The Christmas Sisters

September 3, 2018
Morgan (How to Keep a Secret) mixes angst, love, and family in an all-too-lifelike emotional jumble of childhood hurts, sisterly rivalry, and unexpected pregnancies that’s as much women’s fiction as romance. As children, sisters Hannah, Beth, and Posy lost their parents to a mountain-climbing accident. Adopted by their mother’s friend Suzanne, the accident’s sole survivor, and her husband, Stewart, the sisters move from Washington State to Scotland. Fast-forward 25 years, and Hannah is a driven workaholic who refuses to get close to anyone; Beth is a stay-at-home mother to two rambunctious girls and longs for her old career; and Posy, a frustrated adventurer, remains with Suzanne and Stewart, running the family cafe. Heading home for Christmas, each sister holds a painful secret. Suzanne feels responsible for making everyone happy—until unexpected visitors prove Christmas magic exists. Heartfelt and sensitive, Morgan’s sometimes bittersweet Christmas tale emphasizes the importance of family.

September 15, 2018

Suzanne and Stewart McBride are getting the best Christmas gift: all three of their adopted daughters will be home this year, and each sister is bringing her own gift of drama along. Relationship ups and downs can become more pronounced under stress and the fear of disappointing those closest to us. This story gives each daughter, plus her parents, an individual opportunity to face these anxieties and concerns in their own way. VERDICT With the variety of personalities here, it's easy to find one character in particular to identify with to still root for the entire family. The Scottish Highland setting adds special moments in this tender family drama.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2018
A tragic accident just before Christmas 25 years ago has profound effects on the lives and loves of sisters Posey, Hannah, and Beth. Their adoptive mother, Suzanne, is determined to make Christmas perfect, but old memories, secrets, and each woman's own insecurities are creating a lot of tension when they all get together in the family home in the Scottish Highlands. Each sister believes the others have perfect lives. Hannah is the ultimate career woman, but she never lets anyone get too close. What will happen to her carefully constructed life if she's pregnant? Beth seems to be the ultimate wife and mother, but she's desperate to return to work. Posey doesn't remember a life before Suzanne and her adoptive father, Stewart, and feels guilty for contemplating a future that doesn't involve her parents' coffeehouse. A sexy renter makes Posey long for much more, but is he too good to be true? Morgan's second venture into women's fiction, after How to Keep a Secret? (2018), is the perfect gift for readers who relish heartwarming tales of sisters and love.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)