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Ballad #10.5
Nora Bonesteel's Christmas Past
A New York Times Bestselling AuthorWhen someone buys the old Honeycutt house, Nora Bonesteel is glad to see some life brought back to the old mansion, even if it is by summer people. But they decide to stay through Christmas, and find more than old memories in the walls. And on Christmas Eve, when Sheriff Spencer Arrowood and Deputy Joe LeDonne are called to arrest an elderly man for a minor offense, it begins to look like they may all spend Christmas away from home.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2014
62 people are currently reading
902 people want to read
About the author
Sharyn McCrumb
116 books1,127 followers
Sharyn McCrumb, an award-winning Southern writer, is best known for her Appalachian “Ballad” novels, including the New York Times best sellers The Ballad of Tom Dooley, The Ballad of Frankie Silver, and The Songcatcher. Ghost Riders, which won the Wilma Dykeman Award for Literature from the East Tennessee Historical Society and the national Audie Award for Best Recorded Books. The Unquiet Grave, a well-researched novel about West Virginia's Greenbrier Ghost, will be published in September by Atria, a division of Simon &Schuster.
Sharyn McCrumb, named a Virginia Woman of History by the Library of Virginia and a Woman of the Arts by the national Daughters of the American Revolution, was awarded the Mary Hobson Prize for Arts & Letters in 2014. Her books have been named New York Times and Los Angeles Times Notable Books. In addition to presenting programs at universities, libraries, and other organizations throughout the US, Sharyn McCrumb has taught a writers workshop in Paris, and served as writer-in-residence at King University in Tennessee, and at the Chautauqua Institute in western New York.
Sharyn McCrumb, an award-winning Southern writer, is best known for her Appalachian “Ballad” novels, including the New York Times best sellers The Ballad of Tom Dooley, The Ballad of Frankie Silver, and The Songcatcher. Ghost Riders, which won the Wilma Dykeman Award for Literature from the East Tennessee Historical Society and the national Audie Award for Best Recorded Books. The Unquiet Grave, a well-researched novel about West Virginia's Greenbrier Ghost, will be published in September by Atria, a division of Simon &Schuster.
Sharyn McCrumb, named a Virginia Woman of History by the Library of Virginia and a Woman of the Arts by the national Daughters of the American Revolution, was awarded the Mary Hobson Prize for Arts & Letters in 2014. Her books have been named New York Times and Los Angeles Times Notable Books. In addition to presenting programs at universities, libraries, and other organizations throughout the US, Sharyn McCrumb has taught a writers workshop in Paris, and served as writer-in-residence at King University in Tennessee, and at the Chautauqua Institute in western New York.
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December 16, 2017
Though I've only reviewed the second installment of the Ballad series, The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, I've read the first seven novels, and greatly liked all of them except the first one, which I fortunately didn't start with. (IMO, McCrumb didn't really hit her stride with the series until the second book.) This novella is numbered as #10.5 of the series because of when it was published (after the tenth novel), but it's not really tied into the series order, and could be read out of sequence without any problem. (But as I explain below, I personally wouldn't recommend beginning your reading of the series here.)
Like all the Ballad books, this one is set in the present-day Tennessee mountains, in and around the fictional county seat town of Hamelin. Three major characters well known to series fans appear here, in two separate and unrelated plot strands that alternate back and forth in the narrative. In one of these, on Christmas Eve, at the behest of a vindictive Senator, Sheriff Spencer Arrowood and his deputy Joe Le Donne are tasked with traveling into the fastnesses of Dark Hollow to serve an arrest warrant on the driver of a car involved in a minor fender-bender with the lawmaker's wife's vehicle. In the other, a retired couple from Florida, summer residents of one of the older homes in the hills around Hamelin who've decided to stay on for Christmas this year, call on the resources of aged mountain wise woman Nora Bonesteel --blessed, or cursed, with the Sight that runs in her family- to deal with an unusual problem.
I've always classified the Ballad series as general fiction, because the real main thrust of it is realistic depiction of the lives, relationships and problems (individual and societal) of true-to-life people in a modern Appalachian community. But because three of our main series characters work in a sheriff's office, plots often do involve detective work to solve crimes (McCrumb is also a very successful mystery writer). And the supernatural world often impinges on the natural one in real ways; in the world of the Ballad series, ghosts, the Sight, etc. aren't figments of the imagination. There's not much of a mystery element in this book. But the central premise of Nora's plot strand here is very real supernatural phenomena. A case could be made that what we have here is supernatural fiction. But if the defining characteristic of "general fiction" --what I sometimes call "everyday" fiction-- is straightforward depiction of normal, everyday modern life, the author brings you to accept the fact that, for instance, an occasional conversation with a ghost IS a normal, straightforward part of life for some of these characters, no more out of tune with everyday reality than a conversation with a grocery store clerk would be.
This book isn't nearly as substantial as the novels in this series. That's partly because the shorter length provides less scope for substance, but also because there are indications that the author's craftsmanship here was less painstaking than it is with the other books --as if this book wasn't taken as seriously, and was slapped together more hurriedly. For instance, the exact chronology of Nora's interactions with "snowbird" Shirley Haverty, in relation to the other plot strand, are vague; not all of the former takes place on Christmas Eve, but it's not really clear if any of it does. That's a flaw, in my estimation. In one place, the author loses track of who's speaking in a thread of dialogue. There's a fair amount of telling, rather than showing, because in some cases the author doesn't have time to show. McCrumb's knowledge of, and deep sympathy for, traditional mountain culture is usually a strength of the series, but here the shorter length makes the occasional info-dumps more noticeable. While one could begin an acquaintance with the series here, you don't get as full-orbed an introduction to the characters as you would in the novels. This book would appeal the most, I think, to readers who already know and like these characters.
That said, I still liked the read. For me, it was an enjoyable short visit with old friends. (Yes, my reading of it was spread over 12 days, but that's misleading; most of those days, I didn't have a chance to read. If I'd had, I'd have finished this much more quickly.) I liked the celebration of the more permanent and worthy values of an older, less commercialized, homogenized and plastic time, and the positive depiction of a willingness to help others who need it even if it means some personal inconvenience. The endings of both plot strands are well done. And as an added plus, there's no bad language here (probably due to its being published by Abingdon Press, a Methodist imprint --the novels, originally published by Scribner, do have some of that).
