Can you believe that Christmas is in 56 days?!So to get ready for the upcoming Christmas season I just read Melody Carlson's new book The Christmas Joy Ride. It is the story of 85 year old Joy Jorgenson (who is also known by her blog name "Christmas Joy" ) who decides to take a road trip from Chicago to Phoenix in a RV that is completely decked out for Christmas with lights in the windows, Sparkling garland taped on the sides and a huge wreath tied to the front of the RV. Her neighbor Miranda is worried about Joy's health on such a long trip and being that she is unemployed and facing foreclosure she agrees to come along and help out. Joy had posted a contest on her blog that 6 people were going to win Christmas. She did not tell them what the prize was but she wanted to know why they needed a little "Christmas Joy" this year. Miranda and Joy are going to go to each of the winners home or business and put up Christmas decorations , hand out cookies and get them into the Christmas spirit. The places they go varies as much as the people themselves, like a Nursing home that needs a little hope, A diner where a single mother is struggling to keep her restaurant open so she can support her family or a little girl that has not had Christmas since her mother died . Each of the stops are to very different people in all stages of life but they may not get to finish their trip because Joy's health is starting to fail. Will they be able to make all of their stops and still get to Phoenix for Christmas? Or will the coming winter weather and Joy's health concerns force them to abandon their mission?
I thought that the book was well written and that the characters were sweet. The only thing that I did not like in the book was that it mentions Santa Claus a lot and did not mention the meaning of Christmas (which is the birth of Jesus) . Yes, they did have a nativity given at all of their stops but they also had Santa Claus. I wish that somewhere in the book Joy would have explained to Miranda or one of the winners from the contest what the true meaning of Christmas is, since you cannot have any Christmas joy without the real reason for the season.
Overall, It is a heartwarming story with a OK ending. I give it 3 stars ***
If you want to check this book out or other books by Mrs. Carlson, You can check out her books by clicking on the link pasted below. ( I recommend Double Take or Grace Unplugged by Melody Carlson)
http://www.melodycarlson.com/index.shtml
I would like to thank Revell , A division of Baker Publishing Group for allowing me to review this book in exchange for a free copy, I was not required to write a favorable review, just an honest one.
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