Review: A Blue and Gray Christmas by Joan Medlicott
Whether the characters in this enchanting story are already known or this is your first introduction to everyone, you will become more and more captivated as each new detail about their lives is revealed. Joan Medlicott will charm readers with her holiday addition to the popular Covington series, where emotions are constantly affected by stirring situations.
When a large box is discovered during a historical dig and brought to Hannah, Grace and Amelia, the three friends are fascinated by its contents of several books and some letters. What is even more surprising is they were written by two different men from the 1800’s, one who was a Northern soldier in the Civil War and the other from the South. The letters are not in the best of shape, but they can be read enough to get a clear picture of what happened to change the perceptions of these two soldiers. Both men describe how they were wounded in a nearby battle, and how they would have surely died if not for an elderly woman who managed to save them both by tending to their injuries at her cabin located in the mountains of North Carolina. They also state in their letters how they made a decision to remain in the area and help their rescuer, though they sometimes regret not ever seeing any of their family members again.
After the letters are read, Amelia comes up with a plan, where she and her friends will try to find any local descendants plus those in the original hometowns of the two men. If any relatives can be found, then they could be invited to spend Christmas in Covington and visit with other newly discovered relatives. These three modern day women uncover many exciting historical facts and meet plenty of new people in their quest to bring the families of two Civil War soldiers together.
Novels by Joan Medlicott speak to the heart with earnest realism. With vivid portrayals of convincing circumstances filled with believable reactions, the Covington series always makes you feel as though you might actually know these characters. They might even possibly live right down the street. Many distinctive characters are always in any book by Ms. Medlicott, and the clever blending of the present and past in A BLUE AND GRAY CHRISTMAS lets her talent shine. Readers get to keep up with what is happening to numerous locals in the quaint mountain town of Covington, while also discovering how the lives of two men were changed during a famous historical period. It seems individuals always have trials cropping up in their lives, regardless of the era, and it is interesting to see how each generation responded. Every person shows their hopes and fears in different ways, and these day after day responses reveal their personal natures. I was especially pulled into the story as I awaited the next enlightening letter, as they gave a true feel for the emotional upheaval men live through during times of war and its aftermath. Though fictional, there is an abundance of sincere inner feelings flowing from the words composed by these soldiers who were once enemies, and I was deeply affected by several troubling incidents. A BLUE AND GRAY CHRISTMAS is an emotional story fueled by real life problems and intriguing scenarios.
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Genre: contemporary ISBN: 978-1416597353 Page Count: 336 Price: $ 19.99 Reviewer: Amelia Richard |
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Sensuality Rating:
Sweet Star Rating: 4 Stars Author's Website: http://www.joanmedlicott.com/ |
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Debbie Strayer said:
hello, I read this book and really enjoyed it, this is the first book i read of yours, ifound a mistake on page 66 about testing your blood surgar on a blood pressure monitor this is impossible to do. thank you Debbie Strayer