by Jan Karon
Part of Mitford Years, book 15
First published 2025
Snow blankets Mitford as Father Tim sits in his home, crafting Christmas presents through written words for his loved ones. He wrestles with what to give Cynthia, the woman who awakened his ability to feel deep joy and find laughter in life. Tim decides to write her an intimate love letter, filling the pages with his most private emotions. The letter disappears after he completes it. Soon the missing pages surface in unexpected places throughout the town. The Kavanaugh family finds it first, followed by Esther Cunningham, Miss Pringle, Puny, and other Mitford neighbors. Each person who reads Tim's personal words discovers exactly the message they needed to hear. The grieving find solace, the hopeless discover renewed faith, and Christmas magic spreads through the community. Tim watches his most private thoughts move mysteriously from hand to hand, realizing his personal declaration of love has grown into something far beyond what he intended. His words become a source of healing that touches the entire town during the Christmas season.
Genres: literary-fiction, christian-fiction, contemporary-romance, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance
Setting: Mitford
Period: Christmas
Hardcover · Thorndike Press Large Print