The Christmas Village

Lucy Hannigan returns to her childhood home in Somerset Lake and joins the local book club, which provides her with support and help during her first Christmas without her mother. She also takes in a tenant, Miles Bruno, her ex-fiancé, who shows up with tons of decorations and lights, inspiring Lucy to wonder if the spirit of the season will mend her broken heart.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 06 October 2022
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

When Lucy Hannigan returned to her childhood home in Somerset Lake, one of the first things she did was join the local book club. And thank goodness, because now that Lucy's first Christmas without her mother is bearing down upon her, she can use all the help and support she can get. Especially when she has to take in a tenant, and the only person interested is Miles Bruno, her ex-fiancé.

As the small town prepares for the holidays and competition heats up in the Merriest Lawn decorating contest, Lucy can't help feeling like a Scrooge. Her mom loved the holidays and won the contest each year, but as much as Lucy would like to carry on the tradition, she isn't sure she has it in her to deck the halls this holiday. Yet when Miles shows up with tons of tinsel, dozens of decorations, and lots and lots of lights, Lucy begins to wonder if maybe the spirit of the season will finally mend her broken heart.

Lucy's heart was heavy as she walked through the familiar halls of her childhood home. It had been years since she had last stepped foot in this place, and the memories were still as vivid as if they had happened yesterday. The house was just as she remembered it, with its cozy living room, quaint kitchen, and three bedrooms on the second floor. But there was one thing that was different - a tenant had recently moved in. Lucy had never met the person before, but she had heard that they were a quiet and respectful tenant who paid their rent on time. Still, Lucy couldn't help feeling a sense of unease as she walked through the house. She knew that her mother would have been disappointed in her for not keeping up with the house, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was letting her down.

As she made her way up the stairs to her bedroom, Lucy noticed a small package on her bed. It was wrapped in a beautiful red ribbon with a note that read, "Merry Christmas, Lucy! I hope you enjoy this little gift." Lucy's heart swelled with gratitude as she opened the package. Inside, she found a beautiful Christmas tree ornament, hand-made by her mother. The ornament was a replica of the one that had hung on their tree every year since Lucy was a child. It was painted in a vibrant shade of red and had a small gold star at the top. Lucy smiled as she held the ornament in her hand, feeling a sense of warmth and nostalgia. She knew that her mother would have been so proud of her for keeping up with the house, even if she couldn't be there to do it herself.

The next day, Lucy woke up early to start decorating the house for Christmas. She pulled out the boxes of decorations that her mother had left behind and started to put them up, carefully placing each ornament and garland in its place. As she worked, Lucy couldn't help but feel a sense of peace and contentment. She was doing something that her mother had loved to do, and she was doing it in her memory. It was a small way to honor her mother's memory and keep her spirit alive.

As Lucy finished decorating the living room place, she noticed a small envelope on the mantle. It was addressed to her, and she couldn't resist the temptation to open it. Inside, she found a letter from her mother, written just before she passed away. The letter was full of love and encouragement, reminding Lucy that she was strong and capable and that she could overcome anything that life threw her way. Lucy read the letter over and over again, tears streaming down her face. She knew that her mother was with her, guiding her every step of the way.

As the days passed, Lucy continued to decorate the house for Christmas, feeling a sense of joy and excitement that she hadn't felt in years. She invited her friends and family over to celebrate the holiday, and they all gathered around the tree, admiring the decorations and sharing stories and laughter. Lucy felt a sense of warmth and contentment that she had never felt before, and she knew that her mother was watching over her, smiling down on her with love and pride.

In the end, Lucy won the Merriest Lawn decorating contest, and she couldn't believe it. She had never been one to put much effort into decorating, but this year, she had poured her heart and soul into it, and it had paid off. But more than that, she had found a sense of purpose and fulfillment that she had never experienced before. She had honored her mother's memory and kept her spirit alive, and she had found a new sense of joy and happiness in the process.

As the holiday season came to a close, Lucy couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness. She knew that her mother would never be with her again, but she also knew that she had carried her memory with her, and that she would never forget the love and encouragement that her mother had given her. And as she looked out at the beautifully decorated house, she knew that her mother was with her, smiling down on her with love and pride.

Weight: 184g
Dimension: 106 x 171 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538723791