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A Christmas to Live For
It's the holiday season in New York City. Bryan Crandon, from across the room at his best friend's annual Halloween gala, has unexpectedly met the girl of his dreams.
Bryan, a clinical psychologist, finds himself fighting to balance his faith, a new romantic interest, his career, and his struggles with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
While this story is a work of fiction, I wanted to delve into a world of disordered eating--something typically seen as a woman's issue--and weave it into a story that is told from the male perspective.
Bryan, a clinical psychologist, finds himself fighting to balance his faith, a new romantic interest, his career, and his struggles with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
While this story is a work of fiction, I wanted to delve into a world of disordered eating--something typically seen as a woman's issue--and weave it into a story that is told from the male perspective.
491 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2021
About the author
Brett Nelson
8 books81 followersBrett is a Christian fiction author who has been an avid reader from the time he learned to read. Growing up, his favorite books were Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries.
As he grew older, even to this day, his favorite authors include Mary Higgins Clark, John Grisham, and Robin Cook, to name a few.
Three of his five books have hit the Amazon Top 5 Best-Seller list, and he is an award-winning author.
His first novel "A Christmas to Live For" won the gold medal in Christian Fiction in the 2021 Readers' Favorite Awards, and his novel "War Songs" won the silver medal in Christian Fiction in the 2022 Global Book Awards.
He is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association (ACFW). He is co-host of the Christian/Clean fiction podcast, "Bookish Introverts Podcast."
As he grew older, even to this day, his favorite authors include Mary Higgins Clark, John Grisham, and Robin Cook, to name a few.
Three of his five books have hit the Amazon Top 5 Best-Seller list, and he is an award-winning author.
His first novel "A Christmas to Live For" won the gold medal in Christian Fiction in the 2021 Readers' Favorite Awards, and his novel "War Songs" won the silver medal in Christian Fiction in the 2022 Global Book Awards.
He is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association (ACFW). He is co-host of the Christian/Clean fiction podcast, "Bookish Introverts Podcast."
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 15, 2023
3.5 stars - Read via Kindle eBook.
PREFACE: This was a little difficult for me to read because I almost lost a friend to anorexia nervosa. I had a roommate with bulimia and then another friend with bulimia. But please don’t let that discourage you from reading it. I’m glad that I did. Hard truths are never easy.
The self-loathing, immense sadness, and critical/negative attitude of the MMC is heart-wrenching. However, it is accurate and it’s important for people learn and understand. It’s a little different with each person but it’s always extremely hard.
The author has a flair for bringing out the romance. There are many sweet moments and beautiful displays of loyal friendships and the love of family.
There were a few minor things that I didn’t care for:
- The first part of chapter one isn’t needed. We don’t know who these people are and they aren’t pertinent to the story at all.
- Though Andrew is great and loyal friend to the MMC, Andrew’s immaturity and crassness is a little frustrating. It seems contradictory to his very loyal and giving heart of friendship and leadership.
- I do wish the story between the MMC and his love interest didn’t skip from the initial meeting to after several weeks of dating. I felt a little cheated. Lol! Then their relationship grows rather quickly for not seeing each other much.
- The grown women are depicted as teenagers several times with all the squealing and jumping up and down. Women don’t typically act like that.
- I do not feel there is any resolve at the end. He does not admit his eating disorder to his friends, or especially his girlfriend. Also, somehow his girlfriend is clueless to a grown man being 89 pounds? He didn’t make plans to get therapy. I feel left with questions.
Regardless of all of that, I feel this was an important story to tell because eating disorders are immensely difficult to comprehend for all parties. Perhaps even more so when it’s a male. You could definitely feel the heart and sincerity from the author. He can only grow as he continues to write. Kudos to his bravery.
PREFACE: This was a little difficult for me to read because I almost lost a friend to anorexia nervosa. I had a roommate with bulimia and then another friend with bulimia. But please don’t let that discourage you from reading it. I’m glad that I did. Hard truths are never easy.
