Laurel and her son Simon are planning on a quiet Christmas at home in New York, when she gets a call from her father saying he needs her in Lake Summers in the heart of the Adirondacks.
As twinkling lights go up and snowflakes begin to fall, Laurel canât wait to leave New York behind to help her father run the family business and make snow angels with her son, even if itâs just for Christmas. But when she walks through the door, sheâs shocked to find the inn in disrepair, and a letter saying her father will be gone until Christmas EveâŚ
No one in town knows where Laurelâs father is, and she doesnât know whether to be worried or angry â but she wonât let the inn go under, and nothing will get in the way of the perfect Christmas for her son. Seeing the worn-out wooden bannisters, bare of festive lights, she immediately recruits her childhood friend, brooding local carpenter Joel Hutcherson. They might disagree on whether any walls need to come down, but each rip in the carpet makes Laurel more concerned for her father, and Joel is a welcome distraction. And when he admits that Laurel was his first crush, she realizes sheâs falling for him.
Amongst her fatherâs things, Laurel uncovers a card with beautiful, ornate writing and learns why he disappeared. It changes everything. Worse still, she thinks Joel knew the truth all along.
A wholesome Christmas romance about fresh starts, the importance of family and learning how to follow your heart. Perfect for fans of Mary Alice Monroe, Rachel Hanna and Carolyn Brown.
âHad me hooked from the start⌠a delightful feel-good holiday story⌠Enjoy this book curled up with a hot cup of cocoa, you wonât want to put it down.â Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
âAs soon as I started to read this heart-warming tale I was quickly immersed⌠everything I want in a holiday book. Itâs romantic, festive, and heart-warming in all the best ways⌠a slow-burn romance⌠delightful.â The Bashful Bookworm
âA wonderful, magical Christmas book. Reminds me of holiday movies⌠Warms my heart.â Avid Reader, 5 stars
âFrom the very first page I knew I was in for a treat⌠A page-turner⌠An absolute delight⌠A seasonal love story with a little twist of mystery.â Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
âA lovely holiday romance⌠emotional⌠charming⌠will appeal to readers of contemporary romance, second-chance romance, and small-town romance.â One More Book
Barbara Josselsohn is an award-winning journalist and novelist. Her novels center around second chances, family relationships and, of course, romance. She lives just north of New York City.