As mentioned on my Priscilla's Picks page, reading went on the way side for a few years while I was busy raising my babies. Before kids, I enjoyed holiday reading and every year, I'd search reviews on popular holiday reads to compile a list of seasonal books. Local ghost story books were perfect for October, cozy Thanksgiving reads were a must for November and romantic, atmospheric Christmas stories piqued my interest for the month of December.
Although, ghost stories are no longer my thing and there seems to be a limited amount of Thanksgiving books; this year, Christmas stories were of plenty! One series in particular was my favorite. The Winter Street series by Elin Hilderbrand. It not only provided me with all the holiday feels but it also pulled at my heart strings.
The first book in the 4-book series is Winter Street. This one sets the scene for all the characters of the Quinn family, residents of Nantucket, a small island off the coast of Massachusetts. We start off the story with Kelley Quinn, the father and patriarch of the family, finding his second wife, Mitzi, kissing "Santa Claus" days before Christmas and their annual, popular and charismatic Christmas Eve party, in their very own bed and breakfast inn on Winter Street.
When I first started reading the story, I thought it would be more on the comical side, but it ended up being more than that. We quickly learn that the dysfunction isn't only with Kelley and Mitzi but it's also with his four children, Patrick, Kevin, Ava and Bart. But wait! It doesn't end there, Margaret, Kelley's first wife and mother to the three oldest children, comes into play in all the craziness! There were times that I felt my jaw drop and wondered, "do families really function like this?"
Patrick, the eldest, and his wife Jennifer, have had a strong marriage for many years until one day, Patrick takes a chance at work that costs his freedom and wife's sanity.
Kevin, the second oldest, is a college drop-out that hasn't advanced beyond working as a bartender at a local pub. With a divorce under his belt, in his late 30's and in a secret relationship, he wonders if he will ever get out of this rut.
Ava, the youngest of the first three children, is a 29 year old music teacher stuck in a dead-end relationship. All she wants is to get married and settle down.
Bart, Kelley's youngest child and the only child he had with Mitzi, joined the Marines right out of high school and is serving a tour in Afghanistan. Without giving away too many details, this decision has caused a rift between Kelley and Mitzi.
Margaret, is Kelley's first wife of 19 years, and a well known CBS news anchor. After hearing the news of Mitzi's affair with "Santa Claus", she comes to Nantucket to make sure everything is ok with her ex-husband.
From here, there is a spiral effect of questionable relationships, broken hearts, new love and lots of longing and heart ache.
In the Winter Stroll, the second in the series, we once again meet up with the Quinn family. A year has gone by and some relationships are still in turmoil while others are rekindled. Patrick and Jennifer's relationship seems stable, but is Jennifer? Kevin is finally settling down and is trying to make things right with his new love. Ava is trying to find herself and trying to make the right decisions when it comes to love. What about Bart? Well, you have to read the book to find out! Mitzi and Kelley's relationship takes a turn and we learn more about Margaret as a lover and a mother.
The start of this story is set during the Winter Stroll on Main Street, the first weekend of December when the island kicks off its' holiday season. I had to do my own research in regards to the holiday festivities on the island (confession, I love all things Christmas and typically try to attend one local event each season) and learned that the Nantucket Christmas Stroll, is an actual event. And to my delight, Nantucket is only a ferry ride away from me! You know where I will be the first weekend of December 2018!
Hilderbrand changed the scene of the third book, Winter Storms, and we meet the Quinn's in the spring time. Lots have changed since the first book and the ending leaves you with tears and questions that need to be answered. I couldn't get to Winter Solstice fast enough!
This series was originally supposed to be a trilogy so that last installment, Winter Solstice, came as a surprise, and boy, Hilderbrand did not disappoint! The character development was on point as they grew from book to book. The love and brutal honesty of the family members was felt and heard loud and clear. I wanted to visit Nantucket in hopes to meet the members of the Quinn family, but had to remind myself they didn't really exist!
I was truly sad to leave them but Hilderbrand tied up the story so nicely that you didn't leave the story with unanswered questions, but instead with a heart filled with love and eyes filled with tears.
I highly recommend that you read these novels. Each one is less than 300 pages, so it is easy to read through and hard to put down! Although these are predominately based in the holiday season, you can read them anytime of the year. If you are upset and missing Christmas already, pick these books up right now to immerse yourself in the holiday cheer. But if you want to wait until next Christmas to pick these up, then please add them to your December TBR list!
Enjoy! Happy reading and Happy New Year my friends!
-Priscilla
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