 These Are Special Times garnered generally positive reviews from music critics . Paul Verna from Billboard gave it a very positive review , praising Dion 's maturity and the album 's production . He wrote , " sounding at complete ease and wielding a wildly creative wand , an ever @-@ maturing Dion conjures up surprise on what should be regarded as her next " big " album . " Verna noted that this " grade @-@ A effort " is " no ordinary holiday project . " He praised " grandiose versions of standards " ( " O Holy Night , " " Adeste Fideles " ) , " modern classics " ( " Happy Xmas ( War Is Over ) , " " Feliz Navidad " ) and " thoughtfully produced original compositions " ( " Another Year Has Gone By , " " Don 't Save It All for Christmas Day " ) . According to him , other highlights include " The Prayer , " a " gorgeous duet " with Andrea Bocelli , the " Phil Spector @-@ esque " " Christmas Eve , " and a " sparkling reading " of " Ave Maria . " 
