Thirteen years ago, two teens met on the ramp to Ground Zero, on a cold and snowy day, strangers bonding in a moment of grief. The boy pressed a crystal snowflake ornament into the girl’s hand and disappeared into the crowd, unaware that his simple act of kindness saved her from the guilt that threatened to consume her.Since losing her mom, Elena Larsen hasn’t set foot in New York City — until … — until now. Agreeing to help her sister prepare for her baby’s birth seems like a good way to spend Christmas and Elena vows not to let the monstrous guilt that weighs on her heart ruin everything. But those plans go awry when she meets Lucas Adair, a man whose own grief and guilt just might rival her own.
When Elena discovers Lucas is the boy who gave her that crystal snowflake all those years ago, she can’t accept it as the sign Lucas believes it to be. For her, it means only one thing — even beyond the grave, her mother can never forgive Elena for breaking her heart.
For Lucas, New York is hallowed ground that he can never leave. He spends his days working in the Financial District and his evenings volunteering and it’s almost enough to help him forget what he did. Lucas knows better than to make plans with a woman who will soon be leaving, yet can’t help himself. There’s something about Elena that pulls him in. He doesn’t put much faith in signs but even he starts to believe Elena is his absolution. Now, he only has to convince her.
Christmas in New York series
Book 1: This Christmas by Jeannie Moon
Book 2: Christmas Light by Jolyse Barnett
Book 3: A Match Made at Christmas by Patty Blount
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Good book.
Grab your tissues, this book is almost as heartwrenching as it is heartwarming. Grief and guilt consume Elena since her mother’s death on 9/11, forever regretting the things said before her death. Forgiveness is something she never expected once she meets Lucas, as well as love. Beautifully written.
A Match Made at Christmas, by Patty Blount, is the fourth book in a collaborative series called Christmas in New York. Elena Larsen has returned to New York City after being away for more than a decade. She has come to help her very pregnant sister, Kara, who moved back to New York for work some time ago. Elena hasn’t been back since her father moved them away in early 2002. Her mother, the heart of the family, had perished in the twin towers, and the family had never been the same.
Because Kara had been so insistent that she needed her, Elena had capitulated and come for the month. Upon her arrival, she has a sidewalk interaction with a fellow with a dazzling smile. A brief flashback at this encounter takes her to the one and only September’s Family Guild holiday event she had attended when a boy about her age had given her a crystal snowflake.
When Elena arrives, she learns that Kara has been put on bed rest for the duration of her pregnancy. While Kara is able to work from home, the volunteer work she does with the September’s Family Guild and her role in the upcoming holiday event need Elena to step up for her. When Elena reports to the Guild to help out, she finds that the dazzling smile belongs to Lucas Adair, who is heading the event committee. He, too, lost his mother that fateful day.
As the story unfolds, it touchingly describes the reality that was faced for all of the family members left behind and how they each dealt with the tragedy in their own ways. Being back in New York with her sister and dear family friends, Elena is finally opening herself up to deal with her grief. Her budding relationship with Lucas may just be what heals her heart.
This story is unique in its backstory. It is well researched and intricately written with multidimensional characters. I found this story hard to put down and do recommend it!
Two persons who lost mothers in 911 attack fall in love. Too much counting on “signs”
A nice read, just right before going to sleep.
An interesting view after years of the heart break of 911.
Awesome book. A few tissues needed.
Excellent book!!
Excellent book. Emotional and haunting. It was very well written.
This was a good story that kept me entertained. However, I had a difficult time relating to their reactions to things. Where I would have felt happiness, they felt guilt, fesr, and anger. But I did not lose a family member in 9-11, so maybe I just could not relate on such a personal level.
Good read
Beautiful
This was a great story. I love how they showed what some of the children and families of those lost in 9-11. Elena was the youngest of the girls and always felt it was her fault her mom died. She finally was in New York to help her sister Kara before the baby came. Lucas volunteers with the program that does gatherings for surviving families. Little did they know he met her briefly when they were younger. Have a tissue ready.
Absolutely loved this book. Loved the characters. Loved the tragic story line
Cried and laughed. Thank you!
Loved this realistic book!
I really liked this book. I liked them showing the wounds that the characters had.
I love getting into the spirit of the Christmas season with a good Christmas book. Enjoy! This was great.
This was a unique read – Very interesting to see from the viewpoint of 9/11 survivors and what they went/go through as time marched on. Although it was a romance, and you knew they would end up together, it was just enough different, to make it interesting as to what will bring the together.
This could easily be a true story. The characters were so real and the events actually happened. I loved reading this book.
It was a very entertaining book. It made you want to continue reading it.
Sad but Good