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Granite Falls #1
Christmas in Granite Falls
A precocious kindergartener, a runaway bunny, and a handsome contractor are rebuilding Abby’s faith in love over the holidays.
After Abby Gile’s husband dies in a brutal attack, she can no longer face the busy streets outside her townhouse in Washington DC. Determined to make a fresh start, she accepts her sister’s offer of a temporary job teaching kindergarten in a small North Carolina Mountain town. Abby loves her new cabin in the mountains, her new job, and her students. One, in particular, is dealing with the loss of her mother, and though Abby wants to help her, she clashes with the girl's uncle at every turn.
Clay doesn't believe five-year-old Grace is ready to face her mother's death. He should be the one to help his niece deal with her loss, not the new teacher who is constantly putting him into uncomfortable situations and forcing difficult conversations. No matter how hard he tries to keep Abby at a distance, he can’t help but be drawn to the pretty teacher, but he needs to focus on his niece and not on Abby.
Abby realizes she has to face the painful memories of her past before she can move forward into her future. Even if Clay isn’t ready. Can their love of a precocious kindergartner, give them the courage they need to take a chance on love?
Can the spirit of Christmas help a grieving heart find joy in the season?
After Abby Gile’s husband dies in a brutal attack, she can no longer face the busy streets outside her townhouse in Washington DC. Determined to make a fresh start, she accepts her sister’s offer of a temporary job teaching kindergarten in a small North Carolina Mountain town. Abby loves her new cabin in the mountains, her new job, and her students. One, in particular, is dealing with the loss of her mother, and though Abby wants to help her, she clashes with the girl's uncle at every turn.
Clay doesn't believe five-year-old Grace is ready to face her mother's death. He should be the one to help his niece deal with her loss, not the new teacher who is constantly putting him into uncomfortable situations and forcing difficult conversations. No matter how hard he tries to keep Abby at a distance, he can’t help but be drawn to the pretty teacher, but he needs to focus on his niece and not on Abby.
Abby realizes she has to face the painful memories of her past before she can move forward into her future. Even if Clay isn’t ready. Can their love of a precocious kindergartner, give them the courage they need to take a chance on love?
Can the spirit of Christmas help a grieving heart find joy in the season?
- GenresChristmasContemporary
173 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 23, 2021
47 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Cooke
112 books277 followersCynthia Cooke is an acclaimed USA Today Bestselling author, with a prolific career spanning two decades. Since her debut in 2003, Cynthia has captivated readers worldwide with her compelling storytelling. With over 40 novels to her name, she has enchanted audiences in 12 different countries through her works published by esteemed houses such as Harlequin, Entangled Publishing, and Amazon Kindle Worlds.
Recognized for her mastery of heartwarming small-town romantic suspense, Cynthia fearlessly guides her readers along the razor's edge of anticipation and intrigue. Her immersive narratives leave no room for rest and take you on a thrilling journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat long into the night.
Take a leap of faith and immerse yourself in Cynthia Cooke's world, where the heart races, emotions soar, and love conquers all.
Twitter - https://twitter.com/CynthiaCooke5
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.cook...
Recognized for her mastery of heartwarming small-town romantic suspense, Cynthia fearlessly guides her readers along the razor's edge of anticipation and intrigue. Her immersive narratives leave no room for rest and take you on a thrilling journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat long into the night.
Take a leap of faith and immerse yourself in Cynthia Cooke's world, where the heart races, emotions soar, and love conquers all.
Twitter - https://twitter.com/CynthiaCooke5
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.cook...
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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June 15, 2024
Christmas in Granite Falls is book one in the Granite Falls series by Cynthia Cooke. For some reason, I started this series at book four and went from there. FINALLY, I decided to go back and read the first three books. This is a super sweet holiday romance that was a quick, enjoyable read.
Abby Giles lives in Washington D.C. One year ago, she lost her beloved husband in a senseless, brutal attack. Since then, her life has been frozen. Unable to move forward she has barely left her home. Her sister, who lives in a small town in North Carolina, has decided to take it upon herself to rescue her. She is getting married and wants her sister to stand beside her. So she convinces Abby to pack a bag and go to No. Carolina.
Surprisingly, Abby finds the small cabin in the woods makes her feel safe for the first time in a long time. Her sister also convinces her to fill in for a kindergarten teacher out on maternity leave. Being around the children again is just what her soul needs. Especially one particular little girl who has also recently lost her mother.
Clayton Spencer is a house flipper. While his brother handles the business aspect of things, he does the actual renovations. They buy houses, renovate them and them move on to the next one. Clay has recently lost his sister and he and his brother have taken guardianship of their little five year old niece, Grace. She has become the center of their worlds. Clay doesn’t have time for anything else but when his best friend’s fiance brings her sister home and gets her a job as Grace’s new teacher, Clay can’t help but feel drawn to her.
