Posts

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Kimberly Wilkinson

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Christmas magic is a way of life

This is my first book i have read from Ann Swann and I think I love this author. Carina has had her fair share of tragedy in her life.
Carina survived the pandemic and also been through death with some loss of her family. A friend she met on an online grief support group offers her a special gift for Christmas. She wants to spend Christmas with her whole family, a big Christmas.  But does anyone care? No one. Just her. Will she travel by herself up to the secret special gift her friend has given her? This was heart warming and a white Christmas. It is a must read.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Skylar daniels

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book that I have read from this author and I fell absolutely in love with her writing. This was an amazing book that I could read over and over again. It had my full attention from the very beginning to the end.
The pandemic knocked Carina flat. Now that she is home from a months-long hospital stay, she hopes to have a big family Christmas. But no one seems to care. Her husband is working out of town and her grown children are scattered all around the country. The only one who seems to understand is a young man in her grief group. He offers her his family cabin in the mountains of Colorado. There, she is guaranteed to have a white Christmas, something she hasn’t had in a long time. She writes about it in her journal, trying to convince herself she can do it alone. But it still doesn’t seem possible. She isn’t adventurous, she’s always been everyone else’s caregiver.
I look forward to reading more of her books in the near future.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Michelle Troyer

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann

Carina’s mother, sister and father have all passed, her only family. Then she survived the pandemic after being on the ventilator. Now she is facing the lonliness of everyone being gone. She has joined a grief support group page on facebook and met Max, who lost his very young wife. All Carina wants is for her kids and grandkids to be together for Christmas. Max has a cabin in Colorado that he would like Carina and her family to enjoy for the holiday. However, only Aaron has agreed to come for Christmas. The others have their own reasons on why they cannot make it. She arrives in a little quaint town in Colorado where all the people are so friendly. The cabin is beyond her expectations. Max is going to meet her at the cabin on Christmas Eve and have Christmas with her and her son. A chain of events happens over the next several days and she has met many new people who have become friends. She loves it in Crossbow. In the end, her family ends up surprising her for Christmas. This book is an easy-read, I loved it and could not put it down, and it had a happy ending!

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Faith Jackson

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is unexpectedly beautiful and makes for a very inspirational read. This book taught me some lessons that I’m still learning in the outside world: how to show up for myself outside of others. The sense of Christmas made this book that much more pure and beautiful to keep close to your heart. So touching. Great read!

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Stephanie Nicole

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First of all who doesn’t love a great Christmas story? I know I sure do so when I saw the beautiful cover of this amazing story I knew right away I had to read it. This Christmas story took place after the pandemic, but there are still a lot of feel good moments and it was personally the first book I’ve read that is post pandemic but overall this sorry was simply amazing, and charming. The characters were very well developed, the plot was just perfect, and the author does an amazing job with descriptions for us to be able to visualize their masterpiece. So if you’re ready for the holiday spirit and need a good Christmas story make sure to pick this one up today.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Audrie Harrington

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Carina just wants a big family Christmas this year! She spent the last few years with a lot of loss, sadness, and then Covid. She is struggling and feeling lonely until she starts a friendship with Max. She met Max in a grief group, but she thinks of him as an adult child. He invites her to his cabin that he has been fixing up with his late wife to spend the holidays. She is debating but no one in her family seems to want to make the effort for the holidays so she decides to get out of town to Crossbow and a little cabin in the woods. She is hoping for an adventure and a tiny stray kitten showing up on her doorstep is the first. I wasn’t sure about a post Covid book but it was well written and not dwelling on the pandemic. The characters were very relatable and the cabin sounds beautiful set in the woods outside of a quaint small town during the holidays! This was a wonderful read as we get closer to the holiday season!

Reviewed by @bibliophilenerd
View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Carla Clemmons

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a sweet read! I related so much to Carina and her feelings about looking for her place in things. As you grow and your children go you have to learn a new role and that can be hard. I’m always down for a good Christmas read and this one did not disappoint! I really loved reading about Carina and her family’s memories. She has been through so much and needs to find her peace. I really enjoyed reminiscing with Carina throughout the story. I look forward to reading more from this author for sure!

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Brittany Angel

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Crossbow Christmas was my first foray into the ‘Hallmark Christmas Books’ and I must say, it was wonderful. This should be a Hallmark movie 1000%. I found myself sympathizing with Carina and feeling her pain. I loved her connections with others throughout the book and especially adored the way the author wrapped everything up. I was definitely moved to tears in the best way!

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Dawn Mitchell

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first book from this author. I was very intrigued to read this book because it is very relatable to me. Carina’s journal entry an family loss in such a short period of time plus her family situation drew me right in. I did have a hard time keeping interest with how slow the story continued but it did pick up towards the end. Overall it was a good story.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Emily H

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Carina is reflecting on recent events that brought both grief and illness all around her. COVID is an unforgivable virus that showed no mercy to some of the people in her life. Christmas is around the corner and needing a break she takes up an offer from a man in her grief group. Life has a way of finding small blessings in the most unlikely places.

