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A Merry Little Christmas: Unto Us a Child... / Christmas, Don't Be Late
Unto Us a Child… by Catherine Palmer
When Jeremiah Maddox agreed to let university administrator Lara Crane house international students in his guest cottage, he never expected he'd be hosting a married couple with three children. Nor did he imagine circumstances would compel him to babysit the family's infant at Christmastime. And what he least expected was to fall for the woman responsible for turning his life upside down!
Christmas, Don't Be Late by Jillian Hart
When a misunderstanding caused millionaire Colton Nichols to be taken for Santa Claus by neighbor Amanda Richards's young son, Colton was determined to keep his distance. But the Christmas-wish letter Jeremy sent broke his heart—Jeremy asked only that his sick sister be well and his mom's heart not be sad. Colton found himself praying for just that—and wishing this family were his own.
When Jeremiah Maddox agreed to let university administrator Lara Crane house international students in his guest cottage, he never expected he'd be hosting a married couple with three children. Nor did he imagine circumstances would compel him to babysit the family's infant at Christmastime. And what he least expected was to fall for the woman responsible for turning his life upside down!
Christmas, Don't Be Late by Jillian Hart
When a misunderstanding caused millionaire Colton Nichols to be taken for Santa Claus by neighbor Amanda Richards's young son, Colton was determined to keep his distance. But the Christmas-wish letter Jeremy sent broke his heart—Jeremy asked only that his sick sister be well and his mom's heart not be sad. Colton found himself praying for just that—and wishing this family were his own.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
7 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Palmer
83 books285 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Catherine Palmer lives in Atlanta with her husband, Tim, where they serve as missionaries in a refugee community. They have two grown sons. Cathy is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and holds a master's degree in English from Baylor University. Her first book was published in 1988. Since then she has published over 50 novels, many of them national best sellers. Catherine has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Christy Award, the highest honor in Christian fiction. In 2004, she was given the Career Achievement Award for Inspirational Romance by "Romantic Times" magazine. More than 2 million copies of Catherine's novels are currently in print. The Author's Work With her compelling characters and strong message of Christian faith, Catherine is known for writing fiction that "touches the hearts and souls of readers." Her many collections include A Town Called Hope, Treasures of the Heart, Finders Keepers, English Ivy, and the Miss Pickworth series. Catherine also recently coauthored the Four Seasons fiction series with Gary Chapman, the "New York Times" best-selling author of "The Five Love Languages."
Catherine Palmer lives in Atlanta with her husband, Tim, where they serve as missionaries in a refugee community. They have two grown sons. Cathy is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and holds a master's degree in English from Baylor University. Her first book was published in 1988. Since then she has published over 50 novels, many of them national best sellers. Catherine has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Christy Award, the highest honor in Christian fiction. In 2004, she was given the Career Achievement Award for Inspirational Romance by "Romantic Times" magazine. More than 2 million copies of Catherine's novels are currently in print. The Author's Work With her compelling characters and strong message of Christian faith, Catherine is known for writing fiction that "touches the hearts and souls of readers." Her many collections include A Town Called Hope, Treasures of the Heart, Finders Keepers, English Ivy, and the Miss Pickworth series. Catherine also recently coauthored the Four Seasons fiction series with Gary Chapman, the "New York Times" best-selling author of "The Five Love Languages."
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 1, 2019
This book contains two Christmas novellas.
UNTO US A CHILD... by Catherine Palmer (2 stars)
CHRISTMAS, DON'T BE LATE by Jillian Hart (5 stars)
UNTO US A CHILD by Catherine Palmer (2 stars) - In this story I liked the International Student Program and the Kenyan family that stayed in the hero's guest cottage. I also really liked the hero's two teenage sons. What ruined this story for me was the heroine. She was bossy, pushy, and forced people into doing things that they weren't comfortable with, all the while telling them that if they needed her help to let her know. Then when the people did need her help, she'd tell them that they could handle their problem themselves. She annoyed the heck out of me, I didn't care for her at all, and I lost interest in this story.
