A Wreath of Snow, by Liz Curtis Higgs, 2012, Waterbrook Press (Random House)

This Christmas novella is set in Stirling, Scotland, in 1894.  It’s a romance with a different twist. The main story takes place over a period of only three days, from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, with flashbacks to an incident that occured twelve years previously.  The author has done her research and it’s interesting to enter into this time and place through the experiences of the characters.  The main protagonist is a young woman in her 20s who lives away from her family, considered quite independant for those days.

There is a train accident because of a heavy snowfall, through which she gets to know a handsome redheaded man with a terrible secret.  He wants to be forgiven, but is it possible?

Themes of honesty versus hiding truth, and how holding onto grudges ruins lives emerge.  Everyone feels bad for the crippled younger brother, but does he deserve their pity?

Liz Curtis Higgs likes to travel to Scotland to do her research and has posted photos she took in Stirling at www.Facebook.com/MyScottishHeart.