Deck the Halls (Darling, VT)

DECK THE HALLS                                          DONNA ALWARD

In the last year, George's life has drastically changed. The formerly homeless veteran now has a job he likes, a family in the residents of Darling, VT, and for the first time in years, a home. But while his present is good, he's still haunted by the past, a past that appears shortly before Christmas when the older sister of his brother-in-arms hunts him down and finds him in Darling, working at the Ladybug Garden Center.

Amy’s looking for closure for her family after her brother's death in the Middle East, but the serious man she finds working in Vermont doesn’t resemble the soldier she remembers from years before. This man is hardened and yet somehow fragile, too, and in her desire to find out what really happened to her brother, she learns more about George than she ever expected.

With a little Christmas magic and the whole town supporting them, can these two bruised hearts make a future together?

PAT'S REVIEW

A very good story about two people trying to move forward in their lives. One George is a veteran and is dealing with PTSD along with guilt over men that he fought with that did not come home. After years of wondering he has finally found a job at a nursery. He has been making progress but is still haunted by one soldier’s death. That solder’s sister Amy who has been dealing with the loss of her marriage and her ex-has now totally moved forward from her with his new wife who is expecting their second child. Something she was wanting with him but had never happened. Now hoping to move forward in her life and to help her parents she would like to know how her brother died. After months of searching she has tracked down the one person she knows, would help her but is turned away the first time she comes face to face with him. Realizing her mistake she goes into the next meeting softer and gentler seeing that George is not the same man she met years ago. He is different. Something in his eyes. George also is seeing and listening to the story that she is telling him and is realizing that she is lost like himself. Not wanting anything but answers can these two people actually help each other and be their own Christmas gifts to each other. Read this wonderful story about being lost and finding your way back to life once again. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com