A single father who yearns to be a family man, Logan O'Donnell is determined to create the perfect Christmas for his son, Charlie. The entire O'Donnell clan arrives to spend the holidays in Avalon, a postcard-pretty town on the shores of Willow Lake, a place for the family to reconnect and rediscover the special gifts of the season.
One of the guests is a newcomer to Willow Lake—Darcy Fitzgerald. Sharp-witted, independent and intent on guarding her heart, she's the last person Logan can see himself falling for. And Darcy is convinced that a relationship is the last thing she needs this Christmas.
Yet between the snowy silence of the winter woods, and toasty moments by a crackling fire, their two lonely hearts collide. The magic of the season brings them each a gift neither ever expected—a love to last a lifetime.
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Reviewer: Alberta
We all have a magical idea of what Christmas ought to be. It’s an ideal, wrapped up with shiny paper, and a big bow, that includes the best, fun times with our families, when Santa brought exactly what we wanted, we went to parades, concerts, parties and the relatives all came to visit. The house was filled with surprises, and wonderful baking and cooking smells and everyone helped decorate. In fact, it’s like all those Hallmark specials that run non-stop on TV.
No one spent too much money, or fought about which family to spend the holidays with. No one got drunk or had fights about how to avoid going into debt, and no one had divorces, custody battles, travel problems, crowded malls, arguments with parents, and there was always enough time to get everything done. At least that’s what we remember, and try to recreate every year.
Now we have to contend with all that, and Wiggs shows us here that we have to move on with life and love, and start new traditions, like the Pickle ornament.
She also highlights the heartbreak of broken families, shared custody where kids are shuttled back and forth across continents and countries.
Yes, there is a love story in Candlelight Christmas, and it’s very romantic and sweet, with Darcy and Logan, plus a bunch of the extended Bellamy family we have met over the years. But it takes a back seat to everything I’ve said here, and I think you’ll love this as a modern and new traditional Christmas story.
* Disclosure: Reviewers are compensated for book reviews.
