IT’S A CHRISTMAS THING is guaranteed to win your heart immediately. In IT’S A CHRISTMAS THING we are introduced to some new characters and have a chance to visit with some friends from previous stories.

There is definitely a star in this seasonal saga and that is little four year old Clara. If Clara doesn’t make you laugh out loud then I can’t imagine what will. Clara is in a very unique situation. She lives with her biological mother and father and hasn’t seen her daddy in over a year. Yes you heard correctly. Clara’s mother became pregnant during her marriage to Rush, Clara’s daddy, but it wasn’t by Rush. DNA tests proved that her ex-boyfriend, now husband, is the father.

Legally Rush has no rights and has respected the wishes of his ex-wife. However it seems as if Clara did not agree to the legal documents that separated her from her daddy. And Clara is not shy.

So in IT’S A CHRISTMAS THING we are faced with two people who are afraid of getting hurt and so they have shied away from becoming involved with anyone. Rush is still working on learning to live without his Clara in his life. Tracy is very slowly coming out of her gray world of grief after her husband died. Rush and Tracy have settled into a life that does not allow them the joy of a future filled with love and family. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t some figment of wishful-ness hidden in the recesses of their minds and hearts.

What better season than Christmas to reignite the hope for something more. So in IT’S A CHRISTMAS THING we are all about hope even when there are insurmountable hurdles in the path. Rush has no legal say in his relationship with Clara and no real hope to spend time with this little girl who is the daughter of his heart. Spending this holiday season with Clara is a miracle gift to Rush.

Tracy is realizing that it is time to get out from under the gloomy cloud of grief. She needs friends and perhaps more if really lucky. Tracy needs her own Christmas miracle.

IT’S A CHRISTMAS THING is book number three in the Christmas Tree Ranch series. Each one in this series has been a joy to read and review. The series fits into the type of books Janet Dailey had been known for. Heartfelt and joyous stories about love and family.