Angels in the Snow: A Novella [Hardcover]

Melody Carlson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2002

An artist finds healing in unexpected sources when she moves to a mountain cabin, grieving the deaths of her husband and son.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Like a spun sugar confection, this sweet novella by CBA veteran author Carlson provides a light diversion for inspirational readers, but fails to offer much in the way of substance. The story begins slowly. After losing her husband and son in a boating accident, artist Claire Andrews flees to a cabin in the woods to attempt to heal from her grief. She's also suffering from creative block, and hopes to begin painting again. While taking walks in the snow, she finds two pairs of tracks one set large, the other set child-size. In her grief, she imagines they belong to her lost husband and son. The tracks, coupled with an injured dog she finds and names Michael, spark dreams of angels, and it's not long before the creative muse strikes and her depression lifts. When Claire discovers that the tracks are made by author Garret Henderson and his 10-year-old daughter, Anna, romance predictably follows. There are some excessively sentimental moments (" 'You never intended to go out there and die. And you never meant to leave me all alone like this. It's just the way life happened.' She took in a deep breath. 'And I release you both now. I release you to celebrate eternity to fly with the angels!' "). Carlson has an unfortunate penchant for loading her sentences with adjectives, as well as overusing parentheses. She occasionally tells, instead of shows, and there are some unnecessarily dialogue-heavy pages. CBA readers who want a quick escapist read, however, may be entertained.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Furious at God for the loss of her husband and young son in a boating accident 18 months ago, artist Claire Andrews has been unable to paint since the tragedy. She retreats to an isolated mountain cabin, where her daily walks are her only comfort and where she is haunted by a recurring dream. When she notices two sets of footprints in the snow, Claire wonders if her husband and son have returned or if God has sent her two angels. She begins painting brilliant, angel-filled snow scenes but doesn't find solace until she discovers and falls in love with the true makers of the footprints-a widowed author and his young daughter. Carlson's (Homeward) writing is standard schmaltz, and her characters are stock. Purchase where light Christian contemporary romances are in demand.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Revell (August 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080071816X
• ISBN-13: 978-0800718169
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,255,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Melody Carlson has written around 200 books for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her books range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including the Rita and Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Snow as a metaphor, August 26, 2006

By 

K. L. Johnson "Mom, homemaker, RN & avid reader" (Martinsburg, WV United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Angels in the Snow: A Novella (Hardcover)

I'm never blown away by a Melody Carlson novel, but this is one of her better books. The main character, Claire, is an artist grieving the loss of her husband and son. To escape the pain, she flees to a mountain cabin. She sees tracks in the woods and imagines that the footprints belong to her dead husband & son. Who those prints belong to, and what she learns about herself and her ability to move forward, is what drives the story. The ending is obvious, but tender nonetheless.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story, February 25, 2003

By 

Vera (Rheinfelden, Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Angels in the Snow: A Novella (Hardcover)

It's a tender, amiable story of hope through despair. Even though it's a little forseeable (therefore only 4 stars), nevertheless it's written with a light hand, and a good sense of humour. It's very good entertainment in spite of the tragic story of the protagonist. Simply adorable and heartwarming.