The Santa Hat by Rebecca L. Marsh

 

I don't often read short stories, but it's always with the greatest pleasure that I open a book by Marsh. Her books are always beautifully written and wonderfully easy and entertaining to read. There is nothing to disappoint and everything to enjoy in this (my seventh book by Marsh!) charming and heartwarming collection.

In these stories, Marsh highlights that Christmas isn't all twinkly lights and sleigh bells ringing for everyone…for some, yuletide invokes not-so-happy memories and thus a desire to get through what for them is a miserable season as quickly as possible. And yet, a simple gift, a mysterious phone call, a stolen sandwich, a marital misunderstanding...are all it takes for Christmas to be the fun it was again.

An absolutely delightful anthology that shows there is often joy to be found in unexpected places and of course all perfectly and masterfully executed by Marsh.

See Also:

Beyond the Broken Shore
Remember the Butterfly
Summer's Runaway
The Rift Between Us 
When The Storm Ends  
Where Hope is Found

Beyond the Broken Shore by Rebecca Marsh

 

I'm six books into Marsh's masterpieces, and this is the third in the Princess Island series.

It's always an immense pleasure to lose myself in her books, if not into the company of Marissa and her family and friends on Princess Island. Her characters are real, credible, strong and likeable. You practically want to live on the island and be their friend and neighbour and support them through their trials and ordeals.

Marissa isn't a stranger to tragedy, and in this, she fears history may repeat itself. If that's not enough, Owen, her brother, has to deal with a less-than-welcome face from the past. See book details below.

Marsh brings an organic wholesomeness to her writing so that you feel the grief, pain, turmoil and yes, don't worry, pleasure of all her characters without ever thinking it's been overdone. The saddest thing is getting to the end. Just like a favourite TV programme, I immediately thought, oh no, when's the next episode! It won't be next week, but, whenever, I'll be ready and waiting.

See Also:

Remember the Butterfly
Summer's Runaway
The Rift Between Us 
When The Storm Ends  
Where Hope is Found