Story Enjoyment Rating: 8/10 Christian Faith Rating: 3/3
On a Midnight Clear by Tracie Peterson, Misty M. Beller, and Karen Witemeyer is a collection of three historical Christian Christmas novellas. The first story, “The Shepherd’s Heart” by Tracie Peterson, follows Angel, who is abandoned by her fiancé just before their wedding. An older friend encourages her to consider marrying her childhood friend, a widower who needs help caring for his children. Though the timeline is short, it explores grief, second chances, and learning to trust God again after deep heartbreak.
The second novella, “No Room at the Inn” by Misty M. Beller, centres on Hope and her brother Martin, who run a small inn for stagecoach travellers in a remote location. During a harsh winter storm, a stranded stage leaves several guests trapped at the inn, including Noah, the woman he is escorting to her father, and a stage driver who falls ill. As Hope and Noah are drawn together through the crisis, romance quickly develops, along with important life decisions. This story blends sweet Christian romance with strong faith elements and a touch of mystery, all set against a snowy wilderness backdrop.
The final tale, “A Star in the West” by Karen Witemeyer, follows Stella, whose father connects her with Frank, a Harvard professor close to her age. After developing a close relationship through letters, Frank arrives in her town to give lectures, and they finally meet in person. Both feel insecure and assume the other may not be attracted to them, yet a strong connection quickly forms. Frank approaches relationships analytically, treating love like an experiment as he weighs his career ambitions against his growing feelings for Stella. This story offers a sweet romance with a Christmas theme that unfolds more fully by the end.
The strong faith elements are what truly made this collection stand out. Although the historical settings were outside my usual comfort zone, I thoroughly enjoyed all three stories.