A Ferry Merry Christmas

Bestseller Macomber (A Christmas Duet) returns with a gentle, feel-good story that takes place over a few short hours and brings several wistful people together just in time for Christmas. Avery Bond is on a ferry heading from Bremerton, Wash., to Seattle to visit her brother for their first Christmas since the death of the grandmother who raised them. She’s wary of romance and guarded with Harrison Stetlor, the handsome naval officer who catches her eye aboard the boat, fearing that he’s a player. But Harrison’s on his way to meet his sister and turns out to be very congenial. When the ferry stalls unexpectedly in the middle of Puget Sound with mechanical issues, Avery and Harrison learn the stories of several fellow passengers: little Olivia’s parents are in love but painfully separated; black sheep Virginia is hoping to end a two-year estrangement from her twin sister; and expectant father James is desperate to reach the hospital in Seattle where his wife, Lilly, has gone into labor. The spirit of Christmas helps this disparate ensemble cast come together, reconciling differences and sparking new love. Meanwhile, on the mainland, Avery’s brother and Harrison’s sister find a connection of their own. It’s a somewhat slight but nevertheless enjoyable tale that’s sure to please Macomber’s devoted following. (Oct.)