One general comment that could be made about the series is that, although the novels are apparently set at the time they're published (the second book, first published in 1992, for instance, refers to the first Gulf War), there's not much indication that the characters are aging. The first book was published in 1990, some 26 years ago. I don't have that one in front of me at the moment, but my impression is that Spencer was in his mid-to-late 30s then, and his co-workers Joe and Martha perhaps five years or so younger than he. (Though Joe served in the Vietnam War, and U.S. involvement in that conflict ended in 1973.) We know from The Rosewood Casket that Nora was of marriageable age when the U.S. entered World War II; by 2014, when this novella was published, she'd be at least in her 90s. That's not so problematic; she's already elderly when she's introduced in the second book, so we've never thought of her, except in the flashbacks, as young. But by now, Spencer and his deputies would certainly be at least in their early 60s. or pushing 60. There's never any indication that they've grown that old. Granted, this book may take place earlier in the series chronology; but none of the books I've read really acknowledge the passing of time.
Like all the Ballad books, this one is set in the present-day Tennessee mountains, in and around the fictional county seat town of Hamelin. Three major characters well known to series fans appear here, in two separate and unrelated plot strands that alternate back and forth in the narrative. In one of these, on Christmas Eve, at the behest of a vindictive Senator, Sheriff Spencer Arrowood and his deputy Joe Le Donne are tasked with traveling into the fastnesses of Dark Hollow to serve an arrest warrant on the driver of a car involved in a minor fender-bender with the lawmaker's wife's vehicle. In the other, a retired couple from Florida, summer residents of one of the older homes in the hills around Hamelin who've decided to stay on for Christmas this year, call on the resources of aged mountain wise woman Nora Bonesteel --blessed, or cursed, with the Sight that runs in her family- to deal with an unusual problem.
I've always classified the Ballad series as general fiction, because the real main thrust of it is realistic depiction of the lives, relationships and problems (individual and societal) of true-to-life people in a modern Appalachian community. But because three of our main series characters work in a sheriff's office, plots often do involve detective work to solve crimes (McCrumb is also a very successful mystery writer). And the supernatural world often impinges on the natural one in real ways; in the world of the Ballad series, ghosts, the Sight, etc. aren't figments of the imagination. There's not much of a mystery element in this book. But the central premise of Nora's plot strand here is very real supernatural phenomena. A case could be made that what we have here is supernatural fiction. But if the defining characteristic of "general fiction" --what I sometimes call "everyday" fiction-- is straightforward depiction of normal, everyday modern life, the author brings you to accept the fact that, for instance, an occasional conversation with a ghost IS a normal, straightforward part of life for some of these characters, no more out of tune with everyday reality than a conversation with a grocery store clerk would be.
This book isn't nearly as substantial as the novels in this series. That's partly because the shorter length provides less scope for substance, but also because there are indications that the author's craftsmanship here was less painstaking than it is with the other books --as if this book wasn't taken as seriously, and was slapped together more hurriedly. For instance, the exact chronology of Nora's interactions with "snowbird" Shirley Haverty, in relation to the other plot strand, are vague; not all of the former takes place on Christmas Eve, but it's not really clear if any of it does. That's a flaw, in my estimation. In one place, the author loses track of who's speaking in a thread of dialogue. There's a fair amount of telling, rather than showing, because in some cases the author doesn't have time to show. McCrumb's knowledge of, and deep sympathy for, traditional mountain culture is usually a strength of the series, but here the shorter length makes the occasional info-dumps more noticeable. While one could begin an acquaintance with the series here, you don't get as full-orbed an introduction to the characters as you would in the novels. This book would appeal the most, I think, to readers who already know and like these characters.
That said, I still liked the read. For me, it was an enjoyable short visit with old friends. (Yes, my reading of it was spread over 12 days, but that's misleading; most of those days, I didn't have a chance to read. If I'd had, I'd have finished this much more quickly.) I liked the celebration of the more permanent and worthy values of an older, less commercialized, homogenized and plastic time, and the positive depiction of a willingness to help others who need it even if it means some personal inconvenience. The endings of both plot strands are well done. And as an added plus, there's no bad language here (probably due to its being published by Abingdon Press, a Methodist imprint --the novels, originally published by Scribner, do have some of that).
One general comment that could be made about the series is that, although the novels are apparently set at the time they're published (the second book, first published in 1992, for instance, refers to the first Gulf War), there's not much indication that the characters are aging. The first book was published in 1990, some 26 years ago. I don't have that one in front of me at the moment, but my impression is that Spencer was in his mid-to-late 30s then, and his co-workers Joe and Martha perhaps five years or so younger than he. (Though Joe served in the Vietnam War, and U.S. involvement in that conflict ended in 1973.) We know from The Rosewood Casket that Nora was of marriageable age when the U.S. entered World War II; by 2014, when this novella was published, she'd be at least in her 90s. That's not so problematic; she's already elderly when she's introduced in the second book, so we've never thought of her, except in the flashbacks, as young. But by now, Spencer and his deputies would certainly be at least in their early 60s. or pushing 60. There's never any indication that they've grown that old. Granted, this book may take place earlier in the series chronology; but none of the books I've read really acknowledge the passing of time.
November 25, 2014
I'm a long-time fan of Sharyn McCrumb. Once in awhile I am disappointed, usually when she veers into a specialty area that doesn't interest me; I think one of those was set around Nascar with tons of racing details, and I had to give it up. But her ballad novels (and now a novella) are sure fire hits. This one is no exception.
I feel compelled to mention that the kindle galley was so full of formatting issues as to render it unreadable. I hope the publishers will correct this issue before it is released. I was able to read it with no trouble at all once I moved it to my desk top.
But back to our story.
We have parallel stories, and the setting is Christmas, of course. The story lines, one of Christmas present, which features Sheriff Arrowroot being ordered to drag an elderly man to jail on Christmas Eve, appears to have a dead-sure predictable ending, except that it doesn't. That's all I'm giving away in this case.
The more flavorful thread is Nora Bonesteel's. The Bonesteel women have "the sight". Those who have followed McCrumb's novels already know that, but a reminder doesn't hurt. Nora is asked out to solve a haunted manse issue for some new-comers. I found this part vastly amusing.
The setting, for those unfamiliar with McCrumb's work, is in the Appalachian Mountains. It was one of her novels that taught me how to pronounce the word correctly (all soft "a"s). Her love of place comes through on the page, and as much as I love the Pacific Northwest where I have lived for most of my life, while I read this, a part of me positively yearned for the Smoky Mountains, which I only visited once as a (oh the shame) tourist. It's a rare kind of engagement. You can say she casts a spell over the reader, if you wish.
