A Nantucket Christmas by Nancy Thayer

Known for her heartwarming observations of family life, New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer showcases her beloved Nantucket’s snowy off-season in this emotionally gratifying and utterly entertaining story.

Holidays on this Massachusetts island are nothing short of magical, from the jolly decorations on the Brant Point lighthouse to the much anticipated Christmas Stroll, in which merrymakers promenade through quaint streets adorned with Yuletide cheer. The season’s wonderful traditions are much loved by Nicole Somerset, new to Nantucket and recently married to a handsome former attorney. Their home is already full of enticing scents of pine, baking spices, and homemade pie.

But the warm, festive mood is soon tempered by Nicole’s chilly stepdaughter, Kennedy, who arrives without a hint of holiday spirit. Determined to keep her stepmother at arms’ length—or, better yet, out of the picture altogether—Kennedy schemes to sabotage Nicole’s holiday preparations. Nicole, however, is not about to let anyone or anything tarnish her first Christmas with her new husband.

Nancy Thayer’s wonderful tale reminds us that this is the season of miracles. Before the gifts are unwrapped, surprise visitors appear, and holiday joy comes to all, both naughty and nice.



 

About this author

Nancy Thayer has a B.A. and M.A. in English literature from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Before settling down to write and have children she taught English at various colleges and traveled, living in Paris, Amsterdam and Helsinki. In 1981 she was a Fellow at the Breadloaf Writers Conference. She has lived on Nantucket Island year round for twenty-five years with her husband Charley Walters. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Nancy Thayer is the author of nineteen novels, including Summer House, The Hot Flash Club series, Moon Shell Beach, Stepping, and Three Women At The Water's Edge.

Her books concern the mysteries and romance of families and relationships and the humorous adventures of growing older.

In 2008, Redbook magazine chose her novel Moon Shell Beach for their "Hot Summer Read." Nancy's work has been translated into more than 14 languages, including Polish, Hebrew, Russian, and Serbo Croatian. Her novels have been condensed or excerpted in several magazines, including Redbook, Good Housekeeping, England's Cosmopolitan, Holland's Viva, and South Africa's Personality.

She has published a commissioned three-part mystery novella in Redbook, and short stories in literary reviews in the United States, Canada, and Spain. Her first novel, Stepping, was made into a 13-part series for BBC Radio. Her ghost novel Spirit Lost was produced as a movie by United Image Entertainment. Her novel Everlasting was a Main Dual selection of the Literary Guild in 1991.

My Review: 

I enjoyed this quick evening read. I read a lot and was able to figure out how the story might end, but there were definitely some surprises.
Unfortunately, there is a side story to this, and it begins with the prologue. The taking of a cute puppy, loving, feeding, cuddling it. Then when it is a few months old, and a gangly teenager, abandon it. So begins this story, a poor soul who waits on the side of the road for his family to return to him. Breaks my heart at the cruelty.
Nicole has married a man with a grown daughter, Kennedy, she has a precocious three year old, Maddox, who will wrap you up with warmth. Now even though, Kennedy's Mom left her Dad, and has been in a relationship with another man, and her Dad has now remarried. She secretly hopes to bring her parents back together. She has gone so far as to try and sabotage the beautiful Christmas, that Nicole has prepared.
Sebastian is blissfully happy in his new marriage to Nicole, but Kennedy can't see beyond her own wants. Loved their Father and Daughter outing!!!
Don't miss this sweet holiday read, I'm glad I found it, and really enjoyed it!

I received this book from the Publisher Ballantine Books, and was not required to give a positive review.