If Only In My Dreams — Noelle Fox

November in North Pole means the Elves are hard at work answering letters to Santa with joy, wisdom and Christmas spirit.

Except for Amelia Beckett, new owner of the Cup of Cheer Café. Amelia just received a let's-try-again letter from her ex, who moved her to North Pole then skipped town with another woman. Seething, she takes a break from Santa letters and writes a furious answer.

John Kimball asked Santa to fix his Dad who broke after Mom left. The response is so nasty he cries -- until a lady named Amelia explains he got the wrong letter, and invites him and Dad to North Pole! Finally they can hang out together . . . except all Dad wants is beer and Amelia. John does have fun with Clara the postmistress and Rudy the reindeer guy, but . . . maybe Mom is right that only Dad can fix himself.

Amelia's bad man-karma continues until a snarling, injured fox won't leave her yard, and she's reduced to begging for help from her neighbor and café regular, Wes Curtis. Wes moved here from Manhattan to craft fine furniture after his wife died. He is tall, dark, talented, funny, adorably clumsy and kind. Why can't she fall for someone wonderful like him?

Wes has been attracted to Amelia since he first saw her. What's taken him so long to show his interest? Well, uh . . . See, he's kinda rusty around women. And he thought he had plenty of time . . . But with Amelia suddenly being pulled in too many directions, he is forced to act.

Sitting in the moonlit woods night after night, watching her and the little fox relax and heal, he is hoping for just enough time to convince Amelia she belongs here in North Pole -- and that she belongs with him.