A Christmas by the Sea

by Melody Carlson

Hardcover, 2018

Status

Available

Call number

F CAR

Collection

Fiction

Call number

F CAR

Genres

Publication

Revell (2018), Edition: 1st Printing, 176 pages

Description

When Wendy Harper inherits her family's beach-side cottage in Seaside, Maine, she sees it as a way to finally pay off the debts that have mounted since her husband died. But before it can be sold, the neglected property must be renovated. She and her twelve-year-old son Jackson move in--temporarily, she reminds him--in order to do the work themselves, even though Christmas is coming. The charming town, along with local craftsman Caleb Colton, pulls on both Wendy and Jackson, who even registers himself for school in a bid to get his mom to move them there permanently. Wendy knows that the most responsible thing to do is to sell the cottage and return to Ohio, but the lure of the sea is hard to resist.

User reviews

LibraryThing member macnoid

I have a big section of shelf space in my library for Melody Carlson's books, and was excited to get this book. It is a relatively short read, a pretty thin book. Books like this one....someone inheriting a beach cottage, and fixing it up, reconnecting with childhood memories, is rather the stuff

of daydreams. Very enjoyable! Getting a chance to start over in a new, warm community is also fun to read about...rather like 'moving to vacationland'! Wendy and her son Jackson are still coping with the loss of the husband/dad, but their relationship is a good one. Much as Wendy wants to stay, she has to be practical, and selling the cottage and going back home is her plan all along.....until she sees the changes in her son, and embraces childhood memories and life in the small seaside town, and meets Caleb!
My only complaint about the book is that it was too short, and ended a bit abruptly. (It is, after all, one of those Christmas novellas!) There wasn't enough time spent developing a relationship (over the 2 weeks or so they knew each other) ; and not much romance considering the ending. I would have liked to at least read an epilogue .....had some tying up of loose ends! As it was, I kept wanting to pick up the book to finish it....but there was no more to read! Still....a very good read! (And maybe she'll add an epilogue since it's not been released yet??)

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LibraryThing member LadyoftheLodge

This was a book for Early Reviewers. In this novel, Wendy and her son Jackson journey from Ohio to their newly-inherited cottage in Seaside, Maine, where Wendy often visited her grandparents when she was a child. As a widow, Wendy has struggled to make ends meet and provide for her teen-aged son.

She plans to remodel the cottage and then sell it. However, her son has other plans! As Wendy and Jackson fix up the cottage, they both fall in love with it. The novel contains some hilarious scenes as Wendy shops for materials to fix up the cottage. Both Wendy and Jackson pray for a way that they can stay in Maine. The ending is not surprising, but wraps things up neatly.

I have read other Christmas stories by this author and enjoyed them all. I would consider this a novella, since it is rather short, and can be finished in an afternoon or evening by a dedicated reader.

I assigned 4 and a half stars instead of 5 stars to the novel for a couple of reasons: a) if the cottage was rather old-fashioned and primitive, how did Jackson get on the Internet? b) What did Wendy do next? What about her job and all their stuff in Ohio? Maybe I am too picky with those, but I think there is room here for another follow-up novel.

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LibraryThing member cyncie

A Christmas by the Sea, by Melody Carlson, is a short, sweet story about a widow and her adolescent son, who inherit a beach cottage from her grandfather and go there to get it ready to sell. The widow is feeling overwhelmed by the debts incurred by her late husband's medical care, and has to put

the cottage up for sale, despite her son's love of the place and her desire to stay as well. There is a predictable and rushed happy ending.