I thought this story nailed the variety of emotions you can have with Covid, trying to find a new normal, suffering loss. At times it was hard to read as it brought up feelings I have had certainly during the pandemic, but I looked at this as a reflection of the past that I was able to move away from. If your looking for a book that is about reflection and moving on this is one to pick up.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann-Review by Amanda Kimble

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5/5 Stars

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann

This isn’t the first book I’ve read by the author. A Crossbow Christmas is a fun little read. It seems to hit home for the Covid pandemic. It talks about the loss of family members and friends.

Carina has had her fair share of hurt. She lost her mom, then her sister died in an accident, and her father passed away due to Covid and strokes. When she and her husband get Covid they are hit rough. Then she is told that she needs to get away without her husband. The quote I chose for Carina is: “Well, I expected you to say I need a rest, or a vacation, but a good long trip? I don’t think Alfred can take off right now.”

Highly recommended for Romance lovers.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Tanya Wall, November 2022

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a timely book, as I am watching the snow fall outside and am ready to put up my Christmas decorations! Reading A Crossbow Christmas reminded me of a Hallmark movie. All the feels with all the characters. Having just come off of having Covid, Carina is ready to celebrate the holidays with all the people she loves. But after having lost her parents and sisters all within a few years, she is also ready for a vacation. Max offers up his cabin to her. She met Max in a grief support group, so they share much in common. This holiday story is a story of emotion, connection and learning to care for ourselves and others.

 

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Michaela Massie

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Losing family is never easy, and our poor Carina has had an absolute whirlwind this past year. While having to learn how to deal with her grief, Carina plans a big Christmas; It’s too bad that nobody else in her family is able to make it.
This is a beautiful book set after the Pandemic, where Covid has taken Carina’s life and turned it upside-down. Carina lost both her parents and her sister, while almost losing herself in the span of a year. This is the story of Carina working through her grief and learning to live in a life after loss and the Pandemic.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Jennifer Gordon

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a heartwarming and engaging read with a festive feel to it, which had me gripped from start to finish. The storyline is an emotional and relatable one, set following the pandemic, and Carina having survived Covid is looking forward to a big family Christmas. Sadly as well as spending a month in the hospital herself, with Covid, she also lost people to the disease. A bereaved and recovering Carina just wants all her family together at Christmas, but no one seems to care, her grown up children are scattered around the country and her husband is working out of town. Seeking some support she turns to a grief group, and a young man offers her his family cabin in the mountains of Colorado for the festive period.
Not being very adventurous Carina is nervous of doing this on her own, she’s not used to doing something so extravagant for herself as she’s usually everyone else’s caregiver. However, with the thought of a guaranteed white Christmas, Carina writes about it in her journal, as a way of trying to convince herself that she can do it alone. I loved Carina and she was so likeable and relatable that I really felt for her, and her post Covid wish for a family Christmas. Being set post pandemic made the storyline very relatable for everyone. An emotional read but with real Christmas spirit, and I definitely recommend reading it.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Karen Pearman

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

With the holiday season coming up, this was a wonderful story to get me into the festive spirit. This was another new author for me so I was not sure what to expect, but this would make a wonderful TV movie. I could feel some existing feelings as this was written about the holiday season coming out of the pandemic and I remember last year getting to spend the holidays with my family. While it was fun and entertaining there was also the family drama to go along with it. This story pulled at my heartstrings in so many ways. From feeling lonely, sad, and pensive she decides to write down her thoughts and feelings to help her through the grieving and changes of how her world has changed while she was not around them. I will say that the cabin she was writing in would be a dream come true. I would love to have the opportunity to spend the holidays there. Great read. I highly recommend it.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Jules Herbert

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Immediately on starting this book my heart went out to Carina and stayed fully engaged until the very last word. She suffers so much loss and hardship, including battling Covid herself, in such a short period of time. After coming through all that she is a little lost and unsure of her place in this new world of ours filled with Covid and face masks and she worries constantly about her family. Carina is such a wonderfully written and totally relatable character. I love her friendship with Max, a young man she strikes up a friendship with that she meets in a grief group who has lost his wife to cancer. This book will bring out so many emotions and keep you captivated from start to finish all while reminding you of the very needed joy of the Christmas spirit. It’s an absolutely wonderful holiday read.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann Reviewed by Tabitha Montero

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Carina has have a rough go lately, between COVID, caring for her father, losing a family member, she is feeling very down. She wants nothing more than a big family Christmas but her adult kids seem busy in their own lives and husband is working out of town. She connects with a young man on a online grief support group and he offers her his cabin in the mountains for the holidays to try to cheer her up and get her out of the funk she’s in. Hoping to have a wonderful white Christmas, she packs her journal and goes.
Great read about healing and getting out of your comfort zone.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Jerricka Brown

