THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT CHRISTMAS

Author: Debbie Macomber ISBN: 0778322254 11/2005 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: MIRA

Emma Collins has always believed that the world is divided into two kinds of people: those who love fruitcake and those who don't. She's firmly in the second category, so it's ironic that her first major assignment of the Puyallup, Washington, Examiner is a series of articles about...fruitcake. At least it's a step up from writing obituaries. Her task is to interview the finalists in a fruitcake recipe contest, and that means traveling around the state. Actually...flying around the state. Local pilot Oliver Hamilton, who's starting an airfreight business, has agreed to take her wherever she needs to go, in exchange for free advertising. Unfortunately Emma hates small planes—almost as much as she hates fruitcake. But in the weeks leading up to Christmas, Emma falls for Oliver (who's not quite the Scrooge he sometimes seems) and his mutt, Oscar (who's allergic to her perfume, which makes him sneeze repeatedly). And she meets three wise women who know a lot about fruitcake—and even more about life. It all reminds her that there's something about Christmas. Something special...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Until the past couple of years, I'd considered Debbie Macomber, while personally an inspirational individual, to be an author I'd only read if I ran across a free copy of her books. She was ubiquitous, as it were, and her paperbacks would occasionally drop into my to-be-read pile from various friends. But since novels like THE SHOP ON BLOSSOM STREET, Macomber is becoming an author that I seek out.

So, when I saw her latest Christmas book was available for review, I snapped it up. I expected it to be as enjoyable as her previous light-hearted Christmas tale, THE SNOW BRIDE. It was originally out in 2003 but it must have been released in paperback in 2004 for my last year's holiday enjoyment. That one was snatched from my mother as soon as she was done with it. This year, I'll be the one handing a charming tale to Mom!

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT CHRISTMAS gives us Macomber's usual wealth of varied characters with rich life experiences sharing womanly wisdom with each other, and explores multigenerational holiday traditions that make family life so special. Since this is a romance novel, the book also takes on the notion of what a romantic hero is these days, and gives us Oliver Hamilton, who seems like one of those guys your mamma told you to avoid, but really turns out to be a man any woman would be lucky to grow old with.

Additionally, the fruitcake recipes were described so enticingly that I might actually try to make one.

I leave this food for thought: Who knew fruitcake was a symbol for life?

Heather Hiestand