Review: The Christmas Diary

The Christmas Diary by Elyse Douglas

Kindle Edition, 285 pages
Published September 12th, 2012
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Christmas Diary held me captive. I couldn't stop reading! Not knowing what would become of Alice & Jack kept my eyes peeled and I rather enjoyed the scenery.

Alice has been sort of a Scrooge to everyone lately since her business is in serious trouble. She doesn't want to lose the Candle Shop that she spends all her time and money on. But one thing is for certain, Alice Ferrell will not be marrying her fiancee, the lawyer, on Christmas day, because she is stuck in a snowstorm and visited by a ghost!

On her car journey to Holbrook, she gets diverted to a small town Bed & Breakfast, thanks to a mysterious old man (the ghost) who she barely misses on the road in the blustery wind and snow. The crotchety old man tells her to look for a book and Alice finds a `15-year-old' diary that belonged to a Jack Landry. She discovers he is in love with Darla and she is moved and captivated by the feelings he has for her that she wants to know everything about him. Darla left him and her two kids when they were very young.

I loved the weather and cross-country skiing and just the Christmas atmosphere. It was a fun adventure both physically and emotionally. Alice realizes that what matters to her is Love and an examination of conscience helps too :)

Goodreads Summary

Alice Ferrell is an entrepreneur who owns her own gift shop. She’s practical, professional and loyal. But her business is failing and she’s also struggling to plan her wedding. She’s tired and dispirited. Although she and her wealthy fiancé argue frequently, they’re meeting in a picturesque Pennsylvania town to be married on Christmas Day. Alice leaves New York and is soon lost in a violent snowstorm. Night descends. She nearly hits a man who darts out in front of her. He’s frightening and mysterious. He directs her to a nearby B&B. In a bookshelf in her room, she discovers an old diary wedged behind a row of books. The diary was written by a man 15 years ago. She reads it and is immediately overcome by its honest and tender style. Intrigued, she sets off on an “innocent” journey to try to find the man, to learn what happened to him. During her journey, Alice must confront her past, present and future and make a decision that will change her life forever.

About the author

Elyse Douglas is the pen name for the married writing team Elyse Parmentier and Douglas Pennington. Elyse grew up near the sea, roaming the beaches, reading and writing stories and poetry, receiving a master's degree in English Literature. She has enjoyed careers as an English teacher, an actress, and a speech-language pathologist. She and her husband, Douglas Pennington, have completed numerous novels including The Other Side of Summer, Christmas for Juliet, The Christmas Eve Letter, Christmas Ever After, The Christmas Town and The Christmas Diary.
Douglas grew up in a family where music and astrology were second and third languages. He has worked as a graphic designer, a corporate manager and equities trader. He attended the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and played the piano professionally for many years. Elyse and Douglas live in New York City.