Hello and welcome to a new feature on Only By Grace Reviews!!
I have so many holiday books that I wanted to share over the holidays but of course the season blew past way too fast (like it always does!), so I thought I'd try something fun and different for 2021.
This year, on the 25th of every month, I will be sharing my reviews of some of my Christmas reads!! To kick off the festivities I am highlighting Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson.
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing
Release Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: Clean Christian Romance
She never dreamed her holiday would include
her hometown, a dog, or a firefighter.
But a mysterious charm bracelet
predicted it all…
Ashley’s supposed to be having the Christmas of her dreams. After four years of working at an upscale jewelry store in Manhattan, she’s finally going to get a little velvet box of her own—from her boyfriend Jeremy, who’s taking her on a romantic trip to Paris. What could go wrong?
Well, everything.
Ashley heads home to Owl Lake instead, falling asleep on the train ride there…and waking up with a beautiful antique charm bracelet on her wrist. Soon, she realizes that each silver charm predicts an event that happens in real life. What does this mean for her and Jeremy…or her and Aidan, her former high school boyfriend, who’s now a local firefighter? Is there still a chance that she could have the perfect Christmas?
My Review ❤️
As you mature, it's so easy to lose the awe and wonder of Christmas. That's what happened to Ashley without her even realizing it. Totally relatable, but that's pretty much where reality ends, and the Hallmark dream world begins in Christmas Charms.
Ashley thinks she knows which direction she wants her life to go: get a promotion at her job, which happens to be one of the biggest jewelry stores in New York, and become engaged to her boyfriend, who is sweeping her away to Paris for Christmas. When life puts a huge wrench in her plans, she decides to come home, after being away from her family and friends for years. On the train trip home she falls asleep only to awake and find an antique charm bracelet on her wrist. Bizarre in and of itself, but things really get turned upside down when the charms start to mirror what is happening in real life. It is these moments that wake Ashley up, reminding her of her true heart's desires, and opening her eyes again to the magic and wonder of Christmas.
The premise is really what hooked me (I mean, who doesn't love charm bracelets!) but I felt like the execution was a little flawed. I know this is Hallmark, and you expect certain things to be a little over the top, but this novel was too unbelievable, and most of it didn't even have to do with the charms coming to life!
I felt like Ashley was way too much in her head, the repetitive introspection highly annoying. Plus the fact that every single thing, down to the clothes each character was wearing and every food that was eaten, was Christmas related, was overkill for me. I also felt like Aidan's character was superficial. Though I have a thing for firefighters, and though for sure I'd fall in love with him, I felt like he was one-sided. Sure, he rescues Ashley, and has some swoon-worthy scenes, but there's no depth. This is the problem I usually have when authors choose to have an entire novel be narrated by one character, and this was definitely a problem for me in this book as well.
In saying all that, Christmas Charms is well written and does have a good flow. This is the first book I've read by Teri Wilson, but I can definitely see reading something else from her catalog. She has a great writing style and tempo that does put you into the story. I truly did feel like I was in Owl Lake.
Honestly, I think this novel would be better interpreted as a Christmas movie, giving the story the magic that it deserves, and taking the focus off the trivial things that bothered me. Yes, sadly, Christmas Charms fell a little flat for me, but I don't regret reading it one bit. The main storyline itself is an adorable idea, the characters warm and inviting, Owl Lake dreamy, and all in all it really was a "charming" read.
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author Teri Wilson writes heartwarming contemporary romance with a touch of whimsy. Three of Teri's books have been adapted into Hallmark Channel Original Movies by Crown Media, including UNLEASHING MR. DARCY (plus its sequel MARRYING MR. DARCY), THE ART OF US and NORTHERN LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS, based on her book SLEIGH BELL SWEETHEARTS. She is also a recipient of the prestigious RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction for her novel THE BACHELOR'S BABY SURPRISE. Teri has a major weakness for cute animals, pretty dresses and Audrey Hepburn films, and she loves following the British royal family.
Connect with Teri: Website • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Pinterest
Thank you for celebrating with me this month! If you have any good Christmas-themed suggestions for me to review for February, please drop a comment down below!
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the publisher through NetGalley. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own.
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