Right now I’m reading The Glassblower by Laurie Alice Eakes. I have been looking forward to this book for a long time, ever since Laurie Alice announced to our historical group that she’d sold it to Heartsong. It isn’t available on Amazon etc. yet, but can be ordered from Heartsong and through the bookclub. The Glassblower is about Meg, a young woman who dreams of opening a school in her New Jersey town so that other children aren’t forced away from home for education as she had been. Enter the charming Scotsman Colin, master glassblower, who just got a job at her father’s glass making family. Right away something sizzles between them, but Meg knows nothing can ever come of it. Her father would never permit her to keep company with a mere laborer–instead, he has another suitor in mind for her.

This is a short gulp of a book, and I’ve read titles from Laurie Alice before, so I know it’ll be beautifully written and will speed by once I have an hour to dedicate to it. I’ll do that tonight so that I can debate between the two Christmas titles from Summerside’s Love Finds You line that just showed up.

First to arrive was Loree Lough’s Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska. Can’t wait to read this largely because I’ve been chatting with Loree for the last few months, and she’s such a wonderful lady that I just know I’m going to fall in love with this book. (Not to mention that the back cover sounded fabulous;-) It’s all about an ex-Marine, self-dubbed Scrooge who’s none to happy to be going home to the town where “It’s Christmas All Year Long.” Especially when he keeps butting heads with Sam, the stubborn manager of his aunt’s shop.

A day later came Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire by Lauralee Bliss. This one’s a historical about an artist who orders a mail-order bride . . . but is expecting someone a little more refined than the penniless Sara. As Christmas transforms the tiny town, will the lessons of the season change his heart?

So, there you have it. Three great reads I haven’t had time to read yet. =) Maybe you’ll have better luck than me this holiday season, I say as I teach my daughter how to use her new ZhuZhu Pet . . .

Okay, so another kid’s book. When I was in the Library with my girl last week and browsing the Christmas books, I just couldn’t resist when I saw one by Francine Rivers, who is undeniably one of my favorite authors. The Shoe Box came home with us that night, and while I wanted to read it straight away, I restrained myself until Xoe requested it. =)

The Shoe Box is about a little boy named Timmy who is put into foster care because his dad’s in prison and his mom has to work so much that she isn’t there to take care of him, and the neighbors turn her in. Timmy goes to live with a kind, loving couple who open their hearts to him and his mother.

With him Timmy carries an old shoe box with the words “Running Shoes” printed on the side. Everyone asks him what’s in it, but he only ever answers, “Things.” Though it makes everyone curious, no one pushes. He takes this box with him everywhere he goes, until the Christmas pageant. He’s playing one of the wise men, and instead of his bejeweled box, he takes his shoe box up to give it to Jesus.

I did some serious tearing up while I read this, though I made an effort not to cry outright, given that I was reading it to my daughter, LOL, and she doesn’t really understand “touched” tears yet. But this story was so sweet, so symbolic, so very beautiful–not surprising from Francine Rivers. The pictures are gorgeous too, making it a perfect book to sit down and read to the family.

I love telling my kids stories that show the true meaning of Christmas, the spirit of it, the history of it, and which have spiritual significance. The Shoe Box does all of these things in a format sure to delight the parent as well as the child. Just keep your tissues handy! If it can make me cry, the rest of y’all are doomed. 😉