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| ISBN: 978-0-8007-19271-2 Hardcover, 176 pg |
Eight-year-old Lucy Turnbull knew better than to wish for a pony that Christmas in 1937. Her mother had assured her in no uncertain terms that asking for a pony was the same as asking for the moon. Besides, the only extra mouths they needed at their boarding house were the paying kind. But when an interesting pair of strangers comes to town, Lucy starts to believe her Christmas wishes might just come true after all.
My thoughts: It is always a delight to me to pick up a novella written in and around the Christmas season because so often they tell the story of goodwill amongst men, warm-fuzzy emotions, wrapped up in the loveliness that is the season. But just because there are some warm-fuzzies afloat, doesn't mean that the story will be without heartbreak or without hardships.
In The Christmas Pony we see life in 1937 just prior to Christmas. It is cold. Times are hard - especially when the dad, the head of the family has died. The brave mother is running their home as a boarding house in a small town. The farm can't be farmed because the dad is gone. Most of the animals have been sold - they have a milk cow and a few chickens who have nearly stopped laying.
Grandma helps as much as she is able and mostly by cooking up scrumptious meals. There is a little girl gifted with a charming personality, a vision of hope, and belief that perhaps - just perhaps - her Christmas wish for a pony will come true.
The story moves rather quickly because as a novella you've got to get the tale told. The characters are well-developed and their conversations and the word-pictures drawn tell a delightful story that has a happy ending. (Well, it is Christmas, isn't it? And we do want it to end well, don't we?)
A good read for a cold evening that will leave you feeling you can have a little faith in your fellow man and that a little girl's dreams can come true.
About the author: Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books from Revell, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington's, which is being considered for a TV movie. She is also the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, The Jerk Magnet, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books in 2010 and won the award in 2011. She and her husband live in central Oregon. For more information about Melody visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com.
Praise for Other Melody Carlson Christmas Titles
- The Christmas Shoppe: “This magical Christmas story is filled with anticipation, holiday traditions and delight. What happens … is a true gift to readers.” 4 Stars - RT Reviews
- Christmas at Harrington’s: “Melody has unforgettable characters. It was heartbreaking and fascinating all at the same time. This author has a way of writing a story readers can connect with. This is a meaningful, touching story that will become your families’ favorite. You’ll want to read it again and share it with friends.” – Novel Reviews
- The Christmas Dog: “Whether you’re struggling to find that perfect gift or just craving a cheery story to put you in the mood for Christmas, this book is for you.” – Faithful Reader
DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of The Christmas Pony in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own and I received no compensation for this review.
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