CHRISTMAS, DON'T BE LATE by Jillian Hart (5 stars) - Single mom Amanda has a young son and daughter. Her daughter has cancer and Amanda fears that this may be her daughter's last Christmas. Handsome Colton Nichols is a newcomer to town and he's there for Amanda and her kids just when they need him the most. This was a lovely, heartwarming, and heart-wrenching story with truly lovable characters and the spirit of the holiday season. Beautifully written, as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
UNTO US A CHILD... by Catherine Palmer (2 stars)
CHRISTMAS, DON'T BE LATE by Jillian Hart (5 stars)
UNTO US A CHILD by Catherine Palmer (2 stars) - In this story I liked the International Student Program and the Kenyan family that stayed in the hero's guest cottage. I also really liked the hero's two teenage sons. What ruined this story for me was the heroine. She was bossy, pushy, and forced people into doing things that they weren't comfortable with, all the while telling them that if they needed her help to let her know. Then when the people did need her help, she'd tell them that they could handle their problem themselves. She annoyed the heck out of me, I didn't care for her at all, and I lost interest in this story.
CHRISTMAS, DON'T BE LATE by Jillian Hart (5 stars) - Single mom Amanda has a young son and daughter. Her daughter has cancer and Amanda fears that this may be her daughter's last Christmas. Handsome Colton Nichols is a newcomer to town and he's there for Amanda and her kids just when they need him the most. This was a lovely, heartwarming, and heart-wrenching story with truly lovable characters and the spirit of the holiday season. Beautifully written, as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
May 7, 2009
I liked the stories but I don't think every faithful woman is going to find a super rich husband...
January 1, 2016
SUMMARY: This book is composed of two Christmas stories:
Unto Us a Child… by Catherine Palmer
Jeremiah Maddox agreed to let university administrator Lara Crane house international students in his guest cottage. But he never expected to host a married couple with three children—or babysit the family's infant at Christmastime. And what he least expected was to fall for the woman responsible for turning his life upside down!
Christmas, Don't Be Late by Jillian Hart
A misunderstanding caused millionaire Colton Nichols to be taken for Santa Claus by Amanda Richards's son. And the letter Jeremy sent broke his heart—Jeremy asked only that his sick sister be well and his mom's heart not be sad. Colton found himself praying for just that—and wishing this family were his own.
REVIEW:
Unto Us a child by Catherine Palmer This was a warm, wonderful, and zany Christmas read. Uptight, business focused Jeremiah is overrun by his two teenage sons who decide their empty guest house needs to house some foreign exchange students from their local college. But instead of one he gets a family with 3 kids. One incredibly funny incident after another fills this story with Christmas spirit and love. Heartwarming story of Christmas cheer with a nice focus on the theme of giving when we have more than enough and understanding other cultures.
Christmas, Don't Be Late by Jillian Hart
Prepare yourself with kleenex before you read this one. Perhaps the best I have read by this author. The connecting thread between the two stories is that the heroes both have more than enough in wealth and material goods. A fairly predictable ending but filled with sweetness and tenderness as Colton learns to appreciate a simpler life and what role his faith plays in everyday life. Once again a focus on giving and understanding those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
FAVORITE QUOTES: These two stories had a lot of wonderful gems, but I'll share just a few.
Unto Us a Child
"It would be a shame if a man who had so much going for him kept it all to himself. Lara had learned the hard way that following Christ meant taking on a servant attitude, and she wondered why that was so hard for some people to understand."
"People are people...no matter where they come from. Some are kindhearted, war, generous, and godly. Others are cold, selfish, and mean-spirited."
"Life is never about us. It's always about them."
"Position brought power,...and power wielded by a godly man could be a good thing."
Christmas Don't Be Late
"Life was a bittersweet proposition, she was learning. You lived even knowing that one day you would be dying. You loved those you would lose, sooner or later. And the loving and living both had to be done in full brazen knowledge of the loss to come."
"It was simple to take for granted the blessings in life."
"Maybe it wasn't so much that he needed to alter his life, as he needed to transform it. To do everything better. To be better. And maybe he ought to stop going through the motions especially when it came to his faith."
"Sometimes a man had to run himself out before he was ready to appreciate a slower, better path. A more purposeful life."
Unto Us a Child… by Catherine Palmer
Jeremiah Maddox agreed to let university administrator Lara Crane house international students in his guest cottage. But he never expected to host a married couple with three children—or babysit the family's infant at Christmastime. And what he least expected was to fall for the woman responsible for turning his life upside down!
