Book Review: Bentonsport - A Christmas Story by Lisa Schnedler

Welcome to the Review + Blog Tour for Bentonsport - A Christmas Story by Lisa Schnedler, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Bentonsport - A Christmas Story

Series: Bentonsport #1

Author: Lisa Schnedler

Publisher: Scrivenings Press

Release Date: September 27, 2022

Genre: Clean Romance/Christmas/Time Travel

What if you found the love of your life right in your hometown—in another century? Bentonsport—two different eras in one special town, two lonely persons, and one miraculous Christmas...

For Bentonsport Academy Headmaster Thomas Barton, Christmas emphasizes his loneliness. He has given up hope of discovering a woman to share his heart and life and plans to return to his hometown for the holidays. But when his friend’s preposterous prophecy comes true, he finds himself having traveled not by train, but through time, from 1869, to Bentonsport today! Now he must navigate a modern world for the two weeks before Christmas and discover what he was sent to find.

Baker Sarah Peterson has everything she wants in the small historic town of modern-day Bentonsport—everything but a man with whom to share her dreams and future. And, in a town of under fifty residents, where’s she going to encounter a soulmate? But when Thomas walks into her bakery, seemingly odd and out of place, but handsome and charming, she finds herself hoping something special might happen this Christmas.

MY REVIEW

Charmed is the perfect way to describe how I felt about Bentonsport. The past immersing with the present is always a favorite troupe of mine, and I simply adored the way the author brought this delightful town to life.

The story centers around Thomas Benton, an man that loves his life in Bentonsport 1869, but there is something missing. A late night visitor brings news that Thomas is going to receive a wonderful gift, and he awakes the next morning in a bed not his own, and time not his own. He has been transported to present day Bentonsport and has two weeks to find what he was sent to look for, though he doesn’t know what that something is.

Sarah Peterson also loves her life. Being Bentonsports professional baker, she loves life in this small, quirky town and all its inhabitants, but there is also something missing: someone to love. Thomas and Sarah are absolutely perfect for each other. From their first meeting you can see the sugary sweetness of their adoration for one another that grows into friendship and then into something more.

Throughout the entire story you get to witness Thomas discovering new technologies, and I loved seeing Thomas’s awe and fascination about modern items. Simple things we tend to take for granted are true marvels to him, while other changes in our modern world aren’t things he thinks should’ve been changed. I often agreed with his sentiments on that fact, and do believe that not all changes that have been made have been for the better.

In the beginning Sarah can see that there is something different about this new visitor, but she is so charmed that she pushes her questions aside and gets to know this unique traveler, which leads to a truly magical story.

There are so many wonderful scenes in this novel, but I would have to say that my favorite part was the snowball fight. How it started off with bubbled and ended up in a full-blown snowball fight was so stinking cute!! I could see this easily becoming a Hallmark movie. It’s got that Hallmark-esque charm that we all love, along with some swoon-worthy moments, but also had so much heart and truth to it, a realism despite the fantasy.

I could also go into all the delicious moments that had my mouth salivating, but I’ll let you experience that for yourself. I immensely enjoyed this novel so much, and it is hands down the perfect read to get you into the holiday spirit.

My Rating: ★★★★★

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa Schnedler writes cozy romances. She has lived in Bentonsport, Iowa, for more than 25 years, the setting of her latest series. A certified Christian Life Coach, Lisa has a Christian life planning ministry, Branch Living, to help Christians live out their God-given purposes. This ministry includes retreats, classes, a website, blog, and podcast. She is president of a health system in Wisconsin. She is a pastor’s wife, mother of three, and grandmother of six.

Connect with Lisa by visiting lisaschnedler.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card & bookmarks.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 10, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 17, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.