Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway - Unpacking Christmas Author: Beth K. Vogt On Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Unpacking Christmas

Author: Beth K. Vogt

Genre: Contemporary/Women’s Fiction

Release date: November, 2021


Johanna, Jillian, and Payton’s excitement about the Christmas holidays is upset when their parents announce they’re selling their long-time family home. Soon the sisters find themselves facing a variety of unexpected changes, including a serious health scare for their dad. Instead of putting up holiday lights and decorating the family Christmas tree, the Thatcher sisters are helping pack up their childhood home. Along the way, they share treasured memories as they try to hold onto valued traditions, discovering the struggles they’ve endured pale in comparison to the love they share with each other.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author


Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” Having authored ten contemporary romance novels and novellas, The Best We’ve Been, the final book in Beth’s Thatcher Sisters Series with Tyndale House Publishers, released May 2020. Other books in the women’s fiction series include Things I Never Told You, which won the 2019 AWSA Award for Contemporary Novel of the Year, and Moments We Forget. Beth is a 2016 Christy Award winner, a 2016 ACFW Carol Award winner, and a 2015 RITA® finalist. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Learn How to Write a Novel and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. Visit Beth at bethvogt.com.

 

More from Beth

What’s going on with the Thatcher sisters?

 

Readers have asked me this question so often since The Best We’ve Been, the third and what I considered final book in the Thatcher Sisters Series, which released in May 2020. In the series, Payton, Jillian, and Johanna each had their moment center stage. Some readers told me they’d come to understand and, yes, even like older sister Johanna. Quite a feat, considering how she annoyed readers in book one, Things I Never Told You.

 

I ended the series with the trio of sisters in a good place – the best they’d ever been.        The circumstances of their lives weren’t all tied off in nice, neat bows, but then real life isn’t like that, is it? And as the author, I was content to leave the sisters there and let readers imagine what happened next.

 

And then 2020 disrupted life for all of us. For me? Writing didn’t happen. I promised myself I would dive back into story in 2021. What better way than with a Christmas novella? So many readers love Christmas stories. And what better time to revisit Payton, Jillian, and Johanna and answer readers’ question: What’s going on with the Thatcher sisters?

 

I wasn’t sure myself. Part of the fun of writing is rediscovering well-known characters as you discover a new story. Set against the backdrop of Christmas? That was just an added blessing.

 

It’s been Christmas time for me throughout 2021 – a time to enjoy family traditions and face some unexpected changes. Welcome back to the Thatcher family!

My Thoughts

Unpacking Christmas is written by Beth K. Vogt. This is the first book that I have read by this author. This is a novella. It is about 146 pages. It is well written and a perfect story to read for the holiday season. This book features the Thatcher Sisters. I have not read the other books. I would recommend reading the books in order to grasp the whole family. You will get to know the sisters by doing it this way. It made me miss my sisters who live back in my hometown of Cleveland. 

While I had not read any other books, the author has done a great job recapping the sisters. The sisters remind me so much of all of my sisters. Distinct personalities, family drama and that tight sister bond. This book is written from the mother's point of view. The parents are at a new stage of life - and they are learning how to navigate that. The parents are selling their home - and since that is the home the sisters grown up in that house - it's a new situation for everyone. 

The sisters recall some of the fonder memories, and some of the not so fond ones. The author packs a whole lot of story into the 146 pages. It's a heartwarming story. It's perfect for the holiday season. You will smile, laugh and maybe even tear up a bit. 

Well written characters, fun story line and a great novella to read. I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program, all thoughts are my own. 

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 9

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 9

Texas Book-aholic, November 10

Livin’ Lit, November 10

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 11

Splashes of Joy, November 11

Inklings and notions, November 12

lakesidelivingsite, November 13

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, November 14

Simple Harvest Reads, November 14 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Where Faith and Books Meet, November 15

Genesis 5020, November 15

For Him and My Family, November 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 16

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 17

SusanLovesBooks, November 17

deb’s Book Review, November 18

Spoken from the Heart, November 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 19

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, November 19

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, November 20

Through the fire blogs, November 20

She Lives To Read, November 21

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Beth is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card, a copy of Unpacking Christmas: A Thatcher Sisters Christmas Novella, and a set of the Thatcher Sisters Series!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/12f8b/unpacking-christmas-celebration-tour-giveaway

6 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the book.

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  2. Thanks so much for participating in the Celebrate Lit Tour. I appreciate it.

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  3. Unpacking Christmas sounds like a great book and I can't wait to join this family for the holidays and discover how they handle life when they face such a variety of changes! Thanks for sharing it with me! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Because I Said So! Have a magical holiday season!

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  4. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this story, this sounds like a wonderful book and series

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  5. I love curling up with my blanket & a good holiday book!

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