Holly Thompson’s life changed forever when she received an early Christmas present from her dead Aunt Meg. It seemed that prior to her death, her former foster mother had won the gorgeous private investigator during one of her Tuesday morning poker games. The only survivor of a tragic automobile accident when she was only days old, Holly grew up never knowing who she was or where she came from. When Ben Holiday claimed to have a clue about her past, Holly set out on a Christmas road trip in the hope of finding the family she never knew she had.
Kathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn't writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she's not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home. Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.
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I loved this story. The characters are very likeable and the premise is so different that it keeps you reading until the very last page. Hallmark should make this into a holiday movie, because, while it is kind of a boy meets girl story, it is more the story of Holly finding out who she is while she embarks on a cross country trip to find her family.
Holly is a New York based successful advice columnist on the verge of being syndicated. She grew up in a foster home after being rescued from a burning car within days of her birth. After her foster mother dies, Holly gets a visit from Ben, a private investigator her foster mother hired to help Holly find out if she has family.
As they travel across the US (Ben doesn't fly), they meet people who help them unravel the clues to Holly's identity.
A wonderful story that grabs hold of your heart and won't let go. Their adventures as they learned new facts and traveled around the country were so much fun then as one mystery was solved, there was another right behind it. As all the mysteries were solved they fit together like the pieces of a puzzle until it was complete.
The author wrote an engaging yarn. The situations seemed highly unlikely throughout. I had a problem suspending disbelief. The hero seemed too good to be true. The answers came too quickly and the result were far too pat and predictable. However, I was engaged and the writing was excellent. Daley engages at an emotional level, and that counts for a great deal.
Road to Christmas Past is an emotionally charged and uplifting book written by Kathi Daley. The book is beautifully written, flows smoothly, the storyline is well plotted, and the characters are well developed and relatable. While this isn’t a cozy mystery, it’s a wonderful combination of compassion, friendship, sweet romance, mystery, and discovery and contains no violence, adult situations, or inappropriate language. I highly recommend this book.
Holly Thompson is 27 years old and is a successful advice columnist for a weekly women’s magazine who lives in New York City. When Holly was a few days old, she was the only survivor of an automobile accident and investigators couldn’t identify her so she was sent to live in a foster home run by a wonderful woman named Aunt Meg in Moosehead, Minnesota where she stayed until she went to college. Aunt Meg recently passed away and left her home to Holly but prior to her passing, arranged for an early Christmas present to be delivered to Holly by Ben Holiday, a private investigator, who Meg played poker with each week. The present was Ben’s services until Christmas to try to unravel the mystery of Holly’s birth, a DVD made by Meg, and two matching sapphire and diamond necklaces that were found in diaper bags at the accident scene. This book takes us on the heartwarming journey of Holly trying to discover the mystery of her past and figure out her future.
Kathi Daley's holiday story, Road to Christmas Past, is a romance filled with mystery. At the heart of the story is the message that family is important. Holly Thompson has spent her life not knowing who her mother or family were. In this story, we see the evolving connection between Holly and Ben Holiday, private investigator, who is a gift from her recently departed foster mother, Meg. When Meg dies, Ben sets out on a road trip with Holly to find some answers. Their story takes them through several states as they follow clues to Holly's past. I love the names Daley used for her characters: Holly, Noel, Ben Holiday! So appropriate! This story is a feel good story. As Holly gets her answers, Daley ties everything up with a HEA! This book is well written, has likable characters, and has a nice flow to it.
This is a great story about Holly who was found in an accident when just a few days old, in the car there was 2 baby car seats but no sign of the other baby, the parents are dead & the car bursts in to flames so no way that they can be ID
After the death of the foster mum of 27 years she left a DVD telling her a bit more than just what she been told this is brought by Ben Holiday who is a PI & she won his services for the month to help her find out who she really is
So starts an adventure of the story which is a very good one & fully recommend if you like nothing heavy but one with it's ups and downs plus a few twists and turns & a lovely read then you like this
This is one of the novels in the Christmas Heartwarmers & Holiday Smiles: 10 Tales of Heart, Hope & Humor - Portion of Proceeds to Benefit St. Jude Research Hospital. Kathi Daley did a magnificent job with this one. This is one of those books that I hope everyone reads if they haven't already.