The self-loathing, immense sadness, and critical/negative attitude of the MMC is heart-wrenching. However, it is accurate and it’s important for people learn and understand. It’s a little different with each person but it’s always extremely hard.
The author has a flair for bringing out the romance. There are many sweet moments and beautiful displays of loyal friendships and the love of family.
There were a few minor things that I didn’t care for:
- The first part of chapter one isn’t needed. We don’t know who these people are and they aren’t pertinent to the story at all.
- Though Andrew is great and loyal friend to the MMC, Andrew’s immaturity and crassness is a little frustrating. It seems contradictory to his very loyal and giving heart of friendship and leadership.
- I do wish the story between the MMC and his love interest didn’t skip from the initial meeting to after several weeks of dating. I felt a little cheated. Lol! Then their relationship grows rather quickly for not seeing each other much.
- The grown women are depicted as teenagers several times with all the squealing and jumping up and down. Women don’t typically act like that.
- I do not feel there is any resolve at the end. He does not admit his eating disorder to his friends, or especially his girlfriend. Also, somehow his girlfriend is clueless to a grown man being 89 pounds? He didn’t make plans to get therapy. I feel left with questions.
Regardless of all of that, I feel this was an important story to tell because eating disorders are immensely difficult to comprehend for all parties. Perhaps even more so when it’s a male. You could definitely feel the heart and sincerity from the author. He can only grow as he continues to write. Kudos to his bravery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2021
What a wonderful story! From the first page of reading A Christmas to Live For, I was hooked. And trust me, it takes a very good story to keep me interested enough to finish a book, especially a nice long story like this one.
The characters are so likable that I felt like I was right there with them and rooting for each one of them when things got tough for them. Not only did the journey of Kristin and Bryan draw me in, but it was also Bryan's struggle with an eating disorder that made me think it couldn't get any worse—and then it did. I'm telling you, this novel pulled on my heartstrings.
I also admire the relationship Andrew and Bryan have. No matter what, Andrew did not give up on his friend when times got really tough.
This story is full of hope, friendship, and faith, things we might often neglect in our own busy and tumultuous lives. It's a reminder to take some time and reach out to our loved ones we hadn't talked to in a long time.
I'm looking forward to reading Brett's next novel and am highly recommending this book to others who love inspirational romances that make you smile a lot, cry a little, and end with a warm fuzzy feeling.
The characters are so likable that I felt like I was right there with them and rooting for each one of them when things got tough for them. Not only did the journey of Kristin and Bryan draw me in, but it was also Bryan's struggle with an eating disorder that made me think it couldn't get any worse—and then it did. I'm telling you, this novel pulled on my heartstrings.
I also admire the relationship Andrew and Bryan have. No matter what, Andrew did not give up on his friend when times got really tough.
This story is full of hope, friendship, and faith, things we might often neglect in our own busy and tumultuous lives. It's a reminder to take some time and reach out to our loved ones we hadn't talked to in a long time.
I'm looking forward to reading Brett's next novel and am highly recommending this book to others who love inspirational romances that make you smile a lot, cry a little, and end with a warm fuzzy feeling.
September 5, 2020
“ A Christmas to Live For” shines brighter than the brightest Christmas tree!
A a true sense of happiness and joy fill my heart as tears fill my eyes once again! I really wondered as I finished “Lost Song,” if Brett did it as brilliantly as he did in his second publication. The answer is an astounding yes‼️ I won’t waste your time going through the story line because it moves through four short months of lives of two age-old and strangely pair friends, one’s new fiancée and the other a perfect “love at first sight scenario you’ll just have to burrow through to appreciate!
I asked last time if any of you who read, and have gotten to know Karen Kingsbury over the years, agree with me that Brett Nelson may jus be new male author to take a well deserved place alongside Karen. We can only hope and pray.