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LibraryThing member WillowOne

Wendy Harper is a widowed mother raising her son, Jackson, the best way she knows how. She certainly did not think she would be facing the loss of a husband and the debt that comes with long-term medical issues at this point in her life. She receives word that her Grandfather passed and in his

will, he left her his seaside cottage. She knows that there will be some work that needs to be done in order to sell the house, so she and her son pack up the car and head out from their current home in Ohio to the Maine coast. The one thing Wendy didn't plan on was Jackson thinking they would move their permanently. Jackson has had a rough few years with his Dad passing and bullies at school so he is thinking of a new start. As Wendy runs the obstacle course of what needs to be done, Jackson's wishes, new people, situations, and her own wishes this wonderful story of family, life, love, loss, memories, and home come together for a very pleasing read. I do wish it had been a little bit longer so the ending could have come about in a more natural way and not been quite as rushed. It seemed to me to not be in keeping with the rest of the story in its timing.

I read this book in 2 days and loved the ups and downs. I have always enjoyed Melody Carlson's writing style and feel she knows how to put a story together that could be true to life. Her characters are believable and I lose myself in their stories.

I was given a copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program for the purpose of my honest review.

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LibraryThing member Sandralb

Review I enjoy reading Melody Carlson's novels. I found this “A Christmas by the Sea” to be a sweet quick read, I finished in one afternoon. It's a great story about small town USA. It takes place in Seaside, Maine. Melody does a great job of taking you down main street, describing the

different stores the town square as well as walking along the coastal beach. You can almost feel the breeze and smell the salt water as the mist splashes your face. Wendy Harper has inherited her grandparents cottage. She has driven for three days across country with her 12 year old son Jackson. Wendy plans to renovate the cottage and sell it as quickly as possible. Due to hospital bills from her husbands cancer treatments and unpaid student loans she feels she has no choice. She only has three weeks vacation and then is expected back to Cincinnati before Christmas. She never expected to have such strong feelings about this summer home. She has not been back here for almost 20 years. The first scene between Wendy and Caleb Colton I found to be hilarious. Even though the story wasn't totally about Christmas, the story takes place during the three weeks starting with Thanksgiving and leading up to Christmas. I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishers through LibraryThing. The comments in this review are totally my own. I would recommend this book by Melody Carlson. I enjoyed it very much.

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LibraryThing member croknot1

I love a feel-good story with a happy ending. This short book has both of those things in spades! If it was a longer book with the story line a bit more drawn out, I'd likely have given it five stars.
Thank you to LT for allowing me to read and review this novel.

LibraryThing member Kris_Anderson

What a lovely story. It is well-written and engaging. I look forward to Melody Carlson's Christmas books each year and this one did not disappoint. I will share my full review soon.

LibraryThing member Harley0326

This enchanting story will be coming out in September but it's worth getting excited about. The author writes with such compassion for her characters. Wendy has just discovered that she has inherited her family's picturesque cottage by the beach. Wendy can remember all the fun times she had there

as a kid and it brings back fond memories.

She packs up her twelve year old son, Jackson and takes a trip to see the cottage in Seaside, Maine. I could easily hear the waves as she got closer to the cottage. It was a glorious sight to take in. I loved Jackson's excitement as he got closer to what he thought was going to be his new home. I wonder when Wendy will tell Jackson they are only there long enough to fix the place up and sell it?

I'm sure Wendy is a bit surprised to see how much work needs to be down on the place. She finds a very helpful person at the hardware place who is an expert it seems in paint and floors. Caleb knows his way around since he is a craftsman. With an overwhelming amount of work to get done, Wendy and Jackson get to work on the cottage. I liked that Wendy took time to go shell hunting with Jackson. Jackson has so much energy and happiness is written all over himself. He loves the new place and is hoping his mom will change her mind about moving. Will the sea call Wendy to stay and make new memories with her son? Can Caleb convince Wendy to spend Christmas there or will she leave and go back to her home in Ohio? This is a short book, but it has so many great qualities that make the story flow with hope and a promise of a wonderful Christmas that feels your heart with family and love.

I received a copy of this book from the Early Reader Program from The LibraryThing. The review is my own opinion.

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LibraryThing member starbritejan

This is the first book I have read by Melody Carlson. It is a very quick read, great story for a rainy afternoon, curled up under a blanket having a cup of tea. i thoroughly enjoyed the whole book and look forward to reading more of her books!!

