Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    Home for Christmas: A Novel
    Unavailable
    Home for Christmas: A Novel
    Unavailable
    Home for Christmas: A Novel
    Ebook177 pages2 hours

    Home for Christmas: A Novel

    By Andrew M. Greeley

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Petey Pat Kane and Mariana Pia Pelligrino have been in love with each other their whole lives. But on a night that is supposed to be one of the best of their lives, Peter makes a choice that forces him to leave Chicago—and Mariana—behind. Guilt leads him into the Army, where he becomes Captain Kane, war hero. But nothing can make him forget his love for Mariana.

    On his third deployment in Iraq, Peter is injured and finds himself both alive and dead on a wondrous spiritual journey where he is given a second chance at life from God Himself. With Christmas approaching, time is running out for Peter to complete the most important mission of his life: convincing himself that he and Mariana were meant to share a special message of love with the world.



    At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateOct 13, 2009
    ISBN9781429973212
    Unavailable
    Home for Christmas: A Novel
    Author

    Andrew M. Greeley

    Priest, sociologist, author and journalist, Father Andrew M. Greeley built an international assemblage of devout fans over a career spanning five decades. His books include the Bishop Blackie Ryan novels, including The Archbishop in Andalusia, the Nuala Anne McGrail novels, including Irish Tweed, and The Cardinal Virtues. He was the author of over 50 best-selling novels and more than 100 works of non-fiction, and his writing has been translated into 12 languages. Father Greeley was a Professor of Sociology at the University of Arizona and a Research Associate with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago. In addition to scholarly studies and popular fiction, for many years he penned a weekly column appearing in the Chicago Sun-Times and other newspapers. He was also a frequent contributor to The New York Times, the National Catholic Reporter, America and Commonweal, and was interviewed regularly on national radio and television. He authored hundreds of articles on sociological topics, ranging from school desegregation to elder sex to politics and the environment. Throughout his priesthood, Father Greeley unflinchingly urged his beloved Church to become more responsive to evolving concerns of Catholics everywhere. His clear writing style, consistent themes and celebrity stature made him a leading spokesperson for generations of Catholics. He chronicled his service to the Church in two autobiographies, Confessions of a Parish Priest and Furthermore! In 1986, Father Greeley established a $1 million Catholic Inner-City School Fund, providing scholarships and financial support to schools in the Chicago Archdiocese with a minority student body of more than 50 percent. In 1984, he contributed a $1 million endowment to establish a chair in Roman Catholic Studies at the University of Chicago. He also funded an annual lecture series, “The Church in Society,” at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, Illinois, from which he received his S.T.L. in 1954. Father Greeley received many honors and awards, including honorary degrees from the National University of Ireland at Galway, the University of Arizona and Bard College. A Chicago native, he earned his M.A. in 1961 and his Ph.D. in 1962 from the University of Chicago. Father Greeley was a penetrating student of popular culture, deeply engaged with the world around him, and a lifelong Chicago sports fan, cheering for the Bulls, Bears and the Cubs. Born in 1928, he died in May 2013 at the age of 85.

    Read more from Andrew M. Greeley

    Related to Home for Christmas

    Related ebooks

    War & Military Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      More Of Me To Love

      Sep 30, 2021

      More Of Me To Love
      4 min read

    • Article

      Larger Than Life

      Nov 16, 2020

      Larger Than Life
      4 min read

    • Article

      Anthony ‘A.J.’ Johnson, ‘Friday’ And ‘House Party’ Actor, Dies At 55

      Sep 20, 2021

      Anthony “A.J.” Johnson, a comedian and actor known for performances in the 1990s movies “Friday,” “Menace II Society” and “House Party,” has died. He was 55. Confirmation of Johnson’s death came Monday from his agent, LyNea Bell. “The world of Comedy

      1 min read

    • Article

      Behind Palace Walls

      Mar 1, 2020

      For years, it was widely accepted that Prince Harry was the Queen’s favourite grandchild. He taught “Granny” to FaceTime – with the Obamas, no less – and used to call on her for advice. Now, sadly, the 93-year-old monarch can hardly bear to hear his

      1 min read

    • Article

      Wise old Mrs Merrow

      Jul 27, 2020

      Littlesea was everything the description said: a white stone cottage with beams and higgledy-piggledy walls and steps away from a tiny quay in a private bay. It would have been the perfect spot for honeymooners had it not had just the one single bed

      8 min read

    • Article

      7 Days

      Apr 19, 2021

      Singer Jennifer Lopez and former baseball star Alex Rodriguez have called off their engagement, weeks after dismissing rumours their relationship was in trouble. “We have realised we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so,” they said