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First holiday book of the season. I enjoyed it. I was hooked from the first chapter. I felt an instant connection to the characters. The author kept me entertained throughout the entire book. This book was beautifully written. I will be reading more from this author.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Tausha Treadway

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann. This is such an inspiring read. Its about Carina who has had her world turned upside in the past year. She has lost her mom, her dad and a sister in the course of a year and she also endured a long horrible battle with COVID that almost caused her own death. When she is trying to recover she realizes that the most important thing on Earth is family. She wants to spend more time with her family and they want no part of it. She and her husband are growing apart and her kids have all moved on with their lives. When she meets Max a young man who has recently lost his wife to cancer they form a friendship and that friendship saves them both. Carina learns to function thru and after a worldwide pandemic. Can she put her life back together and find joy in the world again. Read this sweet book to find out!

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Jamie Burns

/0 Comments/in /by

Ann Swann created a wondrous story that immerses the reader into Carina’s world. Swann uses elegant descriptions of the quaint cabin and town not far from the cabin to bring everything to life. The reader can relate to Carina because we have all had to deal with the after-effects of COVID in one way or another.

Because of COVID and the death of her parents, Carina has been put through the wringer, emotionally and physically. A good ol’ home-fashioned family Christmas is all Carina is looking forward to after COVID took her down for the count causing her to have an extended stay at the hospital. Unfortunately, her family regards her as a silly sentimental old woman whom they do not have time to visit even for Christmas. She turns to a young man named Max from her grief group for support. When he offers the use of his Colorado cabin, she knows it could be the answer to her prayers for a family Christmas. Will Carina be able to convince her family to enjoy a white Christmas with her at the cabin? It is unlikely and she writes about the possibility of going to the cabin alone, but she is not as brave as she used to be because she is so used to depending on other people. Will she be able to make the trip up to the cabin alone and have a wonderful Christmas with Max, even if her family cannot come? Find out by reading A Crossbow Christmas!

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Shana Shipps

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Feel good book. Took a bit to get into the book but once past the first chapter, I could not put the book down. Carina Prinner had a new outlook on life. She had survived Covid. Before that, she lost both of her parents and her only sibling. She knew she had her children and husband. After Carina came home, things changed. Her husband seemed to work more hours than before and her children were out of the nest. She found a grief support group where she found a friend in Max Paper. A young widower. He and his late wife owned a cabin in Crossbow, CO. Max offered it to Carina for the Christmas holiday. Everyone but her youngest son seemed to think it was a bad idea. So, she traveled by herself from TX to Colorado. She found a small kitten and befriended the local vet. She also became friends with the local Brewery owners. Here, she found peace and a sense of self worth. I love the twist of ALL the kids coming together in a surprise to give Carina the best memories ever. Her husband Alfred even joined in.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Lacy Mercado

/0 Comments/in /by

<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62872091-a-crossbow-christmas” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”A Crossbow Christmas” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1664825133l/62872091._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62872091-a-crossbow-christmas”>A Crossbow Christmas</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5420711.Ann_Swann”>Ann Swann</a><br/>

<br /><br />

This is a different Christmas story. Carina got sick with Covid and was in hospital. When she gets out of the hospital. No one wants to spend Christmas with her. The only one that understands is a young man in a grief support group. You have to read the rest of the book to see what happens. I can’t wait to read more books from this author.<br />

<br/><br/>

<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/40000500-lacy-mercado”>View all my reviews</a>

 

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Kerry Carr

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really relatable and emotional story. The fact that the main character Carina is so relatable is what makes this story such an emotional read. Its like reading about parts of myself in this book. It deal with difficult subjects such as grief, loss of family around covid time, dealing with the illness yourself and also the realisation that life just isn’t how it used to be.

Carina has gone through a lot in the last year. From losing several family members during the pandemic to almost becoming a victim of it herself. When she recovers all she wants is a big family Christmas, however all her kids are gown and have their own lives and her husband is too busy working.
Feeling very lost and alone she starts to question herself. After so many years of caring for others what does she do now she’s no longer needed.
When she is offered the chance to stay at a friend’s cabin for a guaranteed white Christmas is she brave enough to go alone, to do something that she wants just for her? And what happens if she does that that leap of faith? Will she find her purpose in life and in the process find herself again? Or will she be to worried and scared to put herself first.
It is an emotional story which I can relate to on all different levels. I’ve never felt more connected to a character because as a wife and mother the thoughts and feelings she goes through I have had myself. It is a beautifully written story that deals with a subject not many people discuss.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann is a family drama set around Christmas in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Carina has struggled through so much loss that she finds herself feeling lonely trying to move on with her life. Her grown children have all moved on in life and her husband took a new job and seemingly forgot her. Carina is always taking care of others, and doesn’t know what to do when there’s nobody to take care of in her family.
Carina is reluctant, but takes up an opportunity to spend Christmas in a cabin in Colorado thanks to a friend from her support group. Carina has no idea it it’s the right move or what will become of her Christmas, but this is her chance at healing and finding herself.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Daryian Lucas

