Once in a Lifetime by Mary Monroe

Mary Monroe writes beautiful holiday stories which bring out the best in humanity.  Once in a Lifetime shares the story of one woman who misses an opportunity to travel one Christmas and the family she meets as a result that will change her life forever.

Plot Summary

Vanessa Hayes is a woman who enjoys her work and her many friends and family.  She loves a traditional Christmas, but this year she’s set on finally fulfilling a lifelong goal – to spend Christmas in Paris.  When her passport gets lost in the mail and she cannot get a replacement in time for her flight, she cancels her trip.  Set to make the best of the holiday season, she promises herself that she will get there one day.

Shortly before Christmas, she has a knock at her door from Judith, a stranger who has been out of town and who inadvertently received her passport.  The two women find themselves with a lot in common and enjoy each other’s company.  On a visit to Judith’s home, she meets her brother who is very ill and in need of a kidney transplant.  Before long, Vanessa realizes that fate may have played a role in why she couldn’t make it to Paris this year.

Book Review

The news these days is full of stories that can impact mental health.  This book is such a wholesome, joyful read that it helps to diminish some of the anxiety many of us are experiencing during these difficult times.  Yes, the book is predictable, but it doesn’t matter.  The story is refreshing and one I looked forward to sitting down to read.

Vanessa’s character was well developed and the reader gets to know the giving person that she is.  The other characters were all likeable but always felt a bit on the periphery of Vanessa’s story.  Having said that, there is a key element in her parent’s story that provides a good foundation for the choices Vanessa eventually makes.

What I Liked About Once in a Lifetime:

• The theme of helping those around us during difficult times
• The importance of having friends and family in our lives to guide and support us
• Bringing to the forefront of a story of organ donation and its importance in modern healthcare.

I Recommend This Book To:

Those readers who enjoy a predictable, yet joyful read.

My Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Add Once in a Lifetime to your Goodreads shelf

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

The Gift of Family by Mary Monroe

The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan

Home for the Holidays by Sara Richardson

Thank you for reading and supporting my blog.  Let me know in the comments how you feel about books with predictable storylines.  I hope that you have a wonderful day.