Jack’s beloved wife Marjorie died eight years ago. Since then it’s just been him and Rusty, his fox red Labrador. Marjorie was always the social one, while Jack has gotten used to his solitude. He knows he has become a bit of a hermit, but he doesn’t have a lot of tolerance for others.
He is a creature of habit. Every morning he and Rusty go on a long walk and then wind up at the Hot Bun Café for breakfast. Jack doesn’t care much for small talk, but he always has time for a conversation with Betty, the café’s owner. Betty’s mornings become that much brighter when Jack and Rusty arrive.
When Jack learns that his granddaughter Flora is planning to visit from California for two weeks over Christmas, it throws him off. Marjorie was the one who used to travel to America, and Marjorie indulged their grandchildren. He can’t remember the last time he saw Flora, and doesn’t know how he’s going to entertain her when he just wants his solitude.
What Jack doesn’t realize, however, is how much he’ll enjoy Flora’s visit, and the memories she’ll share with him about Marjorie. Flora doesn’t realize that her grandfather has essentially let his grief keep him from living his life. But she’ll open his eyes to the possibilities his life still holds, while her heart may be open to possibilities of its own as well.
I’ve never read anything by Santa Montefiore before, but if her other books are like this, I will become a big fan! This worked for me on so many levels, and I was charmed completely.
This will publish 12/1.
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