Review of The Neighbor and The Gifts by Danielle Grandinetti

 

Twelve days. Twelve gifts. One unlikely hero.

Wisconsin, 1930—When Manitowish Waters librarian Olivia “Ollie” Larson finds a package on the library steps, she expects the children’s books she ordered, not a taxidermied partridge. By the fourth gift from her unknown and unwelcome True Love, disappearing to her grandfather’s isolated cabin in the Northwoods is the only way she can escape him.

Deputy Titus Wilburn is happy to escort the lovely librarian to her grandfather's house on his way to the neighboring Yarwood cabin. After all, he's been smitten with her since they attended school together, and she needs his protection. However, the plan fails when Ollie's uninvited suitor discovers her new location.

As the man's actions become more desperate and his gifts more dangerous, an unexpectedly bedridden Titus decides to free Ollie from this menace, which puts the enemy’s sights directly on him. Ollie refuses to let her injured hero sacrifice himself, but with the days ticking closer to Christmas, she may have no choice but to accept whatever fate her suitor has in store for her if she wants to save Titus' life.

One cabin in the Northwoods … a decade of Christmas miracles.

To Purchase

About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti is an award-winning inspirational romance author fueled by tea, books, and the creative beauty of nature. Her stories combine romance, mystery, and suspense against the backdrop of the 1930s to tell the tale of finding home and hope in hard times. With a master’s in communication and culture and a passion for intercultural communication, storytelling has been her heartbeat for as long as she can remember. Married to her hero, Danielle is a second-generation Italian-American, a dairy farmer’s granddaughter, and a boy mom from Chicagoland who now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline.

My Review

The Neighbor and the Gifts is a Christmas tale that will surprise you with a sense of adventure and a sweet budding romance. Danger and intrigue also add to the story's appeal.

The main characters, Ollie and Titus, are inspirational and endearing. I enjoyed following their journey. They have many layers; as each layer is exposed due to incidents, God gives them extra strength to get through. Ollie's grandfather was my favorite, and he made me laugh often.

The ending wrapped up everything nicely. I read it in one sitting, as I couldn't put it down. I had to see what other surprises might still be waiting. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC from the author; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.