Trading Christmas (#141) by Debbie Macomber is the first Christmas present I've read this year. My husband took one look at this book when I retrieved it from the reserved section of the library a few weeks ago and made me return it. No surprise about what was under the Christmas tree for me! (He does object to all the Debbie Macomber recommendations Amazon sends him. Go figure.) Trading Christmas was originally published under the title When Christmas Comes, but since Ms. Macomber notes that she had a screenplay in mind when she wrote it, it should be no surprise that Hallmark wanted to tweak the title for this year's Christmas lineup. Some of my friends have enjoyed the movie version, but if I've read a book I rarely want to see the movie. Since I've peopled my imagination with the background, the characters, and the sounds of their voices, I'm usually disappointed with someone else's vision of the same fictional world.
This book actually contains two Christmas novellas: Trading Christmas and The Forgetful Bride. The featured story was quite amusing. Christmas surprises backfire on a mother who wants to surprise her daughter studying at Harvard, and a Harvard professor who will do anything to avoid the sights and sounds of Christmas while he holes up to finish a history textbook. After they exchange their Boston condo and Leavenworth, Washington home for the holidays, nothing turns out to be what they bargained for. Throw in Santa and his elves (played by a full size human and six dwarves, professional actors all), a rebellious daughter and a live lobster that just won't let go, and you have the makings of a screwball romantic comedy. If you missed it on Hallmark this year, I'm sure you'll be able to see it next season.
The Forgetful Bride combines a super efficient Seattle stock broker in love with her boss, and a reunion with her brother's best friend from years ago, now a successful contractor. Joe won't let her forget that Cait made him marry her before she'd let him kiss her. The problem is he tells everyone else around them they're still married. She was only eight at the time, for pete's sake! How is she ever going to get her boss to notice her when her time and attention is increasingly occupied by Joe? And why is her friend Lindy acting so strangely? Things come to a head over the Christmas holiday.
Perfect fare for reading after the presents have all been opened, and the guests have finally gone home. Remember, it's still Christmas season until January 6th!
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