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Monday, December 5, 2011

Merry Christmas Stories by Jeff R. Spalsbury (and GIVEAWAY!)

 I am a great fan of short stories. I love that particular form of fiction and I actually like some authors’ short stories better than their longer novels (Hemingway and Faulkner in particular). Christmas short stories are a particular favorite of mine. I have a dog-eared children’s book of Christmas short stories that I used to read each year as a child during the Christmas season. As an adult I’ve loved revisiting Louisa May Alcott and O. Henry’s short stories during the holiday seasons. With this background in mind, I was very happy to review a short story collection, Merry Christmas Stories by Jeff R. Spalsbury this holiday season.

Merry Christmas Stories is an enjoyable collection of holiday stories in the vein of my favorite Christmas sentimental short story writers, O. Henry and Louisa May Alcott. The collection contains twenty-five short stories that range in genre from romance, detective stories, ghost stories, science fiction, family, road trip, etc. In general the stories are heart-warming stories about personal redemption, finding true love, or the lonely finding someone with whom to spend their Christmas.
I enjoyed all of these stories, but I think my favorites were “Tiny and the Bear,” “The Last S-2,” and “My Christmas Ghost.” “Tiny and the Bear” is a story about a father and a son that help out troubled travelers on Christmas Eve, but it has a great twist at the end. “The Last S-2” is a sci-fi story. I thought it was very a very unique Christmas story about a robot that is given an assignment to raise a colony of children and teach them about the first Christmas. “My Christmas Ghost” is about a man who finds love with a ghost. I always love a good ghost story.

Overall, Merry Christmas Stories is an entertaining collection of Christmas stories that will warm your heart and appeal to the romantic in all.

I reviewed Merry Christmas Stories as part of the TLC Book Tours. For a complete listing of stops on this tour, check out this link.

Book Source: A signed copy from the author

Giveaway Details

I am going to send one lucky winner my review copy of Merry Christmas Stories that is signed by the author.


If you would like to win a copy of Merry Christmas Stories by Jeff R. Spalsbury please leave a comment about what intrigues you about the novel.

As part of your comment, you must include an email address. If I can't find a way to contact you I will draw another winner.

For an additional entry, blog about this giveaway or post it on your sidebar. Provide a link to this post in your comment.

I will be using random.org (or a monte carlo simulation in excel) to pick the winners from the comments.

This contest is only open to US and Canadian residents (Sorry!).

No P.O. Boxes.

The deadline for entry is midnight, Monday December 12th.

Good luck!
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9 comments:

  1. EvieDecember 5, 2011 at 10:56 PM

    This sounds like such a wonderful, heart-warming book! I don't really feel the Christmas spirit, living in Vancouver and all (we don't get snow here ;_; just rain..). I'm also spending these holidays apart from my family, so yeah, no Christmas sparkliness for me.. I think this book is perfect for people like me, who can only experience the Christmas through the wonderful imagination of others!

    Thanks for the fantastic review, I loved how you described this book and it definitely made me want to read it!

    Evie
    evieseo(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. SukoDecember 6, 2011 at 11:20 AM

    I love Christmas stories as well, and would love to read this collection.

    Please enter me in this great and timely giveaway. Thanks!

    suko95(at)gmail(dot)com

    I will post this in my blog's sidebar. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. PatriciaDecember 7, 2011 at 8:53 PM

    Hi, Laura!
    I have not stopped by for a visit in a while! But this review caught my interest in the email (subscription) note I received.
    I am usually not a fan of short stories, but your review is so well written, it is your review that intrigued me and picqued my interest.
    So, yes, please add my name into the draw:

    madley (AT) cogeco (DOT) ca

    Hope you and your family are all staying well!
    Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  4. mrsshukraDecember 8, 2011 at 2:51 PM

    I like personal redemption stories and short stories are my preferred reading when travelling!

    ReplyDelete
  5. travelerDecember 8, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    Thanks for this wonderful feature which would be a book that I would treasure forever. Your review and post was lovely. many thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. petiteDecember 10, 2011 at 11:05 AM

    All of these stories sound enchanting. Thanks for this giveaway. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousDecember 10, 2011 at 10:16 PM

    Ooh this one sounds like a wonderful holiday read - I'm so happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for being a part of the tour. I'm featuring your review on TLC's Facebook page today.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Andrew SmithDecember 12, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    This sounds like a great Christmas stories book!!
    My email is coolandrew123(dot) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Laura's ReviewsDecember 14, 2011 at 10:51 AM

    The winner for this giveaway has been chosen and notified. This giveaway has now ended. Thank-you to all who entered!

    ReplyDelete