1 to 2 of 2
Review Date: 6/12/2010
Helpful Score: 1
A story that could have been no more intriguing or compelling than a run-of-the-mill Lifetime tear-jerker was elevated by the skillful storytelling of Nancy Thayer. Her characters were well-developed & her clever technique of alternating between two time periods in the characters' lives drove the story to a tense but satisfying climax.
Review Date: 1/4/2011
Source: http://www.jhsiess.com/2010/12/30/book-review-the-perfect-christmas/
Prolific, best-selling and beloved author Debbie Macomber is known for providing her readers with heart-warming tales of love, romance, friendship, home, and hearth. With A Perfect Christmas, she does not disappoint her fans because this story is plain, old-fashioned fun to read. Easily completed in one sitting, it is a frothy, delightful mixture of broad, slapstick comedy adventures, as Cassie sets about performing the three tasks Simon has assigned her, and romance as her growing attraction to Simon surprises and frightens, but also delights her.
From the outset, it is obvious where the storyline is leading, but that doesnt matter. Cassie is an empathetic character, a confident and assured professional who is frustrated by the fact that she meets very few eligible bachelors and the ones she has encountered thus far have not been suitable. She is intrigued when Simon describes his client, John, to her, explaining that he selects one and only one potential mate for each of his clients. Simons exhaustive application process ostensibly provides him with all the information he needs to discern which of his clients will be compatible.
But as Cassie moves through the process of completing Simons prerequisites, she finds that she is thinking about John less and less, while receiving mixed messages from Simon. His gruff, no-nonsense exterior belies the tender moments they share and leave Cassie wondering about her Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-like matchmakers true intentions. Readers will wonder, too, if the mysterious John even exists or if Simon has simply conjured him up while he tests Cassies motives and heart before deciding if she is the right woman for him.
Supporting characters Angie, Cassies best friend with whom she also works, and Shawn, Cassies artist brother, a confirmed bachelor, lend support. Her cranky, newspaper-stealing, rap music-playing neighbors are an eclectic bunch who make a holiday meal both entertaining and surprising. Macomber is a master at creating endearing heroines and surrounding them with colorful supporting characters who keep the action popping, the storyline moving toward its always-obvious-from-the-outset conclusion. The Perfect Christmas offers no exception to that successful formula.
Simons real feelings and motivations are eventually revealed. His rationale for the three tasks? Well, that makes sense, too, especially when viewed in conjunction with the wishes Cassie expressed when she retained him to find her perfect mate.
Readers familiar with Macombers work will not be surprised to learn that Cassie does, in fact, have The Perfect Christmas for which she has wished. Knowing that in advance does not diminish the fun of reading about how she achieves it because, after all, in Macombers deft hands, a light-hearted romance like The Perfect Christmas is a perfectly delightful story, sure to evoke laughter at least several times and leave even the most Scrooch-like reader with a perfectly satisfied smile on his/her face after reading the last page.
Prolific, best-selling and beloved author Debbie Macomber is known for providing her readers with heart-warming tales of love, romance, friendship, home, and hearth. With A Perfect Christmas, she does not disappoint her fans because this story is plain, old-fashioned fun to read. Easily completed in one sitting, it is a frothy, delightful mixture of broad, slapstick comedy adventures, as Cassie sets about performing the three tasks Simon has assigned her, and romance as her growing attraction to Simon surprises and frightens, but also delights her.
From the outset, it is obvious where the storyline is leading, but that doesnt matter. Cassie is an empathetic character, a confident and assured professional who is frustrated by the fact that she meets very few eligible bachelors and the ones she has encountered thus far have not been suitable. She is intrigued when Simon describes his client, John, to her, explaining that he selects one and only one potential mate for each of his clients. Simons exhaustive application process ostensibly provides him with all the information he needs to discern which of his clients will be compatible.
But as Cassie moves through the process of completing Simons prerequisites, she finds that she is thinking about John less and less, while receiving mixed messages from Simon. His gruff, no-nonsense exterior belies the tender moments they share and leave Cassie wondering about her Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-like matchmakers true intentions. Readers will wonder, too, if the mysterious John even exists or if Simon has simply conjured him up while he tests Cassies motives and heart before deciding if she is the right woman for him.
Supporting characters Angie, Cassies best friend with whom she also works, and Shawn, Cassies artist brother, a confirmed bachelor, lend support. Her cranky, newspaper-stealing, rap music-playing neighbors are an eclectic bunch who make a holiday meal both entertaining and surprising. Macomber is a master at creating endearing heroines and surrounding them with colorful supporting characters who keep the action popping, the storyline moving toward its always-obvious-from-the-outset conclusion. The Perfect Christmas offers no exception to that successful formula.
Simons real feelings and motivations are eventually revealed. His rationale for the three tasks? Well, that makes sense, too, especially when viewed in conjunction with the wishes Cassie expressed when she retained him to find her perfect mate.
Readers familiar with Macombers work will not be surprised to learn that Cassie does, in fact, have The Perfect Christmas for which she has wished. Knowing that in advance does not diminish the fun of reading about how she achieves it because, after all, in Macombers deft hands, a light-hearted romance like The Perfect Christmas is a perfectly delightful story, sure to evoke laughter at least several times and leave even the most Scrooch-like reader with a perfectly satisfied smile on his/her face after reading the last page.
1 to 2 of 2