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4/5 Stars
This is my first read by the author and I liked it. The first journal entry in the first chapter was so raw it drew me in. I will say after that I struggled to stay drawn in but the end of the book hooked me back in. This story is such a heartwarming story overall. Carina is very relatable and the way she handles grief is touching.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Beverly Finnie

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reading A Crossbow Christmas was like stepping into a Hallmark movie in my head. Though it was a little longer than 2 hours and no commercials. I’m a sucker for a good Christmas novel and this one hit all the feels. I wasn’t too sure what I was jumping into, because with Christmas novels I haven’t read a bad one yet. So I decided to jump right in with this one.
The author wrote 2 characters that have had a heartbreaking last few years. Between family loss and the pandemic it was a lot to deal with. But the author wrote it beautifully and it kept me wanting more!
Carina is a mother of 4, with 4 grandchildren. Happily married or is there trouble in paradise. She has been through a lot. Losing both her parents as well as her sister in the last few years. She also had a long and tiring battle in the hospital with Covid. She needs a break, a vacation. She does everything to get her family to go away for the holidays, to no avail. Well her one son agreed, which made her decide to do it!
Max is a late 20s doctorate student, who lost the love of his life to cancer. He met Carina through a grief group on Facebook and they’ve been great friends since. He offered a cabin that his wife inherited, and they renovated to make it so much more. Located in a ski town of Crossbow CO, he thought it would be great for her family to spend the holidays there.
Carina goes through a rollercoaster of emotions on her journey. Sometimes the author had me frustrated with her. Other times I could relate because I’m the same way. When one feels alone, they are the only one who gets to break through those feelings to change that.
A feel good Christmas story for all to love!

@placexba

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Vanessa Watts

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was a real tear jerker for me as I put myself in her shoes and relate to so many things Carina is feeling in this novel. Sometimes losses are not that big but impact you in a way that you could not even fathom.

Carina in her post covid world, after suffering several tragedies through the year with losing people close to her, is trying to build her world back up after being knocked around. With Christmas coming up, it seems her husband and kids have other ideas about the holidays leaving her feeling more alone than ever. Enter Max, from her support group, who offers her his cabin in the mountains to rest, relax, and get away. The cabin itself has enough room for her whole family but they seem as if they have moved on with their own lives and she is being left in the dust. Can Carina take this extravagant opportunity for herself?

This book had me all in my feelings as I am dealing with my own personal stuff to the point that the Christmas spirit is super hard to come by in my household. This feels like a rebuilding yourself book especially when several of us are looking to do just that. It reminds us that it is okay to take time for yourself, as you cannot be everything to everyone else all the time. If you like feel good novels where you might come out with a different look on life than I definitely recommend reading this book.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by La Toya Lewis

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann is a very relatable story. Set during the pandemic, Carina is a married mother of grown children that has just had an incredibly rough year. Carina has lost several family members over the last year and has been near death with Covid. She gets invited to her friend’s cabin so that she may have a white Christmas. She finds it very difficult to take the time for herself and decides to journal her time at the cabin. This was a beautifully written story. Carina was very relatable. I definitely understand taking care of everyone but yourself. Trying to find your footing after all the changes that Covid brought is a story that everyone can relate to at this time.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Kerry Baker

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book turned out to be much more emotional than I expected when I first started reading. It really feels like you go on the full journey with this character. She experiences so much and you can watch her development right from page one. I wasn’t sure which way this book was going to go but it definitely became a feel good Christmas story.
This is an author I have only recently become familiar with and so far I am enjoying her work. The book is well written and has a nice steady pace. It was easy to engage with and I wanted to see how things would turn out. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book.

View all my reviews

A Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann – Review by Katie Matthews

/0 Comments/in /by

A Crossbow ChristmasA Crossbow Christmas by Ann Swann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an endearing Christmas read. I really liked that the story was so true to life at the moment, it was great that the author did bring the pandemic into the story because I think it’s definitely something we can all relate to when reading. I liked that the story featured a more mature female lead to, it was nice to read something a little different. The author did a great job with the characters and the storyline. I really liked Carina and I did truly feel sorry for her, I think there may well be readers out there who can totally relate to what has happened to her over the past few years. The author definitely planned and thought her characters out well.
Overall a nice read and one that I enjoyed. I have to say and this is something that I don’t normally take any notice of but I absolutely adored the front cover!

@katiem
View all my reviews