Customer Reviews

A Cedar Cove Christmas (Wheeler Hardcover)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

As is the tradition for Debbie Macomber, we have another Christmas story that is sure to grab readers by the heart and add a little warmth to the holiday season. The fact A Cedar Cove Christmas takes place is my favorite fictional town, just adds to my delight.

May Jo Wyse is a young woman in a tough situation. David Rhodes got her pregnant and then made lots of promises and said all the right things. Her three overprotective older brothers plan to make the father pay for getting her pregnant, no matter how much Mary Jo begs them to leave it alone.

Now, two weeks before her due date, Mary Jo is in Cedar Cove on Christmas Eve where David said he will be to meet her. However she gets more than she bargained for when he is a no-show. Mary Jo is stuck in town overnight, but there is no room at the inn, so to speak.

Grace Harding takes pity on Mary Jo and takes her home where Grace and her husband Cliff have the whole family staying. They offer Mary Jo the room over the stable, where they are boarding all of the animals for Cedar Cove's Live Nativity. Add to the already crazy holiday, Mary Jo goes into labor with only young paramedic Mack McAfee by her side. Only in Cedar Cove can such an unusual Christmas bring about the magic of love and miracles.

Debbie Macomber is already well known for her wonderful stories, especially her annual Christmas book. Now she has another winner with a modern retelling of the original Christmas story in A Cedar Cove Christmas. Readers will recognize everyone from that very first Christmas in the various residents of Cedar Cove and surrounding areas.

One of the very best things about Macomber's series is that all of the characters become friends and each book is a chance to catch up on their lives. All of our beloved characters are present. Well except for my personal favorite anyhow, Charlotte Jefferson Rhodes, who is on a Christmas cruise with husband Ben. While irrepressible Charlotte may not be physically present, she and Ben play a pivotal role in the story. I enjoyed catching up with Cliff and Grace, Jack and Olivia, and all of the other friendly townsfolk however, even if I had to get the news about Charlotte second hand from her family.

It is important to note, there are some events and circumstances mentioned in A Cedar Cove Christmas that are spoilers to anyone not caught up on the series. I know there were a couple things in particular that surprised me since I'm about two or three books behind.

While A Cedar Cove Christmas is lighter and shorter and takes place over a much shorter period of time than the usual Cedar Cove book, all of the charm and subtle humor that mark the series are present on every single page. A Cedar Cove Christmas is a heartwarming story of love, forgiveness, and acceptance during the most wonderful time of the year.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, September 2008. All rights reserved.

When I read the blurb on the book cover I thought it might be a nice Christmas read, but I was very disappointed to find it so predictable and lackluster. I don't like such shallow, predictable characters. Mary Jo's brothers are in their 30's and act like the three stooges. I found it hard to believe that three guys who run a successful business could be so inept at finding their way around and taking on a simple task like driving to Cedar Cove to find their sister. And I realize they are being protective of her, but she is 24 years old--a little old, I thought, for them to treat her like a preschooler. I should probably mention that I have read a few other Debbie Macomber books and really don't like them very well--for the same reason I didn't care for this one. The plots seem so thin to me, and even though there are some nice supporting characters, I found it dull. I couldn't wait for it to be over. Sorry, those of you who really like this author. I just don't care for her stuff.

I was really disappointed because I really do love Debbie Macomber. It was too hokey and, I thought, written in a very juvenile manner. Something
like a very beginning writing class. But a lovely Christmas story. It was amusing is the best I could give it.

What better gift could Debbie Macomber give her readers than a second visit to Cedar Cove this year? At the end of the previous story, 8 Sandpiper Way, the residents were nearing Christmas and in this latest entry into the series, Christmas Eve has arrived.

The story, as the author readily admits, is not original, but her modern day version of the famous story recorded in Luke. Instead of Mary and Joseph, we have young Mary Jo, single and pregnant, searching for the father of her baby. He was supposed to be in Cedar Cove for Christmas, for as we learn he is the errant son of Ben Rhodes. Unlike his father, David is a manipulative man we have met before when he tried to swindle Charlotte. The parallels are numerous down to Mary Jo's brothers, the three Wyse men. Linc, Mel, and Ned are no Balthazar, Gaspar, and Melchior. But they are a loving family, often slapstick, often irritating, but always endearing, even down to the modern day equivalents to gold, frankincense, and myrrh they bring for Mary Jo and her baby. And indeed, a baby is delivered, young Noelle whose arrival in Grace and Cliff Harding's barn brings joy to many of the beloved characters we know from previous visits to Cedar Cove.

The story is light-hearted and warm, a sure way to brighten your Christmas reading. It's also a story you can easily complete in one or two readings, so pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa with a dollop of whipped cream, and enjoy this joyful holiday visit to the most charming little city I can name.

Every year I look forward to reading a few Christmas themed books. Debbie Macomber is not an author I read (I only tend to read her Christmas books). A Cedar Cove Christmas this years book was a disappointment. It was just so predictable, that you could have just read the dust jacket and figured out the story.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

Mary Jo Wyse who is very pregnant goes to Cedar Cove on Christmas Eve, searching for David Rhodes, her baby's father. He told Mary Jo he'd be in town, but he's no where to be found. Mary Jo is stranded and there is no room at the local inn so Grace Harding brings Mary Jo home to her nearby ranch. She and her husband, have a houseful of guests, but they offer her a room over their stable, which is currently sheltering the animals--including a donkey and a camel--for Cedar Cove's Nativity pageant.

Predictably, Mary Jo goes into labor that night. Mack McAfee, a paramedic, comes to her rescue, just as her brothers--the three Wyse men -- show up in town. The people of Cedar Cove join them in celebrating the birth of baby Noel, and as far as Mack and Mary Jo well you can plainly see where that's headed.

I have really enjoyed the Cedar Cove series until recently.There is a time when the author needs to just end the series. I found that the last two books seemed as if Debbie was reaching for things to talk about. Then this one came out and I am about 48% through it and am finging myself sorry for spending the money on it. I could have picked up last years edition and reread it and saved the money. I am finding that it may be a little hard for me to purchase the next book in the series and move on to something new.

I enjoyed the first story, but just when it got interesting it was over. Then the 2nd story is almost an exact repeat of what she published a couple books back in the Cedar Cove series. Just goes to show - they put "Christmas" in the title and people will buy it. Wish I had read reviews first. I think I'm finished with Debbie Mac.

I bought this book shortly after it was released. I'm a huge fan of Debbie Macomber & was eager to read this book. I'm also reading her Cedar Cove series & this addition to the series really made my holiday reading more enjoyable. Debbie's Cedar Cove take on the story of Christmas was cute & loveable. I'm anxious to find out more about Mary Jo Wyse, her brothers & the budding relationship Mary Jo's about to have with Mack. I hope Debbie keeps writing the Cedar Cove series for many years to come. I love how she does one book a year. If more came out, I'm sure I'd love that but having to wait til September for each one is a thrill.

Fans of Debbie Macomber have found her Christmas novels to be nothing short of a delightfully necessary part of Yuletide cheer. A Cedar Cove Christmas will exceed these expectations!

Mary Joe Wyse has previously believed everything David Rhodes said but is now having intense doubts that don't bode well for the future, especially a future with a soon-to-be-born baby he fathered. Mary's brothers, Linc, Mel and Ned have blown it as well, with their overbearing, albeit loving, intentions. They're threatening to find David and give him a message to treat their sister honorably and perhaps give David a sound thrashing as well, not necessarily in that order. Mary decides to beat them to the punch and find David herself to discover whether she has his support or not, not a hopeful sign at all based on his former lack of connection to her after discovering her pregnancy.

Traveling to the festively decorated Cedar Cove town, Mary finds a wealth of friends who offer her neutral but wise advice to help her in searching for David's home and parents. But the search becomes almost insignificant compared to the beautiful reception Mary receives from these very special Cedar Cove residents.

Meet Grace and Cliff Harding who offer Mary a room above their barn to stay through the snowstorm-driven, Christmas Eve night, a place holding an ox, some sheep, a donkey and one ornery, human-biting camel. You'll meet several other memorable characters who are graciously and warmly present to Mary in her moment of need, even before her searching brothers arrive to find an unexpected moment and a smitten young man helping their beloved sister.

Yes, you might think you know the outcome in this wondrous Christmas tale, but you really don't because Debbie Macomber has created uniquely inspiring characters who equally care for each other and the stranger who arrives to find "there's no room at the local inn..." How they interact will absolutely thrill each reader and remind one anew that love is truly the greatest Christmas gift anyone can give or receive! A Cedar Cove Christmas is a grace-filled, romantic tale you will want to buy, keep, share and reread each holiday season.

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on September 15, 2008

I felt ripped off because the author used an introduction and then proceeded to use the entire text of a previous book.