The Paper Bag Christmas

I've always been a big reader. My Grama taught me to read well before I entered Kindergarten, and I've had a book by my side ever since. One thing I love to do is read seasonal books. During the entire month of October, for instance, I read nothing but mystery books. But my FAVORITE time is December (and part of November, if I want to be honest!!). That's when I pull out the Christmas books I've stashed aside all year. I just love novels set around the festivities of the Christmas Season. Reading them really helps me get in and stay in the Holiday spirit.

So I was THRILLED when offered a chance to review The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne. It's a book that had been on my to-read list for awhile. Here's the description, from the Hachette Book Group website:

"Dr. Christopher Ringle is the last person you'd expect to find moonlighting as Santa Claus at the mall on the day after Thanksgiving. But it is there that he meets a young man named Molar Alan, who desperately needs a new perspective on the underlying value of Christmas. Dr. Ringle recruits Mo and his older brother as volunteers at a nearby children's hospital for the holiday season. At the hospital, Mo is tasked to help bring holiday cheer to the young cancer patients on the fifth floor. His biggest challenge is befriending a decidedly angry girl who is so embarrassed by her scarred appearance that she hides her face behind the safety of a paper bag. Almost in spite of himself, Mo finds that Christmas joy emanates from a source far greater than the North Pole, while the young girl learns that she is more beautiful than she had ever imagined."

This book isn't your traditional Christmas novel. It addresses some pretty heavy issues since it takes place on the Pediatric Oncology floor of a hospital. Yet it remains lighthearted; it's a great balance. I can't say too much about the book because it *is* a quick read. Just trust me when I tell you that you won't regret picking this gem up and spending an afternoon with it. I think you'll find that the author really brings the focus on what is important this time of year, amid all the Santa and presents and candy canes. There's a genuine focus on loving thy neighbor present in this book...a lesson we ALL can learn from.

You can read an excerpt of the book at the Hachette Book Group website. You can also buy the book at most retailers, or online. Pick up a copy for yourself and one for your favorite book buddy! (then use the Reading Group Guide). This is definitely one of those books you'll want to read each Christmas!