LibraryThing member CoverLoverBookReview

Christmas by the Sea has so many elements I love. It’s a quick read that can be finished in one sitting, it has a fixer-upper element (which I’ve grown to love) and even most importantly, it flows smoothly and gives me the feels.

Wendy Harper, a widow and mother, is an intriguing character that

I rooted for and sympathized with. I also enjoyed the Maine setting—a place I’ve not visited yet but is on my bucket list.

There are only a few cons. Wendy’s distress was a little weighing at times—understandable, but a bit overdone, and I wish Christmas and the spiritual aspect were a little more pronounced.

Overall, this is another sweet, quick read by Melody Carlson. I’ve enjoyed all her stories and look forward to reading more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

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LibraryThing member countrylife

If you like your holiday reading to be warm and fuzzy, this is the Christmas book for you. Coming to grips with her husband’s death, worrying how to keep moving forward financially and as a family, a mother and son travel to an inherited seaside cottage, each with their own plans for the future.

Lightweight reading, but family-centric and sweet. A cozy-in-a-snowstorm kind of a read.

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LibraryThing member coastandanchor

A Christmas by the Sea is one of those books that you just want to curl up with a blanket, your favorite cup of tea while you dream of the small seaside town you are reading about. The characters are likeable and believable, in a way just ordinary. It begins with Wendy, a widow and mother of a 12

year old boy, doing her best to make ends meet, while protecting her son from growing up too fast. Although she quickly realizes that kids pick up on things more than adults give them credit for. Jackson, her 12 year old son, is embracing this small town vibe and flourishing at that. Although a blooming love story is woven throughout, its subtle and doesn’t feel cheesy. I enjoyed the family history that was uncovered and the seaside escapades that were sprinkled throughout. It’s one of those books that reminds you of the simple things but yet the impact they have on our hearts and overall well being. This book is what I would consider a quick read. Although I did find the beginning to stretch on for a bit, I still enjoyed the storyline and characters. So if you want something quick, light and uplifting then I would recommend A Christmas by the Sea.

*Thank you to NetGalley & Revell for my copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

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LibraryThing member alekee

I loved this story, the author has given us a story about rebirth, building a life after the death of a loved one.
I could just picture Jackson a young teenage still reeling from the death of his father, not happy and being bullied at his school in Ohio, and now a breath of fresh air, a new

beginning, and at the ocean.
His mother, and the friendly local have both lost someone they loved, is there a chance that they are now in the right place at the right time?
This is a warm your heart Christmas story, and I am so glad to have read it!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

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LibraryThing member mmoj

I received this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for a fair review. I have a large collection of Christmas Romances so looked forward to this book.

Wendy is a widow who has a lot of debt because of her husband's medical bills and their combined student loans. She receives

an inheritance, her family's seaside cottage. Her idea is to fix it up and sell quick to help get herself out of debt. Her son though believes they will keep the cottage and live their permanently.

As I said, quick read but for me too much was about Wendy worrying. There was actually not a lot of interaction between the two romantic leads and even less about Christmas. Liked the vision that I have of the cottage and I'm still smelling the salt air.

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LibraryThing member Cherylk

I grabbed a copy of this book because I am familiar with this author. I have enjoyed previous books form this author. While, Christmas is still a few months away, I was in the mood for getting an early start with my holiday reading.

Sadly, this book did not put me in the holiday mood. I struggled

to connect to either of the main characters. Thus the story did not captivate me. In fact, I found it kind of dry. Try as I might, I had a hard time staying in the moment with this book. The details are hazy to remember. Overall, this book lacked the Christmas spirit for me.