      3 min read

    • Article

      ‘Traitors Must Die’

      Jul 14, 2020

      ‘Traitors Must Die’
      9 min read

    • Article

      The BULLETIN

      Jun 10, 2022

      The BULLETIN
      3 min read

    • Article

      ‘We Should Be Ashamed’: How People Are Reacting To Meghan And Harry’s Interview With Oprah

      Mar 9, 2021

      Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sat down for a tell-all TV event on Sunday, and the couple’s first joint interview in years provoked a range of reactions – and that’s before it has even aired in some countries. The interview itself was a chance to cle

      6 min read

    • Article

      Behind The Scenes

      Oct 18, 2021

      Behind The Scenes
      8 min read

    • Article

      Letters

      Apr 21, 2022

      CONTACT US BY POST: PO BOX 1200, WHITSTABLE CT1 9RH, OR E-MAIL SIEVEKING@FORTEANTIMES.COM PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS As an FT reader and occasional correspondent of some 30 odd years, I enjoy the magazine as much as ever, but I did un

      11 min read

    • Article

      Film

      Jul 18, 2022

      Film
      9 min read

    • Article

      Quotients

      May 7, 2020

      Quotients
      8 min read

    • Article

      Letters

      Feb 24, 2022

      Jack Rear arranges to spend a night in an allegedly haunted room [FT414:19]. During the night, something inexplicable happens. Does he investigate it? No, he hides in his bed doing his best to ignore it. Why was he there if he didn’t want to find out

      7 min read

    • Article

      Letters

      Feb 24, 2022

      Jack Rear arranges to spend a night in an allegedly haunted room [FT414:19]. During the night, something inexplicable happens. Does he investigate it? No, he hides in his bed doing his best to ignore it. Why was he there if he didn’t want to find out

      7 min read

    Reviews for Home for Christmas

    3.5/5

    6 ratings7 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Libby Leeds has been living a lie for the past several years. Her magazine column has told the tale of America’s homemaker, living on Sanctuary Island with her husband and family, doing all the things every homemaker dreams of; cooking delicious meals, baking delights, helping to make her home and family the envy of every reader. The only problem is that all this is made up. When her boss at the magazine calls Libby to tell her she will have the opportunity to make one Christmas special for a newly returned injured war hero and his daughter on the island, Libby is dumbfounded. How can she make this happen? Though she confesses everything to her boss, he nevertheless demands she make the holiday special for this war hero and his daughter, or he will expose her as a fraud and liar. Thus, Libby, having no choice since she needs the job to pay for her uncle’s medical expenses, returns reluctantly to Sanctuary Island to do just that and to make amends for the lies she has perpetrated over the years. This is the story of how Libby does that. To compound matters, Libby and the war hero, Owen Shepherd, both feel a mutual attraction. Libby’s cousin, posing as her husband, is trying to win over a now gone girlfriend, Ivy, who also is in town. Finally, Libby has to deal with her curmudgeon of a grandfather, who lives on the island has secrets that can derail Libby’s plans. This is a feel-good, Christmas story, filled with love, family, romance, forgiveness and understanding of past actions that did not turn out very good. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, and it definitely put me in a holiday spirit, even though it is only early October. There was good chemistry between Owen and Libby, which played out in a slow and steady romance. The supporting characters, her grandfather, cousin, Libby’s cousin’s wanna be lady, and Owen’s sister and her significant other, and, most important, Owen’s daughter, were all well developed and done. This is a story that will touch every reader’s heart. I particularly liked the idea that it was not the usual story line where troubled, disgraced or dumped girl returns home to find or rekindle an unexpected love. This one had a new twist on that take: a long time lie the lead character had perpetrated that came back to haunt her. This story is perfect for a quiet evening or weekend, whether in the holiday season or early (as it was for me). The story of Libby and Owen will steal your heart away. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.
    • 5/5
      I love these Sanctuary Island books and I think this is one of the best! The connection between Libby, Owen, and Owen's young daughter Caitlin is magical and brings all the beauty of the holiday season to the forefront of your heart. Yes, Libby is keeping secrets but her reasons are pure and frankly they're a bit funny, but she powers through and in the end finds a life she has always dreamed of. Owen is back home, injured during his last deployment. He is fighting to get to know the daughter he never knew about while at the same time trying to get his body to heal enough to get back to his men. However, the love for his daughter and the feelings he is developing for one tiny reporter may derail his best laid plans.

