LauraD review of Christmas at Sea Pines Cottage by Sally Smith O’Rourke (no author site found)
Fiction released by Kensington 1 Oct 08
I do love Christmas stories, the sweeter and more sentimental the better. Sally Smith O’Rourke wrote Christmas at Sea Pines Cottage with her late husband Michael, and it certainly fits the bill — but it’s also something a bit different.
Our narrator is a dog, a retriever named Meteor to be exact. The tale begins with Meteor being adopted by Robert, the lighthouse keeper on a small island in the Outer Banks. Robert has lost a leg in an unnamed war, and has emotional wounds as well. An aspiring writer, he shuns socializing and Meteor is his only company. One stormy day, Robert (and Meteor) rescue a beautiful young woman from the sea and both their lives are changed.
Christmas at Sea Pines Cottage has an old-fashioned feel to it, helped along by the author’s decision not to clutter the story with brand names or pop culture references. Having Meteor as the storyteller works beautifully, his “voice” is simple but loving. I was skeptical at first, but it actually reminded me of one of my favorite books when I was little, Beautiful Joe by Marshall Saunders.
With the exception of Robert, the human characters are lightly written; they serve only to play out Meteor’s story of love, family, and loyalty. It’s a slim little novel, easily read at one sitting, although it touches on quite a few of the big incidents in the little family’s life. Bracketed by holidays, there are plenty of festive occasions within the pages, along with drama and tenderness.
I’m looking forward to pulling this one out again in another month or so, when the holiday hustle and crash gets a little too frenetic for me. I’ll sit down and spend a bit of time with Meteor and his family, and remember why I love the holidays.
Grade: A+
Summary:
With its rough gray shingles and weathered slate roof, Sea Pines cottage seems, at first glance, past its prime. But inside this remote fisherman’s house, a driftwood fire crackles in the fireplace, brightly colored rugs cover the floor, and cozy cushions dot the worn, welcoming furniture. A young man named Robert has retreated after the war, planning to spend his days writing, tending to the local lighthouse, and nursing his injuries—physical and mental. For company, he adopts a young Golden Retriever puppy named Meteor, who happily settles into life at Sea Pines, delighting in his master’s loving care. Robert and Meteor spend months in quiet companionship, until the day Robert rescues a young woman from a storm at sea.
Strong-willed and intelligent, Laura sees past Robert’s injuries to the proud, passionate man beneath, and—with some matchmaking help from Meteor—they begin a new life together at the cottage. When their son, Nicholas, is born on Christmas Eve, Meteor immediately becomes the little boy’s most loyal friend. But even Meteor’s tireless devotion can’t protect his cherished family from all of life’s unexpected challenges—hurdles that will teach each of them lessons of courage, faith, friendship, and the enduring love that can sustain us through life’s coldest seasons…
Read an excerpt.
