Anthony Northrup...Freelance Writer at Tri-County Sun...ATK and Through The Blackhole Web page

5.0 out of 5 starshas brought us a wonderful tale of love

December 16, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Every so often, a book comes along that lifts our spirits, and remind us of the true meaning of Christmas, and the holiday season.
John Callas, renowned for his many talents, including published author, has brought us a wonderful tale of love, hope, and what's REALLY important during this time of giving and celebration.
His newest book, CHRISTMAS VOICES, is a rags to riches tale of a man who has everything, yet really has nothing at all.
Family, love, and kindness can't be bought, and the main character, John Daily, will learn this very important lesson in a most unique, and magical way.
Writer John Callas has captured that magical feeling, which makes this a tale for all generations to enjoy. There certainly seems that there could be some of his own personal experiences reflected in this wonderful story.
CHRISTMAS VOICES ranks right up there with classics such as , A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE .
For a truly enjoyable read , and a heartfelt tale of pure inspiration, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of CHRISTMAS VOICES, by author John Callas, here at Amazon.com in printed first edition form, or Kindle edition, this holiday season. Make this a new tradition the whole family can enjoy,
I highly recommend CHRISTMAS VOICES... by author John Callas.

Tracy Coen

5.0 out of 5 starsHeartwarming.

November 27, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I very much enjoyed reading this heartwarming Christmas story. It was a quick read with many lessons to be learned by people of all ages!

Rebecca Whitman

5.0 out of 5 starsChristmas Voices Saves Christmas!!!

October 29, 2017

Format: Paperback

This book is a must read! This is a classic story about how greed and consumerism have taken over not just the spirit of Christmas, but our society in general. This story is a modern, urban tale about how the human spirit triumphs, despite all odds to save this family and to teach people of all ages about the spirit of Christmas. Funny. Touching. Heart warming. Buy it now!!! ❤️👏🏻🙏🏻

Ann Marie Miller

5.0 out of 5 starsAn inspirational book!

February 13, 2019

Format: Paperback

At a time when I hear and see more bad than good, this book became an inspiration. Gift giving for Christmas! I read it as a movie, shared by millions, when faith and hope must be restored. Well done!

Diane M.

5.0 out of 5 starsGreat Read

November 27, 2017

Format: Paperback

I loved this book! It is a heartwarming story perfect for the holiday season, or really any time of year. It is touching story that teaches us what is truly important in life. Buy two and give one as a gift!!

Nerdly Book review Christmas Voices

http://www.nerdly.co.uk/2017/12/27/christmas-voices-book-review/

With Christmas here, it’s time to get into that festive spirit, putting up the Christmas tree, lights and decorations. Writing Christmas cards, letters to Santa, the festive music playing in the shops and those seasonal films on TV. It’s all about traditions which makes it feel like Christmas, although the occasional snowfall would also help to set the mood.

After reading Christmas Voices I can confirm that this is set to join that list, as a quick read for the family to get them in the festive spirit. The book is inspired by A Christmas Carol and a Christmas tradition of the author John callas, who builds his own Christmas Village with his family every other year (because it takes 6 weeks to construct). It really is a heart-warming tale which manages to capture the spirt of Christmas and the belief that if you can believe miracles they really can happen.

John Daily grew up as part of a loving family on their farm, but as they relied on the success of their harvest to get by each year, they struggled in poverty with barely enough money to put food on the table. There are very few luxuries afforded in John life, but every Christmas John would take comfort in building the families own Christmas village, which had been passed down through generations. The familiar characters in the village which John would reacquaint himself with each year had become like friends to John and they would talk to him with imaginary voices, asking for the things they wanted. John listened their requests and promised to each and every one of them that one day he will become rich enough to make all their dreams come true.

John worked hard to achieve his goal, and eventually became one of the richest men in the world, and with his wife and two children it seems as though he finally had everything. Driven by his past, no matter how much he got, it was never enough. John had developed an insatiable appetite for more money with a cutthroat attitude to the business world, all that really mattered in his life was the next deal and how much he could earn from it.

When an accident turns John’s life upside down he realizes that there are things which money just can’t buy. Finding himself now lost he is forced to look back on his passed and in search of a miracle he finds a familiar voice of hope from somewhere he wasn’t expecting

Christmas Voices takes you on roller coaster journey of emotions. We follow John through the events which change him from a caring adolescent, who dreams of one day becoming rich enough to help everyone, to the egocentric millionaire driven by self-gain and greed. It may seem like a familiar story, with John having a more than passing resemblance to A Christmas Carol’s protagonist Scrooge, but it manages to create its own unique story which evolves around the Christmas Village. Bringing its own magic with Johns imagination as a child and when lost as an adult.

Although your feelings towards John change throughout the book, the initial empathy for John and his family’s situations later changes to distaste as he develops his obsession for money. But all the while there is still something about the character which leaves you in hope that he can turn things around.Though it would have affected the flow of the story, I would love if the book had explored John’s relationship with his friend throughout university and the course of events which effected his parents when he moved away. However, this is a credit to the way the characters are developed. Once I reached the end, I felt as though I wanted the story to continue further.

As someone who enjoys the Christmas traditions, Christmas Voices is the perfect addition to the list. It encapsulates the message of A Christmas Carol, but John Callas gives his own unique twist on the story, in a moving tale in which he delivers his own Christmas miracle if you can just choose to believe.

Christmas Voices is available at: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=christmas+voices+by+John+Callas&ref=nb_sb_noss

http://www.allthingschristmas.com/christmas-games/christmas-jokes-stories/a-modern-christmas-carol-christmas-voices

Online book club review:

Christmas is coming quickly. A time for lights and decorations. Family and Christmas carols. Presents and Holiday cheer. It’s also a time for classics like A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life. Christmas Voices is another wonderful Christmas tale, and it’s just in time!

John Daily grew up in a loving home. Loving but poor. Their family barely had enough money to put food on the table. Every year at Christmas, though, they build a Christmas village which John loves to play with. In playing with the village, John promises the figurines he would be rich and make a difference in all their lives.

Fast forward a few years, and John is a very successful businessman. He has everything he wanted; a wife, two children, and wealth beyond imagination. Unfortunately, he is ruthless and cutthroat. His business comes before his family. He no longer tries to make a difference; rather he lives to amass more wealth. Will he be able to change? Will he find a way to spend more time with his family before it’s too late?

The author mentions that this story came from a beautiful tradition in his family. Every other year, his family builds a Christmas village. (It takes six weeks to put up, so they can’t build it every year.) Each year they add to it. This rich history shines through in the story, adding another meaningful layer.

I loved seeing John through his life. As a boy, he is young and innocent. He loves his family and would do anything for them. As an adult, he loses focus. He becomes more self-centered. The character changes which makes him feel more realistic.

This story is told in the third person point of view. The narrator is very formal sounding which doesn’t quite fit with the personal nature of the story. I feel the story would have been more fun – as well as bringing out the message better – if the narration was more personable.

This third person narrator also leads to jumps in perspective which can be confusing. At one point we are following Katherine, John’s wife. Suddenly, we are listening to two crooks talking. This quick change jolted me away from the story.

All in all, though, the story is cute with a great message. Therefore, I give Christmas Voices 3 out of 4 stars. The book is well-edited, but loses a star due to the problems in narration. I recommend this to all who enjoy a good Christmas story with a great message.

Available at: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Christmas+Voices+by+John+Callas&ref=nb_sb_noss