A Little Christmas Spirit by Sheila Roberts Lexie Bell is a single mom who has recently moved to the 
small town of Fairfield. She teaches kindergarten in the local elementary school. She is dedicated to caring for her six-year-old son Brock. Lexie almost married Brock’s father but that didn’t work out. All for the best as he cheated on her during their engagement and had no interest in being a father so he signed away his parental rights to Brock. Being new in town Lexie hoped to make friends and have good relations with her neighbors. Not that she was seeing neighbors out and about. Then Brock discovered Stanley Mann, the crusty older man next door and adopted him as his grandpa.
Stanley Mann was quite content basically locking himself away in his house. It was three years since his beloved wife Carol was killed in an auto accident and he sorely missed her. So it was quite a shock when Carol’s spirit appeared in their bedroom one night and admonished him to get on with his life. Surely he was just dreaming. But Carol wouldn’t leave him alone so Stanley slowly accepted her terms, made friends with Lexie and Brock, came to care very much for them and, oh, adopted the stray dog that showed up on his doorstep.
A Little Christmas Spirit by Sheila Roberts is a well-written story with well-developed, likable characters and scenes that I found entertaining. I’m not a big fan of telling a story switching back and forth in time. Some of that technique in this story just didn’t seem to me to be necessary to enhance the storyline. I was happy to see that this tale of people who had some challenges in their lives had a happy ending.
Would an unfriendly neighbor affect your Christmas?
Book Info:
Publication: September 28th 2021 | MIRA |
The best Christmas gifts—family, friendship and second chances—are all waiting to be unwrapped in this sparkling new novel from USA TODAY bestselling author Sheila Roberts.
Single mom Lexie Bell hopes to make this first Christmas in their new home special for her six-year-old son, Brock. Festive lights and homemade fudge, check. Friendly neighbors? Uh, no. The reclusive widower next door is more grinchy than nice. But maybe he just needs a reminder of what matters most. At least sharing some holiday cheer with him will distract her from her own lack of romance…
Stanley Mann lost his Christmas spirit when he lost his wife and he sees no point in looking for it. Until she shows up in his dreams and informs him it’s time to ditch his scroogey attitude. Stanley digs in his heels, but she’s determined to haunt him until he wakes up and rediscovers the joys of the season. He can start by being a little more neighborly to the single mom next door. In spite of his protests, he’s soon making snowmen and decorating Christmas trees. How will it all end?
Merrily, of course. A certain Christmas ghost is going to make sure of that!
