I got mildly frustrated with Linnie but that's really not true because I usually get annoyed by children who are ill-behaved, but she made perfect sense and charmed me from start to finish? I only disliked her until I met her. As soon as I met her, I was like, "Oh, duh, ADHD. Chill. Me, too, girl …" (I don't know if that was the author's intention, but Linnie came off as neurologically atypical.)
Grace, I loved. I guess I could say there were some small things I didn't understand about her as much as I am accustomed to understanding in Sundin's other novels. (I know, I'm grasping for straws, especially since I'm about to tear into story 3 for really no discernable reason.) However, she was just so charming. And you know how I get about Sundin's single parents. I get so excited for them.
And Pete was great! I really liked him and felt like I understood him well. The character backstories were best developed and utilized in this story, and his especially was great.
Overall, I really loved this story. Linnie was a darling. I want a Linnie. Or five.
Story #3:
To me, this was the weakest story. I think the plot itself already had a lot working against it - the main leads aren't able to be "together" officially for the length of it, there's no tension or romance between them for that reason, and the situation they're in can only be resolved by one of them (not the other) being less stubborn. I am such an internal stuff writer, but lately I've been trying to learn to write more important external decisions and events for my characters … and this story was good for me because I could totally see it in action.
I also found it difficult to like Merry because I felt like I couldn't get a grasp on who she was due to her being all scarred. Further, it took her so long to get to the NEXT part of her journey (the healing) that throughout, I just couldn't seem to envision what we were going for. Granted, I probably could've sat down and thought it through, but I wanted to be able to feel the journey to come. And I just couldn't.
But in spite of that complaint, I feel like the biggest problem really was the lack of connection between the main characters. And …
Added to the fact that, in the epilogue, I couldn't seem to make the connection. It just felt rushed.
And that's about all I have to say! Overall, I liked it. Any complaints were probably because I was so impressed overall that any small mistake stood out because I am a jerk. But please don't take that too much to heart, because again, it's a five-star review. *shrug* Good stuff. Read it.
Story #1:
This one was super precious! I enjoyed reading about Abigail's struggles to keep her own promise to herself (not to get involved with a guy until after the year) because obviously I'm a sadist who likes to see characters struggle. :P I liked Jackson, too, but I felt like there was a little more development needed with him, just 'cause he was so reserved at first that I didn't latch on to much. I found the whole thing with the farm interesting.
However, I liked Abigail a lot - I think she was my favorite of the siblings, actually - and Jackson was a pretty good match to her.
Story #2:
*sigh*
I feel like the amount that I am just drawn to Sarah Sundin's stories is edging on obsessive, so I wanted to find something to dislike about this story to lower the obsessive factor, but I truly am a huge fan of her, and I just adored this story.
Maybe I can say that there were a couple points where I got mildly frustrated with Linnie but that's really not true because I usually get annoyed by children who are ill-behaved, but she made perfect sense and charmed me from start to finish? I only disliked her until I met her. As soon as I met her, I was like, "Oh, duh, ADHD. Chill. Me, too, girl …" (I don't know if that was the author's intention, but Linnie came off as neurologically atypical.)
Grace, I loved. I guess I could say there were some small things I didn't understand about her as much as I am accustomed to understanding in Sundin's other novels. (I know, I'm grasping for straws, especially since I'm about to tear into story 3 for really no discernable reason.) However, she was just so charming. And you know how I get about Sundin's single parents. I get so excited for them.
And Pete was great! I really liked him and felt like I understood him well. The character backstories were best developed and utilized in this story, and his especially was great.
Overall, I really loved this story. Linnie was a darling. I want a Linnie. Or five.
Story #3:
To me, this was the weakest story. I think the plot itself already had a lot working against it - the main leads aren't able to be "together" officially for the length of it, there's no tension or romance between them for that reason, and the situation they're in can only be resolved by one of them (not the other) being less stubborn. I am such an internal stuff writer, but lately I've been trying to learn to write more important external decisions and events for my characters … and this story was good for me because I could totally see it in action.
I also found it difficult to like Merry because I felt like I couldn't get a grasp on who she was due to her being all scarred. Further, it took her so long to get to the NEXT part of her journey (the healing) that throughout, I just couldn't seem to envision what we were going for. Granted, I probably could've sat down and thought it through, but I wanted to be able to feel the journey to come. And I just couldn't.
