Oliver here! I’m so excited for Christmas because last year I was too small and in an Amish puppy mill so I didn’t understand all the colorful lights and the tree and gifts! That’s why reading Penelope Marzec’s book Making Christmas Again is compelling, because sometimes Christmas just doesn’t feel like Christmas. Have you ever experienced that? Obviously I did last year as no one even told me there was such a thing.

Celeste has a lot going on. Her mother died so she’s gotta leave a challenging job situation to go home to settle affairs. She’s the only remaining person in her family which is terribly sad. She also had broken up with a menacing boyfriend/boss and had uncovered his embezzlement and was a whistleblower, only her employer doesn’t realize this yet. She also left her mother’s faith behind her, focusing more on numbers than the intangible.

She arrives home to find someone living in her mother’s basement. Make that two someones! I’d be barking my head off! Especially since one is a little boy whom I would love to play with. This little boy has Down Syndrome which her deceased sister also had, so now she’s missing her mom and her sister and there’s a snowstorm.

Sawyer is the father to this precious little soul and is also grieving Mrs. Greenfield’s death as she had been so helpful to him with his son after his wife died and had encouraged him in his business, even renting her basement space for his work. Celeste hadn’t been told. Now he has a new landlord who can’t see past her own grief and challenges to trust, much less celebrate the faith her mother held dear.

Death, upheaval, an extra chromosome, snow, and other challenges face these two characters as they find their way through each day to understanding each other and maybe even falling in love. But will Celeste stay in town or will she return to her employer leaving Sawyer’s heart broken?

Through all the twists and turns, challenges, and snowstorms, these two people might find a miracle yet and Christmas might once again be cherished and celebrated.

Mom loves Penelope’s writing so you should give her a try if you haven’t before. Buy Making Christmas Again. I give it five bones because I’m a dog. Oh, and leave her a nice review after you’ve read it, it really does help an author out.