Customer Reviews

The Christmas Edition (Turtle Creek Edition, Book 1)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a wonderful Christmas story. Its the first in a series of books set in Turtle Creek. I love the fact its set in a small rural town as I also live in a small rural town (only my town is bigger).
Lucy isn't looking forward to Christmas as it has bad memories for her. Enter Joe who makes her feel differently about Christmas. I love how Robin has written this book leaving you wanting to know more. I needed to know Joe's story and didn't want to put the book down till I found his story. I love how Robin did this. I wanted to know more about Lucy also. I wasn't disappointed in this story. If you enjoy Christmas stories and reading about peoples lives you wont be disappointed reading this book, it was like a glimpse into a smaller community and how a small newspaper is more like family than a group of employees.
I cant wait for the next book.

Look no further for your next cozy, snow-laden atmospheric romance--It's here, in Robin Shope's "The Christmas Edition." With characters likeable enough to watch on a weekly sit-com, you'll be feeling right at home with the people who fill these pages, and enjoying the journey of getting to know them better as the story unfolds. Ms.Shope will manage to make you certain there are some deep secrets that must be dastardly, indeed--but the ending will leave you with that feel-good lift that is so enjoyable in a book. With this one, you'll want to make some hot cocoa and snuggle up in a comfy chair.

The Wild Rose Press would do well to help its authors by keeping their copy clean and error free, but I certainly look forward to reading this author's next works. And I'd love to see more of the two main characters in this book, Lucy and Joe.

The Christmas Edition was a wonderfully warm story although you could sure feel a nip in the air. The story centers around two main characters, Lucy Collins and Joe McNamara. I just loved Lucy and her family. It made me want to live in Turtle Creek. And Joe was such a yummy hero. There was so much mystery surrounding him that I absolutely had to keep reading and find out what his story was and how it was connected with Lucy. The secondary characters were very quirky and fun. Robin made me feel like I was right there. I could almost reach out for a drink of hot chocolate. Don't wait 'til Christmas to read your edition of the book, read it now. I promise you won't be disappointed! Can't wait to read The Valentine Edition.

I stumbled across Robin and her work when adding my "old" classmates to my FB page for our 30th high school reunion. One of those classmates has a production company and is making a movie based on this book. I love reading Christian fiction and the chances just went up that this would be a good read. Well, it is! I immensely enjoyed the background of rural Wisconsin since I grew up in that state. Then the foibles and flaws of the main characters were all too easy to relate to. There are nice twists and turns and humor sprinkled throughout. At the end I wanted more of the story of Lucy and Joe. So now I'm going to dive into the next editions in the series.

There is something mysterious about Joe McNamara. He seems to have demons haunting him. We are privileged to get into his head as the point of view shifts back between the protagonist and himself. The author reveals just enough of his past to intrigue you, but not quite enough to figure out exactly what happened. This book might be considered a romance, but it certainly contains an element of mystery. I'm not going to spoil the book for you so I'll consider that enough said on this subject. I will say that I figured out most of the puzzle, but there was one big surprise for me.
Robin Shope does a good job of inserting catty women into her plots. In this book Angela is a vintage manipulator trying to keep Joe from leaving her company and her companionship. She's the kind of person that makes it hard to follow Christ's admonition to love your enemies. On the other end of the tug of war is our heroine, Lucy Collins, daughter of the local newspaperman in Turtle Creek, Wisconsin. We have a classic duel of the big city slicker versus the country bumpkin. Except in this case, Lucy is not short of intelligence. She is familiar with city life but is content to stay with her family and the family business. She's a character you can admire. And the tug of war action is minimal because Angela plays a small part in this drama so your dislike for Angela is just a flavoring in this romantic recipe.
Lucy has even more trouble figuring out Joe than the readers do. Her romantic feelings roam all over the place as doubts come to the young lady when negative evidence surfaces. The fact she really doesn't know him leads her to start questioning her feelings. Is he a lover or a spy? She has to decide one way or another. As readers, we see some things she doesn't so we have more information but still we're not certain about him either.
One of the highlights of the book is a minor character named Ulilla, the gossip columnist and classified ads composer. She provides some comic relief. The spiritual aspect mostly involves Joe's journey to find faith. I'm convinced that needs an exorcist before we arrive at the unveiling of the truth which reveals a logical explanation for Joe's behavior and agonizing. That involves a nice little sleight of hand by the author giving this romance a different nuance. The problem with this genre is trying to come up with a unique plot. There have been so many love stories written, instead of a new plot an author can succeed with just a new wrinkle. I think Robin succeeded here. This is sure to be a hit with the incurable romantics.
Donald James Parker - author

