Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson

Krista Galloway is not a fan of Christmas. After her rough childhood in multiple foster homes, the holiday season just brings too many bad memories to the surface. But when she accepts a job as a city manager in the mountain town of Winter Hill, Washington, Christmas is part of the deal. The small town is famous for its Christmasville celebration, something that the city manager . . . well, manages.

As she tries to make her tiny new apartment feel like home for her and her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, Krista begins to wonder if this move was a mistake. She doesn't always feel welcomed in the close-knit town, and Emily continually wonders, "Where's the snow?" Can a friendly stranger and his family help restore Krista's Christmas spirit before the big day?

Bestselling author Melody Carlson invites you to spend this holiday season in a town you'll never forget--and never want to leave.

My thoughts: I've been a big fan of Melody Carlson for awhile, and always looking forward to her Christmas novels. It seems that she writes one at least every year, and they always get me in the Christmas spirit. Yes, they can be a tad predictable, but I enjoy them none the less. This one in particular reminded me that not everyone had pleasant Christmas memories. As foster parents we know that most of the kids who come through our home come from trauma. I even know of some foster families who don't celebrate holidays because it's just too hard for the children. These are holidays in which these kids are NOT with their first families and that can be rough. This book reminded me that even Christmas can be a tough time for people, especially kids coming from foster care.