THE CHRISTMAS SECRET by Donna Van Liere

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Date published: October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-312-055836-9
Women’s fiction
Hardback
Reviewed by Pam
Obtained from publisher for review

THE CHRISTMAS SECRET is a slightly mixed up tale, of a solo mother struggling to hold her life together and the people who come into her life. Her ex-husband tries to make her life as hard as possible along with a boss without a heart. As Christmas approaches, Christine’s life seems set to change, after she helps a woman who collapses outside her house. There are so many people who pass her way after the incident; it became hard to keep up with them all.

Her children, Zach and Haley have begun to realize Christmas may not be too good this year. Haley becomes clingy and Zach makes a friend at the care centre, while his mother works. Christine’s customers become friends and when her car breaks down, it’s fixed and the presents stolen seem to have come back. Marshall and Jason his grandson have a separate tale woven in too, along with those working in the store making it a story overload to this reader.

The story is told from so many points of view I became very confused at times, as to whose tale I was reading. There were a few too many characters, some odd some normal, it became hard to sort out their roles when Christine and her children began as the main ones.

The characters meet, greet and pass on and they all have a story within the plot, which leaves Christine’s story hanging, then hooks into it again. Add in the next door neighbor the children decide is a bat lady who is out to harm them, an absent father who won’t support his kids along with the daily grind and you have a story about life, not one but many lives. Then there’s Tamara, she’s in need of a push in the right direction, as well as day old pastries and coffee.

If you like a slice of lives being lived with different characters popping in and out, you’ll enjoy this book.

If there is a reason for this story to be so oddball, you’ll need to read the book yourself and work it out.

THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW