Pacific Book Review   

Faith, forgiveness, hope are something we all know the definitions of, but their meanings are brought to a new awareness within this charming, griping tale of a young girl, Seanna, by Clint G. Cox in his story Christmas Notes.

Impeccably written with a perfect blend of dialogue and narration, Clint G. Cox brings to his audience a truly classic story, original and humble, yet simultaneously strong and memorable.  Seanna is introduced as a 5 year old orphan, having lost her family in a horrific car accident, being the only survivor; saved by the heroism of a young boy who witnessed the crash and risked his own life to pull her from the fiery wreckage. A year has gone by and she lives in an orphanage, because the authorities cannot find any information about her family; the wreck destroyed all evidence of identification. Also lost was Seanna’s voice, due to the strain of the seatbelt across her chest, leaving her with a visible scar.

She is taken away from the orphanage temporarily, home for the Christmas holiday, for the month of December, by a couple, wishing to have a child of their own, but having been unfortunately unable.  Max and Jenny are ordinary people with ordinary strengths and weaknesses, but when allowed the privilege to receive Seanna as a house guest, a participant in a program managed by the orphanage, everyone’s life changed. 

Seanna communicates mostly with her eyes, her cute dimply smile, and through body language, but when a word is necessary, she would reach into her pocket and pick out a handwritten note – a scrap of paper with a terse word or two on it.  Clint G. Cox brilliantly uses this technique of storytelling to embellish her character like none I have every witnessed.  She is adorned with the wisdom of the ages along with childhood innocence to convey to all within the story, as well as those reading it, the lessons of faith; having whatever necessary strength is needed is obtained through one’s belief in God.

Christmas Notes takes ordinary people and places them into extraordinary circumstances, mixes up the “status quo” of a functional family, and rethreads the laces tightening up love and understanding with the power of faith, prayer and conviction of one’s belief.  Set around Christmas brings an easy avenue for faith awareness, but this story can be actually told within the context of any time of year. The use of Seanna’s notes are the key to peaking the reader’s interest, as each time she handed a note to another character I was “on the edge of my seat” wondering what the note said.  Sometimes Cox doesn’t tell you right away what the note says, toying with your anxiety for knowing and being teased for as long as he can until the reveal.  This brings a dimension of life to the book, one that is enjoyable and fun to read.