The town of Independence, New Mexico, is fading after the
closure of a vehicle parts firm. Families have left, small
firms have to try to sell goods online as there are not
enough local buyers. Myka and her friend Sophie discuss
the matter after the death of a neighbour. His son is on
the way to town, to pack up and sell everything. They
remember Joshua from school, but he was troublesome and a
Navaho, best left alone by the star cheerleader Myka...
though she was secretly more than a little interested.
HOMESPUN CHRISTMAS shows Myka, a young widow and no longer
a bookkeeper, spinning wool from her own sheep into yarn;
her mother knits wonderful sweaters and she can sell wool
online. Joshua arrives and they seem to have more in common
than she'd remembered. He's an architect, now looking for
work, and selling his father's house looks bleak in a
forest of sale signs. Maybe it's just that they're both
stubborn! That evening Myka asks fellow crafters to share
ideas on how to revitalise the town. Waiting for the
economy to pick up is not working, and they have to act
fast.
Joshua is a well-drawn character, who was determined to
outgrow the small town origins and taunts of schoolkids,
but with his business closing he's back to square one, and
feels like a failure. He remembers the Navaho teaching that
everything is connected and forms a pattern. Subplots
populate the town with real people, such as Myka's sister-
in-law having inherited a share in the local inn, while her
violent husband was in prison. Joshua's contacts on the
Rez come in useful. The police department is short-handed
and one of them still has prejudices against Joshua.
I liked Myka, a practical lady, who suggests that the
town's Rio Grande craft traditions are saleable through her
web store. But most people just knit or quilt for a hobby,
and she has trouble convincing them to start a company.
Turning their lives around with Christmas approaching seems
like the biggest challenge anyone could face. In the
middle of all this Sophie urges Myka to try romance with
Joshua - comparison shopping never hurts, she says. Could
there be a future for the two of them? Aimee Thurlo knows
her location and people, and HOMESPUN CHRISTMAS is a true-
to-life encouraging read as well as a rewarding gentle
romance. This book deserves to be read.
TO SAVE HER TOWN
Independence, New Mexico, needs a lifeline, and Myka Solis
is determined to provide one. She thinks her craft business
can transform the dying town into a vibrant, creative hub.
And she knows exactly the person who can help: Joshua Nez,
the confident, big-city architect who's back in town to
rebuild his own life.
Thanks to Josh's expertise, Myka finds herself leading a
revitalization effort that draws in the entire community.
But working with Josh has to stay a business-only
arrangement. Josh has dreams, too, and his involve opening
an architecture firm far away from Independence. If only
Myka can show him they both have a future in their
hometown
together.