Review: A Christmas by the Sea by Melody Carlson

Melody Carlson is an author that I have enjoyed reading her books for a while now. Fall and winter are some of my favorite times of the year and I especially enjoy reading any books about Christmas.  A Christmas by the Sea was a very easy read that captured my attention and interest from the very beginning.  Wendy Harper's husband has passed away and with that loss came debts that she's struggling to pay. She inherits a cottage at the beach that she loved as a child, but as an adult she sees it as the answer to her prayers. She can hopefully sell it, pay off the debts and put aside a little for her son, Jackson's, education. Jackson sees this as a different opportunity. He wants to put aside the sadness of losing his dad and give him and his mom a fresh start in a place that brought her such happiness as a child. As much as Wendy is focused on selling the cottage Jackson is focused on finding a way for them to keep it and stay there.  

This was such a great read and a sweet story. Jackson worries about his mom so much now that his dad has passed. He knows she's stressed, but she always seems so happy when she talks about her times at the beach cottage when she was a child.  He just wants to do whatever he can to help her get back to those happy times.  He knows she worries about money, but when she can just sit down and relax she seems peaceful. As she tells Jackson about the sand dollars that her grandparents collected they decided to go on a hunt for themselves. Wendy is shocked at the number they find and realizes this might help answer her money issues. As she works with the sand dollars making beautiful art she starts to find some peace and possibly a new future for her and her son.  


**I received this book free from Revell for my honest review."