A Campy Christmas

A Frannie Shoemaker Campground Adventure

By: Karen Musser Nortman

Narrated by: Michelle Babb

Length: 1 hr and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

A holiday novella. The Shoemakers and Ferraros plan to spend Christmas in Texas with Larry and Jane Ann's brother and then take a camping trip through the Southwest. But those plans are stopped cold when they hit a rogue ice storm in Missouri and they end up snowbound in a campground. And that's just the beginning.

©2015 Karen Musser Nortman (P)2016 Karen Musser Nortman

Brief but charming.

I loved the scenes of being snowed in at a state park in a travel trailer, but the story itself was slight and short. A fun distraction for Christmas. As is not uncommon with narrators, the narrator wasn't bad with the characters but less accomplished with the authorial (or narrative) voice.

A Cozy Christmas Adventure

Any additional comments?

A good, clean, fun campground adventure. A cozy Christmas adventure. This is my first Frannie Shoemaker campground adventure. But it was just as enjoyable as her Time Travel Trailer series. It's a cute, light, entertaining and fun, spirit of Christmas story. I say spirit of Christmas but really it's about caring and helping someone in need no matter what time of year it is.

Setting off on a Holiday adventure they're plans suddenly change due to severe weather. Their adventurous holiday misfortune from weather turns into another mans miracle.

Michelle Babb did a great job with the narration. Pleasant voice. Easy to listen to. Clearly spoken with a nice even pace to her narration. Good character voices. She made the characters and the story come to life. Very enjoyable.

I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook by the narrator, author or publisher.

What stopped me from giving.....

What stopped me from giving this a 5vstar review is the length! If this is Book #6(That's what it said in the beginning & this so far is the only 1 I've listened to)I bet you could put all the books together & make 1 Regular size book! Don't get me wrong, what was there was good but you BARELY got time to know the characters & it was over! I also felt like I was missing some stuff! However all the info I am missing VERY WELL COULD BE IN BOOKS 1-5!!

A short & sweet Christmas adventure

I love all of the Frannie Shoemaker mysteries, but this might just be my favorite! It's short and sweet, but has all the elements to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. There is compassion, humor, camaraderie, a bit of adventure (and misadventures), a furry pup, and lots of holiday cheer.

Even though it's not quite the holidays here just yet, the imagery in this book made me feel like I was there in that time & place. Michelle Babb narrated this so well (as usual), and all the visual narration of the cold and snow helps you transport. It's a feel good from start to finish with a bit of innocent mystery tied in. I was gifted this book in exchange for my honest review

A Christmas Classic in the making.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely! I predict that this will be a Christmas Classic around my house. I've enjoyed several of the Frannie Shoemaker Camper stories in the series. This is a story of what Christmas means. Caught in a blizzard at a campground on Christmas Eve, Frannie, her husband and their close friends / in laws, start with "making do". The story evolves into a heartwarming "adventure" - different, and delightfully so!

Who was your favorite character and why?

The whole group but I liked Dasher. I'm a sucker for brown eyes, lol.

Which scene was your favorite?

The whole story worked so well, but the Christmas Dinner with the Shoemakers, Ferraros, J.C., Dasher was heartwarming.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both actually. Karen Muser Nortman's character interactions are funny, and I relate to the relationship between the men bickering. And I was very much touched by the family and Spirit of the story.

Any additional comments?

Michelle Babb was a perfect choice for the story. She adds so much to the overall "feel" of it. Pleasant voices, subtle differences in characters, truly enjoyable.

Thanks for the opportunity to review "A Campy Christmas" and the entire Frannie Shoemaker series!

This review copy audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost.

Love this Book, Love this Series

Any additional comments?

I have to admit that I truly enjoy The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mystery series by Karen Musser Nortman and “A Campy Christmas” is no exception. Unlike previous entries in the series,  “A Campy Christmas” is not really a mystery; instead this is a lovely little tale that deftly weaves the spirit of Christmas into the story of a camping trip gone wrong without being overbearing.

Frannie Shoemaker is feeling a bit bereft as neither of her children will be home for Christmas. She and her husband Larry decide to pull their camper out of storage and join Larry’s sister, Jane Ann, and her husband Mickey on their trip to Texas to visit Larry and Jane Ann’s brother. Unfortunately, the four encounter a huge winter storm and are forced to take refuge in an isolated campground. How they deal with the consequences of the storm as Christmas approaches, make for a lighthearted but ultimately heartwarming story. I have always loved the interaction between the realistically drawn characters in this series and still do, as this book adds a little more depth to a couple of them. The relationships and banter between the four ring true, which is probably why I enjoy this series so much. It is rare to read a book where the characters really sound and act like real people.

Michelle Babb does a fine job with the narration.  There is consistency from previous books to this one, and each voice is clearly distinctive. She does an excellent job with the pacing, as well. 

I highly recommend this book. There is something about this series that truly resonates with me.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions stated are solely my own. 

A Campy Christmas

Just like the previous books in this series, this story did not disappoint. From what starts out as a sad Christmas turns into an adventure with a few surprises and lessons along the way. Such a fun listen!

Just like being there!

This was a fun read. I’ve never traveled in a camper or stayed at a KOA but always thought it would be fun.
It’s easy to listen and feel like a part of the adventure in the blizzard. Every character contributed to the plot (even the dog and a freezing bird!) and they were all believable.
The ending was pretty satisfying, too.
I really enjoyed this short read.

Fun, light hearted Christmas story.

I called this a cozy mystery because that is what the other books in this series are. However this time Frannie manages to go camping without any dying. None of the kids and grandkids are coming to celebrate Christmas with their parents so at the last minute they decide to travel to Texas for Christmas. Along they way they run into ice that quickly turns into a blizzard and they end up snowed in and spending Christmas Eve in a campground with the Ferraros. Of course it can't be simple, the storm takes out the power, they collect a stray dog and find a person almost frozen to death in the snow, he survives. But they have a good time together and make a few new friends along the way. This is a fun, light book to listen too while you decorate for Christmas or travel, hopefully without a blizzard, to visit friends and family.

Love these stories

I really enjoyed these well written stories.
There is no course language. Violence is at a minimum and doesn’t go into much detail (there is some murder).
The narrator also does a wonderful job using different voices for each character.

"Fantastic"

This book has everything an ice storm, camping and road tripping. What more could you ask for?. This is everything I ask for in a book. Bad weather and adventure. Story is perfect. Narrator knocked it out the park with this one. Definitely will be listening to it again. Epic!!

Great Christmas fun!!

I quite enjoy this series. It's well written and well narrated. Frannie and the gang go camping at Christmas and get snowed in. It's a lovely story about making the best of the unexpected and how being kind to strangers is the best way to be. Kindness overrules cynicism and not everything is as it appears to be. The story kept me intrigued to find out what happens. I love the way Michelle Babb narrates these stories. It appears that she enjoys these stories as much as I do.
I do recommend this book.

Very well written

Very well,, narrated by Michelle, set at Christmas time. Which keep me hooked on drive home.

Christmas

A wonderful Christmas story. Despite being snowed in, the love of family and strangers stands out.
Narration was very good

Hilarious

This one starts off with Frannie all gloomy but she perks up at the idea of another camping trip. However, a snow storm arrives and they're all trapped at the camp ground, where they end up rescuing a dog (so it seems) and that's not their only rescue in this little story. More happy endings. Very enjoyable.

Story well written and great narration

Story well written and great narration.

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received free from the author.

Easy listening

Narrator: Michelle Babb

Whilst travelling to family for Christmas a heavy snowstorm has Frannie and co stranded at a campground.
No murder mystery to this one just a bit of rescuing in the true festive spirit.
A short but uplifting Christmas tale.

A Touching story

A Campy Christmas (#6 Frannie Shoemaker mystery series) by Karen Musser Nortman is a heartwarming story of family in the midst of a crisis. On their way to Texas, Frannie, her husband and in-laws get stuck in a blizzard. Luckily they found a campground, but soon were without power, heat or water. No murders, but tense situations, but family pulls together! Michelle Babb narrates this wonderful Christmas story to perfection!

enjoyable

enjoyable audiobook love every minute

A holiday novella. The Shoemakers and Ferraros plan to spend Christmas in Texas

Pleasant Change of Pace

This is quite the change of pace from the usual books in the series and a very welcome one! I enjoyed this book - it was a wholesome addition to the series and a nice look at the familiar characters in a new situation.

The narration is very well done and Michelle did a wonderful job of making it all come to life. Very enjoyable listen over all.