Blue Christmas

It’s Christmas time in Savannah, and antiques dealer Weezie (Eloise) has her hands full. She needs come up with a knockout decorating theme for her store window for a contest. She faces stiff competition from the gay couple who recently opened a shop across the square. She needs to find the perfect present for her boyfriend, Daniel, who hates Christmas. She’s hosting a family dinner on Christmas Eve. Her dog keeps running out the back gate that someone keeps leaving open. To top it all off, someone is breaking into her shop and even into her home. She’ll have the help of her best friend Bebe to overcome all of these challenges.

I was in the mood to listen to a Christmas book and this was available. It was about what I expected – show more a light and funny feel-good Christmas story. It has just enough mystery to appeal to many cozy mystery readers, although there are a few uses of profanities that you wouldn’t find in a typical cozy. I’m sure the narrator did her best to mimic a Savannah accent but it just didn’t sound right. I almost abandoned the audiobook because of the reader’s accent, but I finally resigned myself to it. show less

Weezie Foley is back and better than ever. She’s trying her best to win Savannah’s historic district decorating contest, but the couple across the street are throwing tons of money into their efforts. To add to her troubles, her boyfriend Daniel always becomes decidedly Grinch-like at Christmas, and she just can’t get him into the Christmas spirit. But nothing ever defeats Weezie for long, and there are plenty of laughs as we watch her determinedly spread Christmas cheer.

I adore Mary Kay Andrews, and her Savannah books are my favorites. I wish I could be friends with Weezie and her best friend, BeBe. I would say that I have a crush on Daniel, but I have my own sexy husband who is also a fantastic cook. I’ll let Weezie keep show more Daniel.

This was a short, easy, fun read that reminds us what is truly important about Christmas. I picked up a few other pointers along the way too. First of all, “Unless you scrub [your hands:] under hot water for at least three minutes with an antibacterial soap, you’re just inviting trouble.” And here the hospital I work for is teaching us to wash our hands for 15 seconds. Next, “Never, ever ask a former clergyman to say the blessing over a holiday dinner. Not if you like your dinner warm, anyway.” I kind of knew that one, but it never hurts to repeat the lesson. And finally, and most importantly, DO. NOT. EVER. interrupt a group of UGA football fans who are watching a replay of the 1980 Georgia-Florida championship game. Ever. Trust me. The results will not be pretty. But they will be hilarious. I was howling with laughter as I read about this extended family Christmas dinner!

I recommend this for a fun little Christmas read. It was just the thing to get me in the Christmas spirit. show less

Overall, a good light read. I was able to figure some things out ahead of time, but I still enjoyed watching how it all unfolded. My primary complaint is that the writing wasn't as rich with detail as the other 2 books in the series. And the ending felt a bit rushed. I was reading on an e-book and couldn't really gauge how close I was to the end, but the abruptness of the ending really caught me off guard. Given prior books by this author, I expected some denouement...there was none!

I didn't think I was going to like this one. Too much controversy at the beginning. Mean, gay neighbors who seemed to be pilfering Eloise's store display, a beloved dog who is missing and a boyfriend that I suspected was married.

However, it was a quick read and turned out to be quite enjoyable. The gay men weren't really mean at all (although there was that loose thread on who left the back gate open for their boutique dog), the boyfriend really was busy at work, and the beloved dog was found quickly and in fine health.

What set this one back for me was the implausibility of the family dinner (one or two crazies per family, please; not a half dozen!) and the tidy relationship subplot of Daniel's. Although I really should have seen that show more coming, since Andrews dropped so many hints.

All-in-all, this was a pleasant book that set me back only one day. I will probably read more by this author, and now that I realize that this is a series, I will start at book one. show less

Cute, short story in the Weezie series.
I read these books out of order and read Christmas Bliss first.
Weezie is well meaning but really flakey regarding some break-ins in this book. I know we're supposed to see it as a compassionate choice but I think most readers probably couldn't get behind her choices either.
Anyway, very quick read and still cute but I loved Christmas Bliss. If you're not crazy about this book don't let it deter you from reading Christmas Bliss.

Great holiday fun read. Love the characters and the "Southern Charm" of the story. More than just a fluffy novella, the story is funny but with a serious twist. Andrews' characters come alive on the page, making you feel that you're part of the community.

I wanted to punch the main character in the nose. Or at least shake her really hard and tell her what an idiot she is. A person breaks into your vehicle and steals things. Then breaks into your house and steals things. Then breaks into your business to sleep there overnight--and steals things. And you don't call the cops?!? And the reason you don't call the cops is "Because it's Christmas"? What? ugh. Anyway, this is part of a series, but reading the previous stories is unnecessary. There was a very, very thin mystery involved (such as who is doing all the breaking in and stealing) but most of it was contrived, cutesy, or kinda boring.

I listened to the audio version, and the voice was fine for the main character, but there was hardly show more any differentiation among voices to identify who else was speaking--well, all the guys had low voices, except for the raging queen who of course had a lisp. Whatever.

Also very jarring to have the story end (cheeeesy ending) and then have recipes suddenly start up. They should have been put on a separate disk, or a readable insert, or something. "Will you marry me?" "Yes, of course!" "And the recipe for corned beef hash dip is..." show less