Alone in the world, she has nothing but a flimsy promise to cling to

The falling snow is creating a peaceful blanket over the charming southern town of Christiansand. The year is 1810, and Christmas preparations are in full swing. Runners hurry through the streets so that slush splashes, maids rush from one errand to the next, and the turf traders try to outdo each other in a cacophony of sales pitches. The city is buzzing with expectations for the holiday season.

In the midst of the chaos, a little girl cautiously pushes forward through the crowd. She is cold and wet, and hunger gnaws at her stomach. Her father left her with a promise to return soon, but Ella has not seen him again. She carries with her homemade Christmas wreaths through the narrow streets, desperately trying to sell them for a few coins to buy food and firewood. But no one seems to see her. She is completely alone in the world.

On a ship sailing to Christiansand, a young woman loses her hat on deck. Julia wanted to feel the cold kiss of the snowflakes on her face, but she shouldn't be out there alone. It is not appropriate for a woman of her class. But her father's money is new and unexpected, and Julia isn't yet accustomed to being and behaving as one of the wealthy. So when a tall stranger retrieves her hat from across the deck, Julia forgets to guard her honour. As their gazes meet, time and place disappear – and the only thing she feels is a new and strange trembling feeling.

The Christmas Promise is a historical novel about heartbreaking fates, heartfelt love and fragile hope during a time when Christmas highlighted the difference between poor and rich. The novel is a standalone, but set in the universe of Promises in Sand.