Book review: Winter House by Joanne DeMaio

 

 Winter House 

Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author Joanne DeMaio comes an enchanting novel about a beautiful old house and the love story it opens its doors to.

New England in December is a special world. Wreath-topped lampposts shine, balsam garland drapes across picket fences, and fresh snow dusts the land. Then there are the decorated houses: saltboxes, Victorians, farmhouses, Tudors. Tiny lights shimmer on front porches; candles glow in paned windows. But one imposing stone colonial towers dark in the night.

Since moving to town, Millie Ives has heard hushed whisperings of that house -- and of the mysterious man who lives and works there. A chance happening leads Millie to this Mr. Winter's spellbinding shop just past the bell tower. Surprisingly, he's not who she thought he'd be.

As the month unfolds, both find themselves on each other's minds and in each other's hearts. Yet when Millie tries to bridge a gap in his life, she risks losing him. Unless the spirit of the season can bring them back together at the Winter House.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Joanne DeMaio is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She lives with her family in Connecticut and is currently at work on her next novel.

Joanne enjoys hearing from readers at Facebook.com/JoanneDeMaioAuthor.  

 

MY REVIEW:

Winter House by Joanne DeMaio 

This book starts out with dedication and then the table of contents. Story starts out with Dean on the west coast and a call from his father on the east coast with something to mull over.

Dean makes his decision and he's back in Addison living at the family house and running the lighting store on the side of it. His father moved to an apartment over the general store in town.  Dean is so busy with walk in customers and the train depot chandelier spruce up in time for the holidays.

The fence fascinates me with names.  Like the legend of the original owners, the sea captains and the reference Dean makes to Josiah. At first I thought it was a cat he keeps in the shop...

Millie Ives is out of a job, her boyfriend left and she has a room at her sisters til she's on her feet. While having lunch she looks over the jobs and finds one she knows she could do, puzzles: clerk: answer phones, scout scenes for new puzzles, marketing, etc.  She also then looks through house listings and finds the open houses for that weekend. She drives up to many of them an now they are beyond her budget or house is just too big for her.

She falls in love with farmhouse style cabin and it comes with some furniture. Love tour at night as a group walk around town hearing about the history of the area. Dean takes her mason jar light from her father. She tells him others think a Mr. Winter is a bit cold and tells him that, not knowing who he is. 

Scenes are just so very festive, the decorating is out of this world and light everywhere 

Love catching up with characters from past books, glad to know they are thought of during this time of the year. Gus with his snowocycle and Derek with his boat parade, etc.

Dean and Millie are often thrown together as others meddle with getting everyone together.

Turmoil between Dean and his father Hank and Dean is so stubborn to ask for help...

Story goes on with the festivities for all to enjoy while they also enjoy each others company.

Love all the town and family traditions, so magical and festive, brings the whole town out to celebrate.

Things go so well for Dean and Millie til they don't any more.... Angel mist, so cool!  Maybe it will bring them all back together.

Love hearing how Dean uses his hands to make a living, so cool! Procedures he follows are so detailed it's fun to 'watch' a career being done.

Millie also using photographs to make puzzles and that process are also explained.

Works by the author are listed at the end along with about the author. Can't wait for another book from her.

I received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.