History, Mystery, & Hope. And Happily Ever After.
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The Neighbor and the Gifts
Christmas … a time of found family and sacrificial rescue.
A fast-paced historical romantic mystery offering a sweet, slow-burn romance and a faith-filled escape. Set in December 1930, this story transforms a familiar holiday carol into a perilous journey as a shy librarian flees a dangerous stalker by escaping to a remote Northwoods Wisconsin cabin. Sweet romance, cozy suspense, and a happily ever after.
The Neighbor and the Gifts Tropes
- Friends to More
- Librarian Heroine
- Matchmaking Relative
- Secret Admirer/Stalker
- Holiday Romance
Perfect for fans of Sarah Sundin, Roseanna M. White, and Elizabeth Camden.
Christmas Cabin, book 2
A 1930s historical holiday romance
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More about The Neighbor and the Gifts
Twelve days. Twelve gifts. One unlikely hero.
Wisconsin, 1930—When Manitowish Waters librarian Olivia “Ollie” Larson finds a package on the library steps, she expects the children’s books she ordered, not a taxidermied partridge. By the fourth gift from her unknown and unwelcome True Love, disappearing to her grandfather’s isolated cabin in the Northwoods is the only way she can escape him.
Deputy Titus Wilburn is happy to escort the lovely librarian to her grandfather's house on his way to the neighboring Yarwood cabin. After all, he's been smitten with her since they attended school together, and she needs his protection. However, the plan fails when Ollie's uninvited suitor discovers her new location.
As the man's actions become more desperate and his gifts more dangerous, an unexpectedly bedridden Titus decides to free Ollie from this menace, which puts the enemy’s sights directly on him. Ollie refuses to let her injured hero sacrifice himself, but with the days ticking closer to Christmas, she may have no choice but to accept whatever fate her suitor has in store for her if she wants to save Titus' life.
One cabin in the Northwoods … a decade of Christmas miracles.
Read the Whole Series!
Prequel: The Sheriff and the Outlaw
Book One: The Baby and the Guardian
Book Two: The Neighbor and the Gifts
Book Three: The Robber and the Witness
A poignant tale that transforms a familiar carol into a stirring journey of faith, love, and danger. With each of the Twelve Days comes a gift more ominous than the last, and characters whose hearts beat with courage and deep devotion. For readers who love historical romance, mystery, and want a deeper meaning in their holiday stories—this one’s for you. ~ Natalie Walters, Bestselling and award-winning author of Living Lies and the SNAP Agency series
Published by Hearth Spot Press
© 2025 Danielle Grandinetti
Read the Opening Scene
Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin Saturday, December 13, 1930
Olivia Larson hummed the tune to “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” as she strode down the snow-covered main thoroughfare of her hometown—only twelve days until Christmas Morning. A wonderful thrill zipped through her. She planned to surprise Grandfather with a visit after closing the Library on Christmas Eve. The older man understood her shyness better than any—including her immediate family—ever had, so she stayed in Manitowish Waters when her parents and siblings left to follow the lumber companies west.
A pair of young boys ran down the empty street, sliding on a patch of ice before gaining traction again. She recognized them as two of her more unruly library patrons, a duo who had devoured The Tale of Peter Rabbit over the summer, then promptly went out to recreate some of the antics Ms. Potter described in her story. Would they enjoy The Tale of Benjamin Bunny just as much? Mrs. Cavenaugh had donated a monetary gift that allowed Ollie to purchase a few new books in time for Christmas. Had they arrived yet?
She glanced toward the courthouse where Mrs. Cavenaugh’s husband, the judge, reigned. Snow piled high against the sides of the building, sparkling in the rare bit of sun that made its unusual appearance today. She had no doubt the clouds would return tomorrow, but for now, she would enjoy the sunlight. Evergreen boughs, all the trimmings and trappings of Christmas added a festive note to the courthouse, likely the doing of Sheriff Yarwood’s new wife, the judge’s former secretary. Eira Mae brought Christmas everywhere. A bit intimidating, if Ollie were honest. She could never make the library feel so … well, Christmassy.
That inner acknowledgment lowered her guard just enough that her eyes betrayed her. Her gaze slid over to the building next to the courthouse, to the jail where Sheriff Yarwood and his deputy, the handsome Titus Wilburn, kept the peace in the county. Ollie adjusted the strap on her shoulder, the weight of the books in the bag threatening to bend her sideways. Just like thoughts of Titus always did.
