This is my first holiday read this year, and I must say I did enjoy it. “The Christmas Bus” is a quick, uplifting, predictable read with really enjoyable characters. Edith Ryan lives in a quaint little town called Christmas Valley. Edith, the pastor’s wife is saddened and disappointed that her children will not be coming home for the holidays this year. Inspired by her husband’s sermon, Edith decides to keep their bed and breakfast open during the holidays for those who need a place to stay and people to spend the holiday with. The inn is soon booked to capacity, and Edith’s patience is tested.
Myrtle Pinkerton soon arrives, a woman who irritates almost everyone in town and has Edith constantly worrying about what sort of trouble she will get herself into next. Myrtle will keep readers guessing. Edith’s guests are all very diverse. There is Leslie, a divorcee and her young daughter named Meagan. Albert Benson, an elderly widower who seems content to stay in his room. Lauren and Michael Thomas who’s issues are unbeatable and Jim and Carmen Fields who are constantly bickering. Myrtle takes it upon herself to try and help the guests and townspeople on what she deems issues, even though they do not necessarily want her to intervene.
Collin and Amy, are a young couple who arrive in a broken down, brightly painted bus with no money. It is clear the birth of their child is fast approaching and Edith cannot turn them away, even though her B&B is fully booked. A town that prides themselves as having the Christmas spirit 365 days a year, has a few lessons to learn when Edith decides she will not turn them away because their bus is simply an eyesore. Myrtle may have irritated the locals however, she does redeem herself and leaves readers pondering the true hidden blessing of Christmas. ( )

The perfect book to get into the holiday season. Reminds me of my family - the good and the crazy ( )

A young couple is driving an old, brightly painted bus to California for a job when they are stranded in Christmas Valley just days before Christmas. The small town has built its economy on going all out with the physical trappings of Christmas for tourists attracted by the name and cute shops. Unfortunately the residents themselves have no real Christmas spirit and complain among themselves that they are "sick and tired" of Christmas. They're also not happy at all to see the young couple's old bus on their pristine streets.

Of course the young woman is pregnant and the couple has no money to make her comfortable in a room at the inn. They are sleeping on mattresses in the bus, squeezed in among boxes packed with all of their meager belongings.

The town's inn is actually a bed and breakfast, The Shepherd's Inn, operated by the Ryans. Mr. Ryan is pastor of the small church across the street from the inn. Between the Ryans and the young couple, lonely people are brought together and the Christmas spirit is restored to the citizens of Christmas Valley.

I hesitate to say anything bad about such a sweet story, so I'll say I love Christmas stories and I've read many that are better -- better writing and better more fully developed characters. So 3 stars for a good story that could have been better. ( )