Christmas can be a time of great joy or terrible sorrow. The season brings lightness to the heart and soul of many, finding great joy in the spirit of the holidays as well as the delight they can bring to others. Of course, when one’s hopes and wishes appear painfully monumental, sometimes a miracle is needed to satisfy the season’s spirit.
Christine has had a hard year, perhaps a hard eight years. Being a
poor, uneducated single mother of two young children makes her life tough enough. Slaving away as a server—working for a pittance to boot—never
quite relieves the pressure of stacks of bills on her shoulders. With the added stress of a spiteful, cruel ex-husband and neglectful father of her two children, and life becomes overwhelming.
One pinnacle moment on a cold snowy morning, big life changes are set in motion for a lot people. Marshall Wilson—owner of Wilson’s Department Store—finally has a mission to offer his lost grandson, Sean. He is to find the server “Christy” who saved the life of Marshall’s office manager and friend by giving her CPR during a heart attack. Jason doesn’t get the “need to find her,” but he may find
this to be the best turn his life has ever taken.
In the small town where Christine, Marshall, Jason, and all the beloved townsfolk have ended up, there is
an abundance of strength, love, loyalty, and compassion. Christine has held both her secrets and her weaknesses close, but as they are revealed, no one will let her fall or fail.
The effects of her acts of compassion and kindness to others are returned tenfold—almost like miracles. When the greatest Christmas
secret is revealed to her, her life is forever changed. This Christmas will be remembered by many in this small but dearly beloved town.
Donna VanLiere is the New York Times bestselling author of The Christmas Shoes and
The Christmas Hope. Following the examples of its predecessors, The Christmas Secret is another smashing success. VanLiere manages the numerous characters, activities, dense storylines, multiple settings, and complicated goings-on with a flourish; the potential for readers forgetting characters only pages later
would otherwise be very possible, if not probable. The Christmas Secret is a great spirit-lifting read for the holidays, or anytime.