Doc Christmas and The Magic of Trains


Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
230 Pages
Reviewed on 09/26/2016
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Best-Selling Author Neil Enock is an actor, screenwriter, filmmaker and creator/host of the million+ viewed TrainTalk.TV iTunes podcast. Neil tells original stories in everything he does from his written work to his hand-made cribbage boards. When not writing, Neil can be most often found on one side of the camera or the other, filming something around Calgary with some or all of his family in tow.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

Doc Christmas and the Magic of Trains by Neil Enock is a wonderful story about how a doctor saved Christmas! An epidemic has invaded the North Pole; all of the elves are sick and are not responding to any known medical cures. Christmas is right around the corner and there is no one to help make and distribute the Christmas presents. Nick and DJ are desperately trying to figure out the cause of the outbreak, but are completely nonplussed. There is only one man that they know of who can save them, but he has lost the magic of Christmas. Dr. Archibald Stevens had been a train enthusiast and with the help of his wife, Marilee, and daughter, Vicki, had built a magnificent train world. After Marilee died, he closed himself off from his family, friends, and the magic of the trains. Nick and DJ have to convince him to remember the magic and help save the elves. Will they be able to do it in time?

Doc Christmas and the Magic of Trains by Neil Enock is an enchanting story about one man's journey and how it affected the world. Doc had an amazing friend and family support system that he couldn't even acknowledge through his own pain. Vicki, Jeanette and Helga were warm-hearted and caring characters and I loved how they lovingly and subtly coerced Doc back into believing in magic and living again. With their belief and love behind him, Doc was able to break through the unbelief and try to help Nick with the crisis. I was so caught up in the story that it never occurred to me that not everybody believes in magic. Neil Enock has created a story that extends beyond Christmas and brings magic to every single day. This book will be a much-loved part of my Christmas library from now on. I recommend it to all those who love a good Christmas North Pole story and to those who love trains.

Jane Finch

Doc Christmas and The Magic of Trains by Neil Enock tells the story of Doc Stevens who, since his wife died several years previously, spends his time working in his specialised field in infectious diseases. He has little time for his daughter and granddaughter, for friends, or for Christmas. Even his love of model trains has been pushed aside in his grieving for his wife. It takes the magical world of elves to finally remind him of the things that are really important in his life. When the elves become sick from some unknown bacteria, Doc is called upon to use his skills and knowledge to help the elves find a cure, and ultimately save Christmas. In order to do so, however, Doc has to rekindle his belief in magic, something that was lost when his wife died.

This is a lovely tale that tugs at the heart strings and yet stirs the reader to encourage Doc to believe in the power of magic. The author, Neil Enock, hasn’t just written a sweet Christmas tale, but a story that encompasses the magic of trains as well as the magic of Christmas because the two are intertwined in this delightful story. More than just a tale of magic, this story is also about the importance of family and friends, and the bonding between a parent and child. It’s also about helping one another and that, with enough faith, anything is possible. Although consumed with sadness for all that he has lost, Doc is led to realise that what he has in the present is just as important. This is a story about making Christmas special and appreciating those around you who help to make it so. It doesn’t hurt to believe in a little magic, either.

Maria Beltran

Neil Enock’s Doc Christmas and The Magic of Trains is a delightful fantasy tale that will appeal to children and adults alike. Christmas is around the corner, but there is trouble in the North Pole where the elves tasked to distribute Christmas cheers, literally and figuratively, are struck with a strange illness. Meanwhile Doctor Stevens is in profound grief over the loss of his wife. What follows is a fascinating journey into the real spirit of Christmas as Nick, pretending to be a reporter, interviews the grieving doctor about a train design that he has been working on and left unfinished when his wife died. His daughter, Vicki, and granddaughter, Jeanette, try to help because Christmas, as we know it, is now placed in jeopardy.

Doc Christmas and The Magic of Trains is a charming Christmas story that will not fail to warm readers’ hearts. Neil Enock writes about a subject that most of us hold dear and he manages to deliver a unique story that is both vivid and fantastic. It reminds me a bit of Mr. Scrooge, but Doctor Stevens is definitely a far more likable character. And for those who are interested in trains, this book is a sure winner. Doc Christmas and The Magic of Trains is a futuristic Christmas story where science and magic do not clash; on the contrary, these two seemingly opposing forces work together. This is a story of love, family, friendship and loss. And it sure is a wonderful read!