"That Christmas Feeling" is a book with two novella's that center around Christmas.The first novella is "Christmas in My Heart" written by Catherine Palmer is one that had my attention from the very first page. There are three main characters in this wonderful heart warming and heart changing story. There is Aunt Flossie the old grouch with a few problems of her own that go way back. Then there is her niece Claire Ross who is now the local history high school teacher, who has had a past pain that still affects her. Then finally there is the local police chief Rob West who has made his own decision. Claire and Rob had gone to school together some years ago which how they knew each other. There is a problem that draws all three of these people together that somehow they must learn to trust and work with each other in order to face and overcome the challenge. As things reveal themselves to explain why each one is the way they are, and my heart strings pulled at the aches each has experienced. I found the Christmas Spirit and message of this story also to be just a great thing. To love one another regardless how they are, how we feel and just to do it for one never knows what is going with the other person.The second novella is "Christmas Moon" written by Gail Gaymer Martin had an eye opening first line that is for sure, and from there I just couldn't stop reading. There is so much going on yet not in the action, more like just life in general moving at a fast pace, when things change pretty quickly as the move does for Rose Danby and Paul Stewart.Rose has been hurt in the past and now is facing something similar, yet so totally different, but she is afraid. Paul is a widower with twins who Rose takes care of as the nanny. Overall the timeline of this story is not a boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love at first sight and is over in a mere few weeks. Actually this is a relationship that has been taking place over some time even if they didn't realize it. Most of the conflict is an internal one of Rose's from her past. It is also this same issue that makes things a bit more difficult at times between Rose and Paul.Overall I truly enjoyed both of these stories where family, faith and lesson's learned are a good focus of the stories. There is also the meaning of the Christmas, not just the gifts and traditions but that it is about the birth of Jesus. I found the faith that each character showed and/or relearned to be something that maybe more people, myself included, should maybe try to live out through their own daily lives. I know that I should work on doing exactly what Claire did, like she did it.
What do You think about That Christmas Feeling (2004)?
