Heartwarming relationship-driven story set in the fictional town of Christmas Carol Village.
As a result of an unfortunate helicopter crash, five injured passengers find themselves stranded in a quaint, remote village for the duration of the Christmas holidays. Each forced to confront personal issues, they respond to the warmth and kindness of the local townsfolk in Christmas Carol Village. How drastic will the lives of the passengers be changed as the hand of fate deals them life-altering experiences and they find themselves Discovering the Christmas Spirit?
Excerpt
As a result of an unfortunate helicopter crash, five injured passengers find themselves stranded in a quaint, remote village for the duration of the Christmas holidays. Each forced to confront personal issues, they respond to the warmth and kindness of the local townsfolk in Christmas Carol Village. How drastic will the lives of the passengers be changed as the hand of fate deals them life-altering experiences and they find themselves Discovering the Christmas Spirit?
Professional Reviews 5 Star Rating - Linda Thompson, host, the AuthorShow
Nothing calls forth the spirit of Christmas like a heartwarming novel. Murray’s characters are so real they practically jump off the page. This book is the epitome of turning lemons into lemonade. Not your usual sappy Christmas story, this one has more than one message and a very important moral of the story. This book is so different, and even though it was more of a 'dreams and fantasies' type story, I loved the premise of how these people from the helicopter learned so much about themselves and others. I highly recommend you read this book for a lot of holiday smiles. And as always, I look forward to the next book by Mr. Murray.
5 Star Rating - Jennifer Ibiam, Readers Favorite
Five strangers from various walks of life booked travel passages from Jackson Hole to Cody. Marilyn, Derek, Cassie, Fran, and Oscar planned to spend their Christmas in Cody, but fate had other plans. The group’s helicopter crashed in the middle of nowhere because a horrible blizzard affected the weather. They sustained varying degrees of injuries and found themselves in a quaint community called Christmas Carol Village. Each of the five passengers had personal challenges that put them on the helicopter. However, their presence in the village forced them into one space, away from the fast life and noise of the big city. Would they take stock of their lives and face the demons that haunt them? Discovering the Christmas Spirit by Stephen Murray has the details.
Call this story Serendipity or Crashed in Wonderland, and you wouldn’t be more correct. Discovering the Christmas Spirit by Stephen Murray is a lighthearted novel that teaches lessons. The hospitality, love, restitution, kindness, selflessness, new beginnings, gratitude, community spirit, and dedication to people warmed my heart. We often focus on the fast lifestyle and daily bustle so that we forget to pause and look around us. We lose our gratitude, skip those deep and defining conversations, and fail in minor acts of service to others. However, every day was Christmas in Christmas Carol Village. We could choose kindness every day, instead of only on special occasions. I lived vicariously through the characters and had a good, joyous cry, especially for Noel. Stephen is a talented storyteller, and this book went by in a flash. The plot, character development, storyline, and editing were brilliant. I couldn’t put down this novel. Thank you, Stephen!
5 Star Rating - Teresa Smith, host of Tee's Talk Radio Podcast
I love this book! In fact, I’d describe it as the true meaning of Christmas wrapped up in shiny ornaments, tinsel, and cookie dough inside of a winter wonderland. Stephen Murray has created a world within a world quite like the snow globe depicted on the cover of this book. The story captivated my attention from the very first page, and I wanted to finish reading it in one sitting. Each character and plot revelation lifts you higher and higher. The main characters are reflections of everyday people, and that helps the readers relate to them even more. This book could easily become a Hallmark Christmas Movie classic with its inspirational and heartwarming story lines. If you like watching Christmas movies all year round as I do, then this is the book for you.
5 Stars!
First let me say, I was gifted a copy of this book by friend who wanted to cheer me up. Stepping into the world of Christmas Carol Village, I found myself immediately smiling. From the cute, adorable, and clever names of the little stores like Yule Love It Linens, located in Poinsettia Plaza, and the hotel—Holly & Ivy, my spirit felt lighter...calmer. Following the story of each of the five visitors stranded in the beautiful and humble little town, you unfold the best parts of human nature. From the towns unending hospitality to the self awareness each one of the five come to realize, these are lessons served with a side of hot chocolate, compassion and understanding. I definitely recommend this book for a holiday read that reminds us of the simple holiday gift—one another.
First let me say, I was gifted a copy of this book by friend who wanted to cheer me up. Stepping into the world of Christmas Carol Village, I found myself immediately smiling. From the cute, adorable, and clever names of the little stores like Yule Love It Linens, located in Poinsettia Plaza, and the hotel—Holly & Ivy, my spirit felt lighter...calmer. Following the story of each of the five visitors stranded in the beautiful and humble little town, you unfold the best parts of human nature. From the towns unending hospitality to the self awareness each one of the five come to realize, these are lessons served with a side of hot chocolate, compassion and understanding. I definitely recommend this book for a holiday read that reminds us of the simple holiday gift—one another.