Christmas, Don't Be Late by Jillian Hart
A misunderstanding caused millionaire Colton Nichols to be taken for Santa Claus by Amanda Richards's son. And the letter Jeremy sent broke his heart—Jeremy asked only that his sick sister be well and his mom's heart not be sad. Colton found himself praying for just that—and wishing this family were his own.
REVIEW:
Unto Us a child by Catherine Palmer This was a warm, wonderful, and zany Christmas read. Uptight, business focused Jeremiah is overrun by his two teenage sons who decide their empty guest house needs to house some foreign exchange students from their local college. But instead of one he gets a family with 3 kids. One incredibly funny incident after another fills this story with Christmas spirit and love. Heartwarming story of Christmas cheer with a nice focus on the theme of giving when we have more than enough and understanding other cultures.
Christmas, Don't Be Late by Jillian Hart
Prepare yourself with kleenex before you read this one. Perhaps the best I have read by this author. The connecting thread between the two stories is that the heroes both have more than enough in wealth and material goods. A fairly predictable ending but filled with sweetness and tenderness as Colton learns to appreciate a simpler life and what role his faith plays in everyday life. Once again a focus on giving and understanding those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
FAVORITE QUOTES: These two stories had a lot of wonderful gems, but I'll share just a few.
Unto Us a Child
"It would be a shame if a man who had so much going for him kept it all to himself. Lara had learned the hard way that following Christ meant taking on a servant attitude, and she wondered why that was so hard for some people to understand."
"People are people...no matter where they come from. Some are kindhearted, war, generous, and godly. Others are cold, selfish, and mean-spirited."
"Life is never about us. It's always about them."
"Position brought power,...and power wielded by a godly man could be a good thing."
Christmas Don't Be Late
"Life was a bittersweet proposition, she was learning. You lived even knowing that one day you would be dying. You loved those you would lose, sooner or later. And the loving and living both had to be done in full brazen knowledge of the loss to come."
"It was simple to take for granted the blessings in life."
"Maybe it wasn't so much that he needed to alter his life, as he needed to transform it. To do everything better. To be better. And maybe he ought to stop going through the motions especially when it came to his faith."
"Sometimes a man had to run himself out before he was ready to appreciate a slower, better path. A more purposeful life."
January 3, 2021
I was not a fan of the first book, it took a while for me to get into it and then they got married super suddenly. The second one was better, I did like Colt and Amanda :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 31, 2021It was ok.
December 30, 2011
This book is two novellas, both very different but both centering around Christian values and family. I'm very impressed with the writers for the Steeple Hill/Love Inspired line. They bring faith into fiction without shoving any religion down your throat. That is very refreshing.
The first story Unto Us A Child is very sweet. It is about an international student and his family and the man who takes them in. Oh and the love interest is the woman that runs the program. They all learn things from each other. But most of all two people that had really bad trust issues come together. (Lara had a bad 6 year engagement and Jeremiah had a bad marriage)
The things that happen with the international student and his wife and children will make you laugh out loud, especially his baby Tobias. This was truly a sweet holiday story.
Christmas, Don't Be Late may make you think of chipmunks, but the story itself will bring tears to your eyes. Amanda's youngest child has cancer and her health is declining, she's short on money, faith and just about everythign else. Through a broken down vehicle she meets her new neighbor Colt who is a millionaire.
Sure their love is a bit cliche, but Colt is the perfect Knight in Shining Armor, who swoops in and makes everything right. This is what we all want. And you cheer him on the whole time. You also find yourself praying for Jessie, in hopes that something will send her cancer into remission for awhile.
This was a heartwrenching read, but a beautiful one as well.
The first story Unto Us A Child is very sweet. It is about an international student and his family and the man who takes them in. Oh and the love interest is the woman that runs the program. They all learn things from each other. But most of all two people that had really bad trust issues come together. (Lara had a bad 6 year engagement and Jeremiah had a bad marriage)
The things that happen with the international student and his wife and children will make you laugh out loud, especially his baby Tobias. This was truly a sweet holiday story.
Christmas, Don't Be Late may make you think of chipmunks, but the story itself will bring tears to your eyes. Amanda's youngest child has cancer and her health is declining, she's short on money, faith and just about everythign else. Through a broken down vehicle she meets her new neighbor Colt who is a millionaire.
Sure their love is a bit cliche, but Colt is the perfect Knight in Shining Armor, who swoops in and makes everything right. This is what we all want. And you cheer him on the whole time. You also find yourself praying for Jessie, in hopes that something will send her cancer into remission for awhile.
