Christmas in Calico

by Jack Curtis

Distinguished writer Jack Curtis winningly combines suspense and a timeless holiday message with the best Western literary tradition in this dramatic novel. Heavy with child, Rose Cameron and her delicate son, Tommy, have tried to carry on her late husband's dream of a successful horse ranch despite a long drought, a thieving hired hand, and neighbors who want her land. But the hardest ordeal of all happens during Christmas, when a winter-kill blizzard sweeps the Nevada prairie, forcing Rose and Tommy to seek refuge in the poor town of Calico, where they must depend on the kindness of desperate strangers-and one mysterious lone rider-to survive and restore their lives.

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Holiday, Historical

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Gwen]

I have wanted to read this book since seeing Reba McEntire in the 1999 TV holiday movie, Secret of Giving which was based on the book. I haven't seen the movie in years, but I enjoyed the book. It tells the story of three ranch owners, their families and several townspeople in a western town named Calico. It's the holidays during a devastating drought. Life is hard for everyone but their stories alternate and collide in a happy ending that reminded me a bit of Scrooge's transformation at the end of A Christmas Carol. This one will be on my annual holiday reading/reading list.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must confess that before very long while reading this book, I became so cold, so hungry so depressed, that I had to put it aside. I soon recuperated but was loathe to going back to depressing drought, hunger and freezing weather.

The trick of making me feel so bad in order that I should feel goodbye the end of the story is getting old.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Nice little Christmas story.

[Sue Maryon · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was a quick read. almost like a western Christmas Carol.

[Joanne Kauffmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written story of building a Western community at Christmas.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am continuing to enjoy my Christmas reading.

[Theresa Lange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real good, unexpected Dickensian storyline

[Karen Fyke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had great hopes for this one, and it started out fine, although I wondered why a man was writing what felt like a woman's book. Character portrayal, conflicts to be overcome, etc. were fine, but about half way through the book I began to sense the framework and what was going to happen. About
two-thirds through the book, the author got into real trouble. The lady-of-the-book had a flock of about 35 turkeys, and sales of these birds was going to get her enough money to pay off the banker in town (Scrooge). However, a real norther came along and the birds were soon going to die. Along comes a savior in the form of a man on a black stallion who slaughters all but the three breeder turkeys,dresses them and puts them in the root cellar to freeze. The author has finally stepped in it. The purpose of a root celler is to stay cold, but NOT to freeze. Then after the change-of-heart that Scrooge undergoes, the Knight comes riding into town with the 30+ frozen turkeys to give everyone a Christmas dinner....except that all this takes place on Christmas day, and everyone but Mr. Curtis knows that it takes a couple of days for a turkey to thaw. I read to the very end, but the last 25 pages were drudgery. This was a romantic tale in the true sense of the word "romantic."

[Heather L · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good holiday read. I stayed up late last night to finish it.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, easy, quick read told kind of in a cowboy style about ranchers learning to pull together

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concludes with a Dickens "Christmas Carol" type experience and change of heart