Merri’s Christmas Mission

Title: Merri’s Christmas Mission
Author: Chautona Havig
Major Themes: Christmas, Romance, Family, Gifts
Synopsis: Out of a job, but determined to give her children the best Christmas possible, Merri sets herself the almost impossible task of making this their greatest Christmas yet…on a shoestring budget.

I often like to have a Kindle book going while I’m reading something in paperback, so that when I have moments I want to read, but can’t have a physical book with me, I’ll still have something to scratch my reading itch. One of my most recent picks for this spot was Merri’s Christmas Mission. I knew I wanted to get to it sometime, and I figured it probably wouldn’t be too thrilling or gripping, which meant I would still prefer reading the physical book above this one. Well, I was right…and wrong. I did my best to hold out, although eventually Havig’s superb story writing skills drew me in and held me hostage until I finished! The print book still isn’t finished (granted, it was Gulliver’s Travels, so I’m giving myself grace there!), but I’m not sorry I finished this when I did.

After feeling like she missed out on Christmas all of her childhood, Merri is determined to make Christmas the best holiday possible for her three children. She’s managed very well…up until this year, when she’s jobless, scrambling to make ends meet, and then has the added pressure of coming up with the multitudes of presents for each child that she’s tried to do each year. In her search for anything that might help her make her children’s Christmas better, she runs across Barney, the man who leads the local homeless shelter. Both of them are making entries on a pool table giveaway, him on the behalf of the mission, and her for her children. Despite her swearing off all men—for good, this time—when Barney offers to help, should Merri accept his proposition?

The part of Merri’s Christmas Mission that I didn’t expect was just how humorous this story would be! I fell in love with Merri’s children, and some of the stunts they got up to made me laugh out loud. That doesn’t happen much with any book, so even for that fact itself, I appreciated the story! Merri’s determination to provide for her children—not just physically and emotionally, but in memories and experiences—was beautiful to see. Though this is just a short read, it was a beautiful one. I’d love to read it again one day!

I was given a review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

WARNING: Sworn is used in ch. 5. Several times, characters hug or hold hands. Merri’s three children all have different fathers, none of whom she married, and that is mentioned several times. Sex is mentioned in ch. 14. Goodness is used in ch. 19, and there’s a kiss near the end of the chapter.

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