Kind of typical Christmas novel fare. ( )

A very different story for Mr. Card. It’s not horror, thriller, or science fiction. It’s a gently humorous Christmas romance and I enjoyed it. Narration was also well done. Recommended for all.

FROM AMAZON: It began with a quarrel over which newborn should be the baby Jesus in the town’s Christmas pageant.

Decades later, two scientists arrive to study small-town genetic patterns, only to run up against the invisible walls that split the leading citizens into two congregations that can only be joined by love and forgiveness. And maybe a little deception, because there might be some things that people just don’t need to know. ( )

This is a fun book, but I'm not sure I was quite the intended audience, so I didn't enjoy it as much as I usually do with a Card book. It's sort of a PG-13 romantic comedy told from the female perspective. Although I enjoy Card's humor, which is often reflected in at least one character, all of the characters seemed to have the same personality - except one, and he seems to be superficially based on Sheldon from the TV show, The Big Bang Theory.

I did appreciate one of the points driven home through the story - about political correctness affecting the results of supposedly scientific research. That is definitely something more people should be aware of.

Overall, it is a fun, short read, so if what I've described sound good, you'll probably enjoy it. ( )

This reads like a set-up / synopsis for a Hallmark movie. It's even set over the holidays. Not usually my type of story, but quick, entertaining, though lightweight story. Seemingly unmatched people find matches in a small town, fall in love, give up life plans and happily get married. All in 130 pages. Read for the Read Harder challenge of a book with less than 100 GR reviews (this had 80 when I found it). ( )

Not terribly Christmassy. An okay story. Not terribly memorable. Two professors go to a small town to do a study. Small mystery concerning a division of loyalties. Mystery gets solved, but doesn't seem to change anything. A little romance. ( )