The Christmas Clock

August 31, 2009
In this yuletide yawner, young Teddy Winters is being raised by his grandmother, Lottie, who is stricken with Alzheimer’s. While she seeks a guardian for her grandson, two Dreyerville couples overcome their own obstacles: the Culvers have been married for decades, but they have let a distance grow between them. Meanwhile, Joe Dixon and Sylvia Winters were young lovers, but they let secrets tear them apart. With Christmas just around the corner, these six people’s lives intersect as they struggle for second chances at marriage, love and family. It’s standard-issue sentimental holiday fare, peopled with wholesome and one-dimensional caricatures, though, notably, there’s no late-book miracle. It has plenty of competition with other seasonal titles, and there’s little to distinguish this from the others.

Starred review from October 1, 2009
In small-town Michigan, a cast of sweet characters share in a Christmas miracle. Sylvia left town on the eve of her wedding to deal with a major health crisis, alone. She's now back to set things right with her former fianc, Joe, who had a rough time of it when she left. Meanwhile, Lottie is coming to terms with her advancing Alzheimer's and needs to find a suitable family to take in her grandson. Could Sylvia and Joe be the right couple? This charming and romantic fable marks romance author Martin's ("Heart of Honor, The Bride's Necklace") hardcover debut. A must read for romance readers.

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.