Believing Again: A Tale of Two Christmases

Set in Washington State, this bittersweet story follows Stephen, a soldier serving tours in Afghanistan, and Becky, an art major, on parallel journeys that suddenly intersect. In alternate chapters, Stephen and Becky narrate the stories of their first loves, both begin full of Christmas promise. While on leave one December, Stephen meets and soon marries Myra; meanwhile, Becky’s college sweetheart, James, proposes to her at Christmastime and she accepts. Crosbie (My Temporary Life) conveys the eager hopes and convincing challenges that each couple faces: Stephen’s desire for a child, which Myra doesn’t share; Becky’s miscarriage; the subtle indications that both Myra and James have strayed from their marriages. When Stephen discovers Myra’s betrayal, he wrestles with whether to let James’s wife know the truth. Trusting that “God didn’t bring us this far to drop us now” helps the sympathetic protagonists get through their heartbreak and find new love. Crosbie’s latest is a hopeful tale, realistic and tender. [em](BookLife) [/em]