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Seven estranged cousins. One ambitious project. A hundred ways it could all go very wrong.

When Brooke’s beloved grandparents die unexpectedly, their final wish brings her scattered family back to Hope Creek, including Jeremiah, the boy she once loved—the same boy who abandoned them when the Chilton clan disintegrated years ago. Despite the long-held grudges and awkward secrets that kept them all apart, Brooke and Jeremiah convince the Chilton cousins to help honor their grandparents’ last request: to take the old church they saved from destruction and turn it into a bookshop that will serve their beloved community.

And to do it all before Christmas.

But repurposing the church building may be easier than healing the deep wounds that tore their family apart. Secrets, both old and new, threaten to destroy Brooke and Jeremiah’s hope that this project could be a new beginning for all of them. With the bookstore’s opening day fast approaching and everyone’s lives upended, each cousin must discover for themselves that the greatest inheritance their grandparents left behind wasn’t a building—it was the gift of forgiveness, the power of second chances, and the enduring hope of Christmas.

What is something interesting readers would enjoy learning about you?

Hmmm...the first two things that come to mind are that I am learning to crochet (and loving it!) and that I like to dance alone in my kitchen. ?

What makes up your ideal reading environment?

If we’re talking ideal, I would say a warm day at the beach reading under an umbrella. But otherwise, I will settle for a cozy blanket, a cup of warm tea, and a good book!

What does a day in the life of your characters look like?

For Brooke, she would get up and wrangle her toddler son Murphy through breakfast and getting dressed (being a single-mom is NOT a task for the faint-of-heart)! She would then drop him off with her kind neighbor (a grandmother figure to Murphy) before heading to the old, decommissioned church to work on renovations and decorating with the help of a certain handsome contractor who was also once her first love.

What was your favorite scene to write in this story? And why?

I can’t tell too much without spoilers, but there is a scene near the end of the book that brought all the warm, Christmassy feels to me, complete with themes of forgiveness and family, all set in an old church turned bookshop. ?

What unique research was required to write this story?

In this story, a group of cousins are renovating an old church to become a bookshop. For most of my research, I turned to my own contractor husband. Our dinner conversations would be filled with questions like, “What sort of inspections would they realistically need?” and “How would they go about building built-in bookcases alongside stained glass windows?”

What is one bit of research you wish you could have included in the story?

When I write my historical books, I do so much research prior to writing that there are always tidbits I must leave out. For this story, however, I researched as I wrote, depending on what I needed. For that reason, all the research I did is included in the story! ?

What was the inspiration behind your story?

One of my favorite memories growing up was Christmastime with extended family. That included A LOT of cousins! Some of my cousins I still see regularly and others rarely, but I love them all. I thought it might be interesting to reunite a group of adult cousins around the final wishes of their grandparents—a wish to turn an old, beloved church into a bookshop. And to do it by Christmas!

What did you learn while writing this story?

One idea that impacted me in the writing of this story is that it’s possible to love and forgive and live alongside people in a community who may not think/agree with us on some of life’s biggest questions. In the story, the cousins often think on the challenges and worthiness of living life in a community of imperfect people—which so often includes family! It was meaningful for me to reflect on these values in my own life as I wrote the story.

What encouragement do you hope readers will take away from your story?

I hope readers will be inspired to draw nearer to the love of God this Christmas season. That that love would encourage them to bridge hard divides that may exist between family and friends. It’s my hope and prayer they would be reminded that nothing is too great for God to redeem. There’s something about Christmas, with all the reminders of a baby come to redeem the world, that instills in us a renewed hope that all of this is more than possible with the help of God’s Spirit!

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Until next time, may your reading bring both light and encouragement.

Happy reading!
~ Danielle.