The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson

Miranda did not put adventure on her Christmas list, but thanks to her eighty-five-year-old neighbor Joy, that's exactly what she's getting this year. When Joy tells Miranda that she plans to drive an old RV decked out in Christmas decorations from their Chicago neighborhood to her new retirement digs in Phoenix--in the dead of winter, no less--the much younger Miranda insists that Joy cannot make such a trip by herself. Unemployed and facing foreclosure, Miranda feels she has nothing to lose by packing a bag and heading off with Joy toward Route 66. But Joy has a hidden agenda for their Christmas joyride--one that could derail the whole venture.

No one captures the heartwarming fun of the Christmas season quite like Melody Carlson. Fasten your seat belt, because it's going to be an exciting ride!

My review:
  Melody Carlson has been writing a Christmas novel every year for several years now, and has become synonymous for me with a good Christmas story. I believe this is her ninth Christmas story, and she has again managed to come up with a story that isn't at all like her others.

  They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but the cover of this one grabs you and makes you want to read it. The gaudily decorated RV on the cover promises an entertaining and amusing read, and Carlson definitely delivers. The idea of an eight-five year old woman driving an RV from Chicago to Phoenix is amusing in and of itself, but there are other things in the story just as entertaining and amusing.

  The book is a quick and easy read that is full of well written dialogue, great characters, the true meaning of Christmas, and even some romance. I found myself smiling a lot as I read the book and wishing I could give Christmas to some people like the duo in the book did.

 Christmas is all all about giving. God gave His Son, so we give to others at Christmas. This book emphasizes that we should do more than just give to family and friends and to people who are going to give back. The best giving is when we give to those who cannot give back, and that is the message of The Christmas Joy Ride. This is a great and fun read that I enjoyed every minute of, and Melody Carlson can chalk up another success in her new Christmas novel.

About the author:

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books from Revell, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington's, which is being considered for a TV movie. She is also the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, the Life at Kingston High series, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. She is the winner of a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. Melody and her husband live in Oregon.

For more information about Melody visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com.

The Christmas Joy Ride is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.