Only Twelve Days

Only Twelve Days: Eileen Thornton

Dear Santa,

 All I want for Christmas is a new mommy. Can you get me one?

Love,

Joey

Joey Roberts and all of the children in his nursery class are writing special letters to Santa. Sally Hughes is covering for her ailing friend and realizes what Joey has written. Rather than make a big fuss she brilliantly says she will post his letter along with the rest. Can Santa fill his request? Can Santa bring two people magically together? You just never know!

Bill Roberts is Joey’s father who is a workaholic and never seems to have enough time for anything else. While all of the other children have been collected, Joey remains with Sally waiting for her father who is constantly late. As she begins to stew just a little she does not want Joey to feel that she is angry with him and the two seem to bond from the start. Inquisitive you have to give this child tons of credit as he seems to interview her for a candidate for mother even without realizing it.

Bill Roberts is a good looking man and when he finally arrives something happens between him and Sally that sets off a chain of events that will definitely make you wonder: Is Santa watching?

Bill feels he owes Sally something for remaining with Joey and invites her for pizza after she closes up the school and surprisingly Joey is thrilled. But, Bill is apprehensive and not sure how to proceed so he takes the easy way out you might say by taking Joey out of school for a week to spend it with his grandparents. Although this was preplanned he hoped to return him after her ailing friend would return. But, you know fate and you know that sometimes things do not always pan out the way you predicted.

When Sally mentions Bill to her friend Jo, the reaction she gets is anything but positive and makes her wonder why she is still her friend. Where as Colin, Bill’s best friend gives him the encouraging green light but will he take it or will he wait until it turns red and it is too late?

Work seems to consume them both but for some reason they cannot get away from thinking about each other so which one will make that call first and who will decide to take that once in a lifetime chance? Getting to know Bill we learn more about the stress and pressures he faces at work and what happens when things become overwhelming. Dealing with his son at one point he even loses his cool even though it is out of character. Meeting the people he works with you begin to wonder more about Alan, his devotion to trying to be the best he can, why he is so insecure around Bill, and why he cannot seem to focus when Sally is not around. Deep within him he seems to fear failure as Sally tells her parents about Bill and the reaction is surprising and mirrors that of her friend Jo. Just where will this all wind up and will it unravel?

With both sets of parents yet to meet both Bill and Sally reactions are varied and tempers will flare. When Sally explains meeting Bill her parent’s reactions are quite startling but when meeting him will it change? The magic of Christmas is in the air and within 12 days will they manage to create something special or will this just be an illusion?

When Bill finally tells his parents about Sally what will their reaction be? One inquisitive little five year boy who asks so many questions you won’t believe that he is only five. Wanting answer and getting some will he accept Sally or not?

Both Colin and Bill work together but watch what happens when someone has too much to drink, information is leaked and a friendships is tested as author Eileen Thornton takes us inside the world of Finance, the corporate world where deals are made, people are not always what they seem and some appear over anxious. We meet Colin who is in second command and works closely with Bill. We meet Alan who seems quite adept at understanding figures and unsure of himself in Bill’s presence and of course Vera or Miss Anderson, Bill’s loyal secretary who runs it all you might say.

Only Twelve Days: Counting down to the final one where everyone can open their presents and find out what they are going to get. While Joey takes out his calendar and opens each flap getting ready to have his presents revealed will Santa answer his letter? Will he deliver what he wants?

When families unite and people come together sometimes one remark can change it all. Will Joey get a Mummy for Christmas? Will Colin learn when not to speak? Will Alan ever not be afraid or unsure when he is in Bill’s presence? Friendships are tested, loyalties are stretched and one little boy’s Christmas present has yet to be decided. This is one story that will make you laugh, cry and smile!

Dear Joey:

I received your letter and you have been a good boy all year. Will do my best and will get back to you on Christmas Day.

For all of you out there who want to know what I finally decided to get for Joey for Christmas: Eileen would like you to read Only Twelve Days and enjoy the holiday season with Bill, Sally and the rest of the cast of characters and find out for yourself. Christmas is special and right now I have to get the reindeer ready to fly.

Merry Christmas:

Love, Santa

Let’s give this heartwarming book that you can read in front of an open fire, on a cold winter’s night or anytime and give it:

FIVE GOLDEN CHRISTMAS ANGELS

Fran Lewis: Reviewer