Part of Christmas Hope, book 8
First published 2016
Lauren Gabriel drives through the night to avoid her empty apartment. At twenty, she has spent years moving between foster homes, waiting for her mother to return. Her cashier job feels meaningless, especially during Christmas when holiday music and cheerful conversations remind her of everything she lacks. After witnessing a car accident, Lauren finds herself in the small town of Grandon. She starts as a witness but soon volunteers for the annual fundraiser supporting Glory's Place, a center that helps single mothers and struggling families. The townspeople welcome her into their community efforts. Lauren discovers something she has never experienced: people who want her around not out of obligation but genuine care. As she helps others find stability, she must decide whether to trust that Grandon could become the home she has always wanted.
Genres: fiction, romance, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Grandon
Period: Christmas
Audio CD · Macmillan Audio