*Book received for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
On a rare trip home for the holidays, Ella may have finally uncovered the secret to a joy-filled future by getting lost in her past.
Ella Wilson has avoided home and the holidays for nearly a decade. For her, the season is plagued by a jinx that’s brought nothing but painful memories: her mother’s death nearly two decades ago, her fiancé’s abandonment last year, and now the loss of her job as an art curator. But without work to occupy her, home is exactly where Ella has ended up. And somehow, she’s also been roped into planning the town’s Christmas tree auction—side by side with her first love.
Seth Hamil knows that home is where the heart is, and for him, it’s always been the sleepy community of Bellepoint, Pennsylvania . . . and for a while in high school that included Ella Wilson. Since then, he’s been married and widowed and has spent the year throwing himself into his career as a music teacher and trying to keep his wife’s memory alive, starting with the church fundraiser she launched to support local kids. So, despite their history, Seth isn’t about to let his wife’s vision for the event be easily dismissed by Ella’s temporary presence and big-city ideas.
To find a way to work together, the two strike a deal: Ella can incorporate her splashy ideas into the auction if she will allow Seth to show her why Christmas is about more than decorations. Soon both begin to wonder whether fate has brought them together for a fresh start—and if Christmas wishes really can come true.
Lacey Baker, a Maryland native, is a wife, mother, Nana and an author. Family cookouts, reunion vacations, and growing up in church have all encouraged Lacey to write heartwarming and inspirational stories about the endurance of family and finding love. She is the author of the Crescent Island series and Hallmark Channel Original Movie novelizations: A Gingerbread Romance and Christmas In Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing. Connect with her online at laceybakerromance.com; Facebook: @laceybakerromance; Twitter: @laceybakerbook; BookBub: @laceybakerbooks
Right from the start, I was drawn into this sweet story. Going home for the holidays is always one of my personal favorite Christmas tropes and this one uses that well. Both Ella and Seth have experienced loss in their lives--- her mother and his wife. As such, grief (and how that can impact the holiday season) is a big theme in this story and as such wasn't the super happy holiday story that I often enjoy most. Despite the tougher topic though, I found that this had a beautiful message of healing and faith that still had me walking away with a sense of hope. I think a romance with a widow can often be a little bit of a tricky subject to do well--- showing that epic love we expect in a love story, without making less of that previous marriage... and I really felt like this one really balanced that very well.
As much as I enjoyed the romance, I really also enjoyed seeing Ella's relationship with God grow... perfect message of faith for the holiday season. Overall, I really enjoyed this story.
Since the loss of my mother, I also avoid celebrations of the holiday season. I read holiday books to remind me of the reason that we celebrate (Jesus).
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