Alaskan Holiday: A Novel

Product Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 
Debbie Macomber brings us to the Alaskan wilderness for a magical Christmas tale about finding love where it’s least expected.

“Picture-perfect . . . this charmer will please Macomber fans and newcomers alike.”—Publishers Weekly

Before beginning her dream job as sous chef in one of Seattle’s hottest new restaurants, Josie Avery takes a summer position cooking at a lakeside lodge in the remote Alaskan town of Ponder. Josie falls for the rustic charms of the local community—including Jack Corcoran, the crotchety keeper of Ponder’s famed sourdough starter, and, in particular, the quiet and intense Palmer Saxon, a famed master swordsmith.

Josie and Palmer become close during the long Alaskan summer days, but Josie knows that, come fall, she’ll be returning to reality and the career she’s worked so hard for. Palmer, on the other hand, would like nothing better than to make Josie his wife and to keep her in Ponder. But Josie can’t imagine abandoning her mother back in the Emerald City and sacrificing her career to stay in this isolated town—not even for a man she’s quickly coming to love.

Fate has other plans. Josie misses the last boat out of town before winter sets in, stranding her in Ponder and putting her dream job at risk. As the holidays approach, Josie and Palmer must grapple with the complications that arise when dreams confront reality, and the Christmas magic that can happen when they put their faith in love.

Debbie Macomber is at her best in this beautiful holiday story about the far journeys we travel to find a place to call home.

Praise for Alaskan Holiday

 
“[A] tender romance lightly brushed with holiday magic.”
—Library Journal
 
“[A] thoroughly charming holiday romance.”
—Booklist

Review

“Picture-perfect . . . this charmer will please Macomber fans and newcomers alike.”
—Publishers Weekly
 
“[A] tender romance lightly brushed with holiday magic.”
—Library Journal
 
“[A] thoroughly charming holiday romance.”
—Booklist

About the Author

Debbie Macomber, the author of
Cottage by the Sea, Any Dream Will Do, If Not for You, and the Rose Harbor Inn series, is a leading voice in women’s fiction. Thirteen of her novels have reached #1 on the
New York Times bestseller list, and five of her beloved Christmas novels have been hit movies on the Hallmark Channel, including
Mrs. Miracle and
Mr. Miracle. Hallmark Channel also produced the original series
Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove, based on Macomber’s Cedar Cove books. She is also the author of the cookbook
Debbie Macomber’s Table. There are more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

CHAPTER 1

Palmer

“Are you gonna propose to Josie or not?” Alicia demanded.

I closed my eyes. It felt as if my heart was doing cartwheels inside my tightening chest.

“Palmer, did you hear me?”

“I heard you just fine.” I knew it was a mistake to call my sister. Alicia wasn’t one to hold back on sharing her opinion. She knew how I felt about Josie, and as my big sister, she was determined that I not let Josie leave town without letting her know how I felt about her.

“Then answer the question. Are you going to tell Josie you’re in love with her?”

My sister and I had been raised in Alaska in a tiny town above the Arctic Circle. We were homeschooled, so I didn’t have a lot of the exposure and experiences most kids get for social interaction. I wouldn’t give it up for anything, though, except for my lack of certain skills. Alicia made it sound easy to lay one’s heart out on the chopping block with the big chance of it getting axed.

The problem is, I’ve never been anything even close to what one would consider romantic. I leave that to those city boys. I am a man, an Alaskan man; fancy, romantic words are as unfamiliar to me as a pumpkin-spice latte. I’ll admit, when it comes to sweeping a woman off her feet, I’m about as dense as a guy can g