Cathy’s Christmas Confession by Pattie Shene Gonzales is this week’s Reader Friday book. Here’s the first line: “Cathy Fischer chiseled at the thick ice encasing the windshield of her gunmetal gray Dodge Ram.”
But first the verse. I love this verse…maybe because it’s a line I spoke as a kid in our church Christmas play when I was the angel. Last time I was ever thought of as an angel.
Now for Cathy’s Christmas Confession by Pattie Shene Gonzales. Here’s the cover and back c:
Christmas is not a time of joy for the hurting.
During a snowstorm, widow Cathy Fischer creams a stop sign on her way to work at the Christmas Ridge Community Church. Acquaintance David Martin stops to help. Cathy sees signs of deep grief in David, a recent widower. She reaches out with support in an attempt to help David through this most difficult first Christmas without his beloved wife.
David Martin struggles with grief over the death of his wife. He blames God for her rapid demise after her cancer diagnosis. Cathy reaches out to him with compassion and support and soon enlists him in her mission to bring joy to others at Christmas. Will their joint quest restore David’s faith?
David needs to turn loose of the past and embrace his future. Cathy has a confession to make to the entire community that may give David a different perspective of who she really is. Will her confession set her free?
Does God have plans in mind for the two of them they did not anticipate?
My Take:
This is such a sweet Christmas story that I think everyone will enjoy. I love stories with hero/heroines who are older than the 30-40-year-old age usually focused on. 🙂 This is a feel-good book with real conflict and problems. Cathy is impacted by an older woman who challenged her to share Jesus with others, and she sets out on a course to do that.
The problem is…she is very convicted that through a misunderstanding, everyone thinks that the cookies she gives to everyone are cookies that she baked. She feels she has to come clean and tell everyone her niece is the baker. She also finds herself falling in love with David, who keeps coming to her rescue. But she fears he hasn’t gotten past his wife’s death.
It was fun watching Cathy and David as they worked out their problems. This is a great Christmas story that I think you will enjoy.
Cathy’s Christmas Confession by Pattie Shene Gonzales is available on Amazon and KU.
Leave a comment with the first line of the book you’re reading or just any comment. 🙂 And I’ll enter you in a drawing for $15, winner announced Monday!
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Comments 35
I’m starting to read, Brother Brother, a memoir. First line. “What’s this all about?” I murmured, standing in front of EZ Storage garage door #105. I love your chosen verse.
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That sounds really interesting, DJ!
Beautiful photo and verse, Pat. Of the many parts I recited at church Christmas programs over the years, I’m certain that was one of them. Can you imagine being one of those favored shepherds? Wow!
I’m currently reading the year-end book in the Mountain Country K-9 series. The book is called “Christmas K-9 Guardians” and is really two novellas. The first by Lenora Worth called “Perilous Christmas Pursuit”, and opening starts with Isla Jimenez, the group’s tech expert having the end of her day fall to pieces when the group’s veterinarian warns her of immediate danger and they make their escape. It just gets more exciting from there. The second novella is “Lethal Holiday Hideout” by Katy Lee. I’ll be starting that one later today.
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I’m going to find Christmas K-9 Guardians, Tim! I like reading novellas lately because I can finish one before midnight! lol
I am reading The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter.
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I have that on my TBR pile, Barbara! Can’t wait to read it.
What a coincidence, I just read Cathy’s Christmas Confession too! I appreciated that Cathy and David were older. Like you said, so many main characters in this genre are so young (and strangely have a lot of money for being young). It’s a fun read!
Cathy’s Christmas Confession does sound like a great read!
Love that photo! Peaceful.
I’m so far behind in reading, but still reading Johnnie Alexander’s book, When Memories Whisper. It’s so good. . . spies!!!
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It is really good, Barbara!
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I wonder where they get all that money, too, Priscilla. lol I really enjoyed the story–it was a day brightner!
For research and local color, I’m starting Roughing it in the Bush published in 1852 about life in Canada by English woman settler Susanna Moodie.
“A scene so pure–so exquisite as this. The dreadful cholera was depopulating Quebec and Montreal when our ship cast anchor off Grosse Isle on the 30th of August 1832, and we were boarded a few minutes after by the health officers.”
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Wow! That sounds like a good book, Delores!
festive book
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It is, BN100!
I’m reading a nonfiction book right now called “Prayer and Fasting.” The first line: “The grand experience of coming into the presence of the creator of the universe can be a truly amazing moment.”
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I love that first line, Jeanna!
I too like books with older in life characters. I added it to my want to read list on Goodreads. With all the gift buying in December, I have to hold off buying books for a while.
“Last time you were considered an Angel” no way, I think you are one now, with a writing pen in hand of course!
Author
Aww, thank you, Gail! I didn’t tell y’all the story about my cousin, did I? Last year, my sister came to visit and we went to see my cousin’s family who were in town…My cousin was introducing us and she said, “This is Barbara…she was my sweet cousin.” Then she looked at me and said, “I never said that about you.”
Such a beautiful and peaceful photo of the magnificent heavens, and I love the verse!
Cathy’s Christmas Confession sounds like a good read. I am reading Christmas With You by Tari Farris and Susan Warren. “Fallon James’ entire life had been reduced to a small storage unit back in Detroit and whatever would fit into the back seat of her new-to-her-but-very-old Chevy Impala.”
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That first line sounds really good, Mary G!
I love a good Christmas romance
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Me, too Megan!
I am reading Unleashed Melody by Julie Carobini. The first line is:
Melody’s eyes jolted from the text on her phone screen.
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Sounds like Melody might have a serious problem, Gloria! We’ll see!
I started out behind this morning and am still behind. That picture is so peaceful and calming. Even when I was a child and lived where there were very few street lights, I don’t remember ever seeing that many stars in the sky. I would live to walk outside and see a scene like that. The verses are a great choice.
The book sounds interesting. I agree with you, Pat, about reading a book with the leading characters being older than the typical 30-40 year-olds.
I finished the book last night that I was getting ready to read on Friday. Tonight, I hope to start the second book in that series by Dana McNeely. The title is Whirlwind. Here’s the first line:
STANDING ATOP THE CITY WALL, DOV nocked an arrow in his bowstring, grasping several more between his fingers for successive shots.
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Edward, I have a hazy memory of being on a hillside and looking up at the sky and seeing so many stars. My dad said it was the Milky Way. He was a navigator on a Merchant Marine ship and traveled all over the world. That’s one of the thinks that photo reminds me of…being a little girl and my daddy showing me the stars.
Now is a good time to read a Christmas romance book.
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Judy, I so agree!
book sounds great! I am currently between books!
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This would make a good one to read, Shelia!
White frost edged the third-floor window as Narcotics Detective Liz Burke scanned the parking lot below for unwanted visitors.
First line of Christmas Murder Cover-Up by Shannon Redmon is what I am reading now.
Merry Christmas!
Carolyn Frazier
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That sounds like a good book, Carolyn!
PRELUDE
‘Abramm KALLADORNE will fall, Vesprit.” Shadow over Kiriath – Karen Hancock
Enjoy your weekend!
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That sounds very interesting, Caryl!
I love the photo and verse you chose, and love all the stars too. I actually saw a falling star last night, my first one in years!
I also like reading about older characters, and that’s one reason one of my favorite Christmas books is Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock. About a grandmother who was recently diagnosed with dementia and decides her busy granddaughter needs a date for Christmas. It’s hilarious and at same time they find the true meaning of Christmas!