No matter how she steeled herself against it, every day she walked this route to the library, her mind wandered to the deputy-that-had-been-sheriff. She’d been so proud of Titus when he took over for Sheriff Yarwood two years ago during the other man’s hiatus, and she wondered how Titus felt to be demoted to deputy again. Did he feel slighted? Grateful? She wanted to ask him but didn't feel it was appropriate.
Ollie huffed. She would enjoy asking Titus a lot of things. But the truth was she’d never even managed a complete sentence around him. Ever since she and Titus were in school together, he'd always looked out for her like a big brother, and he always spared her a smile. All it did was cause a warm fuzzy feeling inside that caused every romantic story she read to fill her head. In an instant, she would dream of being a damsel in distress and how he’d rescue her. Then reality would crash in on her, and she’d stutter and stammer and run away in embarrassment.
She jerked her attention away from the jailhouse. She was over twenty years old, and if she couldn’t talk to a man, she’d remain the spinster librarian her entire life. Not that she would mind. She loved encouraging children to read. If only she could flirt or, in some way, let Titus know she liked him. But no … he’d never given her any reason to believe he liked her, at least not in that way.
“Hey, Ollie!” Titus’s voice rang in her head. Wait, not in her imagination. His greeting was real.
She looked over in time to see him wave as he exited the courthouse, offering his usual smile. Snow crunched under his boots as he jogged across the street toward her. Her heart picked up speed, and she tucked a rogue strand of hair behind her ear. Or should she tuck it under her hat? Did she have any breakfast left on her face? Did he know she’d just been daydreaming about him? Maybe he didn’t mean to talk with her. The post office was to her left. Yes, that had to be the reason he crossed the street. She’d keep on her way to the library.
But as she stepped in that direction, her heel landed on a slick bit of ice. She windmilled in an attempt to catch her balance, but the bag on her shoulder, the one filled with heavy books, dragged her backward. Her feet flew up, her head went back, and the next moment, she had landed hard on her derriere.
Titus knelt beside her, one hand supporting her back as she remained seated, the other patting her head, her shoulders, her arms. “Are you all right?” He sounded concerned. But of course he would.
“I’m fine. Stunned, but, uh, fine. Yes, fine.” She refused to look at him, as if that could hide the embarrassment flooding her body with heat. Oh, the mortification. How quickly could she escape him? “I won’t keep you.”
“Perhaps you should visit Doc?” His fingers touched her temple, shifting the knit cap askew. “You could have broken something, bruised something. Did you hit your head?”
Ollie felt the heat rush across her face. Obviously, Titus could see her embarrassment. He’d already seen her lack of grace, what with collapsing in a heap on the ground. And she probably had snow and dirt and who-knew-what-else all across her backside. “I have to get to the library.” It would be better if she could just disappear underneath the boardwalk.
“Ollie. You fell. Are you sure you aren’t hurt?” He helped her stand, and her distressed-damsel-addicted heart begged to lean into his touch. Her imagination threatened to cast him as a hero slaying a dragon. Ridiculous. She reached for her bag of books, but Titus held it out of reach. “The library can wait.”
Was it actually possible to spontaneously combust? Krook did in Dickens’s Bleak House. That was fiction, but if she didn’t escape Titus, she might combust too, and then she’d be splattered all over the snow-covered walk. And Titus. Gracious! She snatched her bag. “I’m fine, Ti-Titus.”
“At least let me escort you.” He helped her settle the bag on her shoulder.
Her cheeks had to be as red as a holly berry. Of course, a good deputy like Titus would offer to assist. What widow didn’t he help? What older gentleman didn’t he assist? But to be escorted by Titus because he desired her company and not out of duty? She shook her head, words trapped in her dry throat.
Titus took a step back. “As you wish.”
She didn’t wish, but she couldn’t find the words to say otherwise. Another blast of heat shot through her at what she did wish, so she spun on her heel and nearly ran for the library. No, scurried like the scared little mouse she was.
Not until the library steps did she risk a glance back at where she’d left him, a block away. He’d forgotten about her already, deep in conversation as he was with Mrs. Holland, the proprietress of the Manitowish Waters Inn. If only she’d wished Titus a Merry Christmas. She might not get another opportunity to do so before the holiday. And it only made sense to offer the season’s greeting at this time of year.
Why did he have to fluster her so she couldn’t think straight?
With a sigh, she nearly stepped on the package lying on the ground before the library’s large wooden door. A brown box. Could it be the children’s books she’d ordered? She tugged the string and lifted the lid.
And screamed.
What Readers are Saying
The Neighbor and the Gifts is a Christmas tale that will surprise you with a sense of adventure and a sweet budding romance. ~ J. E. Grace, five-star reader review
I loved the romantic suspense element as well as the friends-to-more feel to the relationship ... An adventurous, yet sweet novella! ~ Lindsey, five-star reader review
This book was so good. There is so much intrigue and excitement. ~ Melessa, five-star reader review
This book is a quick read that combines romance, danger, faith, and a mystery all in one super package of delight. ~ Vickie, five-star reader review
3 reviews for The Neighbor and the Gifts
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Paula Shreckhise –
Based on The Twelve Days of Christmas with a sinister twist.
Ollie is a shy girl content to hide away in her job as a librarian in a small town in Wisconsin in 1930.
Now she has rwo admirers, one who scares her badly when she begins receiving gifts corresponding to the old Christmas song: The Twelve Days of Christmas. She cannot figure out who it might be. But deputy Titus, her other admirer and longtime friend, wants to protect her.
The author cleverly uses the song to depict a warped mind but shows us that with God’s help, justice prevails and true love wins out.
A skillfully written story that is perfect to read around Christmas time or even in the middle of Summer!
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*
Becky Lewis (verified owner) –
“‘You are my …’ Her voice trailed off as words jumbled on her tongue. Her friend. Her Hero. Her … True Love?”
Do you remember being very young and painfully shy around a handsome young man you wished would look at you with interest? I do! Poor Ollie ( short for “Olivia”) Larsen is 20 and the shy librarian in the 1930s Wisconsin town of Manitowish Waters. Thrilled to see her interest, deputy Titus Wilburn, out and about on a snowy December day, they awkwardly greet each other before Ollie totally embarrassed herself by falling on ice in front of Titus, an old schoolmate.
Refusing Titus’s offer of an escort back to the library, in seconds upon her arrival she wishes she had accepted. There, on the steps, is a dead bird with a note.
What should have been a joyful holiday for Ollie thus begins to slowly evolve into a nightmare as an unknown admirer sends her gifts corresponding to the “12 Days of Christmas” carol. Sheriff Yarwood( whom we met briefly two years ago in The Sheriff and the Outlaw and again in last year’s novella, The Baby and the Guardian) wisely puts Titus, who he knows has a crush on Ollie, in charge of the case.
As more gifts are left on successive days for Ollie, Titus and Ollie both realize that this is not your normal suitor. It is decided Ollie should visit her grandfather’s remote cabin in the mountains. “Right now, he is trying to win you over. But if he suffers from the delusion that I suspect he does, then if you decline his overtures, I worry that he will turn violent.” Titus will stay at the sheriff’s nearby cabin for protection.
I just love the meddlers in this story!! As her hermit grandfather Osborne tells a visiting Titus, “She needs someone to show her what True Love really is.”(Meddlers are always fun, if it’s someone else’s life!)
I love the scene and atmosphere that Grandinetti sets. I could very well imagine being back in time, first in the small town , then in the remote cabin, around Christmas time. I could feel the angst of both Titus and Ollie as they try to maneuver through those awkward first moments, then try to figure out where they stand in the other’s mind and heart. The mystery is well-done, and adds good tension to the story. I also enjoyed meeting Osborne, and getting to peak beyond his crustiness to his soft feelings for his granddaughter.
I heartily recommend this novella series! While this novella could be read alone, it’s better in sequence. I’ll be rereading this whole little series at Christmas time, because all the feels!!
I received a copy of the book from the author, but I also bought my own ecopy and a few paperbacks (this a series to share)! No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“This was the most awkward, horrible love triangle she could imagine.”
“But you’ve made me feel like a hero because of how you see me.”- Titus
“…Ollie’s voice, her closeness, were the best medicine. He had to get better soon so he could be the brawn to her beautifully brilliant brain.”
“…Agatha Christie, has a sleuth named Hercule Poirot and he puts great stock in his little gray cells.” “We are taking detective advice from a novel?” – Ollie, Titus
Dana Barrett –
I was not sure what to expect from this surprisingly great book. One thing I loved about it of course is it’s Christmas themed. I liked how MMC, Deputy Titus was so very protective of the main female character, Ollie (Olivia). I haven’t read alot of historical books over the years but this one did not feel like it was too historical feeling, if makes sense. I have only read one other book by Danielle and I loved it along with this one. Next I will be catching up to read book one in the Christmas collection. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest