If I had to choose one theme that encapsulates this lovely, heartwarming Christmas story, it would be “chosen family.” The holidays can be incredibly stressful, especially for those whose birth families put undue pressure on having the “perfect” Christmas. For overachieving people pleasers like Brooke, it leads to heightened anxiety and guilt. For women like Izzy and Mabel (one who never had love and the other who lost it), it’s a day filled with loneliness, regret, and self-recrimination. However, when the winter storm of the century leaves colleagues Izzy and Jason and Brooke and her family (husband Matt and darling girls Elsie and Poppy) stranded, Mabel lets them into her fairytale-like home. What starts as a reluctant but inevitable decision by Mabel turns out to be the “best Christmas ever” for everyone.
Morgan’s Christmas books are always on my must-read list because of how well she develops her characters, sets the scene (in this case, a blizzard in Vermont and a stunning home complete with turrets and a library I’d kill for), and elicits emotion. This one also has a closed-door romance. I highly recommend this delightful story.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Mira through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
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