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  • Thresholds by Kate Canterbary
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Thresholds
The Walsh Series Book 8
Kate Canterbary
Holiday Romance
Vesper Press
December 14, 2017
192

Twas the weekend before Christmas, when all through the North End
Not a Walsh had his life together, not even his friends;

The parties were planned by the foodies with care,
In hopes that Wes and Erin would soon find their way there;

The men were stressing over last minute shopping lists and plans,
While the ladies were busy with work and nesting and finding the right paella pans;

When out in the dining room there arose such a clatter,
The Halsted dogs sprang from their beds to see what was the matter;

They whistled and shouted and called each other names,
While the secrets and announcements and surprises quickly came;

So onto another adventure they flew
With the sleigh full of Walshes, and the Commodore too—

As they continued arguing and clamoring around,
Down the road an unexpected visitor came with a bound;

But it wasn't long until couples were all nestled snug in their beds,
With new memories of steamy holiday nights dancing in their heads.

“I want to grow old with you…”

 

It is no secret that I am a Kate Canterbary fan. I can probably (ok, definitely) take it a step further and say I am a Kate Canterbary fan-girl. And I’m proud of that fact. Every time I read one of her books, I sit in awe, questioning how so many people in the world can be unfamiliar with this amazingly talented woman and her phenomenal work. To call them simply books seems wrong. Because they are so much more than that. History lessons, discourses on family dynamics, architectural digests, insights into the art of male and female relationships and of course, every one includes Kate’s signature sexy times and shenanigans. And this episode of Walsh family drama provides all that and more. In Thresholds, we are given the opportunity to reconnect with each of the Walsh siblings, their significant others, and the friends and family members that make up their small, but fiercely loyal clan. And every word is a gem, and every chapter is a blessing and the book in its entirety is pure magic.

But I can not risk spoilers (and there are many), so I’m not sure how to accurately and meaningfully describe how I felt reading this book. I guess the best way I can put it is this:

Reading this book was like receiving a completely unexpected holiday package from an old friend. And when you sliced open the cardboard and pulled back the flaps, you discovered that the package was full of a multitude of wrapped gifts in a variety of sizes. And your joy only grew bigger and wider as you unwrapped each individual box to find all of your favorite things nestled inside. There were gifts in the box containing items that you had loved for years, and it gave you a warm and fuzzy feeling to know that this friend knew you so well, so intimately, that they would include these memories from the past. And then there were a ton of new, little surprise goodies that you never knew you wanted but that you loved instantly and it made you feel, almost impossibly, even closer to that old friend. Each layer of tissue paper you peeled back brought on another wave of glee, a surge of nostalgia, a rush of feeling. Some of the gifts brought you to tears, as gifts from those who know you well so often do. And some of the gifts had you laughing uncontrollably- that kind of deep, belly laughter that only surfaces in the presence of the best of friends, sharing an inside joke, or an undoubtedly inappropriate moment. Absolutely every emotion known to humankind was inside that box of treasures. And you were torn between opening every gift  in rapid succession because you couldn’t wait to see what would be next, and parceling them out at the slowest possible pace in order for the wonder of the entire experience to never, ever end. Then, it happens, you reach the bottom. And see one very last box. This box is wrapped so very differently from all of the other boxes. It looks a little rough around the edges. Maybe as if it’s seen a thing or two, or is in need of some TLC. But you know, there’s no way this particular friend would ever send you anything that was not carefully planned, thought out to include every possibility and checked and rechecked an infinite number of times. So you open it gingerly. And… the box is empty. For a second, you panic. Was there a problem during shipping? Did the package get intercepted? Did you miss a crucial detail while opening all the other boxes? So you sit back, and think, and stare, and ponder all the possibilities. And then you come to the following conclusions:

1.You had NO idea this particular package was coming to you.

2.The package contained innumerable gifts that you can never properly express your thanks for.

3.The gifts provided you with memories to last a lifetime, and emotions that you will still be sorting out when the New Year is rung in.

4.You will be taking your time, in all likelihood multiple times, to go through every single gift again and analyze it, examine it and cherish it.

5.This friend will do right by you. And it may not be the “right” you expect, or imagine, but you have absolutely zero doubt that there is meaning to EVERY single gift in the box, even that very last one. And for now, you just need to sit back and enjoy the inimitable and precious gifts you have already received.

A SIGNED PAPERBACK of Thresholds by Kate Canterbary