I loved this book! It was a very good read for me. The author did a wonderful wonderful job in describing everything...from the snow to the special hot chocolate! I felt like I was right there with the characters! I have always loved a good romance and this one is at the top of my list!

Lucy Collins is more than a woman waiting for true love. She's working feverishly to save her family's business, a local newspaper which is threatened by the big boys. Having aspirations of taking over the paper one day, she's been saving up to buy her dream home. It's just waiting for her - an old, Victorian charmer she can't wait to make her own. No, Lucy hasn't waited around for a husband. Our heroine has already made a full life for herself.

But when Joe McNamara walks through the door and ends up their new editor, she falls head over heels. End of story? Just the beginning. The Christmas Edition is as unpredictable as it is multi-faceted. Just when you think you know what's going to happen, you don't. Over and over, it makes for an entertaining read.

More than a simple romance, the plot keeps winding all the way to the last page. Every time I thought I had it figured out Shope made a twist or turn, like the ride down a country road.

Joe doesn't share Lucy's faith at first, and it's interesting to see the Gospel presented to him through his jaded point of view. Slowly he finds the Lord's help for the secrets that have been tormenting him, but we don't truly understand them until the end. Even Lucy has a secret from her past. Can the Lord bring these two together and heal their hearts? Is their passionate love enough to surmount a jealous ex-girlfriend and the memories of a fiancé's turmoil?

Admittedly, there are enough misspells and typos in the book to be a slight distraction (which I've been assured will be fixed in future printings). And although it's a satisfying ending, everything doesn't necessarily work out just the way we wish. But the holiday tone of the story is just right. It'll put you in the mood to decorate the tree and wrap up the gifts - family, love, and snow can do that.

--Reviewed by Carol Kurtz for TitleTrakk

I loved this book - it was perfect to read this time of year also (obviously by the title!) Set in rural Wisconsin, this book talks about faith, hope in the future, following God's path for our lives - all in the midst of a love story with a twist. Lucy works at her family's newspaper in Turtle Creek, Wisconsin - a paper that she hopes someday to manage. In her search for a new editor, she hires Joe and basically it is love at first sight. However, Joe is not who he appears to be. Without spoiling it for new readers, I will tell you that I did not figure Joe out early on - it was not a cliched romance but one that will keep you turning the pages to find out what he is up to!

Lucy Collins is hoping for a Christmas miracle. The small town newspaper her father owns is floundering and nothing short of a miracle can rescue it. The paper needs a "new editor with a fresh voice" to bring it out of a slump.
Enter Joe McNamara, an excellent writer with sensitivity and excellent writing skills. It doesn't hurt that he is handsome as well as talented.
But, Lucy wonders, why is he in their small town when he could be doing so much more with his talents? She launches an investigation to determine the truth. Her discoveries lead to a startling discovery--Joe is undermining the paper and working with a rival. Or has she unjustly accused him? Will she be able to discover the truth and trust Joe?
This is a sweet Christmas romance. I enjoyed how Ms. Shope was able to interweave Joe's columns into the plot. While the story had several typical romance plot twists ,such as the scheming ex-girlfriend with a vendetta against Lucy, the cozy home town feel and the likable characters will leave you smiling and sighing long after you've finished the story.

The beautiful cover is enough to entice you to pick up this book but there's more...
This author has created an interesting cast of characters that you will enjoy meeting.
She has tossed them together in a story with just the right amount of mystery, romance and inspiration--
A good recipe indeed!
As another reviewer has noted, Joe's true intentions and identity will keep you guessing until the end.
A perfect gift for all the book lovers on your Christmas list.