Charlene Dixon returns home to Testament, North Carolina after being let go at the exclusive girls' school where she taught drama. Her more modern ways angered the headmaster who dismissed her. Charlie grew up here with her grandmother she lovingly calls Sis. Sis is a young sixty- four year old who still volunteers her time for the annual Christmas community play. She invites Charlie to come along with her to the first rehearsal.
Dusty Kennedy has also returned to Testament with his little boy Jeremy after the death of his wife. He is the new drama teacher and in charge of the community Christmas play. Charlie and Dusty grew up together and she secretly held a place in her heart for him when they were younger. She can't believe he is doing "A Christmas Carol," such an antiquated and oft-done story. She lets Dusty know how she feels right away. Dusty is not deterred by her feelings and asks Charlie to be in charge of the Dickens Carolers. Charlie accepts the job; what else does she have to do?
Charlie hasn't seen nor heard from her father since she came to live with Sis when she was five. When Charlie returns to her Sis's home one afternoon, John Dixon is there. Charlie cannot believe her grandmother would allow him in the house. But Sis believes John has changed his ways and is on the straight and narrow. Can Charlie ever forgive him for deserting her? Can this Christmas play help Charlie to understand that John can change?
GOD BLESS US EVERYONE is a delightful, inspirational novella for the Christmas season by Eva Marie Everson. The storyline closely parallels that of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," as well as Dickens' own life, even with the characters' names. There are quotes from Ebenezer Scrooge at the beginning of each chapter to help you see the parallels with both stories. Ms. Everson's characters are likeable, realistic and believable. She masterfully weaves both Charlie's and Dusty's pasts into the storyline, and I found myself constantly speculating where the story was heading. GOD BLESS US EVERYONE rolls several genres into one. A lot of inspiration, a little sleuthing and a bit of romance. It's a quick holiday read that will lift your spirits and renew hope in your soul.
Charlene Dixon—called Charlie by family and friends—is devastated at the recent loss of her job. For the last five years, the twenty-seven-year-old has blossomed as the activities director of an exclusive all-girls school. But when a misunderstanding with the head-mistress leads to a pink slip right before the holidays, Charlie packs up dreams and returns to Grandma Esther, who raised Charlie as her own.
When Charlie arrives—broken and confused—Esther immediately puts her granddaughter to work behind the scenes of the local school’s Christmas play, A Christmas Carol. When Charlie disapproves of having to work with Dustin Kennedy, the seventh-grade English teacher, Grandma Esther encourages her to take a deeper look at why the book by Charles Dickens had been written in the first place and what the book could teach Charlie about the needs of the children in their own community.
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