Genre Fiction
![Emily Stone - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_emily_stone.jpg)
One Last Gift: A Novel
When a young woman finds herself lost and at a crossroads, one last gift from her brother just might give her another chance at life and at love in this epic holiday romance from the author of Always, in December
"Heartbreaking, romantic and full of warmth . . . waterproof mascara recommended!"-Sarah Morgan, author of The Christmas Sisters
Sometimes the best gifts in life are the ones you don't expect.
Cassie and Tom lost their parents at a young age and relied on each other-as well as a community of friends-to cope. They were especially close with Tom's best friend, Sam, who always made sure that Tom and Cassie were surrounded with love. But, twenty years later, Cassie has lost Tom as well. And in a way, she's also lost Sam; over the years they'd drifted apart, and now the man she always had a crush on is someone she doesn't even recognize anymore.
She's never felt more alone.
Then Cassie finds an envelope with her name on it, written in Tom's terrible handwriting, and she knows immediately what it is. It's the first clue in the Christmas scavenger hunt that Tom made for her every year; he'd promised her for months that this year's would be the grandest one yet. At first, she's too scared to open the envelope-what if she can't figure out the clues without his help? Or what if she does figure them all out and her last connection to Tom is gone?
Tom's present sets Cassie on a heart-wrenching and beautiful journey that will change her life-if she lets it. And as she travels from London to the Welsh mountains to the French countryside, she reconnects with old friends, rekindles a lost love, and, most important, rediscovers herself. But once she's solved the final clue, will she be brave enough to accept the gift her brother has given her-and the love it's led her to?
"Heartbreaking, romantic and full of warmth . . . waterproof mascara recommended!"-Sarah Morgan, author of The Christmas Sisters
Sometimes the best gifts in life are the ones you don't expect.
Cassie and Tom lost their parents at a young age and relied on each other-as well as a community of friends-to cope. They were especially close with Tom's best friend, Sam, who always made sure that Tom and Cassie were surrounded with love. But, twenty years later, Cassie has lost Tom as well. And in a way, she's also lost Sam; over the years they'd drifted apart, and now the man she always had a crush on is someone she doesn't even recognize anymore.
She's never felt more alone.
Then Cassie finds an envelope with her name on it, written in Tom's terrible handwriting, and she knows immediately what it is. It's the first clue in the Christmas scavenger hunt that Tom made for her every year; he'd promised her for months that this year's would be the grandest one yet. At first, she's too scared to open the envelope-what if she can't figure out the clues without his help? Or what if she does figure them all out and her last connection to Tom is gone?
Tom's present sets Cassie on a heart-wrenching and beautiful journey that will change her life-if she lets it. And as she travels from London to the Welsh mountains to the French countryside, she reconnects with old friends, rekindles a lost love, and, most important, rediscovers herself. But once she's solved the final clue, will she be brave enough to accept the gift her brother has given her-and the love it's led her to?
Editorial Reviews
Praise for One Last Gift
"Emily Stone's One Last Gift is a tender book about love, loss, and healing."-PopSugar
"A gorgeously poignant novel . . . Emotional and wholeheartedly romantic, Cassie and Sam's story is guaranteed to sweep you off your feet."-Holly Miller, author of The Sight of You
"With this beautiful and heart-wrenching Christmas story, Stone delivers an epic story of family, loss, and the triumph of love. . . . Stone's masterful tale does not shy away from the messiness of grief, resulting in a complex and emotional story that tugs on every heartstring. Readers should have tissues at the ready."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Praise for Always, in December
"Truly an unforgettable and heart-tugging novel."-USA Today
"A poignant, life-affirming story that will wrap around you like a hug. Keep tissues nearby!"-Josie Silver, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December
"It's as unforgettable as it is heart-wrenching."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Emily Stone's One Last Gift is a tender book about love, loss, and healing."-PopSugar
"A gorgeously poignant novel . . . Emotional and wholeheartedly romantic, Cassie and Sam's story is guaranteed to sweep you off your feet."-Holly Miller, author of The Sight of You
"With this beautiful and heart-wrenching Christmas story, Stone delivers an epic story of family, loss, and the triumph of love. . . . Stone's masterful tale does not shy away from the messiness of grief, resulting in a complex and emotional story that tugs on every heartstring. Readers should have tissues at the ready."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Praise for Always, in December
"Truly an unforgettable and heart-tugging novel."-USA Today
"A poignant, life-affirming story that will wrap around you like a hug. Keep tissues nearby!"-Josie Silver, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December
"It's as unforgettable as it is heart-wrenching."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Readers Top Reviews
J.K
Cassie and Tom are incredibly close as brother and sister. Tom sends Cassie on a treasure hunt every year at Christmas. Except this year it’s different and tinged with much sadness. This book was sad. Cassie has to cope with a huge loss and as she tries to decipher Tom’s clues, she has to face her own issues in life. She has great support from her friends. The only part I didn’t get on board with, was Sam. I didn’t care for his character and didn’t like his story line.
