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angieinbooks's review
3.0
This is a collection of 4 connected short stories over the course of 4 Christmases and chronologizing the relationship between Diz and Clarissa. I really liked the first story a lot, but I liked the second one less and really struggled with the 3rd and 4th stories. I suppose Ann McMan is trying to be humorous with these stories, but the situations were so over the top that I felt myself getting angry rather than thinking it was funny. And the worst part is I was really into the characters of Diz and Clarissa, but there is a lot of time spent with Diz and the side characters, and I just didn't care about the side characters. And I think it's why I really liked the first story--because Diz and Clarissa are the main characters. But Clarissa becomes less of a focus in the subsequent stories. And we're given Diz's friend Marty as a replacement? Marty and his brood were literally the worst thing about these stories.
So not sure how to rate this as a collection.
Story 1: "Nevermore!" - 4 stars
Story 2: "A Christmas Tree Grows in Baltimore" - 3 stars
Story 3: "Blended Families" - 2 stars
Story 4: "T'was the Nightmare Before Christmas" - 2 stars
2.75 stars, I guess.
So not sure how to rate this as a collection.
Story 1: "Nevermore!" - 4 stars
Story 2: "A Christmas Tree Grows in Baltimore" - 3 stars
Story 3: "Blended Families" - 2 stars
Story 4: "T'was the Nightmare Before Christmas" - 2 stars
2.75 stars, I guess.
00leah00's review
4.0
Cute collection of short stories about Diz and Clarissa on Christmas Eve throughout the years. Unbelievable and sometimes outrageous situations with a little drugging of children with Benadryl. But light hearted and heart warming nonetheless.
lezreviewbooks's review
4.0
‘Three (plus one)’ is a compilation of four short stories featuring Diz and Clarissa, two co-workers who fall for each other, and their lives through four consecutive Christmas. The first story ‘Nevermore!’ was originally published in McMan’s collection of short stories ‘Sidecar’. ‘Nevermore!’ was also published in McMan’s book ‘Three’ along with ‘A Christmas tree grows in Baltimore’ and ‘Blended families’. All these three aforementioned stories plus ”Twas the nightmare before Christmas’ are published in ‘Three (plus one)’.
All the elements of McMan’s style are present in these stories: an acute sense of humour, verbal-sparring dialogues, and hilarious situations. I have to admit that Ms. McMan’s style doesn’t always work for me, but these stories made me laugh out loud. Both main characters are endearing, opposites-attract and with great chemistry. The fact that Clarissa is the epitome of ice-queens doesn’t hurt either. All the stories are featured around Christmas and are the perfect holiday read, full of the Christmas spirit.
This audiobook was narrated by Christine Williams, who has read most of Ms. McMan’s work. Ms. Williams’s tone is a perfect match for McMan’s novels: light, irreverent, and ideal for the author’s typical one-line jokes, ridiculous situations, and acid comments. Ms. Williams seems to be enjoying the story while reading it and the listener can tell.
Available for free to Audible Escape subscribers. Duration: 5 hrs and 40 mins long.
Overall, a funny and enjoyable compilation of short Christmas stories’ audiobook. 4 stars.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
All the elements of McMan’s style are present in these stories: an acute sense of humour, verbal-sparring dialogues, and hilarious situations. I have to admit that Ms. McMan’s style doesn’t always work for me, but these stories made me laugh out loud. Both main characters are endearing, opposites-attract and with great chemistry. The fact that Clarissa is the epitome of ice-queens doesn’t hurt either. All the stories are featured around Christmas and are the perfect holiday read, full of the Christmas spirit.
This audiobook was narrated by Christine Williams, who has read most of Ms. McMan’s work. Ms. Williams’s tone is a perfect match for McMan’s novels: light, irreverent, and ideal for the author’s typical one-line jokes, ridiculous situations, and acid comments. Ms. Williams seems to be enjoying the story while reading it and the listener can tell.
Available for free to Audible Escape subscribers. Duration: 5 hrs and 40 mins long.
Overall, a funny and enjoyable compilation of short Christmas stories’ audiobook. 4 stars.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
malorie's review
5.0
I actually didn’t much care for the +1 story in this collection. However, I love Diz and Clar a lot, and I loved the first three stories so I have decided to ignore this and love the book anyway. 5 stars! Merry Christmas! Pass the Remy!
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