Deck the Halls with Daddy Issues

A grumpy single dad, a sunshine music teacher and a seven-year-old with a plan.

Since losing his wife, Jack Ellison’s world has narrowed to two things: his work and his daughter, Maisie. He has no time for Christmas lights, community festivities or the ridiculously cheerful music teacher who seems to leave glitter wherever she goes.

Noelle Santos believes there’s very little a ukulele and a dose of Christmas spirit can’t improve. Maisie’s father may be the exception. Jack is grumpy, guarded and determined to manage perfectly well on his own.

Maisie has reached a different conclusion.

Her solution is Operation Christmas Joy, a carefully planned campaign involving tinsel, carols, cookies and one strategically placed kiss. With Noelle unwittingly recruited as chief festive accomplice, Jack’s quiet garage soon fills with tangled lights, unsolicited music and suspicious opportunities for the three of them to spend time together.

Noelle sees the devoted father beneath Jack’s defenses. Jack discovers that her cheerfulness comes with patience, kindness and a knack for making Maisie’s whole face light up. The more Noelle becomes part of their Christmas, the harder it is to imagine their home without her.

Jack has already lost one great love, and opening his heart again feels like tempting fate. Noelle knows that caring for Jack and Maisie could leave her wanting a family that may never truly be hers.

Maisie, meanwhile, has added “have a family Christmas” to the plan and sees no reason to amend the schedule.

Deck the Halls with Daddy Issues is a sweet, closed-door Christmas romance filled with grumpy/sunshine chemistry, single-dad tenderness, child-assisted matchmaking, tangled fairy lights and a warm family happily-ever-after.