kathleen g
A lovely novel about grief, healing, and the family we make. Cassie and Tom were orphaned as children and raised by their aunt Claire with able assistance from Linda who owns the local pub. They are BFFs with Sam and Hazel, making a tight group. And now Tom has died, leaving them behind bereft. But he also left some things behind, among them a treasure hunt for Cassie. She's struggling at work because even though she loves her job, she's got a hateful boss. Sam is so filled with grief that he walks out of his wedding and flies to the US to spend time with the man who was with Tom when he died. Both of them tell this story of how they made their way forward. Cassie's working the treasure hunt, Sam finds hope in working with kids. There are a few surprises here- no spoilers from me- but mostly there's a big heart. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.
Eileen HuttonLinda
A charming story of loss, love, and the baggage we carry through life. Recommended. #OneLastGift #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthors
Short Excerpt Teaser
Chapter One
Cassie ducked under the low wooden beam of the doorway and into the warmth of the pub, her hands full, clutching a tray of mince pies. In one corner, logs cracked in the fireplace, and the smell of mulled wine, sherry, pine, and cheese all rolled into one. She walked toward the rustic bar, nodding to a few familiar faces as she passed, the chatter of what must be nearly the entire village washing over her. It made her smile-everyone out together on Christmas Eve, coming out to an event that she'd helped organize and looking like they were really enjoying it.
She caught sight of Tom, leaning against a stone wall and laughing as he threw his head back, his blond hair, almost exactly the same color as hers, flopping to one side. He hadn't noticed her coming in: he was chatting away to someone who had their back to her, beer in hand. Someone with messy dark brown hair, relaxed posture, a black jacket showing off those impressive shoulders. Her smile got bigger and she tried to ignore the little lurch in her stomach, the way her skin started to buzz.
It's just Sam, she told herself. Sam, whom she'd known since forever. Sam, her brother's best friend. She glanced at him once more-and nearly stumbled straight into the old oak bar, clutching the tray she was holding and throwing it out in front of her to save the mince pies.
"Watch out, Cassie love-we don't want to see all your hard work ending up on the floor!" Linda, landlady of The Red House, appeared on the other side of the bar, having come through the double doors that led to the kitchen. She tucked a red-and-white tea towel through the belt on her jeans and crossed to Cassie, reached out to take the mince pies, then set them down by the coffee machine.
"Sorry, Linda," Cassie said quickly, slipping out of her coat, "I know I'm a bit late, and I-"
Linda waved her apology away, her many rings glinting in the candlelight from the candles Cassie had helped set up earlier. "Don't be silly. You're a doll for making them, and they look so good I might have to sneak one away before the rabble get their hands on them." She did just that, grabbing one and taking a bite, and groaning in what Cassie thought was slightly overdone pleasure. A crumb of the pastry stuck to Linda's red lip gloss, and Cassie wondered if she should tell her. "I can't believe you whipped these up overnight! You're a girl of many hidden talents, I tell you."
Cassie shrugged modestly and decided not to tell Linda about the three batches of pastry that had ended up in the bin, the state of the kitchen earning many a tight-lipped look from her aunt Claire. But really, what was the alternative? Linda had suggested store-bought mince pies from Sainsburys for the pub's annual Christmas Eve event, but Cassie had known that homemade would be better.
The door to the pub opened again, letting in a blast of cool air that managed to reach even the bar. Cassie looked over to see Hazel, her best friend since the beginning of primary school, coming in with her mum. Hazel spotted Cassie and her eyes-green, not hazel-sparked as she closed the distance between them with a few long, elegant strides. Cassie clocked the heels that Hazel was wearing and tried not to wrinkle her nose. They always looked ridiculous together when she did that, because of the difference in their heights-Hazel tall enough to be a professional model, and Cassie, barely making five foot, still short enough to occasionally fit into children's clothing. Honestly, Cassie had told Hazel that they looked like some kind of double act and that they should be trying to reduce the difference in their heights rather than accentuate it, but Hazel didn't care. She was confident in her height and was sure it was going to come in useful one day, if only so that she didn't have to get married just to have someone around to reach the top shelf.
