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Kind
Lt. Neil Hudson is sure to have a rotten Christmas.
How can he have anything but a rotten Christmas when he's stuck in war-torn Germany away from his family, friends, and all hope of a decent turkey dinner?
That's when the Slades come into his life.
How can he have anything but a rotten Christmas when he's stuck in war-torn Germany away from his family, friends, and all hope of a decent turkey dinner?
That's when the Slades come into his life.
23 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 22, 2018
23 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Kellyn Roth
28 books1,128 followersKellyn Roth is the author of historical romance novels with strong Christian themes, a touch of humor, and messy situations that put the main characters through the wringer and force them to face hard questions. Her stories include The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, a Christian Victorian family saga.
Kell is the founder and owner of Wild Blue Wonder Press, a small press with the mission of sharing fictional stories full of grace and truth. Their goal is to create stories that matter, to delve into the deepest and sometimes the saddest parts of life, and to return from the darkest valleys resplendent in the light of hope and the fullness of joy.
When not building her author career, Kellyn is likely drinking iced coffee with her husband, getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, or watching period dramas and facetious comedies with her border collie.
Find out more at https://kellynrothauthor.com/
Kell is the founder and owner of Wild Blue Wonder Press, a small press with the mission of sharing fictional stories full of grace and truth. Their goal is to create stories that matter, to delve into the deepest and sometimes the saddest parts of life, and to return from the darkest valleys resplendent in the light of hope and the fullness of joy.
When not building her author career, Kellyn is likely drinking iced coffee with her husband, getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, or watching period dramas and facetious comedies with her border collie.
Find out more at https://kellynrothauthor.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
December 24, 2022
In the aftermath of war, the warmth of humanity rises above and overcomes the coldest despair.
An American soldier finds a welcoming family and a sense of home while far from his own family and home. The characters and setting help set the mood, serving first to establish a melancholic lowness but then buoying up to a more heartening outlook as small homelike familiarities and comforts are experienced anew. The double meaning of the title (English/German) was a nice touch as it was both kindness and a child that brought Neil and the Slade family together.
"Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark.” ― Pierce Brown
An American soldier finds a welcoming family and a sense of home while far from his own family and home. The characters and setting help set the mood, serving first to establish a melancholic lowness but then buoying up to a more heartening outlook as small homelike familiarities and comforts are experienced anew. The double meaning of the title (English/German) was a nice touch as it was both kindness and a child that brought Neil and the Slade family together.
"Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark.” ― Pierce Brown
July 14, 2019
5 stars
Neil Hudson is the protagonist of the tale, and I instantly bonded with a lonely military man feeling growly about Christmas away from home. When he accidentally stumbles on a family in need, though, my heart went head over heels for him, and for what he did when he started reaching out to them. So many books automatically portray all Germans as bad, but this view is fresh and engaging; the German people were all too often the first victims of Hitler's regime. Here is a warm and Godly family trying to eke out survival after the total downfall of their society.
It was also refreshing to find a Christmas story that didn't focus on romance. I feel like the Christmas story market is highly oversaturated with Hallmark-style works (which have their place for light entertainment, but shouldn't be the only thing available) and that it leaves those who don't enjoy that style high and dry for the season. This book avoids clichés and is even set in one of my favorite time frames, WW2!
I read Christmas stories throughout the year, but if you're one that doesn't, perhaps you'd be in the mood to include this story in a bit of midyear "Christmas in July" in about ten days. It's free if you have a kindle unlimited account, and of this post is just 1.99 for the ebook purchase. I highly recommend it for personal reading and also family read-aloud.
Neil Hudson is the protagonist of the tale, and I instantly bonded with a lonely military man feeling growly about Christmas away from home. When he accidentally stumbles on a family in need, though, my heart went head over heels for him, and for what he did when he started reaching out to them. So many books automatically portray all Germans as bad, but this view is fresh and engaging; the German people were all too often the first victims of Hitler's regime. Here is a warm and Godly family trying to eke out survival after the total downfall of their society.
It was also refreshing to find a Christmas story that didn't focus on romance. I feel like the Christmas story market is highly oversaturated with Hallmark-style works (which have their place for light entertainment, but shouldn't be the only thing available) and that it leaves those who don't enjoy that style high and dry for the season. This book avoids clichés and is even set in one of my favorite time frames, WW2!
I read Christmas stories throughout the year, but if you're one that doesn't, perhaps you'd be in the mood to include this story in a bit of midyear "Christmas in July" in about ten days. It's free if you have a kindle unlimited account, and of this post is just 1.99 for the ebook purchase. I highly recommend it for personal reading and also family read-aloud.
December 30, 2023
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reveries Co. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.
A charming, quick story, Kind touched my heart with its thoughtfulness and depth. I love a great WWII tale, and this little shorty fit the bill nicely. The characters were realistic and the compassion, tangible. I adored the German setting and felt the Christmas spirit throughout. My emotions were swiftly drawn in with the witty banter and then swept up in the bustle of the Slade family’s trials. While I didn’t cry (this time, at least), I did get the good sort of chills, which is just as good as tears in my book.
This author might be young, but the potential of her talent is being realized one story at a time. I’ve only read one other book by her so far, yet I see wonderful growth in her abilities from that one to this. I can hardly wait to see what adventure she’ll whisk me away on next!
Readers who loved Lisa Wingate’s A Sandy’s Seashell Shop Christmas and Melody Carlson’s The Christmas Blessing will also cherish this story.
A charming, quick story, Kind touched my heart with its thoughtfulness and depth. I love a great WWII tale, and this little shorty fit the bill nicely. The characters were realistic and the compassion, tangible. I adored the German setting and felt the Christmas spirit throughout. My emotions were swiftly drawn in with the witty banter and then swept up in the bustle of the Slade family’s trials. While I didn’t cry (this time, at least), I did get the good sort of chills, which is just as good as tears in my book.
This author might be young, but the potential of her talent is being realized one story at a time. I’ve only read one other book by her so far, yet I see wonderful growth in her abilities from that one to this. I can hardly wait to see what adventure she’ll whisk me away on next!
Readers who loved Lisa Wingate’s A Sandy’s Seashell Shop Christmas and Melody Carlson’s The Christmas Blessing will also cherish this story.
May 30, 2022
That was a sweet, cute story. I enjoyed reading it. It was heartwarming.
December 20, 2018
A short story set in German a few months after the end of WWII? Sign me up!
This short, heart-warming tale by indie author Kellyn Roth did not disappoint. The teasing banter between Neil, Kell, and Clive was so fun and guy-typical. And the Slade family—ahh, they were darling!
A sweet story, full of Christmas spirit.
Four crush caps out of five!
**I received a copy of this story from the author in exchange for my honest review.**
This short, heart-warming tale by indie author Kellyn Roth did not disappoint. The teasing banter between Neil, Kell, and Clive was so fun and guy-typical. And the Slade family—ahh, they were darling!
A sweet story, full of Christmas spirit.
Four crush caps out of five!
**I received a copy of this story from the author in exchange for my honest review.**
December 18, 2018
Kind was such a sweet, sweet story! It's the perfect Christmas story to read to warm your heart. ❤ Neil, the main character, is such a sweetheart, and so is the Slade family! I loved seeing how they grew together as friends- so close that they became family to each other.
Basically, the whole story reminds me of one word: sweetness. :D
Highly recommended to anyone who loves a nice and sweet short story. ❤
Basically, the whole story reminds me of one word: sweetness. :D
Highly recommended to anyone who loves a nice and sweet short story. ❤
December 22, 2018
This story was so atmospheric and really takes you back to the 1940s right after World War II. We follow a young soldier who knows nothing good is coming to him this Christmas, or even future Christmases. But then he meets a German family in need and everything changes. A very poignant, thoughtful story perfect for Christmas.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and the opinions are my own.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and the opinions are my own.
December 23, 2018
*** I received a copy of the e-book from the author in exchange for a review. ***
What a sweet little story! I love WWII-era fiction and Christmas stories, so this being a combination of both made me extra happy. The writing was excellent, and I love how it revolved around how an American soldier and German family were able to put their differences aside and bring some love and kindness into each other’s lives. I 100% recommend it as a perfect read for the holiday season.
What a sweet little story! I love WWII-era fiction and Christmas stories, so this being a combination of both made me extra happy. The writing was excellent, and I love how it revolved around how an American soldier and German family were able to put their differences aside and bring some love and kindness into each other’s lives. I 100% recommend it as a perfect read for the holiday season.
August 12, 2019
AHHH that was so PURE
December 23, 2018
My comments whilst reading...
- These three are really sweet...
- Love is the best therapy...
- AWWWWW!
I loved the message of this story - that helping somebody can change your life in ways that you never imagined. In this case, love really was the best therapy. It was taking the time to care about somebody other than himself that started to pull Neil out of his grey mood, and that is a very important message - especially at Christmas, when it can be very easy to get self-absorbed and think only of oneself and what you will gain on Christmas day. Kind really did hold a very special message - short though it was!
This was such a sweet story - perfectly full of Christmas spirit and all the feels! If you're looking for a short read to enjoy over the final few days of Advent, you should go and check out 'Kind' right now!
