Finding Noel

Finding Noel

Richard Paul Evans

***** ( 5/5)!

This novel COMPLETELEY made up for my disappointment with Dear John. This has to be one of my favorite stories- Christmas or not. I read this book and actually shed a tear or two. I picked this up on the way to my hair appointment and finished it before my hair was even dry ( it tied to stop and save it , but I couldn't). You know it had to be good to a) finish it that fast and b) shed a tear or two in the beauty shop.

I’m a fan of The Christmas Box, which my teacher read to my class way back in 7^th grade. The entire class was moved by that story and I usually pull it out and read it when I need to get back in the Christmas Spirit (ok sometimes I cheat and watch the movie). Anyway, so I knew I was in for a treat when I picked up this book, but I had no clue how good a treat.

Mark Smart was at the end his rope one snowy night when he stops off for a cup of coffee and meets Macy Smart. What happens next changes their lives forever. Macy offers Mark a shoulder to cry on and Mark and Macy forge an intense friendship. Weeks later, Mark proposes to Macy, but Macy declines and forces to Mark to comfort some issues of his own. Returning home his stepfather tells him "sometimes it's the fight that makes a thing worth having" as the reason not give up- especially where Macy is concerned. I think that is my favorite line of the book. Each chapter also starts with a beautiful quote.

I absolutely loved this book. I love the Christmas theme, but I think this is a book that transcends it and I see myself re-reading it anytime (who says you can’t have Christmas in July?). This is a great love story and a great Christmas story, and is one of the best of the former and may be the best of the later (besides the original story of Christmas of course!). I think it has even replaced The Christmas Box as my favorite.

Five plus stars! Go get this one! I just passed it on to a coworker and she read it over the weekend and loved it as well!

Dear John

Dear John

Nicholas Sparks

*** (3/5)

John Tyree is the person everyone says should join the military. Rebellious and lost at a youth, Tyree follows this advice and joins the military is transformed by his experience. On leave in his hometown, he meets Savannah Lyn Curtis and what follow is a whirlwind love affair/ courtship. Their vacation ends and John returns to his station in Germany and Savannah returns to school. The two keep up their relationship, waiting for the day when John will return to the U.S. and leave the military. Then Sept. 11. Feeling the call to continue to serve his country, John re-ups. He is then sent to Kuwait and Iraq leaving Savannah behind. Eventually he receives a Dear John from Savannah who has been forced to move toward her destiny. This book culminates when John returns home to bury his father and reunite with Savannah, however, things have changed drastically and one decision has changed everything.

I don’t want to give too much away so, I will just leave it there.

I was rather disappointed by this book- to me it seemed out of Spark’s character and I hated the ending. I was fine with the actual ending, I just felt it was out there and a little unbelievable (although my eyes did glisten). The ending didn’t have to be happy, just better. I did enjoy the relationship between John’s father and Savannah and the portrait that Spark’s painted of him. Besides that, I was rather let down by this book. This isn’t his best, nor is it a great love story. I was moved, but just not enough.

My favorite is still "The Wedding". I also have At First Site & True Believer on my bookshelf to read. I'm saving them for a rainy day.