Christmas on Mimosa Lane

A Seasons of the Heart Novel

By: Anna DeStefano

Narrated by: Janet Metzger

A childhood on the streets taught Mallory Phillips to never trust love again. Years later, she longs for a peaceful existence and a community to call home, only she can’t quite settle into the picturesque, cozy world around her.

When Polly Lombard sneaks into Mallory’s house to look at her Christmas tree, Mallory connects with Polly and Polly’s grieving father in wondrous ways, helping them heal. But when Mallory’s past returns to haunt her, will she trust her new family to be there for her?

Anna DeStefano’s heartwarming and emotional tale of second chances is a testament to the healing power of love, and the incredible joy of Christmas miracles.

©2012 Anna DeStefano (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Anna DeStefano grabs you by the heartstrings and doesn't let go." (Brenda Novak, New York Times best-selling author)

Not a great Christmas story

The story was very formulaic and melodramatic. The narrator was more of a reader than a performer who became the character.

Great Christmas Story

Christmas on Mimosa Lane was a good Christmas book and everyone need a holiday story. I liked Anna DeStefano's style of writing and would read other books by her, but I did find some of the scenarios hard to believe.

If I was to compare Anna DeStefano with another author, it would probably be Kristen Hannah.

Give Me More!!

This is a new author to me...She's Great!!!
I want MORE!!!!
This is an unusual story of a homeless mother and child and how it affected the child as she became an adult.
We see homeless all over the country and many of us donate to help the shelters, but I
never thought of what happens to the children in the future. This story gave me a new
insight to think about.
Once you start, you can't wait to get to the next chapter. I finished the book in two nights.
Is this Anna's first book? I haven't found her listed in our library.

a new favorite of mine...

Would you listen to Christmas on Mimosa Lane again? Why?

Absolutely, most definitely, I will listen to this story again. I enjoyed every second of it. I *LOVED* the story and the narration was *perfect* in my opinion...

What was one of the most memorable moments of Christmas on Mimosa Lane?

The entire book was one memorable moment after another for me.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes. This is a real "triumph over tragedy" story and is very tender and touching. I was both happy and sad to the point of tears at times... I felt strongly for the characters, especially Mallory, Pete and Polly...

Any additional comments?

I had a few questions when the story ended, so I hope this was the beginning of a series. The last half hour was probably the saddest part of the book for me; Mallory was always so perfectly *there* for everyone else, it was sad, but believable, how hard she was on herself when her moment of crisis came. The story did end on a promising note, but I would have preferred a "stronger, no doubt about it", ending...

A Change of Heart!

Mallory awakens to find Polly, the lil girl from next door hiding behind her Christmas tree, she is immediately taken with the lil girl and realizes the pain she is in. Polly’s mother had died 6 months earlier, and the child had withdrawn into herself.
The problem with such a close knit community is everyone knows everyone, and people are treating Polly like glass, and constantly reminding her of her loss. The major issue for Polly is, her father, he has also withdrawn and doesn’t seem to know how to reach his daughter and resents Mallory, whom Polly seems intent on drawing into their lives.
The big issue here is that Mallory is in pain herself because of her dysfunctional childhood, something that she won’t share with anyone believing it would diminish her in everyone’s view of her. However, Mallory is the only one who understands Polly and is able to reach her, and through Polly, she is able to reach her father. Who can reach Mallory? Will Mallory have a second chance? Will her irregular upbringing be cause for her to miss out on having a new life for herself?

The narrator was fine. She did a fine job.