*I recieved a free copy of this book in return for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions*
- These three are really sweet...
- Love is the best therapy...
- AWWWWW!
I loved the message of this story - that helping somebody can change your life in ways that you never imagined. In this case, love really was the best therapy. It was taking the time to care about somebody other than himself that started to pull Neil out of his grey mood, and that is a very important message - especially at Christmas, when it can be very easy to get self-absorbed and think only of oneself and what you will gain on Christmas day. Kind really did hold a very special message - short though it was!
This was such a sweet story - perfectly full of Christmas spirit and all the feels! If you're looking for a short read to enjoy over the final few days of Advent, you should go and check out 'Kind' right now!
*I recieved a free copy of this book in return for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions*
December 5, 2019
A short but sweet Christmas story. There were a few times I found it a bit hard to picture the setting, but the characters were well done. It’s not often I read a story set in Germany after WWII, so that was neat.
There was one euphemism in this story.
There was one euphemism in this story.
December 26, 2018
A sweet and relatable little Christmas story. It's actually not focused that much on Christmas but focuses on a young American soldier's growing relationship with a German family in post-war Munich. Actually, the communication difficulties and the fact that everyone didn't always understand what everyone else was saying was one of my favorite parts of the book, but the story moved along really well in spite of it. (And I loved the scene where Neil was mentally interpreting the children's argument. :D) The sweet relationship that developed between Neil and the family was by far my favorite part of the book!
Content--mentions of men "chasing skirts" and women being "driven to immorality"; slight mentions of drinking and cursing
Content--mentions of men "chasing skirts" and women being "driven to immorality"; slight mentions of drinking and cursing
December 8, 2018
This story is amazingly well written and was a great short read that I had the privilege of Alpha reading.
This young man, an American soldier, who would rather be at home with his family soon finds himself with another family in war-torn Germany. But only because he chooses to be kind and helpful.
This story has a strong message about family and how helping others can change lives.
Such a great story Kellyn. You should be proud of yourself!
This young man, an American soldier, who would rather be at home with his family soon finds himself with another family in war-torn Germany. But only because he chooses to be kind and helpful.
This story has a strong message about family and how helping others can change lives.
Such a great story Kellyn. You should be proud of yourself!
December 22, 2023
This was so sweet. I loved it.
December 20, 2018
This is the perfect short story to get you in the Christmas mood! I loved reading it. The guys and their banter were so funny, and I love the German family that Neil befriended. A true testament to the spirit of kindness (hence the title I guess xD) and gentleness in the fact of post-war Germany. It's very realistic and easy to imagine; the kind of story that just transports you there.
**I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
**I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2018
Wow! This story was very, very nice! I loved the character immediately, and the story pulled me in from the start. It was an awesome Christmas story!!
You must read it!!
Not cliche, not cheesy, and just awesome Christmasyness!! (Yes, that's supposed to be a word but it isn't. :()
You must read it!!
Not cliche, not cheesy, and just awesome Christmasyness!! (Yes, that's supposed to be a word but it isn't. :()
March 19, 2019
Mother-son relationships + big brother-younger sibling relationships + war aftermath + enemy soldier befriending civilian family + language barriers = some of my favorite elements to read about in a story. And the ending *almost* made me tear up.
December 30, 2018
This was such a sweet little Christmas story!!
Kell has a lovely writing style and for this story, it was no different! :) Reading Kind made me feel at home and comfortable!
The talk and bickering between Neil, Kelly, and Clive was hilarious... I loved reading that part! ;)
The last part of the story was really meaningful as well.
I highly recommend this short story!
5 stars. :D
*I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.*
Kell has a lovely writing style and for this story, it was no different! :) Reading Kind made me feel at home and comfortable!
The talk and bickering between Neil, Kelly, and Clive was hilarious... I loved reading that part! ;)
The last part of the story was really meaningful as well.
I highly recommend this short story!
5 stars. :D
*I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.*
February 11, 2019
I really, really liked this short story. I really liked how the Slades were displayed. I love WW2 books that are set in Germany during and after the war. They display that not all Germans were these cruel, harsh people. They were going through the same difficulties everyone else was. They suffered more than most countries because Germany had everyone bombing them.
I highly recommend this short story. It was really good!! :D
I highly recommend this short story. It was really good!! :D
January 2, 2020
I loved the concept of the story even before I read it, but the execution wasn't the greatest. The writing wasn't stellar--it was decent, but there was a lot of "telling" rather than dramatized scenes--and the story and most of the characters weren't well-developed. I am glad I bought and read it, since I've heard good things about the author from friends.
January 22, 2019
Five stars
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters:
For such a short story, these characters were very well developed, and stuck with me long after the story ended.