But in spite of that complaint, I feel like the biggest problem really was the lack of connection between the main characters. And …
Added to the fact that, in the epilogue, I couldn't seem to make the connection. It just felt rushed.
And that's about all I have to say! Overall, I liked it. Any complaints were probably because I was so impressed overall that any small mistake stood out because I am a jerk. But please don't take that too much to heart, because again, it's a five-star review. *shrug* Good stuff. Read it.
September 5, 2014
Great Christmas collection!
Where Treetops Glisten is a novella collection set around Christmases during WWII. I’m not typically a big fan of novellas, simply because they always feel too short to me, but I really enjoyed these. They are closely linked, as the main characters in each are siblings. There are 3 in this collection, which allowed the authors to make them a little longer than the typical novella, without having a huge book as the result.
White Christmas by Cara Putman
I really enjoyed this novella! Abigail Turner is the middle child of the family now, though not by choice. She lost 2 siblings when she was a child and after losing her boyfriend to the war, is very skittish of new relationships. I found Abigail to be a realistic character and enjoyed getting to know her. I could easily relate to what she was going through and quickly fell in love with her character. Her fear of losing someone else is pretty much the crux of the story. Her desire to get to know Jackson Lucas and perhaps have a relationship with him hangs on whether or not she can let go of the past and allow herself to love again.
I enjoyed Jackson’s character as well. He is strong, kind, and very patient with Abigail. At the beginning of the story he has his own issues to deal with, including a bit of a mystery, so that kept everything moving forward, as he and Abigail got to know each other.
My only complaint is that I felt the ending was a little rushed and a bit unrealistic.
I’ll be Home for Christmas by Sarah Sundin
In this novella, we get to follow Pete Turner’s love story. I try really hard not to play favorites, but I think this one was mine. Pete comes home from war struggling to escape the horrors he witnessed and the weight of losing friends. I appreciated the realism in that, though it was glossed over a bit. He feels empty and the pastor tells him to give, which makes no sense at all to Pete. But he learns the truth in the pastor’s words when he comes across Linnie, an adorable little girl who is out wandering. Now we get to why this story was my favorite . . . I adored Linnie! She was so cute and sweet! I loved her relationship with Pete and how she often taught him something, instead of the other way around.
Grace Kessler is the heroine and Linnie’s mother. She and Pete have a history and she doesn’t regard him fondly at their first reunion. She remembers him as the bully from her childhood years and isn’t all that excited when he offers to watch Linnie for her. I can’t pinpoint one thing in particular that I liked about Grace, I just really enjoyed her character. Maybe it was the banter between them, or her willingness to forgive past hurts, or how she cared for Linnie, whatever it was, Ms. Sundin did a great job!
The romance didn’t feel rushed, which surprised me. I think it may have been because Grace and Pete had known each other before and started from there. They also spent a lot of time talking and getting to know one another better, rather than just jumping into being in love. Also, Linnie was often the focus, which kept it off their relationship a bit.
I also especially appreciated the spiritual aspect of this novella. It is a bit more prevalent here and focuses on allowing God to fill the empty spaces in your heart, rather than trying to use people to make you whole.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Tricia Goyer
In this story, we get to know Meredith (Merry) Turner, the last Turned sibling still single. I must confess I didn’t like this one as well as the others. Merry had her heart broken at the beginning of the war and is still struggling to move past the sense of betrayal and abandonment she feels as a result. I found it rather difficult to relate to Merry and didn’t connect with her at all. I really wanted to like her, but she seemed a little childish, focusing on something that happened 3 years ago and constantly contemplating the fact she couldn’t be home for Christmas. Also, a couple of her reactions didn’t make any sense to me and made me want to shake her.
There was actually very little dialogue between the protagonists, which was kind of annoying. I wanted them to talk, spend time together, something. But Merry spent most of her time with Nancy, one of her fellow nurses. Also, we rarely see anything from the hero’s point of view, which I suppose makes sense on some level, but I would have liked to know what he was thinking a little more often.
Overall, the novellas were all good in their own right. I really enjoyed the epilogue, which pulled everything together and allowed us one last glimpse into the Turner family. The thing that most impressed me about this book how well each of the stories flows with the others. It being written by three different authors, I had anticipated some discord between the novellas, but each character’s personality and the important aspects of who they are stayed the same throughout the book.
