Christmas in the Blue Ridge, Saving Bethlehem

’Twas the Christmas season but there was little joy in the Town of Bethlehem A perilous road trip, a chance meeting, an instant attraction set Holly Bennett’s ordered life into a spin. When her boyfriend breaks their date, Holly plans a weekend trip with her dog, Skeeter, to the Victorian Era Christmas Village held at the Town of Bethlehem. When Holly and her dog arrive at Sweet Betsy from Pike, Bed and Breakfast, she is given the only available room, the honeymoon suite. As she considers how to smuggle Skeeter up two flights of stairs in this no pets allowed bed and breakfast, a handsome man offers his assistance and carries her dog up to the room. Before she can learn his name, the stranger disappears into the ballroom. Her interest is peaked when this stranger sits down at the piano and plays a love song, dedicated to Holly. Tyler Morris, an amateur pianist and the owner of The Olde Yarn Bookshop, has faced many personal challenges in the past two years. But he never faced a bigger challenge than his attempt to save his hometown of Bethlehem. This year rather than looking to heaven for the Christmas Star, the residents and visitors cast watchful eyes skyward in fear of drones. Repeated drone incidents have driven away shoppers and tourists, scared the peaceful livestock grazing in the fields, and frightened little children from playing outdoors. Tyler has spent the last few months defending the residents against the harassment caused by drones. Appeals to government agencies proved fruitless. He compiled a list of incidents with the hope of filing a lawsuit; however, he is unable to find a name of the responsible party that owns the drone fleet. Everything he tried met with failure. The only thing left for Tyler to do was keep a lid on the public’s anger. 'This book combines the warm atmosphere of Christmas in the countryside with a poignant love story, a mystery and a thriller. This is definitely what I’d call a ’feelgood’ book, guaranteed to lift your spirits. If you’re having a tough time, this story will make you realise that life isn’t so bad after all'. Review by Author Geoffrey D. West.