Ah. But that leads us to the descriptor I read in Net Galley, the fine folks who connected me with her publisher so that I could read her work in advance. It is described there as a "Christian" novella. I confess it gave me pause. There are Christian novels, and there are Christian novels. Some are so heavy handed that they make terrible literature, from a critical viewpoint: we're racing along, plot-wise, when someone announces that they should go to the Lord with their problem. A page and a half of long-winded prayer follows. Lather, rinse, repeat. I didn't want to find myself stuck with a book like that, but a strong writer builds a bond of trust with her readers, and my sense was that McCrumb was unlikely to trash her own work in such a manner. I was correct, and the story is great. The single religious reference is central to the plot and is entirely consistent with the setting. Also, sometimes "Christian" is a sort of code to let the reader know there will be no profanity or sweaty sex scenes, and frankly, I was just as glad to be spared those.
To sum up, McCrumb is a master writer, a mystery champ, and a brilliant novelist whose work with Appalachian setting and tradition stands alone in an otherwise crowded field. Pick up a copy in November. You can enjoy it and then pass it around for family and friends to enjoy. The quirky humor and redolent, traditional setting are sure to please anyone who loves Christmas and a good read.
I feel compelled to mention that the kindle galley was so full of formatting issues as to render it unreadable. I hope the publishers will correct this issue before it is released. I was able to read it with no trouble at all once I moved it to my desk top.
But back to our story.
We have parallel stories, and the setting is Christmas, of course. The story lines, one of Christmas present, which features Sheriff Arrowroot being ordered to drag an elderly man to jail on Christmas Eve, appears to have a dead-sure predictable ending, except that it doesn't. That's all I'm giving away in this case.
The more flavorful thread is Nora Bonesteel's. The Bonesteel women have "the sight". Those who have followed McCrumb's novels already know that, but a reminder doesn't hurt. Nora is asked out to solve a haunted manse issue for some new-comers. I found this part vastly amusing.
The setting, for those unfamiliar with McCrumb's work, is in the Appalachian Mountains. It was one of her novels that taught me how to pronounce the word correctly (all soft "a"s). Her love of place comes through on the page, and as much as I love the Pacific Northwest where I have lived for most of my life, while I read this, a part of me positively yearned for the Smoky Mountains, which I only visited once as a (oh the shame) tourist. It's a rare kind of engagement. You can say she casts a spell over the reader, if you wish.
Ah. But that leads us to the descriptor I read in Net Galley, the fine folks who connected me with her publisher so that I could read her work in advance. It is described there as a "Christian" novella. I confess it gave me pause. There are Christian novels, and there are Christian novels. Some are so heavy handed that they make terrible literature, from a critical viewpoint: we're racing along, plot-wise, when someone announces that they should go to the Lord with their problem. A page and a half of long-winded prayer follows. Lather, rinse, repeat. I didn't want to find myself stuck with a book like that, but a strong writer builds a bond of trust with her readers, and my sense was that McCrumb was unlikely to trash her own work in such a manner. I was correct, and the story is great. The single religious reference is central to the plot and is entirely consistent with the setting. Also, sometimes "Christian" is a sort of code to let the reader know there will be no profanity or sweaty sex scenes, and frankly, I was just as glad to be spared those.
To sum up, McCrumb is a master writer, a mystery champ, and a brilliant novelist whose work with Appalachian setting and tradition stands alone in an otherwise crowded field. Pick up a copy in November. You can enjoy it and then pass it around for family and friends to enjoy. The quirky humor and redolent, traditional setting are sure to please anyone who loves Christmas and a good read.
October 16, 2014
Fans of Sharyn McCrumb's ballad series need wait no longer for a new Nora Bonesteel story. NORA BONESTEEL'S CHRISTMAS PAST offers McCrumb at her best with two parallel stories centered around Christmas Eve.
In the primary story, Nora Bonesteel, she with the Sight, welcomes a new family in the old Honeycutt place next to her family home on the mountain. Summer people have decided to spend the holiday season instead of returning to Florida. Shirley Haverty wants to be friends with Nora but lacks knowledge of mountain traditions. She's too pushy at first, although she gradually backs off. When she arrives on Nora's doorstep one morning with a tale of her house being haunted, Nora invites her in, listens to the story and has an idea about what is happening in the parlor over at the Honeycutt mansion. She's sure her old friend is keeping a promise to be home by Christmas. The promise was made in the Second World War.
A parallel story involving the sheriff and his deputy takes the two on a trip up a mountain just as bad weather sets in. Pressured by a prominent politician to arrest a man for hitting his wife's car over in Tennessee and running from the accident send the two men on a journey they aren't likely to forget. They find their quarry, an old man living in a rundown farm house, at the end of a gravel lane. When they try to get the man to go with them, he agrees but is concerned for his aging wife. She needs firewood. A window in the bathroom lets in icy air. The two lawmen help split and stack firewood and reglaze the window. Darkness comes early. Before they can leave, the old man notices his cattle have gotten out of the barn. Again, the two lawmen help.
I won't tell you what happens in either story, but long-time fans will not be disappointed. The richness of McCrumb's detail, her deep knowledge of mountain tradition, her acknowledgement that prying is a breach of good manners combine to bring us a heartwarming read.
Yes, it's about Christmas. More, it's about human nature.
Received through NetGalley before I bought the book for my collection.
In the primary story, Nora Bonesteel, she with the Sight, welcomes a new family in the old Honeycutt place next to her family home on the mountain. Summer people have decided to spend the holiday season instead of returning to Florida. Shirley Haverty wants to be friends with Nora but lacks knowledge of mountain traditions. She's too pushy at first, although she gradually backs off. When she arrives on Nora's doorstep one morning with a tale of her house being haunted, Nora invites her in, listens to the story and has an idea about what is happening in the parlor over at the Honeycutt mansion. She's sure her old friend is keeping a promise to be home by Christmas. The promise was made in the Second World War.
A parallel story involving the sheriff and his deputy takes the two on a trip up a mountain just as bad weather sets in. Pressured by a prominent politician to arrest a man for hitting his wife's car over in Tennessee and running from the accident send the two men on a journey they aren't likely to forget. They find their quarry, an old man living in a rundown farm house, at the end of a gravel lane. When they try to get the man to go with them, he agrees but is concerned for his aging wife. She needs firewood. A window in the bathroom lets in icy air. The two lawmen help split and stack firewood and reglaze the window. Darkness comes early. Before they can leave, the old man notices his cattle have gotten out of the barn. Again, the two lawmen help.
