Book Review: "Fonseca" by Jessica Francis Kane

This is one of those quiet books that sneaks up on you and before you know it, you’re sad when it’s over. I’m so glad I came across it!⁣

⁣ “I’m reminded of that old idea that there are only two kinds of stories: someone goes on a journey and a stranger comes to town. It seems you are living both. Isn’t that remarkable.”⁣

⁣ In 1952, the English writer Penelope Fitzgerald receives a letter from two elderly sisters, who apparently are distant relatives. The sisters have a sizable fortune thanks to a Mexican silver mine, and suggest that there might be an inheritance in store. They invite Penelope and her young son, Valpy, to their home in Northern Mexico.⁣

⁣ While traveling from England to Mexico in the 1950s is a complicated and arduous journey, the invitation couldn’t have come at a better time. The literary magazine that she and her husband Desmond publish is on the verge of folding, their financial situation is precarious, and his drinking is getting more out of control. An inheritance could be life-changing.⁣

Leaving her young daughter and husband behind, Penelope and six-year-old Valpy head to Mexico. Yet when they arrive, they discover that all is not what they expected. The Delaney sisters are mercurial (especially when drinking), and there seems to be a growing number of people who also have designs on the money. Penelope will have to deal with the machinations of others as well as her worries about her marriage, her children, and their future if the inheritance doesn’t materialize.⁣

⁣ This is based on a real trip that Fitzgerald took, which she then fictionalized a bit. The narrative is intercut with excerpts of letters from Fitzgerald’s real children. I hadn’t heard of Fitzgerald before, but this story really captivated me.⁣

Book Review: "Go Luck Yourself" by Sara Raasch

Sara Raasch’s Royals and Romance series is incredibly creative, full of humor, emotion, and some steamy steam. I really enjoyed The Nightmare Before Kissmas and I loved her newest book, Go Luck Yourself, which was released just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

Kris’ family is in charge of Christmas, and his brother Coal has taken over as Santa. When Kris discovers that someone has been siphoning off Christmas’ joy, since he is the “spare prince,” he agrees to investigate the theft of joy. Since he found a shamrock, he’s headed to the kingdom of St. Patrick’s Day.

Kris is thrown when he discovers that the crown prince of the holiday, Lochlann, is the hot guy who drove him crazy at college. Lochlann isn’t happy that Kris has shown up in his family’s kingdom, even though Kris has been trying to help rescue Lochlann's reputation with the holiday press.

The more times they are thrown together, the more complicated Kris realizes that Loch’s situation is. And at the same time, Kris sees in Loch a kindred spirit—a creative soul unsure of what he wants, who doesn’t believe he’s entitled to his own happiness.

The theft of joy is also far more complicated than Kris suspected. Is Loch responsible? Is Kris’ growing attraction to Loch blinding him? The truth has the potential to hurt both of them, but can it also free them?

I love Raasch’s storytelling and the amazing universe she has created. This book is so much more than a simple romance, as both of its main characters really have to deal with some tough emotional baggage. But the banter and the supporting characters make this even more special.

Book Review: "Moody's Grumpy Holiday" by Lane Hayes

Yes, I know that the holidays are over. That doesn’t mean I’m done with my holiday reads! There’s still snow on the ground here, so I’m good.

Hudson’s engagement ended and he’s honestly not that heartbroken. After spending some time at the fancy California beach resort where his honeymoon was supposed to be, he’s ready for a fresh start. And investing in the Oak Ridge Ranch seems to be the solution.

On the way to the ranch, Hudson decides to do a little sightseeing in nearby Christmas Town, known for their year-round tree and apparently some of the best chicken noodle soup you’ve ever tasted.

While waiting for some soup, Hudson visits Moody’s Marvelous Bah Humbug Bookshop and is immediately intrigued by Moody, the store’s adorable, nerdy owner. Moody is no dummy; he can’t take his eyes off the handsome cowboy that walked into his store. But there’s no way he could be interested in someone like him, right?

Not only is Hudson attracted to Moody, who uses phrases like “two shakes of a lamb’s tale,” but the more he gets to know him, the more he realizes what his heart has been missing. But strangely enough, even though Moody lives and works in Christmas Town, the month of December is his least favorite. He truly embodies the “bah humbug” in his store’s name. Can Hudson help change that?

This was sweet, funny, and romantic, and boy howdy, it was super HOT!! I love how both characters grew through the book and the way they interacted with the supporting characters. All in all, quite a festive story!

