FictionBook Review: The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson

Book description:

Miranda did not put adventure on her Christmas list, but thanks to her eighty-five-year-old neighbor Joy, that's exactly what she's getting this year. When Joy tells Miranda that she plans to drive an old RV decked out in Christmas decorations from their Chicago neighborhood to her new retirement digs in Phoenix--in the dead of winter, no less--the much younger Miranda insists that Joy cannot make such a trip by herself. Besides, a crazy trip with Joy would be more interesting than another Christmas home alone. Unemployed and facing foreclosure, Miranda feels she has nothing to lose by packing a bag and heading off to Route 66. But Joy has a hidden agenda for their Christmas joyride--and a hidden problem that could derail the whole venture.

My Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed The Christmas Joy Ride. Not your typical holiday tale, this book is an adventure in the true spirit of Christmas giving. Melody Carlson writes with humor, reality, and whimsy. Joy is one of the most delightful characters I've read. After raising daughters, I appreciate seeing the growth and changes in Miranda as she takes on challenges and conquers fears. Take a break from all the craziness of Christmas and read The Christmas Joy Ride. It will refuel your tank.

I received this book in exchange for a fair review.

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than two hundred books with combined sales of more than six million. She is the author of the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, Christmas at Harrington's, and The Christmas Cat. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.