A CHRISTMAS PRAYER

Five years after her mother passed away, Alexis Fletcher is still plunged into grief every Christmas season.

Alexis would much rather take a few sleeping pills and fall into oblivion than decorate a tree. Despite her depression, she does as Rev. Black asks and writes a Christmas prayer pleading for happiness. It’s hard to muster much sympathy for Alexis, who practices a rather self-centered version of Christianity. Prayer becomes simply a series of “requests to God,” who apparently wants nothing more than for his children to be happy and financially stable. Indeed, Alexis suffers in the lap of luxury. She has a ridiculously high-paying job as a motivational speaker, which allows her to make her own hours, to travel, to take care of those she loves without batting an eye. Saddled with an emotionally abusive slacker of a husband, her sister, Sabrina, is loath to ask for Alexis’ help. Alexis certainly has the financial means to pay their bills, but will her Christian faith be strong enough to turn the other cheek, letting bygones be bygones? Alexis’ fiance, Chase Dupont III, is a gorgeous and wealthy Prince Charming whom Rev. Black hand-selected for her. Chase’s mother, Geneva, hates Alexis, however, and plots to sabotage their engagement. Alexis spots Geneva’s tricks, but Chase is blind to them. How long before he will have to choose between his idyllic past and his future happiness? Roby’s (The Prodigal Son, 2014, etc.) latest romance in the best-selling Reverend Curtis Black series is unfortunately marred by stilted, clunky phrasing (“She would feel sorry for Alexis for having to live in such a paltry manner”). The tale itself resembles “Cinderella” wandering into A Christmas Carol.

Fans will be happy to read Rev. Black’s further adventures, but this latest installment won't win him any new ones.