21 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Very much Christian literature, December 22, 2011
This review is from: White As Snow : A Christmas Story (Mysterious Ways #1) (Kindle Edition)
This starts as a compelling story of a young boy all alone on a remote ranch in the Colorado territory, struggling to take care of the ranch and his comatose grandfather. There were some nice elements to this story; the characters were beautifully developed and the setting and situation made for a great read. But in the second half, the warm, feel good Christmas story I was expecting turned into Bible quotes and preaching. With all respect and no offense intended to Christian readers, I was disappointed that the beautiful, lyrical story I was reading became proselytizing. That's okay but not what I want when reading fiction.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Donna Westover Gallup is a master storyteller., December 19, 2009
Donna Westover Gallup is a master storyteller. Her book "White as Snow: A Christmas Story" will keep you wanting to turn to the next page and keep reading. The chapters of the book are fairly short. It is an excellent book for both adults and children as young as 10 to read for themselves. You could read one chapter a night to your children or grandchildren. The book appeals to all ages. It is simply wonderful!
The story is set in the Colorado territory in 1864. The author provides excellent characters. There is Charlie. For about the first half of the book I was curious as to his age. I knew he was a young boy and through the story I learned he was barely taller than the two-headed axe he was trying to use. Only later did I learn he was ten years old. We learned his age when he answered the question, "How old are you boy?"
The next person in the story is Gramps. For most of the story Gramps is in bed, fighting for his life. Charlie, his grandson, cares for him by mimicking the care he received from his late grandma when he was sick. Only later in the story do we learn Gramps is battling pneumonia.
With Gramps sick and winter coming on Charlie has to care for himself, the farm and Gramps. Through a series of well written remembrances or flashbacks we meet the 9th Kansas Cavalry of the US Army that has come down from Fort Collins to buy cattle from Gramps. We see Charlie drawing from his memory lessons that Gramps and his grandma had taught him that sustain him though this tough time. We have reflections on attending a camp meeting revival with the evangelist, not the circuit preacher. We have reflections of visiting the neighbors and their four children who live in a one room cabin.
We see how the training up of a child in the ways of the Lord helps him in these tough times. The book has a scary scene in it. Charlie has taken "Old Blue" which is his grandfather gun. He has been told not to use it, though Gramps has been teaching him with the gun. He barely escapes death during an attack by a grizzly bear who he believes is defending her cubs from him. The scene was so well written it had my heart racing and the palms of my hands sweaty. Throughout the book we see Charlie dealing with the guilt he felt for disobeying Gramps and taking the big, heavy gun. And he loses the gun in his encounter with the mama Grizzly bear.
Charlie is losing hope and faith. He cries out to God. At just that perfect time as his supplies are running low and he is ready to give up, a giant mountain man, named Jess, shows up riding a giant horse, named Goliath. Jess able to help him. He teaches Charlie that God has not abandoned him. He shows that things could actually have been worse if he wasn't praying. Jess helps restore Charlie's faith and helps him to get the ranch back in order.
Jess and Charlie share the same birthday. Jess makes this a Christmas to remember as he gets them a Christmas tree, the first one they have had since Grandma died. He cooks a Christmas feast for them, and they even find and us Grandma's good china for the meal. Gramps recovers and Jess simply vanishes.
The novel is inspirational fiction at its best. The book has a happy ending. I was left wondering if the big mountain man Jess was real or an angel sent from God to help Charlie and Gramps at their time of need.
Donna Westover Gallup has a way with words. There is beauty in her descriptions. Her writing is has a poetic flow to it. While the book might interest people with spiritual beliefs, it can be a heartening account for everybody else. Five Stars and a big hug for the author is my rating for the book. Donna Westover Gallup did real well in writing this book. "White as Snow" is book one of the "Mysterious Ways Series." Book two is" Rock of Refuge." Book three is "In Green Pastures." I have book two and three on my desk ready to read next.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Captivating!, February 12, 2012
This review is from: White As Snow : A Christmas Story (Mysterious Ways #1) (Kindle Edition)
I'll start out by saying that I downloaded this book as a 'Free for Kindle' edition, based on the reviews it had received thus far. I read a lot of fiction, and especially love period or historical fiction with Christian themes woven in.
Ms. Gallup has such a warm way of describing everything and everyone, and in such detail, that you can actually picture all of the locations and characters vividly. Her knowledge of the era comes out in her details, too. But what I love most of all is how her main characters warm your heart and make you want to both know them and to emulate them. The recurring theme that God is always with us is brought into the book in a very creative, sometimes humorous, and always heartwarming way.
This book is not "preachy" as some Christian fiction is. Discussions about God and references to the Bible flow naturally through realistic conversations that the characters have. Lessons based on Christian beliefs are taught lovingly and gently, often reminding me of some of my own conversations with God over the years.
I found myself not wanting to put the book (Kindle) down until I finished it at 2 a.m., and was so happy to realize it was part of a series. I immediately downloaded and read the next 2 books, and am now looking forward the release of the 4th and final installment in the Mysterious Ways series.
It's been a long time since I purposely went in search of all of the books in a writer's series. And, in fact, this is only the 3nd author I've done this with. I highly recommend this series. It's suitable for any age group, and especially recommended when you are looking forward to one of those long, long reading days. I hope you enjoy this book -- and the others -- as much as I have.
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