Whether captured in the passion of love at first sight, or realizing that self-love takes precedent over the latter, the characters in these reimagined stories try to navigate this complex human emotion and understand why it holds them hostage. The focus is on the magical folktales of West Africa, but the author also reimagines iconic Greek myths, ancient legends from the Middle East, and stories from countries that no longer exist
Laurie doesn't believe in love at first sight. Life isn't a scene from Love Actually, after all. But then, through a bus window one snowy December day, she sees him. There's one glorious moment when their eyes meet ... and then her bus drives away. Laurie thinks she'll never see the boy from the bus again. But at their Christmas party a year later, her best friend Sarah introduces her to the new love of her life. Who is, of course, the boy from the bus. Determined to let him go, Laurie gets on with her life. But what if fate has other plans? Following Laurie and Jack through twelve years of love, heartbreak and friendship, One Day in December is a life-affirming love story to escape into this winter.
Set in 1890s West Africa, the story follows twin sisters Hassana and Husseina, who are kidnapped and sold into slavery after a devastating raid. Despite their separation, they maintain a deep connection through shared dreams of water, symbolizing their hope and resilience. The narrative explores themes of survival, sisterhood, and the enduring bond between them, raising the question of whether their paths will ultimately converge again.