Thursday, September 11, 2014

My review: Where Treetops Glisten, plus giveaway!

 
Where Treetops Glisten is a collection of novellas set during WWII! I just love the cover on this one! And even though it's September, it takes me right to the snowy cold days of Christmas. I'm giving away a copy, so keep reading for the details! :)
 
 
Description:

The crunch of newly fallen snow, the weight of wartime

Siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories,
filled with the wonder of Christmas

Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.

In Cara Putman’s White Christmas, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.

Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theater in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?

In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, "Merry" to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.


The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and His plan for a future?

About the authors:
Cara Putman is the author of twenty books including Shadowed by Grace. She is the winner of the 2008 Carol Award for historical fiction. Sarah Sundin is the critically-acclaimed author of the Wings of the Nightingale series, the Wings of Glory series, and the forthcoming Waves of Freedom novels. Tricia Goyer is a prolific author of nearly forty books, including Chasing Mona Lisa, and a speaker and blogger.

(Description, about the authors, and cover photo from Christian Book.  All rights reserved.) 

My review: 4 stars
Great Christmas collection!
Where Treetops Glisten is a novella collection set around Christmases during WWII. I’m not typically a big fan of novellas, simply because they always feel too short to me, but I really enjoyed these. They are closely linked, as the main characters in each are siblings. There are 3 in this collection, which allowed the authors to make them a little longer than the typical novella, without having a huge book as the result.

White Christmas by Cara Putman I really enjoyed this novella! Abigail Turner is the middle child of the family now, though not by choice. She lost 2 siblings when she was a child and after losing her boyfriend to the war, is very skittish of new relationships. I found Abigail to be a realistic character and enjoyed getting to know her. I could easily relate to what she was going through and quickly fell in love with her character. Her fear of losing someone else is pretty much the crux of the story. Her desire to get to know Jackson Lucas and perhaps have a relationship with him hangs on whether or not she can let go of the past and allow herself to love again.
I enjoyed Jackson’s character as well. He is strong, kind, and very patient with Abigail. At the beginning of the story he has his own issues to deal with, including a bit of a mystery, so that kept everything moving forward, as he and Abigail got to know each other. 
My only complaint is that I felt the ending was a little rushed and a bit unrealistic.

I’ll be Home for Christmas by Sarah SundinIn this novella, we get to follow Pete Turner’s love story. I try really hard not to play favorites, but I think this one was mine. Pete comes home from war struggling to escape the horrors he witnessed and the weight of losing friends. I appreciated the realism in that, though it was glossed over a bit. He feels empty and the pastor tells him to give, which makes no sense at all to Pete. But he learns the truth in the pastor’s words when he comes across Linnie, an adorable little girl who is out wandering. Now we get to why this story was my favorite . . . I adored Linnie! She was so cute and sweet! I loved her relationship with Pete and how she often taught him something, instead of the other way around.
Grace Kessler is the heroine and Linnie’s mother. She and Pete have a history and she doesn’t regard him fondly at their first reunion. She remembers him as the bully from her childhood years and isn’t all that excited when he offers to watch Linnie for her. I can’t pinpoint one thing in particular that I liked about Grace, I just really enjoyed her character. Maybe it was the banter between them, or her willingness to forgive past hurts, or how she cared for Linnie, whatever it was, Ms. Sundin did a great job!
The romance didn’t feel rushed, which surprised me. I think it may have been because Grace and Pete had known each other before and started from there. They also spent a lot of time talking and getting to know one another better, rather than just jumping into being in love. Also, Linnie was often the focus, which kept it off their relationship a bit.
I also especially appreciated the spiritual aspect of this novella. It is a bit more prevalent here and focuses on allowing God to fill the empty spaces in your heart, rather than trying to use people to make you whole.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Tricia Goyer
In this story, we get to know Meredith (Merry) Turner, the last Turned sibling still single. I must confess I didn’t like this one as well as the others. Merry had her heart broken at the beginning of the war and is still struggling to move past the sense of betrayal and abandonment she feels as a result. I found it rather difficult to relate to Merry and didn’t connect with her at all. I really wanted to like her, but she seemed a little childish, focusing on something that happened 3 years ago and constantly contemplating the fact she couldn’t be home for Christmas. Also, a couple of her reactions didn’t make any sense to me and made me want to shake her.
There was actually very little dialogue between the protagonists, which was kind of annoying. I wanted them to talk, spend time together, something. But Merry spent most of her time with Nancy, one of her fellow nurses. Also, we rarely see anything from the hero’s point of view, which I suppose makes sense on some level, but I would have liked to know what he was thinking a little more often.

Overall, the novellas were all good in their own right. I really enjoyed the epilogue, which pulled everything together and allowed us one last glimpse into the Turner family. The thing that most impressed me about this book how well each of the stories flows with the others. It being written by three different authors, I had anticipated some discord between the novellas, but each character’s personality and the important aspects of who they are stayed the same throughout the book.
I liked the premise of the series and if I would have liked a few things to be different, then that’s just my personal preference.

I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher, through The Christian Manifesto for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

 
As noted above, I'm giving away a copy of this book to celebrate the release!  To be entered in the giveaway, please answer one of the questions that follows and leave your email address in a similar spam protected format, user[at]suchandsuch[dot]com so I can contact the winner.  If you do not leave an email address, I will not be able to enter you.  The drawing will be open until midnight EST on September 16th.  
You can receive extra entries by following my blog (follow by email option is available in the bar on the right hand side of the screen) and sharing the link for this giveaway on social media.  If you do either of these, be sure to leave a comment and let me know!


Questions:
What is your favorite Christmas carol and why?
What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
Is there a special book or story that you always read during Christmastime (other than the story of Jesus' birth)?
 
 
 
 


82 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. My favorite is come all ye faithful because we still be faithful and I have to sing in for a christmas program at school when in grade school and I wish they still sang this at schools Favorite tradition is getting with my grandchildren and son and daughter and their spouses no special book just Christmas stories my address is likesmusic2[at]consolidated[dot]net

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    1. That is a great song Debbie! I love getting together with family, too! Unfortunately, mine is always super busy, so we don't get that much time together. But quality, instead of quantity, right? :)
      Thanks for stopping by, I have 3 entries for you!
      ~Sarah

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  3. likesmusic2[at]consolidated[dot]net I shared and signed up to follow your blog

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  4. My favorite tradition is all of my family getting together sometime near Christmas Day for a meal, fellowship and gifts. jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi Joan! I love getting together with family too! That's the best part of the holidays for me. :)
      Thanks for stopping by! I have entered you (meaning I wrote your name on a slip of paper and dropped it in a bag. LOL)!
      ~Sarah

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  5. My favorite Christmas song is, Mary Did You Know by Mark Lowry. This song asks questions that I too have wondered about. Here's the first stanza of the song.

    Mary did you know that your baby boy will some day walk on water?
    Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
    Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
    This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

    This song really grabs me and I can't listen to it or sing it without tears.

    Blessings!
    Judy B judyjohn2004(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Hi Judy! That's one of my favorite songs as well! I always listen to it over and over. I love the honesty and emotion portrayed in it. I also love Strange Way to Save the World, which comes from Joseph's point of view. :)
      Thank you for coming by and helping get the word out! I have 3 entries.
      ~Sarah

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    2. Judy, I love that one too!
      Blessings, Tina

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  6. I shared on FB and signed up to become a follower via email.

    Blessings!
    Judy B
    judyjohn2004(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  7. I have many favorite Christmas Carols.....I love Silent Night, at the Christmas Eve service that is the last carol we sing with the lights off and by candle light, very moving....

    My grandson is 10 years old now, he likes to come to our home and put up the Christmas tree and decorate it....he loves doing that and I enjoy watching him....

    Thanks for a chance to win your book.

    blessings,Tina

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    1. Hi Tina! I need your email address, if I'm going to enter you!

      Delete
  8. My favorite Christmas song is Silent Night. My favorite tradition is our family gathering around the tree to sing Silent Night and read the story from Luke before opening presents. I love all three of these authors and would love to win a copy of this book. Thanks for the opportunity.

