Silver Bells: A Holiday Tale Book

For a book that was approximately 200 pages, the plot was surprisingly complex. And by complex, what I actually mean is coincidentally complex, because by the end, everyone and everything was neatly tied up with a Christmas bow and a heaping helping of Christmas magic.

Now, let's try a game. How many Christmas clichés can you count?

Christopher Byrne, aka Christy - Widower. Christmas tree farmer. Canadian. Travels to New York City with his children every December to sell trees in Chelsea. Expects his son will take over the Christmas tree farm someday. Engaged in a domestic disturbance fight with his son last Christmas.

Danny Byrne - Christy's son. Wants to become a weatherman. Does not want to take over the Christmas tree farm. Teenage runaway who has been living on the streets of New York City since last Christmas.

Bridget Byrne - Christy's daughter. Danny's kid sister. Misses Danny. Desperately.

Catherine Tierney - New Yorker. Widow. Husband died three Christmases ago. Dresses in black. Librarian for a private family library. Hoping to see her dead husband's ghost. Living in the past. Doesn't go to church anymore.

Brian Tierney - MIA ghost. Dead husband. Touched by an angel.

Lizzie - New Yorker. Last name forgotten. Catherine's best friend. Feeds the homeless. Goes to church. Artistic. Boutique owner. She knits. She embellishes/recycles items from a thrift store and sells them in her boutique. I'd probably get along with her.

Lucy - Lizzie's young daughter. Helps her mom feed the homeless. Knits scarves with her mom.

Officer Rip Collins - Member of NYPD's finest. Arrested Christy last Christmas for beating up Danny. Dropped charges and becomes Christy's quasi-friend/contact in the search for Danny the runaway.

Sylvester Rheinbeck Sr. - Catherine's doddering old man boss. Ultra-wealthy. Former captain of industry turned philanthropist/humanitarian.

Sylvester Rheinbeck Jr. - Head of Rheinbeck Corporation. Money-grubbing capitalist. Wishes his daddy would have hugged him more often when he was a young tot.

Overall, the book was okay. It was a fast read. Perfectly timed for the season. And it was heartwarming. But it was beyond cheesy and the coincidences made me roll my eyes. Each character was motivated by some Serious Issue and by the end; some other character came to the rescue and Saved the other. And on top of that, two new romances were formed by the end of the book. I'm not a big fan of chick lit, which may explain the 2 stars rather than 3, because the book didn't quite live up to my expectations, which seems to be the story of my life where chick lit is concerned.