I don’t think anyone writes romantic stories better than Debbie Macomber. She is the queen of these stories. Her latest Christmas themed romantic story takes place in Alaska and Seattle. Two people not looking for love meet in the small Alaskan town of Ponder and their lives will never be the same. The book may also have the best character of the year in Jack (more on him later).
Ponder, Alaska is only open six months a year during the spring and summer. Come fall and winter hardly anyone visits or can get there. The regulars live there and know what it is like. Cold and snowy. But the spring and fall are different. The sun barely ever sets and the lodge in town is always packed. Josie Avery takes a job for six months there as the chief. She has graduated from culinary school and wants to sharpen her craft before taking a new job in Seattle as sous chef in one of the hottest new restaurants with a world famous chef.
Palmer Saxton is a true blood Alaskan. He has live there all his life and hardly leaves. He doesn’t like the big cities or big crowds. He has a successful business making swords and other things. When Josie arrives his life changes. He falls hard for her and they spend a lot of time together and grow close. He knows she will be leaving and wants to ask her to marry him. He is torn because he knows she has the job and doesn’t know how it would work. He is not moving and she won’t stay here.
He asks her and she says no for the reasons stated above. They are in love and decide that there has to be a way to work it out and she leaves to go to her job. Palmer is said but goes on. Josie finds the job isn’t what she thought it would be. When Palmer shows up in town with Jack, he sees Josie and a misunderstanding happens. As it turns out they both might want the same thing and it could be the happy ending they want.
I mentioned Jack before. He is one of the residents of Ponder. He is a character. He’s older, set in his ways and a very good friend. And all he ever wants to do is eat. He loves Josie’s cooking and is always asking her to cook for him or going to the Lodge for food. He cannot stop eating. He is also one of those people that will just say what he’s thinking (without thinking). Just a really fun guy.
If you’re a fan of romance and destined love, this is the book for you. Debbie never disappoints in any book she puts out and this one delivers.
You can pick it up in stores on Tuesday, October 2nd, from Ballantine.
- Watch Trailer For ‘The Friend’ In Select Theaters Friday, March 28th - February 11, 2025
- Book Review: ‘Burn To Shine: A Joe Ledger Novel’ By Jonathan Maberry - February 11, 2025
- Watch Trailer For ‘Friendship’ - February 11, 2025