An unexpected encounter...
An extraordinary discovery...
Welcome back to the town of Evergreen.
Katie, an author struggling to write her second novel, heads to Evergreen, Vermont for a holiday retreat—only to get an assignment to write an article about the town. On the train, she meets Ben, a former big-city reporter who's now a librarian in Evergreen.
Katie's initially skeptical about Evergreen's love of Christmas; the place seems too good to be true. Meanwhile, Ben's wary of Katie's intentions. He's protective of his small town, and he knows all too well how cynical the media can be. Then a hunt for a fifty-year-old time capsule leads to a remarkable discovery. As Katie and Ben get caught up in the community's past and present, they both begin to envision new possibilities for the future.
I enjoyed my return to Evergreen and its sweet, small-town romance. Evergreen has gained a reputation for its Christmas spirit, making it a popular tourist destination. Looking for a chance to clear her head and maybe find some inspiration for her second book, Katie travels to Evergreen for a holiday break. After years of city life, Katie is a little skeptical about the town's reputation, believing that it is a show put on for the tourists. On the train, she meets Ben, a born and bred Evergreen resident.
Ben is a former Chicago journalist who returned to Evergreen five years earlier to take care of his injured grandmother, Nan, and never left. A little burned out on his reporting career, he turned his attention to helping Nan at the town library. Lately, he's felt the urge to return to his career, and when he meets Katie, he has just had an unsatisfactory interview for a New York City reporting job.
I liked the first meeting between Ben and Katie. She is snapping pictures right and left on the train until her phone runs out of charge. When she looks for an outlet for her charger, the train's lurch sends her falling straight into Ben. There's a fun bit of semi-flirty back-and-forth between them, as Ben counters her skepticism with his knowledge of the town. Though they part ways as they exit the train, it's a small town, so you know they'll see each other again.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Ben and Katie. Katie quickly found herself enmeshed in the town's activities, frequently in Ben's company. He seems determined to show her the truth of the town's Christmas spirit, and Katie's skepticism dies a pretty quick death. There are some sweet scenes of them together, from cookie making to ice skating to snowman building. Their interest in each other grows the more time they spend together, but there are obstacles neither can forget. Katie is only there for a visit, and Ben doesn't see himself leaving any time soon. I ached for them both when it was time for her to leave Evergreen. Even Ben's visit to the city didn't turn out the way I expected, though I was sure they'd find a way back to each other. I loved the twist at the end that did just that, and it was the perfect ending for the book.
A recurring theme was the search for a fifty-year-old advent calendar that is part of the town's history. I loved the creative method of hiding the clue and the unexpected way it was revealed. The town's enthusiasm for the tasks they carried out was fun to watch and made me feel as though I were right there with them. The final task was a surprise, but it made a lot of sense and was a perfect wrap up when I thought about it.
The secondary characters are all an important part of the story. Some of them starred in the previous two books, so it was nice to catch up with them. Romance is in the air for more than just Ben and Katie. A broken snowglobe brings love to two unsuspecting people while the town's new mayor waits for her sweetheart to return from his out-of-town business. The Christmas Eve ceremony provides several surprises that warm the heart.
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