Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The fact that Mallory has penned songs for country luminaries like Faith Hill and Danny Gokey and last year released an album of her own gave me plenty of optimism that this three-song EP was going to be good. After all I reasoned, anyone who is good enough to guest on a single by the sublime Darius Rucker has to be a good singer as well as a top rate songsmith. I wasn't disappointed. On the title track Mallory, in her appealing brittle voice, offers a vocal which depicts the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping crowds, gingerbread and peppermints, and old movies on TV before the payoff of the chorus "Lord remind me when I forget the truth/Christmas is all about you." My nomination for the Best New Christmas Song Of The Year. Almost as good on this outstanding EP is another Hope original "Just A Baby (Mary's Song)" which cleverly integrates a fragment of a carol while retaining its freshness. There is even a rendition of the now over-recorded "Mary Did You Know". That works too.

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