Silver Bells by Luanne Rice

From Amazon:

Every year on the first day of December, Christopher Byrne traveled from his farm in Nova Scotia to sell his Christmas trees on the streets of Manhattan. But this year there'd be no cheer for the widower and his twelve-year-old daughter, Bridget. For New York City had taken Christy's only son, headstrong sixteen-year-old Danny, who'd run off without a trace.

Librarian Catherine Tierney used to love the holidays: the lights, the carols, the nip in the air. But after her husband's death on Christmas Eve three years ago, the festivities seemed to start too early and last too long. Just before he died, Brian told his wife that he'd never leave her, that every Christmas he'd send Catherine a sign. On the quaint Chelsea street where she lives, Catherine will meet the tree seller from Novia Scotia. Both figured the world had forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. But they hadn't counted on finding each other, on fate, on second chances. . . and on a holiday gift of new love and new hope to last a lifetime.

From Misty:

This will be more of a highlight today than a review.  But you don't care, right? 

I'll be honest with you, this is not Luanne's best novel.  That's not to say this one is bad--that's to say her others are so good (and yes, I liked Dream Country, Jillian!).  I read Silver Bells every Christmas because it is one of my favorite Christmas stories, and that's saying something because I'm kind of bah humbug about Christmas novels.

One thing I love about this book is the setting is so vivid, I feel like I am right there bundled up on the bitter cold New York streets with Christy and Catherine.  It's a fascinating gift that Rice has.

When I was nabbing the picture (see above) from the google images, I read through some other reviews of Silver Bells.  One astute Rice fan said she thought this book was missing the heart that all the others have, and I really feel that way too.  There is just that extra bit of magic Rice usually has that gets lost in the overdone-ness of these characters.  They are all too stereotypical, too emotion, too irrational. 

I still give it 4.75 Chrstmas stars.

Silver Bells was made into a Hallmark movie.  Here's a link to watch it on YouTube.