Customer Reviews

The Christmas Bus

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Other than the info on the book jacket, I had no clue what to expect from The Christmas Bus by Melody Carlson. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. This is the story of a sixty-something pastor and his fifty-something wife, empty-nesters who have learned they will soon experience a Christmas without children or grandchildren. Edith, who operates their family-owned bed and breakfast, can not bear the thought of no little faces and feet running through their home. She laments this possibility until she hears profound words of wisdom delivered in a sermon by her husband, and then she knows what she must do. The bed and breakfast, which also serves as their home, will be open for business during the Christmas holidays - and the excitement, chaos, and confusion of the holidays will not elude their home, even if their children have chosen to do just that.

What follows is a subtle story about an odd collection of people who decide a Christmas stay at The Shepherd's Inn is exactly how they want to spend their holiday. By the end of the story, the residents of quaint Christmas Valley have experienced the true meaning of Christmas, and Edith has answered the question posed in Hebrews 13:1-2, "Will you be ready?"

During the holidays this voracious reader likes to find special holiday reads to make the season brighter. I took a gamble on Ms. Carlson's book as I had not read her before, but the cover art caught my eye and I took a leap of faith. Imagine my happiness when the book turned out to be a wonderful story of a minister and his wife taking in strangers to their bed and breakfast when their children cannot come home for the holidays. An eclectic bunch convene upon Pastor Charles and Edith ready or not, making the story so funny, yet touching. I will now have this book as a yearly read along with Capote's "Christmas Memory" Karon's "Shepard's Abiding," Gulley's "Christmas in Harmony" and many others that I treasure and love.
I highly recommend this uplifting read.

THE CHRISTMAS BUS is a sweet tale by prolific author Melody Carlson that entertains while encouraging readers to embrace the true spirit of Christmas. Edith Ryan is the cheerful, glass-half-full owner of Shepherd's Inn in the quaint town of Christmas Valley (population 2,142). Her husband, Charles, is the local pastor of Christmas Valley's only remaining church. After 25 years, Christmas Valley has revitalized its economy by becoming the "Christmas capital of the world," complete with Mrs. Santa's Diner (don't miss the "Blitzen Burgers") and the North Pole Coffee Shop. Tourism rules.

So it's a problem when Collin and Amy, a young married couple expecting their first baby, roll into town in a psychedelic broken-down bus nicknamed "Queenie" and detract from the carefully-staged ambiance. With no money and the birth of the baby imminent, it's only the kind heart of Edith Ryan that turns the town's hostility toward the young couple around --- and changes Amy and Collin's view of Christianity.

But Edith has her own set of problems. For the first time, her adult children and young grandchildren won't be making the trip to the B&B to spend Christmas with them. In a fit of inspiration, she decides to offer a discounted Christmas package for those folks who need a place to stay --- and people to be with --- over the holidays. The inn soon fills up as it attracts a motley assortment of lodgers for the holidays. Lauren and Michael Thomas are a pleasant, 30-something couple who have problems that seem insurmountable. Jim Fields and his wife Carmen constantly squabble. Divorcée Leslie and her young daughter Megan are a pleasant addition to the cast of characters, giving Carlson a chance to throw in a little romantic intrigue. Albert Benson is an elderly widower who seems to have lost the joy of living.

Myrtle Pinkerton is a crotchety elderly woman who seems to promise nothing but trouble. But, as Edith reminds herself, "this Christmas was about being hospitable to strangers. And she'd certainly never had a guest who was any stranger than Myrtle Pinkerton!" Myrtle seems intent on disrupting the peace of Christmas Valley, from making a scene in the local coffee shop to getting involved with the Christmas pageant at the church. When she decides to add live animals to the program, things threaten to fall apart. Then, when Edith's heirloom porcelain angel disappears, it seems certain that one of the guests has broken or stolen it. Will suspicion ruin their Christmas together? Edith takes her problems to God in prayer, and all ends well, as readers will expect.

The story moves along smoothly, and although most of the characters are lightly sketched, readers will bond with the delightful Edith Ryan and roll their eyes over the cantankerous Myrtle. Yes, there are clichés here --- the Victorian B&B (a staple in faith fiction), the allegorical "no room in the inn" seen before in faith fiction, and the angel in disguise. But in Carlson's capable hands (she's a Gold Medallion and Rita Award winner), the plot line transcends the clichés and is warm and endearing. The pretty page designs and attractive cover make this a natural for gift-giving.

