Copyright 2006 - 2007 Susan Sleeman
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Boo Humbug Click title to read excerpt or buy from CBD.com By Rene Gutteridge / Waterbrook Press Reviewed by Lacy J. WilliamsI highly recommend this for a fun Christmas read.Will the local townspeople be able to pull off the Christmas play, or will Christmas be ruined for the town of Skary, Indiana? Rene Gutteridge answers this question in Boo Humbug, a quaint novel full of the real meaning of Christmas. Local playwright Lois Stepaphanolopolis creates a stir when she rewrites the familiar Dickens Christmas story and includes vampires and a host of other characters that would make Dickens spin in his grave. She dreams of bigger and better plays to come, but first she has to talk the residents of Skary into helping her complete this one. Alfred Tennison, local Scrooge, can't stand Christmas. The lights, the carolers, the shopping and crowds - he hates it all. What could be worse than getting roped into help Lois promote her crazy play? New dad Wolfe Boone hasn't slept in weeks. His wife Ainsley seems to have no problems with lost sleep, but he can't get any work done and he's miserable. When a friend talks him into acting in Lois' play to get away from home for a few hours each night, he reluctantly agrees. Will Lois' play be the success she wants? Will Alfred overcome his hatred of Christmas and find its true meaning? And will Wolfe get the sleep he so deserves, or will his plan blow up in his face? Gutteridge's trademark humor makes a splash in Boo Humbug. Her kooky characters with hearts of gold really make the story, and the small town setting is too humorous to be fiction. Great use of dialogue really keeps the story rolling. Oh, and there's a surprise twist at the end (but I won't give it away - you'll have to read it for yourself). |
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About Lacy J. Williams View this review and more at: www.lacyjwilliams.com |
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Boo Humbug Click title to read excerpt or buy from CBD.com By Rene Gutteridge / Waterbrook Press Reviewed by Susan SleeemanI haven't had such fun reading a book in a long time.In Boo Humbug, we find the citizens of Skary, Indiana deep into the Christmas holiday season. Streets and homes are decorated, carolers are singing, and all is well in the small town until Lois Stepaphanolopolis decides she must put on a production of A Christmas Story. Of course, it cannot be the age-old, tired rendition of the play. No, Lois has to put a spin on the story, making sure her telling of the tale lives up to the town’s name. Lois, without revealing her tampering with the play, recruits the locals who skeptically participate. Alfred Tennison, the local Scrooge himself, signs on as promoter and hails the production far and wide guaranteeing a large audience for the program. Trouble is, the neighboring towns misconstrue the true nature of Lois’s play and expect a far different performance than the one scheduled. Lois doesn’t have to convince Wolfe Boone and his friend Oliver, both fathers of young babies, to seek out roles once they figure out the nightly play practices give them a much needed break in their rigorous parenting schedules. But trouble soon lands on their doorsteps as well, when their wives discover their devious plans. Though this book is classified as suspense, I found it much more of a lighthearted read. As I turned the pages, I could almost hear a narrator reciting the words in a fairytale-ish tone and saw the story come to life before me on the big screen. Gutteridge’s whit fills the pages and brings the characters and town of Skary to life. But don’t confuse the jovial nature of the book as one that doesn’t carry a message. Hidden within the tale is a strong message reminding us that all God wants from us is ourselves, fully and completely. This is a great read, but would also make a wonderful new Christmas tradition to read during the holidays, or a special stocking stuffer for anyone. What better gift to give at Christmas than this delightful reminder of God’s love. Susan Sleeman / The Christian Suspense Zone |
Christian Suspense
To Die For
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