A Cedar Cove Christmas

I bought this book shortly after it was released. I'm a huge fan of Debbie Macomber & was eager to read this book. I'm also reading her Cedar Cove series & this addition to the series really made my holiday reading more enjoyable. Debbie's Cedar Cove take on the story of Christmas was cute & loveable. I'm anxious to find out more about Mary Jo Wyse, her brothers & the budding relationship Mary Jo's about to have with Mack. I hope Debbie keeps writing the Cedar Cove series for many years to come. I love how she does one book a year. If more came out, I'm sure I'd love that but having to wait til September for each one is a thrill.

It's Christmas Eve and Mary Jo Wyse hasn't heard from David Rhodes, the father of her soon to be born baby, in months. Her three brothers want to confront him, so she slips off to Cedar Cove, where she thinks he is staying, to warn him. She doesn't find him, but is feeling unwell, and decides to spend the night in Cedar Cove. The problem is - there's no room at the Inn and soon Mary Jo finds herself staying in a room above a stable filled with animals used in a Nativity pageant. All of this sounds familiar to Mary Jo and she wonders if she'll have a Christmas miracle of her own, perhaps delivered by Mack McAfee. "A Cedar Cove Christmas" is Debbie Macomber's very cute take on the Nativity story. She doesn't waste any time referencing the story - the heroine's name is Mary Jo Wyse and she has three brothers (the Wyse men) who bring her the appropriate gifts. Macomber throws in several other references to the Nativity story that I won't spoil for readers. All of this is very cute, if unbelievable, and I read the entire book with a smile on my face. Setting the novel in Cedar Cove is an added bonus for Macomber fans and it's nice to visit the Cedar Cove residents in between books in the popular series. Grace and Cliff Harding and Olivia and Jack Griffin are featured prominently in this book and it's nice to see them, especially to see how Olivia is doing in her struggle with cancer. There are also some nice surprises involving some of the series regulars. Unfortunately while the developing romance between Mack and Mary Jo is sweet it's not totally believable and I hope Macomber develops it further in future books. "A Cedar Cove Christmas" is a very sweet romance that is perfect holiday reading.

Fans of Debbie Macomber have found her Christmas novels to be nothing short of a delightfully necessary part of Yuletide cheer. A Cedar Cove Christmas will exceed these expectations! Mary Joe Wyse has previously believed everything David Rhodes said but is now having intense doubts that don't bode well for the future, especially a future with a soon-to-be-born baby he fathered. Mary's brothers, Linc, Mel and Ned have blown it as well, with their overbearing, albeit loving, intentions. They're threatening to find David and give him a message to treat their sister honorably and perhaps give David a sound thrashing as well, not necessarily in that order. Mary decides to beat them to the punch and find David herself to discover whether she has his support or not, not a hopeful sign at all based on his former lack of connection to her after discovering her pregnancy. Traveling to the festively decorated Cedar Cove town, Mary finds a wealth of friends who offer her neutral but wise advice to help her in searching for David's home and parents. But the search becomes almost insignificant compared to the beautiful reception Mary receives from these very special Cedar Cove residents. Meet Grace and Cliff Harding who offer Mary a room above their barn to stay through the snowstorm-driven, Christmas Eve night, a place holding an ox, some sheep, a donkey and one ornery, human-biting camel. You'll meet several other memorable characters who are graciously and warmly present to Mary in her moment of need, even before her searching brothers arrive to find an unexpected moment and a smitten young man helping their beloved sister. Yes, you might think you know the outcome in this wondrous Christmas tale, but you really don't because Debbie Macomber has created uniquely inspiring characters who equally care for each other and the stranger who arrives to find "there's no room at the local inn..." How they interact will absolutely thrill each reader and remind one anew that love is truly the greatest Christmas gift anyone can give or receive! A Cedar Cove Christmas is a grace-filled, romantic tale you will want to buy, keep, share and reread each holiday season. Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on September 15, 2008

What better gift could Debbie Macomber give her readers than a second visit to Cedar Cove this year? At the end of the previous story, 8 Sandpiper Way, the residents were nearing Christmas and in this latest entry into the series, Christmas Eve has arrived. The story, as the author readily admits, is not original, but her modern day version of the famous story recorded in Luke. Instead of Mary and Joseph, we have young Mary Jo, single and pregnant, searching for the father of her baby. He was supposed to be in Cedar Cove for Christmas, for as we learn he is the errant son of Ben Rhodes. Unlike his father, David is a manipulative man we have met before when he tried to swindle Charlotte. The parallels are numerous down to Mary Jo's brothers, the three Wyse men. Linc, Mel, and Ned are no Balthazar, Gaspar, and Melchior. But they are a loving family, often slapstick, often irritating, but always endearing, even down to the modern day equivalents to gold, frankincense, and myrrh they bring for Mary Jo and her baby. And indeed, a baby is delivered, young Noelle whose arrival in Grace and Cliff Harding's barn brings joy to many of the beloved characters we know from previous visits to Cedar Cove. The story is light-hearted and warm, a sure way to brighten your Christmas reading. It's also a story you can easily complete in one or two readings, so pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa with a dollop of whipped cream, and enjoy this joyful holiday visit to the most charming little city I can name.

I;m reading the Cedar Cove series & looked forward to this book. When it came, I read it in two days..a delightful holiday story...I'd like to read more about Mary Jo & baby Noel...maybe she & Mack will marry ?? I highly recommend this to all Cedar Cove readers. !!