Reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann

mrscorbin89's review

adventurous emotional medium-paced

5.0

First of all who doesn’t love a great Christmas story? I know I sure do so when I saw the beautiful cover of this amazing story I knew right away I had to read it. This Christmas story took place after the pandemic, but there are still a lot of feel good moments and it was personally the first book I’ve read that is post pandemic but overall this sorry was simply amazing, and charming. The characters were very well developed, the plot was just perfect, and the author does an amazing job with descriptions for us to be able to visualize their masterpiece. So if you’re ready for the holiday spirit and need a good Christmas story make sure to pick this one up today.

bibliophilenerd's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Carina just wants a big family Christmas this year! She spent the last few years with a lot of loss, sadness, and then Covid. She is struggling and feeling lonely until she starts a friendship with Max. She met Max in a grief group, but she thinks of him as an adult child. He invites her to his cabin that he has been fixing up with his late wife to spend the holidays. She is debating but no one in her family seems to want to make the effort for the holidays so she decides to get out of town to Crossbow and a little cabin in the woods. She is hoping for an adventure and a tiny stray kitten showing up on her doorstep is the first. I wasn’t sure about a post Covid book but it was well written and not dwelling on the pandemic. The characters were very relatable and the cabin sounds beautiful set in the woods outside of a quaint small town during the holidays! This was a wonderful read as we get closer to the holiday season!

carla_c's review

5.0

Such a sweet read! I related so much to Carina and her feelings about looking for her place in things. As you grow and your children go you have to learn a new role and that can be hard. I'm always down for a good Christmas read and this one did not disappoint! I really loved reading about Carina and her family's memories. She has been through so much and needs to find her peace. I really enjoyed reminiscing with Carina throughout the story. I look forward to reading more from this author for sure!

blndbombshell's review

5.0

A Crossbow Christmas was my first foray into the 'Hallmark Christmas Books' and I must say, it was wonderful. This should be a Hallmark movie 1000%. I found myself sympathizing with Carina and feeling her pain. I loved her connections with others throughout the book and especially adored the way the author wrapped everything up. I was definitely moved to tears in the best way!

emilyhei's review

inspiring

4.0

Carina is reflecting on recent events that brought both grief and illness all around her. COVID is an unforgivable virus that showed no mercy to some of the people in her life.  Christmas is around the corner and needing a break she takes up an offer from a man in her grief group. Life has a way of finding small blessings in the most unlikely places.

I thought this story nailed the variety of emotions you can have with Covid, trying to find a new normal, suffering loss. At times it was hard to read as it brought up feelings I have had certainly during the pandemic, but I looked at this as a reflection of the past that I was able to move away from. If your looking for a book that is about reflection and moving on this is one to pick up.    

mandykim's review

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

5/5 Stars

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann

This isn't the first book I've read by the author. A Crossbow Christmas is a fun little read. It seems to hit home for the Covid pandemic. It talks about the loss of family members and friends.

Carina has had her fair share of hurt. She lost her mom, then her sister died in an accident, and her father passed away due to Covid and strokes. When she and her husband get Covid they are hit rough. Then she is told that she needs to get away without her husband. The quote I chose for Carina is: “Well, I expected you to say I need a rest, or a vacation, but a good long trip? I don’t think Alfred can take off right now.”

Highly recommended for Romance lovers.

will_o_wisp's review

emotional reflective

5.0

Losing family is never easy, and our poor Carina has had an absolute whirlwind this past year. While having to learn how to deal with her grief, Carina plans a big Christmas; It's too bad that nobody else in her family is able to make it.
This is a beautiful book set after the Pandemic, where Covid has taken Carina's life and turned it upside-down.  Carina lost both her parents and her sister, while almost losing herself in the span of a year.  This is the story of Carina working through her grief and learning to live in a life after loss and the Pandemic.

kpp1222's review

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

With the holiday season coming up, this was a wonderful story to get me into the festive spirit. This was another new author for me so I was not sure what to expect, but this would make a wonderful TV movie. I could feel some existing feelings as this was written about the holiday season coming out of the pandemic and I remember last year getting to spend the holidays with my family. While it was fun and entertaining there was also the family drama to go along with it. This story pulled at my heartstrings in so many ways. From feeling lonely, sad, and pensive she decides to write down her thoughts and feelings to help her through the grieving and changes of how her world has changed while she was not around them. I will say that the cabin she was writing in would be a dream come true. I would love to have the opportunity to spend the holidays there. Great read. I highly recommend it. 

julesherb's review

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

 Immediately on starting this book my heart went out to Carina and stayed fully engaged until the very last word. She suffers so much loss and hardship, including battling Covid herself, in such a short period of time. After coming through all that she is a little lost and unsure of her place in this new world of ours filled with Covid and face masks and she worries constantly about her family. Carina is such a wonderfully written and totally relatable character. I love her friendship with Max, a young man she strikes up a friendship with that she meets in a grief group who has lost his wife to cancer. This book will bring out so many emotions and keep you captivated from start to finish all while reminding you of the very needed joy of the Christmas spirit. It's an absolutely wonderful holiday read. 

tytanmom23's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann. This is such an inspiring read. Its about Carina who has had her world turned upside in the past year. She has lost her mom, her dad and a sister in the course of a year and she also endured a long horrible battle with COVID that almost caused her own death. When she is trying to recover she realizes that the most important thing on Earth is family. She wants to spend more time with her family and they want no part of it. She and her husband are growing apart and her kids have all moved on with their lives. When she meets Max a young man who has recently lost his wife to cancer they form a friendship and that friendship saves them both. Carina learns to function thru and after a worldwide pandemic. Can she put her life back together and find joy in the world again. Read this sweet book to find out!