When Wendy Harper inherits her family’s beachside cottage in Seaside, Maine, she sees it as a way to finally pay off the debts that have mounted since her husband died. But before it can be sold, the neglected property must be renovated. She and her 12-year-old son Jackson move in–temporarily, she reminds him–in order to do the work themselves, even though Christmas is coming. The charming … town, along with local craftsman Caleb Colton, pulls on both Wendy and Jackson, who even registers himself for school in a bid to get his mom to move them there permanently. Wendy knows that the most responsible thing to do is to sell the cottage and return to Ohio, but the lure of the sea is hard to resist.
Join award-winning author Melody Carlson for a Christmas story that will warm your heart and have you dreaming of your own enchanted seaside holiday.
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I was looking forward to a light sweet Christmas read. And while this book fit the bill, it was a little simple. The ending was expected, but it happened too quickly. It was almost like the author had reached her page limit and had to reach the conclusion suddenly.
So a sweet book, but too simple.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A sweet and heartwarming Christmas story set on the coast of Maine, the perfect place for answered Christmas prayers.
Melody Carlson’s Christmas novellas just keep getting better, and this is one of her best — if not her very best. I highly recommend it.
Loved it!
Little bit of everything but not overly done. Enjoyable quick read with a happy ending.
Sweet
I looooove this book!
Like reading the script of a Hallmark movie before they scrub all the references to God out of it.
A charming, heartwarming and magical story of a widow and her almost teenaged son who inherit a weathered cottage in a coastal town in Maine. While the mother has practical intensions of preparing the cottage to sell, the son has visions and dreams of permanently making the cottage and the small coastal town their home.
When Wendy Harper inherits her family’s beachside cottage in Seaside, Maine, she sees it as a way to finally pay off the debts that have mounted since her husband died. But before it can be sold, the neglected property must be renovated. She and her 12-year-old son Jackson move in–temporarily, she reminds him–in order to do the work themselves, even though Christmas is coming. The charming town, along with local craftsman Caleb Colton, pulls on both Wendy and Jackson, who even registers himself for school in a bid to get his mom to move them there permanently. Wendy knows that the most responsible thing to do is to sell the cottage and return to Ohio, but the lure of the sea is hard to resist.
This is a very heartwarming story about a single mother, Wendy, trying to survive the aftermath of her husbands death. All she wants to do is whats best for her son. She thinks its fixing up the cottage and selling it. Jackson, her son, has other ideas. He wants to stay and does everything in his power to make it happen. Then there’s Caleb. He also wants Wendy to stay.
I could see this as a Hallmark Christmas movie. It’s a feel good book with a happy ending.
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
This is a sweet , inspirational holiday read.
Wendy is raising her son, Jackson, alone in Ohio, after the death of her husband to cancer. Then, she learns she has inherited her grandparents cottage on on the beach in Maine. She has such fond memories of spending summers there as a kid. She and her son travel to Maine. Her hope is to get the cottage into shape and hope for a quick sale so they can return to their home in Ohio and pay off her late husbands medical bills. Her son desperately needs a new beginning and hopes they will move permanently to the cottage.
Wendy meets Caleb in town and begins to feel a bit of something she wasn’t sure she’d ever feel again for another man.
As she and her son paint and do repairs to the cottage, she only hints to Jackson that they cannot stay. Hints he chooses to ignore. To add to the mix, a stray dog shows up and Jackson convinces his mom to allow the dog to stay. How will she ever tell him they have to go back home to Ohio where she has a full-time job with benefits and dogs aren’t allowed where they live? Jackson reminds his mom to ‘trust in God.’ Wendy does try. It’s just so hard to be solely responsible for her son.
Sweet story and perfect timing for it to come out this time of year.
It didn’t seem too realistic for things to go where they did so quickly between her and Caleb. But, hey, it’s Christmas and the season for miracles, right?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I’ve gotten a jump on Christmas reading list and so far they have been wonderful! A Christmas by the Sea is no exception. A Few years ago I was introduced to Melody Carlson and every year since I look forward to her annual Christmas book.
I couldn’t help but get hooked into the story of their plight and cheered when Wendy and Jackson seemed to fit right into life in Seaside. When it seems like life doesn’t seem to have any more chances, being in the right place at the right time can give you a little boost.
Sometimes even a mom can learn to have a little faith from her child. A Christmas by the Sea is for the reader who wants to be inspired by some Christmas cheer spurred on by the hopes and dreams of a boy like Jackson. I enjoyed watching this story unfold better than any cookie cutter themed movie laden with commercials!
Each character in the book, like the people in our own lives, serves a purpose. When Wendy started digging into the repairs of the cottage she found so much more than what waited back in Ohio. Many thanks to Revell Books for the opportunity to receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I recommend you pick up a copy of this book and discover Melody Carlson’s gift for putting the spirit back into Christmas.
I cannot imagine a Christmas season without a new Christmas novella by Melody Carlson. Often poignant, these stories nevertheless leave me with hope for humankind and always pleased by how the story ends.
A Christmas By the Sea was another soul-satisfying read by Ms. Carlson. I loved the characters, especially Caleb, Wendy, and Jackson who seemed to belong together from the start. I loved seeing Seaside, Maine through their eyes and could almost imagine myself there with them. Although the story was not preachy, I loved seeing God at work in the lives of these precious characters.
If you have not read any of Melody Carlson’s Christmas novellas, A Christmas By the Sea would be a good place to start. You might just find yourself collecting them like I do.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Welcome to November in Maine, where widow Wendy Harper and her 12 year old son Jackson have inherited a tiny cottage on the shores of the Atlantic in a tiny town called Seaside where Wendy vacationed with her grandparents as a child. Wendy’s plan is to spruce up the cottage and put it on the market to help with the debt incurred during her husband’s battle with cancer but she knows doing so will break her son’s heart. I really enjoyed the beach atmosphere because it was so easy to imagine the sun on my face and the sand and water between my toes and I wanted to search for sea shells and sand dollars at low tide right along with the characters. I just wish the author had included another chapter about the romance between Wendy and town native, Caleb, which would have remedied what I felt was an abrupt ending to the story. I read an early copy of this book from Baker Publishing Group through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.
A Christmas by the Sea is Melody Carlson’s most recent holiday offering. Widow Wendy Harper and her young adolescent son Jackson have traveled from their home in Ohio to Seaside, Maine to the oceanfront home left to her by her grandfather. Jackson, who has had a very hard time since his father’s death, is elated by the prospect of change. Wendy would love to be able to keep the home, but employment is limited in a vacation area and she is swamped in medical and student debt. The only way she sees to get caught up and maybe even ahead is to fix up the cottage enough to sell for a good price.
The change Wendy sees in Jackson makes her heartbroken to know the responsible thing is to sell. How is he going to accept this inevitable outcome now that he has made friends and feels accepted? And how can Wendy accept going back to a life that made them so unhappy?
When Wendy makes the acquaintance of local merchant and craftsman Caleb Colton, he extends the hand of friendship to guide Wendy in ways that can lead her, and Jackson, to be able to establish a future in Seaside. But the future he offers is beyond her dreams.
This is a sweet story of love and loss, growth and friendship. Melody Carlson is known for her touching stories and these characters will touch your heart. This is a good holiday read and I do recommend it.
I loved the story, she inherits a house by the sea and decides to sell it to pay bills, her son wants to stay,even enrolls in school, then the find sea dollars on the beach, she make then into decorations and a neighbors agrees to sell them, if you want to read a feel good story this is it I was given a copy of the book but this is an honest review
Sweet Seaside Romance
This is a sweet and clean romance that takes place in a small coastal Maine town. There are elements of faith throughout the story, but it’s not overwhelming. This story could lead to a series. The plot is simple, yet well done. The characters are totally believable, but somewhat one dimensional. The story is good enough for me to keep and re-read again later. I will also be looking for more of this author’s work. I received this book for free and this is my honest review.
A. CHRISTMAS. BY THE SEA by Melody Carlson
Wendy with her twelve year old son., driving to a beach cottage she inherited in Maine. Still with the mountain of bills, and moving to an apartment, could this place be sold. Seaside, a little bigger than twenty years ago.,work to be done. Finding a helpful guy at the store, encouraging her on some of the projects, she could do. Her son loved the beach and making friends with Kara. Could there be anyway of making a living and staying in Seaside. Where her boy was once again a boy, playing, instead of being the man of the house, Readers will enjoy this heart felt story of lost, and bills, seeing a young boy, trying to grow up to fast. Given ARC by NetGallet and Revell for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.
EllenOceanside
I loved this story, the author has given us a story about rebirth, building a life after the death of a loved one.
I could just picture Jackson a young teenage still reeling from the death of his father, not happy and being bullied at his school in Ohio, and now a breath of fresh air, a new beginning, and at the ocean.
His mother, and the friendly local have both lost someone they loved, is there a chance that they are now in the right place at the right time?
This is a warm your heart Christmas story, and I am so glad to have read it!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.