The Gift Counselor: A Novel

Do all gifts come with strings attached? Jonquil Bloom believes so and sets out to prove it. At thirty-four, she's more mature than her UCLA classmates but no less enthusiastic.
It's the late 1990s and she is the single mom of ten-year-old Billy. In early December, her psychology position is unexpectedly terminated. The university can't place her again until after the holidays so she takes a seasonal job at a local department store where, incidentally, people of all ages are buying gifts. The store encourages her to practice gift counseling with successful results. Yet, her son wants a dog which she won't let him have.
The new man in her life, Claude Chappel, sees the paradox of a gift counselor who withholds the very gift her son craves most and he decides to find a resolution. Soon, he realizes he's falling in love and initiates a campaign to win Jonquil's heart and Billy's trust.
Winner of the Beverly Hills Book Award. A timeless mix of new romance and family drama served with humor, this story is not just for the holidays. Suitable for young adults. Book club recommended.