    Ann Ellison
    abilene_nana@yahoo.com

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    1. Hi Ann!
      Thank you so much for coming by! I hope you get a chance to read it, whether you win a copy from me or someone else. I believe you would really enjoy it! :)
      I have entered you!

      Delete
  9. Our favorite Christmas tradition is opening up our presents on Xmas Eve and saving one from Santa in the morning. My son was born on Xmas eve so it is a special occasion for that too!! Rita Spratlen

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    1. Hi Rita! I imagine you received a great Christmas present, the year your son was born. :)
      Thank you for helping me spread the word! I have 3 entries! :)

      Delete
  10. I have now subscribed to your e-mails. Rita Spratlen rjspratlen@gmail.com

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  11. I shared this giveaway here-https://www.facebook.com/rita.spratlen/posts/756139564433554
    rjspratlen@gmail.com

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  12. Mary Did You Know? It just reminds us of how special her Child was.. Love it!
    d_stevens310 (at) live.com

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    1. Hi Deeanna!
      Thank you for coming by! I love that song, too! :)
      I have entered you!

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  13. My favorite Christmas song? I'm sorry I cannot pick just one....O Holy Night, Bethlehem Morning by Sandi Patty and My Grown-Up Christmas List....I've always loved to sing and my Mama sang the solo's...many times I was in singing groups that would either go to Nursing Homes or mobile home parks etc...and just the look of Joy on everyone's faces and their joining us in song just always left a wonderful feeling inside me. So that is sorta my favorite tradition too.

    Denise Glisson prayerladyd@verizon.net THANK YOU!

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    1. Hi Denise!
      I have that same problem when anyone asks me what my favorite anything is! So, I've just decoded that it's okay to have more than one. :)
      Thanks for coming by and helping me spread the word! You have 2 entries.

      Delete
  14. Denise Glisson again I shared the above on FB (prayerladyd@verizon.net )

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  15. I love just about every Christmas song that has been written, but Jingle Bells definitely gets me in the spirit.

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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    1. Hi!
      I have to agree, I can't hear Jingle Bells and not feel like it's Christmas. :)
      Thanks for coming by! You're entered.

      Delete
  16. My favorite is Silent Night. I love this peaceful song.
    Nancycooks4u ( at ) gmail ( dot ) com

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    1. That song has always been a favorite of mine. :)
      Thanks for coming by Nancy! You're entered!

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    2. I follow your blog via email. :-)

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  17. Joy to the World !!!! So joyful with remembering the birth of Jesus, coming to earth in human form.... my e-mail: caroljdykhouse@msn.com

    God bless you today !

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    1. Hi! I completely agree! Christmas is a joyful season, celebrating our Lord's birth. :)
      Thanks for coming by! You're entered!

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  18. I love Silent NIght! it's such a swwet soft song and it kinda powerful :) I LOVE it!
    thanks for the give away!

    sierrafaith327(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi Sierra!
      I agree! It is a powerful song. :)
      Thanks for coming by! You're entered!

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  19. Really like Christmas music--favorites probably are What Child is This & Mary Did You Know--such a good message in them. Enjoy reading Christmas novella collections each year. This one is on my wish list! Thanks for doing a giveaway. Karen R. kjrochon40(at)msn(dot)com

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    1. Hi Karen!
      I'm actually not that big on Christmas music, but there are a few songs I love and Mary Did You Know is one of them. :)
      I hope you have a chance to read it, even if you don't win it here! I'm sure you would really enjoy it. :)
      Thanks for coming by! You're entered!

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    2. I love Silent Night and Mary Did You know! I like performing in our old church's Living Nativity. But now that we are going to a new to us church, we will have to find a new tradition. My brother and I had a tradition of waking up our Dad on Christmas morning. Now that I am an adult and have moved out, we agreed that I would call and wake him up and my brother would join in. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity! Crystalwinter88[at] hotmail [dot] [com]

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    3. Hi Karen!
      Oh, I love that tradition! I'll have to remember to call and wake up my parents. I'm sure they'll love that. LOL :)
      You're entered!