I won't tell you what happens in either story, but long-time fans will not be disappointed. The richness of McCrumb's detail, her deep knowledge of mountain tradition, her acknowledgement that prying is a breach of good manners combine to bring us a heartwarming read.
Yes, it's about Christmas. More, it's about human nature.
Received through NetGalley before I bought the book for my collection.
October 6, 2014
A Christmas book? Already Luanne? I know, I know, but can I be the first to tell you that there are only eighty days until Christmas! One of my favourite things to do in the days leading up to the twenty fifth is to read holiday tales. So, really, I'm just giving you lots of advance notice.....and a chance to own Nora Bonesteel's Christmas Past!
I've found that many novelists publish a holiday story featuring their recurring characters or settings. And that's true with Sharyn McCrumb's first Christmas book. McCrumb also writes what she knows.....
...."My books are like Appalachian quilts," says Sharyn McCrumb. "I take brightly colored scraps of legends, ballads, fragments of rural life, and local tragedy, and I piece them together into a complex whole that tells not only a story, but also a deeper truth about the culture of the mountain South."
Nora Bonesteel has lived her whole life in her family home in the mountains. She has fond memories of years and Christmases gone by. When her newish neighbour comes to call, prattling on about their house being haunted, Nora has an idea what might be going on....
McCrumb also includes a parallel storyline featuring Sheriff Spencer Arrowood and Deputy Joe LeDonne, who are reluctant to carry out an arrest warrant on Christmas Eve. When they arrive at the house, they too are in for a bit of a surprise....
McCrumb's description of the settings evokes vivid pictures of time and place. But it is Nora's memories that stayed with me - Christmases gone by that were celebrated in a simpler fashion, without the commercial frenzy. It was about the people, not 'things'. McCrumb's style of writing is comfortable, almost folksy, leaving the reader feel like they're part of the story.
This was an good start to this year's holiday tales!
I've found that many novelists publish a holiday story featuring their recurring characters or settings. And that's true with Sharyn McCrumb's first Christmas book. McCrumb also writes what she knows.....
...."My books are like Appalachian quilts," says Sharyn McCrumb. "I take brightly colored scraps of legends, ballads, fragments of rural life, and local tragedy, and I piece them together into a complex whole that tells not only a story, but also a deeper truth about the culture of the mountain South."
Nora Bonesteel has lived her whole life in her family home in the mountains. She has fond memories of years and Christmases gone by. When her newish neighbour comes to call, prattling on about their house being haunted, Nora has an idea what might be going on....
McCrumb also includes a parallel storyline featuring Sheriff Spencer Arrowood and Deputy Joe LeDonne, who are reluctant to carry out an arrest warrant on Christmas Eve. When they arrive at the house, they too are in for a bit of a surprise....
McCrumb's description of the settings evokes vivid pictures of time and place. But it is Nora's memories that stayed with me - Christmases gone by that were celebrated in a simpler fashion, without the commercial frenzy. It was about the people, not 'things'. McCrumb's style of writing is comfortable, almost folksy, leaving the reader feel like they're part of the story.
This was an good start to this year's holiday tales!
November 14, 2020
Really about a 3.7. This is two short stories joined together to form a novella, and I'm not sure either is well served by the fusion. The Arrowood side would have made an excellent short story by itself, but is diluted by the Bonesteel side. Bonesteel has its own problems; it would have been a superb novella if more development had been given to characters and the place. There is some wonderful info about Appalachian Christmas customs but it's done as as long paragraphs of information without personal context. Nora repeatedly says she has been "wool gathering" but she's really "info dumping." It's interesting but not compelling and strictly for me, there are minor points I would dispute. There is an understandable longing for the past but there's also the tendency to attribute modern sensibilities to ancestors. For example, it's implied that the long ago mountain folk would have treasured all the handmade goods and eschewed the modern, plastic, gaudy things. WE think that, but there are traces of the desire for mass produced items to be found in attics everywhere. One of my grandmother's endearments was "Store Doll," short for "You're as pretty as a store bought doll"-- not the corncob, or carved, or cloth doll that it's implied should have been prized. Store bought was a status symbol; you had money. That's not to discard the mystery behind the fallen Christmas tree; that works for me. It's just the judgment that we moderns are the only ones enamored of shiny things that doesn't sit as comfortably. McCrumb does stack the deck by having the new folks put up Florida centric ornaments which some people would have turned up their noses at on general principles instead of just having them put up a tree covered with the more acceptable Hallmark ornaments. (BTW, I am certainly NOT implying that mass produced is better; just that our ancestors were as susceptible as we are the the lure of new.) And I think a good bit of that is because the explanations were compacted into what amounts to a short story, rather than being more developed. Still, certainly worth reading; and I'd love to see a much longer version of the Bonesteel part of the story. Just my two cents, which these days is worth nothing!
July 5, 2019
I'm not sure why my book group chose a Christmas book in the middle of summer, but OK. This is a light and unoffensive little Appalachia story heavy with both humor and nostalgia.
Expect lots of diversions educating you about old-time country folk and their region. That didn't really bug me, but the book's clunky use of dialogue to "tell, not show" and move the plot forward did. This is especially obvious with the two police officers' conversations, which felt contrived and unrealistic.
Expect lots of diversions educating you about old-time country folk and their region. That didn't really bug me, but the book's clunky use of dialogue to "tell, not show" and move the plot forward did. This is especially obvious with the two police officers' conversations, which felt contrived and unrealistic.
January 19, 2020
This is the book my husband ordered for me online and I planned to read during the Christmas holiday. That didn’t happen, but I didn’t want to wait until next Christmas to read it. I’ve only just finished packing my decorations away, so I’m still in the spirit. And this very sweet story, several stories really, touched me very deeply. Nora Bonesteel is a treasure of a character. So is Spencer Arrowood.
January 6, 2020
Nora Bonesteel from the author’s Ballad series stars in this slight but pleasant ghost story where she mediates a clash between the old and the new.
November 2, 2014
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This little novella is all about the spirit of Christmas. There are a couple of mysteries, but really they're more like puzzles. No murders here, no blood and gore. There are two different threads which never come together, but which both feature one of McCrumb's best known and loved characters.
In the first thread, Sheriff Spencer Arrowwood and his deputy drive out to serve a warrant in an isolated part of the mountains. They quickly get drawn into a scenario out of a fairy tale, with the requisite three tasks and mysterious figure who seems to be testing them. I kind of enjoyed the twist in this one.
