A Christmas To Remember by Penny Zeller

A Christmas To Remember by Penny Zeller
Series: Book 2 of 2 | Hilltop Series
Publisher: Maplebrook Publishing, LLC. (December 9, 2025)

Review by Gwen M. Plano

A Christmas to Remember is a tender frontier Christmas story set in a small town in Montana, during the 1906 influenza pandemic. The disease left towns and communities struggling to care for the afflicted and to bury the deceased. People had limited food and even less medicine.

Otis and Belinda lived in nearby towns, and in the past, they had been close. Distance and misunderstandings had separated them. The story unfolds with Otis riding his sled to Belinda’s home in Hawthorne. He wanted to check on her and the people of the town. His arrival, with supplies and his youthful strength, was much appreciated.

The first quote is from one of Otis’s prayers. It was soon followed by the prayers of gratitude from residents of the beleaguered town of Hawthorne.

“Lord, please watch over my family, give me safe travels, and please help me not to be too late for those in need.”

AND:

“Thank you for his benevolent heart and his desire to help the townsfolk of Hawthorne. Thank you to all the people in Hilltop who donated so that many in Hawthorne wouldn’t go hungry or without necessary medicine. Lord, I pray for those who have lost someone to this awful malady. Please comfort them during their time of grief.”

A Christmas to Remember, by Penny Zeller

This historical novel is a story of love in action. A sweet romance accompanies the story, but the deeper narrative is about how the townspeople came together to help one another during a devastating pandemic. Christian values abound, as do the characters’ simple prayers. I found the book to be inspirational and thought-provoking—perfect for the Christmas season.

We may be packing away our tree ornaments, but this tender story will linger long past the holidays. Some of the scenes are unforgettable and might evoke memories of being helped by a good Samaritan. I thought a lot about the stories my dad told of his youth during the Great Depression.

A Christmas to Remember is a tad predictable, but it remains a heartwarming 4.5 fish read!

composite image of four and a half drawn fish from the British Museum on unsplash

I purchased the Kindle version of A Christmas to Remember.

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Published by Gwen M. Plano

Over the expanse of many years, I taught and served as an administrator in colleges in Japan, New York, Connecticut, and California. Between travels with my husband and visits with family and friends, I write poetry and novels. I'm currently working on my fifth book. Though writing is an accomplishment of no small measure for me, my greatest treasure and most profound source of joy has been and is my four adult children. It is they who have guided me through life’s mysteries.

Christmas, romance

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16 thoughts on “A Christmas To Remember by Penny Zeller”

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    1. It was very sweet, Priscilla, and the story lingers. Sometimes we need to pause to consider the goodness of people and how a simple loving act can make a difference in another person’s life.

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  4. The premise loosely reminds me of your novella, The Gift, from the Harbor Pointe series. There’s something about medical issues and snow that just beg for a Christ-centric story. Thanks for sharing this one, Gwen.

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    1. Thank you, Staci. I hadn’t thought of that connection, but I see the similarities now. There’s a sweetness about the story that drew me in.

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  7. Gwen, both the small towns setting and the era appeals to me. This sounds like a heartwarming read ideal for the Christmas season and the wintry weather that follows!

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  8. Sometimes those predictable comfort reads are just what you need, Gwen. This is a time period I enjoy reading, and I’m glad there’s a sweet romance to balance out the influenza deaths.

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