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Mail-Order Brides' First Christmas #2
A Christmas Child for Callie
An Impossible Dream
Calliope Perkins has been told she can never have children, but does that really mean she cannot be a mother?
Jacob Becker’s wife died giving birth. No one can replace his wife, but the children need a mother.
Can the magic of Christmas heal two broken hearts?
Calliope Perkins has been told she can never have children, but does that really mean she cannot be a mother?
Jacob Becker’s wife died giving birth. No one can replace his wife, but the children need a mother.
Can the magic of Christmas heal two broken hearts?
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2021
49 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 28, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. God manages to bring the right two people together and give them exactly what they need, children for Callie and a mother for Jacob’s children plus a wife he didn’t know he wanted and needed.
October 29, 2021
This is an OK mail-order bride romance, with likable characters, but I did have a few issues with it. It gets 3 stars from me.
First, it was just too short to have enough character development. I wanted more backstory on both Callie and Jacob, but especially on Jacob.
I liked that Callie and Jacob were both good people, and that Callie was so good with Jacob's kids. But I thought they were both a bit too perfect. Neither of them ever did/said anything even slightly inappropriate or bad -- which is just too unrealistic for me.
I know the author was trying to make the characters talk like people would have talked in that time/place. However, lots of their conversations ended up with them just seeming totally ignorant, and I don't think that was the author's intention.
This is a clean romance, with nothing but kisses. If you only want to read romances that do not include sex scenes, this one might work for you.
My rating system is below.
1 star -- Hated it, or did not finish. I usually only give this rating if some of the content is truly objectionable to me, like if one of the main characters does something really awful, and gets away with it.
2 stars -- Didn't like it. This rating usually means that I thought the writing wasn't very good, the editing was terrible, I didn't like the characters, or it had other major flaws.
3 stars -- I liked it, but had some minor issues with it. This rating means that there were minor editing issues, the story needed more character development, it was just too unrealistic, or had some other fairly minor issue. The majority of books I read get this rating – I do not consider it a bad rating.
4 stars -- I liked it a lot. This is a high rating for me, and I rarely give a higher one.
5 stars -- I loved it, and will probably read it again. Very few books are good enough to get this rating from me. The ones that do are usually classics.
First, it was just too short to have enough character development. I wanted more backstory on both Callie and Jacob, but especially on Jacob.
I liked that Callie and Jacob were both good people, and that Callie was so good with Jacob's kids. But I thought they were both a bit too perfect. Neither of them ever did/said anything even slightly inappropriate or bad -- which is just too unrealistic for me.
I know the author was trying to make the characters talk like people would have talked in that time/place. However, lots of their conversations ended up with them just seeming totally ignorant, and I don't think that was the author's intention.
This is a clean romance, with nothing but kisses. If you only want to read romances that do not include sex scenes, this one might work for you.
My rating system is below.
1 star -- Hated it, or did not finish. I usually only give this rating if some of the content is truly objectionable to me, like if one of the main characters does something really awful, and gets away with it.
2 stars -- Didn't like it. This rating usually means that I thought the writing wasn't very good, the editing was terrible, I didn't like the characters, or it had other major flaws.
3 stars -- I liked it, but had some minor issues with it. This rating means that there were minor editing issues, the story needed more character development, it was just too unrealistic, or had some other fairly minor issue. The majority of books I read get this rating – I do not consider it a bad rating.
4 stars -- I liked it a lot. This is a high rating for me, and I rarely give a higher one.
5 stars -- I loved it, and will probably read it again. Very few books are good enough to get this rating from me. The ones that do are usually classics.
January 22, 2022
An incredibly beautiful, sweet, heartwarming story...
A Christmas Child for Callie is so beautifully written and paced so well, I didn't want to put it down. Callie, whom after a childhood accident, is left with a slight limp and unable to bear children, still finds ways to be able to help and support her family. She has a pure heart, is always thinking of others and has a special gift with children. Jacob is a widow with an infant son and three young daughters. Callie never dreams she will have the opportunity to have a husband and family to care for. Jacob needs a wife and mother for his children, but he needs to be sure it's the right women who will nurture and love them. Can a marriage to a stranger with a ready made family really succeed? With the right pair, a well meaning friend and God's blessings, all things are possible. Well done Elissa Strati, on this beautiful romance.
A Christmas Child for Callie is so beautifully written and paced so well, I didn't want to put it down. Callie, whom after a childhood accident, is left with a slight limp and unable to bear children, still finds ways to be able to help and support her family. She has a pure heart, is always thinking of others and has a special gift with children. Jacob is a widow with an infant son and three young daughters. Callie never dreams she will have the opportunity to have a husband and family to care for. Jacob needs a wife and mother for his children, but he needs to be sure it's the right women who will nurture and love them. Can a marriage to a stranger with a ready made family really succeed? With the right pair, a well meaning friend and God's blessings, all things are possible. Well done Elissa Strati, on this beautiful romance.
December 23, 2021
Jake and Callie
This is a sweet and loving mail order bride tale.Jake is a widower with four young children. He is still in mourning, but need assistance with child care and someone able to run his house. He is a rancher and not rich, but well off. Callie is a young woman that was born and raised in Appalachia. Callie come into the marriage having been told at ten years of age that due to a terrible accident she would never be able to bare her own children. Knowing about the four children was like a gift from above.You will enjoy discovering how they find their happily ever after.
This is a sweet and loving mail order bride tale.Jake is a widower with four young children. He is still in mourning, but need assistance with child care and someone able to run his house. He is a rancher and not rich, but well off. Callie is a young woman that was born and raised in Appalachia. Callie come into the marriage having been told at ten years of age that due to a terrible accident she would never be able to bare her own children. Knowing about the four children was like a gift from above.You will enjoy discovering how they find their happily ever after.
December 21, 2025
Christian Historical Romance
What a lot of changes for everyone! This must be a troupe that's repeated, as a few aspects seemed familiar, but maybe it's like Mail Order Brides, there were more books written about them, then there ever were actual Mail Order Brides!
I've not encountered anyone in a book before, who feels about Christmas as Callie did when she first learned of the pageant. It's more of a conversation I might hear nowadays. I loved her Christmas gift to him, and the meeting of her new children for the first time!
What a lot of changes for everyone! This must be a troupe that's repeated, as a few aspects seemed familiar, but maybe it's like Mail Order Brides, there were more books written about them, then there ever were actual Mail Order Brides!
I've not encountered anyone in a book before, who feels about Christmas as Callie did when she first learned of the pageant. It's more of a conversation I might hear nowadays. I loved her Christmas gift to him, and the meeting of her new children for the first time!
October 22, 2021
Can they find peace together?
A sweet historical romance with a touch of Christmas magic! Two lost souls hoping to provide a safe, loving home for the children, but Callie finds much more than she ever expected...she finds her heart and a place to heal.
A lovely book and I look forward to more in this multi author series, I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
A sweet historical romance with a touch of Christmas magic! Two lost souls hoping to provide a safe, loving home for the children, but Callie finds much more than she ever expected...she finds her heart and a place to heal.
A lovely book and I look forward to more in this multi author series, I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
November 27, 2021
A sweet story full of determination, hope, and faith. When you have faith you get all you need. I loved the characters and the location. Now I want one of the dolls Callie makes too. I can’t wait to read more by this fabulous author Elissa Strati. The complete series looks like a Christmas must-read.
October 29, 2021
very nice
This was a very nice book to read. Very well written and enjoyable. Jake is looking for a mother for his children and Callie is looking for children of her own. Callie has been told she will never have children. Will she find them. Just wait and see. Love this one.
This was a very nice book to read. Very well written and enjoyable. Jake is looking for a mother for his children and Callie is looking for children of her own. Callie has been told she will never have children. Will she find them. Just wait and see. Love this one.
November 16, 2021
A Christmas Child for Callie
Callie has been told since a child she was barren she became a mail order bride to a widow with four children and found love and then she became pregnant
Callie has been told since a child she was barren she became a mail order bride to a widow with four children and found love and then she became pregnant
December 28, 2021
Memories
I truly enjoyed the romance of Callie and Jake! A very loving and enduring woman with a heart of gold! Magnificent storytelling and the way the characters are all strong but individual characters! Love the Christmas stories and true meaning of Christmas!
I truly enjoyed the romance of Callie and Jake! A very loving and enduring woman with a heart of gold! Magnificent storytelling and the way the characters are all strong but individual characters! Love the Christmas stories and true meaning of Christmas!
January 14, 2022
What a brood of kids! Doctors sure know to hide information.
What a whatmiracle of life for a girl who told she couldn't have children to find herself pregnant. It's just a tragedy that Jake's wife did not survive the birth of her son. What a family they had!
What a whatmiracle of life for a girl who told she couldn't have children to find herself pregnant. It's just a tragedy that Jake's wife did not survive the birth of her son. What a family they had!
January 23, 2022
A Mother At Last
What a wonderful story of a woman's chance of becoming a mother. She was injured when she was young. Then told she will never become a mother. This story is how she gets her chance.b
What a wonderful story of a woman's chance of becoming a mother. She was injured when she was young. Then told she will never become a mother. This story is how she gets her chance.b
April 13, 2022
God is good
Another brilliant story of love and family. This book had me from page one as did the last one. Love can come around twice for some of us and the first love for another added with a blended family. Never ever give up hope, God works miracles all the time.
Another brilliant story of love and family. This book had me from page one as did the last one. Love can come around twice for some of us and the first love for another added with a blended family. Never ever give up hope, God works miracles all the time.
October 27, 2021
A sweet family tale
This is a delightful family story with more background than most mail order stories have which adds to the richness of the tale.
This is a delightful family story with more background than most mail order stories have which adds to the richness of the tale.
November 7, 2021
Callie
A lovely story. Callie has the opportunity to be a mother for four children who lost their. A sweet read.
A lovely story. Callie has the opportunity to be a mother for four children who lost their. A sweet read.
November 23, 2021
Good
Loving this series...really appreciate all the work that goes in the book...I really can get lost in in the book
Loving this series...really appreciate all the work that goes in the book...I really can get lost in in the book
November 26, 2021
New wife
Jake is raising his kids in his own. He agrees to marry a lady who had been injured as a child. Can they help each other?
Jake is raising his kids in his own. He agrees to marry a lady who had been injured as a child. Can they help each other?
December 9, 2021
I enjoyed reading about Callie, who overcame her assumed limitation and found a way to still have the family she always wanted.
February 11, 2022
Great story. I liked the premise of this story. I do wish it was longer tho.
May 20, 2022
Great book
June 14, 2025
A fun book
I enjoyed reading this light hearted novel because it was just that, no angst, suspense or mystery. Just a romance!
I enjoyed reading this light hearted novel because it was just that, no angst, suspense or mystery. Just a romance!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews