Christmas at Holly Hill (Winds Across the Prairie) by Martha Rogers

Book Description:  Can Clayton Barlow prove he has changed his ways in time for Christmas?

 It is October 1898, and Clayton Barlow has just returned home after serving time in prison for his part in a bank robbery. His family welcomes him, but the townspeople are skeptical. Bored with life in the small town but determined to make a new start, he goes to work with his father, hoping to regain the town’s trust. 

 Clayton recognizes the schoolteacher at the Prairie Grove School as his childhood friend, Merry Lee Warner, and old feelings surface. Still, he doubts that he could ever get a woman like Merry to love him.

 As the townspeople prepare for Christmas, their suspicions about Clayton lead to trouble. Will the trusting heart of an unlikely new friend be enough to restore Clayton’s relationships with his neighbors and reunite him with God and Merry?

My Thoughts:  It's that time of year again...time for the Christmas books to begin making their appearance!  And I love it!  Simply because when the Christmas season rolls around I have a hard time finding time to read so now I can enjoy the season before it gets too busy!

Christmas at Holly Hill is the heartwarming story of Clay and Merry.  Clay has been in prison for five looong years!  And comes home to find that his childhood friend Merry is the school teacher.  But as much as Clay admires Merry and would love to get closer to her (they were sweethearts when they were sixteen) he feels that a proper school teacher should never associate with the likes of him, after all he is an ex-con!

Even through all of his misgivings Clay's parents welcome him home with open arms.  And when Mary sees him at his father's store she runs to him and envelopes him in a bear hug.  But Clay doesn't want to ruin Merry chances with the school board so he tries to stay away from her.  But does it work?

Many of the townspeople's, including many of the church people, have already "judged" Clay because of his "mistake."

An interesting and greatly written story of love and forgiveness.  One of Martha Rogers' best stories!

A wonderful Christmas story (for any time of the year!).

*This book was provided for review by Bookteria*

• Series: Winds Across the Prairie
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Realms (September 4, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616388374
• ISBN-13: 978-1616388379