In the second thread, Nora Bonesteel is asked by her snowbird (from Florida) neighbor to get to the bottom of why her neighbor's Christmas decorations are being destroyed. Is it a ghost or evil spirit? Nora, with her supernatural sensitivity, should be able to find out the answer.
Really, this is just a couple of hours of light escapism celebrating Christmas, and it does just fine at that. McCrumb also weaves information about Christmas and Appalacian tradition into her story, which was interesting, although not new information to me. I have to confess that some of the parts about the ghost who couldn't stand a modern Christmas felt a bit judgy to me. Yes, traditional Christmas is beautiful, but maybe a couple from Florida would put meaning in their own unconventional Christmas traditions. Holidays are really a personal family affair, and while I wouldn't choose a pink aluminum tree, there's enough room out there for everyone to celebrate in whatever way they wish. "Santa Baby" and "Jingle Bell Rock" might not be quite as traditional as "Silent Night", but I think many people still love hearing them around this time of year. And let's not forget that "White Christmas" really only became known after WWII, which makes it "modern" too. Or maybe it was all supposed to be funny, and I didn't get the humor. That happens with me.
This little novella is all about the spirit of Christmas. There are a couple of mysteries, but really they're more like puzzles. No murders here, no blood and gore. There are two different threads which never come together, but which both feature one of McCrumb's best known and loved characters.
In the first thread, Sheriff Spencer Arrowwood and his deputy drive out to serve a warrant in an isolated part of the mountains. They quickly get drawn into a scenario out of a fairy tale, with the requisite three tasks and mysterious figure who seems to be testing them. I kind of enjoyed the twist in this one.
In the second thread, Nora Bonesteel is asked by her snowbird (from Florida) neighbor to get to the bottom of why her neighbor's Christmas decorations are being destroyed. Is it a ghost or evil spirit? Nora, with her supernatural sensitivity, should be able to find out the answer.
Really, this is just a couple of hours of light escapism celebrating Christmas, and it does just fine at that. McCrumb also weaves information about Christmas and Appalacian tradition into her story, which was interesting, although not new information to me. I have to confess that some of the parts about the ghost who couldn't stand a modern Christmas felt a bit judgy to me. Yes, traditional Christmas is beautiful, but maybe a couple from Florida would put meaning in their own unconventional Christmas traditions. Holidays are really a personal family affair, and while I wouldn't choose a pink aluminum tree, there's enough room out there for everyone to celebrate in whatever way they wish. "Santa Baby" and "Jingle Bell Rock" might not be quite as traditional as "Silent Night", but I think many people still love hearing them around this time of year. And let's not forget that "White Christmas" really only became known after WWII, which makes it "modern" too. Or maybe it was all supposed to be funny, and I didn't get the humor. That happens with me.
December 24, 2016
I wasn't at all sure what to expect from this little book; in fact, the only reason I read it was because I was looking for something short with which to end the 2016 holiday season. As it turns out though, I saved the best for last.
Nora Bonsteel has lived in the same small community for many, many years. One of her neighbors who is generally a snowbird chooses to stay on for the winter in the hopes of enjoying a storybook small town Christmas. However, she soon begins to think her house might be haunted. Nora has a bit of a reputation for knowing about such things and so the neighbor approaches her for help.
Meanwhile, the town sheriff and one of his deputies are on a mission to arrest an elderly farmer for a traffic accident. Both of them are a little uncomfortable about this, especially since it's Christmas Eve. But when the car you wreck belongs to a prominent politician, ... well, that can make a difference.
Now I know all of you are wondering why in Heaven's name I would recommend this rather odd sounding book so highly. Because the characters are well developed and lots of fun, we learn a good bit about old traditions as Nora relives parts of her past while attempting to help her neighbor, and each and every page of this most creative novella is filled with the spirit of the season.
If you are tired of those corny holiday romances, if you want something off the beaten track, if you want a well written story you won't soon forget, then give this one a try. You'll be glad you did.
Nora Bonsteel has lived in the same small community for many, many years. One of her neighbors who is generally a snowbird chooses to stay on for the winter in the hopes of enjoying a storybook small town Christmas. However, she soon begins to think her house might be haunted. Nora has a bit of a reputation for knowing about such things and so the neighbor approaches her for help.
Meanwhile, the town sheriff and one of his deputies are on a mission to arrest an elderly farmer for a traffic accident. Both of them are a little uncomfortable about this, especially since it's Christmas Eve. But when the car you wreck belongs to a prominent politician, ... well, that can make a difference.
Now I know all of you are wondering why in Heaven's name I would recommend this rather odd sounding book so highly. Because the characters are well developed and lots of fun, we learn a good bit about old traditions as Nora relives parts of her past while attempting to help her neighbor, and each and every page of this most creative novella is filled with the spirit of the season.
If you are tired of those corny holiday romances, if you want something off the beaten track, if you want a well written story you won't soon forget, then give this one a try. You'll be glad you did.
December 25, 2015
I didn’t receive this book in time to read it at Christmas but it would have been just as enjoyable if I had read it in the summer. How could it not be – it’s by Sharyn McCrumb! I’ve loved her books for many years and Nora Bonesteel is one of my all-time favorite literary characters. For some reason, this little Christmas treat slipped by me so I’m particularly pleased to have found it now.
There are two storylines in this short novella. One has Sheriff Spencer Atwood and Deputy Joe LeDoone reluctantly dealing with the arrest of a man for a traffic violation. The second has Nora Bonesteel dealing with a spooky visitor at the old Honeycutt house, which brings make memories of the past.
While there’s not length enough for a lot of character development, it’s a totally charming book filled with the author’s wonderful sense of humor and the mystical atmosphere of the Appalachian Mountains. Pure enchantment.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and am under no obligation to review it.
There are two storylines in this short novella. One has Sheriff Spencer Atwood and Deputy Joe LeDoone reluctantly dealing with the arrest of a man for a traffic violation. The second has Nora Bonesteel dealing with a spooky visitor at the old Honeycutt house, which brings make memories of the past.
While there’s not length enough for a lot of character development, it’s a totally charming book filled with the author’s wonderful sense of humor and the mystical atmosphere of the Appalachian Mountains. Pure enchantment.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and am under no obligation to review it.
December 26, 2014
It's not really a novel(la), but two clever and heart-warming stories that never intersect. Each story is very well-done, and I'm glad I read them.
