by Susan Mallery
Book One: The Christmas Wedding Guest
About this book
The Somerville sisters believe in love, but they’ve lost faith it will happen for them. Reggie hasn’t been home since the end of the world’s shortest engagement. When her parents decide to renew their vows, she buffs up her twinkle to help with the Christmas wedding. Unexpectedly, Toby, her first love, is back too, and the spark between them shines as brightly as ever. In the spirit of the season, will they let go of past hurts and greet the New Year together?
Done waiting for the one, Dena is pregnant and on her own – on purpose. But then a gorgeous, sad-eyed songwriter checks in to a room at her inn. Micah, unable to write since he lost his wife, finds inspiration in Dena’s determination to be a mom. One snowflake-speckled kiss and he’s a goner. But Dena is afraid to believe that a rock star could fall for a cookie-cutter small-town girl like her.
As the Christmas wedding draws closer, these two sisters just might unwrap the most treasured gift of all – love.
Book Two: Home Sweet Christmas
About this book
Until Camryn Neff can return to her “real” life in Chicago, she’s in Wishing Tree to care for her twin sisters. She’s not looking for forever love, not here. But handsome hotelier Jake Crane is a temptation she can’t resist, so she suggests they pair up for the season. No golden rings, no broken hearts. At his side, she sees her hometown through Christmas-coloured eyes. The cheer is cheerier, the joy more joyful. She thought she had put her future on hold… but maybe her real life was here all along, waiting for her to come home.
New in town, River Best is charmed by Wishing Tree’s homespun traditions and warmhearted people. When she’s crowned Snow Queen, she’s honoured but wary. Dylan Tucker, her king, seems like the stuff of sugar plum dreams, but she can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something big. As they perform their “royal” duties – tasting cookies, lighting trees, Dylan’s good humour and melty kisses draw her to the brink of love. But she can’t let herself fall until she uncovers his secret, even if her lack of faith means losing him forever.
Book review
Once again, Susan Mallery delivers magnificently on the small town charm, warmhearted friendship and sisterhood and good humour.
I love the idea of Wishing Tree, a small town centred on the celebration of Christmas. This infuses a festive charm in how the stories evolve around Christmas events. It is also in a way subtly emphasized through the use of colour themes used throughout the books – dog sweaters and human scarves in red and green, colours of the wedding favours, gift wrapping in festive colours, etc.
While the main characters are no doubt lovely people, the supporting cast is what I really enjoyed. For example, Belle the Great Dane is iconic in her insecurities despite her big size and fashionable sweaters, Jake’s mother, Helen, takes meddling to the extreme (I can’t help but admire her masterful manipulative skills), and even the city manager, Geri, is a bit quirky in being uptight about the events and keeping a close rein on the Snow King and Queen crowns.
I wonder though, how the town functions during the off-season, which is most of the year. Does it become quiet and sleepy, or is it made vibrant by the colourful characters? I also sense a story for one of the good friends, Paisley, and will be keeping a lookout for it!
Rin Ranger 