This was a heartwrenching read, but a beautiful one as well.
December 1, 2013
Unto Us a Child. . . by Catherine Palmer - (four stars) - I enjoyed this story about international students, college students, and the main characters, Lara and Jeremiah, but I did feel that Lara's decisions and changes came a little too easily and quickly, although it is a novella. It was enjoyable getting a feel for what students from other countries might experience, the challenges they face, and the many ways others can help.
Christmas, Don't Be Late by Jillian Hart - (five stars) - This story was so heartwarming, and the characters seemed so real. I commend Jillian Hart for not taking the easiest way out with the ending; I thought it would work out slightly differently. The reader will feel total empathy for the single mother, Amanda Richards, her precocious and adorable son, and her small daughter who is dealing with cancer and is very ill at Christmastime. I also loved Colton Nichols, and the way he found out the purpose of his break from running a company.
These two novellas are a perfect, yet quick, holiday read.
Christmas, Don't Be Late by Jillian Hart - (five stars) - This story was so heartwarming, and the characters seemed so real. I commend Jillian Hart for not taking the easiest way out with the ending; I thought it would work out slightly differently. The reader will feel total empathy for the single mother, Amanda Richards, her precocious and adorable son, and her small daughter who is dealing with cancer and is very ill at Christmastime. I also loved Colton Nichols, and the way he found out the purpose of his break from running a company.
These two novellas are a perfect, yet quick, holiday read.
January 14, 2012
Unto Us a Child...Jeremiah has a great job, two wonderful sons and the perfect house. What he doesn't need is a good-doer Lara from the college guilt-tripping him into letting a family from another country living in his spare house with kids and a dog AND helping older people with homes that need some TLC. And now she is thinking about her, too. Boy, this Christmas will be different than any he has ever had.
Christmas, Don't Be Late: Amanda is alone with her two children and a dead car when her new neighbor, Colt, stops and takes her home. Colt, a wealthy man from California and protecting himself from previous hurts, keeps feeling this pull to help Amanda and make a wonderful Christmas for the family. So Wonder Boy, the superhero, is back in the game.
330 pages
Christmas, Don't Be Late: Amanda is alone with her two children and a dead car when her new neighbor, Colt, stops and takes her home. Colt, a wealthy man from California and protecting himself from previous hurts, keeps feeling this pull to help Amanda and make a wonderful Christmas for the family. So Wonder Boy, the superhero, is back in the game.
330 pages
December 31, 2016
Although I enjoyed the two stories here, I do get tired of the man being rich and saving the day for the poor damsel in distress. Granted, I would appreciate falling in love with a handsome and wealthy man, but I seek a partnership. Fortunately, most of the cozy mysteries I read do have partnerships.
Yet Christmas stories and romance novels seem to push the white knight a bit hard. Where are a few stories with the woman as the beautiful and wealthy redeemer of the poor and distressed man?
Yet Christmas stories and romance novels seem to push the white knight a bit hard. Where are a few stories with the woman as the beautiful and wealthy redeemer of the poor and distressed man?
January 1, 2016
Two Christmas tales full of Christain values, sweet romance, and the true spirit of Christmas. Not just fluff, but we'll written characters that struggle with life's adversity. Their struggles to live Christ centered lives resonated with me. Self-doubt is common and I was touched by how these characters worked to exercise faith and overcome their insecurities. Very enjoyable.
December 19, 2013
Liked the first part of the first story, it seemed it drag on even to the close end. Loved the second book to pieces! It pulled me into the story of a mom with two kids and a good neighbor to give what he could and more.
December 29, 2014
I read this years ago but forgot I'd read it. So now I've done a re-read. Both of these stories were wonderful, written by two wonderful authors. Heartwarming stories of Christmas cheer and doing for others. Can't go wrong with this great book.
January 2, 2017
I wanted to read a Christmas chick flick book around the holiday. I didn't get into these two short stories because they focused on the characters religious beliefs. I did enjoy the happy endings though!
February 22, 2010
Both of these were great stories
November 16, 2010
i love a good romantic christmas story.
September 12, 2014
Two short love story/romances set during the holidays. Sweet but not memorable.
January 15, 2017
2-3 stars for the first novel.
5 stars for the second.
5 stars for the second.
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March 2, 2009F Pal
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews