The Season of Second Chances

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Paperback
$16.95 US
| $22.99 CAN
On sale Aug 22, 2023 | 240 Pages | 9781496744227

From bestselling, acclaimed authors Kristina McMorris and T. Greenwood, two heartfelt, poignant stories filled with Christmas magic and the gift of second chances…

The holidays are a time for cherished traditions and warm memories of Christmases past. But for some, Christmas also offers the gift of new beginnings.



THE CHRISTMAS COLLECTOR by Kristina McMorris
Jenna Matthews has made a career of decluttering other people’s lives. After a childhood marked by her mother’s hoarding, it feels satisfying to sort and evaluate possessions. Some items, however, defy simple categories—like the shoebox of WWII memorabilia she finds in an elderly client’s home. Nestled alongside a Bronze Star is a photograph of a blushing army nurse and an adoring young serviceman. Estelle Porter, the box’s owner, becomes curiously tightlipped at Jenna’s discovery. Even Estelle’s grandson, Reece, knows nothing about this secret in her past. But as Jenna delves deeper, she pieces together Estelle’s heartrending story—one that paves new, unexpected paths for many.

GIFTED by T. Greenwood
Christmas Eve in New York City is a portrait in holiday cheer. Yet Alex, a young ballerina who’s just been ousted from her ballet company, is contemplating a bittersweet homecoming—until she crosses paths with a stranger. At eighty, Simone’s memory is rapidly failing, but something has led her back to the place where she began her career as a professional violinist. Different as they may be, both women understand the nature of ambition and self-doubt, joy, and regret. And in a moment of grace, in a place where journeys begin, each will be reminded of what matters most . . .
Praise for Kristina McMorris:

"The Queen's Gambit meets The Alice Network in this epic, action-packed novel of family, loss, and one woman's journey to save all she holds dear—including freedom itself." —Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars on The Ways We Hide
 
“An expertly woven and richly satisfying work of historical fiction that will touch any reader who has experienced love, loss, tragedy, or the impact of family secrets.” The Boston Globe on The Pieces We Keep
 
“A tender love story enriches a complex plot, giving readers a story with grit, substance, and rich historical detail." —Publishers Weekly on Sold on a Monday

Praise for T. Greenwood:

“Greenwood is a writer of subtle strength, evoking small-town life beautifully while spreading out the map of Harper’s life, finding light in the darkest of stories.” Publishers Weekly on Two Rivers

“Part family drama, part literary mystery and filled with beautiful, hypnotic prose.” Bookpage on Where I Lost Her

”Greenwood is an assured guide through this strange territory; she has a lush, evocative style.” The New York Times Book Review on Nearer Than the Sky
 
“Magnetic…this knotty story leaves readers reflecting on the limits of family obligations.” Publishers Weekly on Such a Pretty Girl

"This engrossing novel is a timely look into childhood fame, mother-daughter relationships, and how we consume media.”
—Buzzfeed, Best Historical Fiction of Fall on Such a Pretty Girl
Kristina McMorris is a New York Times bestselling author and recipient of more than twenty national literary awards. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. She is the author the widely praised novels The Edge of Lost, The Pieces We Keep, Letters from Home and Bridge of Scarlet Leaves. For more, visit KristinaMcmorris.com. View titles by Kristina McMorris

About

From bestselling, acclaimed authors Kristina McMorris and T. Greenwood, two heartfelt, poignant stories filled with Christmas magic and the gift of second chances…

The holidays are a time for cherished traditions and warm memories of Christmases past. But for some, Christmas also offers the gift of new beginnings.



THE CHRISTMAS COLLECTOR by Kristina McMorris
Jenna Matthews has made a career of decluttering other people’s lives. After a childhood marked by her mother’s hoarding, it feels satisfying to sort and evaluate possessions. Some items, however, defy simple categories—like the shoebox of WWII memorabilia she finds in an elderly client’s home. Nestled alongside a Bronze Star is a photograph of a blushing army nurse and an adoring young serviceman. Estelle Porter, the box’s owner, becomes curiously tightlipped at Jenna’s discovery. Even Estelle’s grandson, Reece, knows nothing about this secret in her past. But as Jenna delves deeper, she pieces together Estelle’s heartrending story—one that paves new, unexpected paths for many.

GIFTED by T. Greenwood
Christmas Eve in New York City is a portrait in holiday cheer. Yet Alex, a young ballerina who’s just been ousted from her ballet company, is contemplating a bittersweet homecoming—until she crosses paths with a stranger. At eighty, Simone’s memory is rapidly failing, but something has led her back to the place where she began her career as a professional violinist. Different as they may be, both women understand the nature of ambition and self-doubt, joy, and regret. And in a moment of grace, in a place where journeys begin, each will be reminded of what matters most . . .

Reviews

Praise for Kristina McMorris:

"The Queen's Gambit meets The Alice Network in this epic, action-packed novel of family, loss, and one woman's journey to save all she holds dear—including freedom itself." —Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars on The Ways We Hide
 
“An expertly woven and richly satisfying work of historical fiction that will touch any reader who has experienced love, loss, tragedy, or the impact of family secrets.” The Boston Globe on The Pieces We Keep
 
“A tender love story enriches a complex plot, giving readers a story with grit, substance, and rich historical detail." —Publishers Weekly on Sold on a Monday

Praise for T. Greenwood:

“Greenwood is a writer of subtle strength, evoking small-town life beautifully while spreading out the map of Harper’s life, finding light in the darkest of stories.” Publishers Weekly on Two Rivers

“Part family drama, part literary mystery and filled with beautiful, hypnotic prose.” Bookpage on Where I Lost Her

”Greenwood is an assured guide through this strange territory; she has a lush, evocative style.” The New York Times Book Review on Nearer Than the Sky
 
“Magnetic…this knotty story leaves readers reflecting on the limits of family obligations.” Publishers Weekly on Such a Pretty Girl

"This engrossing novel is a timely look into childhood fame, mother-daughter relationships, and how we consume media.”
—Buzzfeed, Best Historical Fiction of Fall on Such a Pretty Girl

Author

Kristina McMorris is a New York Times bestselling author and recipient of more than twenty national literary awards. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. She is the author the widely praised novels The Edge of Lost, The Pieces We Keep, Letters from Home and Bridge of Scarlet Leaves. For more, visit KristinaMcmorris.com. View titles by Kristina McMorris
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