Growing up Miranda lived in a fantasy world. Her mother, the famous stage actress, Eve Carson, led her to believe such things. Traveling from state to state chasing theatre jobs and staying in hotels and motels for months at a time, only deepened the thought that freedom was the only way to live. Eve Carson would let it be known to Miranda that it was truly by a magical miracle that Miranda even existed. Her mother's tale was woven so deep and seemed so true that Miranda never questioned the validity of her mother's words.

One day Miranda was sitting in one of their many hotels waiting for her babysitter; suddenly she looks out of the widow and sees a little girl around her age playing in the pool with her father. A firecracker went off inside of her as she realized that she had no idea of what a father was or the reason as to why she did not have one. Thus began her quest to find a father she never knew existed.

On a whim, Miranda decides to fly out to England to put her curiosity to the test. Her last clue is a picture of "Father Christmas" and a screaming but adorable little boy posted on his lap. Destiny hurrled Miranda toward a quaint little tea shop where she meets the first of many coincidences that lead her to the truth.

FINDING FATHER CHRISTMAS by Robin Jones Gunn was a cute and quaint story. As ironic as the storyline was to include a tea shop, it is the ideal thing to do while engrossing yourself into this novella. The story setting is Christmas time and Ms. Gunn does a wonderful job of detailing every bit of what a beautiful, snow white and warm Christmas should be while spending it with a family. Emotionally, Ms. Gunn captures the heart of the reader when Miranda toggles back and forth with a decision that could change her life and others around her. A wonderful, light read, with a cup of tea to top it off would do any reader nicely!

October 10, 2007