Cole Family Christmas

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your participation.
The winner is Veronica Garrett
Congratulations!

We recently had the opportunity to review Cole Family Christmas by Jennifer Liu Bryan and found it to be a wonderful story for the whole family.

From the book: Cole Family Christmas is a delightful story about a coal-mining family of eleven in the Appalachian Mountains who learns that love and togetherness far surpass material things. It’s a story similar to the O’Henry’s Gift of the Magi in which one’s most prized possession take on a new meaning when you give them away.”

It all starts when the nine children are allowed to go through the Sears Catalog and select something they’d each like for Christmas. Since they don’t come from a wealthy family, this is a real treat for them. When Christmas finally arrives, a winter storm prevents the post office from delivering the mail on time which forces Papa & Mama Cole to improvise and come up with new gifts for their children. How will the family react when they don’t find their anticipated gifts under the tree? The result is a memorable morning that celebrates the true meaning of Christmas.

My girls really enjoyed this book. In fact, when we were done, Girlie Girl said that it would be okay if Santa didn’t bring her the things on her wish list this year. She would be perfectly happy with the family just being together. Now that’s what I call a life lesson.

Cole Family Christmas may be purchased for $17.95.

Win it!

How would you like to win a copy to read to your family? To enter:

  • Just mention in comments before midnight Oct 14th the best present you’ve ever received. That’s it!
  • A random winner will be selected and notified on Oct 15th.
  • The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.
  • Don’t forget to leave a way to contact you in case you win.

To earn extra entries, you may do any or all of the following. Just make sure you leave a separate comment for each one.

This giveaway is open to everyone world-wide. Good luck!

141 Responses to “Cole Family Christmas”


  1. cheryl pasquier

    My best ever present was a scrapbook put together by my parents of photos, drawings and keepsakes from when I was a child. It’s inspired me to do the same for my children when they’re slightly older.

  2. cheryl pasquier

    and I’m a subscriber (oooh didn’t notice mine was the first comment !!!)

  3. mannequin

    What a wonderful book this looks to be!
    I suppose the best present I’ve received was a jewelry box from my parents. You know how when you are little, you ask for everything under the sun at Christmas? Each Christmas for about 6 or 7 years, I asked for a jewelry box with the musical ballerina inside. I never got it.
    One Christmas after I was married with my own children, my mother and I were making Christmas cookies together. She asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I laughingly told her “the jewelry box, but obviously there’s no point in asking”.
    She cried when she apologized and said how sorry she was, she never knew. She thought it was just one of those “items” on my list. Guess what I got for Christmas that year?

  4. mannequin

    I’m a subscriber!

  5. Jo

    Finding out I was pregnant with my first child
    jceko77@yahoo.com

  6. Jo

    I’m a subscriber
    jceko77@yahoo.com

  7. Betsy

    Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Nothing can beat that!

    This movie looks very good!

  8. Betsy

    I am a subscriber.

  9. Betsy

    Your button is on my blog!

  10. Jenn S.

    Each year my parents bought my brother and I Christmas ornaments. The Christmas after we moved out, they gave us all the ornaments from over the years. So many memories were in that box. I am doing the same with my kids.

  11. Jo Bryan

    My IVF twins has to be the best gift I have or will ever receive oh and a cute steiff bear called Tobias.

  12. Jo Bryan

    I am subscribed too.

  13. Judith

    The best present I ever received was a gadget for bathing babies.

  14. stampedwithgrace

    subscriber :)

  15. stampedwithgrace

    my dh gave me an awesome camera last Christmas!!

  16. stampedwithgrace

    your button’s on my blog :)

  17. Susan T

    I subscribe

  18. Susan T

    My best Christmas gift…..My sister. Even though we are grown I still remember this Christmas more than most. My sister was born on Christmas Eve and my Mom was in the hospital over Christmas. I was 10.

  19. Melissa B.

    The best present I ever received was a toy Trans Am. It was exactly what I wanted and I leaped high in the air when I opened it.

