10 Dec 2013

BLUE CHRISTMAS.

The fourth book read for the Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge (Details and sign-up HERE, Reviews HERE) I've achieved Visions of Sugar Plums and the Mistletoe level.

BLUE CHRISTMAS by MARY KAY ANDREWS.

SOURCE: Ex-library stock. The edition I read was a 2006 A Little Black Dress Book and not the edition as linked to above.

Tis the season to be jolly 

and Eloise Foley is looking forward to a magical Christmas filled with friends, family and festive fun.

But then a mysterious break-in at her beloved antiques shop combines with some very unhealthy competition from the interiors shop opposite, suggesting not everyone's feeling as much seasonal goodwill as Eloise. Adding to this problem are the increasingly eccentric antics of her family and a boyfriend who's about as Christmassy as a deckchair - generally things are starting to look a little less than merry.

It's up to Eloise to fix things so she can have the fairy-tale festive season she wants so much. But will she be able to do it on time - or is she heading for a blue, blue Christmas?
 ..... Outer back cover

FIRST SENTENCE (Chapter 1): I was just hot-gluing the last popcorn and cranberry strand to the second of two five-foot-high topiary Christmas trees when my best friend came breezing into Maisie's Daisy.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 34): ..... Mama wearing her traditional Christmas party outfit, which consisted of a green wool skirt and one of those awful seasonal sweater s she adores - this one featured giant knitted Christmas trees adorned with tiny ornaments that actually lit up and blinked. Unfortunately, two of the blinking red lights were located directly in the middle of her chest, so that from across the room it appeared her nipples were winking.

MY THOUGHTS:  Apparently the third book in the Weezie and Bebe Mysteries series though given that it works so well as a standalone read you would never have guessed it.

A thoroughly cheesy read but then given the time of year who doesn't like a nice bit of cheese?

Blue Christmas is a fun seasonal read. OK so the plot was rather far fetched, the 'mystery' hardly mysterious, but Eloise's/Weezie's love of Christmas was so infectious as to be catching, her descriptions of 'the' family get together so funny that I had to chuckle - and not always quietly it has to be said. And as for the 'love affair' between pooches Jethro and Ruthie? Well, lets just say its sweet.

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12 comments:

Kelly said...

It sounds fun. Your memorable moment made me laugh.

carol said...

I read this one maybe last year or the year before and really enjoyed it. It's just fun and Christmassy.

Suko said...

Haha, or should I say Ho,ho?! Your memorable moment is hilarious. The book sounds like a fun one for this time of the year. :)

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

I don't mind far fetched as long as it is entertaining. :) Sounds like a winner. :)

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I read it a couple of years ago and remember it as a fun Christmas book. I'm reading another of the series right now.

Brian Joseph said...

I agree =, it is OK to be a little silly for Christmas, I will recommend this one to my wife as I think that she might like it.

Literary Feline said...

She's quite a popular author, and this does sound like a light fun Christmas read. I am glad you enjoyed it, Tracy! I love it when a book can make me laugh.

The Bookworm said...

Blue Christmas looks like a fun one. That sounds like the ultimate ugly Christmas sweater in the Memorable Moment.

Yvonne @ Fiction Books Reviews said...

Hi Tracy,

Your memorable moment is just so gloriously outrageous and funny, I am only sorry that this probably isn't a book for me.

I am not much of a reader of seasonal stories and this one doesn't appear to have a storyline with any depth or dimension.

I do work with someone who has taken to wearing Christmas jumpers over the last couple of weeks, although she has managed to stop short of any flashing images. We have moved from robins, through reindeer and on to Christmas trees, so I am wondering what to expect next! Apparently seasonal jumpers are totally in fashion this year and are sought after items .... think 1970's, although she seems to think that this fashion item is a new concept!

I haven't come across your author's name before, however reading her biography, I see that she is a charity shop junkie, so very much a woman after my own heart!

Thanks for sharing and I hope that you are enjoying your Christmas reading challenge.

Yvonne

Blond Duck said...

I love cheesy books! I wrote one, after all!

Yanting Gueh said...

"who doesn't like a nice bit of cheese?" ~ Tracy, you always manage to make me laugh. I do love cheese, but not really in my reading. The cover looks sweet and the story sounds like the warm, fuzzy kind I'd prefer to watch on TV instead. (Love Christmas movies.)

Betty Manousos said...

sounds like a fun book. perfect for this time of year! your memorable moment is hilarious, too.

big hugs!
xx