THE PROMISE OF CHRISTMAS PAST

In this novella, a recently divorced middle-aged woman searches for answers about her family history on an idyllic island in Lake Huron and charts a path for her future.

Hughes’ story begins in 1822, when a 7-year-old girl named Gichi is struggling to make sense of her complicated feelings for the adults who surround her. A resident of the isolated Mackinac Island in the Great Lakes, Gichi has suffered personal trauma and hasn’t spoken a word since age 3. The only person who she feels understands her is Niall McIntyre, a transplant to the island from Ireland (“She loved his stories and the way he was so kind to her”). When he leaves to tend to his sick father back home, Gichi is devastated. The story then jumps to 2022, where empty-nester Wanda Roberts is trying to focus on anything other than her long cheating, recently remarried ex-husband. Wanda begins researching her family history, and her investigation soon reveals an undetermined connection to Mackinac Island and a woman named Gichi who lived long ago. With two close friends in tow, Wanda travels to the island in hopes of learning more about her ancestors. As the story unfolds, she meets other residents and travelers who help her understand just how deeply she is connected to Mackinac Island and how history has a way of repeating itself. Told in a dual-timeline style throughout, the novella alternates between Gichi’s story and Wanda’s, highlighting both the extreme differences in their day-to-day lives as well as the many parallels in their personal journeys. For both women, friendship and romance emerge as important themes that Hughes explores with grace and insight. With intriguing details about life on the island, past and present, from the scenery to the reliance on fishing, the story reads almost like a brochure for the place. Although certain plot points feel flimsy at times, especially toward the tale’s end, the narrative is sufficiently engaging to keep readers turning pages. Similarly, the writing is breezy, never delving too deeply into characters’ darker or more complex thoughts. This is a quick, cheerful story full of optimism and second chances.

An upbeat tale for readers who enjoy genealogical explorations with a side of wholesome romance.