Short and Sweet

 The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans is a cute short Christmas story.  I would have made it even shorter by cutting out the beginning explanation.  I'd begin by saying that they moved into the mansion to start new jobs.  But anyway, whatever sins the author committed are forgiven because the story has a happy ending, like all Christmas stories do.  The found letters in the story were not from or to her husband.  I thought they might be to God.  But Mary was writing to her deceased daughter. This sounds like  a sad story but Mary and her daughter are united in the end.  All Christmas novels should be like The Christmas Box.

Walking the Long Way Home

 Evidently, "The Road to Grace" by Richard Paul Evans is the third and last book in a series. It can stand alone, however. I didn't know it was a series and I enjoyed this quick read. The major character, Alan is walking from Seattle to Key West.

The story is about the people he meets and interacts with. The best interaction is between his mother-in-law and himself. He had a hard time forgiving her for abandoning her daughter (Alan's wife). BTW, Alan's wife has just died, and he lost his business, which is why he is walking. His walk is a meditative purge.
Alan is a good person and spreads grace everywhere he walks and upon everyone he meets. This book is a quick, easy read.