Book Covers: "Christmas in Winter Hill"

A few weeks ago I read an article in The Nugget about Sisters author Melody Carlson. Since she’s written over 250 books, and I’m a former bookstore owner, you’d think I’d have read all of her books — but I haven’t.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve made up for lost time. I just finished number nine! A few of them were “short stories” or “novellas” but great to read in one day. Many of them are set in the northwest — Oregon, Washington, Idaho — and that makes them even better.

The one I just finished is “Christmas in Winter Hill.” The setting is a small town in Washington State, but could just as easily be anywhere in the northwest. Krista Galloway and her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, are moving from Phoenix to Winter Hill (Home of Christmasville). Krista is starting a new job as city manager, has very little savings, and no support from her ex.

When they arrive in town, anticipating a small house the city manager assistant had found, they discover they only have a tiny apartment reserved for them.

They had both hoped for a backyard and a little space. Emily has never had a backyard to play in and neither has Krista. Krista was abandoned as an infant and raised by foster families her entire life. She was constantly moved from place to place and, with her birthday being Christmas Eve, she found no joy in Christmas because her foster families usually forgot her birthday, or forgot even a tiny gift on Christmas morning.

The city manager’s son Conner, along with his 14-year-old daughter Anna, is there to help them unload the trailer after the long drive. The apartment is cold and not welcoming, but Krista and Emily will soon find that most of the people in town are warm and friendly, so that’s the most important thing to them.

As Krista starts her new job and discovers fraud and theft in the city books, she has to deal with a long-term city employee that no local resident wants to believe could be a crook, plus deal with the “Christmas House” that Emily wants to be their first house, and deal with a growing closeness to Conner and Anna.

The stress and worry of all the responsibilities — her daughter, her job, and her living arrangements — nearly convinces Krista she was right to dread Christmas her entire life. But she will soon find out why Winter Hill is called “Home of Christmasville.”

Carlson’s books that I’ve read so far are realistic and don’t dwell on one particular “theme.” There’s a little romance, religion, and mystery, but not too much of any of them. Her books are about life and focusing on the “good” in the characters’ lives. Good lessons for all of us.