I've gotten a jump on Christmas reading list and so far they have been wonderful! A Christmas by the Sea is no exception. A Few years ago I was introduced to Melody Carlson and every year since I look forward to her annual Christmas book.

I've gotten a jump on Christmas reading list and so far they have been wonderful! A Christmas by the Sea is no exception. A Few years ago I was introduced to Melody Carlson and every year since I look forward to her annual Christmas book.

I couldn't help but get hooked into the story of their plight and cheered when Wendy and Jackson seemed to fit right into life in Seaside. When it seems like life doesn't seem to have any more chances, being in the right place at the right time can give you a little boost.

Sometimes even a mom can learn to have a little faith from her child. A Christmas by the Sea is for the reader who wants to be inspired by some Christmas cheer spurred on by the hopes and dreams of a boy like Jackson. I enjoyed watching this story unfold better than any cookie cutter themed movie laden with commercials!

Each character in the book, like the people in our own lives, serves a purpose. When Wendy started digging into the repairs of the cottage she found so much more than what waited back in Ohio. Many thanks to Revell Books for the opportunity to receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I recommend you pick up a copy of this book and discover Melody Carlson's gift for putting the spirit back into Christmas.

A really good heartwarming story on what a single Mom goes through after losing a spouse. Really makes you open your eyes to how blessed we are. And to look around at those who are struggling and just need a helping hand. Loved this Christmas story.

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and Revell publishing. I was under no obligation to post a review.

I really enjoyed the setting of this book. I could picture the town and it felt very Hallmark like.

I did struggle with Wendy constantly going back and forth in her mind about telling her son the truth. If felt wrong and not what most parents would do.

I also felt the ending was rushed and a bit to unrealistic. I didn’t buy it.

This wasn’t my favorite Melody Carlson book, but it was a very quick read.


A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A wonderful story for the Christmas season. Great characters and interesting storyline. A boy's believe in god providing for his struggling mom and himself.

Every Christmas season I look forward to Melody Carlson's newest holiday book. It was a quick story (only 167 pages) but it was packed with emotion, family love, and second chances. Wendy and her son are struggling financially after her husband died several years ago from cancer. Left with medical bills and student loans, finding out that she had inherited her grandparent's beach house seems like a true blessing. Heading to the small town of Seaside, Wendy plans on fixing it up the cottage and quickly selling it and moving back to Ohio. What she doesn't plan on is that her son Jackson will fall in love with the cottage, the town and the people. A friendly and slobbery dog rounds out the picture of the new home that Jackson is hoping will be theirs. With the help of local craftsman, Caleb, Wendy tries to make a living using her craft skills and shells she and Jackson find so she can remain in Seaside. When Jackson finds out that his mother wants to move back to Ohio, he does what an adolescent does, he tries to force his mother's hand. Will Wendy be able to financially support her small family with the crafts she makes or will she and her heartbroken son have to return to Ohio?

This is a sweet story of family, second chances, independence and romance. What could be better than spending the holiday season in a gorgeous beach town that feels like home and the bonus of a new possible romance for Wendy. Can God answer their prayers to be able to start a new life in this small town that feels more like home than Ohio ever did. The story flows beautifully and is well paced. The characters in the story are all helpful in trying to get Wendy and Jackson to stay, all except for the pretty Crystal, who seems to have her own feelings for Caleb. This is a beautiful story about spiritual and personal growth. A magical Christmas story that can be read in a day by a warm fire. The publisher, Revell, provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, opinions and ideas are my own.

#melodycason #Netgalley. This book was as usual with Melody Carlson’s titles charming and makes me wish I lived in a charming little village as the protagonists. Love the characters and good story development.

