This was not my favorite Christmas story by this author, but it was still sweet and gave me a few smile-worthy moments. I listened to the audiobook, which was very short at around four hours and even quicker when sped up. There is no spice and no strong language, making it a gentle and clean holiday listen.

The story follows Simone, who discovers a long-lost letter from her great-grandmother claiming a treasure is hidden for her in the French Alps. With the help of a close friend, Simone faces her fear of flying and travels to France to uncover the truth behind the letter. Along the way, she reconnects with family she never knew and finds herself drawn into a budding romance.

I enjoyed the characters overall and absolutely loved the European setting. The ongoing mystery kept me listening, and I was curious to see what Simone would uncover. The story has a warm, adventurous tone with heartfelt moments centered on family connections and belonging.

That said, the plot relied heavily on coincidences, with characters constantly running into each other and things falling into place a little too easily. The pacing also felt uneven. It took a long time to reach the conclusion, yet the ending itself felt abrupt and rushed. I would have liked more character development and a slower build to the romance, as the insta-love element did not fully work for me. The short length may have contributed to these issues, and I think the story could have been stronger if it had been more fully developed. I also found parts of it slow and not especially engaging.

While the descriptions did give it a seasonal feel, I wished there had been more Christmas activities and festive moments woven into the story. Overall, it was a pleasant enough holiday read, but not one I expect to remember long-term. If the premise appeals to you, it may be worth checking out, as it could work better for other readers. Even though it did not completely land for me, I would still recommend it as a light and cozy Christmas story.