That Was the Best Christmas! by A.R. Cecil

These heartwarming stories set during the holidays in the years between 1906 and today will rekindle the reader's own memories, giving perspective to the present and hope for the future. Each short story is set amidst historic events when people came together and found opportunities to exchange the true gifts of Christmas: kindness, encouragement, forgiveness, peace, hope, belonging, and more. The main character of each story is a boy or girl, man or woman whose heart opens to give or receive love, bringing personal transformation and causing them to always look back and say, "That was the best Christmas!" Each story is penned by A.R. Cecil with a gentle twinkle in her eye, giving the reader delightful twists of plot and humor and revealing Mrs. Cecil's warm understanding of human relationships - with each other and with the Creator who sent his Son that first Christmas Day.25 very short stories are just right to read one a day during the Advent Season! My review:    I have always enjoyed Christmas stories, and am partial to books that have several stories in, so this book was right up my alley. Most of the stories are around five pages in length, which makes it a great book to read when you only have time to read a few pages.   The stories are set in the years between 1906 and today, and each one is subtitled with "a gift of.....", i.e.: Trust, Answered Prayer, a Savior, etc.   I enjoyed reading the book, and found the stories interesting and the kind that help remind one of the real meaning of Christmas. Great book. About the author: A.R. (Alice) Cecil writes from her heart and experience as a mother, grandmother, teacher, and follower of Christ. She earned a MSFA (Master of Science in Fine Art) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. A former third-grade teacher, she has been writing for many years. Her published works include Journeys to Mother Love: Nine Women Tell their Stories of Forgiveness and Healing (contributing author) and In that Place Called Day: Poems and Reflections that Witness God's Love (a collection of poetry). Another book, If the Fish Could Talk, is forthcoming in 2014. Alice and her physician husband reside in Louisville, Kentucky. They enjoy traveling to visit their four children and four grandchildren where they live in various parts of the world.    That Was the Best Christmas! is available from Cladach Publishing. Thanks to Cladach for the review copy.