There’s Always Hope

God Bless Us Every One by Eva Marie Everson is a delightful festive romance. It is just perfect to read on a cold damp day. It will instil a little warmth in your heart.

Each chapter opens with a paragraph from Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. It is almost two books in one.

Not only does the reader have a taste of a classic tale but there is a history lesson too. The history of A Christmas Carol and Christmas itself is included. Learning whilst reading – it can’t be bad.

The story deals with memories of Christmas past and tells us of Christmas present. The reader can make their own assumptions of Christmas future.

There is the theme of forgiveness. It can be hard to do. “They’d shattered Christmas past. And now he’d wanted her to forgive him.” Some people resent giving others forgiveness, believing them to be unworthy but “all God’s children got junk.” It is not our job to judge the worth of a person. Our task is to forgive and to accept and to love.

There is a coffee shop in the novel called Second Chances – and that is what we need to give people – second chances.

There are people in the novel who made poor choices in the past. The novel touches on the topics of alcohol and drug abuse, gambling and prison but there is always hope when people believe in you. “I never stopped praying for him.”

There is a homeless shelter in the novel. People can be homeless through no fault of their own. They need help to get back on their feet again. The sense of community in the shelter is heart warming. Again we are never to judge, we are to extend empathy and to love. “Sometimes you have to get down on the floor to understand what it’s like to be there.”

Within the story there is the sense of loss. Characters are angry but “anger is a part of the grieving process.” God is never shocked by our anger but we need to surrender it to Him.

There is a gentle love interest developing within the novel. The reader looks on with anticipation.

I thoroughly enjoyed God Bless Us Every One. It was a delightful story that will warm your heart.

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON