Christmas at Harrington's

Christmas At Harrington's

I must say that I am guilty of judging a book by its cover, when I saw the cover for Christmas at Harrington's I immediately felt like it was going to be an amazing Christmas story, on the cover you find yourself on a street of any small town in the USA, you have a smiling lady, dressed in a red coat peering into a store window with a display of a Christmas tree and toys snowflakes falling all around her, its just beautiful and depicts the holiday season perfectly. In this story we are introduced to Lena Markham,its less than four weeks till Christmas and she has just been released from prison after serving and eight year sentence for a crime she didn't commit, she was set up by her husband to take the fall for something he did. She decides she wants a fresh start in a new town, so a social worker puts together a release package for her, finding a town to locate her to, setting her up with a place to live and a temporary job, and a bus trip to get her to get her there, while on the bus she meets an elderly lady, Moira who befriends her,telling Lena that she knows despite whatever happened in her past she is sure Lena is a good person. Once they get off the bus together in New Haven, MN she is introduced to Moira's son Sam, who is a lawyer. She soon realizes that the job that she anticipated isn't there, and the only job available is playing Mrs. Santa. Can Lena find the new start in this town she hopes for, and can she keep her past a secret, and what about Sam, how does he play into all of this, you need to read this heartwarming story of second chances to find out! While the story that unfolded inside the pages of this book wasn't exactly what I anticipated , it is exactly what the holiday season is all about, a perfect Christmas read filled with hope, inspiration and second chances.

9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

A Delightful Christmas Story!

One of my most favorite times of the year is Christmas. I love the colors, the feel, the sounds, and the smells. Yep, the smells! But I also love reading the Christmas stories that authors write, so, when Christmas at Harrington's by Melody Carlson became available, I couldn't resist wanting to review it! Not only did it sound like a really sweet read, I fell in love with the cover. The cover scene really came to life for me and instantly captivated me for the story!

Christmas at Harrington's is a sweet and interesting read. A woman inmate left go five years early for good behavior from a crime she insists she didn't commit ends up playing Mrs. Santa in the town of Harrington???? Now THAT is a different twist on Christmas! But, it's one with wonderful characters and messages of God's redeeming love. I loved Lena. She was a wonderful character created with love by Melody Carlson. But, my most favorite character, was sweet little Jemima, so innocent and full of hope. Jemima and Lena, I found, had something in common: they both wanted a new life and a new start that's full of happiness, even if meant being Mrs. Santa in Harrington's Department Store and having a new name.

Through Lena, Jemima, one warm festive coat and God, Melody Carlson creates a story full of love,laughter and hope. Carrying a message of God's redeeming grace, and what Christmas is really all about (through the telling of Twas' the Night Before Christmas Nativity Story-also written by Melody Carlson-in which I MUST MUST MUST get!), this book is one that MUST NOT be missed by any book lover. If you love Christmas and a good story written by a wonderfully talented author, this 5 star book is the place to start this holiday season, or if you have a book lover in your life, add this to their Christmas gift list!

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

A Big Dose of Christmas Spirit

This will be one of my favorite Christmas classics. Melody Carlson shares the spirit of Christmas through many characters throughout. Theres even a dose of the "humbugs" in this book. You can't help falling in love with Lena and you wish you were there to defend her. There were tears and joy, anger and a "Peace on Earth" ending. I love books that draw on my emotions and this one took me on a real rollercoaster ride. I loved it.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

very good book

a lot of skeptic people and unforgiving people need to read this book. Thank you Mrs. Carlson this is your first book i have read and enjoyed reading it....thanks again. wonderful book

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A gentle reminder to help those who God sets in our path

I always enjoy Melody Carlson's yearly Christmas novella. Within this story, the reader finds messages of redemption and hope.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TRADITION! CHRISTMAS AT HARRINGTON'S BY MELODY CARLSON

CHRISTMAS AT HARRINGTON'S by Melody Carlson is a wonderful inspirational Christmas contemporary fiction set in modern day New Haven,MN.It is well written with depth,details, is fast paced and a page turner. It has redemption, forgiveness, selflessness, starting over, Christmas spirit, faith, past secrets, hopelessness,past betrayal, new hope, prison, past mistakes, holiday spirit and a new twist to Santa Claus in the mall....enter Mrs. Santa Claus. The characters are enduring, enchanting,and will keep you full of the holiday spirit. Lena, betrayed by her husband, family and friends was sent to prison for eight years for a crime she did not commit. When she is released she decides to move to a new town, New Haven,for a fresh start, where no one knows her or so she hoped. Here she befriends an older lady, a young mother,her little girl and a young girl who is fighting Leukemia. A unexpected red coat lands her a job at Harrington's as none other than... Mrs. Santa Claus. This is a wonderful Christmas story full of hope, redemption, making new friendships, and finding a fresh start. I would recommend this book especially if you enjoy a fresh look at the holiday spirit. This will be a new Christmas tradition. This book was received for the publisher for review and details can be found at Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group and My Book Addiction and More.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Story To Revive The Christmas Spirit

Melody Carlson in her new book, "Christmas At Harrington's" published by Revell gives us a story that will really get us into the Christmas spirit.

