A young sailor, Pete, had just finished boot camp and was now on his way back to his home in Brooklyn to spend the holidays with his family before shipping off to war.

Pete's family did not have enough money to make ends meet let alone decorate for Christmas. His mother, however, did manage to do some decorating around the apartment.

Pete knew he had some challenges to face upon his return to Brooklyn. One is the girlfriend he left behind who sent him a "Dear John" letter. The other is his father, Billy, who was more like a stranger to him.

On Christmas Eve, Pete decided to visit his father's favorite bar, Rattigan's. It is here that Pete begins to see a whole new side of his father. As Pete walked up to his Dad, he said "Hello, Dad - Merry Christmas." The two of them had a few drinks, began to sing a few songs together and when some other guys told them to be quiet, Pete and his father took care of them with a few punches. Pete knew he had something special when his Dad smiled at him and the two walked back to the bar together with their arms around each other.

Don't be fooled when you see the size of this book. It is a small book but inside you will find a towering story of what really happens when a family finally comes together no matter what has happened in the past. The author does an excellent job with his descriptions of Brooklyn during this time period. If you have ever visited this city, you will see how this comes through in the author's writing style. This is a wonderful holiday book to read. The story is a memorable one that really stays with you especially when it is read during the holiday season. This book is highly recommended.

REVIEWED BY NANCY EATON