It is an emotional journey of a woman who had no idea if she even had a real family and a PI who was won in a poker game by her now dead foster mother. Since the PI would not fly they traveled by car all over the place searching for clues. What they ultimately found brought very happy tears to my eyes!
Kathi Daley is a new author to this avid reader. Road to Christmas Past was was the first selection in the boxed set Christmas Heartwarmers and Holidays Smiles: 10 Tales of Heart, Hope and Humor - Portion of the Proceeds to Benefit St. Jude Research Hospital. A well written mystery with lovable characters Holly Thompson and Ben Holiday, road trips, blizzards, hail storm, tornadoes, twist and turn plot with unexpected surprises and a believable resolution. This story made me, the reader, cry and laugh, feel empathy for Holly and the various family and strangers that cross her path. A delightful way to begin the New Year.
I just loved this book. The story was so captivating, even though I was sick, I just kept reading. I was torn between wanting to get to the end but not wanting it end. Two complete strangers go on a road trip to find the girl's birth mother after her foster mother's death. Meg, her foster mother, gives her a gift of a private investigator to help her. He's afraid to fly so they go on a long road trip. As Ben and Holly follow different leads they also get to know each other slowly. They also learn things about themselves along the way. It's such a sweet story of real people taking the time to stop and smell the roses. I loved every minute of it.
I love keeping up with these quick easy books by Kathy Daley. They are exciting at times and kind of mellow at others. There is always a good story they center around. I found myself going back to this book for the background on Ben and Holly to go with the series that started with Harper and Harlow. So here I am again waiting for the next books in my favorite series....
I have to admit this isn’t the genre of book I generally read. I am a cozy murder mystery fanatic. I’ve read quite a few of Kathi Daley’s other series, and really enjoyed most of them. So I took a chance. This is a cozy mystery with no murder. But it enthralled me, and I finished it, thoroughly satisfied with the story. If you’re looking for heartwarming, but not sappy with romance thrown in , you should enjoy this book.
What a great story about what is at the heart of Christmas, family. Holly at an Infant she had survived a car crash . When her foster mother passed away she left Holly the gift, Ben a private investigator to help her find out about what happened all those years ago. The adventure they set out on leads them on a path to more questions and love.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book but I was pleasantly surprised. I love how the relationship between Holly and Ben developed as they traveled in search of her family. The finding of all of the family members and the change in Holly was a great story and it was great how she found everyone so quickly.
A story about the mystery of the Holly's past and basically where she came from. She heads out with a man to follow the paths of her own past. Traveling on the road around the country. Each place they encountered builds on the mystery of who Holly is. The answers are well worth the trip. I loved the ending.
An accident that killed Holly's parents when she was an infant and news she had a twin starts the road trip she takes with Ben. Some sad moments but the story pulls the reader in and keeps you there as the story unfolds and a touch of romance is shared by Holly and Ben.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend. Although there was the obligatory romance, I truly enjoyed the characters and warmth of the main storyline of a young woman's search for a missing piece of her life.
Likeable heroine with an unusual back story. Kathi Daley didn't disappoint the readers with this cross country trek to find out about the main character's mysterious past. A good looking private detective adds romance to this better than usual cozy mystery.
Finding your past Holly and Ben set out on a journey to solve the mystery of Holly's past. They pick up a lot more than information along the way. Great characters and settings . 5 Stars and I recommend this book to everyone
The plot had a few surprising twists. A little too long with a predictable ending. If you like cozy mysteries with happy endings you will like this one.
This book by Kathy Daley is the first book I ever read by her and it was fantastic. I really enjoyed it. You've got to read this one. You won't be disappointed.