I'm Dreaming of Some White Chocolate: Christmas Reflections with a Little Holly & a Lot of Jolly

This is the first book I have read by Rhonda Rhea and it is a great book! Rhonda starts each chapter with humor, but then includes scripture so we don't forget Jesus's birthday.

This is my first read of Rhonda Rhea, and the title almost did a little jiu jitsu maneuver on me! As I opened up to the first chapter, I expected a message not unlike the 3 tempting white chocolates on the cover - tasty little morsels of holiday sweetness that could easily be finished off in one potentially over-indulgent sitting. It wasn't long before I realized that the author had infused each tiny nibble with 100% of the RDA of Christ's teachings as they apply to a very humorously portrayed, yet very real, 21st century Christmas experience. The "right" way to read this book, I think, is slowly, savoring and fully digesting each bite. Partake in moderation every day for a week or two, with frequent side trips to your Bible to round out each meal - a task made easy by the book's liberal doses of relevant quoted scripture. I'm in the process of rereading the "right" way, now. Chocoholics, metaphorically speaking, may be able to proceed at a faster pace! Although not very widely read in this (or, admittedly, any) genre, I fancy myself solidly a part of the target demographic. This book "filled me up" while simultaneously increasing my appetite for more. If you're part of the target demographic, too, I think you'll find it equally good eating. Rhonda Rhea has a magical touch when it comes to writing contemporary Christian literature that goes down easy but packs a real punch. I can hardly wait to read the rest of her books!

Though writing nonfiction is nothing new for her, I'm Dreaming of Some White Chocolate is Rhonda Rhea's first book about the Christmas season. Rhea knows the struggles many people go through during that time of the year, and her book provides help for those folks. Using amusing anecdotes that many Christian families have dealt with, Rhea helps to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. As Rhea reminisces about her Christmases past and ponders her present situation, she makes it easy for others to connect with and understand what she is writing about. Long lines, holiday rushes, and way too many sweets are just a few of the holiday dilemmas she singles out. Using humor and sarcasm, including numerous hysterically funny top ten lists, Rhea defines a typical Christmas. However, she doesn't stop there. During every moment of the holiday season, one question constantly pops up: What is the true meaning of Christmas? Is it time spent with family, sharing love, basking in expensive gifts, eating chocolate, or believing in Santa Claus? The answer is yes to all of them...if you believe in a modern, commercialized holiday. The author helps us remember that the true meaning is found in Scripture: it is Christ. Rhea has used humor to help others with issues such as dealing with family and motherhood in her previous books, Who Put the Cat in the `Fridge?, Turkey Soup for the Soul, and Amusing Grace. Using that humor to make her readers laugh at every page, Rhea still finds a way to bring it all to one point. She gives good tips on how to have a real holly jolly Christmas, and they all revolve around Christ. Jesus should be the center of our lives, she reminds us, and we shouldn't let the holiday season cause us to forget. Rhea gives a profound reminder that serves a great amount of useful information, making this book the one to have while preparing for the holidays. I'm Dreaming of Some White Chocolate is full of fun, humor, inspirational ideas, and the message of Christ's love. Whether you are hustling and bustling to make it through the season, or you have your shopping finished by Thanksgiving and are stress-free at Christmastime, this book makes for fun and insightful reading. - James D. Holstein, Christian Book Previews.com

Broken into eight parts with five subcategories in each, Rhonda Rhea provides an insightful amusing anecdotal look at the Christmas season in which many find themselves overwhelmed by the demands. The author provides insight into the real traditions and how they help to overcome the "Christmas Busies" that start in some places before Thanksgiving and makes the season feel like a trek through the "Jungle All the Way" until the New Year arrives as a refresher. Not just for Christians, readers will appreciate this rich look at Yuletide with and without kids. Inspirational with discerning looks at the spirit of the season especially the sharing through the authors humorous personal adventures and quotes from Biblical passages representing varying Bible interpretations (sort of religiously correct), I'M DREAMING OF SOME WHITE CHOCOLATE is a fine reminder of why Christmas can be a merry jolly season for all; just make mine a chocolate bell from the Bronx bakeries. Harriet Klausner