devon's review
4.0
'SCENES FROM A HOLIDAY' is a collection of three short stories from three of Red Dress Ink's most popular authors, Laurie Graff, Caren Lissner and Melanie Murray. Overall the book was a good way to kick off my holiday reading list but the stand out story in this book was clearly Laurie Graff's 'The 8 Dates of Hanukkah'.
'The 8 Dates of Hanukkah' - 5 stars
Graff delivers a strong and very likable main character in Nicki Heller (definitely a character I would like to see again!) and a very unique story line. Commitment-phobe Nicki Heller knows that her boyfriend of over a year is about to propose but she isn't so sure that marriage is in the cards for her, so she plans to avoid his proposal at all costs. She even manages to unwittingly knock herself out with her grandmothers old menorah sending her into a coma for several days. While in the coma Nicki travels to Menorahville, a town much like New York City but the only way out is to find a mate and get married. A determined Nicki refuses to stay in Menorahville but finds that finding a good man is much harder than she ever imagined!
'Carrie Pilby's New Years Resolution' - 3 stars
Possibly had I read Caren Lissner's hit book 'CARRIE PILBY' I would have found this story much more endearing. However, not having previously been introduced to the character I found the story of Carrie Pilby a young genius trying to fit in a bit pointless. When Carrie decides that she wants to meet someone just like her in the new year (preferably male) she sets out on various adventures to try to find this person, unfortunately Carrie finds that she needs to find herself before she can find a mate. This second story left a bit to be desired and seemed unfinished...maybe there will be a sequel to that hit novel?
'Emma Townsend Saves Christmas' - 4 stars
Emma Townsend is dreading going home for Christmas to her small Vermont town where Christmas is serious business. She has a new life in New York and does not want to trade in her DKNY suites and Ferragamo heels for flannel shirts and work boots but when her brother Jeff bails out first Emma is left holding the bag. Only when she arrives she finds the town in chaos, her parents are spending Christmas in Jamaica, the town is in an uproar over changes to the Christmas Faire and...is she just paranoid or does everyone in town seem to hate her?? Now with the help of her high school crush Emma must save Christmas while finding out that maybe tradition isn't so bad after all.
'The 8 Dates of Hanukkah' - 5 stars
Graff delivers a strong and very likable main character in Nicki Heller (definitely a character I would like to see again!) and a very unique story line. Commitment-phobe Nicki Heller knows that her boyfriend of over a year is about to propose but she isn't so sure that marriage is in the cards for her, so she plans to avoid his proposal at all costs. She even manages to unwittingly knock herself out with her grandmothers old menorah sending her into a coma for several days. While in the coma Nicki travels to Menorahville, a town much like New York City but the only way out is to find a mate and get married. A determined Nicki refuses to stay in Menorahville but finds that finding a good man is much harder than she ever imagined!
'Carrie Pilby's New Years Resolution' - 3 stars
Possibly had I read Caren Lissner's hit book 'CARRIE PILBY' I would have found this story much more endearing. However, not having previously been introduced to the character I found the story of Carrie Pilby a young genius trying to fit in a bit pointless. When Carrie decides that she wants to meet someone just like her in the new year (preferably male) she sets out on various adventures to try to find this person, unfortunately Carrie finds that she needs to find herself before she can find a mate. This second story left a bit to be desired and seemed unfinished...maybe there will be a sequel to that hit novel?
'Emma Townsend Saves Christmas' - 4 stars
Emma Townsend is dreading going home for Christmas to her small Vermont town where Christmas is serious business. She has a new life in New York and does not want to trade in her DKNY suites and Ferragamo heels for flannel shirts and work boots but when her brother Jeff bails out first Emma is left holding the bag. Only when she arrives she finds the town in chaos, her parents are spending Christmas in Jamaica, the town is in an uproar over changes to the Christmas Faire and...is she just paranoid or does everyone in town seem to hate her?? Now with the help of her high school crush Emma must save Christmas while finding out that maybe tradition isn't so bad after all.
mcipher's review
1.0
I didn't actually finish it, to be honest, but I just couldn't read the first story. I really tried but just could NOT get into it... The other two were meh, too, but at least readable.
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