Monday, November 12, 2012

The Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson, ©2012


  With Christmas around the corner, the Turnbull family is in need of a few small miracles.

It is 1937, and Lucy Turnbull knows better than to wish
for a pony this Christmas. Her mother has assured her in no
uncertain terms that asking for a pony is the same as asking for
the moon. Besides, the only extra mouths they need at their
boarding house are the paying kind. Then an interesting pair of
strangers comes to town, and Lucy's world changes forever.

Lucy was about halfway to town when she heard a car coming down the road behind her. It was making a lot of noise, and when she looked, smoke was billowing all around it. She stepped to the side of the road as the pale yellow car slowly sputtered and clunked past her. It looked like a pretty car. Too bad it didn't work right.
     When Lucy got to town, she noticed the pale yellow car parked in front of Hempley's Garage, and a man in a brown suit was talking to Mr. Hempley. But it was the lady getting out of the car who really captured Lucy's attention. Wrapped in a royal blue coat with a big silver fur collar, she had shining hair almost the same color as the pale yellow car and cut short with bangs that curled like a fringe around her pretty face.
     As Lucy got closer, she could see the lady's rosy cheeks and lips of scarlet red. She looked just like a real movie star!
     "Hello, doll." The lady smiled down at Lucy.
     "Hello," Lucy managed to say back to her.
     "Is there a place I can buy a soda around here?" Her voice sounded as sweet as sugar and honey.
***
Lucy's adventure is beginning! This is the most excitement she has seen in ages, that is as far as she can remember, anyway. Mr. Hempley is shaking his head. Hmm. Maybe they will need to stay a few days while he orders parts! And... remember, Lucy and her mother's conversation... Christmas is about to happen and they have a boarding house. Isn't it convenient that Lucy happened to walk this way at this exact moment!

Lucy has been making Christmas presents and wishes. And... half way through, I had some wishes of my own!

Melody Carlson! What a beautiful, sweet story. I love how you have written from the viewpoint of the little girl ~*~ so reminiscent of childhood and the wonder of anticipation. Could we not set aside our cares, and become like a child again?

I have not read a Christmas story in a long time that compares to The Christmas Pony. A story of dreams and hopes that are not deterred in the eyes of a little girl for her family. You will want to read this story year after year. It will become a keeper on your bookshelf. Lucy's father has died and her mother and grandmother have turned their country home into a boarding house with delicious home cooking. Well worth the travel to get down their winding road. Interesting guests are brought in December at a time when they are needed, in answer to Lucy's prayers for God to bring them paying boarders. The house description so fits the times. Pull down string to turn the light on and off in the bedroom, the worn stair tread creaks, the scents of Christmas. Adding an electric light to lengthen the day so the chickens continue to lay eggs. Lucy's daily chores. Love that keeps them together. Lucy has the "same little goading girl" at school that we all have had at one time or another. And the much anticipated Christmas program at church. Fun for all with wonder and excitement. During times of hope and plodding on, the family works together. A beautiful story. Reminiscent of a home and people we all would love, The Christmas Pony is a story to read aloud and enjoy together.

MELODY CARLSON is the award winning author of over two hundred books, including fiction, nonfiction, and gift books including these bestselling Christmas novellas: The Joy of Christmas: An Irish Christmas, All I Have to Give, and The Christmas Dog; The Treasure of Christmas: The Christmas Bus, Gift of Christmas Present, and Angels in the Snow; and Christmas at Harrington's. She is the winner of a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market. Melody writes books for adults, young adults, and children. I have thoroughly enjoyed her novels. The Christmas Pony will make a wonderful Christmas story gift book for everyone on your list. Melody lives with her husband in Sisters, Oregon.




Thank you to Revell Blog Tour for inviting me and sending a copy of The Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson to review in my own words.

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