Angels in the Snow

August 5, 2002
Like a spun sugar confection, this sweet novella by CBA veteran author Carlson provides a light diversion for inspirational readers, but fails to offer much in the way of substance. The story begins slowly. After losing her husband and son in a boating accident, artist Claire Andrews flees to a cabin in the woods to attempt to heal from her grief. She's also suffering from creative block, and hopes to begin painting again. While taking walks in the snow, she finds two pairs of tracks—one set large, the other set child-size. In her grief, she imagines they belong to her lost husband and son. The tracks, coupled with an injured dog she finds and names Michael, spark dreams of angels, and it's not long before the creative muse strikes and her depression lifts. When Claire discovers that the tracks are made by author Garret Henderson and his 10-year-old daughter, Anna, romance predictably follows. There are some excessively sentimental moments (" 'You never intended to go out there and die. And you never meant to leave me all alone like this. It's just the way life happened.' She took in a deep breath. 'And I release you both now. I release you to celebrate eternity—to fly with the angels!' "). Carlson has an unfortunate penchant for loading her sentences with adjectives, as well as overusing parentheses. She occasionally tells, instead of shows, and there are some unnecessarily dialogue-heavy pages. CBA readers who want a quick escapist read, however, may be entertained.

September 1, 2002
Furious at God for the loss of her husband and young son in a boating accident 18 months ago, artist Claire Andrews has been unable to paint since the tragedy. She retreats to an isolated mountain cabin, where her daily walks are her only comfort and where she is haunted by a recurring dream. When she notices two sets of footprints in the snow, Claire wonders if her husband and son have returned or if God has sent her two angels. She begins painting brilliant, angel-filled snow scenes but doesn't find solace until she discovers and falls in love with the true makers of the footprints-a widowed author and his young daughter. Carlson's (Homeward) writing is standard schmaltz, and her characters are stock. Purchase where light Christian contemporary romances are in demand.

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.