      This is one that should be on everyone's holiday must read list. I highly recommend it.
    • 3/5
      Libby and Owen meet on the Ferry to Sanctuary Island. She is not who and what she has led the world to believe in the articles she has been paid for. Owen is an injured Ranger home to meet his daughter for the first time and to take part in equine physical therapy. Libby and Owen are drawn to one another but have obstacles to overcome before they can have their happily ever after. This able to stand alone 4th book in the Sanctuary Island series is a predictable but fun Christmas romance for anyone looking for a clean story with a happy ending. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy of this book to read and review.
    • 4/5
      A small book, about 200 pages, but it manages to pack in an emotional load. One of the final stories written by Andrew Greeley, it continues his message of love and grace.
    • 2/5
      A pretty light-weight book. Almost like reading a briefly sketched plot outline on a napkin...where was the character development. Only the primary character had any hint of development. I read it in less than four hours, and I am NOT a particularly fast reader...not at all. On the other hand, it was nice to hear of a heaven where truly, "all will be well, all manner of things will be well."
    • 4/5
      Home for Christmas by Lily Everett is a 2015 St. Martin's publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.Home for Christmas is a sweet and emotional story of family, forgiveness, healing and hope. Libby is a writer on assignment for the publication she works for and while she tried to weasel out of it, her boss has given her an ultimatum, so for better or worse, Libby returns home for Christmas. Her assignment? To give war hero Owen Shepard a heartwarming Christmas with his family on Sanctuary Island. Can she pull it off and still maintain her false persona? I haven't read all the books in this series, but have immensely enjoyed the ones had to chance to read, thus far. This one is just a little bit different from the others, in that the characters featured here, Libby and Owen, only had familial ties to Sanctuary Island, and the story is more focused on the entire family and not just on the romance between Owen and Libby, making this one fall more into the women's fiction or chick-lit genres that some of the previous installments. The storyline involving Owen's daughter, is very sad and emotional. Owen has only recently discovered he is a parent and is having trouble adjusting to that type of responsibility. I got very frustrated with him and his fixation on returning to the army, which would mean abandoning a little girl who desperately needed him. Libby was sort of an enigma, living a lie, and struggling to cope with the reality of her situation. Her family dynamic is certainly interesting and creates a lot of drama. Since the story deals with a lot of rather heavy family issues, the romance is not all that steamy, but that seems more fitting somehow in this case. I enjoyed the way Libby and Owen rose to the occasion to do the right thing for themselves and their individual families, and managed to forge a family of their own in the process. So, while this one was not exactly what I was used to from this series, I still thought it was a strong addition to the Sanctuary Island collection. So, if you like contemporary or women's fiction, emotional and touching holiday stories, and happy ever afters you will want to add this on to her holiday reading list. 3.5 stars
    • 3/5
      It takes a lifelong romantic, and a person who believes that God is about love and joy and laughter to create Home for Christmas. Andrew M. Greeley tells the story of a lifelong romance that went off-track, and God's determination to put it right.Petey Pat Kane and Mariana Pia Pelligrino have been in love their whole lives. And, they first met Father Jimmy Joyce, who would become Monsignor Jimmy, when they were just second graders preparing for their First Communion. He was a powerful force in their lives, but he was long gone from Poplar Grove, Illinois by the time they went to their senior prom, a special occasion that ended so tragically that Peter left town, and didn't return. Despite his shaky start as the son of an abusive drunk, Peter ended up in Iraq for three deployments, where he was a hero. And, it was the last deployment that changed his life forever. When Peter died for nine and half minutes, his ensuing conversation with God sent him back to earth, knowing God laughs a lot, and he had plans for Petey Pat and Mariana. But, Peter, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, might have been a hero in Iraq, but he was scared to return to the wealthy girl who loved him.Home for the Holidays is another Christmas story with a happy ending. But, Petey Pat's conversations with God, known as "the One," puts a different slant on the story, as does Kane's experiences in Iraq. Most Christmas stories do not give the author the opportunity to express an opinion about Iraq. Since Kane had three deployments, three years in Iraq, and three Purple Hearts, he feels he can confidentially tell someone his opinion. "I don't like this war one bit. From beginning to end it has been phony; from 'shock and awe' to 'surge,' the Pentagon has deceived us and the American people. Not enough troops, no WMDs, inadequate armor, no response to roadside weapons, pathetic vehicles like unarmored Jeeps and Humvees, idiots to administer an occupation plan that didn't exist, insufficient Arab speakers, poor care at VA and Army hospitals. This has been a snafued war from day one." Despite the preaching, against the war, and for a laughing God (an image I like), I enjoyed Peter Patrick Kane and Mariana Pia Pelligrino. And Monsignor Jimmy Joyce was just the right sort of priest to conspire to create a happy ending in Home for Christmas.