Welcome to November in Maine, where widow Wendy Harper and her 12 year old son Jackson have inherited a tiny cottage on the shores of the Atlantic in a tiny town called Seaside where Wendy vacationed with her grandparents as a child. Wendy’s plan is to spruce up the cottage and put it on the market to help with the debt incurred during her husband’s battle with cancer but she knows doing so will break her son’s heart. I really enjoyed the beach atmosphere because it was so easy to imagine the sun on my face and the sand and water between my toes and I wanted to search for sea shells and sand dollars at low tide right along with the characters. I just wish the author had included another chapter about the romance between Wendy and town native, Caleb, which would have remedied what I felt was an abrupt ending to the story. I read an early copy of this book from Baker Publishing Group through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

Every year at this time I look forward to the new Christmas novella from Melody Carlson and I have never been disappointed, this year is no different! First of all, the cover is gorgeous and the title intrigued me before I even read the blurb about the novella. As soon as I started reading I knew how I wanted the story to end, how I hoped it would end and lucky for me it did, but it also had so much more than I thought as the story unfolded.

Wendy is taking a trip to Maine with her son Jackson to check out the condition of the family cottage that was left to her. However, her perspective of the trip varies greatly from Jackson's as Jackson sees it as a fresh start for them while Wendy sees this cottage as a way for her to survive. Wendy plans to make needed repairs and sell the cottage as quick as she can in order to pay off the medical bills from her late husband's treatments and care and be able to get back to work and their life. However, Wendy is not prepared for the condition of the home, the excitement and contentment she sees in Jackson when they arrive or the memories that surface for her. As Wendy works on the home and receives help along with friendship from others around her, she begins to struggle as to what will be best for her and Jackson and if it can match with the responsible choice she needs to make as the responsible adult and mother.

Melody packs so much into this novella! I loved the story and seeing the changes in Wendy and Jackson and how the environment contributed to these differences. Thanksgiving spent as Caleb's guests was such a sweet time and I loved the images that were created from this. Another scene is particular I liked was Jackson bringing in the Christmas tree. I loved the relationships that were being built and seeing the changes taking place. I highly recommend this "feel-good" read!

Melody Carlson never disappoints me! She can write historical, contemporary or romance and it's always a great read. A Christmas by the Sea was a great pick-me-up for me. Although it is intended to be a Christmas novel, I would highly recommend it for any season. I read this novel in one day while my state was being pounded by Hurricane Florence. It was a great escape for me.

Even though this is only a novella length book at 167 pages it truly packs a wallop.
Every Christmas season I look forward to Melody's newest holiday read and for a small book it's packed to the brim with fabulous stuff! Melody weaves together a tale of what it really means to be at home no matter where you are. Wendy and her son are struggling financially after her husband died several years ago and inheriting her grandparents beach house is a true blessing. Planning on fixing it and quickly selling it and moving back to Ohio she doesn't plan on her son,Jackson falling in love with the house and area. She puts off telling him she plans on selling because he feels so happy there and she doesn't want to ruin it for him. Jackson, a very helpful and mature teen though and I do believe he knew what was going on the whole time. What could be better than spending the holiday season in a gorgeous beach town that feels like home and the bonus of a new possible romance for Wendy. A friendly and slobbery dog rounds out the picture but will Wendy be able to financially support her small family with the crafts she makes or will she and her heartbroken son have to return to Ohio? Beautiful story about spiritual and personal growth.
Pub Date 04 Sep 2018
Thank you to Revell for a complimentary copy through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

In A Christmas By the Sea, Melody Carlson brings us a sweet story about Wendy and her twelve year old son Jackson. Wendy’s husband recently passed from pancreatic cancer and she has inherited a house from her grandfather. Hoping to sell it and pay off her mounting debt, she and Jackson head to Seaside, where the house is located on the beach. Jackson wants to stay forever and never sell the house, while Wendy is trying to be an adult and take care of all of her mounting responsibilities. As Jackson settles in and Wendy tries to get the cottage ready to sell, the two make friends in the sunny beach town and Jackson even goes to school. Wendy struggles with telling Jackson they have to leave but knows she must. When the truth finally comes out, what will happen? And how will Jackson react? Caleb, a neighbor and friend to them, has some ideas to help them stay, but will Wendy allow herself to hope and dream?
I enjoyed this story. It was very easy reading. I did think the ending was a little rushed, which is why I gave it four starts instead of five. It was still a great story with a good message about love and hope. I would recommend it for lovers of happy books with heartwarming moments I received a free copy of this story from NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Another sweet Christmas read by Melody Carlson. I enjoyed seeing Wendy work with her son, Jackson, to restore the summer cottage that had belonged to her grandparents and where she had such fond memories. Caleb was a warm hearted, caring hero who cared a lot about both Wendy and Jackson. But it bothered me that Wendy kept Jackson in the dark about her decision to sell the cottage. Deceit is never the way to build a relationship with your children. A very predictable ending which was a bit rushed just to wind up this novella as she had only know Caleb for two weeks, so this felt a bit unrealistic and financially unsound. Focus was God's provision.

