So Much for Christmas
Author: Todd F. Cope
Publisher: Bonneville Books
2003
Martha and her husband had planned a cruise for their anniversary. When he died before they could fulfill their dream, she felt impressed that he would want her to take the trip alone. Eventually she does, planning to return on Christmas Eve, just in time for the family party. However, when her grown children receive word that she has been murdered in Puerto Rico without even reaching her cruise ship, their Christmas plans and their lives change.
So Much for Christmas first introduces us to Martha, a delightful woman who loves her children and opens her heart to all those who cross her path. When she misses her shuttle, a woman offers to help her get to her ship, but instead, Martha finds herself in the hands of criminals.
In subsequent chapters, we meet Martha's children and observe their reactions to the news of her death. Each of them reacts in typical fashion, but the last to know, the family black sheep, has the most to lose. Can the devastating events of this holiday repair the pain and heartache the family was experiencing even before the news of their mother's death arrives? Can kindness to a stranger, one who had befriended their mother on her trip, lead to a miracle that will change their lives forever? This unexpected Christmas story will touch your holiday and help you rethink your own family relationships.
The author, Todd E. Cope, is the author of The Shift, a self-published novel that was made into a CBS Television movie, The Last Dance.