Reviewer Comments: If you love Christmas and all that goes along with it, then this is the book for you! Lisa Plumley’s newest novel has all the holiday spirit and romance of the best Christmas movies. It is a feel-good story from the moment it starts and left me in the holiday spirit despite the warm temperatures outside!
Karina Barrett is still reeling from her divorce. As the holidays approach, Karina must figure out a way to make their first Christmas alone one to remember for her three kids. She just isn’t sure how to do it. Then her sister, Stephanie, calls and asks Karina to step in for her as the anonymous evaluator of a Bed and Breakfast called The Christmas House in Michigan. Stephanie’s company is deciding whether or not to purchase The Christmas House and franchise it as a holiday destination. Being a Californian, Karina jumps at the chance to give her kids a real Christmas holiday. Little did she know that Santa had a surprise for her also.
Reid Sullivan is an adventurer. He makes a living roaming the world with his two daughters and leading other people on amazing adventures. He loves his wandering lifestyle and the variety of opportunities it has given him and his daughters. When he gets a call from his grandparents saying they have an emergency at home, he flies back home to Michigan for the holidays. Upon his arrival, Reid learns that his grandparents need the secret evaluation of The Christmas House to go through so they can finally retire to Arizonia. They are counting on Reid and his lack of sentimentality to help them do this. Reid agrees never imagining what the Spirit of Christmas has in store for him.
From the very beginning of this book, you can’t help but fall in love with Reid. He is a dedicated dad who wants to do the right thing for his daughters and his family. We feel like Karina is our best friend. She has a very giving heart and wants to help everyone even if it means putting herself last. These two characters are perfect for each other. They just need to get over their own hang-ups in order to figure it out for themselves. We root for them to figure everything out and cry just a little when they have a fight.
This book is everything a good holiday story should be. It has magic, romance and minor mishaps that pull Reid and Karina closer and closer together. We feel for Karina when she realizes that she is falling for the manager of the inn that she is supposed to evaluation and the worry she has over his reaction when he finds out. We feel for Reid when he begins to doubt the way in which he has raised his daughters. Watching Karina interact with Reid’s daughters and Reid relate to Karina’s children was a true delight. The setting is the perfect place as everyone in the town pulls together to help Reid run The Christmas House.
I loved this book and plan on making sure my friends have a copy for the holidays. This book left me smiling and happy. What an amazing tribute to a wonderful time of year!
