Cedar Cove #8.5: A Cedar Cove Christmas
by Debbie Macomber
If it isn’t enough that the back synopsis makes it painfully obvious Debbie Macomber has recreated the story of Jesus’s birth for her latest installment in the Cedar Cove series, the author herself makes a point of telling her readers before the story starts that she’s intentionally ripped off The Bible. Then, in three separate instances throughout the novel, the characters even remind the readers that they’re reading a complete copy of the original Christmas story!
So, if you can get past that—and it’s a lot to get past--A Cedar Cove Christmas is actually cute. It’s very short, and the print is rather large, so you can probably get through it while you’re waiting for Santa, and I guarantee it’ll put you in the mood for snow and mistletoe. For anyone who hasn’t been following the series, it’s an irresistible introduction; you’ll find you need to get your hands on the previous eight books after getting to know snippets of the characters. Just a note for anyone who thinks this is a non-linear addition to the series and doesn’t need to be read in order, this one comes right after 8 Sandpiper Way and right before 92 Pacific Boulevard. There are new characters who come to stay in Cedar Cove, so if you skip this one, you might be a little lost. Debbie Macomber is fantastic at recap, though, so she’ll catch you up in the next book, but if you like to read things in order, this book does include important plot points and characters.
What I loved about this book was that the main plot involved a brand new character, but every other stock character in Cedar Cove became involved in her plight. It’s a small town, so it’s no wonder that the gossip travels fast, and pretty soon Grace, Olivia, the McAfees, and everyone else pitches in to help the pregnant young woman, with three brothers trying to find her, whose last name just happens to be Wyse. If you’ve been missing your regular gang of friends from Cedar Cove as the later books mostly focus on new characters, this book will help you out. It’s as if it was written after only the second book and kept on ice for a few years, just in time for Christmas.
More Cedar Cove reviews here on Hot Toasty Rag!
So, if you can get past that—and it’s a lot to get past--A Cedar Cove Christmas is actually cute. It’s very short, and the print is rather large, so you can probably get through it while you’re waiting for Santa, and I guarantee it’ll put you in the mood for snow and mistletoe. For anyone who hasn’t been following the series, it’s an irresistible introduction; you’ll find you need to get your hands on the previous eight books after getting to know snippets of the characters. Just a note for anyone who thinks this is a non-linear addition to the series and doesn’t need to be read in order, this one comes right after 8 Sandpiper Way and right before 92 Pacific Boulevard. There are new characters who come to stay in Cedar Cove, so if you skip this one, you might be a little lost. Debbie Macomber is fantastic at recap, though, so she’ll catch you up in the next book, but if you like to read things in order, this book does include important plot points and characters.
What I loved about this book was that the main plot involved a brand new character, but every other stock character in Cedar Cove became involved in her plight. It’s a small town, so it’s no wonder that the gossip travels fast, and pretty soon Grace, Olivia, the McAfees, and everyone else pitches in to help the pregnant young woman, with three brothers trying to find her, whose last name just happens to be Wyse. If you’ve been missing your regular gang of friends from Cedar Cove as the later books mostly focus on new characters, this book will help you out. It’s as if it was written after only the second book and kept on ice for a few years, just in time for Christmas.
More Cedar Cove reviews here on Hot Toasty Rag!