Plot:
For such a short story it was really good. I want more, of course, but what it does have I like!
Overall:
Very good! Short stories aren't always really my thing, I prefer long complex books, but this was good!
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters:
For such a short story, these characters were very well developed, and stuck with me long after the story ended.
Plot:
For such a short story it was really good. I want more, of course, but what it does have I like!
Overall:
Very good! Short stories aren't always really my thing, I prefer long complex books, but this was good!
December 18, 2020
Overall, it's nice and sweet! I love the message: showing kindness to people who are considered “enemies”. I enjoyed reading it and would recommend this to a friend. It reminded me of the "families" I have overseas, and the times when I tried to communicate with them and the language barrier in place.
Although I think those interactions in the story could be tweaked a bit more to be slightly more realistic, I think the author did a good job with it. (e.g. instead of air-drawing a house, he could point to a house; air-drawing might make the receiver more confused, based on my experience at least; or he could draw it in the snow on the ground; also, the English spoken by the German characters could be a bit more slightly broken and less fluent.) Also, similar to another reviewer, I personally would want a few more descriptions of the settings.
One minor thing is that I was slightly confused as to who the MC was during the beginning parts. At first, I knew it was Kell, but I became slightly confused in the midst of the dialogues, and there might be one minor case of head-hopping there. Then again, it could just be me since the other reviewers seemed to not have this issue.
Good job overall!
March 24, 2019
I enjoyed this sweet short story! It was well-written, and I especially appreciated how well-developed the characters were in such a short space... even with a large cast for a short story, they each had a character arc. Like, how? I loved how real the interactions felt... between the soldiers, between the children, and in the language barriers. <3 (I also enjoyed the Minnesota and Arizona references... I'm from AZ, and one of my best friends is from MN.)
November 24, 2021
Honestly, I wanted to like this, but it felt a bit flat for me. There wasn't enough to show why it was such a big deal that he made friends with this family. And while it was sweet, I never felt any connection to any of the characters. For it being a Christmas story, Christmas day was one line long.
December 29, 2021
Oooh I liked this short story! Funny and then heart warming!
Only thing I could add is a description of the main character.
Only thing I could add is a description of the main character.
December 14, 2019
I’ve had this downloaded for awhile, but had wanted to wait til closer to Christmas. I’m so glad I did! I haven’t read anything for the season yet and this was the perfect way to get into it. Such a sweet story! It definitely inspires the reader to reach out in this busy time and connect with others that could use a little kindness.
Kind is largely character-driven, and with such delicious characters! I would love to see them reappear in a later work.
Kind is largely character-driven, and with such delicious characters! I would love to see them reappear in a later work.
July 2, 2022
Such a sweet, touching story! One of the things that stood out to me was how "hear-able" the voices of the characters were (lol, especially Kell); they really jumped off the page! I can't wait to read more by this author.
May 14, 2019
Loved this short historical story! Great characters, interactions, and message. Excellent holiday read - I highly recommend it.
December 31, 2021
An American soldier stationed in Munich is convinced that he's going to have a terrible Christmas. That is, until he happens to meet a German family during a walk. They bring him into their home, and there he finds joy again in the warmth of Christmas.
This short story was so touching. Every character was so likable. I loved how fun Kell was and how he could still be so cheerful even in the situation they were in. Neil was relatable, understandable, and had such a tender heart, and the Slades were all so sweet. The end also melted my heart. This story was short but heartwarming and was well worth the read.
I love how this story showed that there were good people on both sides of the war. There were suffering and hurting families everywhere, and just because people became "enemies" didn't necessarily mean they were bad. The kindness and love they showed to each other broke the barriers of war, language, and hurt, and even though they were on opposite sides of the war, they were able to become as close as a family.
The pacing of the story was good. The only thing I have to say about writing errors is that there was one mistake. It said that Neil "opened her lips to say 'you're welcome' " instead of "his lips." Other than that it was great.
This short story was so touching. Every character was so likable. I loved how fun Kell was and how he could still be so cheerful even in the situation they were in. Neil was relatable, understandable, and had such a tender heart, and the Slades were all so sweet. The end also melted my heart. This story was short but heartwarming and was well worth the read.
I love how this story showed that there were good people on both sides of the war. There were suffering and hurting families everywhere, and just because people became "enemies" didn't necessarily mean they were bad. The kindness and love they showed to each other broke the barriers of war, language, and hurt, and even though they were on opposite sides of the war, they were able to become as close as a family.
The pacing of the story was good. The only thing I have to say about writing errors is that there was one mistake. It said that Neil "opened her lips to say 'you're welcome' " instead of "his lips." Other than that it was great.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews