Reviewed by Carla Trueheart for Readers' Favorite

With an old-fashioned writing style and a connection to the beloved Dickens’ story A Christmas Carol, The Ghost of Christmas Past by author Michael Hebler is a must-read for the Christmas season or any other time of the year. The story opens with The Ghost of Christmas Past attempting to save a suicidal woman, but when the spirit fails, it is sent on a journey to view the life it led in the past. While the spirit does not initially know if it was, in life, a female or a male, it learns the truth about its upbringing, including the relationship it had with its father. The spirit, after witnessing its own life and death, journeys back to the earthly world to try to save the suicidal woman and show her the truth about her own past.

There is much to love about The Ghost of Christmas Past. While I was initially drawn to the book because of the connection with A Christmas Carol, I quickly learned that the story stood on its own but still retained the old-fashioned writing style associated with Dickens. My favorite part of the book was when The Ghost of Christmas Past traveled back to its own beginnings. The scene of the spirit’s death was one of those rare book moments when you read through the pages without being aware of anything else around you. Also of note was the mention of Ebenezer Scrooge, which was greatly appreciated, and the Ghost of Christmas Future. At the root of the story is family misunderstandings, a connection author Michael Hebler constructed with ease, showcasing the theme without hitting the reader over the head with it. The writing was beautiful, the story was reminiscent of the original, and there was a believable backstory for the Ghost of Christmas Past. I would recommend the book to fans of A Christmas Carol or anyone who is interested in this genre. ( )

One of the first things that attracted me to this story was the cover. It has such an eerie quality to it, you just can't help but wonder what in the heck you are looking at in the picture. It is not something you would normally associate with the Christmas season, then again as you look at it, could it be an angel, a ghost, or who, or what.... and where is it going and where has it been? I just love a good cover that draws you in and this is certainly one of those.
Now we move on to the actual story. It is a most interesting twist to an old classic. The story starts in an interesting manner, not what you would expect from the cover or from preconceived notions of the Dickens Classic. There is no Marley or Ebenezer, but there are ghosts, pasts, and journeys. It is written from the point of view of the actual ghost of Christmas Past. This is a most novel approach, because no one would think to care about his story. I don't want to spoil the read for anyone who hasn't made the journey yet, but is twisted, winding tale of the misunderstood with a dash of Christmas cheer thrown in to keep you from sinking too deep into the darkness. Don't despair, the story has a most interesting ending, which no would suspect.
It is a quick and fun read that keeps you on your toes from the beginning to the end. It slows down a bit in the middle just to lull you into false sense of security before it comes back and blasts you with an ending you will not soon forget. Mr. Hebler himself is a member of the Horror Genre elite and has mastered quite the little holiday jaunt for those seeking just enough macabre to get them through that nastily annoying cheerful season of the year!

Very few people have yet to be enchanted by Charles Dickens's A CHRISTMAS CAROL in some form or another. Hebler's novella following the journey of the ghost of Christmas Past resonates with those of us who adore Dicken's classic tale, by giving us character exploration into a somewhat non-entity in the original story.

THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST takes us on two journeys, one that the ghost guides for an earthly being, like he did for Ebenezer Scrooge, and another that he must travel for himself. This magical tale following the ghost as he relives his earthly life and discovers how he earned his position as Christmas Past is spellbinding to say the least. After failing in his task (reminding Sara Bello of all the good her life holds), he must reconnect with himself before he can have the chance at a second go.

The language is magnificent and the story fast paced and engaging. Any one in need a good Christmas read that has very little to do with Christmas will greatly enjoy this ( )

Who doesn't know Dickens' classic tale about the three ghosts of Christmas? With this story, the author made an attempt at adding to the Christmas spirit with another story, this one focusing on the ghost of Christmas past. It's almost like the roles are reversed and now it is he who has to be rekindled with the right spirit by visiting his own past. Guided by his guardian angel, he revisits some long forgotten Christmas nights of his own to remind him why he became the ghost of Christmas past.

Intertwined with this plot-line is the story of Sara, a woman who has lost her purpose for life and is determined to end it. At first attempt, the ghost of Christmas past fails to change her mind, thus causing his own trouble, but as with each good Christmas story this one is also brought to a very merry Happy End.

I was really skeptical whether the author could follow in the gigantic footsteps of Dickens' masterpiece, but he managed quite well. Though I've never read the original story, but only a translated version, I guess the old-time language matches the original tone well enough (I did have some difficulties with the choice and order of words at times though, but I mostly attribute that to my personal language skills - or lack thereof - as a non-native English reader).

One thing that bothered me at the beginning was that part of the story happens in the present time, which was a stark contrast to the historical Victorian setting I had in mind from the classic tale (especially the movie versions). Therefore, it was much easier to relate to those scenes playing in the ghost's past and feel a strong sense of deja vú.

While I thought the story lost some of its steam during the middle chapters, towards the end it returned to its former self and led to a satisfactory closure.

(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review) ( )

I love anything pertaining to A Christmas Carol. So this story was definitely something that grabbed my interest. We are taken on a journey into the past ~ the past life of The Ghost of Christmas Past itself. We get to see all of the experiences that molded this spirit into what we have always known it as. There are many human imperfections and foibles along the way, which was unexpected. I didn't expect a human life to have had an effect on this spirit or to have been joined with it an any way. We also get to see what happens when a spirit makes a mistake and the ensuing fallout. We are taken on a trip with the spirit in all three directions ~ the past, present, and future ~ to learn more about who this entity is, how it came to be, and what makes it tick. Every decision ~ past, present, and future are all lined up like dominoes and you can't change one without changing the whole.

I think this was a lovely story and well worth the read if you have a heart for Christmas. But if you happen to be like me and are a bit of a crazy fan girl over Dickens' A Christmas Carol, it is a definite must read.

I must admit I am also wondering if Mr. Hebler will write the stories of the other two Christmas spirits as well. I would certainly be interested in reading them if he ever does. ( )