Where Treetops Glisten was such a sweet story, the perfect Christmas read. The tagline on the cover is Three Stories of Heartwarming Courage and Christmas Romance During World War II,
and that is a very apt description. This book is actually three
novellas by three different authors. Each of the authors, Tricia Goyer,
Cara Putman, and Sarah Sundin works together to weave their novella
with the other two, and does it beautifully.
The book is about a
family from Lafayette, Indiana in the 1940's, just after the bombing at
Pearl Harbor. There are three siblings in this family, and each is
featured in one of the novellas. I am a Midwesterner myself, so I
especially enjoyed the setting. It was fun to read of life in a small
town during that time period. The authors did a great job of including
details about local landmarks, as well as national and international events.
The first novella, White Christmas
by Cara Putnam, featured the middle sibling, Abigail. Abigail is a
student at Purdue University and works part time at Glatz Candy in
downtown Lafayette. Her boyfriend died at Pear Harbor and she has
closed her heart to love, not wanting to be hurt again. However, she
meets a young man on the bus who needs her assistance and she can't say
no. God heals her broken heart and helps her to open up and love again.
The second novella, I'll Be Home for Christmas
by Sarah Sundin, is about the oldest brother, Pete. Pete is a fighter
pilot home on leave when he meets Grace, the younger sister of one of
his boyhood friends. Grace is a war widow with a young daughter,
struggling to make ends meet. She wants nothing to do with Pete, who
often bullied her as a child. God heals Pete's heart, scarred by the
horrors of war, and softens Grace's heart to see that Pete has indeed
grown up and changed. They fall in love, giving Grace's daughter the
father that she so desperately wants for Christmas.
The third
novella, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Tricia Goyer, tells
the story of the youngest Turner, Merry. Merry is a combat nurse,
serving in an army hospital overseas. Prior to shipping out, she had
her heart broken by a young man named David whom she met during her
medical training in Florida. Little does she know that the reason David
left her is to join the Resistance in the Netherlands. As God's plan
would have it, Merry is stationed in the very town where David lives and
works. God brings them together and helps Merry forgive David and
renews their love.
The common theme of these three novella is
healing and grace. Although primarily a Christmas book, it would be an
enjoyable read anytime of year.