I liked the premise of the series and if I would have liked a few things to be different, then that’s just my personal preference.
I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher, through The Christian Manifesto for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Where Treetops Glisten is a novella collection set around Christmases during WWII. I’m not typically a big fan of novellas, simply because they always feel too short to me, but I really enjoyed these. They are closely linked, as the main characters in each are siblings. There are 3 in this collection, which allowed the authors to make them a little longer than the typical novella, without having a huge book as the result.
White Christmas by Cara Putman
I really enjoyed this novella! Abigail Turner is the middle child of the family now, though not by choice. She lost 2 siblings when she was a child and after losing her boyfriend to the war, is very skittish of new relationships. I found Abigail to be a realistic character and enjoyed getting to know her. I could easily relate to what she was going through and quickly fell in love with her character. Her fear of losing someone else is pretty much the crux of the story. Her desire to get to know Jackson Lucas and perhaps have a relationship with him hangs on whether or not she can let go of the past and allow herself to love again.
I enjoyed Jackson’s character as well. He is strong, kind, and very patient with Abigail. At the beginning of the story he has his own issues to deal with, including a bit of a mystery, so that kept everything moving forward, as he and Abigail got to know each other.
My only complaint is that I felt the ending was a little rushed and a bit unrealistic.
I’ll be Home for Christmas by Sarah Sundin
In this novella, we get to follow Pete Turner’s love story. I try really hard not to play favorites, but I think this one was mine. Pete comes home from war struggling to escape the horrors he witnessed and the weight of losing friends. I appreciated the realism in that, though it was glossed over a bit. He feels empty and the pastor tells him to give, which makes no sense at all to Pete. But he learns the truth in the pastor’s words when he comes across Linnie, an adorable little girl who is out wandering. Now we get to why this story was my favorite . . . I adored Linnie! She was so cute and sweet! I loved her relationship with Pete and how she often taught him something, instead of the other way around.
Grace Kessler is the heroine and Linnie’s mother. She and Pete have a history and she doesn’t regard him fondly at their first reunion. She remembers him as the bully from her childhood years and isn’t all that excited when he offers to watch Linnie for her. I can’t pinpoint one thing in particular that I liked about Grace, I just really enjoyed her character. Maybe it was the banter between them, or her willingness to forgive past hurts, or how she cared for Linnie, whatever it was, Ms. Sundin did a great job!
The romance didn’t feel rushed, which surprised me. I think it may have been because Grace and Pete had known each other before and started from there. They also spent a lot of time talking and getting to know one another better, rather than just jumping into being in love. Also, Linnie was often the focus, which kept it off their relationship a bit.
I also especially appreciated the spiritual aspect of this novella. It is a bit more prevalent here and focuses on allowing God to fill the empty spaces in your heart, rather than trying to use people to make you whole.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Tricia Goyer
In this story, we get to know Meredith (Merry) Turner, the last Turned sibling still single. I must confess I didn’t like this one as well as the others. Merry had her heart broken at the beginning of the war and is still struggling to move past the sense of betrayal and abandonment she feels as a result. I found it rather difficult to relate to Merry and didn’t connect with her at all. I really wanted to like her, but she seemed a little childish, focusing on something that happened 3 years ago and constantly contemplating the fact she couldn’t be home for Christmas. Also, a couple of her reactions didn’t make any sense to me and made me want to shake her.
There was actually very little dialogue between the protagonists, which was kind of annoying. I wanted them to talk, spend time together, something. But Merry spent most of her time with Nancy, one of her fellow nurses. Also, we rarely see anything from the hero’s point of view, which I suppose makes sense on some level, but I would have liked to know what he was thinking a little more often.
Overall, the novellas were all good in their own right. I really enjoyed the epilogue, which pulled everything together and allowed us one last glimpse into the Turner family. The thing that most impressed me about this book how well each of the stories flows with the others. It being written by three different authors, I had anticipated some discord between the novellas, but each character’s personality and the important aspects of who they are stayed the same throughout the book.
I liked the premise of the series and if I would have liked a few things to be different, then that’s just my personal preference.
I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher, through The Christian Manifesto for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 27, 2024
Pretty darn good.
Okay the first part of it was boring. I just couldn’t latch onto it, and it was really cheesy. Don’t get me wrong, I live for cheesy, but this was too much. Now the second two parts were amazingggggg!!!! Along with the prologue and epilogue!!!! Ahhh!! I got emotional a few times, and that doesn’t happen to me often when I read. I ended up starting and finishing both those part in a day. I even lost track of the time when I realized it was almost midnight when I finished.
Anyway, pleas please please read this!!
Okay the first part of it was boring. I just couldn’t latch onto it, and it was really cheesy. Don’t get me wrong, I live for cheesy, but this was too much. Now the second two parts were amazingggggg!!!! Along with the prologue and epilogue!!!! Ahhh!! I got emotional a few times, and that doesn’t happen to me often when I read. I ended up starting and finishing both those part in a day. I even lost track of the time when I realized it was almost midnight when I finished.
Anyway, pleas please please read this!!
October 22, 2014
I love Christmas stories. They are full of hope, as these three historical novellas were. The stories are all set around Christmastime as the sounds, sights, and smells of Christmas are present, such as mistletoe, Christmas treats, gifts, snow, and when family come home to be together. I loved how small gifts, especially those that weren't physical gifts, played a large part of each story. I also loved these characters and how they each found and gave of themselves. It was a time of rationing, walking where you could to limit gas consumption, only being able to purchase cardboard toys because metal and wood were in high demand for the war, and using everything you had. There was such a feeling of gratefulness and humility, but also of unity in heartache for those that had been lost to the war and in supporting the soldiers and hoping for an end to the strife. All of these feelings embody so much of what Christmas is, or at least should be, and were woven through each story.
Cara Putman’s White Christmas didn't connect with me as well as the other two stories. The pacing was fairly slow and I think maybe the resolution was almost too easy. I did love getting to know more about the Turner family. The parents and grandma were all great characters and added much to the story. I also enjoyed seeing first love through the eyes of Abigail and Jackson. It was rather humorous that Abigail had committed to one thing only to find that she had no control over what her heart decided.
Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas grabbed me from the beginning. I loved how Pete and Grace met and how cute and fun Grace's little daughter, Linnie, was. I also loved the feel of tension that turned into something much more meaningful over time. There was a heaviness to the story from the burdens these two main characters' carried, but also a playfulness and feeling of hope for what might come if they would both only learn to trust each other, and also God. I loved their interactions and the interactions between the whole Turner family with Grace and Linnie. Her precious Christmas gift was a definite highlight as was the sample spoons. I really loved this story!
Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas started off so sad. I literally began tearing up reading about these injured men and these doctors and nurses who fought to help heal both their physical and emotional wounds. Merry was so brave to volunteer to help, even risking her life to do so. I enjoyed getting to know Merry better and also enjoyed getting to know David or "Daaf" as he's called. There were quite a bit of inspirational moments as both characters tried to figure out what to do. This was another sweet and enjoyable story. I especially enjoyed the end when the Turner family was gathering to celebrate Christmas again.
Where Treetops Glisten was filled with three lovely, sweet, and heartfelt stories. Stories that reminded me of the best feelings of Christmas, of family, friendship, learning to carry on, forgiveness, the spirit of giving, gratitude, and love. Each story touched my heart in some way. They were short and hopeful stories, and left me with a feeling of happiness.
Content: Clean
Source: I would like to thank the publisher, WaterBrook Press, and Litfuse for my complimentary copy, which did not affect my review in any way.
Cara Putman’s White Christmas didn't connect with me as well as the other two stories. The pacing was fairly slow and I think maybe the resolution was almost too easy. I did love getting to know more about the Turner family. The parents and grandma were all great characters and added much to the story. I also enjoyed seeing first love through the eyes of Abigail and Jackson. It was rather humorous that Abigail had committed to one thing only to find that she had no control over what her heart decided.
Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas grabbed me from the beginning. I loved how Pete and Grace met and how cute and fun Grace's little daughter, Linnie, was. I also loved the feel of tension that turned into something much more meaningful over time. There was a heaviness to the story from the burdens these two main characters' carried, but also a playfulness and feeling of hope for what might come if they would both only learn to trust each other, and also God. I loved their interactions and the interactions between the whole Turner family with Grace and Linnie. Her precious Christmas gift was a definite highlight as was the sample spoons. I really loved this story!
Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas started off so sad. I literally began tearing up reading about these injured men and these doctors and nurses who fought to help heal both their physical and emotional wounds. Merry was so brave to volunteer to help, even risking her life to do so. I enjoyed getting to know Merry better and also enjoyed getting to know David or "Daaf" as he's called. There were quite a bit of inspirational moments as both characters tried to figure out what to do. This was another sweet and enjoyable story. I especially enjoyed the end when the Turner family was gathering to celebrate Christmas again.
Where Treetops Glisten was filled with three lovely, sweet, and heartfelt stories. Stories that reminded me of the best feelings of Christmas, of family, friendship, learning to carry on, forgiveness, the spirit of giving, gratitude, and love. Each story touched my heart in some way. They were short and hopeful stories, and left me with a feeling of happiness.
Content: Clean
Source: I would like to thank the publisher, WaterBrook Press, and Litfuse for my complimentary copy, which did not affect my review in any way.
November 24, 2014
This collection is perfect for putting you in the holiday spirit. Nostalgic song titles, scenes set in beautifully decorated Christmas venues, and holiday memories make this a book I'll return to every Christmas along with my favorite Christmas movies.
White Christmas - Cara Putman's story is like all of your favorite things about Christmas wrapped up together in one lovely package. Abigail Turner works in a candy store and Jackson Lucas works at a toymaker's. (After reading this I had to YouTube candy cane making so I could see how it's done.) Jackson's financial trouble could ruin Christmas for his family. Already uncertain about risking her heart, Abigail wonders what else Jackson is hiding.
I'll Be Home for Christmas - is Sarah Sundin's story about second chances. Ever since Grace Kessler's husband was killed in battle, she's had trouble handling their six-year-old daughter who likes to slip away from her nanny and roam the city alone. Pete Turner sympathizes with little Linnie . Once he was an ornery kid and he'd spent a fair amount of time getting Grace's brother into trouble, as Grace remembers all too well. Has Pete matured enough to trust him with Linnie...and with her heart? Great romantic tension.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - OK, I'll admit I didn't catch the pun until just now as I was typing it. Merry Turner & Title of the Novella ...maybe I'm just slow. Merry Turner had her heart broken when her prewar boyfriend left the States to fight for the fatherland. As her nursing unit approaches the German border through the Netherlands she can't stop hearing David's voice in the local accents and catching glimpses of his features in the faces of the injured German soldiers. I don't want to say too much, but this story has a fascinating "what if?" to keep the conflict strong.
So maybe it's bad form for authors to mention their own writing experiences in a review. If so, please forgive me, but I have contributed to a novella collection before and what impressed me most about this collection was the interlocking story lines. Each story featured a Turner sibling and included a lot of family background and shared characters. This is not easy to do when the story is a cooperative effort between three authors, but the Misses Putman, Sundin and Goyer do a remarkable job of keeping the events flowing seamlessly. If you are interested in behind-the-scenes information, don't forget to read their Author Chat in the back of the book where they discuss the lengths they went to in order to keep their characters and settings consistent. Fascinating!
White Christmas - Cara Putman's story is like all of your favorite things about Christmas wrapped up together in one lovely package. Abigail Turner works in a candy store and Jackson Lucas works at a toymaker's. (After reading this I had to YouTube candy cane making so I could see how it's done.) Jackson's financial trouble could ruin Christmas for his family. Already uncertain about risking her heart, Abigail wonders what else Jackson is hiding.
I'll Be Home for Christmas - is Sarah Sundin's story about second chances. Ever since Grace Kessler's husband was killed in battle, she's had trouble handling their six-year-old daughter who likes to slip away from her nanny and roam the city alone. Pete Turner sympathizes with little Linnie . Once he was an ornery kid and he'd spent a fair amount of time getting Grace's brother into trouble, as Grace remembers all too well. Has Pete matured enough to trust him with Linnie...and with her heart? Great romantic tension.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - OK, I'll admit I didn't catch the pun until just now as I was typing it. Merry Turner & Title of the Novella ...maybe I'm just slow. Merry Turner had her heart broken when her prewar boyfriend left the States to fight for the fatherland. As her nursing unit approaches the German border through the Netherlands she can't stop hearing David's voice in the local accents and catching glimpses of his features in the faces of the injured German soldiers. I don't want to say too much, but this story has a fascinating "what if?" to keep the conflict strong.
