Cara Putman writes World War II romances for Heartsong Presents and romantic suspense for Love Inspired Suspense. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three children. She lectures at a Big Ten university and serves ACFW as Publicity Officer. Carol Award: Novella: Finalist: Ride With Me Into Christmas
Title: Ride with Me into Christmas in A Door County Christmas
Author: Rachael Phillips
Publisher: Barbour Publishing (Rebecca Germany, Editor)
ISBN: 9781602609686
Category: Novella
Reviewed by: Cara Putman
As a rule, I’m not a novella girl. I like richly layered stories, and it’s difficult to add subplots to a novella with its shorter word count. The novellas in A Door County Christmas surprised me—and Ride with Me into Christmas delighted me.
What makes it fun is Phillips’ great sense of humor and her way with words.
If you’ve ever met Rachael Phillips or read anything she’s written, you know she has a delightful sense of humor. She’s one of the lucky souls who can be funny in an effortless way, instinctively knowing how to draw the humor out of a situation. That wonderful talent shines in this novella.
Joanna Flick is a recent widow who hasn’t found her way out of grief. Paul Sorenson is her neighbor, and he does small things to let her know she’s not alone—and makes sure she doesn’t forget to eat.
Slowly, over his grandsons and bicycles, they spend time together. Their friendship develops with fits and starts. Through this novella, I came to care about Joanna and Paul, to want them to find healing. It’s the kind of story that can touch many, but what makes it fun is Phillips’ great sense of humor and her way with words. The scenes come to life and the characters are so real with all the foibles I know all too well.
Pick up Ride with Me into Christmas and join a journey to love that’s not a straight line, but instead twists around adult children, turns with bicycles, and climbs to a great finish.
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