Title: The
Christmas Box
Author: Richard
Paul Evans
Publisher:
Simon & Schuster (October 9, 2012)
Pages: 87
Before I
purchase or read a book that I purchased on a whim, I go to Amazon and read a
few reviews. Typically, a couple of the five star as well as the one star
reviews, getting a feel for both spectrums. The few negative/one star reviews
that I read for THE CHRISTMAS BOX, didn’t deter me. Why they believe the book
to not be good wasn’t concerning enough. The second thing I do is go inside the
book and read a few paragraph to get a feel for the authors writing style.
If there
was ever a book I was glad to have not been swayed by the bad reviews, it’s THE
CHRISTMAS BOX by RICHARD PAUL EVANS. Wow! One would think it much easier to
write a novella, but when in fact it’s harder. With a full-length novel, you
have pages of words to convey your story. With a novella, not so much. It takes
a skilled writer to pull off a novella that contains all the elements required
to make a great story, and that’s exactly what RICHARD PAUL EVANS has
accomplished in this wonderful short story.
Richard
works hard to keep his family afloat with a shared business, while his wife
cares for their soon-to-be four-year old daughter, Jenna. When his wife Keri
spots an ad in the newspaper for a live-in family to make a lonely widow - Mary
Perkins - meals, along with doing a few odd jobs, they are quick to apply,
having outgrown their cramped apartment.
Richard
and his family are quickly welcomed into Mary’s home where they soon become a
family. There are secrets discovered in the attic, and even greater lessons to
be learned.
THE
CHRISTMAS BOX will keep your interest, wanting to read the next page before
you’ve completed the one your reading. It will capture your heart, your soul,
make you smile, and make you weep.
As I
began to read THE CHRISTMAS BOX, I didn’t have high hopes for a well-rounded
story with only 87 TINY pages. I certainly didn’t expect to be in awe of MR
EVANS writing. But that’s exactly what happened. The way he strings words
together with brilliant descriptions that flow naturally, is nothing short of
amazing. RICHARD PAUL EVANS storytelling is of one that I will not only be
reading to learn the craft of writing, but seeking out his future novels.
