Finally, a home for the holidays…
Eric McKnight's only priority is his disabled daughter's
happiness. Her temporary nanny, Jenny Winslet, is eager to help make Lilly's
Christmas wishes come true. She'll even teach grinchy Eric how to do the season
right -- surrounded by garland, glitter and Lilly's giggles! It isn't long
before visions of family dance in Eric's head. But when Jenny leaves them for
New York City…there's still one Christmas wish he has yet to fulfill.
Very good book. Jenny has spent all of her life in Oak Hollow,
dreaming of going to New York and becoming a fashion designer. She put her
plans for fashion design school on hold when her grandmother got sick with
cancer. Now that Mimi is well again, it's time to put her plan into action.
Taking a temporary nanny job for Eric McKnight and his daughter Lilly will give
her the last funds she needs.
Eric and Lilly recently moved to Oak Grove, where Eric
now bases his carpentry/restoration business. Lilly's health and happiness are
his number one priority as a widower. Though he has the attention of the single
women in town, Eric has no plans to marry again. His marriage wasn't happy, and
many parts of it still haunt him. Eric isn't a big fan of the fuss and bother
of Christmas, but he'll do what he must to make Lilly happy.
I loved the first meeting between Jenny and Eric, and
Lilly. Eric's love and care for his daughter were immediately evident in how he
treated her. Lilly's immediate dubbing of Jenny as a "fairy girl"
because of her petite stature was adorable. But the biggest thing that jumped
out was the sparks that flew between Eric and Jenny. Both plan to ignore the
feelings. Eric refuses to open himself and Lilly up to more pain, and Jenny won't
start something she can't continue.
One thing that quickly becomes noticeable is Eric's lack
of enthusiasm for Christmas. Because Christmas is Jenny's favorite time of
year, she makes it her mission to instill the Christmas spirit in Eric. As she
involves Lilly in as many activities as possible, she slowly draws Eric into
them. There are sweet scenes of tree decorating and cookie baking and some
steamy scenes as their attraction continues to simmer and grow.
It isn't long before thoughts of family occur to both
Jenny and Eric. But Jenny has waited so long to make her dream come true that
she can't stand the idea of giving it up. Eric loves Jenny so much he'll do
anything to support her vision. Unfortunately, he goes a little too far, creating
conflict between them. It also makes Jenny wonder if she's clinging to her
dream out of habit or genuine desire and if perhaps her dreams have changed
without her realizing it. I loved the ending, seeing what Eric is willing to do
to make their dreams come true, and Jenny's epiphany about her options.
Lilly is a joyous presence throughout the book. I loved
her immediate connection with Jenny and the love that quickly grew between
them. Though Lilly has cerebral palsy, she doesn't let it slow her down from
what she wants to do. Her enthusiasm for all things Christmas was adorable and
made it impossible for her daddy to maintain his grinchiness.
I also enjoyed seeing the people who have appeared in
earlier books. It's always fun to catch up with those who have come before.
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