  20. Rebecca C

    I think my favorite present was my futon because I picked it out and that was a big purchase. I tended to like all my presents equally though.

    legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com

  21. Rebecca C

    I blogged about this giveaway:Here

    legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com

  22. Rebecca C

    I am a subscriber!

    legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com

  23. Rebecca C

    I have your button on my blog:Here

    legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com

  24. Lori Barnes

    My best gift i was given was my 2 children! I would love to have this book to read with them. As a kid my favorite gift was a barbie boat and snow cabin. Please enter me in this contest.
    photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

  25. Lori Barnes

    I’m also a subscriber also.
    photoquest(at)bellsouth((dot)net

  26. rebecca snodgrass

    My kids are the best gift.

  27. Genevieve Larson

    Best gift ever is the gift of my 4 kids. I couldn’t want for anything else.
    jen

  28. Genevieve Larson

    I am a subscriber
    thanks
    jen

  29. Baba

    The best present I ever received was a sewing machine. Which I have used to make gifts for others so many times. I still love it.

  30. Baba

    I subscribe

  31. Baba

    Have your button on my blog.

  32. Michele

    I am a subscriber

  33. Michele

    Corny as it sounds, my best present was the first Christmas with my little girl

  34. Millicent C.

    My mother in law put together a dvd of pictures she had of me and my hubby from the moment we met till and thru getting married and having kids… set to music from our wedding! It was the nicest gift ever!

  35. Millicent C.

    I am a subscriber :)

  36. Millicent C.

    And I have your button on my blog :)

  37. Lisa L.

    The best gift was a special someone professing his love :o)

  38. Valerie Mabrey

    My teenage son took the time to put together a list of my favorite country songs for my ipod. He had remembered all my songs even though he hates country.It meant that he was listening all those times I thoguht he wasn;t.

  39. jennifer bowen

    wow what a grate book and well the best gift i ever got well i still have to say it was my pink panther stuff toy i got when i was a little kid thats becuse my dad got it for me .and well i love to try and win this book so i can read it to my little one she loves it when i read books to her thanks

  40. Alyce

    The best present I’ve ver received was the engagement ring my husband got me and gave to me two weeks before Christmas almost 12 years ago.

  41. Alyce

    I subscribe to your feed.

  42. Sandy

    subscriber

  43. Sandy

    The best Christmas present I got was freedom when I moved on my own to start a new life.

  44. Linda Peters

    I am a Christmas baby and the best gift was my pearls from my Mom on my l2th birthday

  45. Sharon

    The best present I ever received was probably the sacrifices my parents made for me to spend a semester abroad. It was incredible and I am so thankful. (plus through that, I met my husband;)

    Thanks for the opportunity!

  46. Linda

    A washer and a dryer.

  47. Denise

    Its hard to remember, but I love gift cards for books.

  48. susan varney

    my family coming for breakfast every sunday

  49. Betty king

    The best present I ever received was on Christmas Eve in 1990…my marrage license. Thatsmy Wedding Day.

  50. Hil'Lesha

    I received a diamond bracelet from my mom. :)

  51. shannon Baas

    It would have to be a dog puppet I got from my dad. It barked and I had a lot of fun with it. Mind you, I got this as a teenager.

  52. Cindi

    My “Chatty Cathy” Doll!!!!! Thanks…..Cindi

  53. MaryBeth I.

    My daughter created a book for me for mother’s day titled “All about mom” - she was pretty young - 3 or 4 maybe. Anyway, the ENTIRE book was about me and food and why she loves me. I figured she was either hungry when she had this project or I eat WAY too much

  54. MaryBeth I.

    your button is on my sidebar!

  55. jean Miller

    The best ever Christmas present was my first born granddaughter. Her birthdate: 22 Dec. Her surname: Cole.

  56. Noreen

    a necklace my then 4 year old made for mother’s day. It itches like crazy but I wear it all the time

  57. Michele

    The most wonderful gift I’ve ever received, other than the obvious one of which is the love of my family, is the saphire and diamond ring my mom and dad bought me for my 21st birthday. It was my first real “nice” piece of jewelry and the first piece from my mom and dad…actually the only piece which makes it even more close to my heart. I never took it off until one of the diamonds fell out. I need to get it replaced because my finger feels naked without it.

    Thanks so much!!
    Michele R.(CA)
    luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com

  58. Michele

    I’m a subscriber!!

    Thanks so much!!
    Michele R.(CA)
    luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com

  59. Terra Heck

    Last year my husband bought me a digital camera for Christmas. I was so thrilled because I had wanted one for the longest time.

  60. Catherine Frausto

    A watch that I could wear that didn’t stop because of my nervous system when I was 18. I new it was a little more than my parents wanted to spend and with 5 other kids to buy for it really was special to me……I was 18 then and am 54 now. I still have that watch

  61. Kathy Scott

    Three girls in my family so when we each got a two foot tall doll, we were in heaven.

  62. Roger Keeney

    The best present this subscriber received was a phone call telling my son ws coming to spend a couple of weeks on the farm between deployments.

  63. MaryBeth I.

    I am a subscriber

  64. Susan C

    I am so spoiled because Christmas day is also my birthday! The best present I ever received was an onyx ring that belonged to my grandmother.

  65. charline s

    My best present is my past present future ring.

  66. Roxanne

    My daughter born Christmas Day.

  67. Desmond

    Got a new computer one year.

  68. veronica sandberg

    My daughter

  69. Elizabeth M.

    The best present I ever received was a calendar my kids made for me with their pictures for each month.

  70. Elizabeth M.

    I’m subscribed too.

  71. Vicky Boackle

    i remember my bicycle was my fave as a child,

  72. Kimberly L

    My best ever present was a small crochet chain that my younger sister gave me when we were very,very young. She was only about 6 at the time and was learning how to crochet and was very proud of her accomplishment. She wrapped it into a huge box. I will never forgot that present.

    brn2lisn(at)gmail(dot)com

  73. Angela J

    At a very young age, I wanted a toy barn complete with animals and it was under the tree.

  74. Natasha

    I was away at school and my boyfriend (now husband!!)came to visit me, as a surprise!! I schooled on the opposite coast from where we lived and I couldn’t afford to fly back and forth more than for summer break, so it was a very nice surprise not to be alone on Christmas :)

  75. Natasha

    I’m a feed subscriber :)

  76. Natasha

    I have your button on my blog!

  77. dee

    The best present was DEFINATELY finding out i was pregnant with my son!

  78. betty rood

    When i was 5,me ,my mom ,aunt and a few of the cousins went to town just a few days before xmas.On the very top shelf on one side i saw the prettiest doll i thought i had ever saw.I told mom i wanted that baby ,and when she had them take it down ,i saw the price tag,,I knew mom could not get that(single parent-4 kids),so i looked at it and wandered off very sadly…

    A few days later it was xmas,when i looked under the tree there was a big box with my name on it.the box was taller than me!Mom had told my uncle roy about it and he went back and bought it for me and wrapped it….I kept that doll until it burned up in my trailer 12 years ago.Last year on ebay ,i found the exact same doll for 37.00..I now have my doll setting on my bed again at 45!!!!! ;)
    You know i have thought about that doll and what it meant through the years and i can still smell the way the box smelled when it opened up.Strange how somethings stick in your mind..anyway,,,that is my favorite xmas present…

    enter me please

  79. betty rood

    i am also a subscriber

  80. betty rood

    got your button as well!

    thanks again and happy holidays everyone!!!!

  81. Colleen S

    My mom gave me a book of family recipes that she wrote out by hand. I will cherish that forever.

  82. Marianne

    I remember when I was a kid the best present I got was a whinnie the pooh. I carried that thing around by the nose everywhere I went until it had no nose left!

  83. Marianne

    I put your button on my blog.

    http://crochetbymommaj.blogspot.com/

  84. Kelly Ann T.

    I got an Alaskan Malamute Puppy. She gave me 12 happy years.

  85. K. Cleaver

    My engagement ring!

  86. C. Clemens

    my friend gave me a ped egg LOL and i loved it

  87. Pat Connors

    A tie with pictures of my children on it.

  88. Valerie Furr

    The best was the year my husband found a way to get me a new Bedroom suit I had been wanting and it was in the room when I returned from shopping on Christmas eve it was truly a big surprise I could not believe he had done that.
    thanks

  89. Valerie Mitchell

    looks like a great prize!

  90. Vickie Couturier

    I am a subscriber

  91. Vickie Couturier

    I remember getting one of the first barbie dolls an was totally in love,wore her out changing her clothes

  92. tim brown

    true love

  93. Anne

    The very best present I have ever received on Christmas happened just last year. I had my 2 daughters here with their families and we all got along, we laughed so much, we ate and we were kind to each other. I can’t tell you how beautiful an experience it was!

    Thanks

  94. Anne

    I’m a happy subscriber!