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  20. My favorite Christmas tradition is getting together Christmas Eve, sharing time & gifts so that Christmas morning can be for remembering the real reason for "CHRIST"mas ! :) dkstevensne (at) outlook . com

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    1. Hi Deanna!
      I love that tradition. I've often felt Christmas is way too commercial and that we've lost the true meaning of it. I love that you have found a way to focus on it. :)
      Thank you for coming by and helping spread the word! You have 3 entries.

      Delete
  21. d_stevens310 (at) live.com
    I'm following by e-mail
    & tweeted :) https://twitter.com/DKStevensNE/status/510911268325056512

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  22. I can't think of a Christmas carol that I don't like, so it'd be tough to pick my favorite! Baking & decorating Christmas cookies is probably my favorite tradition, no Christmas Eve is complete without the candle light service at church & the reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.
    I am following your blog by email & shared this post on FB.
    Thanks! RW620(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Hi!
      I love baking for the holidays (though I just love cooking in general), too! There are always so many goodies and we have to make some of everyone's favorites. We usually end up eating them until New Years!
      I always love the Christmas services. Singing songs and just praising the Lord and celebrating His birth is definitely the best part of the holiday for me. :)
      Thank you so much for coming by and helping me spread the word! You have 3 entries! :)

      Delete
  23. My favorite Christmas tradition is baking a Birthday Cake for the Baby Jesus and singing the Happy Birthday to You song to Him. I am Jeanine, email jkowalewski13(at)yahoo(dot)com Why do you need a special account to leave a comment?

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    1. Hi Jeanine!
      I've heard of a lot of people who bake a cake for Jesus and I think it sounds like a great tradition!
      I would have to assume requiring an account is Google's way of getting more business, though I can't imagine they need it. I'm sorry if it was difficult for you, I know Google can be a pain at times.
      Thank you so much for stopping by and putting up with Google! You're entered!

      Delete
  24. I have a couple of favorite Christmas carols. 1. To Us a Child of Hope is Born and 2. Beautiful Star of Bethlehem. Love to sing and Christmas songs are the BEST!!
    wesnpam(at)fulton-net(dot)com

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    1. Hi Pam!
      I can honestly say that I don't remember those songs very well. I will have to look them up, sometime closer to Christmas - I can't listen to Christmas music in September. It's just wrong. ;)
      Thanks for coming by! You're entered!

      Delete
  25. One of my favorite carols is Joy to the World. What could be better or more joyful than the Savior coming to our world!

    kosterbind (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Hi Kelly!
      I love that song too! I have a feeling that I'm going to have Christmas songs stuck in my head for days now, after hearing everyone's favorites! :)
      Thanks for coming by and subscribing! You have two entries!

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  26. I follow your blog via email. :-) kosterbind (at) gmail (dot) com

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  27. My favorite Christmas tradition is Christmas Eve spent at my Parents/Mother's home with all my siblings and their families present. Our menu is the same from year to year, and those of us who want to attend Christmas Eve services after our get together. It's a wonderul time together to celebrate Christ's birth

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    1. Hi!
      Your tradition sounds great! I love getting together with my family during the holidays, as well. :)
      I need your email address, if I'm going to enter you! If you could please leave it for me, that would be great! :)

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  28. My favorite Christmas Carol is Oh, Holy Night. My favorite Christmas tradition is two-fold & also answers #3. We usually gather as a family on Christmas Eve, so our children can have their own Family Christmas on Christmas morning & we always start our evening of gift giving by reading (and some quoting by memory) 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. On Christmas morning, we begin by reading The Christmas Story from the Bible with anyone who happens to join us.
    Another Christmas tradition is one we never planned--just happened. Our kids always bugged us to allow them to open 'just one gift' on Christmas Eve (when they were young we opened gifts on Christmas morning), so I began purchasing 'Christmas PJ's' to be opened Christmas Eve, so they could wear them to bed & have them on for Gift Opening on Christmas morn. Then when they became adults, & we didn't buy them Christmas PJ's, they said, "where's our Christmas PJ's? THAT is when I realized it had become a tradition... ;-)
    Vicki

