Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas
Published: October 26, 2010 by St. Martin's Press
Received: Checked out from my library

ONE LITTLE GIRL NEEDS A FAMILY...
One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother Victoria. And since that night, she has never again spoken a word.

ONE SINGLE MAN NEEDS A WIFE...
The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl in his life. But he soon realizes that he will do everything he can to make her life whole again. His sister’s will gives him the instructions: There’s no other choice but you. Just start by loving her. The rest will follow.

SOMETIMES, IT TAKES A LITTLE MAGIC...
Maggie Collins doesn’t dare believe in love again, after losing her husband of one year. But she does believe in the magic of imagination. As the owner of a toy shop, she lives what she loves. And when she meets Holly Nolan, she sees a little girl in desperate need of a little magic.

...TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE
Three lonely people. Three lives at the crossroads. Three people who are about to discover that Christmas is the time of year when anything is possible, and when wishes have a way of finding the path home… [goodreads]

This adult contemporary novel is the perfect escape when you're in need of a book to get you in the holiday spirit.  Though this story spans the months leading up to Christmas, it still inflicts all the emotions and anticipation that comes with the joyous season.  This was my first introduction to Lisa Kleypas' writing and I must say, it was a treat for my eyes to devour.  There is something warm and engaging in her words that instantly pull you in.  Her attention to detail places you right there in the scene, but it's never over done.  She'll give you just enough to keep the pages turning, and leave you with a feeling of wanting so much more.  It's a beautiful balance.

After the wake of Mark's sister's unexpected death, he is given the challenge of caring for his niece, Holly.  He knows nothing about children, and even less about loving someone.  He comes from a family who was better at hiding feelings than showing them.  Somehow this little girl pries open a side of Mark that he never knew existed.  Together they're leaning on one another for support in the cozy town of Friday Harbor.

Maggie is starting over again in Friday Harbor by opening up a toy shop.  It's been two years since her husband passed away from cancer, but the wounds still feel fresh.  In her heart she feels as though she's had her chance at love and now it's gone, but all of that changes when Mark walks into her toy shop one day with Holly.

This story is a beautiful tale about finding peace and comfort during a time of sadness and grief.  It's about learning to love again and opening yourself up to new things.  It's never easy to live again after you've lost someone close to you.  However, your lungs are still absorbing oxygen, and your heart is still pumping blood.  The human need to be surrounded by people who care about you is urgent in this novel, and its release is unforgettable.  I connected with the simplicity of this story, yet the deep emotions it provoked as well.  Lisa Kleypas intertwined a rich contemporary with a dash of romance that gave it just enough substance to keep you reading.