Silver Bells

October 25, 2004
A Christmas tree farmer from Nova Scotia and a lonely New York widow come together in this Christmas weepie by bestseller Rice (Beach Girls
, etc.). Catherine Tierney, a corporate librarian who lives in a 19th-century townhouse on a quaint street in the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea, used to love Christmas until her husband, Brian, died of cancer. Each year, she awaits a sign from him that'll let her know he's watching over her. Christy Byrne, a widower from Nova Scotia, is in Manhattan with his 12-year-old daughter, Bridget, to sell his Christmas trees. Every night he leaves his boarding house in Chelsea to go looking for his estranged 16-year-old son, Danny, who ran off the year before. When Danny resurfaces and it's revealed that he's been living on the streets with the help of Catherine and her friend Lizzie, they all realize that their paths have crossed many times, and that they've touched each other's lives more than they could imagine. Thrown together in their shared concern for Danny, Christy and Catherine help each other forget their troubled pasts and move toward the future together. Rice's romanticized vision of Manhattan is sharpened by local detail, and her heartwarming Christmas story will please readers who like a nice dose of pathos with their holiday fare. Agent, Andrea Cirillo at the Rotrosen Agency.

July 1, 2004
Can a Canadian Christmas tree farmer and a sweet librarian find true love in New York at Christmas? You bet.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2004
A widower, Christy Byrne makes his living growing Christmas trees in Nova Scotia and selling them in Manhattan. One day, the unthinkable happens. Christy gets into an argument with his son, Danny. The police are called in, and as Christy is handcuffed, Danny runs away. Widow Catherine Tierney sees the fight, takes Danny under her wing, and gives him access to the private library where she works. A year passes, and Christy returns to New York City to sell his trees. He and Catherine are interested in each other, but she faces a quandary: does she tell the father about Danny and break the boy's trust, or does she betray Christy by keeping the boy's whereabouts a secret? Rice has written a prodigal son parable and a heartwarming holiday treat, and thanks to her lyrical voice and elegant writing style, this story is special. Readers who enjoy such distinctive writers as Mary Alice Monroe or Patricia Gaffney will add Rice to their list of favorites.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)