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Review: Candy Cane Gifts

Candy Cane Gifts book cover on blue background

It's always wonderful getting to support a Canadian author, but even more so when the debut novel is as charming as hoped. I recently discovered Courtney Westerhof and was delighted to hear about Candy Cane Gifts. I'm thankful that this book kicked off December (and the Advent theme of hope) for me! For full disclosure, I was on Courtney's ARC team and received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Synopsis

Anonymous gifts topped with candy canes—Christmas just got interesting in Port Hope.

Ally wants to be a hard-hitting journalist. Instead she finds herself writing about parades and town council meetings for Port Hope’s newspaper. However, covering the local mill that’s on the verge of closing could be the opportunity Ally needs to move up to a national reporting job. Then, in the midst of the most difficult holiday seasons in Port Hope’s history, various residents start receiving substantial, anonymous gifts. Ally’s tasked with the mission to uncover their benefactor; her only clue being the handmade candy canes attached to each gift.

As the mill situation grows more dire, and more gifts appear, Ally finds herself more connected and part of the small town she had, up until now, been so eager to be done with. She also works to sort out her conflicting feelings between Will, the cute community activist, and Brooks, the tall, handsome mill owner.

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

Let me just say that this book packs a wallop! From the beautifully simple cover of a woman extending a candy cane to the premise of gifts associated with candy canes, this book granted me the perfect entrance into the Advent season. It was such a treat to finish this book in one sitting as I could fully immerse myself into the town of Port Hope and enjoy meeting the lovely characters interspersed throughout the town landscape. Furthermore, it was a delight to see non-profit organizations highlighted during the Christmas season; I can attest to how accurately Courtney Westerhof portrays their work and the needs they face. I also appreciated getting a behind the scenes look at the life of a small town reporter, which the author infuses with her own background.

There were two things that I absolutely loved about this book. First, the messages of faith completely fit what people were going through in Candy Cane Gifts. Words of hope are as essential to the residents of Port Hope as their town name is. Nothing is forced here; all the elements of the story converge into Jesus as the hope and light of the world. Second, this book felt so real. The Christmas activities were not at all formulaic; contrasting this to Hallmark-like books and movies, Port Hope was refreshing to read as the point of the story wasn't in what type of festivities were taking place, it was about the heart of the residents and community. If you're looking for a heartwarming and fulfilling story that shares the Gospel message in a deeply moving way, Candy Cane Gifts is an excellent gift this Christmas. It also doesn't hurt that the romance that plays out is as sweet as a candy cane!

Book Summary

  • Format of book: 📱
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Recommendation: 👍
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