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  29. I forgot to leave my email. vmarney (at) hot mail (dot) com
    Also, I'm getting ready to share this & I'm trying to find where to sign up to follow your blog (I didn't see it at 1st glance...)
    Vicki

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  30. I found it & subscribed--guess I didn't scroll up enough the 1st time...
    Going to go share on my FB Pages Victory's Memories - VM

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    1. Hi Vicki!
      I love your traditions! My oldest sister has a similar pajama one and they still enjoy it, though most of her children are grown now.
      I think my parents used to read The Night Before Christmas to us, as well. It sounds very familiar, though I confess, I can't remember for sure.
      Thank you for coming by and helping spread the word! You have 3 entries! :)

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  31. I started a new tradition three years ago that is becoming a favorite with many of my family members. First, let me say that we all do not get together on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The day varies and depends on which day that we can all get together each year. On that day, our new tradition is going out for breakfast at a local restaurant, where we can all sit together. It's a great way to start the day and the best part--it's no work for me! I subscribed to your newsletter (different email address) and I posted your giveaway on my Pinterest "Book Giveaway" board.
    may_dayzee (AT) yahoo (DOT) com

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    1. Hi Kay!
      I love going to eat with my family, too! I love being able to sit down and just catch up with everyone. :)
      Thanks for coming by and helping me spread the word! You have 3 entries!

      Delete
  32. Hi Kate!
    Thanks for coming by! I agree with you that I enjoy a song more when the person singing it can hit the notes well. I find it distracting when they can't, but I still appreciate the effort. :)
    You're entered!

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  33. O Come, O Come Emmanuel. This song is so sweet and makes me cry.
    We have scavenger hunts before we open our gifts and play board games afterward.

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    1. Hi Jill!
      That song makes me cry, too. :)
      I need your email address, if I'm going to enter you! If you could please leave it for me, that would be great!

      Delete
  34. Sarah - thank you so much for the lovely review! I'm so glad you enjoyed the stories! I wish I'd known about the giveaway earlier so I could have spread the word :)

    By the way...my all-time favorite Christmas song is "O Holy Night."

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  35. I love "Baby It's Cold Outside..." Wait, maybe that's not a carol. Well, one my favorite traditions is buying presents for the kids in my family.

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    1. I can be reached at gradmercyATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!

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    2. Hi Bunniker!
      I'm not sure it counts as a carol, but it's definitely a Christmas song, so that does count. ;)
      Kids are always the best people to shop for, I think. They love the little surprises and things you can include. And I love their excitement. Kids are definitely part of what makes Christmas special. :)
      Thanks for stopping by! You're entered.

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  36. I have a small collection of nativity scenes and it gives me great pleasure to pull those out every Christmas! rmaney (at) firstarpchurch (dot) org.

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    1. Hi Rebecca!
      My mother has a special nativity and I remember when my sister and I were young we weren't allowed to touch it, but we loved to watch her as she put it up (it has sentimental value). :)
      Thanks for coming by! You're entered!

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  37. Can't wait to read this book!
    One of my favourite Chistmas carols is Little Drummer Boy. It was the first song I learned to play on my penny whistle. :)
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    Godspeculiartreasurerae[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. Hi Raechel!
      I've always loved singing that song! Can you still play it?
      Thanks for stopping by! You're entered!

      Delete
  38. My favorite Christmas tradition started when I was little. I try get up early in the morning, around 6-6:15 (I know that's not early for some folks :)) and go downstairs into the living room where the Christmas tree is. Sometimes I'll make a warm drink sometimes I won't, and I'll turn on the tree lights and curl up on the couch and just sit there thinking about the true meaning of Christmas until everyone else wakes up and it's time to open presents. It's my favorite thing to do on Christmas day.
    My email is: steadfastgrace8793 [at] gmail [dot] com

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    1. Hi Rebecca!
      That sounds like a great tradition! I may have to "steal" that from you. :)
      Thanks for coming by! You're entered!