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LibraryThing member Mizroady

Hooray! A new Christmas book from Melody Carlson! It has become a holiday tradition for me! I love them! Each one stirs up Christmas nostalgia and those warm feelings the season brings.
Wendy is struggling financially after her husband’s death and trying to keep her life has she has known it

afloat, not only for her but for her son Jackson. She can’t see past putting one foot in front of another and maintaining her job. She gets word she has inherited her grandparent’s beach cottage in Maine. Wendy sees it as a way to pay off her bills by fixing it up and selling it in the 3 weeks they are there. This will enable them to be home by Christmas.
As she enters the little town that held so many happy childhood memories her emotions are in turmoil. Her 12 year old son has other plans. He wants a fresh start in a new place, as he has been miserable since his Dad’s death. The town isn’t as small and dead as it used to be. It has grown with new people and businesses.
With each reminiscence, she wards off the tugs at her heart to love the town, house and people. She has blinders on envisioning their life in Ohio as the only way they can live. Jackson barrels ahead embracing every experience and moment, and appears to think they are moving there. Wendy, not wanting to burst his bubble, makes it harder on herself by not telling him the truth. His enthusiasm and joy draws her in.
When we are adults and suffer tragedy, we cling to what is familiar, unable to realize new opportunities in front of us. Children’s eyes and hearts are clear to comprehend and embrace the joyfulness of new beginnings. I saw this in Wendy and Jackson. I can relate as after my husband died I too wanted to cling to what I had known, changes were frightening and sometimes still are. I have grown to realize that I cannot continue to in the life I had because a vital part of it is no longer there.
Thank you Ms. Carlson for another wonderful and touching book to warm my heart!
I received this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have stated are my own.

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LibraryThing member Kris_Anderson

A Christmas by the Sea by Melody Carlson takes us to Seaside, Maine. Wendy Harper is traveling with her son, Jackson from Ohio to Seaside just before Thanksgiving. Wendy inherited a beach cottage from her grandfather. It is an answer to her prayers since she has a slew of debts incurred from her

deceased husband’s battle with cancer along with student loans. Wendy has managed to get a month off to renovate the cottage and get it listed for sale. Jackson is excited about the trip and wants to relocate to Seaside permanently. The cottage is in better condition than Wendy expected, but it still needs some work. She hires Gordon, the local handyman, to help with the repairs. Jackson is thriving in the new environment. He makes a friend, finds a dog and enrolls himself in school. One day Wendy is at the hardware store and meets Caleb Colton, a furniture craftsman. She is surprised by what she feels when near Caleb. Wendy admires his beautiful furniture (works of art) and his Christian values. Wendy knows she should do the responsible thing and sell the cottage. However, she is drawn to the town, the cottage and a certain woodworker. To stay in Seaside, though, she needs a steady income stream. Christmas is rapidly approaching, and miracles have been known to happen.

A Christmas by the Sea is a charming Christmas story. I thought it was well-written with steady pacing. It is a wholesome story with a light Christian element. The Christian themes include the importance of having a strong faith in God, prayer, reading the Bible, trust in God, and know that He will answer your prayers but not always in the way you expect. I liked the characters with Jackson being my favorite. He is delightful with his infectious joy. I like how he learned to complete certain repairs courtesy of online videos (they are helpful). I enjoyed the descriptions of Seaside and the ocean. There is a wonderful scene where Jackson and Wendy are finding sand dollars on the beach (they are not easy to find). Colton’s furniture sounded beautiful along with the seashell creations made by Wendy. My one complaint is the ending was rushed along with the romance between Wendy and Caleb. An epilogue would have been appreciated (a year or two later). A Christmas by the Sea is a short book at only 167 pages. One of my favorite sentences is “God takes care of us and He will provide what we need.” My rating for A Christmas by the Sea is 4 out of 5 stars. Melody Carlson has given us another lovely Christmas story filled with love, hope, faith, family and joy.

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LibraryThing member vintagebeckie

A Christmas by The Sea is a charming novella with a quaint coastal Maine setting. Featuring a young single mother and her preteen son, the book celebrates the power of place and family and the presence of God. Wendy Harper and son, Jackson, make their way to Seaside after a few years of struggle

and heartache. Wendy had grown up visiting the cottage she has inherited and treasures the memories from happier days. Jackson wants a new start for his small family and does his best to influence Wendy into staying put in the welcoming town. Enter Caleb, a business owner even more charming than the town. Everything is set for a heartwarming tale of love.

