The Christmas Edition by Robin Shope

Reviewed by Carol Kurtz

"More than a simple romance, the plot keeps winding all the way to the last page."

Lucy Collins is more than a woman waiting for true love. She’s working feverishly to save her family’s business, a local newspaper which is threatened by the big boys. Having aspirations of taking over the paper one day, she’s been saving up to buy her dream home. It’s just waiting for her - an old, Victorian charmer she can’t wait to make her own. No, Lucy hasn’t waited around for a husband. Our heroine has already made a full life for herself.

But when Joe McNamara walks through the door and ends up their new editor, she falls head over heels. End of story? Just the beginning. The Christmas Edition is as unpredictable as it is multi-faceted. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen, you don’t. Over and over, it makes for an entertaining read.

More than a simple romance, the plot keeps winding all the way to the last page. Every time I thought I had it figured out Shope made a twist or turn, like the ride down a country road.

Joe doesn’t share Lucy’s faith at first, and it’s interesting to see the Gospel presented to him through his jaded point of view. Slowly he finds the Lord’s help for the secrets that have been tormenting him, but we don’t truly understand them until the end. Even Lucy has a secret from her past. Can the Lord bring these two together and heal their hearts? Is their passionate love enough to surmount a jealous ex-girlfriend and the memories of a fiancé’s turmoil?

Admittedly, there are enough misspells and typos in the book to be a slight distraction. And although it’s a satisfying ending, everything doesn’t necessarily work out just the way we wish. But the holiday tone of the story is just right. It’ll put you in the mood to decorate the tree and wrap up the gifts - family, love, and snow can do that.

Carol Kurtz Darlington is a certified personal trainer and a certified group fitness instructor who works with active older adults, people who want to lose weight, and people who just want to enjoy better health. She enjoys empowering and encouraging others to reach their health and fitness goals, feel better about themselves in the process, and enjoy more energy to stay active in all areas of their lives as a result. She loves her morning cappuccino and her beloved grand-dog. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and haunting Starbucks.