So maybe it's bad form for authors to mention their own writing experiences in a review. If so, please forgive me, but I have contributed to a novella collection before and what impressed me most about this collection was the interlocking story lines. Each story featured a Turner sibling and included a lot of family background and shared characters. This is not easy to do when the story is a cooperative effort between three authors, but the Misses Putman, Sundin and Goyer do a remarkable job of keeping the events flowing seamlessly. If you are interested in behind-the-scenes information, don't forget to read their Author Chat in the back of the book where they discuss the lengths they went to in order to keep their characters and settings consistent. Fascinating!
October 2, 2014
White Christmas by Cara Putman:
Cara Putman's novel is the first one in this collection, and I was instantly caught up in the lives of Abigail and Jackson. While, WWII is pretty much in the background of this novel, it has a subtle impact on their lives. Jackson's story starts out with a bit of mystery and is really the line that moves this story forward. Abigail's story is more along the emotional side as she deals with wanting to protect her heart. While I enjoyed the story quite a bit, I didn't feel swept away in it.
I'll Be Home for Christmas by Sarah Sundin:
Precocious children have a way of bringing humor into a story. The child in this story, Linnie, had me laughing out loud while reading this novella. Sundin's novella included such a wonderful message, about how we all have a God-sized hole in our hearts, and only He can fill it. The struggles that Pete and Grace have in their lives and they ways they look to find peace in their lives are the fodder for a wonderful story to unfold with plenty of Christmas romance. I adored this story, and fell in love with the characters in it.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Tricia Goyer:
Tricia Goyer's novel had an interesting premise, and I was interested to see how it would all play out. The story has a strong focus on the gifts and blessings that God places in our lives and how much better off we are when we choose to accept those gifts. It was an interesting story that takes readers to the Netherlands near the end of the war and also a bit into the Dutch Resistance.
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection of novellas. The three stories are sandwiched between a prologue (written by Sarah Sundin) and an epilogue (written by Cara Putman) that are from the grandmother's perspective, while the three stories belong to each of her grandkids. I loved the flow of the stories and how they each took place at a different point of time in the war. With three different authors writing, each character seemed to take on a fully different personality in a way that doesn't happen as strongly when one author writes a variety of stories in a collection like this. This is a great novella collection that I would consider adding to your list of books to read this Christmas season.
**I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review**
Cara Putman's novel is the first one in this collection, and I was instantly caught up in the lives of Abigail and Jackson. While, WWII is pretty much in the background of this novel, it has a subtle impact on their lives. Jackson's story starts out with a bit of mystery and is really the line that moves this story forward. Abigail's story is more along the emotional side as she deals with wanting to protect her heart. While I enjoyed the story quite a bit, I didn't feel swept away in it.
I'll Be Home for Christmas by Sarah Sundin:
Precocious children have a way of bringing humor into a story. The child in this story, Linnie, had me laughing out loud while reading this novella. Sundin's novella included such a wonderful message, about how we all have a God-sized hole in our hearts, and only He can fill it. The struggles that Pete and Grace have in their lives and they ways they look to find peace in their lives are the fodder for a wonderful story to unfold with plenty of Christmas romance. I adored this story, and fell in love with the characters in it.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Tricia Goyer:
Tricia Goyer's novel had an interesting premise, and I was interested to see how it would all play out. The story has a strong focus on the gifts and blessings that God places in our lives and how much better off we are when we choose to accept those gifts. It was an interesting story that takes readers to the Netherlands near the end of the war and also a bit into the Dutch Resistance.
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection of novellas. The three stories are sandwiched between a prologue (written by Sarah Sundin) and an epilogue (written by Cara Putman) that are from the grandmother's perspective, while the three stories belong to each of her grandkids. I loved the flow of the stories and how they each took place at a different point of time in the war. With three different authors writing, each character seemed to take on a fully different personality in a way that doesn't happen as strongly when one author writes a variety of stories in a collection like this. This is a great novella collection that I would consider adding to your list of books to read this Christmas season.
**I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review**
December 9, 2014
When you see a book on the shelf written by this caliber of authors, you have to pick it up. The blend these three authors give to a story forms a seamless line up of three separate stories. Three characters, from the same family go their different ways in this Christmas story. Each one has their own unique story to tell, and because of this you will find yourself drawn in quickly.
