About the Book
Name of book: Colors of Christmas
Author: Olivia Newport
Genre: Contemporary Christmas
Release Date: October 1, 2017
Christmas in Blue
Angela just wants Christmas to be over. Instead, she finds herself in charge of the town’s celebration, and everything goes from bad to worse. Can she rescue Christmas for the town—and herself?
Christmas in Gold
When eighty-year-old Astrid moves into an assisted living community and meets a young woman on the brink of despair, she resolves to stir up Christmas hope one more time.
Click here to purchase your copy.
My Impressions:
Generally the Christmas novellas I have read involve romance. And while a Christmas romance is a sweet treat, I really appreciated the unique stories that Olivia Newport shares in her 2-novella collection, Colors of Christmas. In both stories, Christmas in Gold and Christmas in Blue, the main characters are dealing with tough issues. Loneliness, grief, unwanted change, even an instance of a stalker, are topics not often developed in a holiday story, but for many people, Christmas just aggravates existing troubles and problems. I loved that the characters are ordinary people with struggles common to all. And the hope that God promises (and was fulfilled in the first Christmas) is shared with them and the reader. Both stories touched my heart. The well-thought out settings, the realistically portrayed characters, and the message of Christmas’ true meaning all provided a very satisfying read. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming read for their holiday season.
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
About the Author
Olivia Newport’s novels twist through time to find where faith and passions meet. Her husband and twentysomething children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is.
Guest Post from Olivia Newport
We All Have a Story
I’m younger than most of the people I exercise with. It started when I had a lot of pain in my feet and needed low-impact classes with the option of sitting down and learned I didn’t have to be a senior citizen to take their classes at my gym. Then I discovered how tough most of them are. Years later, though my feet are better, these are still my people.
A couple of years ago, while we waited for the younger and allegedly-but-not-really-tougher crowd to clear out of the group exercise room so we could invade it, a woman I would not have guessed to be 80, because she could out-cardio and out-lift me any day of the week, mentioned she had been widowed since she was 39. And she’d been widowed the first time at 19. And she’d grown up in Germany while Hitler was intent on destroying Europe and life was not easy.
Then the changing of the guard happened and I was left with my mouth gaping. I knew I had to hear this story. The next week after class, we went across the parking lot to Culvers for lunch and I scribbled notes on the backs of a pile of brown napkins while Astrid talked. Later she let me read the account of her life that she had written herself.
Astrid faced so many tragic circumstances, but she would be the first to tell you that God was with her even before she knew how to call on him. Many people with her life story would have found plenty of reason to wallow and stagnate. But not Astrid. Truly she is one of the most hopeful people I know.
Her story was the beginning of Colors of Christmas, which includes two stories. Astrid’s is “Christmas in Gold,” and the other is “Christmas in Blue.” Astrid inspired me to write about hope for a time of year when the Christian message resounds with hope yet so many people struggle to grasp hope for themselves. I pray these stories will help many recover a sense of hope afresh.
Olivia Newport chases joy in Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is.
Blog Stops
Books N Baubles, October 17
Christian Bookaholic, October 17
Bukwurmzzz, October 17
Janices book reviews, October 18
Singing Librarian Books, October 18
Moments Dipped in Ink, October 18
A Simply Enchanted Life, October 19
G.O. & D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, October 19
Bigreadersite, October 19
Reader’s cozy corner, October 20
Have A Wonderful Day, October 20
Reflections from my bookshelves, October 20
Blogging With Carol, October 21
Just the Write Escape, October 21
Zerina Blossom’s Books, October 21
A Greater Yes, October 22
Mary Hake, October 22
Daysong Reflections, October 22
A Baker’s Perspective, October 23
Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 23
Baker Kella, October 23
Smiling Book Reviews, October 23
The Fizzy Pop Collection, October 24
It’s Storytime With Van Daniker, October 24
Remembrancy, October 24
Carpe Diem, October 25
autism mom, October 25
Bibliophile Reviews, October 25
A Reader’s Brain, October 26
By The Book, October 26
The Power of Words, October 26
With a Joyful Noise, October 27
Pause for Tales, October 27
Splashes of Joy, October 27
Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 28
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, October 28
Karen Sue Hadley, October 28
Reading Is My SuperPower, October 28
Vicky Sluiter, October 29
To Everything a Season, October 29
Pursuing Stacie, October 29
Just Jo’Anne, October 30
Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 30
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 30
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Olivia is giving away a grand prize of a Christmas Bundle Bonanza which includes 7 Jumbo rolls of Christmas wrapping paper, 2 sets of stick-on gift tags, 2 packages of Christmas cards and envelopes, 2 collections of Christmas novellas — 18 stories in all, and a signed copy of Colors of Christmas!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c319
Looking forward to reading Colors of Christmas. Thanks for your post.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (st) aol (dot) com
What a fun giveaway and I would like to read your new book!
What a festive giveaway! I love reading about women overcoming struggles and serving as mentors for others. Colors of Christmas sounds like just such a book.
What a great post! Hope is everything!! Astrid is inspiration for everyone.
It’s so true that reading is subjective, Beckie. While this might not be a 5-star book, I certainly connected with it in a unique, 5-star way. Loss is something we all deal with, but there was an emotional connection beyond that for me. With my daughter having led a campus ministry in Germany for 8 years, along with my two visits there, Astrid’s story was so touching. As for the second story, I’ve been a piano teacher, church pianist, and assistant choir director. Talk about a personal connection! And each story’s ending Christmas program was a reflection of all that I’ve experienced.
It’s hard to believe that the Christmas season is almost here. Fall is my favorite time of year and it passes all too quickly. I guess it’s still warm where you are (unless you’re at the cabin), but we’re experiencing our first cold spell in the metro area. I’m so eager to strike a match to our first fire in the wood stove!
I liked that Newport explored loss in non-traditional situations. The loss of a dear friend who is more like a sister is very real. And the loss of security and hope is all too real for lots of people. It is magnified especially at this time of year.
So glad you commented. You always articulate my thoughts much better than I can!
It’s a bit cooler here in middle Georgia, but we are headed to the cabin this weekend. High in the 40s expected on Sunday. Brrr! The fireplace will be welcomed.