Christmas in July and Book Review - Christmas in Chestnut Ridge

There is a very good reason why Christmas in July is a thing. By now, all the strategies to stay near the air conditioner and limit heat sources inside the house have settled into daily routine. The thrill of summer has tamped down to a state of perpetual exhaustion from all the excitement with which we burst into the season and my mind is starting to drift from how much I love sundresses to how much I miss my sweaters and boots. Thankfully, Great American Family and Hallmark have come through with Christmas in July to pick me up out of my funk and give me a cup of cheer to get me through! Part of my CiJ routine also includes checking out all the exciting upcoming Christmas novels from those authors who are synonymous with the season. You know I can’t wait to get my hands on the latest tome of the most wonderful time of the year from Melody Carlson and Nancy Naigle. That’s why I am so excited to present to you my review of Christmas in Chestnut Ridge, Nancy’s upcoming release!

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge picks up where Naigle left off the story of friends Natalie and Sheila from Chestnut Ridge series book 1, And Then There Was You. There is enough backstory built in to avoid feeling redundant, but to allow the reader to pick right up with Christmas in Chestnut Ridge. Sheila is off kilter with the approach of the holiday season; her best friend has moved to a small mountain town several hours away, and her mother has been moved to a memory care facility. When Natalie invites Sheila to join her in Chestnut Ridge, it takes just a little bit of effort to pull her into the joy of the season. But it’s more than wrapping paper and bows when a little bit of flirting with the handsome fire chief becomes more than it was supposed to. The people of the small town work their way into Sheila’s life over the course of her stay, none more than Tucker, and she finds herself genuinely wondering if what she has sought for years is what will truly bring her joy.

Nancy Naigle writes small town charm like nobody’s business, and her books are written for the screen. Reading Christmas in Chestnut Ridge took me right to the cozy mountain town; I cast the movie in my mind as the characters were introduced and their relationships developed. I could smell the pine and taste the hot chocolate, the pecan snowball cookies, the chamomile tea. Naigle’s descriptions, character development, and relationships are on point. She writes complex relationships with authenticity, which allows the reader to relax into the story and simply enjoy. Christmas in Chestnut Ridge is an easy addition to your seasonal reading list… even when you’re only dreaming of the season!

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge by Nancy Naigle is scheduled to release October 8, 2024, and is available for preorder from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Amazon                    Barnes & Noble                Walmart

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - With Every Memory

Janine Rosche begins With Every Memory with an author’s note that includes a trigger warning and information about resources for individuals who find themselves in the situations covered in the book. I begin with that information, as well, because it is critical information. I read the warning before I agreed to read and review this book, feeling at the time like I would be able to handle it and wanting to see how the author handled these situations within the Christian fiction realm. It took a while for me to get my teeth into this story and really bond with the characters, but if I am honest about it, I believe the issues I had in the beginning are more personal than a reflection of the author’s work. Rosche manages to balance the reality of the difficult topics she addresses with care. If this book is for you, then I recommend it. If it is not, I certainly vote to feel good about your decision to pass over it.

Having said all of that, With Every Memory begins as Lori Mendenhall prepares to return home from extensive rehabilitation after a tragic accident. Beyond the physical, Lori is also struggling to recall memories lost in her retrograde amnesia; not only is she struggling to remember the people around her, but also to recall her own identity. On top of trying to figure out who she is, Lori also must work to learn who her husband and daughter are, and how to move forward after losing her son in the accident. With every memory that returns, there are a million other questions that arise about how it fits in the scope of her life as she remembers it and how it fits in the scope of the life she is finding to be her reality. Each member of the Mendenhall family has to learn to navigate life without their beloved Austin in their own way, but learning to support each other and rely on each other through the process is what may be their greatest success. Rosche’s character development of Michael and Avery is very well considered, and to reflect on the track of each one individually shows just how the breadcrumbs come together to create something even more special than I expected early on. Once I began relating to and bonding with the characters, the pages began to fly, and I was torn between wanting to see the resolution and dreading the conclusion.

With Every Memory by Janine Rosche is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House        Christian Book            Barnes & Noble            Amazon

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

In Memory of My Dear Mamaw

 My Dear Friends,

Woman By The Grace of God began quite a few years ago as an outlet for keeping up with the antics of our principessa and sharing such with loved ones. It then shifted toward book reviews, which I thoroughly enjoy, but I have intended for a while to add other content as well. Thursday evening my mamaw suddenly passed from this earth into the arms of the Lord. This is my tribute to her. I share it here to honor her. May those of us left behind be comforted until the day we meet again in Glory.

When asked if I was interested in sharing at Mamaw’s funeral, my no was immediate. I talk a lot, but I am much better at doing something so delicate and respectful as memorializing my dear grandmother in writing. So I opened my iPad to start writing and happened to  see my review of a book called The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. Quick backstory: cub reporter Aidyn gets too big for her britches and her editor needs to put her in her place, so Aidyn is tasked with writing the obituary of some random old lady in a hospice house. Roll with me, y’all; I’m going somewhere with this.

Like any well written story, there’s a lot going on under the surface. Clara Kip is not just a random old lady. She has lived an extraordinary life because of the way God used her, but the thought of allowing cancer to steal her life in a slow and un-extraordinary way chafes. She decides that she will answer three of Aidyn’s questions about her life for every extraordinary death Aidyn can think of to spice up her obituary. The truth of Mrs. Kip’s life experiences and lessons write themselves into a phenomenal tribute to the woman.

To my knowledge, Lois Holland did not necessarily live an extraordinary life. She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a child of God. What she did extraordinarily, was love. I realize I am one of many arrows in her quiver. Her four children had children who had children and I don’t even know if I could count us all if I tried. But when she talked with me I felt like I was treasured. When she spent time with me, I knew I was her pride and joy, and I guarantee that every one who had the honor to know and love her could say the same. The immediate thought is that I must be talking only about her family and close friends. I’m not. I’ll never forget coming to Indianapolis to celebrate Mamaw’s and Papaw’s 50th wedding anniversary and meeting more people from their church than I can count, every one of them honored to know them, and I understand completely.

Several years ago now, I was in Indy with my momma and daughter, and Mamaw was able to go on some museum adventures. We had a day when we went to the Indiana State Museum and took our time exploring exhibits. At some point in the day she learned that I like Greek food, so she insisted on taking us to a Greek restaurant she had heard was quite good. I don’t remember the food, but I remember sitting at the table with her and my eight year old daughter, having an extraordinary lunch. Then she mentioned being curious about the Mexican bakery near her house, so we went on an adventure to find some delightful south-of-the-border desserts. It was not a bakery, but we did find a couple sweet treats and some stick on mustaches. On another day, we went for a drive to South Bend to check out a children’s museum and she was delighted to choose Fazzoli’s for lunch with her girls. As I tell you all of this, I know you are hearing about us going and doing specific things, experiencing specific events. What I am feeling the same extraordinary warmth we felt when we were with her. The engagement of simply abiding in the great love of Christ that radiated from her.

And an extraordinary death? I pray that if I can’t slip quietly and unexpectedly into the Father’s arms, I can go as she did, just after family dinner with loved ones and in a way that allowed her to be unaware of the pain. Extraordinarily loving and extraordinarily loved. My heart hurts with missing her, but thrills for the Lord’s extraordinary mercy in calling her Home.