jljaina's review
4.0
This was a great addition to the Parish Mail series. The book appears to take place after book 2 (which I still need to read) and they days are creeping closer to Christmas!
Celia receives a new letter from the past, looking for something a young girl has lost. The book continues with other characters from the earlier books, including her grandparents, Sloan, Luc, Tilly, Donovan and her mother.
Much like the other books, you have choices to make that will steer the course of the story. In the choices I made, I got a lot of further insight into Sloan's character. While I didn't care for him in the first book, this had me more intrigues as he comes of as the wounded 'bad boy.' Still needs a major attitude adjustment but I really got to get some glimpses behind the exterior. Depending on the choices you make, it seems you get to know different characters a bit more.
One thing that surprised me was how far they had advanced in understanding how the letters work and what they need to do. Also, Celia's mom seems to know a lot more. And grandpa seems to have some ideas too... I really liked her grandparents a lot more in this one. While Jane is still standoffish in her own way, you see some other sides to her. Although, once again, this can vary some depending on YOUR choices.
While not giving specific spoilers, I loved the ending I got for Celia. And the mystery also took an unexpected twist. This book also was more a 'feel-good' mystery. This is a series I definitely plan to continue reading!
Celia receives a new letter from the past, looking for something a young girl has lost. The book continues with other characters from the earlier books, including her grandparents, Sloan, Luc, Tilly, Donovan and her mother.
Much like the other books, you have choices to make that will steer the course of the story. In the choices I made, I got a lot of further insight into Sloan's character. While I didn't care for him in the first book, this had me more intrigues as he comes of as the wounded 'bad boy.' Still needs a major attitude adjustment but I really got to get some glimpses behind the exterior. Depending on the choices you make, it seems you get to know different characters a bit more.
One thing that surprised me was how far they had advanced in understanding how the letters work and what they need to do. Also, Celia's mom seems to know a lot more. And grandpa seems to have some ideas too... I really liked her grandparents a lot more in this one. While Jane is still standoffish in her own way, you see some other sides to her. Although, once again, this can vary some depending on YOUR choices.
While not giving specific spoilers, I loved the ending I got for Celia. And the mystery also took an unexpected twist. This book also was more a 'feel-good' mystery. This is a series I definitely plan to continue reading!
amburhostyn's review
5.0
With each book I just come to love the Parish Mail series more and more...and Season's Greetings was no exception! It may be just a Parish Mail "short" but it packed quite a punch and delivered one seriously heartwarming story, and I loved every second of it...especially the romantic moments, I was a sucker for those. ;D
Just as with the first two books, I absolutely loved Celia. She's such a genuine character, and I honestly wish she was real just so I could be her friend...not only is she totally awesome at solving crime, she's just an all-around great person. It's so nice to see a heroine who is so resoundingly likeable. I love getting to experience the series through her, and I definitely love getting to pick her choices through Coliloquy's active fiction features. I also have to admit that I totally enjoy all three of Celia's love interests, although I definitely have my favourite, Donovan,..and my least favourite, Luc,...and I have the one that I just really enjoy her interactions with, Sloan, although I'm pretty sure nothing is going to happen there, but I wouldn't mind it if it did. :P I have to admit that he is pretty alluring, and his interactions with Celia just totally crack me. I absolutely adore Donovan though, he's just such a great guy, but he's also got a bit of a bad side, too. *dreamy sigh*
Anywho, I'm getting off topic because of love interests, but I just have to say that I absolutely loved Season's Greetings. It was a fantastic addition to the series, and I loved that even though it was a novella, it still felt like a fully flushed out book in the series to me. I also just really enjoyed that in this short we got to see a really happy time for these characters. It was nice to see Celia handling a "case" that wasn't so dark and depressing...I mean, I totally love those ones, too, since they're super intense, but it is a happy time of year with Christmas, Hanukkah, and so many other wonderful religious holidays, so it was really nice to see that goodwill permeate this story as well. I also just loved getting to see Celia with her friends, not just Donovan (:P), but Tilly, too, and I really enjoyed her interactions with her family, especially her grandfather, they were such sweet moments!