I loved the setting of A Christmas by The Sea. Maine has long been on my bucket list of must-see destinations, and the fictional town that Carlson has created just reinforces that desire. I hope the real thing will live up to the great fictional world of Seaside! Characters are real and relatable in their struggles, doubts, fears, hopes, and dreams. I especially liked Jackson and his determination to find happiness for his mom. The book is short, so the action comes fast. The romance probably develops a bit more rapidly than in real life, but I didn’t mind. This is a Christmas romance after all! The theme of God’s provision is naturally woven throughout the narrative –but it’s never preachy.

If you are looking for a quick and cozy Christmas read, A Christmas by The Sea fits the bill. It is a recommended read.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Revel for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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LibraryThing member JenniferRobb

It's a sweet book--but you pretty much know the ending from the start.

Wendy inherits a Maine beach cottage from her grandfather. She plans to sell it and continue their life in Ohio. Her son Jackson talks her into visiting it first and both he and Wendy like hearing her stories about the summers

she spent their with her grandparents.

Wendy is pleasantly surprised to find the town both changed and unchanged. Some aspects are similar to what she remembers and others (such as a gas station) are new since she was last there. In fact, the only things wrong with it seem to be Wendy's belief that there is no "family wage" work for her there and Crystal, an employee at "She Sells Sea Shells".

Wendy meets Caleb Colton at the hardware store and then runs into him again at the sea shell store. Caleb befriends both her and Jackson--much to Crystal's dismay.

The ending of the book came out of the blue for me. I knew the author was trying to set up a love interest between Caleb and Wendy, but the romance moved from meeting to proposal too fast for my taste. (The meet shortly before Thanksgiving and the book ends prior to December 23rd.) So while I did predict the where will we live? plot point resolution, I didn't think the romance would close the book.

In the end, we don't know if Caleb made good on his words that Crystal would not have a job the following week (due to her eavesdropping and telling Jackson what she overheard). We don't know if Wendy goes to work as a salesperson for Caleb or takes over Crystal's job in both stores. We don't know if they choose to live in Wendy's cottage or Caleb's.

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LibraryThing member wearylibrarian

Wendy and her son, Jackson, move to the cottage her grandparents owned on costal Maine. She knows it is only temporary but Jackson is telling everyone it is permanent. He even registered himself for school. Wendy decides to stay until after the holidays but has trouble convincing Jackson they must

go home. The cottage requires a lot of work and she just can't afford it. But as time goes on, Wendy finds herself wanting to stay. Now she has to find a way to support them and to fix up the cottage. Of course,nthere is a love interest....and Jackson plays Cupid.

A fun read. I found myself pulling for Jackson and getting upset with Wendy for being so stubborn.

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LibraryThing member foggidawn

When Wendy Harper returns to the seaside cottage in Maine where she spent many childhood summers, her plan is to fix the house up quickly and put it on the market. Her 12-year-old son Jackson wants to live there year-round, but Wendy can’t see how she could make a living in a little tourist town,

despite the fact that it seems busier than she expected based on her memories. She has a few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas to get everything done, and no time for romance . . . even if local artisan Caleb Colton does seem particularly charming and attentive. As the days go by, Wendy finds herself wishing there was some way she could stay.

This inspirational novella was a pleasant diversion, nice and Christmassy, though not particularly deep or realistic. Jackson was way too perfect for an adolescent, and the ending of the book seemed rather abrupt. However, I’d still recommend it to readers of inspirational fiction looking for a nice, seasonal selection. I listened to the audiobook, and would recommend that format.

