John R. Mabry

I received this book in one of the Goodreads giveaways.

Unfortunately, I did not read the book for a month and then did not write this review immediately after reading the novel because of recurring hospitalizations of a family member, but I did make notes that triggered my recall of it, so that I can write a review.

This book was written by a pastor, so I was worried about how preachy it would be. His characters are members of Old Catholicism, a denomination with which I was unfamiliar. In the early chapters of the book, it seemed that he was being a bit preachy and telling more than showing the beliefs of the Old Catholic Church. However, since Old Catholicism differs from Roman Catholicism (which is my initial impression when I see the term Catholic), it is useful information for understanding the setting and characters, although it seemed overdone to me. The author demonstrates the acceptance of diversity by the Old Catholic Church with diverse characters, such as homosexuals.

During my reading of the first couple chapters, I was tempted not to finish the novel, but since I had received it for free, I felt that I needed to finish it so I could write a review. I do not know if it was because I grew used to his style or if it became more focused on the plot than illustrating the diversity of the Old Catholic Church, but I became interested and wanted to know what happened. Also, the friars fight demons, so the novel deals with Christian and other religions' mythological elements related to demons and angels, which I found intriguing. I wish there had been less swearing and sex scenes, because those seem to take me away from the story, but I wish that with a number of books.

In the end, I enjoyed reading the book. I doubt I would buy the sequels,, but I would read them if given them or if I found them in the library.… (altro)

Heart-warming, fun, and tho holiday themed, this book is a joy for any time of the year!
A newborn baby found in a small town,a runaway daughter, an insecure new female pastor, a Christmas shop to beat all, and a community that learns a few needed lessons. Curious? Definitely give WHAT CHILD IS THIS a whirl and you'll be glad you did.
The characters will pull at your heartstrings and jump off the pages to pull you in. The writing is fantastic. Overall a great book that i would gladly give as a gift to all my friends.… (altro)