Reviewed by Tony Cummings

One of the yuletide items missed last year by Cross Rhythms which is a shame as it turns out to be one of the best. Maybe Christmas 2014. . . Working with her regular producer Ian Eskelin was a wise move as his inventive arrangements bring Christmas evergreens like "O Come O Come Emmanuel", "What Child Is This" and "Joy To The World" to Francesca's legion of fans with maximum appeal. I can't say I cared for the Broadway-style production of "Marshmallow World" though I have to admit that the CCM star's bouncy rendition of "The Christmas Song" is vastly preferable to many of the soporific covers the song has endured down the years. There are four new songs here co-written by Battistelli: "Heaven Everywhere", "Christmas Is", "Christmas Dreams" and "You're Here". Each has its moments, with the haunting simplicity of the acoustic guitar, piano and drums on "You're Here" making it, for me, the album's standout. I expect that 'Christmas' will be a strong seller over the next few years.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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