Synopsis – A Little Christmas Spirit
Can a sprinkle of magic heal broken hearts this Christmas?
With Jacob now at the helm at the cosy Sugar and Spice café, it’s the perfect opportunity for Christmas Spirit Lara to weave her magic.
Fraser is floundering in his new role as headteacher as he grapples with guilt over having to place his beloved mother in a care home, leaving him feeling lost and alone during what should be a joyful time.
Meanwhile, school janitor Paul is torn between his desire to feel needed and the pressure from his wife to retire, dimming the season’s sparkle.
Valerie, overwhelmed by the demands of newborn twins, feels she’s not giving her other daughter enough attention. She needs a bit of me time and for her husband to realise the responsibility for the kids falls to both of them.
And Bella, heartbroken after her husband’s shocking request for a separation just a year into their marriage, longs to escape the memories of last year’s perfect Christmas.
Can Lara help them rediscover joy, connection, and the true spirit of the season?
A heartwarming journey filled with friendship, community, and a dash of holiday magic that promises to transform the lives of those in need of hope this Christmas.
Author Bio
Susan Buchanan writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction, usually featuring travel, food, family, friendship and community.
Her books are Sign of the Times, The Dating Game, The Christmas Spirit, Return of the Christmas Spirit and Just One Day – Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn.
As a freelance developmental editor, copyeditor and proofreader, if she’s not reading, editing or writing, she’s thinking about it.
She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Society of Authors and the Alliance of Independent Authors.
She lives near Glasgow with her husband, two children and a crazy Labrador.
When she’s not editing, writing, reading or caring for her two delightful cherubs, she likes going to the theatre, playing board games, watching quiz shows and eating out, and she has recently discovered a love of writing retreats.
Social Media Links –
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Author Q&A
Your main characters often have lovely meet-cutes. Which was your favourite meet-cute of your Christmas Spirit books to write?
Well, that’s a toughie, but since they both appear in A Little Christmas Spirit, I’ll go with Jacob and Sophie, who met when Sophie was picking up the coffee order of her Cruela de Vil boss. They both really needed a boost that year.
This is the third book in the Christmas Spirit series. Are there any recurring characters?
Apart from Sophie and Jacob, you’ll also see Tabitha, Jacob’s sister, and Lara, the baby Tabitha had, as well as octogenarian Stanley. Stanley was one of my favourite characters to write and inspired by tales my late father-in-law regaled me with, as well as his own actions. He was like a real-life Stanley, hence A Little Christmas Spirit is dedicated to him.
What’s next for the Christmas Spirit?
I think it’s safe to say the Christmas Spirit will be back in 2025. But I’m hedging my bets a little, as I have something up my sleeve on that front, so it may be Lara, but not as you know her!
Do you believe in Christmas spirit and if you do, what form does it take?
I do. Well, apart from when everyone’s stressed at having 24 people for dinner and wondering how they’re ever going that turkey that would feel a small nation into the oven, or when they’re jostling each other out of the way in the run-up to Christmas in city centres and shopping malls. But yes, I do believe in the spirit of Christmas. People speak to each other more; – strangers in the street smile, nod, say hi, open doors for you, are generally kinder. I mean, it only lasts about five days, but I think it really is the season of goodwill.
In The Christmas Spirit, we saw lots of traditions from other countries. Will we see any other traditions in this Christmas Spirit book?
Oh yes! I mean, it wouldn’t be a Christmas Spirit book if there weren’t traditions. I’ve gone a little further afield on the cakes and there’s a particular event that I’ve included as I adore the concept, so much so I’m actually going to replicate it with two members of my extended family this year, but no spoilers. Plus, there are many traditions from the UK too that have been included, but I love the research – and I love Christmas!
Christmas festivals and traditions feature heavily in your books. How do you make it authentic and keep it feeling fresh?
As a lover of Christmas, it’s quite easy – plus loads of research. But the location of much of A Little Christmas Spirit also lends itself well to this as the two key locations in the book are the Sugar and Spice café, but also the school Lara attends, as this year it’s people connected to the school that she helps. And schools, for any of those with children, or for those who maybe remember being at school, and what it was like at Christmas, tend to go heavy on the events at Christmastime, in a good way – whether it’s carol concerts, nativities, Christmas fair, you get the idea. So A Little Christmas Spirit has those, but also a few extra ones that I threw in for even more fun!
