Books & Spoons Review for A GIFT FOR SANTA by Beth Carpenter

It's the season for giving… and starting over? 

A reindeer farm without Santa wouldn't be Christmas in Marissa Gray's Alaskan hometown. Luckily Chris Allen's there to pinch-hit, although for Marissa, seeing her ex-fiancé again brings back memories of what might have been. 

Ten years after their breakup, the feelings between the wildlife biologist and blue-eyed fisherman are stronger than ever. Only now there's a foster kid in the mix, as well as the shocking crime that cost Marissa her job and her family's security. She and Chris need to find their way to a meeting of minds and hearts to make this truly a season for second chances…

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And now I want to move to Alaska! What a beautiful scenery and charming lifestyle the author paints to the reader's mind. 
This story pulled me in and it was another late night (or an early morning) for me as I didn't even realize how time flew as I was visiting Alaska and enjoying each moment of it. 
Marissa Gray and Chris Allen have an old history that left both of their hearts wounded. Now facing each other again, after ten years, they soon find out that those old feelings never really died, but have been simmering on a low heat over the decade. The road ahead of them is not easy or an obstacle-free, yet there seems to be more determination to make the relationship work and willingness for compromises, as there was at the younger age. 
The story is not only about the romance developing between Marissa and Chris. There are several secondary storylines that smoothly take the plot forward and gave Marissa and Chris a chance to see new sides of each other, learn more about them as older, more mature adults. 
The bond Chris develops with Ryan, the little, temporary foster-son of his neighbors, and the adorable friendship that flourish from that and takes more of a form of a father-son relationship, it just melted my heart. That relationship more than anything showed how much Chris had grown up over the past decade even though there were plenty of other signs of that as well. He is a good man, generous and kind, always willing to help others and take care of things.
Marissa has always been a very career oriented person, but her life has been devastated by the betrayal of her boyfriend that was covered in the national news. Her 'five-year plan' is off the track, and no one is willing to hire her because of the scandal. Her help is desperately needed at home as well at the ranch, the newly awaken feelings towards Chris and the life they could build together in Alaska are weighing in her mind. There are decisions to be made and priorities to be set to see where life will take them from here. 
Truly a heartwarming story about life with its many hurdles and how we can learn from them and use them to grow. A story about love, family, hardship, and hope. Highly recommended to any and all romance readers
~ Five Spoons

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Published December 5th 2017 by Harlequin Heartwarming
​Ebook edition $4,99

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Beth Carpenter believes that life is brighter in the company of a dog, that love and laughter are inseparable, and that there is no such thing as “too many books.”

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