REVIEW: The Christmas Wish by Sharon Sala

The Christmas Wish by Sharon Sala is a little hard to describe. If you read the blurb, it’s supposed to be about Wade Montgomery and Bridgette “Birdie” Knox. The blurb is misleading, because while there are parts of chapters devoted to Wade and Birdie, the chapters are also divided into multiple side-stories. There’s sixteen-year-old Duff, who goes to Blessings, Georgia, to discover the truth of why is father has spent the past ten years in jail; Josh and LaJune King and the result of his gambling problem and their marital issues; lawyer Peanut Butterman and not only his efforts to help Duff, but with him and wife, Ruby, delivering a Christmas surprise.

While I liked the side-stories, they honestly took away from the build up of Wade and Birdie’s relationship. I felt like more time should have been focused on them, especially since the blurb makes it seem like the book is primarily about them. Instead, with everything else going on, their whole relationship felt rushed,

As a result of the side-stories, there was a lot of bouncing around in the book. For example, a chapter may start out talking about Birdie and Wade, then it’d switch to Duff’s mother, then onto one of the other stories. Some sections would be quick before switching to another story, and others would be a little more drawn out. It made the book feel disjointed.

This is the twelfth book in the series. Prior to this, I’ve only read the eleventh book in the series, which is Somebody to Love. I did feel like I was missing background about some things, so while the book could be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading them in order.

The Christmas Wish could have been a good romance, if it actually focused on the romance between Birdie and Wade. Instead, readers are thrown a bunch of secondary stories that draw the attention away from Birdie and Wade, hampering the overall development of their relationship. It was hard to really feel invested in their romance, which was disappointing.

Book Info:

Publication: September 28, 2021 | Sourcebooks Casablanca | Blessings, Georgia #12

It’s been years since Wade Montgomery stepped foot in Blessings, Georgia, but the Blessings Christmas spirit is just like he remembers it. The whole town has come together to help his uncle after a disaster nearly destroyed the family business. Being back in Blessings reminds Wade of everything he’s been missing, especially when he runs into his old flame, Birdie Knox.

Bridgette “Birdie” Knox isn’t so eager to jump into the holiday season. Every year, she’s reminded of the secrets that tore her family apart. But with Wade Montgomery back in town, Birdie is starting to believe in Christmas magic. There’s no guarantee Wade will stick around, but if Birdie had her wish, she’d never have to say goodbye to him again.