A Magical Christmas by Heather Graham

Copyright Date: 1997
Publisher: Topaz
Genre: fiction
Pages: 330
Challenges:
Author's Website
My rating: 5/5


Simple Description:
This story alternates between the Radcliffe family in present day (well..present day for when the book was written) and the Wainscott family in 1862 that is torn apart by the Civil War.

It's Christmas Eve in 1862 and Mr. Wainscott is a confederate officer who is about to be hanged.  As if that wasn't bad enough, he's being held prisoner at his own home, Oak River Plantation.  When his wife finds out she sets out to try and save her husband.

Julie and Jon Radcliff's marriage might be over.  Jon had an affair several years ago and Julie is having trouble forgiving him.  They have three kids and while they don't want their kids being effected by what is going on, they are.  Jon loves his wife and doesn't want a divorce.  He suggests they go to Oak River Plantation for Christmas and try to enjoy being a family.

Julie isn't sure why she agrees to the trip but she does.  It seems things aren't going to get any better.  How can they when she isn't sure how to connect with her husband anymore and everyone seems to constantly be bickering.

There seems to be something different about the Inn and the family who runs it.  You never see them together but they talk about each other with love.  They all seem to look forward to Christmas Eve and a big party.

Now what you really want to know....my thoughts:
I loved this book.  I thought this was an excellent Christmas novel.  The Radcliff's have so many problems.  They need this vacation.  They need time away from the stress of every day life.   You can piece together what is going on with the family who runs the Inn and how they fit in with the family from 1862, but that's ok, it doesn't ruin the story and I'm sure you are supposed to figure it out anyway.   You can't help but want the Radcliff family to work things out too.  They all seem a bit lost but you know if they could just talk and not get upset with each other they would be ok.

I highly recommend this book.  It's an excellent novel for the Holiday season, especially if you like a little bit of magic in a Holiday novel.   In fact, I finished it Saturday morning and brought it with me to my Mom's party so she could borrow it.  I stopped by her house tonight to pick up some oreo balls (yummm) and she gave it back to me.  She already read it and she loved it too.

(I'm probably also not doing the book justice with this review, I've been suffering from a cold for over a week.)

I wasn't able to find this book new at any of the local stores or online.  I ordered a used copy.  While it might be hard to find a copy, unless you just order it used online, I think it's worth the effort.



This book is part of my collection and was either bought or given to me.