Customer Reviews

The Christmas Clock

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Christmas Clock by Kat Martin
October 13th, 2009
5 stars


This is my favorite time of year! I always look forward to getting into the holiday spirit with a really good book. The Christmas Clock was perfect! It was a delightful read that kicked off the season and filled me with joy and good cheer.

In the "The Christmas Clock" Kat Martin creates a strong and powerful story which focuses around a little boy Teddy Winters. It begins in present day with the boy grown as a young man who reflects on the events based off of this special Christmas story. That Christmas Teddy was determined to buy his dear grandmother a beautiful antique clock. This endearing novel describes how Teddy does his best to attain his goal and purchase this precious gift. Within this boy's life are various people in his community that come to forever change his world. The clock serves as the centerpiece for Teddy's actions and the people who enter his life. And results in a series of events and situations which will arise within the months before Christmas. There are elements of true love and romance which strengthen and survive that I found very touching.

A heartwarming and poignant holiday story that you must read! This is truly a timeless Christmas story that is destined to uplift your spirits and become a classic.

Reviewed by Monica from the Bookaholic Romance Book Club

This is your perfect holiday feel good read. The note I made myself in my notebook while reading this says, "You know where this book is going from the start, but the joy of this book is reading how it gets there." And that is so true. After 10 or so pages you know exactly who was talking in the prologue and how it will end, but the journey is amazing.

I fell in love with the small town and the characters. There are actually several stories going on with Syl and Joe's old romance and strange circumstances to Syl's leaving town years ago being at the forefront. The other stories involve Lottie Sparks trying to find a home for Teddy Sparks because she has Alzheimer's. And the final story is between Doris and Floyd Culver whose marriage is showing wear from the years together.

Kat Martin weaves these three storylines magically together and it's a pure feel good novel. I loved the romance of the book. It's a wonderful story to read during the magical Christmas season. It reminds you there is good out there and if you try you can find it.

The book was a decent read... but, Kat Martin has definately written better books. The story was short and although it was a good plot the characters were under developed. The writing felt rushed, like she didn't put alot of time into developing the story to its full potential.
Should you read the book? Yes, but I recommend you buy it from a used book store or better yet get it free from your local library...

This is a fast novel to read and could be easily read in one day. It was a very predictable read, which isn't something I like in a book because it makes for a boring read if you can figure out what is going to happen in the novel long before it ends. The characters are likeable enough, but kinda of feel 2 dimensional and safe... Not too much depth to them. The story is simple as well. Overall, this novel isn't a bad read nor a great one. It is a forgettable novel and one I will not remember much about in the future. I wouldn't recommend or buy for friends or family.

I was unfamiliar with this author's writing and therefore thought I was ordering a sweet story regarding a Christmas clock. I did not realize that I was buying a Harlequin type romance. The story started out good with a good premise regarding the purchase of a clock for Christmas by a little boy for his grandmother but I was soon taken aback by the sex scenes that were fairly graphic in nature. If I had know that this author wrote the genre that one sees with the half-dressed men and woman on the front cover vs. the picture of a Christmas clock, I would never have bought it. If you are a fan of this genre, then this book will not disappoint you; however, if you are looking for a wholesome, sweet Christmas story, this is not the book to buy. It was my mistake and goes to show that one should be more familiar with an author before buying.

In Dreyerville, Michigan, Teddy Winter is sad as his beloved grandmother, Lottie, who has raised him, is suffering from Alzheimer's; he watches helplessly as she rapidly loses her faculties. Lottie loves her grandson and in her lucid moments in between the fog, she knows what is happening to her; she is not concerned about herself, but worries about Teddy who will be an orphan living who knows where and with whom.

Meanwhile Teddy has one goal. He needs to find a way to buy a Victorian hand-painted clock that reminds Lottie of her childhood and even in the fog state gives her some peace. He persuades Joe the mechanic, to allow him to work in his garage station. Joe becomes fond of Teddy, but knows his prison record precludes him from taking care of the lad as he wants. He also knows he still has acrimonious feelings towards the person, his former fiancée, who he holds responsible for his drunken rage that led to his killing a man.