Book Review: "The Jolliest Bunch: Unhinged Holiday Stories" by Danny Pellegrino

“I was an emotional kid, who turned into an even more emotional adult—one who mourns the good times as much as he mourns the bad. Perfect days end with me wiping up the same tears that result from the crappy days.”

The holidays always seem to bring out healthy doses of both joy and craziness. I guess that’s why they’re such great fodder for writers. In The Jolliest Bunch, Danny Pellegrino, host of the podcast “Everything Iconic with Danny Pellegrino,” shares some of his holiday memories. They’ll either make you feel good about your own experiences or make you think he doesn’t know what crazy really is.

Having read his last book, How Do I Un-Remember This, I really enjoy Pellegrino’s voice. His stories never seem so wild as to be preposterous, but they’re always at least a notch or two beyond the usual holiday experience.

Some of my favorites include: “The Nativity,” which meshes your typical Christmas play story with an overly dramatic child with abandonment issues; “Black Velvet,” in which he gives Mrs. Claus her long-overdue adventure; “The Night Before,” about his mother’s annual meltdown before hosting a Christmas Eve party; and “The Ghostly Duo,” where he recounts his experience being haunted by a gay, pop culture-savvy ghost.

Not every story was a winner for me, but many of them touched my heart, reminded me of my own experiences, and/or made me laugh. No matter what Pellegrino talked about, it reminded me to always find the joy in being with those I care about, because you never know when circumstances will change.

While I mostly read fiction, this book was a fun departure for me. This reminds me a bit of a David Sedaris collection but it has a charm all its own.

Book Review: "One Night, Two Holidays" by Ali Brady

While Christmas is held on the same day every year, Hanukkah moves around based on the Hebrew calendar. Some years it happens in late November or early December, some years it’s much later. But this year both Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah were celebrated on the same day.

Given the “Chrismukkah” celebrations, discovering Ali Brady’s novella was perfect timing.

It’s Christmas Eve. Jack is a medical resident, ready to release some of his stress by spending a few days with his family in Denver. The last thing he was counting on was an epic snowstorm that cancels all flights out of Chicago. He is sad, frustrated, and lonely.

Nessa is alone for Hanukkah, since her roommates both had other plans and her parents are traveling. When she witnesses Jack’s frustration, she tries to coax a smile out of him. After all, she and her roommates have been intrigued by him for a while.

When the power goes out in their building, Jack is caught completely unaware. He finds Nessa’s apartment and the two plan to wait the storm out together. They talk about each other’s holiday traditions, their hopes and fears, and of course, start to draw closer. (The game of strip dreidel didn’t hurt.)

I love how Ali Brady gave equal weight to both holidays and both characters. They had terrific banter and sizzling chemistry, but I loved how they took their time before anything heated up physically. This was really a sweet story.

Book Review: "The Nightmare Before Kissmas" by Sara Raasch

Nicholas “Coal” Claus is the heir to Christmas, as his father is the reigning Santa. But while Nicholas loves the joy the holiday brings, he really dislikes that his father has turned Christmas into more of a PR effort, especially for his family and those who work in the kingdom. He resists his obligations in every way possible, causing scandals along the way. Not a good look for a prince…

One night, after something he did with the best of intentions went incredibly awry, Coal is summoned home by his father. But before that he winds up making out with a super-sexy guy behind the bar, who quickly disappears. Could he have imagined it?

Coal is commanded by his father to do what’s best for the kingdom, which apparently means marrying his best friend, Iris, the Easter princess. Neither of them want that, of course (nor does his brother, Kris, who has always had a crush on Iris), but it’s best for both holidays to ally together.

And then a new rival for Iris’ hand in marriage emerges: Hex, the prince of Halloween. Hex is also the guy Coal made out with that night behind the bar. But while they’re both supposed to be competing to win Iris, they actually can’t keep their eyes or, eventually, their hands, off one another.

When Coal finds out about his father’s nefarious behavior to ensure Christmas’ power over other holidays, he’s determined to harness the true joy of Christmas. So he sets out a plan of his own that could change everything—or backfire, and hurt those he cares about.

This was such a great read. It was immensely creative. Sara Raasch did some great world-building in a small number of pages. It was really steamy in a few places, but just lovely in others, as the characters played so well off each other. I’m excited that Raasch has a second book in this series coming out in 2025!

Book Reviews: "Holiday Hideaway" by Mary Kay Andrews and "The Mistletoe Mystery" by Nita Prose

Sometimes I just need an escape, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to read some Christmas novellas. And given that I heard Our Lady Mariah for the first time in the holiday season, what better sign could I get?

Molly the Maid returns in Nita Prose’s The Mistletoe Mystery. She and Juan Manuel are getting ready for Christmas, both at home and at their jobs at the Regency Grand. Juan Manuel is full of Christmas spirit, but Molly is a bit melancholy, as she’s missing her grandmother, who always did her best to make the holidays special.

Just as Molly is getting ready to surrender to the Yuletide merriment, she notices that Juan Manuel starts acting strangely. He’s disappearing at odd times, seems to be keeping secrets, and Molly is convinced he’s hiding something from her. It comes to a head during the annual Regency Grand staff holiday party, when all of Molly’s anxieties transform into something unforgettable.

In Holiday Hideaway, Tilly finds herself at loose ends. Her landlady kicked her out of her apartment because she was hiding a dog, and while she’s found a new place to move to, it won’t be ready for a few weeks. So she’s been staying (err, squatting) in one of the homes her employer rents out.

Imagine how surprised she is when George, a handsome man, comes to stay at the house, which apparently hasn’t been rented in years. Turns out he’s the owner’s great-nephew, although no one seems to know he existed. He’s determined to fix the house up and put it on the market ASAP.

Tilly hides in the attic while George is around, but dashing around in secret isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And when an accident forces her out of her hiding place, sparks fly between the two. It turns out the two have more of a connection than either realized.

Book Review: "A Home for the Holidays" by Taylor Hahn

“I understood how life could be both beautiful and devastating at the same time. Maybe healing was just learning how to live with both.“

⁣ ⁣ Mel has always loved Christmas, ever since her free-spirited mother Connie used to create elaborate schemes to keep the holiday magic alive as long as possible. As an adult, her memories buoy her, especially when she remembers that her mother was, more often than not, an alcoholic mess otherwise.⁣

⁣ Two weeks before Christmas, she gets a phone call from the hospital telling her that her mother has died. While this news isn’t entirely surprising, Mel is full of sadness that Connie didn’t share her health problems, as well as grief that she didn’t pay closer attention.⁣

⁣ Shortly after Connie’s death, a woman shows up at Mel’s doorstep and introduces herself as Connie’s estranged best friend, Barbara. Of course, Mel has never heard of Barbara, but Barbara can explain why, with stories of Connie’s failed music career and their fight over a man, which ended their friendship.⁣

⁣ Through Barbara, Mel gets to see a side of her mother she didn’t know, which made her decline even sadder. But as Mel gets drawn into Barbara’s family, including her son Henry, a soon-to-be-divorced doctor, she realizes that she’s not quite getting the full story, and until she does, she won’t understand her mother or, by extension, herself.⁣

⁣ I definitely loved this book. It’s funny and emotional and hopeful and sad. And while “holidays” is in the title, this isn’t really a holiday book. It’s a beautiful exploration of grief, love, addiction, and understanding how to forgive both whom you lost as well as yourself.⁣

Book Review: "All I Want Is You" by Falon Ballard

I had vowed not to start reading holiday romances for a bit longer, but I’m such a huge fan of Falon Ballard’s books, so I figured, one wouldn’t hurt. And truth be told, while it takes place over Christmas, it’s more than a holiday romance.

Jess had always dreamed of being a romance writer, and now she’s living her dream. (Well, if the dream included still working as a barista and seeing her books sell fewer and fewer copies.) She’s worried that her publisher might not even take her latest book—if she can actually find something to write about.

To add insult to injury, Jess’ ex, Nick, is a best-selling romance writer. Sure, his books don’t have happy endings so they shouldn’t really be considered romances, but it doesn’t matter to his readers. Each book makes a bigger bang than the last, and he’s even sold some to be adapted into movies.

When Jess is asked to present Nick with an award at their publisher’s holiday ball, it’s the last thing she wants to do. But it wouldn’t be good for her career to say no. So she buys a dress that she looks fantastic in, grits her teeth, and plans to give the award to Nick. Of course, when they see each other for the first time in five years, there’s still an intense chemistry between them.

Their interactions are minimal until a snowstorm keeps Jess stranded at the inn where the ball was held. And wouldn’t you know it, her reservation got lost, and the only option is to share Nick’s room—which has only one bed. But their forced proximity not only intensifies their attraction, but leads Jess to wonder why Nick ended things five years ago. There’s a lot to discuss—and lots of sexual tension to avoid.

This was everything I hoped for. It’s not only romantic and steamy and funny and emotional, but it plays on so many romantic tropes. Ballard can do no wrong, and this was so worth starting my holiday reading early!!

Book Review: "Penelope in Retrograde" by Brooke Abrams

Wow, this was a fun book! It was my second choice from September's Amazon First Reads, but of course Prime members were only allowed to pick one that month. But I jumped on it as soon as it was published.

Despite the wishes of her parents, Penelope didn't graduate from Princeton, nor did she take a job at her father's engineering firm. Instead, she followed her true passion—writing—and now she's a successful romance writer. But given the disdain with which her parents view her choices (they don't even know her pen name), as well as her penchant for running away when family tensions get high, she's fairly estranged from everyone.

When she and her two roommates—also romance writers—develop an idea for a new romance-only bookstore, they need an infusion of capital. So it's time for Penelope to try and mend fences with her family to see if her father would be willing to invest in her new business venture. And what better time than the Thanksgiving holiday? She heads back to the family home on Coronado, and prepares to be reunited with her parents, her twin sister Phoebe, and her beloved Nana Rosie.

But things start awkwardly. Penelope's ride share from the airport has an unexpected passenger: Smith, her ex-husband. They've not really spoken since their marriage imploded, so he's the last person she thought she'd see. They endure a strange ride, during which Penelope feels some of the old chemistry between them as well as reinforcement that their divorce was the right decision. And to add to her tension, her mother is trying to set her up with one of her father's employees, Martin, who will be having Thanksgiving dinner with them.

It's not long before Penelope is fighting with her parents and Phoebe, and trying to convince Martin to be her fake boyfriend so Smith didn't think she was still pining for him. But what to do when you find yourself falling back into the same patterns with your family, rehashing old arguments and hurts? Can she stand up for herself without putting her potential business venture at risk?

Penelope in Retrograde is a fun and heartfelt story about love, friendship, following your dreams, family (both blood and chosen), and the pull of the stars. While some of the familial tension definitely was more her family's fault than Penelope's, I know what it's like to feel like you're always the one in the wrong. This really was a great balance of humor, romance, and emotion.

Book Review: "The Deal of a Lifetime" by Fredrik Backman

This novella is an inspirational story about love and sacrifice.

“Hi. It’s your dad. You’ll be waking up soon, it’s Christmas Eve morning in Helsingborg, and I’ve killed a person. That’s not how fairy tales usually begin, I know. But I took a life. Does it make a difference if you know whose it was?”

With that, Fredrik Backman draws you into a story about ambition, regret, love, fear, life, and death. I’m totally late to the party on reading this although I love his books.

There’s not much to say without giving the plot away, but essentially, the story is narrated by a father for his son. It has a bit of a holiday feel, and it’s definitely a poignant story. I wish it were a little longer, but it is what it is.

Book Review: "You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince" by Matthew Janovsky

My first holiday rom-com of the year is in the books, and it was lighthearted yet complex, sweet and emotional, and really good!

Matthew Prince isn’t just your typical spoiled rich kid. Because his parents are well-known, he’s constantly in the public eye, which he loves. His love life is tabloid fodder and his high-fashion looks are coveted. Plus he’s always getting himself in some kind of trouble, much to the media’s pleasure and his parents’ ire.

But when his uncontrolled spending goes above and beyond frivolous and threatens both of his parents’ livelihoods, they see red. Matthew gets shipped to stay with his grandparents in their small cottage in Massachusetts. There’s no WiFi, no Starbucks, and no cell service. And he can’t come home until he’s demonstrated he’s ready to change his ways, despite the fact he's supposed to be hosting a party for New Year's Eve.

As if all of this isn’t bad enough, he has to share a room with Hector, a local college student who is helping his grandparents. Hector is immensely good looking but doesn’t seem the least bit impressed by Matthew, his fancy clothes, or celebrity lifestyle. Of course, that makes Matthew want to try harder to dazzle him.

When the Christmas-obsessed town loses the coordinator of its holiday gala, Matthew steps in, hoping that this good deed will lead to his permission to go back to NYC. But of course, it’s not long before he’s knee-deep in the Christmas spirit and realizing that there’s more to life and love than material things.

I love the way Timothy Janovsky writes. His books are sweet and fun but deal with heavier issues, and as someone with anxiety I appreciated the treatment of how it can affect other aspects of your life. The supporting characters were awesome, too!