A sweet, quick read for a curl up in front of the fireplace on a cold day.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

A CHRISTMAS BY THE SEA is the 2018 Melody Carlson Christmas story we've all been waiting for. i absolutely love the cover of this novella and I want to rent the cottage for a vacation getaway myself. What a lovely place.



I don't like that Wendy wasn't honest with her son from the beginning. If he was old enough to register himself in school, he was old enough to understand the trip was to get the cottage cleared out and listed on the real estate market. It would've saved a lot of drama.



Caleb was a sweetheart, and so there for both Wendy and Jackson. Wendy was hurting, worried, and running scared but she still found ways to be kind to her neighbors, make friends, and do artsy crafty stuff.



I greatly enjoyed this novella and look forward to reading it over again for Christmases to come.



I was given a copy off netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Wendy Harper remembers her grandparents’ cottage on the coast of Maine as a place of comfort and peace, but life has taken over and she hasn’t been there in years. With plans to update and make repairs in order to sell the cottage and make life more comfortable for her and her son, the two make the trip from Ohio to Maine. But Jackson has other plans.

It will take a miracle to allow this little family to stay in the cottage, but Jackson is determined to make it happen regardless of his mom’s agenda. As Wendy spends time in the small coastal community, will her practical side overrule her heart?

Melody Carlson weaves a sweet tale of family, home, and finding what your heart desires in A Christmas by the Sea (including a fun meet-cute). The perfect quick read to get you in the mood for the holidays.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

This book is a very sweet story about a Mom trying to do what is best for her family. Wendy is taking her son Jackson who is 12 back to her grandparents cabin in Seaside a place close to her heart. Her grandfather has left a cabin in seaside and she is going to see if she can sale it. Jackson has other ideas he wants to make this place his home . They get to know several people while redoing the cabin. Caleb is one the people they meet. He really wants to get to know Wendy. The people they meet and the heart of the community make it difficult for Wendy to return to Ohio where they have been living. She is questioning herself a lot on whether she can make a go of it in this sweet community. Caleb and Jackson continuing to try to convince her she can make a living with her shell creations. In the end everything turns out the way it is suppose. Just as Jackson told her "God with provide a way". Enjoyed reading this book look forward to reading more from Melody Carlson. I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review

A Christmas by the Sea is Melody Carlson’s most recent holiday offering. Widow Wendy Harper and her young adolescent son Jackson have traveled from their home in Ohio to Seaside, Maine to the oceanfront home left to her by her grandfather. Jackson, who has had a very hard time since his father’s death, is elated by the prospect of change. Wendy would love to be able to keep the home, but employment is limited in a vacation area and she is swamped in medical and student debt. The only way she sees to get caught up and maybe even ahead is to fix up the cottage enough to sell for a good price.

The change Wendy sees in Jackson makes her heartbroken to know the responsible thing is to sell. How is he going to accept this inevitable outcome now that he has made friends and feels accepted? And how can Wendy accept going back to a life that made them so unhappy?

When Wendy makes the acquaintance of local merchant and craftsman Caleb Colton, he extends the hand of friendship to guide Wendy in ways that can lead her, and Jackson, to be able to establish a future in Seaside. But the future he offers is beyond her dreams.

This is a sweet story of love and loss, growth and friendship. Melody Carlson is known for her touching stories and these characters will touch your heart. This is a good holiday read and I do recommend it.

Wendy Harper inherits a seaside cottage from her late grandparents. Wendy sees this as an opportunity to sell the valuable land and pay off medical debts. Her son, Jackson however, has it in his mind that this will be a new start for him and his single Mom. Jackson clings to his faith even as Wendy makes her plans to spruce up the cottage and hand it over to a realtor.

