Don't look at the warm and lovely cover of this Christmas novella and get the notion that it must just be a sweet, sweet, sweet little holiday tale.

Not unlike other books in the Harmony series, this one is ironic. A tad irreverent in a spot or two (but not vulgar). Downright hilarious. And it has a poignant thread running through it that, doggone it, left me with a bona fide tear in my eye.

Now, also like one other book in the series so far, Sam's first-person narration is fine for himself, but it doesn't really make sense when he starts narrating about other people and somehow knows their thoughts. There's also a bit of trouble with verb tenses, when the narration of one event or another will switch from present to past tense or vise versa.

Nevertheless, I found it to be such a satisfying read, not limited to the warm sentiments reflected in the lovely cover but altogether warm (and hilarious!) and lovely just the same. ( )

As amazing as always. Reading books in this series is like coming home to old friends. ( )

I love this series set in Harmony, Indiana, and featuring Pastor Sam Gardner, his family and his Quaker congregation at Harmony Friends Meeting.

In this installment, the board of elders has taken Dale Hinshaw’s suggestion (demand?) to skip the Christmas Eve service in favor of a “progressive Nativity Scene.” Well, it started as just a live Nativity scene, but he realized it was too big to house in one location (the local park being unavailable for a religious display). So Dale has built a manger in his yard, with the animals housed at Sam’s house, the Holy Family at Asa Peacock’s farm, the Wise Men at Bea’s home, and ending at Fern’s house where the Friendly Women would sell hot chocolate and cookies.

With Dale in charge, things are bound to go wrong, and Sam will be left trying to clean up the mess – and I’m not just talking about the pigs in his garage.

But, regardless, Sam will find the meaning in Christmas, and he will be reminded of the joys of the season, and the reason we celebrate the Birth of Jesus.

It’s a charming, quick read, full of humor and tenderness. Perfect for this holiday season.

P.S. I know this is a re-read for me, but I have no idea when I first read it. Perhaps a year or so after it was first published. ( )

What a great book to read this time of year. As Pastor Sam Gardner reminiscences about Christmases growing up in the small town of Harmony, we get insight into the current changes his congregation are planning this year. Dale Hinshaw, wants to have a progressive Nativity scene instead of the usual Christmas celebration. This book is incredibly funny, especially when we find out how this Nativity scene affects the different people living in Harmony, including the Pastor. I thinks it's been my favorite Christmas story in 2015.
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ALLLL of Philip Gulley's books are worth the read. You will laugh,chuckle and giggle all the way thru. His characters are believable and we ll know people like them.His stories are sentimental.
Pick a book by Gulley and enjoy the chuckles and sentiments. ( )