Reviewed by: G. Connor Salter, Professional Writing student at Taylor University, Upland, IN.

Introduction

Title: A Christmas by the Sea

Author: Melody Carlson

Publisher: Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

Publication Year: 2018

Format: Hardcover

Length: 167 pages

OVERVIEW

When Wendy Harper learns she’s inherited her grandfather’s beach cottage in Maine, she knows she can’t keep it. With a twelve-year-old son and plenty of debt left from her late husband’s cancer treatments, the smart thing to do is sell it. But when she and her son visit the cottage to renovate it for a sale by Christmas, something about the town starts to change her mind.

Like most romance novellas, Christmas by the Sea has elements that are technically flaws but also part of the appeal. Readers who don’t care for the genre will think it’s oversweet and resolves everything too quickly; readers who like the genre will say that’s exactly why they bought the book. In the context of its genre, this is a rather good book. It tells a simple, charming story in an entertaining way. Carlson also balances some of the cheesier elements without making them too extreme. As romance novels go, it’s a good read.

Rating (1 to 5)

4 stars

Suggested Audience

Christians who enjoy romance novellas and quaint Christmas stories.

Christian Impact

The main character struggles with questions about faith and trusting God, which may help some readers face their own doubts.

Interested in reviewing a book, movie, album, or other type of media for our website? We would love to hear from you! Find out more about how to submit media reviews.