by Kate Jacobs
First published 2009
Dakota Walker packs her bags for Scotland, where she will spend Christmas with her Gran. Her father, grandparands, and Catherine, her late mother's closest friend, join her for the holiday journey. Together in Scotland, they gather around the fireplace and kitchen table, sharing stories about Georgia Walker, Dakota's mother who died the year before. They remember Georgia's childhood Christmases, her early days as a new mother, and the traditions she loved. As Thanksgiving gives way to Hanukkah, then Christmas, and finally New Year's, Dakota discovers how memories can bridge the gap left by loss. The family creates new rituals while honoring old ones, finding that love persists even when someone precious is gone.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary, holiday
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance
Setting: Scotland
Period: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, Thanksgiving
260 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons