An Irish Christmas    by Melody Carlson Order:  USA  Can Revell, 2007 (2007) Hardcover, e-Book Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth Colleen May Frederick, sure she is losing her son to adulthood, tries to persuade him not to join the Air Force in the spring of 1963. Instead she talks him into joining her on a trip to Ireland. Her reason for planning that very trip remains shrouded in her own personal history. Her husband Hal has died and she feels the need to downsize her life. Melody Carlson is the author of over two hundred books. She handles tales of relationships as though they were her own – beautifully and with that touch of grace necessary to make a story believable. Selling the family business and considering doing the same with the family home, Colleen and Jamie embark on a trip that will change the course of both their lives. The plot of this lovely Christmas story is simple and straightforward, not taking all the twists and turns so many do take. Secrets are kept, though, as the action of An Irish Christmas carefully moves through the angst of a mother and son relationship. Colleen and Jamie try to consider each other's feelings while still needing time alone to restore their equilibrium. The Irish they meet along the way are the welcoming and open people I had the good fortune to meet on my many trips to that very special island. For a feel good story and one that very well could have happened, you can't go wrong with An Irish Christmas. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews