Take one part A Christmas Carol, with one part It's a Wonderful Life, shake, shimmy, and stir to set the potion in motion for a holiday mishap Caroline won't soon forget!

This is definitely a case of the familiar being taken in a new direction. I loved the aspects of the story that I could recognize from those tales of old, but I equally loved the new twists. How so? Well, in lieu of three separate spirits, it seems that even the ghosts are experiencing a supply in demand type issue and have to multitask. The big scary potential ending that shocks old Ebenezer into action has a rather mundane effect on our big city gal; very now, but still chuckle worthy. Then there's the future that could have been filled with so many hiccups, surprises, and the unexpected that your heart both hurts and beats in time with the heightened fever moments. I don't want to disclose too much because half the fun is seeing her reactions to everything and everyone she encounters, but let's just say her little spirit guild definitely knew what she was doing.

All in all, it's a great holiday tale that reminds us to prioritize the right things in life. Success, money, fame, popularity, and the like have their time and place, but we can't take them with us, nor will they comfort us on a bad day, or share in your joyous moments. Build a life you can look back on and say, I TRULY LIVED; I TRULY LOVED.


**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own ( )