A Christmas Miracle: The Gift of Love
Series: Christmas Miracle Series, Book 2
By: Sandy Loyd / Narrated By: Carol Dines
Length: 2 hrs and 48 mins
It has its charm even if the writing’s not the best
This is the hardest Christmas Megan has ever had to face. Her husband died in a skydiving accident almost a year before, and she’s trying to get along and make everything okay for her seven-year old son, Ryan. Leaving their dog, Buddy, behind, she and Ryan head out to spend the holidays with family. And who, except handsome Kevin, her husband’s best friend and her always-comes-through type of friend, will drive the two to family, being the role model young Ryan is craving.
Sooooo, A Christmas Miracle is pretty much a predictable listen and has all the ingredients of a very (VERY) brief romance book. Carol Dines narrates it with an odd accent that comes out in different words and leaves the listener bemused, but mostly she does a capable job. Her men aren’t too growly, and though Megan is grieving on the one hand, befuddled by love on the other, she never comes off as a whiner or toooooo terribly downtrodden. Not even when putting up with her mother-in-law’s barbs and accusations (definitely the Grinch of the story).
Keep in mind this is a really short book, so there’s not much in the way of substance. Huuuuuge problems that have been around forEVER (like, say, mom-in-law’s ill-wishes) are solved with just the right sentence, just the right tone of voice, at just the right time. Kevin’s forever crush on Megan is dealt with and is over and done with in less than 10 minutes.
And the Christmas miracle involving Buddy? Well, there’s not that much tension there either, as even in a dire ice storm, travel by car for Megan and Kevin works out without trial or tribulation, and all is resolved posthaste.
It’s a nice enough little listen, but actually, you could do more within 2 hours and 48 minutes of running time if you’re a better writer…
If you have down time and are looking for a no-tension way to spend that time and want a little bit of romance, A Christmas Miracle is okay. But just okay. After all, when a guy tosses out a line like: The snuggling is the best part? Well, you KNOW you’re wallowing in a fiction most extreme!
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