Review of "A Wreath of Snow" by Liz Curtis Higgs

Rating: 4 Stars

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Summary from WaterBrook Multnomah: Christmas Eve 1894

All Margaret Campbell wants for Christmas is a safe journey home. When her plans for a festive holiday with her family in Stirling crumble beneath the weight of her brother’s bitterness, the young schoolteacher wants nothing more than to return to the students she loves and the town house she calls home. 

Then an unexpected detour places her in the path of Gordon Shaw, a handsome newspaperman from Glasgow, who struggles under a burden of remorse and shame. 

When the secret of their shared history is revealed, will it leave them tangled in a knot of regret? Or might their past hold the threads that will bind their future together?

As warm as a woolen scarf on a cold winter’s eve, A Wreath of Snow is a tender story of love and forgiveness, wrapped in a celebration of all things Scottish, all things Victorian, and, especially, all things Christmas.

Review: Liz Curtis Higgs' Christmas novella, "A Wreath of Snow," is a heartwarming holiday tale with themes of love and reconciliation.  It is the perfect length for the busy holiday season, but does not fall short of expectations, like many short novels. Higgs treats readers to a fully developed plot, that is well thought-out and progresses at a pleasant pace. Both main characters, Margaret and Gordon, carry shackles of guilt from a shared tragedy.  As circumstances cause their paths to intersect once again, their wounds are unexpectedly reopened.  The shared conflict creates a cohesive plot, and Margaret's and Gordon's personal experiences add extra interest.  

True to her style, Higgs incorporates historical detail that makes the Scottish setting come to life. Although Christmas is a couple of months away, this novella put me in holiday spirit.  Its meaningful messages will resonate even more with readers around Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Although snow blankets the Scottish village of Stirling, "A Wreath of Snow" will leave you with that warm and content holiday feeling.  

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Mine is the Night By Liz Curtis Higgs

Rating: 5 stars

Do you ever just feel like you just need a vacation and a chance to escape from your daily routine?  Like many readers, settling down with a good book to read at night allows me to take those mini-vacations and journey into another time and place. Isn't it exciting, when every once in a while, you encounter a treasure? When I first received Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs, the cover captured my interest.  While the cover resembles a Renaissance painting, the spine has the appearance of an old novel.   It may not always be true that you can judge a book by looking at its cover; but in this case, you can.  From its stunning cover to its last page, Mine is the Night captured my interest and imagination.

Mine is the Night takes its readers into the breathtaking country of eighteenth century Scotland.  Elisabeth Kerr and her mother-in-law, Marjory Kerr, arrive in the village of Selkirk as widows with limited resources. As married women, Elisabeth and Marjory led a life blessed in material riches, but now they must rely on the strength of their faith and the generosity of Marjory's cousin Anne as they settle into a new beginning.  For Marjory, returning home brings both sadness and comfort as she remembers her past and tries to embrace her future.  Elisabeth Kerr is a Highlander by birth and faces her new circumstances by being resourceful and using the talent of her needle.  While she can masterfully mend any garment, her heart has been torn by a marriage filled with betrayal and hurt.  Will her new friends in Selkirk, and especially Lord Admiral Jack Buchanan, help to heal her wounds of distrust?

With vivid details and descriptions of the lush Scottish countryside and village, Liz Curtis Higgs took me on a journey that was highlighted by endearing characters that captured my heart.  While I have not read the prequel, Here Burns My Candle, I understood the sense of loss that Elisabeth and Marjory were experiencing as they tried to adjust to their new lives.  By sharing the story from the viewpoints of Elisabeth, Marjory, and Jack, Higgs created character depth that allowed me to understand each person's motivation and viewpoint.  I sympathized with each character's struggles and shared their happiness as well.  Since I enjoy watching period BBC dramas, I felt that I was watching a movie unfold in my mind as I read the authentic Scottish dialect and envisioned the setting.   For readers who may not be accustomed to reading or hearing the dialect, Higgs provides a glossary of terms at the end of the book.


Mine is the Night is a masterfully woven story that will enchant its readers. I highly recommend fellow readers to come along and become swept into its journey.





Mine is the Night is available for purchase at the following locations:
Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Multnomah/ WaterBrook Press through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”