🎄❄️🎊 “The Ornament Keeper” (2018) 🎊❄️🎄 – Book Review

 

MY REVIEW

Paperback: 224 Pages

Publisher: New Hope Publishers (December 28, 2021)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1335554785

ISBN-13: 978-1335554789

⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“Separated from her husband Jackson after twenty years of marriage, Felicia Morgan is not interested in decorating for Christmas this year. But her children convince her to at least let them put up a tree. Struggling against every emotion, Felicia attempts to help her children celebrate the season. She begins to unwrap the ornaments Jackson gave her each Christmas to represent another year of marriage and family. With each ornament, she starts to see not only the story of their marriage, but also the story of Christmas. Can she forgive him? Can she forgive herself?”

 

Thank you in advance to the author, Eva Marie Everson, for providing a complimentary copy. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

Interestingly this was NOT the first book I read by the author. Earlier this year, I read Dust as part of a JustRead Publicity Tours reviewer tour. After my review, which questioned the tone of it against the genre, the author contacted me.

 

FYI: this is sometimes NOT a good thing. Often authors DO NOT LIKE bad reviews. My review wasn’t bad at all, and this was a BEYOND positive encounter.

 

As it turned out, it was a marketing mishap, the author and the publisher figured it out. Yet, it led to a WONDERFUL discussion between me and the author, who incidentally has the same first and middle name as my grandmother who passed away in 2002. Yes, my grandmother’s name was Eva Marie.

 

I was interested in Dust because it starts around the year I was born. And, a lot of the references are relatable because of growing up in that time.

 

Because of our conversation, the author graciously gifted me The Ornament Keeper which is a Christmas novella (actual story pages – 135). This also toured with JustRead in 2018. I didn’t join JR until 2019.

 

This is another one of those “special” reads. Not only because it is a Christmas read, but it “starts” in 1998 with Felicia and Jackson getting married. Most everyone over 30 can likely remember back at least that far.

 

It is interesting that some of those Christmases are VERY memorable for me. The only one I don’t have memories of is 2001, which thankfully isn’t revisited in this book.

 

The reasons I was drawn to this:

 

🎄 Having had moments here or there that made me feel like I didn’t want to decorate for the holidays, or even celebrate

 

🎄 Having special ornaments with a story behind them; I can practically tell you where I was living when I got an ornament, and likely why I did

 

🎄 Wanting to see what years were going to be covered in the book and what I’d remember of those Christmases

 

Up until 1995, my house had fewer than ten (10) “special” ornaments. After 1995? Well, they really multiplied. Between January 1995 and December 1997, I was an Independent Sales Representative for AVON. When their holiday season started, I was able to get some ornaments as “DEMO” products. I also purchased quite a few. In that short time, I had amassed over 25+ ornaments. Some we don’t use anymore due to room on the tree, especially since I keep acquiring so many ornaments.

 

Since 1997? I don’t really recall HOW many ornaments I’ve gotten. I have quite the eclectic assortment: miscellaneous finds, Starbucks Cups, Disneyland Trash Cans, crafted/themed snow-people from the defunct Terry’s Village (I miss them), NASCAR (retired them when the drivers retired), Lenox, and even Hallmark keepsakes (namely TV/movie cars).

 

Interesting to note, when this book starts in 1998, that was the same year I received my FIRST ever Hallmark ornament. It was a gift from my mother – a very BELOVED purple 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda. I think y’all know what show I was likely watching then (there was another TV show favorite, but not ornament worthy).

 

In 2000 just as Felicia got a Lenox ornament to celebrate their first house, I got my first three Lenox ornaments that year:

 

🎊 My Very Own Snowman

🎊 Gingerbread Treat

🎊 Ringing in the Millennium

 

Last year, I added a Kate Spade/Lenox one to the lineup. Just last month (November 2021); I got a 3-pack of Lenox ornaments, a single Lenox, and a Kate Spade/Lenox ornament.

 

As you can see, this book is VERY special to me. I could definitely relate to the theme and the intent of the story. Another draw? The cover. The simple cover is just that – simple. Perhaps a metaphor for “simple reminder” of what Christmas means.

 

Since this is a novella, it is a MUCH shorter read, which I did appreciate in some ways. It is about a day read, and I nearly finished it in a day. I did mange 100 pages in a 2-hour period. It is a standalone read as it isn’t connected to a series.

 

This is solely told from Felicia’s point of view throughout the story: present and past. And, there is a LOT of past to cover.

 

The major characters besides Felicia are her husband Jackson, her oldest child Sara (19), friend Callie, boss Treva. Felicia’s other children Travis (14) and Hank (7) do have parts here or there.

 

Everson’s use of short scenes and short chapters keeps the reader engaged and turning the page to journey with Felicia on her discovery. This is almost like watching a Hallmark movie play out. And, the story never drags along either.

 

While this originates in 1998, far from an age of “chastity”, some readers might take offense with certain content such as pre-marital sex that leads to pregnancy, talk about sex, and drug use. I had no problem with the content (especially since it was 1998-2018), but some readers might have a slight issue with these topics.

 

As The Ornament Keeper begins, Felicia and Jackson have been separated for about six months, and she isn’t in the mood for the festive season, thankfully her 19-year-old daughter Sara is and quite adamant about it too. She was actually my favorite character.

 

After Sara and her brothers procure the specific tree, it is Felicia’s task to start with the “special” ornaments as she has since 1998. However, she is having a problem – they lead her right back to where everything began, continued, and leveled off.

 

Not every Christmas is covered, only select ones:

 

1998 – married, Nativity set

1999 – first home, a Craftsman home

2004 – Travis is born

2008 – issue that forces Jackson to work more and longer hours

2009 – second home bought

2010

2014 – Hank is born

 

2017 is a pivotal year, everything seems to fall apart with Felicia. She feels she wasn’t asked what she wanted – her father said that he asked her.

 

In between remembering the ornaments of those Christmases, Felicia is also reeling from a past nemesis who has moved back – someone who has “haunted” her since she was 17 – Monica Craig. The people who keep Felicia grounded are her boss Treva as well as long-time bestie Callie.

 

While the Monica Craig plot could’ve be an interesting storyline, Everson keeps any hint of infidelity to a minimum (spoiler: there is none). But, just because there isn’t, doesn’t mean someone (Felicia) doesn’t think there is – one of the points of the story.

 

What ends up the best reveal is Felicia herself – unforgiveness and her assumptions.

 

Everson neatly wraps the story up – gift wrap and bow included – in a way that gives the reader a chance to reflect on their own lives and part in their relationships.

 

While Felicia definitely wasn’t my favorite character, I love how she still kept the ornaments and remembered the good memories behind them. As she did, she had a significant character growth, albeit it took her nearly 20 years to accept certain things in her life and her own decisions in most of it. She did so with grace and maturity by the end of the book. Though her always jumping to conclusions was a tad annoying.

 

For the limited time he appears as a speaking character, I appreciated Jackson’s patience with Felicia, at times being flirtatious – suggesting she wear a dress to a simple dinner where they’re supposed to be talking about the kids’ Christmas gifts. Obviously not a date, and the dinner sounded like Dickey’s BBQ – pulled pork, coleslaw. It’s obvious he still loves her, but he’s giving her space.

 

He had a great comeback to Felicia’s retort about him living his dreams of success. He didn’t. He just took what God gave him and made it abundant, that was all. It wasn’t his dream.

 

I think that’s what most people do and should do – take what they are given and make it abundant.

 

While not exactly categorized as a Christian read, this definitely has quite a few Christian and faith themed tones to it, especially prayers and mentions of going to church. There are references to “off-page” intimacy though only once.

 

The Ornament Keeper is, for the most part, a very clean read and has a happy ending. I definitely had a few tissues close. However, if you’re expecting a “warm and fuzzy” holiday romance – this isn’t it. It doesn’t claim to be either.

 

What Everson has done, has crafted a short but deeply poignant, dramatic, emotional, reflective, and brutally honest story about our perceptions and the lack of forgiveness. Forgiveness isn’t just for others, but we need to forgive ourselves too so we’re capable of fully giving of ourselves.

 

Fans of the author are sure to enjoy it. Those who want a reflective read – this is a solid one. I’d definitely be interested in Everson’s other fiction works.

 

 

RATING:

 

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

Eva Marie Everson, a CBA best-selling, multiple award-winning author and speaker, serves as president of Word Weavers International, director of Florida Christian Writers Conference. She and her husband make their home in Central Florida.

 

 

You can also find her on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CedarKeyNovels

 

Website: https://www.evamarieeversonauthor.com/

 

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