The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson offers a quick romp through Parrish Springs in a compact Christmas read. However, it doesn't quite stack up to my favorite Melody Carlson Christmas book, The Christmas Bus.
Why?
The Christmas Shoppe is 168 pages long. Within those pages the first 80 or so are dedicated to introducing the characters. After those introductions you can basically predict how these characters are going to make out in the end and be 100% right on all counts.
After the introductions are over, the actual Christmas Shoppe opens and "customers" begin to file in and find things that help them work over past problems and emerge into a new place in their life - a place a bit more rooted in the Christian values they want to follow and the life they want to live. Many times the items are things from their past. I actually somewhat predicted this based on the book blurb inside the dust jacket.
When the first "discovery" is over the book basically exists for another 60 pages just for the other people to shop. While it was interesting to read each persons discovery and see how it played out, it was all a bit too hurried for my tastes. I wasn't so invested in any of the characters that I felt particularly happy, sad, and/or relieved for any of them.
If I remember correctly, The Christmas Bus was so much more involved and inspiring than this volume. I really, really enjoyed that book and felt that it embodied the Christmas spirit. The Christmas Shoppe felt more like the Christmas rush!
That being said, it wasn't a bad book, just predictable and fast. If you want a quick read with a little bit of Christmas flavor, I wouldn't dis-recommend it, particularly if you have read other Melody Carlson's books. Just don't expect it to be everything your current favorite Christmas book is and more!
The Christmas Shoppe is available now - both online and at your favorite bookseller from Revell.
Disclosure: I received a review copy of this volume.
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