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A review by the_novel_approach
Ghostwriter of Christmas Past by TA Moore
3.0
I’m a big fan of kids in fiction, probably ‘cause they’re fictional so we get the cute without the hiccups and tantrums and headaches that come with real children. I’ll pause here to give props to all parents and minders and people who look after kids; you all deserve a medal. Or, at least a nice cup of tea and a sit down. So, seeing poor Mallory trying to cope with her parents’ death, and her hopeless uncle, was quite heart-warming.
Which was impressive because I didn’t like the character of Jason at all. I know Jason was aware of how selfish he was, but wow, it really did come across, so much so he was almost off-putting. In fact, from his point of view in the narration, despite going back to the hometown he fled to try and give Mallory a proper Christmas, she seemed a bit of an afterthought to him. His focus became solely on his lost love, Tom.
On the other hand, Tom was so nice, and really, I wanted to see him get with somebody less selfish. He was brilliant with Mallory when he babysat her, so Jason could go Christmas shopping. Mallory herself was aware of how Jason was trying to do something special for her so she could feel some of the magic of Christmas she would have had with her parents, and the two had a beautiful if poignant moment together.
In so many ways this felt like it should have been a redemption arc for Jason as he reignited with his love and found a family with Mallory after spending so much time alone, and with just hook-ups, and yet, it somehow missed the mark, possibly because of the constraints of a short story.
Worth the read and a good addition to the advent calendar.
Reviewed by Jenn for The Novel Approach
Which was impressive because I didn’t like the character of Jason at all. I know Jason was aware of how selfish he was, but wow, it really did come across, so much so he was almost off-putting. In fact, from his point of view in the narration, despite going back to the hometown he fled to try and give Mallory a proper Christmas, she seemed a bit of an afterthought to him. His focus became solely on his lost love, Tom.
On the other hand, Tom was so nice, and really, I wanted to see him get with somebody less selfish. He was brilliant with Mallory when he babysat her, so Jason could go Christmas shopping. Mallory herself was aware of how Jason was trying to do something special for her so she could feel some of the magic of Christmas she would have had with her parents, and the two had a beautiful if poignant moment together.
In so many ways this felt like it should have been a redemption arc for Jason as he reignited with his love and found a family with Mallory after spending so much time alone, and with just hook-ups, and yet, it somehow missed the mark, possibly because of the constraints of a short story.
Worth the read and a good addition to the advent calendar.
Reviewed by Jenn for The Novel Approach