THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL
by Jane Maas
The journey of an heirloom Christmas angel reflects the loves and losses of a family through five generations.
When Owen, a Welsh miner, wins a trip to London in 1875 and meets Jessica, an up-and-coming actress, he is bound and determined to marry her. Exchanging letters helps the couple fall in love, and Owen builds Jessica a house in Wales. He also carves a beautiful angel to sit at the top of an outdoor Christmas tree. But, in the end, Jessica chooses her career over Owen, giving him back the angel. The miner sets off for America, winding up in Pennsylvania. Settling in, Owen meets Maggie, and together, they raise four children and usher in the 20th century, which will see the family face two world wars, more romance and a surprisingly winding road, all the while maintaining the tradition of placing the lovely angel on top of an outdoor tree. This story is short and sweet, with a charming intergenerational set of love stories and a hint of Christmas magic. Though the storytelling is sometimes odd and simplistic, and the narrative style is often more like a series of vignettes rather than a seamless story, the choices make sense for the direction of the whole, and the end result is delightful and heartwarming enough to help readers forget the occasional weaknesses.
Touching and infused with the joy of family and the light of the Christmas season.