The Spirit of Sweetgrass by Nicole Seitz - A Few Thoughts

     If I were not a Christian, I would love this sweet story about a family protecting its heritage and its future. However, as a Christian, I experienced a lot of mental dissonance with the scenes that played out in heaven. This came about because:

•  Jesus and God received cursory attention.
• While the Bible says that there will be not marriage in heaven, married couples lived as married couples in a replica of the same home and town they shared on earth. 
• People in heaven fretted over their family on earth, and returned to earth to influence events there.
• This fretting over their earthbound family caused the people in heaven to begin to age again, along with all of the accompanying aches and pains.
• A young girl lived in a home all alone in heaven. She had no name, and others just called her "girl" or "honey." It was suggested that she might be a product of abortion after an affair. 

     I wouldn't put this book at the top of my Christmas list even though the author has wonderful writing skills, and the background information on the sweetgrass weavers is very interesting. 

The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson – A Book Review

    

     Fun, fun, fun!!! This short (168 pages) book is jammed pack with pure joy. This light hearted story will lift its readers’ spirits, and motivate them to seek out someone to bless this Christmas season. What could bring more joy than blessing others?

     Joy Jorgenson, an octogenarian, loves Christmas even though her childhood memories of the holiday are lackluster at best. She even has a blog to help others celebrate the holiday to the fullest. Now that she has reached the time in her life when she needs to move closer to her sons, Joy comes up with an ingenious and generous way to bless others with years of accumulated Christmas paraphernalia. The only problem is that it may be a bit daring for her to execute the plan on her own. Enter Miranda Fortner, a young neighbor who is facing foreclosure. Together these two women go on the adventure of a lifetime.

     I would recommend carving out some time, it won’t take much, to go with Joy and Miranda on their Christmas Joy Ride. You won’t be disappointed. Hmmm, I know we have some extra lights and ornaments up in the rec room closets; for whom might they be just the thing?

     I thank Revell Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for providing The Christmas Joy Ride for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.