Book Review: "Lovelight Farms" by B.K. Borison

OMFG. This book is EVERYTHING, y’all!!

Seriously, I have found my favorite holiday romance and perhaps one of my favorite books of the year. Lovelight Farms has everything I love—fake dating; friends to lovers; a beautiful small town full of memorable, special supporting characters; a little family drama; and even some steam.

Stella is the owner of a Christmas tree farm that has been struggling lately. When she enters a contest run by a famed Instagram influencer (the contest also comes with a $100,000 prize), she mentions she owns the farm with her boyfriend—because she thought it would sound more romantic. But when she becomes a finalist, the woman is planning to come to the farm, so where is Stella going to get a boyfriend?

Enter Luka, Stella’s best friend for what seems like forever. He agrees to pretend to be her boyfriend—but of course, they have to “practice” so it seems more natural, right? Little do they know the whole town has been rooting for them to get together. And, of course, what happens when the feelings are more intense than pretend?

“It’s hard to love someone without restraint. To give yourself over to the swell and pull of it without fear of what might happen. I think it’s only natural to hold a part of yourself back and protect what you can.”

Lovelight Farms is a debut novel and the start of a series, as the next books will focus on the supporting characters. Thanks to my Bookstagram friend Laura for putting this book on my radar!

Book Review: "The Certainty of Chance" by Jacquelyn Middleton

Jacquelyn Middleton's The Certainty of Chance is a gorgeous holiday romance set in London, with lots of serendipity, emotion, and fun.

Madeleine and her actress sister were supposed to be in Paris over Christmas. But the eruption of an Icelandic volcano strands Madeleine in London, her sister in Thailand. The last thing Madeleine wants is to be alone in London as the one-year anniversary of her best friend’s death approaches.

She vows to make the best of it until she can fly to Paris. So when the ultra-handsome cab driver offers to show her around London, she overcomes her initial resistance to companionship and all things Christmas, and allows him to be her guide. It’s not long before the two grow close, although both know their time together is fleeting, so they resist temptation.

But Julian isn’t just a cab driver. He’s a writer with a fierce intelligence and a love for music and all his city has to offer. He’s a joyful person despite dealing with grief and betrayal of his own. Madeleine makes him feel alive, but once airspace opens again she could be gone for good.

The Certainty of Chance is such a fantastic story, one of love and friendship and hope as well as an exploration of grief and grieving and how people deal with it. Sure, it follows some familiar patterns (but not all, which was wonderful) but I was fully immersed in this from start to finish.

Book Review: "The Present" by Geanna Culbertson

Geanna Culbertson's The Present is a fun, magical, and thought-provoking twist on your typical holiday novel.

Frost Mason has worked for the Christmas Carol Department for nearly a century now. She and her countless ghostly colleagues are responsible for providing a Christmas Carol-type experience—complete with ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future—for “Scrooges” on earth, people who have lost their way or are headed down the wrong path.

Frost is a Present, and her 100th soul is Jay Nichols, a local politician on his way to becoming the governor of California. The plan is for her to become human and serve as his assistant, so she can then hopefully help him see the error of his ways and move him toward the right path.

The problem, however, is that Frost is starting to lose her holiday mojo. She believes in what she does, but if humans ultimately don’t fully change, is her work really making a difference? How can she get the holiday spirit back in time to save him?

I absolutely loved this book. What a creative, fun, special story! I’m so grateful to Culbertson, Boutique of Quality Books, and the Independent Publishers Group for sending me a complimentary advance copy of The Present in exchange for an unbiased review.

This gave me so much to think about and so much to enjoy!!

Book Review: "The Holiday Hookup" by Baylin Crow

My friend Phil recently featured a few queer holiday novellas and short stories on Bookstagram, and I had to snap a few of them up ASAP. I’m so glad I did!

In The Holiday Hookup, Finn is a workaholic and his coworker, Hunter, may be the laziest guy around, no matter how hot he is. Hunter is always flirting and laying on the sexual innuendo, and Finn is his regular target. As good as it might be to hook up with Hunter, Finn refuses to give in. (Although he sure could use it...)

But when Finn draws Hunter’s name in the office Secret Santa game, Hunter makes it clear what he wants: one night with Finn. Will that be enough for either of them? This is a steamy and cute story.

Book Review: "The Holigay" by K.M. Neuhold

A Bookstagram friend of mine recently featured a few queer holiday novellas and short stories, and I had to snap a few of them up ASAP. I’m so glad I did!

In The Holigay, Caspian’s best friend since childhood, Matt, is devastated after he caught his girlfriend cheating on him. He was planning to propose and everything, and even had a romantic getaway to Fiji planned. Matt asks Caspian to go with him on the trip since it was nonrefundable, and the last thing he wants is to go alone.

Caspian has had a crush on Matt since they were young, but knows Matt is straight. But when Matt suddenly seems interested in him, Caspian can’t help but wonder if hooking up will destroy their relationship. Is Matt actually having feelings for him or is he just gay for the holidays?

This was HOT and romantic and emotional. A quick and enjoyable read!

Book Review: "The Christmas Bookshop" by Jenny Colgan

Jenny Colgan's The Christmas Bookshop proves I’m all about the books about bookshops this season, but how can you resist?

Carmen’s life is falling apart—again. When she’s laid off from her department store job, her mother wants her to spend Christmas with her sister Sofia, but Carmen wants no part of it.

Sofia has her life together. She’s a successful attorney, has a beautiful house, a solid marriage, and three gorgeous children (with one on the way). She’s tired of bailing her sister out, but she can’t stand to hear their mother beg, so she gets Carmen a job helping a client with his struggling bookshop.

For the first time, Carmen feels a sense of purpose at Mr. McCredie’s bookshop. As she tries to help him get the store ready for perhaps its last Christmas season, she realizes how much she loves the store and the charm of historic Edinburgh. She also gets a chance for romance, but is torn between two men, although there really is only one right decision.

Colgan’s books are so charming. I love her protagonists and the way they fall in love with their surroundings. Edinburgh is on my bucket list (Scottish accents make me melt) so this book definitely made me want to travel there even more.

Is it predictable? Sure. Did I care? Not at all. The Christmas Bookshop was just a sweet, fun read for the holidays or anytime! Thanks to William Morrow Books for the complimentary advance copy of the book!!

Book Review: "The Holiday Switch" by Tif Marcelo

If you're looking for a cute YA rom-com about family pressures, secrets, and the joys of the holidays, pick up Tif Marcelo's The Holiday Switch!

Note: This isn’t anything like The Holiday Swap, although it’s easy to confuse the two!

Lila is a type-A overachiever with big dreams. She’s hoping to get as many hours as she can at her part-time job working at the local inn, so she can help her parents pay for college.

Her hopes for more hours are foiled with the arrival of Teddy, her boss’ (super-cute) college-student nephew, as he’ll be staying over the holidays. Lila agrees to train him, but Teddy wants to do things his own way, and it’s not long before he and Lila start butting heads over everything, from the way he folds t-shirts to his never following any of the procedures Lila has outlined.

When the two accidentally pick up each other’s phones one night (and of course, both can’t help but snoop), both realize that the other has secrets. Lila is secretly the author of a popular holiday book review blog, but she can’t let her parents know. But what’s Teddy hiding? Where does he keep disappearing to?

All it takes is the return of movie stars to the inn—the setting for a much-loved holiday movie—and an unexpected snowstorm to shake everything up. What will happen if their secrets get out? And is there a chance for Lila and Teddy to be more than coworkers?

If you’re looking for a clean, sweet holiday romance with a diverse, multicultural cast of characters, pick this up!

Book Review: "Small Things Like These" by Claire Keegan

Claire Keegan's Small Things Like These is a heartfelt novella that packs a major emotional punch.

Thanks so much to a Bookstagram friend of mine for putting this on my radar! Despite the cover and setting, this isn’t quite a “holiday” novel, although the theme of generosity is quite prevalent.

Ireland, 1985. Christmas is approaching. A purveyor of coal and other heating materials, Bill Furlong is in his busy season. As he and his men work tirelessly, he cannot help but reflect on his good fortune. He and his wife have five lovely, intelligent, talented daughters.

But Bill knows how different his life might have been. Born to a young, unwed mother who was working as a servant for a wealthy family, the matron of the family didn’t turn his mother away, as happened to so many young women in Ireland. The woman treated Bill in many ways as if he were a child of her own, and it set him down a path he never would have been able to follow otherwise. Sure, he wishes he knew who his father was, but he was lucky.

One day, while making a delivery to the local convent, he makes a shocking discovery. He can’t seem to get it out of his mind and knows he must do something to address it, even though he is warned about how his and his family’s lives could be upended.

I thought this was just fantastic. The vernacular took a little getting used to, but the story pulled me in, and I can’t get it out of my mind. Bill Furlong is definitely a memorable character.