©picture by scribbles (Marye McKenney)

Monday, August 9, 2021

A Christmas in the Alps

 


According to your great-grandmother and namesake, you have a treasure in France.  You are jobless, and after selling your grandmother's home where you've lived for the past three years, you are homeless. All you have is a letter telling you about this treasure and some furniture in storage--but you do have money in the bank from the sale of your home.  

Your best friend coerces you into taking a trip to France to collect the treasure, but in order to get there, you have to fly--something you are afraid of and something you've never done before. But, your friend will not be put off.  You have to go. 

Getting from southern California to Paris is going to be a bit of a challenge.  There is a non-stop flight, or there is an option that goes through Seattle which is actually cheaper.  So Seattle and connections beyond is the choice you make.  From LAX to Seattle, you try reading the book your friend got you on getting through the flight without fear overtaking you. Once you board in Seattle, you find you have a really nice looking and equally nice seatmate.  He helps you past your initial fears (again) and keeps your mind occupied until you land in Iceland for the last leg of your flight.  He's going to Oslo, Norway, but will be coming to France later to study clock-making.  

While you felt you made a connection with this nice man, you think you will probably never see him again.  To your surprise and delight, the clockworks he is wanting to apprentice to is the very clockworks owned by your extended family.   

You have much to overcome in France--a great-great-aunt who holds animosity towards you because you look like the sister who stole her beau, a language barrier--but that is getting better, and no idea where to look for this treasure your great-grandmother spoke of.  

Melody Carlson has written a delightful book that takes the reader through the ups and downs of life and family.  She makes her characters real and her settings are over the top enchanting.  The plot lines move at a pace to keep the reader involved, but not overwhelmed. This was such a fun book and I love the way she ended it with a short story that brings healing to the characters. 

Five Stars, Two Thumbs up, and a croissant with a delectable French cheese and a 100 year old wine. 

Revell Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions are solely my own. 



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