Kindled — Deirdre Riordan Hall

A car accident rips the Carter family apart, leaving Wes to struggle through the loss of his parents and landing his sister, Maisy, in a coma. He waits and waits, putting his life on hold as he clings, desperately to hope. When she wakes, it appears as if she'll make a quick recovery allowing him to return to school. When Wes visits Maisy over holiday break from college, he learns she's vanishing into the void of grief. Despite the long phone calls at odd hours, the support, and near-constant attention, nothing he'd done to help -- that ate up his sleep, social life, and study hours -- was enough to save her. On Christmas Eve, the surrogate family who carried Wes through the months of uncertainty gathers to celebrate. Mellie, the girl Wes would like to call his sweetheart is there with a demure smile that knocks him off his feet. But Maisy's presence is like a blemish, a reminder of how broken the Carter siblings are. An unexpected guest appears and shakes things up, exposing a secret that prompts Wes to question his sister's integrity. He seeks an escape, but the snow falls fast and he can't outpace the frigid thoughts blanketing his mind. Through the night, he struggles to make sense of how difficult it is to heal after loss. Christmas morning brings blue skies and a renewed perspective for Wes. He presents a colossal gift to the group and something extra special for Mellie. He hopes to win her heart, mend his relationship with his sister, and find his way back to bliss.