But the writing doesn't quite live up to the stories. The Florida influence seems awkward. And, as I said, the stories are not tied together. Also, it is hard to say what has happened to McCrumb's so-called "Ballad" series. Once again no ballad figures in these stories. "I'll be Home for Christmas" is the only song that really figures in the story. (Perhaps the Ballad Novels would now better be called Appalachian Mountain Novels.) Reading Nora's reflections in Chapter 5 put me in mind of the song "Rank Stranger" (the "Albert E. Brumley" song, popularized by the Stanley Brothers). But this is neither mentioned nor used.
Finally, there's a slip that I don't understand from a careful mystery writer: on p. 19 McCrumb says the Honeycutt Place is "two-story", and on p. 21 it is "three stories high"!
But the writing doesn't quite live up to the stories. The Florida influence seems awkward. And, as I said, the stories are not tied together. Also, it is hard to say what has happened to McCrumb's so-called "Ballad" series. Once again no ballad figures in these stories. "I'll be Home for Christmas" is the only song that really figures in the story. (Perhaps the Ballad Novels would now better be called Appalachian Mountain Novels.) Reading Nora's reflections in Chapter 5 put me in mind of the song "Rank Stranger" (the "Albert E. Brumley" song, popularized by the Stanley Brothers). But this is neither mentioned nor used.
Finally, there's a slip that I don't understand from a careful mystery writer: on p. 19 McCrumb says the Honeycutt Place is "two-story", and on p. 21 it is "three stories high"!
June 26, 2024
A ballad novella starring Nora Bonesteel. This short story has Nora helping new neighbors and a spirit in their house find closure. Sheriff Arrowwood and Deputy LeDonne have been tasked with arresting a man on Christmas Eve for an alleged fender bender with senator’s wife. This part of the story seems like Tom Sawyer and his fence painting. They all live happily ever after.
January 17, 2022
Only two story lines to follow.I enjoyed this very much!
June 12, 2023
3.75 Stars
August 14, 2015
I received this book as an early review copy, but I finally just got to it. I know it's out of season as this is well and truly a Christmas story. Actually, it's two Christmas stories about two very different situations. If anyone is familiar with Ms. McCrumb's Appalachia series, this little book tells two very different stories. One is about Sheriff Spencer Arrowwoord and his taciturn deputy Joe Le Donne. The other is about the ancient seer that lives in the neighbourhood by the name of Nora Bonesteel. Norah and Spencer are acquainted, but they do not meet each other in this little book. Nora is asked by some new neighbours to help them with what they think is a haunting . Someone is upsetting their Christmas tree and scattering the ornaments. This little task causes Nora to go back in her memory to Christmases when she was a child during the Second World War. Once she does that in her mind, she has no trouble identifying the culprit and providing her neighbours with a solution. Spencer and Joe are delivering a warrant for the arrest of an alleged hit-and-run accident. It's Christmas Eve and they're both in a hurry to get this last task done before heading off for their own Christmas Eve plans. They get far more than what they bargained for when the reach the remote home of two elderly people. All ends up fine in the end, and Spencer and Joe receive a lesson in helping out people in need. The little stories are magical and the lessons portrayed wonderful. I love Sharyn McCrumb's Appalachian series and this little book is like a gift for her legions of fans.
December 5, 2014
3.5 stars
Two companion stories that really are not related except that a few of the people know each other and they’re in the same mountain location offer a brief but gentle look at the Christmas season. Sheriff Spencer Arrowood and his deputy, Joe LeDonne, are tasked with arresting a traffic offender on Christmas Eve with snow approaching and the elderly Nora Bonesteel, who has the Sight, is asked by a “snowbird” neighbor to find out why peculiar things are happening with her Christmas decorations.
Both stories, on the surface, would seem to be rather simplistic and they actually are but there’s a kernel of meaning in each that reflects the best of home and hearth, so to speak. At times, the stories drag a little but it’s nice to spend time again with Nora and the Sheriff and Joe (as cranky and cynical as the last might be) and absorb some of the Appalachian sensibility Sharyn McCrumb conveys so well. Is there mystery here or perhaps fantasy? Yes, in a very mild way, but it’s far more about the characters and the setting. The appeal is in these people and their community and I always enjoy returning to Appalachia and, in particular, to Ashe Mountain.
Two companion stories that really are not related except that a few of the people know each other and they’re in the same mountain location offer a brief but gentle look at the Christmas season. Sheriff Spencer Arrowood and his deputy, Joe LeDonne, are tasked with arresting a traffic offender on Christmas Eve with snow approaching and the elderly Nora Bonesteel, who has the Sight, is asked by a “snowbird” neighbor to find out why peculiar things are happening with her Christmas decorations.
Both stories, on the surface, would seem to be rather simplistic and they actually are but there’s a kernel of meaning in each that reflects the best of home and hearth, so to speak. At times, the stories drag a little but it’s nice to spend time again with Nora and the Sheriff and Joe (as cranky and cynical as the last might be) and absorb some of the Appalachian sensibility Sharyn McCrumb conveys so well. Is there mystery here or perhaps fantasy? Yes, in a very mild way, but it’s far more about the characters and the setting. The appeal is in these people and their community and I always enjoy returning to Appalachia and, in particular, to Ashe Mountain.
July 24, 2021
I didn't like this book as well as others by the same author. It was actually two stories running concurrently. The story about Nora Bonesteel reads like an historical instructional pamphlet on the region. Something you would pick up in a tourist shop. I never "felt" the characters.
The second story had a good Christmas theme but was built on a non-believable premise: In a small community the sheriff and head deputy do not know the residents. They then go out to arrest (on a minor misdemeanor, non injury, hit and run), an 80+ year old man on Christmas Eve knowing the judge will not be available for several days and the man will be stuck in jail over Christmas. Who also has an 80+ year old wife who will be left alone in a cabin in the hills, over the holiday, in a coming snowstorm. The whole story was unbelievable.
The second story had a good Christmas theme but was built on a non-believable premise: In a small community the sheriff and head deputy do not know the residents. They then go out to arrest (on a minor misdemeanor, non injury, hit and run), an 80+ year old man on Christmas Eve knowing the judge will not be available for several days and the man will be stuck in jail over Christmas. Who also has an 80+ year old wife who will be left alone in a cabin in the hills, over the holiday, in a coming snowstorm. The whole story was unbelievable.
December 20, 2016
This is my first Nora Bonesteel story and I must say that I really enjoyed it. Admittedly, I didn't understand what Sheriff Arrowood had to do with the story, but I enjoyed his mini-story all the same. In fact, I think I enjoyed it more than Nora's story. I think I will try to find other books in this series.
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
December 9, 2017
I wasn't crazy about it. I like McCrumb's books, generally. I like the characters in the ballad series. This novella was too preachy for my tastes. McCrumb seemed intent on giving readers lessons on the American Chestnut, the manners and quirks of mountain people, and the silliness of summer people. Still, it was a quick seasonal read in keeping with the Christmas spirit.
November 15, 2014
This is one of my favorite authors and I love that she put out a Christmas novella. I really liked it! Always have loved the characters and the story line was great. Brought a smile to my face at the end.
November 22, 2014
I enjoyed this holiday visit with old friends from the beginnings of McCrumb's Appalachian Ballad series. A couple of stories come together to make one enjoyable Christmas novella. Recommend!
December 11, 2014
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for this copy to read and review.
February 15, 2015
It was good to be reunited with Nora Bonesteel and Spencer Arrowood for two sparely and movingly written little Christmas stories.
December 27, 2016
Two delightful Christmas stories, intertwined.
January 2, 2017
I received a kindle copy of Nora Bonesteel's Christmas Past: A Ballad Novella by Sharyn McCrumb from NetGalley for fair review. I gave it an almost five star rating.
Nora Bonesteel has the gift of 'sight' brought with her from her Scotch Irish ancestors. As a girl she had to learn how not to speak about what she saw for the events hadn't happened yet & her remarks were quite disturbing, especially when she saw a coffin in church.
I don't describe many stories as sweet, but this one brought tender memories to the surface for Nora as she delved into Christmases past. She reminisced about the activities in the old Honeycutt house. Summer visitors from Florida are living there now.
Things are done differently in the mountain community. "'We tend not to be pushy up here Ma'am,' the elderly farmer told her. 'A lot of us, especially the older folks, feel like calling scant acquaintances by their first names, is a little bit like trespassing. We don't go where we're not invited. Speaking for myself, ma'am, when people start first-naming me the minute I meet them, I feel like I'm getting pushed into a closeness I didn't agree to.'...."she decided that the mountain people needed more space than city dwellers: a few acres between homes, & perhaps a neutral zone around themselves, too. They might let you in & be the most loyal friend in creation, but until they invite you in, you had to respect their boundaries." Prying into someone else's business was a breach of good manners.
Shirley & Bill Haverty are the Florida couple who moved into the old Honeycutt house & they had put up a pink tinsel Christmas tree with a pink flamingo ornament, Santa in shorts & a tropical shirt & items of that nature. They went to bed & when the rose, the tree was tossed on the floor in the living room & the pink flamingo was broken. The other ornaments were scattered under a bookcase.
The Havertys ask Nora for help in finding out what was going on with the tree. She asked them to allow her to sit quietly in their living room. They left to have coffee in another room. Nora starts wool gathering & remembering the last Christmas that Tom Haverty was home. She knew that he wouldn't return from the war but couldn't tell anyone.
She had helped Mrs. Honeycutt making a quilt for Tom with things representing the major events in his life. She helped thread the needle & do fine embroidery stitching that Mrs. Honeycutt couldn't do because of her aging eyes.
She was working on it when the officers came to let her know he had been killed. She stopped work on it until after Nora 'spoke' with Tom & he wanted his mother to know that he was fine & to please finish the quilt & put it on the 'Christmas shelf'.
Will Nora's memories help stop the 'haunting'? The solution seemed to be to return to an old fashioned holiday celebration.
There is a side story about the sheriff & his deputy going out on Christmas eve to arrest a man who had side swiped a senator's car & driven off. They do not want to arrest him but they have the warrant that must be served. The man readily agrees to go with them as soon as they take care of a few things for him. Stocking the wood so his wife will be okay, replacing a broken bathroom window & gathering the cows out of the woods to put into the barn. Then he is ready to go & asks to see the warrant again.
He told them that they were angels who had come to help him.
They left before the snow storm hit. They had their Christmas miracle when the person they were supposed to arrest was out of town until after the first of the year.
Link to purchase book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J...
Nora Bonesteel has the gift of 'sight' brought with her from her Scotch Irish ancestors. As a girl she had to learn how not to speak about what she saw for the events hadn't happened yet & her remarks were quite disturbing, especially when she saw a coffin in church.
I don't describe many stories as sweet, but this one brought tender memories to the surface for Nora as she delved into Christmases past. She reminisced about the activities in the old Honeycutt house. Summer visitors from Florida are living there now.
Things are done differently in the mountain community. "'We tend not to be pushy up here Ma'am,' the elderly farmer told her. 'A lot of us, especially the older folks, feel like calling scant acquaintances by their first names, is a little bit like trespassing. We don't go where we're not invited. Speaking for myself, ma'am, when people start first-naming me the minute I meet them, I feel like I'm getting pushed into a closeness I didn't agree to.'...."she decided that the mountain people needed more space than city dwellers: a few acres between homes, & perhaps a neutral zone around themselves, too. They might let you in & be the most loyal friend in creation, but until they invite you in, you had to respect their boundaries." Prying into someone else's business was a breach of good manners.
Shirley & Bill Haverty are the Florida couple who moved into the old Honeycutt house & they had put up a pink tinsel Christmas tree with a pink flamingo ornament, Santa in shorts & a tropical shirt & items of that nature. They went to bed & when the rose, the tree was tossed on the floor in the living room & the pink flamingo was broken. The other ornaments were scattered under a bookcase.
The Havertys ask Nora for help in finding out what was going on with the tree. She asked them to allow her to sit quietly in their living room. They left to have coffee in another room. Nora starts wool gathering & remembering the last Christmas that Tom Haverty was home. She knew that he wouldn't return from the war but couldn't tell anyone.
She had helped Mrs. Honeycutt making a quilt for Tom with things representing the major events in his life. She helped thread the needle & do fine embroidery stitching that Mrs. Honeycutt couldn't do because of her aging eyes.
She was working on it when the officers came to let her know he had been killed. She stopped work on it until after Nora 'spoke' with Tom & he wanted his mother to know that he was fine & to please finish the quilt & put it on the 'Christmas shelf'.
Will Nora's memories help stop the 'haunting'? The solution seemed to be to return to an old fashioned holiday celebration.
