Lizzy Walter is looking forward to leaving behind her tiny apartment in London-and a whole host of headaches-and going home to the beloved family manor for Christmas. Just thinking about the Keeper House, which has been in the Walter family for generations, brings comfort to Lizzy, and she can't wait to relax and spend time with her close-knit family. But when she arrives, it's not the cozy family holiday Lizzy had in mind. Behind the mince pies and mistletoe, family secrets lurk-and suddenly the very future of the dear manor appears to be in jeopardy. And just when Lizzy doesn't think she can handle any more surprises, an old flame shows up unexpectedly, throwing her into even greater turmoil. With the new year off to a rocky start, and as winter makes way for spring, Lizzy realizes she must take charge of her family, her life, and her heart.

This is one of those books that leave you with little to remark about. There were no surprises in this book and I had the whole story pegged by the third or fourth chapter. While the main plot for this book is severely lacking, the subplots made turning to the next page almost bearable, even if they seemed overly contrived.

The characters were annoying at best, with a boat load of baggage floating around the entire dysfunctional family. I felt like I was reading a manuscript for an English version of a National Lampoon's movie. Every character leaned toward the nutty side which made it hard to connect with the characters and left me not caring which way things turned out. Although, it was a bit interesting to watch Lizzy suddenly grow a back bone, act out of character and go spastic.

If you want to try the book, go ahead. Maybe you'll get something more out of the story than I was able to find.

--------------------------------------------

Publisher: Downtown Press (October 10, 2006)
ISBN: 1416503951
Buy the Book