A ferry merry Christmas : a novel / Debbie Macomber.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A delayed ferryboat brings people together in the best of ways during the holiday season in this enchanting Christmas novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

Avery and Reed Bond grew up sharing a close-knit relationship, weathering life's storms side by side. Even so, Avery often finds herself exasperated by her brother's relentless matchmaking, while Reed can't resist teasing his sister--after all, isn't that what siblings do?

Facing their first Christmas without their beloved Grams, the woman who lovingly raised them, Reed and Avery decide to spend the holiday together at Reed's home. However, their plans take an unexpected turn when the ferry Avery's traveling on stalls in the middle of Puget Sound, stranding its passengers and leaving Reed waiting a now undetermined length of time for her arrival. What is at first an inconvenience threatens to ruin the plans of a number of commuters, but Avery and Reed soon discover that this unforeseen delay might end up being be a perfectly timed blessing in disguise.

While stuck on the ferry, Avery meets a handsome sailor and witnesses a Christmas miracle that reignites her belief in the holiday spirit. Meanwhile, Reed runs into a coworker who's also waiting for a family member to arrive, and sparks a surprising and delightful connection.

In this tale of holiday magic, the Bond siblings find themselves taking a chance on love, proving that sometimes the best moments in life come when we least expect them.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Bestseller Macomber (A Christmas Duet) returns with a gentle, feel-good story that takes place over a few short hours and brings several wistful people together just in time for Christmas. Avery Bond is on a ferry heading from Bremerton, Wash., to Seattle to visit her brother for their first Christmas since the death of the grandmother who raised them. She's wary of romance and guarded with Harrison Stetlor, the handsome naval officer who catches her eye aboard the boat, fearing that he's a player. But Harrison's on his way to meet his sister and turns out to be very congenial. When the ferry stalls unexpectedly in the middle of Puget Sound with mechanical issues, Avery and Harrison learn the stories of several fellow passengers: little Olivia's parents are in love but painfully separated; black sheep Virginia is hoping to end a two-year estrangement from her twin sister; and expectant father James is desperate to reach the hospital in Seattle where his wife, Lilly, has gone into labor. The spirit of Christmas helps this disparate ensemble cast come together, reconciling differences and sparking new love. Meanwhile, on the mainland, Avery's brother and Harrison's sister find a connection of their own. It's a somewhat slight but nevertheless enjoyable tale that's sure to please Macomber's devoted following. (Oct.)

Kirkus Book Review

As a ferry stalls halfway between Bremerton and Seattle two days before Christmas, new connections are made and old ones rekindled. Avery Bond is on her way to Seattle to meet her brother, Reed, for their first Christmas since their grandmother's passing. Also on board is Harrison Stetler, a Navy man, on his way to spend Christmas with his sister, Kellie, whom he hasn't seen in two years. Six-year-old Olivia Sullivan is off to see Santa along with her mother, Beth, and father, Logan. Virginia Talbot, a grandmother, is heading to see her estranged twin sister, Veronica. A band is en route to play their first paid gig. And James is stressed beyond all recognition because his wife has gone into labor on land and they don't have any nearby family. Everyone is eagerly anticipating their arrival in Seattle. But half an hour into what should have been a quick trip, the ferry stalls; then the cafeteria runs out of food. What begins as anger gradually shifts into acceptance. As the hours pass, the aggravation begins to grow. But then the group comes together to help James with the stress of not being at the hospital with his wife. This is a straightforward, old-fashioned set of love stories where the roles play out as expected, with clear signposts for readers--the beautiful single woman and the overeager sailor deep into love-at-first-sight; the co-workers who hit it off; the separated parents brought back together by their child; the harried father-to-be; the estranged sisters--and each story neatly concluded by the end of the book. A cozy, easily read Christmas tale in which the couples happily pair off and disagreements are resolved. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.