Lena Markham has made a lot of mistakes in her life and the big one was trusting someone who she thought loved her and who got her sent to prison for things he did. Now, seven years later, she is free to start her life over and she leaves it to the prison official as to where. So with a bus ticket, $65, second hand clothes and a job waiting for her she boards a bus for New Haven, MN.

Man has plans and God has plans and His plans overwrite our plans so when Lena does not get the promised job God steps in. Seems Lena has been nice to others that she meets, that is her nature, and she has a red coat so she is offered the position of Ms. Santa

At 167 pages "Christmas At Harrington's" is a novella that has warmth and charm to it. It is a story about Christmas but it is a story about people, who we are and how we relate to others. And this is a story about second chances. God is a God of restoration and redemption and Ms. Carlson shows us how hard God works for us as He changes Lena;s life. Yes, it is time for Christmas and there is no better way to begin than with this wonderful story. It is even a book that can be given as a gift to everyone just to remind them who we are and how God moves in our lives. We all need a reminder at times and this is a nice way to do it.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to Kingdom Highlights where they are available On Demand.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Available November 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great holiday novella with message of redemption

Christmas at Harrington's by Melody Carlson is a enjoyable novella perfect for the busy holiday season. Lena Markham has just been released from eight years in prison in time for Christmas. With no desire to return to the hometown that turned on her, she decides to start over in New Haven, Minnesota. When a donated red coat gets her a job as Mrs. Santa it seems like her life is getting better, but will the sins of her past haunt and destroy her chance of a future? Lena is a terrific character, completely selfless and willing to help out strangers. Her desire to help others quickly gains her friends in the community, and her attitude to portraying Mrs. Santa is inspiring and fun. Yes, the book is a bit sentimental, but if you can't read an overtly sentimental book at Christmas, when can you? This is the perfect season to remember to give people a second chance, to reach out to those in need and allow Christ's birth to renew our love for each other! Carlson's writing, as always, is filled with terrific characters and unexpected twists.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Fun Read

I was drawn to this book by its cover. It shows a woman looking into a store window at a Christmas tree and toys. It is snowing and the woman has a smile on her face. Yet when I began to read the book I found this was not your normal Christmas fare. Lena has just been released from prison where she had been incarcerated for eight years. She had gone from an over bearing father who Lena learned at an early age to do whatever he wanted, and to not question anything or else she was spanked with a wooden spoon. Into a marriage with a man who turns out to be just like her father. Only Lena's husband posed as a minister and it was because of him that she was convicted of a crime she did not commit. While on a bus ride to what would become her new home, Lena is befriended by an elderly lady who believes that Lena is a good person, no matter what has happened in her past. Can Lena really begin again? Or will her past catch up to her? There is only one way to know and that is to buy this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very good!

I have several of this authors books, and each one I have read is delightful and heart warming. This book was, too.

Good

Good

Why is this titledfree?

According to free nook books, this is supposed to be free. $9.99 is not free! Shame cause it sounded like a really cute book!

recommended

very nice story. would recommed
wish it was longer

Wonderful story!

I thjoroughly enjoyed this book.

EXCELLENT!!! Loved this book!

This book is a must read. Definitely recommend

A good holiday story

A small town, good people, a joy to read.

An Uplifting Christmas Story!

This book had an entirely different storyline, that involved making a difficult life situation into a spirited and happy life situation. It shows that there are special people everywhere who can make a difference in the lives of less fortunate people status.

Great

Good read

Enjoyable read!

This feel-good story comes in when a woman falsely accused and subsesequently imprisoned is released from prison.
Even though the obstacles she faces are fairly minor, she till has a great attitude and shows compassion to those she meets.
I definitely recommend this for a sweet story with hope.

Great Christmas book

This story was basically a story of lost faith restored. It isn't the usual everything is wonderful at Christmas. It showed that there are people in the world with true and genuine compassion for others. People who are non-judgmental and willing to overlook faults and past failings. The story restores your faith that there really are good people in the world and sometimes we need to be kind to other people who may be down on their luck.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.