  95. ky2here

    A new puppy.

  96. Erica G

    A book of pictures my Mom put together for me.

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  98. Megret

    I’d have to say anything with photos — last year my mom gave me a tote bag with photos of our children in it — so special!

    Megret
    musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com

  99. Christina Emrick

    The best Christmas present I ever got was being adopted by my family.

  100. Sue Farrell

    My best present was a beagle puppy.

  101. Linda Moeller

    When I was little, I really wanted this stuffed horse. I GOT IT! I remember being so thriled.

  102. Carolyn Nedrow

    A laptop!
    cjnedrow@gmail.com

  103. Crystal F

    Of course it would be my 2 beautiful girls! My next best gift was a necklace with my oldest daughters picture engraved on it. I also got one with my youngest daughter’s pic on it. I never take this necklace off. Thank you!

  104. Christine W

    A Cabbage Patch Doll when I was a kid! thanks, justicecw@hotmail.com

  105. Jodi

    Of Ccouse it would be my kids, and my health, but if you are looking for something material it would have to by my Cuisinart coffee pot, I just love it.

  106. Alana Jo

    Finding out I was pregnant with my boys. I found out in Dec both times.

  107. Chelsea C.

    The best present I ever received was when my mother bought half of my daughter’s bedroom furniture while I was pregnant and really helped me buy so many things I needed for the upcoming baby

  108. christopher h

    my first two wheeled bike

  109. Ed Nemmers

    My cousin surprised the family with a reunion in Hawaii.

  110. jan koontz

    a little white puppy

  111. Julianne

    Best present? Finding out on Christmas Eve that I had not been throwing up for days from sampling too much of the candies I had been making, but had a precious bundle growing within me!!!

  112. Carrie

    The best present I ever received was learning I was pregnant

  113. Hesper F.

    The best present I ever got is learning I was able to adopt a baby girl from China.

  114. Catherine copeland

    my two sons as they were both gifts from God

  115. D. Martin

    My newborn grandson came home from the hospital last year on Christmas Eve! The best present ever!

  116. Veronica Garrett

    an engagement ring from my husband.

  117. kathy pease

    a handmade snowman painted on a piece of slate..my son made it in school last year :)

  118. Kristie

    My 2 beautiful babies are the best presents I’ve ever recieved :)

  119. Gianna

    A snoopy snow cone machine my husband got me that I never got as a child..

  120. Talitha Lee

    I would have to say the best present I’ve ever received is my ipod that my hubby got me! It’s been a true life saver more than once with 2 kids waiting in doctor’s offices or other appointment! Thanks for the contest!

  121. Karen Gonyea

    Recently, probably my Zune - I don’t know how I lived without it :)

  122. Kelly

    My engagement ring is the best gift I ever have received.

  123. Michelle H.

    It would be when my baby was born on Christmas week.

  124. Abby

    The best present I ever received was a tv =) obviously very useful.

  125. Becky Grady

    The best Christmas present I ever got was a ruby ring. My husband stuffed it into the toe of a pair of boots he got me.

    I hope I win! My grandmoher’s maiden name was Cole, and we regularly attend the Cole Family Reunion.

  126. Dawn Fiske

    A new puppy….popcorn

  127. Dawn Fiske

    I am a subscriber

  128. Jeanine Price

    The best presents are anything that my boys give me!

  129. Janet

    a wedding ring

  130. Charlene Kuser

    Best present was my computer.I enjoy it every day

  131. Ilissa H.

    One year I had to give up two kittens I had up for adoption and I had a really hard time with it. That Christmas my boyfriend went and bought me Ty Stuffied animals that looked exactly like my cats. I started crying when I got them. I still have them. It was such a thoughtful gift.

  132. Ilissa H.

    I’m a subscriber

  133. Ilissa H.

    Your button is in my sidebar.

  134. Ilissa H.
  135. Donna K

    I got a baby doll that I really wanted.

  136. Donna K

    I subscribed

  137. Donna K

    I put your button on my blog

  138. Lily Kwan

    The best present I ever received was a porcelain unicorn from my fiancé.

  139. Lily Kwan

    I subscribed to your feed.

  140. linda

    My husband was the best gift I ever received ..followed closely by the teddy I got as a little girl and still treasure ..lol
    hartleys6@sympatico.ca

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