"Happy Christmas Eve!" Hazel gave Cassie a hug-bending down to do so-then stepped back and pursed her lips as she studied Cassie, who twirled a strand of her hair back into place behind her ear. Hazel nodded approvingly. "The dress works," she said decisively, and Cassie felt relief wash over her, as she tried very hard not to glance at the head of messy brown hair behind her. Despite repeatedly telling herself that he was just Sam, she knew she'd bought the dress-black, tight-fitting, with silver snowflakes on it-especially for tonight. Because, fine, yes, even if he was just her brother's b...
Cassie ducked under the low wooden beam of the doorway and into the warmth of the pub, her hands full, clutching a tray of mince pies. In one corner, logs cracked in the fireplace, and the smell of mulled wine, sherry, pine, and cheese all rolled into one. She walked toward the rustic bar, nodding to a few familiar faces as she passed, the chatter of what must be nearly the entire village washing over her. It made her smile-everyone out together on Christmas Eve, coming out to an event that she'd helped organize and looking like they were really enjoying it.
She caught sight of Tom, leaning against a stone wall and laughing as he threw his head back, his blond hair, almost exactly the same color as hers, flopping to one side. He hadn't noticed her coming in: he was chatting away to someone who had their back to her, beer in hand. Someone with messy dark brown hair, relaxed posture, a black jacket showing off those impressive shoulders. Her smile got bigger and she tried to ignore the little lurch in her stomach, the way her skin started to buzz.
It's just Sam, she told herself. Sam, whom she'd known since forever. Sam, her brother's best friend. She glanced at him once more-and nearly stumbled straight into the old oak bar, clutching the tray she was holding and throwing it out in front of her to save the mince pies.
"Watch out, Cassie love-we don't want to see all your hard work ending up on the floor!" Linda, landlady of The Red House, appeared on the other side of the bar, having come through the double doors that led to the kitchen. She tucked a red-and-white tea towel through the belt on her jeans and crossed to Cassie, reached out to take the mince pies, then set them down by the coffee machine.
"Sorry, Linda," Cassie said quickly, slipping out of her coat, "I know I'm a bit late, and I-"
Linda waved her apology away, her many rings glinting in the candlelight from the candles Cassie had helped set up earlier. "Don't be silly. You're a doll for making them, and they look so good I might have to sneak one away before the rabble get their hands on them." She did just that, grabbing one and taking a bite, and groaning in what Cassie thought was slightly overdone pleasure. A crumb of the pastry stuck to Linda's red lip gloss, and Cassie wondered if she should tell her. "I can't believe you whipped these up overnight! You're a girl of many hidden talents, I tell you."
Cassie shrugged modestly and decided not to tell Linda about the three batches of pastry that had ended up in the bin, the state of the kitchen earning many a tight-lipped look from her aunt Claire. But really, what was the alternative? Linda had suggested store-bought mince pies from Sainsburys for the pub's annual Christmas Eve event, but Cassie had known that homemade would be better.
The door to the pub opened again, letting in a blast of cool air that managed to reach even the bar. Cassie looked over to see Hazel, her best friend since the beginning of primary school, coming in with her mum. Hazel spotted Cassie and her eyes-green, not hazel-sparked as she closed the distance between them with a few long, elegant strides. Cassie clocked the heels that Hazel was wearing and tried not to wrinkle her nose. They always looked ridiculous together when she did that, because of the difference in their heights-Hazel tall enough to be a professional model, and Cassie, barely making five foot, still short enough to occasionally fit into children's clothing. Honestly, Cassie had told Hazel that they looked like some kind of double act and that they should be trying to reduce the difference in their heights rather than accentuate it, but Hazel didn't care. She was confident in her height and was sure it was going to come in useful one day, if only so that she didn't have to get married just to have someone around to reach the top shelf.
"Happy Christmas Eve!" Hazel gave Cassie a hug-bending down to do so-then stepped back and pursed her lips as she studied Cassie, who twirled a strand of her hair back into place behind her ear. Hazel nodded approvingly. "The dress works," she said decisively, and Cassie felt relief wash over her, as she tried very hard not to glance at the head of messy brown hair behind her. Despite repeatedly telling herself that he was just Sam, she knew she'd bought the dress-black, tight-fitting, with silver snowflakes on it-especially for tonight. Because, fine, yes, even if he was just her brother's b...
