“Every story is a road. And on all roads there are potholes and bumps, detours and unexpected encounters.”
In 1975, Elle is just making ends meet as she struggles to raise her son on her own. Waitressing keeps them afloat for the most part, but when her car breaks down a few weeks before Christmas, she doesn’t see how she can both fix the car and make a wonderful Christmas for her son in Noel Street. Her husband was sent to Vietnam before they knew she was pregnant and never made it back home. The hardest part of her life, though, is the loneliness she feels as the color of her husband’s skin forced her to leave behind her family who wouldn’t accept him.
Richard Paul Evans is one of my favorite authors and I preorder his books – Noel Street was no exception. Noel Street came a few weeks ago, but I saved it to read over Thanksgiving break as my first holiday read of the season. I usually read several holiday books during December.
Elle’s life takes an unexpected turn when a stranger comes to the small Utah town. He is haunted sometimes from his own experiences in Vietnam. When Elle offers him a small token of compassion, he returns the favor in a way she never expected. As they get to know each other more, a connection develops. However, her reservations about love and his secret past may be too big of an obstacle for them to overcome.
Noel Street is a sweet love story that deals with war, widowhood, racism and fears. It is a quick read, but I really enjoyed the story and felt like the Christmas season was really starting when I finished reading it. Find some Christmas spirit this season and pick up Noel Street.
Do you read holiday books in December? Share them on the blog!