Lakeshore Christmas

Lakeshore Chronicles #6

by Susan Wiggs

Maureen Davenport lives for Christmas - and there's nothing more magical than Christmas on Willow Lake.

The prim librarian is finally getting her chance to direct Avalon's annual holiday pageant, and she's determined to make it truly spectacular. But it might just require one of those Christmas miracles she's always read about.

Because her co-director is recovering former child star Eddie Haven, a long-haired, tattooed lump of coal in Maureen's pageant stocking. Eddie can't stand Christmas, but a court order from a judge has landed him right in the middle of the merrymaking.

Maureen and Eddie spar over every detail of the pageant, from casting troubled kids to Eddie's original - and distinctly untraditional - music. Is he trying to sabotage the performance to spite her? Or is she trying too hard to fit the show into her storybook-perfect notion of Christmas?

And how is it possible that they're falling in love?

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Holiday, Contemporary, Chick Lit

384 pages, Hardcover

First published September 29, 2009

About the author

Susan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field's End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world's top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org) She's been featured in the national media, including NPR's "Talk of the Nation," and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.

According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.

The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.

Reviews

[Katrina Passick Lumsden · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like I really could have liked this book.

Really. I could have. Maybe. If not for the blatantly pious, purse-mouthed, sanctimonious, rod-far-up-her-ass librarian. I just couldn't like Maureen. And yes, I know she's been through some shit and it made her all emotionally distant, but really? She was, what? 19, 20 when she went through it? She had a relatively happy childhood, an emotionally supportive upbringing amongst a large, emotionally supportive family? And Eddie? Eddie was cute and sweet and all, but whenever he got to boo-hooing about his parents, I kinda wanted to hit him for acting like a spoiled brat. So his holidays were spent on the road. So what? His parents didn't beat him, ignore him, sell him to strangers, or force him into any kind of slave labor. I can understand resenting your childhood when you're a child, but there comes a point where you need to grow the hell up and get over it. Especially when it wasn't that bad.

The writing itself is technically good, but it's obvious that Wiggs' style is just not my thing. Everything about Christmas was magical and heartwarming and magical...come on. I like Christmas. I really do. What I don't like are the over-the-top, saccharine Hallmark sentiments tossed at me every other day. Give me a real story without all the smarmy BS, please.

Oh, and WTH was with the Daisy/Logan/Julian storyline? We spent several chapters on that shit (chapters that interrupted time with the two main protagonists), and it's just left hanging? For the next book, no doubt. Well, sod off, Wiggs, I don't like being toyed with.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gilmore Girls Read A Thon: A book set in Fall or Winter

I almost gave this 2.5 Stars, because it was TOO LONG! But I'm feeling the holiday spirit so I decided to give a full 3 stars.

Lakeshore Christmas is a sweet little Christmas romance romance between an uptight librarian Maureen and a former child star who must work together to put on the towns Christmas pageant and to save the local library.

I liked it but I would have loved it if it had been 100 pages shorter. I still recommend it to Christmas romance lovers!

[Rhonda Rae Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so surprised about this novel...it is so much more than a Christmas story! After reading the first five books in the Lakeshore Chronicles, I couldn't bring myself to read this one. Have had it along with the next two in the series on my bookshelf. Wanted to read #7 and #8...which are waiting on my self...but in a series, I have to read them in order. Would never dream of reading this story around Christmas...well, that is until I read it today.

Oh my...the story hit my heart strings with such deep resonation that I found myself choked up at every turn and couldn't put it down.

The message was so touching and I would venture there are others who struggle around the holidays just as these characters and will relate like I did. My heart wrenched at some of the realizations...they hit home for me. So I don't spoil the read for others, I am speaking around the true message of this novel. It is so much more than a Christmas story! It is one of love, family, forgiving onself, pressing forward, and healing.

Thank you Susan...I think that it is time for some changes in my holiday expectations. Maybe coming out of hiding in stories and avoidance...reach out to the grandchildren more. Thank you for writing such a beautifully far-reaching novel...you are amazing! It's as if you read my mail in this one...bless you!

Now for The Summer Hideaway and Marrying Daily Bellamy...woot!

[Liesl · Rating 1 out of 5]

While Susan Wiggs is a good writer and I love some of her books (especially her earlier ones like Lightkeeper) I couldn't enjoy this one at all.
The whole romance/christmas story consists of one cliché followed by another. The narrative is peppered with cheesy and simplistic oneliners about christmas and the main character Maureen was not engaging at all. I even hoped her romantic interest Eddie (the only character I found interesting) would fall in love with someone less self righteous and emotionally shut-in than her.

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. What a total waste. I had picked this book to listen to on audio to put me in the Christmas mood while I worked on holiday presents, but instead it gave me no end of frustration. I couldn't stand Maureen. She did more to perpetuate the prim-librarian-who-has-no-life label herself than anyone else did for her. She instantly judged other people harshly, and then decided how they in turn would view her and went with her views even when actual facts went in another direction. Even finding out what was really "wrong" with her didn't garner her any sympathy in my book. She was annoyingly obtuse and went out of her way to keep others a good couple of feet away from her at all times and I have no idea why the other characters even kept trying to be close to her at all, let alone what on earth drew Eddie to her.

Eddie's character alone might have bumped my review up a star, but by the end of the book he was just as annoying as Maureen, so...no.

I love libraries. I can't even begin to calculate the number of happy hours I've spent in them throughout the years. The fact that we could walk to ours from our house was a big selling point when we bought it, actually. I have myself been involved in efforts to keep our local branch open in recent years so that my kids can have as many good memories there as I did. The way librarians were portrayed in this book was fairly insulting to the librarians I have known and do know, and the struggle to keep their local library open was, quite frankly, just not at all inspiring.

Daisy's character was just thrown in the novel for no apparent reason (okay, I've read book eight so I know WHY she was there. But I don't understand what she was doing in THIS book. Her connection with Maureen is so laughingly tenuous that she really can't even be considered a secondary character here. It's as if Wiggs took another story and just crudely smashed it into the one that she was originally writing and voila--there's Daisy!) and it was extremely distracting. Every time she was the focus I was drawn right out of the story--and I really wasn't all that connected to it in the first place, so it was particularly annoying. Plus, knowing that we'll hear all about the pertinent details later on in Daisy's book just make having to read them here completely unnecessary.

Which brings me to my final point--there was constant telling and retelling in this book. It honestly made the whole experience twice as long and painful. How many times do we need to hear that Eddie spent every childhood Christmas driving from venue to venue? That Maureen's always found magic in Christmas? That Eddie's always taken refuge in alcohol, just like his parents? That Maureen has a close and loving family? (Who, by the way, always knew that Maureen wanted a nickname, but never thought to give her one? What the heck? Why wouldn't they give her one, then, being so close and loving and all? And it's not like it takes a genius to come up with "Mo", it's pretty standard.) I could go on and on here...the book does!...but I really just need for it to all be over, so I can begin to try to forget. Ugh.

[Loraine · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had the potential of being a really good book. Unfortunately, there were too many things that just didn't appeal to me. First, Maureen was made out to be the stodgy, stereotypical, dowdy librarian. Then Eddie was made out to be the hottie singing star. The worst thing about him was the foul language that came out of his mouth along with the constant use of God's name in vain. He and his friends had only one thing on their mind all the time.

The premise of putting on the Christmas pageant and saving the town library could have been so well done for a Christmas book, but the possibilities got lost in the negatives. I will not be reading any more of this series.

[Katherine Coble · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to start by saying I love Susan Wiggs. She writes wonderfully fun and escapist books that are like a safe place to curl up and just relax. I save her books for times when I want to have the novellish equivalent of a spa treatment.

This was not one of my favourite books of hers. The main heroine is a librarian straight out of Central Casting circa 1963. Because of that I never felt--unlike with other Wiggs books--that I was reading about a real person. Which was extremely ironic, because of all Wiggs' characters, Maureen Davenport is by far the most like me. (She's both dramatic and bookish.) I confess that after the third or fourth time we read about Maureen hiding from Her Tragic Past in a world of books I felt as though I were drowning in Lake Cliche.

