Part of Christmas Hope, book 3
First published 2005
Patricia Addison has stopped believing Christmas holds any meaning. Years of disappointment have drained the holiday of joy for both her and her husband Mark. Patricia works as a social worker, navigating the system's bureaucracy and limitations daily. This December, she encounters Emily, a five year old girl caught in the foster care system. Something about the child moves Patricia to act against protocol. She brings Emily into her own home, violating the professional boundaries she has maintained throughout her career. Emily asks direct questions about heaven and faith that Patricia cannot easily dismiss. The little girl's presence forces both Addisons to confront what they have lost and what they might still find. Through Emily's innocent but persistent inquiries, Patricia discovers that grief need not be permanent. Faith can create a path through even the deepest sorrow. The Christmas season transforms from empty ritual into genuine celebration as the Addisons learn to hope again.
Genres: fiction, christian-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance
213 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press