Delightful and Heartwarming
The Fruitcake Challenge by Carrie Fancett Pagels is a delightful novella and the first in the Christy Lumber Camp series. It is set in 1890. As soon as I began reading, I could tell that this was going to be one of those stories that I am going to have to read every Christmas. Warmth and love just oozes throughout the novel.
The moment new lumberjack Tom sees Jo Christy, he knows that she is the woman for him. He will however have to get past her two burly and protective brothers to stand any chance of earning a place in Jo’s heart.
The theme of family runs throughout the novel. There are different types of family… actual blood families, the lumber camp family unit and God’s family. Mr Christy heads up two of those families. He is a wonderful father figure as he tries to protect and love all those who fall under his care.