Christmas Blog Tour!

Hello all! I'm here as a part of Rebekah Morris's blog tour! And guess what? It's all Christmas books! So let's get on with it, shall we? ;)

Home for Christmas

Feeling that life is unfair when her father is killed in the front lines of France and she has to live with her relatives on a western farm, twelve-year-old Susanna Stanson runs away to the city. She decides that all will be well when she reaches her old home, but a severe snowstorm interrupts her trip.

I really enjoyed this story! The backdrop was WWII, so how could I not? ;) It seemed to be a bit slow in the middle, but the ending made up for it! It was a very sweet story! My only complaint was that . . . well, it seemed like it could have been changed to a Civil War setting without much being changed at all. There wasn't much of a 40's feel at all.

But the ending . . . <3 Like I said, it made up for it. It was so sweet!

“Well, that ain’t my concern, though I say it’s a shame to send a young girl like you off with no bag an’ baggage. An’ right before Christmas too.” ~ Home for Christmas

Three Christmas Stories from WWII

Christmas Delays

A doctor, called up for duty in the army, spends one more Christmas with his wife in an unexpected way after God's Christmas delays strand them in a small house with another family.

Peter's Christmas

Very mild weather might not feel like Christmas, but young, orphaned Peter and his older sister find the peace and love of the season with the Hampton family in spite of the sadness of war.

I'll be Home for Christmas

Grandpa recounts the memories of his first Christmas away from home during WWII.

These stories were all amazing! The first two were sweet, and I enjoyed them, but . . . The third was my favorite by far. I need an entire novel about these guys, 'kay? Like, it had brothers, it had a long-distance Christmas, it had the song "I'll be Home for Christmas" and it had a hosptial. Need I say anything else about how amazing it was?! *hugs it* So yes. I loved it. Probably one of my favorite stories Rebekah Morris has ever written. And like I said, now I just need a book about these guys . . . ;)

The voice went on singing those tender words that brought the folks at home into clear focus for many a lonely G.I. away from home.“I’ll be home for Christmas, If only in my dreams. If only in my dreams.” ~ Christmas Delays

Rebekah was also kind enough to do an interview for the blog! So, let's here about some of her favorite things about Christmas, shall we?

1.) Favorite Christmas carol? Secular and christian. ;)

Oh, Christmas carols! There are so many that I like, but my top favorite in the Christian genre are “O Holly Night” and “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” At least those are my favorite right now. (Is it perhaps because they are both included in the Christmas story I’m currently writing? Maybe.) As for a favorite secular Christmas song, I’m going to say “Winter Wonderland” and “I’ll be Home for Christmas.” (And no, those aren’t in any story I’m writing right now.) :)

I'll be home for Christmas! *coughs* It's not like I have any special attachment to that song at all . . .

2.) Favorite Christmas tradition? 

We don’t have many traditions, but there are two that I can think of that I hope keep going on. One is that on Christmas morning we always have Cinnamon Bread and Nut Bread. My grandma (Dad’s mom) used to always send us a box at Christmas time with those special breads in it and we’d eat them on Christmas morning. Now that Grandma has passed away, my sister makes the same bread for Christmas mornings, and every time I eat it, I can taste Grandma’s love.

The other tradition is our Christmas rug. My mom’s grandma made us a latch-hook rug that is a Christmas wreath. It aways comes out and sits on the floor before the Christmas tree, and on Christmas morning that is where I always sit. But when we do Christmas with my brother’s family, the kids know that whoever child is opening their gift, they get to sit on the rug. It’s so sweet watching them scramble to get on the rug so they can open their present.

Oh, those sounds so neat! I always love hearing about traditions others have. 

3.) Favorite Christmas story?  Other then the one of the first Christmas.  

My favorite-est of favorite Christmas stories is “The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas” by Madeleine L’Engle. My mom read that story every year to us for as long as I can remember, then I started reading it, and there have been a few years when I’ve read it more than once because I read it to others. Even though I have the story practically memorized and can quote lines and phrases, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without reading that book.

That's one Christmas book I haven't read yet. I can't wait to break out the stash of Christmas books I've been saving for December. I'll have to add this to it. 

4.) When you write a Christmas book, what is your favorite time period to write?

Oh, I don’t know. I’ve written stories from so many different eras that it’s hard to choose. I think I like them all equally well because what makes a Christmas story isn’t the time period it is set in, it is the warmth, the love, the joy of the season that matters most. Writing Christmas stories from different eras also brings Christmas alive no matter where it takes place, or when.

So true! I love when you read books and even though they may be set 100 years apart, many of the same traditions are cherished by families. 

5.) Random question.  ;) What part of the Christmas meal are you in charge of?

I would say none! but it depends. We don’t have a usual “Christmas meal” per say at our house. Most of that came from the fact that for thirty years we would always head up to my Grandparents on Christmas afternoon for a week with family. Grandma almost always had lasagna. But now that we are home on Christmas day, we might have snacks and do something fun. But, if we were having a “traditional meal” I make the rolls. 

Oh, fun! Cooking is so much fun . . . I almost love cooking on Christmas as much as opening the presents.;)  

Thank you so much for coming on the blog, Rebekah! I loved hearing your answers! 

Thank you so much for letting me come and chat, Jesseca. I enjoyed it!

About the Author

Rebekah A. Morris is a homeschool graduate, an enthusiastic freelance author and a passionate writing teacher. Her books include, among others, Home Fires of the Great War, The Unexpected Request, Gift from the Storm, and her bestselling Triple Creek Ranch series. Some of her favorite pastimes, when she isn't’ writing, include reading and coming up with dramatic and original things to do. The Show-Me state is where she calls home.

November 13

Bookish Orchestrations – Introductory Post

Read Another Page – Book Spotlight from the author

Kaylee's Kind of Writes – Book Spotlight

Resting Life – Review and Excerpt

Perry Elisabeth – Excerpt

Rachel Rossano's Words – Book Spotlight and Excerpt

November 14

Read Another Page – Book Spotlight from the author

Odelia's Blog – Author Interview and Book spotlight

Bryce’s Creative Writing Corner – Author Interview, Review, and Excerpt

Counting Your Blessings One by One – Review and Excerpt

Perpetual Indie Perspective – Book Spotlight

November 15

Read Another Page – Book Spotlight from the author

Whimsical Writings for His Glory – Author, Review, and Excerpt

Maidens for Modesty – Author Interview and Review

The Destiny of One – Book Spotlight

Rebekah Ashleigh – Book Spotlight

Once Upon an Ordinary – Review

Stephany's BLOG Snippets – Book Spotlight and Excerpt

November 16

Read Another Page – Book Spotlight from the author

Laurel's Leaves – Author Interview

Stories by Firefly – Review

Claire Banschbach – Author Interview

Kelsey's Notebook – Review and Excerpt

Jaye L. Knight – Book Spotlight and Excerpt

November 17

Read Another Page – Book Spotlight from the author

Ruffles and Grace – Book Spotlight

With a Joyful Noise – Book Spotlight

Ordinary Girl Extraordinary Father – Review 

Bookish Orchestrations – Closing Post