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LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian

Every Christmas season I look forward to Melody Carlson's newest holiday book. It was a quick story (only 167 pages) but it was packed with emotion, family love, and second chances. Wendy and her son are struggling financially after her husband died several years ago from cancer. Left with medical

bills and student loans, finding out that she had inherited her grandparent's beach house seems like a true blessing. Heading to the small town of Seaside, Wendy plans on fixing it up the cottage and quickly selling it and moving back to Ohio. What she doesn't plan on is that her son Jackson will fall in love with the cottage, the town and the people. A friendly and slobbery dog rounds out the picture of the new home that Jackson is hoping will be theirs. With the help of local craftsman, Caleb, Wendy tries to make a living using her craft skills and shells she and Jackson find so she can remain in Seaside. When Jackson finds out that his mother wants to move back to Ohio, he does what an adolescent does, he tries to force his mother's hand. Will Wendy be able to financially support her small family with the crafts she makes or will she and her heartbroken son have to return to Ohio?

This is a sweet story of family, second chances, independence and romance. What could be better than spending the holiday season in a gorgeous beach town that feels like home and the bonus of a new possible romance for Wendy. Can God answer their prayers to be able to start a new life in this small town that feels more like home than Ohio ever did. The story flows beautifully and is well paced. The characters in the story are all helpful in trying to get Wendy and Jackson to stay, all except for the pretty Crystal, who seems to have her own feelings for Caleb. This is a beautiful story about spiritual and personal growth. A magical Christmas story that can be read in a day by a warm fire. The publisher, Revell, provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, opinions and ideas are my own.

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LibraryThing member gincam

I very much enjoyed "A Christmas by the Sea", a charming holiday novella from author Melody Carlson. The characters are engaging, and although the storyline is poignant, it is written with genuine warmth. A widow with a pre-teen son, Wendy Harper is at a crossroads in her life. Traveling from Ohio

to Maine to check out her inheritance of her family's beach cottage. with hopes of selling it, seems like a good way to resolve her financial problems. First, she has to renovate the cottage to make it saleable, and second (and most important), she has to make sure that her son, Jackson, understands that they can't stay to live in the little village of Seaside, Maine. They both soon fall for the way of life by the shore and the homey atmosphere of the cottage. Making things even more appealing for them both is meeting local business owner Caleb Colton, who befriends Jackson and sets Wendy's heart aflutter. As time passes, more reasons pop up to extend their stay through the holidays. Jackson even adopts a stray dog--or did the dog adopt Jackson? Mutual admiration grows between Wendy and Caleb, but can she leave behind the life she knows and take a chance on a bright and shining future full of happiness? "A Christmas by the Sea" is a heartfelt holiday tale from the talented Melody Carlson.

Book Copy Gratis Revell Books via Library Thing

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LibraryThing member Tatoosh

The appeal of romance is practically universal. It’s a significant element in most genre’s: science fiction, western’s, action, adventure, mystery. Occasionally I’ll even pick up a book I know is an overt romance such as Melody Carlson’s “A Christmas by the Sea” for a quick, easy,

uplifting read.

Unfortunately, Carlson’s cloyingly sweet approach is so over-the-top it lacks verisimilitude and becomes irritating. The exaggerated emphasis on “faith,” in which ”God will provide” is viewed by talented, intelligent people as the answer to real problems will further diminish the reading pleasure of readers who do not perceive that as the answer to all of life’s challenges.

Another exaggerated aspect of the plot is Wendy’s inability to set reasonable limits with her son, Jackson. Time after time she resolves to explains the reality of their financial situation to him, only to back off in the face of his manipulative behavior. Carlson provides a good illustration of mildly dysfunctional parenting.

Nevertheless, “A Christmas by the Sea” will appeal to readers who are willing to look past these shortcomings. Sometimes we all have had enough of “reality” in our lives and value the opportunity to spend some time in a day-dream world. “A Christmas by the Sea” may be an attractive choice for a rainy Saturday afternoon in front of the fireplace.

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LibraryThing member gkmiller4

I really don't have any complaints about this book. It turned a bit religious...but it is a holiday book. Although I was looking more for a secular holiday book. I do wish it was longer though!

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