I loved Season's Greetings, and cannot wait for the next installment in the Parish Mail series! I hope that if you give this series a shot, that you love it as much as I do. :D
Just as with the first two books, I absolutely loved Celia. She's such a genuine character, and I honestly wish she was real just so I could be her friend...not only is she totally awesome at solving crime, she's just an all-around great person. It's so nice to see a heroine who is so resoundingly likeable. I love getting to experience the series through her, and I definitely love getting to pick her choices through Coliloquy's active fiction features. I also have to admit that I totally enjoy all three of Celia's love interests, although I definitely have my favourite, Donovan,..and my least favourite, Luc,...and I have the one that I just really enjoy her interactions with, Sloan, although I'm pretty sure nothing is going to happen there, but I wouldn't mind it if it did. :P I have to admit that he is pretty alluring, and his interactions with Celia just totally crack me. I absolutely adore Donovan though, he's just such a great guy, but he's also got a bit of a bad side, too. *dreamy sigh*
Anywho, I'm getting off topic because of love interests, but I just have to say that I absolutely loved Season's Greetings. It was a fantastic addition to the series, and I loved that even though it was a novella, it still felt like a fully flushed out book in the series to me. I also just really enjoyed that in this short we got to see a really happy time for these characters. It was nice to see Celia handling a "case" that wasn't so dark and depressing...I mean, I totally love those ones, too, since they're super intense, but it is a happy time of year with Christmas, Hanukkah, and so many other wonderful religious holidays, so it was really nice to see that goodwill permeate this story as well. I also just loved getting to see Celia with her friends, not just Donovan (:P), but Tilly, too, and I really enjoyed her interactions with her family, especially her grandfather, they were such sweet moments!
I loved Season's Greetings, and cannot wait for the next installment in the Parish Mail series! I hope that if you give this series a shot, that you love it as much as I do. :D
ltg584's review
3.0
3.5 stars
It's that time of year, even though it's hard to admit. Winter. Again. That means snow and ice, freezing temperatures, car accidents every other block (at least that's what it means in Canada). But it also means Christmas is just around the corner. Literally! My neighbors a block over have Santa's Village set up on their lawn! Figuratively too, though. Christmas is just 34 days away. Have you started your shopping yet?
I'm a little slow getting into the spirit this year. We just had our first snowfall, and a lot of my family will be absent this year. This book was exactly what I needed to get me in the mood! The Parish Mail series follows Celia, whose father has died in Afghanistan. She and her mother have moved to New Orleans to start over. When Celia finds a package of hidden letters, she is drawn into a series of historical investigations involving ghosts and their unresolved issues. Each book has its own mystery, but the characters develop throughout the series. I haven't read the first two books, but I found that I was able to read this short story as a stand alone without any problem.
This is not the first book I have read through Coliloquy, but I always feel the need to explain to people what to expect in case they haven't had the experience yet. Coliloquy publishes books that are choose your own adventure for young adults. This can make for either a fast read, or you can read it several times over to see how the story changes. I am never disappointed with this completely different genre, as it keeps my mind interested on every level.
Honestly, I'm not on the fence about the cover. It's deceptive! It brought to mind light, fluffy books that my grandmother might read, where families sit around fireplaces drinking cocoa and singing carols. While this book does have its share of cocoa and it's wholesome enough for any age, it isn't like the cover may imply. The mere fact that ghosts are involved should hint that not everything is as it seems. Witchcraft and shadows of death dampen the otherwise lighthearted story. It is the perfect balance of darkness and light.
I will most definitely be reading the first two books of the series, and can easily give the Mom Stamp of Approval.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
It's that time of year, even though it's hard to admit. Winter. Again. That means snow and ice, freezing temperatures, car accidents every other block (at least that's what it means in Canada). But it also means Christmas is just around the corner. Literally! My neighbors a block over have Santa's Village set up on their lawn! Figuratively too, though. Christmas is just 34 days away. Have you started your shopping yet?
I'm a little slow getting into the spirit this year. We just had our first snowfall, and a lot of my family will be absent this year. This book was exactly what I needed to get me in the mood! The Parish Mail series follows Celia, whose father has died in Afghanistan. She and her mother have moved to New Orleans to start over. When Celia finds a package of hidden letters, she is drawn into a series of historical investigations involving ghosts and their unresolved issues. Each book has its own mystery, but the characters develop throughout the series. I haven't read the first two books, but I found that I was able to read this short story as a stand alone without any problem.
This is not the first book I have read through Coliloquy, but I always feel the need to explain to people what to expect in case they haven't had the experience yet. Coliloquy publishes books that are choose your own adventure for young adults. This can make for either a fast read, or you can read it several times over to see how the story changes. I am never disappointed with this completely different genre, as it keeps my mind interested on every level.
Honestly, I'm not on the fence about the cover. It's deceptive! It brought to mind light, fluffy books that my grandmother might read, where families sit around fireplaces drinking cocoa and singing carols. While this book does have its share of cocoa and it's wholesome enough for any age, it isn't like the cover may imply. The mere fact that ghosts are involved should hint that not everything is as it seems. Witchcraft and shadows of death dampen the otherwise lighthearted story. It is the perfect balance of darkness and light.
I will most definitely be reading the first two books of the series, and can easily give the Mom Stamp of Approval.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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