Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh ~ review

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Revell (September 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800719794
• ISBN-13: 978-0800719791

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Book Description from Amazon.com:

Publication Date: September 1, 2011

Rick Denton lives his life on his terms. He works hard, plays hard, and answers to no one. So when his mother calls on Thanksgiving weekend begging him to come home after his stepfather has a stroke, Rick is more than a little reluctant. He's never liked Art and resents the man's presence in his life, despite the fact that his own father abandoned the family when Rick was just twelve. When what was supposed to be just a couple days helping out at the family bookstore turns into weeks of cashing out old ladies and running off the homeless man who keep hanging about, Rick's attitude sours even more.

Still, slowly but surely, the little bookstore and its quirky patrons--as well as the lovely young woman who works at his side each day--work their magic on him, revealing to Rick the truth about his family, his own life, and the true meaning of Christmas. With skillful storytelling, Dan Walsh creates a Christmas story will have readers remembering every good and perfect gift of Christmas.

My take on this book:

Rick Denton is a successful businessman living in Charlotte thinking about what his plans will be for Thanksgiving break when he gets an unexpected call from his mother Leanne who lives in SeaBreeze Florida. She calls with the news that her husband Art, who is Rick's stepfather has had a stroke and asks him to come home. When Rick arrives his mother informs him that due to Art's condition she can't leave his side and asks Rick to help with their bookstore. What Rick thinks will be a few days turns into weeks. As Rick works in the bookstore he has time to reflect on his past, and what he learns is that what he thinks he remembers just might not be what actually happened.

Another story that grabbed me from the beginning pages. While Rick really wasn't close to his stepfather Art he didn't hesitate to go to head to Florida when he was needed. I think Rick had been looking at his mother and stepfather thru the eyes of a disillusioned ten year old boy who wanted to blame someone when his father left, but when he finally comes back home he starts to see them in a different light. I also enjoyed the It was nice to see him grow and change thru the story. Rick also starts to develop feelings for Andrea,a part time worker at the store and her daughter Amy. Andrea felt like such a real person, she was struggling to make ends meet and also dealing with being a single mother but that didn't stop her from showing kindness to others.The setting of the bookstore allowed gave us several interesting characters including a man by the name of JD.

While I really liked the plot of the story, the characters really make the book for me. A great little Christmas read.

rating 4/5 

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.