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  39. P.S. I also love all of these authors and I can't wait to read the books! Thanks for the giveaway!
    steadfastgrace8793 [at] gmail [dot] com

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  40. My favorite Christmas tradition has always been and to this day is waking early and heading for the barn to greet all the farm animals. clshamion (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Hi!
      That sounds like a great tradition! I love animals and I think it would be special to start Christmas in a place similar to where Jesus was born. :)
      Thanks for coming by! You're entered!

      Delete
  41. I love all Christmas carols, but especially Silent Night. To me, it is a feeling and description of the night of Jesus' birth.
    lgm52(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi!
      Thank you for coming back and leaving your email! You're entered! :)

      Delete
  42. Love Silent Night as an old hymn....but love the contemporary "Joseph's song" "Mary's Song" and a few others...awesome praise! Traditions? Hmmmm tree decorations with the many years of ornaments gotten each year pertaining to personality or life event of that person. Also Christmas eve Candle light service, Advent services mid week & a dash of "just fun" with cookies out for Santa ( he spread good will & not toted as gift giver here...) and The Night Before Christmas story. Chirstmas morn...the Bible reading in Luke & stockings....
    mandn(at)wisper(dash)wireless(dot)com

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    1. Hi!
      I love those songs and your traditions. Most of our traditions have kind of fallen away over the years, but making new ones is good too. :)
      Thanks for coming by! You're entered!

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  43. I love Ring the Bells! it wraps up the whole message of Christmas in such simple words :) And my favorite book to read each Christmas is A Christmas Carol...I've read it every year six years running ;)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    bookworm9404(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi Micaela!
      I'm not sure I've ever heard Ring the Bells - I'll have to look it up later. I can't do Christmas music in September.
      I like watching A Christmas Carol - the one with Patrick Stewart. It's a good reminder of what is important, even though it isn't especially Christian, I still love the message behind it.
      Thanks for coming by! You're entered!

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  44. Sarah....you just keep writing and I will keep reading......Can't wait to read this one. Loved your Wings of Glory Series.....And of course, The wings of the Nightingale series as well. Please....never stop writing. You have an incredible ability to make your characters real and alive to the reader.
    Paula Mosley

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    1. Hi Paula!
      I completely agree with your message to Sarah!
      I need your email if I'm going to enter you. If you could please leave it for me, I will throw your name in the hat.

      Delete
  45. My favorite Christmas Carol is "Away in the Manger" ... I love the simple tune and the simple words, and the image of warmth and safety surrounded by animals.
    (My favorite children's Christmas book is called "The Animals' Christmas Eve)

    Favorite Christmas Traditions:
    Cookie making with my parents.
    My mom usually makes most of the cookie doughs all at the same time and in charge of the oven.
    Dad is the rolling pin master.
    I'm the the fork-pricking and sugar dunking, hand-rolling dough into balls, cookie-cutting, and cookie decorator.

    The other favorite Christmas tradition is called "Ringing in of Christmas".
    It's at the end of the church service.
    "Silent Night" has just been sung, and the candles have just been blown out; despite being completely dark, there is warmth in the air.
    In each corner and in the choir loft, a group of folks with bells stand.
    The biggest bells begin to toll whole notes from the choir loft;
    then each corner joins in - highest bells with 16th notes, high middle range with half notes, the low high range with 16th notes, the low middle range with quarter notes. All that can be heard are bells ringing as loudly as possible, filling every corner of the sanctuary. Suddenly, the lights are all thrown on and the organ plays "Joy to the World".
    It's a neat tradition that has been around for a long time and I've been a participant bell ringer many times.

    Megan Hamsher
    wildernesstraveller@yahoo.com

    PS - I've been lookign forward to reading "Where Treetops Glisten" ever since I saw the first announcement!

    (hope this doesn't show up multiple times....)

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    1. Hi Megan!
      I love helping my mom make the Christmas treats. We used to make around 12 pumpkin rolls each year, and we'd do them all in one day. We had this whole assembly line going. It was a lot of fun.
      And the bell ringing sounds wonderful! It must be so beautiful! :)
      Thanks for coming by! You're entered!

      Delete