There is a side story about the sheriff & his deputy going out on Christmas eve to arrest a man who had side swiped a senator's car & driven off. They do not want to arrest him but they have the warrant that must be served. The man readily agrees to go with them as soon as they take care of a few things for him. Stocking the wood so his wife will be okay, replacing a broken bathroom window & gathering the cows out of the woods to put into the barn. Then he is ready to go & asks to see the warrant again.
He told them that they were angels who had come to help him.
They left before the snow storm hit. They had their Christmas miracle when the person they were supposed to arrest was out of town until after the first of the year.
Link to purchase book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J...
February 10, 2018
To be honest, I spent a great deal of reading of Sharyn McCrumb starting with "The Rosewood Casket" and fell in love with Nora Bonesteel, the general stories I found in her books and then began to notice a severely nasty streak by the author. Yes, I know that "Bimbos Of the Death Sun". Was supposed to be "tongue in cheek", she is supposed to be writing about her Thesis committee members who held up her thesis she was releasing her frustration; we got that. The problem is she didn't start her sanctimonious opinion of people in This loosely organized collection of stories (this Christmas Collection) it's a continuous rant she developed from the beginning of her authorship of her stories. She seems to 'hate'Elaine McPherson as a professional constantly putting her down as imbecilic forensic anthropologist, she hates in comers to her mountains as shallow individuals who do not care about the region they move into and her stories (other than her semi historical fiction stories) quickly become about 'stupid' outsiders with pretty, clear venom and I am not sure why. She took away In this burdened down collection, in my opinion, Nora Bonesteel, in one swoop when Nora informs us in this collection that she doesn't have 'second sight' but is Christian fearing woman which doesn't jive with her previous stories that utilizes Nora's second sight to inform us and her protagonist that moves her books along. So now she's weak and repented lady, and certainly not lady she was written to be in all the other ballad series, and all this reduces the strength of her writing and story telling.
July 10, 2018
This novella is two separate stories: one is focused on Nora Bonesteel and how she uses her "sight" to help the city neighbors who are celebrating Christmas in their mountain house and one is focused on the sheriff and his deputy who go to serve a warrant on Christmas Eve.
Both are entertaining, but the sheriff's story reminds me a lot of this old joke...
An old Italian man lived alone in the country. It was Spring and he wanted to dig his tomato garden, as he had done every year, but it was very hard work for the aging man as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was currently in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:
Dear Vincent,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If only you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me.
Love Dad
A few days later he received a letter from his son:
Dear Dad,
Not for nothing, but don't dig up that garden. That's where I buried the BODIES.
Love Vinnie
At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived at the old man's house and dug up the entire area. However, they didn't find any bodies, so they apologized to the old man and left.
That same day the old man received another letter from his son.
Dear Dad,
Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love Vinnie
Both are entertaining, but the sheriff's story reminds me a lot of this old joke...
An old Italian man lived alone in the country. It was Spring and he wanted to dig his tomato garden, as he had done every year, but it was very hard work for the aging man as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was currently in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:
Dear Vincent,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If only you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me.
Love Dad
A few days later he received a letter from his son:
Dear Dad,
Not for nothing, but don't dig up that garden. That's where I buried the BODIES.
Love Vinnie
At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived at the old man's house and dug up the entire area. However, they didn't find any bodies, so they apologized to the old man and left.
That same day the old man received another letter from his son.
Dear Dad,
Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love Vinnie
November 25, 2024
If you’ve read the previous 10 books in this series, (and why wouldn’t you They’re excellent by and large), you know that Nora Bonesteel has something she calls “the sight.” Her grandma had it, too. It enables her to predict things about people as long as those things aren’t super specific. She rarely talks about it, but her reputation is well known in the community.
A couple who bought a long-abandoned house determined to fix it up for the holidays. Rather than go to Florida as was their usual custom, they chose to stay in the old house for the holidays. And they love it … until they don’t. Someone keeps damaging the Christmas tree, and there’s no evidence that anyone is breaking into the house. They approach Nora to determine whether the house is haunted and what she can tell them about it based on her past.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Spencer Arrowood and his deputy, Joe LeDonne, must arrest a farmer on Christmas Eve over a minor fender bender. When they get there, they find a variety of problems they can solve for a neighbor of the guy for whom they’re looking. They become Christmas angels unawares to that neighbor. (Hebrews 2:13).
This is a lovely unconventional way to infuse your life with Christmas. It’s not a romance; it’s not full of tropes and formulas. It’s a short but delightful Christmas story you’ll appreciate. This stands alone; you don’t have to have read the series.
A couple who bought a long-abandoned house determined to fix it up for the holidays. Rather than go to Florida as was their usual custom, they chose to stay in the old house for the holidays. And they love it … until they don’t. Someone keeps damaging the Christmas tree, and there’s no evidence that anyone is breaking into the house. They approach Nora to determine whether the house is haunted and what she can tell them about it based on her past.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Spencer Arrowood and his deputy, Joe LeDonne, must arrest a farmer on Christmas Eve over a minor fender bender. When they get there, they find a variety of problems they can solve for a neighbor of the guy for whom they’re looking. They become Christmas angels unawares to that neighbor. (Hebrews 2:13).
This is a lovely unconventional way to infuse your life with Christmas. It’s not a romance; it’s not full of tropes and formulas. It’s a short but delightful Christmas story you’ll appreciate. This stands alone; you don’t have to have read the series.
November 22, 2022
Try to imagine… You’re taking the family to the tree lighting ceremony in your small town. The weather is snowy, but not that bad, and as your husband drives to Main Street he turns on NPR, BBC World News. You get a parking spot right near the event and as you step from the car you realize that the website gave the wrong time. The tree is already lit and the crowd is beginning to disperse. At least there is still some hot chocolate left. Leaving your husband on a nearby bench, you get your little girl a cup of hot chocolate. Upon realizing he didn’t bother to clear off the snowy bench for you, you give your daughter her drink and swipe the snow off the seat. Settling down to gaze at the colored lights twinkling in the falling snow the sound of your daughter’s scream is unwelcome and surprising. The hot chocolate is too hot and she’s burnt her mouth, so you tell her to eat some snow. She gnaws on the snow caked upon her knit mittens. Snot and tears run down her face and mingle with the snow in a way that makes your stomach a little queasy. You shift your interest to the carolers and focus on their song. Commenting to your husband that this is one of your favorite carols, he glances at you with a distant smile and then returns to reading the emails on his smartphone.
This is how reading Nora Bonesteel’s Christmas Past made me feel.
This is how reading Nora Bonesteel’s Christmas Past made me feel.
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