Hello everyone!
And I feel like I might have to go back and re-read the entire series from the beginning!
See, a while back, I ran into this book called Breakaway, by author Catherine Gayle. It wouldn't have caught my eye at all if not for the fact that it was a book about ... ice hockey.
I know, I know. I know what you're thinking.
What does ice hockey have to do with ANYTHING?
Turns out, rather a lot.
Because Ms Gayle wrote not only an (almost) whole series about an ice hockey team, but she included a couple of Christmas books in the lineup, too.
And because I really, really love the series as a whole, to the point where we've gotten at least, I decided to post about them on here.
We're starting with Mistletoe Misconduct.
Because I haven't really covered this series on the blog save for one book only, I'll be linking that one as well as the previous Christmas-themed from last week.
On we go!
Portland Storm, the hockey team situated in - you guessed it - Portland, has this really great guy on their management team, named Jim Sutter. He tends to want to see the best in everybody, and gives everyone, their mother, their dog AND their beat-down car a second chance.
This is why the hockey wives band together and create an online dating profile for him so that they can find him a little bit of joy this holiday season.
Which is where his ex-wife, Elaine comes in.
Oh yeah, Jimmy boy was married. Jimmy boy also, unfortunately, hooked up with a puck bunny when he was on the road for his birthday once after a trade (after getting drunk), after which Elaine packed up herself and their son and filed for divorce.
Since then, they haven't really been in contact other than her following his career from playing in the NHL to managing, and when she finds the online profile, she's stunned as she'd JUST been considering maybe starting dating again, now that their son has supposedly found his forever partner.
And before she can think better of it, she decides if Jim wasn't going to give himself a second chance - because he isn't, not himself, though he does it for everyone else - then she's going to give HERSELF another one.
She flies to Portland and Jim gets the surprise of his life when he walks into the room and sees her standing there.
Of course then he just says 'I'm sorry' and turns on his heel, walking right back out.
The women convince Elaine that, if she believes she's the right one for him, she's going to have to fight.
So she does, and initially just convinces him to at least talk, so they go grab a coffee, and she explains that she understands she was to blame too, for what happened. She could have stayed, could have fought. Now she wants that second chance, and she DEMANDS that Jim gives it to the both of them.
It's such a poignant story as it's interspaced with memories the both of them have of their first meeting and how they got together, and Elaine reiterates that Jim had never actually changed, not in all the ways that matter.
In the end he caves, because he still loves her - has never stopped loving her in fact - and agrees to spend Christmas eve with her, together.
He gifts her a key to his house; Elaine, in turn, gifts him a phone conversation with his son after asking said son to hear his father out, rather than hang up in resentment that won't do anyone any good anymore.
We never get to witness the conversation, but we do witness the aftermath as Jim sobs his heart out.
And to wrap up this heartwarming tale of second chances, the head coach arrives with his family to sing Christmas carols, a family tradition.
As they say, all's well that ends well.
I think there's a really poignant and beautiful lesson in this book. Often, some get lost in translation, but the one about not being so hard on yourself and allowing yourself the same privileges and hopes and dreams as you gift to those around you; that's a hard one to come to terms with. We're often our own harshest critics.
But if you read Mistletoe Misconduct, think about what Elaine says: EVERYONE deserves a second chance. Your way isn't always the correct way. And happily ever after is worth fighting for, if you truly want it.
So maybe be gracious this holiday season, and give yourself the gift of a second chance.
Jim Sutter could do it, after decades of loneliness and loss.
Why shouldn't you be able to, as well?
xx
*image not mine
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