THE CHRISTMAS CLOCK is a fascinating Yuletide relationship drama as redemption and forgiveness are fostered by love and caring for others. Fans of uplifting holiday tales will appreciate this allegorical novella through three lost souls finding a small peace on earth with one another if they take a chance reaching out through the darkness to the shining light of love as symbolized by the clock.

Harriet Klausner

I appreciate the way the book gives hope for people getting second chances. It was a little slow in places but over all not a bad read.

SUMMARY:

Lottie Sparks is raising her eight year old grandson Teddy all by herself. He's such a sweet little boy. Its really not been challenging for her until she's diagnosed with a very aggressive form of Alzheimer's Disease. Lottie is painfully aware of her increasing forgetfulness. She fears soon she will not be a reliable custodian for her grandson. With no mother, father or next of kin, what will become of Teddy as her disease progresses? Will he be forced into the foster care system or will Lottie be able to work something else out before she loses her mind?

MY RAMBLINGS:

The Christmas Clock is a book about the residents of a small town. In the beginning, its a little difficult to keep all the characters straight. They are all introduced in the first chapter. The story has three subplots: 1.) Lottie's sudden diagnosis with Alzheimer's Disease, and the dilemma of who will care for her grandson Teddy, when she no longer is able 2.) Doris and Floyd Culver's, battle to re-kindle the "spark" in their marriage and finally 3.) the Joe Dixon and Sylvia Winters saga. Where Sylvia left Joe (college sweetheart and soul mate) at the alter upon her discovery she had cervical cancer. As the storyline plays out the subplots slowly merge into one, with the boy Teddy being the magnet pulling them all together.

The story pace is quick, beginning in June and moving through the month of December concluding with Christmas - all in 160 pages! So, it MAY be slightly misleading to be categorized as a Christmas story, since it only touches on Christmas towards the end. In the book's defense, the boy Teddy, does work throughout the story earning money for a special gift he wants to give his grandmother for Christmas. The characters are somewhat cliche,leaning towards being a little unrealistic, especially evident in Teddy's angelic nature. One would normally expect a boy his age to act out more, considering his grandmother's demise and the situations he's abruptly thrust into. Not unlike most stories written for Christmas time, the plot is predictable. Despite these few minor flaws, The Christmas Clock remains another cute short story with a happy ending which will leave the reader smiling.

RECOMMENDATION:

I would recommend this book to adult audiences who want a quick read with a happy ending and a little PG romance along the way. There are some very subtle religious undertones, definitely not overdone. Even though the story is about a young boy, I'm pretty sure it WOULD NOT hold the attention of a younger audience if read aloud. Please, don't pick this one up if your sole purpose is to read about Christmas. It touches on Christmas near the end, which was a bit of a letdown for me, only because I was searching for Christmas books to read. The main storyline is something completely different, but still very entertaining.

Written and Reviewed by: Gina@ My Precious (A book review Blog)

Sylvia Winters' decision to spare Joe Dixon grief may have been a mistake, but at the time, she thought it was her only choice. Eight years later, Syl is back in Dreyerville coming face to face with the man she loved and lost. Joe Dixon's life changed forever when Syl left him. He's managed to put the pieces back together, except for the hole in his heart where Syl used to be. Their reunion is emotional, unlike the marriage that Doris and Floyd Culver have. Doris and Floyd have grown comfortable leading separate lives. Lottie Sparks is Doris' friend. Her life is drastically changing and her grandson Teddy's future hangs in the balance. With Teddy's help, maybe these couples will find happiness again.

A birdhouse, an antique clock, and little boy mend the relationships of two couples and bring peace to an aging woman in The Christmas Clock. Syl and Joe's romance is tumultuous and eventually, very heartwarming. Doris and Floyd experience what many couples do after spending such a long time together, and sweet Lottie's tale is heartbreaking and very realistic. With a bit of an old fashioned feel, Kat Martin ties the characters of The Christmas Clock together with powerful emotion and a deep sense of love. The Christmas Clock is a poignant story of second chances that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

It was a great holiday Christmas read. The book introduces us to the little town of Dreyerville and its various residents. They all have their secrets, their disappoints, and their hopes and dreams and it centers around little 8-year-old Teddy and his desire to give his grandmother something special, the Christmas clock in the window.

It's a very touching story and a very quick read so you can enjoy it in one sitting. I highly recommend it!