In a season that is too often rife with a preoccupation for material things, Carlson reminds us that one of the true gifts of Christmas is reaching out to those in need, and perhaps entertaining angels unawares.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby.

Edith Ryan (wife of local pastor Charles) is disappointed because none of her children will be returning home for Christmas this year. Determined to have a full and joyous home, she decides to keep The Shepherd's Inn (her bed and breakfast) open during the holidays. She believes that God will send people (especially children) that need just what she and Christmas Valley (where Christmas is a year-round experience) can provide.

What Edith gets is cranky church members and townspeople who think they know what is best for Christmas Valley. Then there's Myrtle, a bossy know-it-all; a young mother and daughter who are alone; an older man who wants to be left alone; a squabbling husband and wife; and a multi-colored bus that breaks down in front of The Shepherd's Inn--complete with a very pregnant woman. Amy and Colin, owners of the bus, are struggling to make it to San Diego before the baby is born. But without funds, it looks like they're stuck in Christmas Valley.

The old saying is: Be careful what you wish for, you might get it. Edith's house is full, but it's not going as she thought it would. Perhaps there's something bigger and better going on in the background. Time will tell.

The Christmas Bus is a lovely Christmas story of the wonderful way in which God works in our lives, if we step out of the way. It's a reminder that appearances are deceiving and one never knows if and when they are entertaining a soul in need, the angels or the Lord Himself.

Armchair Interviews says: The Christmas Bus entertains, while reminding us all of the true spirit of Christmas.

I was seeking some Christmas stories, and I love this. In fact I purchased 3 of her books and each one was as good as the other. Each year it is nice when I have some down time to read books that remind us what this season really represents. This story of B and B owners and the story of why they opened up their home over the holidays will be one I will remember for some time. The kindness of strangers is always a gracious gift. This author understands heart, she writes with one.

Edith Ryan and her husband, Charles, run The Shepherd's Inn in Christmas Valley, a town that decided to capitalize on its name years before when the economy faltered. Normally, The Shepherd's Inn is closed at Christmas since the inn doubles as Edith and Charles's home and they usually have their children visit for Christmas. This year, however, the children are not going to visit. So Edith, after listening to one of her husband's sermons (he is the pastor of the village church), decides to open the inn for the season. She posts an Internet ad advertising a discount and, somewhat improbably, soon has enough reservations to fill the inn.

By far the most interesting of the guests is Myrtle, a cantankerous old woman who succeeds in irritating almost everyone in the town. And yet there is something about Myrtle . . . including her references to the real meaning of Christmas and her decision to volunteer to help with the Christmas pageant.

Shortly before Christmas, the titular bus shows up, looking like a hippie holdover and causing consternation among the townspeople, many of whom consider it an eyesore. But inside is a young woman who is pregnant, and Edith can't simply turn her away--even though there is no room at the inn.

Edith tries to be a good innkeeper, a good host, and a good Christian, mindful of her husband's admonition that "you might discover the Lord is right there in your midst." But Edith's patience is sorely tested when Myrtle indicates that what the pageant needs is live animals.

When I read this, author Melody Carson (All I Have to Give: A Christmas Love Story) was new to me. I thought she handled the novel extremely well, especially the characters of Edith and the enigmatic Myrtle. Once the novel starts, the plot is fairly obvious; the novel holds few surprises. But the read is enjoyable and certainly helps to put one in the Christmas mood.

This is definitely a Hallmark movie to be made. The characters are so delightfully described that you immediately form an image of them in your mind. The slow conversion of the community is as magnetic as the coming together of the guests at the bed & breakfast. I am so glad I read this before Christmas because it opened up whole new feelings as well as observations of God working in my life and the lives of others. We all have poeple like these in our midst.

I just starting reading this free download today and stopped at chapter five. I purposely didn't want to get too far in the story because this is the type of reading I need just before Christmas. I plan to slowly continue reading as the Christmas season gets closer (heck, it isn't even Halloween yet). Melody Carlson has written a good old-fashion story with characters that I can identify with. I know my review is early since I haven't finished the book yet but.......so far, so good. I will finish my review in December after I read the last sentence of the book. If we had the decide if we should pay for a book "after" reading it.....I would buy this one.

The Christmas Bus by Melody Carlson was chosen by my book club as our Dec. book. We were looking for a book that was a fast read and a plot with a Christmas message. This book was just what we wanted. The story is predictable but well told and the ending is sweet and has that message we wanted for the season.

I loved the story but was a bit disappointed when it ended. There were so many wonderful characters and a well developed story it left me wanting more.