Review: A Christmas in the Alps

 

A Christmas in the Alps

by Melody Carlson

About the Book

After a time of heartache and loss, Simone Winthrop discovers a tantalizing letter from her French great-grandmother, which seems to suggest that she is heir to a family treasure. Ever practical, Simone assumes the claim is baseless, but her best friend encourages her to find out for sure. Despite her deep-rooted fear of flying, Simone boards a jet to travel to Paris at Christmastime to uncover the truth.

During the long flight, Simone meets Kyle Larsson, who’s on his way to France to become an apprentice clockmaker. Though they abruptly part ways, an unexpected rendezvous in the French Alps at Simone’s family’s clock factory may lead to the discovery of the family treasure…and so much more.

For anyone who is wearying of staying home, Melody Carlson invites you to spend Christmas with her in the beautiful French Alps this year. So pull on your mittens, tie your scarf tight, and prepare yourself for a magical mountain holiday.

My Thoughts

From a beloved voice in inspirational Christmas fiction comes a story of lost treasure, discovered family, and grace.

What a delightful read! Melody Carlson is known for her Christmas stories filled with warmth and heart. I’ve enjoyed many of them, though I do believe A Christmas in the Alps is my favorite so far.

The plot of this book was very interesting. I loved reading about Simone finding her great-grandmother’s letter and then traveling to France in search of treasure. Carlson’s descriptions of the small village of Avre were completely charming. The idea of spending Christmas in this little town was just enchanting. I also loved reading about the Beaumonts’ experiences during WWII, as well as Simone’s search for her great-grandmother’s treasure. It kept me guessing throughout the book and added depth to this warm and sweet novella.

Simone was a lovely heroine. Her fear of flying makes her very relatable, as does her selflessness and dedication to her family. It was lovely to see the way things went for her after finding her great-grandmother’s letter; traveling to France, finding love, and getting to know her family. Sort of like a reward for all her hard work caring for her grandmother.

The supporting cast of characters was charming and rounded out the story. Tante Estelle, Kyle, and Noel all fit wonderfully in the story and just made it that much more enjoyable.

Fans of sweet Christmas stories with a dash of romance and a hint of mystery will love A Christmas in the Alps. I highly recommend this novella!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.