June 24, 2024
Second-chance romance blooms in the midst of family drama in this heartwarming tale from Carlson (Just for the Summer). After five years spent teaching in Mongolia, Madison McDowell returns to her family’s Oregon Christmas tree farm only to discover that wildfires have ravaged most of their crops. Her sister, Addie, who’s been holding down the fort in Madison’s absence, is on the verge of selling the property. To complicate matters, Madison’s now-widowed first love, Gavin Thompson, has moved in next door, and Addie’s started to fall for him. Though Madison tries to focus on reviving the business, she can’t seem to stay away from Gavin and sparks soon fly. When Gavin’s college-age daughter, Lucy, comes home for the holidays, she dredges up secrets about Gavin and Madison’s past that hint at a future between the pair, if they can harness their faith to overcome interference from Lucy, friction with Addie, and their own anxieties about starting anew. The Hallmark moviesque plot has more than enough charm to keep readers invested until everything gets tied into a satisfying—if unrealistically quick—happily ever after. This is certain to get readers in the Christmas spirit.