And, Brett we hope number three isn’t long in coming. I for one can’t wait! 👏👏👏👏👏
A a true sense of happiness and joy fill my heart as tears fill my eyes once again! I really wondered as I finished “Lost Song,” if Brett did it as brilliantly as he did in his second publication. The answer is an astounding yes‼️ I won’t waste your time going through the story line because it moves through four short months of lives of two age-old and strangely pair friends, one’s new fiancée and the other a perfect “love at first sight scenario you’ll just have to burrow through to appreciate!
I asked last time if any of you who read, and have gotten to know Karen Kingsbury over the years, agree with me that Brett Nelson may jus be new male author to take a well deserved place alongside Karen. We can only hope and pray.
And, Brett we hope number three isn’t long in coming. I for one can’t wait! 👏👏👏👏👏
August 3, 2021
Absolutely wonderful & uplifting ...
Such a strong message of faith & love, family & friends. Although I admit to being a little lost after the beginning of the first chapter when all of a sudden the focus on the married couple attending the party in the first dozen or so paragraphs never re-emerged to who they even were or why they were included in the opening. Along with a few unsatisfying time jumps especially from Christmas Eve to New Year's leaving a lot of unresolved items I would have liked to see included in the book. Over all an excellent read. I will definitely always keep this author on my reading list & look forward to many more new adventures!
Such a strong message of faith & love, family & friends. Although I admit to being a little lost after the beginning of the first chapter when all of a sudden the focus on the married couple attending the party in the first dozen or so paragraphs never re-emerged to who they even were or why they were included in the opening. Along with a few unsatisfying time jumps especially from Christmas Eve to New Year's leaving a lot of unresolved items I would have liked to see included in the book. Over all an excellent read. I will definitely always keep this author on my reading list & look forward to many more new adventures!
October 18, 2020
One of the best books I have ever read.
I chose the rating because it's a book that how someone can suffer with an illness and how it can control your life. It also shows how God can change the situation around and bring you out of it.
I chose the rating because it's a book that how someone can suffer with an illness and how it can control your life. It also shows how God can change the situation around and bring you out of it.
November 2, 2022
Insightful book
A very well written book! This book has a very realistic depiction of someone with an eating disorder. But, it also offers hope for those struggling with it. It opened my eyes to the reality of eating disorders and how to support those that are impacted by them.
A very well written book! This book has a very realistic depiction of someone with an eating disorder. But, it also offers hope for those struggling with it. It opened my eyes to the reality of eating disorders and how to support those that are impacted by them.
January 21, 2024
This was a sweet story that emerged while bringing light to an important and often misunderstood or overlooked topic. The topic of eating disorders is not something I've come across in a lot of books and was something I appreciate being highlighted, especially in a male character. The story covered the internal struggles of the character and also how depression can play a part. The character having close friends and a solid support system was very encouraging as a reader and I appreciated how they stuck by him when so many times people shy away if they dont know how to help. The story with his love interest was very sweet. There were sections throughout the story that seemed too long and could be left out, and other times that I felt things were missing or skipped over. All in all it was an enjoyable story and only got better as I continued to read. Not bad if this was a debut book. I will definitely check out other books by this author as I'm sure they'll only get better.
November 3, 2022
Love story and true Brotherhood!
I loved that this story exemplified how best friends from childhood are still close as adults. Bryan experiences some emergency situations and Andrew stays with him through it all. This book is long enough to really get invested in each of the character's. It also covers eating and emotional disorders. Being a detail person I appreciated the time the author took describe the settings of the story.
I loved that this story exemplified how best friends from childhood are still close as adults. Bryan experiences some emergency situations and Andrew stays with him through it all. This book is long enough to really get invested in each of the character's. It also covers eating and emotional disorders. Being a detail person I appreciated the time the author took describe the settings of the story.
June 4, 2021
Beautiful!!
It was a beautiful, clean, christian based love story!! It’s a wonderful read and I would definitely read it again!
It was a beautiful, clean, christian based love story!! It’s a wonderful read and I would definitely read it again!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews