A Christmas Flower

by Bryan Mooney

Paperback, 288 pages

Published September 5th 2017 by Lake Union Publishing

4.5 Stars

My Review: I picked this book up thinking it was a light Christmas romance. Well, it was a romance, but there was so much more to it than that, including a Christmas miracle. We had some serious issues introduced in the story dealing with lack of proper funding for hospitals, police and fire services which causes hospital closures and people having to travel further for care as well as serious injuries and death of firefighters using faulty equipment. There was also a subplot about contractors not following proper rules and trying to bribe officials to get certified. Add in smoke jumpers and the dangers they face as well as metal and verbal abuse of women and you can see that this story is jam packed. The author did a great job of keeping these stories flowing and they all fit together using the two main characters Logan Mitchell and Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) Harding. They were childhood BFFs who were actually in love with one another but neither of them would admit it to each other. There is another subplot about Maria and Michael who are called in to help out at the short staffed hospital. I figured out their story pretty quickly, but I do not want to ruin it for anyone else. It might sound like there is a lot going on, and there is, but it kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. A great Christmas Story.

Synopsis: 

When a New England Christmas reunites two lifelong friends, romance blooms. From the author of Christmas in Vermont.

Miracles are like snowflakes—no two are alike, but each one is precious and beautiful. This Christmas, Dr. Beth Harding could use a few miracles. The hospital she runs in River Dale, New Hampshire, is being shut down, unless she can convince the Scrooge-like board to save it. At least her closest friend, firefighter Logan Mitchell, is home for the holidays to offer a broad shoulder to lean on.

In California, Logan is a smoke jumper, but jumping into a romance with his best friend scares him more than any forest fire. After losing his parents at sixteen, Logan was taken in by Beth’s family. As kids, they were like brother and sister. Now they’re grown up, and sparks keep flying between them. If only Beth wasn’t already engaged. Maybe with a Christmas miracle or two, Beth can keep those hospital doors open—and two dear friends can finally allow their one true love to blossom.