The Christmas Joy Ride

Starred review from November 1, 2015

Although octogenerian Christmas Joy (as she is known on her blog) is set to spread Christmas cheer along the way as she travels in an RV from Illinois to Arizona, her neighbor Miranda has no intention of letting Joy venture out on the roads solo. Applying a bit of guilt tripping and a lot of sweet talking, Miranda embarks on the ride of her life with Joy. Having been down on her luck for the past few years, Miranda hopes her own spirits will be lifted as she and Joy reward the winners of Christmas Joy's blog contest. Little does she know how much her life will change over the course of this journey. VERDICT Popular and seasoned author Carlson ("Dating Games" series) skillfully draws readers into the lives of her characters; they, too, will feel like they are traveling along Route 66. Fans of Robin Jones Gunn and Catherine Palmer will surely find themselves snatching this quick Christmas read off the shelves.

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