The World War Two setting adds to the charm, as there are not as many Christmas stories set in that time period, even though there are several Christmas movies. I found that especially appealing. It interwove the history throughout the story of the characters that were all searching in their own way.
The theme of Christmas songs will have you humming and likely reaching for your DVD of White Christmas or CD of Bing Crosby songs. Do you want a Christmas read, but you like a little bit of depth in your "lighter" books as well? This is the book for you. It is not a heavy read, but it will make you stop and think throughout the stories. These authors are all well known for addressing issues in a very tasteful way, so this book would be appropriate for teens as well as adult readers. Topics of war are discussed, and there are some light romantic scenes, but it is done very skillfully.
The World War Two setting adds to the charm, as there are not as many Christmas stories set in that time period, even though there are several Christmas movies. I found that especially appealing. It interwove the history throughout the story of the characters that were all searching in their own way.
The theme of Christmas songs will have you humming and likely reaching for your DVD of White Christmas or CD of Bing Crosby songs. Do you want a Christmas read, but you like a little bit of depth in your "lighter" books as well? This is the book for you. It is not a heavy read, but it will make you stop and think throughout the stories. These authors are all well known for addressing issues in a very tasteful way, so this book would be appropriate for teens as well as adult readers. Topics of war are discussed, and there are some light romantic scenes, but it is done very skillfully.
January 16, 2016
This is a unique way to tell a story. Tell three!
Three great authors wrote about each of the living siblings of the Turner clan. With all three stories, you get one great family tale.
This was my first time reading anything from Cara Putnam and you had better believe it won't be the last. Her epilogue warmed me to the core of my heart and stung my eyes. It was THAT beautiful.
Though all the authors write in a different way, each story carries a message of love, family, loyalty, and even responsibility. Although the book made have a Christmas theme, that is not the focus. Family is number one, and to me, so very important. The family is centered around the holiday though. Family stories have a way of getting me into the spirit of Christmas though and have me hopeful for the most wonderful time of the year. This book with it's powerful messages of love definitely get me there.
I can't wait to try the cookie recipes in the back of the book too. A nice addition to an already awesome book! Thanks ladies!
Three great authors wrote about each of the living siblings of the Turner clan. With all three stories, you get one great family tale.
This was my first time reading anything from Cara Putnam and you had better believe it won't be the last. Her epilogue warmed me to the core of my heart and stung my eyes. It was THAT beautiful.
Though all the authors write in a different way, each story carries a message of love, family, loyalty, and even responsibility. Although the book made have a Christmas theme, that is not the focus. Family is number one, and to me, so very important. The family is centered around the holiday though. Family stories have a way of getting me into the spirit of Christmas though and have me hopeful for the most wonderful time of the year. This book with it's powerful messages of love definitely get me there.
I can't wait to try the cookie recipes in the back of the book too. A nice addition to an already awesome book! Thanks ladies!
November 4, 2014
Three tied together stories of the Turner family, Abigail, Pete, and Meredith, all set during World War II, by three different authors, and smoothly brought together.
I love these stories, and found myself right back in the 1940’s with them. Whether it was in Lafayette, IN or in the Netherlands, I felt I was there, and completely absorbed in this read.
There has been heartache in this family, but the love of God has made this early life the joy that they have found. There is mention of lost siblings, and they are carried and mentioned in each of the novellas.
Do you love, or not, if you do you might be hurt, or someone could die. Yes, that is life, and you find this theme being brought forward by these authors.
Enjoy the Holiday season, and especially the Gift of Christmas shown though the sharing of these stories. I loved it, and wanted a lot more.
I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
I love these stories, and found myself right back in the 1940’s with them. Whether it was in Lafayette, IN or in the Netherlands, I felt I was there, and completely absorbed in this read.
There has been heartache in this family, but the love of God has made this early life the joy that they have found. There is mention of lost siblings, and they are carried and mentioned in each of the novellas.
Do you love, or not, if you do you might be hurt, or someone could die. Yes, that is life, and you find this theme being brought forward by these authors.
Enjoy the Holiday season, and especially the Gift of Christmas shown though the sharing of these stories. I loved it, and wanted a lot more.
I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
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