| After living in southern California, Rick and Keri return to Utah with their four-year old daughter Jenna to start up a formal wear rental business many years ago. The couple answers an ad for a live-in family to prepare meals and do light household chores for a wealthy, elderly woman, but the details are not given. The arrangements are made and the family enjoys staying with their new matriarch, Mrs. Mary Anne Parkin in her spacious Victorian mansion. Rick begins hearing music and is drawn by an angel to examine items in the attic of the house. He finds a music box with the Nativity etched onto its surface. Inside are intimate letters dated from years before.
Rick's work forces him to miss much of the goings on in the house and he is short on time to spend with his young daughter. Mary chides Rick for ignoring his daughter at bedtime, recommending a book for him to read to her. She also poses to him a question about the first gift of Christmas. Keri is disturbed by several absences by Mary from her home in snowy December weather. Eventually, the family learns their hostess is afflicted with an inoperable brain cancer. After she is hospitalized, Rick learns the letters were written to her long dead daughter who is buried in a cemetery across the street. | ||
|
Plot & Themes Tone of book? - very sensitive (sigh) Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's Family, loving relations Yes Special relationship with - daughter Internal struggle/realization? Yes Struggle over Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Religion theme? Yes Religion theme: - Angel buddy Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - none Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 4 () United States Yes The US: - West City? Yes City: - Misc setting Writing Style Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
||