Things change when Wendy meets Caleb, as she begins to wonder if she could make her way financially in the small picturesque town.

Melody Carlson wrote a sweet story about the struggles a young single mother faces. I felt the story slowed at times, with Wendy's difficulty in communicating with her son. But this was a warm Christmas story, light hearted and easy to read.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

This is a novella written about a thirtyish widow and her son. They have inherited a beach side cottage in the town of Seaside. The mom, Wendy, has full intentions of getting the cottage ready for sale and selling it. They have a lot of debt as her husband had been very sick with cancer before he passed away and Wendy feels she must have her corporate job in Ohio to make ends meet. Jackson, her son, loves the town and feels like he is being given a fresh start. And then, of course, there is the knight in shining armor, who also lives in the town.

To be honest, I didn't realize this was supposed to be a novella until I sat down to write this review. That helps my feelings with this book, because one of my biggest issues is that the story was too short. To get from start to finish, everything moved along very fast and was focused too much, I thought, on the romantic end of it. The other thing that I didn't like about this book is it feels like I read it before. The story line just reminds me of another book I have read. I have no idea what that book was, who the author was, or anything, but the plot seemed so very similar. I actually checked to make sure this wasn't an older book I was rereading.

I have read other Melody Carlson books and really liked them, so I have nothing against the author. Armando's Treasure is one I remember reading and thinking it was an excellent book. I just think for me, I didn't give it a fair chance as I don't really like novellas unless they are preludes to a series of regular length books. For sure, I need to know going into the reading of it that it's a novella. That I didn't know that is nobody's fault but my own.

The writing style and structure of the book was well done. I read it as an ebook and often that makes me not like the book as well. I always think there are more typos and grammar issue in ebooks or that there can be, but I did not find that to be the case. It was a well written chick flick. And the next time I might exercise more caution in finding out if it's a full length book or not.

I received this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review.

Wendy and her son, Jackson, have been living in Cincinnati, OH and trying to cope with life after the death of her husband, his dad. Wendy's grandfather passed away and left her his home in Seaside, Maine. Wendy plans on updating the home and selling it ASAP. They drive to Maine over Thanksgiving break and both fall in love with the house and town. Jackson wants to live there but Wendy sees no way to make a living and insists they must go back to Cincinnati. Will the townspeople, one in particular, change her mind and give a young boy his Christmas wish?

What a heartwarming, beautiful Christmas read. Melody Carlson writes with such love and hope that you can't help but fall in love with Seaside. She makes the reader wish we could experience the Christmas season on the Maine coast with mornings of shelling, days filled with creating beauty within our home and evenings filled with delicious seafood meals.

I would like to see a return visit to Seaside with one of the other characters with an update to how Wendy and Jackson are doing.

I received a complimentary copy of this story from Revell through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Widowed and left in crippling debt after her husband's fight with cancer, Wendy feels as though she's beginning to lose her only child, 12-year-old Jackson, as well. When Wendy inherits her father's Maine seaside cottage, she believes she has a chance to wipe out her debt by fixing up and selling the cottage. She takes a few weeks off work, pulls her son out of school, packs up her Subaru, and heads across the country.

Jackson has other plans. He plans on making the Maine cottage their permanent home. He throws himself into life in his new Maine town wholeheartedly. Jackson is excited by the progress they make on the cottage and even sets his mom up on a date with a local furniture builder, Caleb, Wendy sees her son opening up emotionally and is finding it hard to remind him that it's all temporary and they must return home soon.

Wendy, just as she is embracing her own artistic gifts, is faced with a reminder in the form of a struggling neighbor who falls ill, that being a single mom is difficult and a tremendous amount of responsibility. Wendy, like most moms, just wants to give her son the best life possible. Reminded by her son, she places her faith and future in God's hands.

Melody Carlson delivers another uplifting Christmas story. My only wish is that the pacing was a little evener. The ending felt a bit rushed and I was shocked at how fast the relationship moved. Still, a very solid and moving holiday story.