This was such a sweet story with just a hint of suspense. I do know the suspense aspect of these books ramps up quite a bit in the later books I’ve read but I’m glad to finally go back and start at the beginning. Abby and Clay were both dealing with loss, as was little Grace. All were floundering just a bit trying to get their footing again. Maybe together, with just a little bit of Christmas magic, they will all find their way to a new start.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Abby Giles lives in Washington D.C. One year ago, she lost her beloved husband in a senseless, brutal attack. Since then, her life has been frozen. Unable to move forward she has barely left her home. Her sister, who lives in a small town in North Carolina, has decided to take it upon herself to rescue her. She is getting married and wants her sister to stand beside her. So she convinces Abby to pack a bag and go to No. Carolina.
Surprisingly, Abby finds the small cabin in the woods makes her feel safe for the first time in a long time. Her sister also convinces her to fill in for a kindergarten teacher out on maternity leave. Being around the children again is just what her soul needs. Especially one particular little girl who has also recently lost her mother.
Clayton Spencer is a house flipper. While his brother handles the business aspect of things, he does the actual renovations. They buy houses, renovate them and them move on to the next one. Clay has recently lost his sister and he and his brother have taken guardianship of their little five year old niece, Grace. She has become the center of their worlds. Clay doesn’t have time for anything else but when his best friend’s fiance brings her sister home and gets her a job as Grace’s new teacher, Clay can’t help but feel drawn to her.
This was such a sweet story with just a hint of suspense. I do know the suspense aspect of these books ramps up quite a bit in the later books I’ve read but I’m glad to finally go back and start at the beginning. Abby and Clay were both dealing with loss, as was little Grace. All were floundering just a bit trying to get their footing again. Maybe together, with just a little bit of Christmas magic, they will all find their way to a new start.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
November 24, 2024
Book 1 in an episodic series, CHRISTMAS IN GRANITE FALLS is an Hallmark movie waiting to happen. Well written, with all the feels, I actually got tears in my eyes a few times. Author, Cynthia Cooke, created a charming mountain town and likeable characters you’ll want to visit with in future volumes, altho’ I don’t think they will be featured again.
Christmas is a theme in the story. The town school is having a play featuring the holiday where all the main characters are involved. Two subplots involve a mystery and a murder. Of course, there’s lots of love including a wedding.
The topic of loss and processing the pain that comes after someone dies is handled very well. Cooke views the subject from three POV’s - an extremely mature 5 year old that’s unable to express her grief, a short time married woman where there was violence and a brother for his sister where there’s mysterious elements and he’s partially responsible for raising her 5 year old child. I suspect many readers will resonate with these scenes.
Clean language, gentle romance and a soft, fluid, religious references are part and parcel of a G/PG rating on this one📚
Christmas is a theme in the story. The town school is having a play featuring the holiday where all the main characters are involved. Two subplots involve a mystery and a murder. Of course, there’s lots of love including a wedding.
The topic of loss and processing the pain that comes after someone dies is handled very well. Cooke views the subject from three POV’s - an extremely mature 5 year old that’s unable to express her grief, a short time married woman where there was violence and a brother for his sister where there’s mysterious elements and he’s partially responsible for raising her 5 year old child. I suspect many readers will resonate with these scenes.
Clean language, gentle romance and a soft, fluid, religious references are part and parcel of a G/PG rating on this one📚
January 2, 2022
This is a great Christmas tale with engaging characters and a heartfelt plot. There is good depth to the characters and I quickly began vested in them. I am glad I found this one on Kindle Unlimited and plan to read the next one in the series when it comes out. Happy reading!
April 18, 2022
Great!
Delightful tale of widow whose husband was murdered and single man rearing his 5 year old niece after her mother is murdered. Lots of sorrow and people who need to heal and find love again! Sweet, tender story!
Delightful tale of widow whose husband was murdered and single man rearing his 5 year old niece after her mother is murdered. Lots of sorrow and people who need to heal and find love again! Sweet, tender story!
May 25, 2022
Review of Christmas is Granite Falls
I really liked this book and I will definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves romance novels. She is a very good writer.
I really liked this book and I will definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves romance novels. She is a very good writer.
February 21, 2023
Great Read
Page Turner and easy read
Great how she made the characters come alive
C
Sure is a Great book to read
Page Turner and easy read
Great how she made the characters come alive
C
Sure is a Great book to read
May 27, 2023
Clay & Abby
A real Meet Cute Story. Thank you for the light reading, mystery and chuckles along the way. It was fun 🤩.
A real Meet Cute Story. Thank you for the light reading, mystery and chuckles along the way. It was fun 🤩.
October 20, 2023
Such a sweet book. Abby was stuck and her sister offered her a way out. It was the best thing that could happen to her. She left the bad behind and started new in a new town. Clay had a lot in his plate too and he was doing the best he could. They both loved Grace and wanted the best for her. Them being together was just perfect and made so much sense
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December 15, 2024This book was not necessarily bad, but if you’re looking for a cheerful/hallmarksy/ light Christmas book, please skip this.
There is a lot of grief and hard themes that otherwise I would not have a problem with, but not what I was looking for at Christmas time
There is a lot of grief and hard themes that otherwise I would not have a problem with, but not what I was looking for at Christmas time
contemporary
February 5, 202319
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews