Dreams & Legacies

Underneath The Christmas Tree by Heidi Swain is the most charming contemporary Christmas book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Heidi Swain really does know how to capture Christmas within the pages of a book – and this book is no exception as we enter the setting of a Christmas tree farm with traditional craft stalls and a warm welcome.

Legacies are important – what we leave behind and how we will be remembered. The reader witnesses the legacy of a departed father (before the book opened) – his dream was a Christmas tree farm, and it has risen from small saplings to be part of the Christmas traditions for many. To dream big and to be bold can pay off.

We meet a character running from her past and her perceived future. With dreams of her own, a character is preparing to make them come true – but that is before a personal epiphany… Now what path will she choose?

We see the importance of giving chances to the next generation. A teen has had people speak negatively over him, and he really comes out of his shell when words of encouragement are spoken to him.

The Christmas tree farm offers community for all. Where there are needs, everyone pulls together.

All the characters are well drawn, realistic and likable.

The elements of a traditional Christmas are all perfectly captured within Underneath The Christmas Tree. I can highly recommend it.

JULIA WILSON