Take it from me. It is entirely possible to love to read AND be perfectly well-adjusted socially.

This is the first Christmas themed novel I've read in many years, as I tend to shy away from them. But I plunged into this one because I've enjoyed thus far all of the Lakeshore Chronicles and was eager for another visit to Avalon.

Sadly, not even the town of Avalon with it's lovable Bellamys could get me to love the general idea of the Christmas Romance. Angels, cartoonish town baddies and the rest are just not my cup of tea.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice Christmas story about a woman who runs a library that will be closed the first of the year due to budget cuts and a man who started life out as a child star, then lived on a commune. They both are in charge of the town's Christmas program and have to work together. She helps him get over his past and he gets her out of her shell. It did make you think about how awful it would be your library closed.

[Kara Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. It took some time for me to get to book six of The Lakeshore Chronicles series, mainly due to this book being hard to locate. I have thoroughly enjoyed the previous books, and while I liked this one, it was not the best book of this series. Lakeshore Christmas introduces us to Maureen Davenport- town librarian, and Eddie Haven- former child star, now grown up, but suffering from star burnout and angst. An unlikely pair as they team up to put on the annual Avalon holiday pageant. I found so much of the storyline awkward, and disjointed. And the chemistry between these main characters felt fake at times.
There were also side story lines that got dropped like a lump of coal- I’m sure they’ll turn up in subsequent books. This has been a fun series so far, and these books are perfect when I need a reprieve from something heavier or when life is hectic. Looking forward to book seven.

[Steve Pifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every year, just before Thanksgiving, I begin to crave and then search, sometimes extensively, for a good "Holiday Read". I have to admit, more often than not, I end the holiday season disappointed. I find several books from the 3 or 4 libraries that I frequent and reasearch man more on Amazon and other sites, but I find that the overwhelming majority of holiday theme books are either non-fiction, craftsy, or historical type of books, OR are a quickly written, not well though out novel by trendy authors who have 20 books or so on their shelves and decide to write a christmas theme novel to add to their collection.
Everyone BUT Stephen King, it seems, have given in to this quick cash flow idea. The problem is, these books are not interesting, amazingly similar to other stories written by the author, and leave me frustrated and wondering why nobody can write a good novel with a holiday theme.
This book, Lakeshore Christmas, has helped to revive my hopes that my search is not in vain. Even though the jacket does it injustice....(it looks like just another cheap, shallow holiday romance novel), I decided to put it in my large stack of Christmas hopefuls at one of my library trips.
I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the characters, who were not shallow, but had some depth, some believable traits that made you want to know them more. A bit of a stray from the cookie-cutter characters found in most holiday novels. The plot is well laid out and there was enough mystery and controversy to keep me interested. She added just enough of the supernatural element to give me that holiday miracle type of buzz.
I enjoyed this book enough to find another by Ms. Wiggs.

[EZRead eBookstore · Rating 1 out of 5]

Susan Wiggs’ book covers have the same font and Thomas Kincade paintings as Debbie Macomber, so you can understand what I expected with “Lakeshore Christmas”. Shockingly, while this book is filled with poinsettias and cookies, it’s really nothing like Macomber’s style. I gave myself a wrist-slap for judging a book by its charming snowy cover.

Both Wiggs and Macomber write romantic tales of small-town splendor, but Wiggs is actually a little more “adult” than Macomber, leaning more towards the romance novel side of things. You know what I mean. Also, you can see the plot coming like a giant blimp in a Macomber book, but the writing is so sweet and self-aware that you don’t care. Let the plot blimp come! In Wiggs’ “Lakeshore Christmas”, the tone and content takes itself too seriously, and is frustratingly predictable. I really hated the immediate cranky banter between uptight librarian Maureen and rockstar Eddie Haven. The awful stereotypes fell like snowflakes in a blizzard, and I never once believed Maureen let her guard down enough to let Eddie get all moogly googly with her.

Opposites attract, but in “Lakeshore Christmas”, it takes the Hand of God to bring Maureen and Eddie together logically. Maureen is really, really cranky. As such, I felt “meh” about the whole love story, thereby ruining the joy of the ending. If I read a story about a small town in Christmas, I expect my money’s worth in heartwarming joy. Unfortunately, “Lakeshore Christmas” is bogged down by crabby main characters and stiff romance.

Bah humbug.

-EZ Read Staffer Jenifer

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Of all the books I've ever read, (and I can't believe I'm going to finish this one)this book hits absolutely every steretype image that you've ever had about a. Librarians, b.child actors, c. romance and the prim librarian,d.christmas. There are more but I am appalled at this book.

[Katherine Nally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute enough Christmas story. The whole time I was way more interested in the Daisy story, though.

[Katy M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started out liking this book well enough, but it went downhill fast. It has all the clichés that I hate. If you dress conservatively, you're stodgy and judgmental. If you don't have a boyfriend it's because you don't loosen up enough. If you take off your glasses and put on a pair of tight jeans, you're suddenly beautiful. Throw in two men getting into a physical fight over a woman, and I'm out.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another Lakeshore Chronicles, we watch as Maureen Davenport, unlucky in love in the worst possible place (Paris, France) who has declined into curve-hiding clothes and a wearing her hair in a bun. But she loves being librarian in little Avalon. Unfortunately, the library may have to close owing to not enough funds to keep it going. In the meantime, she promised to run the annual Christmas pageant, but oh no, former child star and local rocker, Eddie Haven, is required to be her co-producer, the result of a judge's court order following his DUI years earlier.

Eddie is certain Maureen is NOT his type, but she keeps reappearing in his dreams as the angel who saved him after his crash into the nativity scene and the front of the church when his van burst into flames. Maureen knows Eddie could never be attracted to her. He's into big-bosomed blondes with long legs. Besides, they do not like the same kind of music and he professes to hate Christmas.

What to do? Well, get on with it and make the pageant the best ever, even while Maureen is grieving the loss of her job and the library as of New Year's Day. But what further complicates matters is she finds herself falling for him and he can't get her out of his mind. What's a person to do?

[Jonel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well written and put together story that will tug at your heart. Wiggs makes her story pop with her very vivid descriptions while carrying it forward with realistic events and warm Christmas cheer. That said, the story itself is far from stereotypical. It leaves you with a warm sense of contentment at the ending that will have you smiling.

I found the contrast between the two main characters simultaneously astounding and captivating. Wiggs definitely proves that opposites attract with these two. The interactions between the two are so real that when they finally do come together it seems so natural. The supporting cast was equally well developed. There was almost a secondary main couple in this tale. One can only assume that their story is a lead-in for future novels as this story doesn’t come to a conclusion, but rather just starts.

Overall, this imaginative and heartfelt tale will put you in the mood for Christmas and for romance.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Lakeshore series and this latest book was no exception. I enjoy reading updates on the previous characters, while being introduced to new ones. The ongoing story of Daisy and Julian keeps me wanting more. Can't wait until there's a book devoted to the two of them. Thanks Susan!!!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful Christmas story!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I am a big fan of how Susan Wiggs writes her books! She has great character development and emotions and you feel like you have an emotional connection with the characters which I really love in a book! However... I feel in this book the development of the relationship between Maureen and Eddie was very stereotypical and drawn out. It didn't feel exciting or interesting and went from really slow to very fast. Also, we were introduced to a character called Jabez and I was interested in finding out what his mystery was but to my displeasure, the author didn't elaborate on who this character was other than he was mysterious. Since this is a chronicle, maybe he will show up in a later book.

Overall, the book had an interesting story line that had me turning the page to see what would happen next. I liked the plot and was satisfied with the way the book ended. I of course feel the end result was a tad unrealistic because everything turned out perfectly but since this is a "Christmas" novel, I guess I understand why there was such a happy ending. It was still a great book despite the faults I had with it!

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best way to summarize this book would be to say, "No library is a failure who has friends, George." It's a feel-good holiday story about a stereotypical small-town librarian and a former child actor who fall in love and work to save a public library from closing. Were it not a Christmas book, it would probably be too cheesy to stomach, but as it suits the holiday mood, I liked it well enough to stick with it and finish it even though Christmas was almost two weeks ago. I'm also not bothered by stereotypical depictions of librarians. I liked Maureen well enough despite her dullness, and I only really wished that there were more details about her family in place of some of the side plots. (But I realize I have only read book 1 and book 6 in this series so those side plots probably mean more to people who read the series in order.) I may revisit this series at some point in the future, but my next read will be something with a bit more substance.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas love story in all its complicated glory, love between and among people, and for a venerable old library threatened with being shut down. The first chapter is a piece of fabulous writing. The vintage town, the festive atmosphere, the library, the touch of the supernatural, wonderful. The characters, the music, the pageant, terrific. The talented but emotionally damaged MCs, at cross purposes and believable. There are plenty of silly spots in the plot, frustrating twists and misdirected energy that tend to make one wonder why you are reading a book like this. I picked it up now and then over the course of months, and in the end really enjoyed it. The gobs of all sorts of Christmas joy that heap, layer upon layer, were well written and fun, and just the thing. No spoiler here in my opinion. Books of this genre do not end unhappily. Caution: very sentimental.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stereotypical librarian (right down to the sweater sets, practical shoes, naïve world view, and hair in a bun) Maureen Davenport is a lover of all things Christmas. Her partner in producing the annual Christmas pageant is former child star and current alcoholic, handsome Eddie Haven who has hated Christmas traditions since his youth. How can this partnership be a success?

Well, there is a mysterious young man in town who always seems to be around when the town or the pageant needs help. Maureen’s library is in serious budget trouble and will probably close by the first of the year. The library is loved, and Eddie works to bring funding together. There is also the human and physical attraction.

The reader knows going in that all is going to work out in the end, and, of course, it does. It’s a bit too magical and facile for normal reading and not as good as the rest of the series, but how can you dislike a story that venerates libraries, librarians, offers quirky, likeable characters and has HEA? Recommended for fans of holiday stories and light romance.

Readalikes:
Debbie Macomber – 1225 Christmas Tree Lane and her Cedar Cove romances; Elin Hildebrand – Winter Stroll; Beth Kendrick’s Black Dog Bay series; RaeAnn Thayne’s Haven Point romances; Emily March’s Eternity Springs novels; LuAnn McLane – Playing for Keeps; Jeri Corgiat’s O'Malley sisters; Julia London’s Cedar Springs romances;

Pace: Leisurely paced
Characters: Likeable;
Story: Character-driven
Writing style: Banter-filled; Lush
Tone: Atmospheric; Moving
Frame: Catskills, Upper NY state, Avalon, Willow Lake; contemporary
Theme: Love in a small town

[Patricia Hampton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this from Susan in a Christmas giveaway. Overall a very good story with Maureen and Eddie having to put on a Christmas pageant. She is bossy trying to save the library he is a recovery alcoholic doing a good deed around Christmas. I like the story around daisy. The story drags a bit but overall great work

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second of Susan’s that I have read. Although I sometimes find it hard to make tome for reading this book kept me reading way up past my bedtime. I knew from the start when the drifter came into town there was purpose behind his visit. Absolutely loved the read from beginning to end.

[Carole at From My Carolina Home · Rating 2 out of 5]

Formulaic romance novel, with two opposite personality people thrown together to produce the Christmas pageant, while also trying to save the local library. Predictable, but if you enjoy romance novels, you’ll probably like it.

[Karen Jarvis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too long to get where it did, and what happened to Daisy?

[Marije · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omdat het over een bibliotheek gaat.

[Lindsey Hafs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted a classic Hallmark movie type of book and I got just that. Loved it 😁

[Bette Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a favorite for me

[Gwen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out strong, but I got bored about 2/3 of the way in when it became predictable and cheesy. 3/10.