Changes

The book is set in 2011 around the Christmas season.

The book is set in 2011 around the Christmas season.

One year after Lauren Gabriel "accidentally" discovers Grandon<ref>Her story is the main plotline of ''[[The Christmas Town (book)|The Christmas Town]]'', the book immediately proceeding this in the series.  In Lauren's case, while driving around aimlessly after work one evening, she witnessed a hit-and-run car accident while in Grandon (an hour north of her previous residence), which required her to return later to identify the offending driver; ultimately she continued to return there to volunteer for an upcoming fundraiser.</ref>, her previously unhappy and unfulfilled life has totally changed: she has now moved there, works at the same grocery store as Ben (known for his hand-written messages he gives to his customers, though she works in the floral department), continues to volunteer at Glory's Place (where she volunteered the prior Christmas season, and where she met most of her now closest friends), and is in a serious relationship with Travis Mabrey (who convinced Lauren not to emotionally shut down after a bad incident the year prior as the children missed her greatly; he continues to work for the local parks and recreation department and this year he gets to hang a lighted star in the town square's gazebo, the gift of a local resident).

One year after Lauren Gabriel "accidentally" discovers Grandon (literally, as she witnessed a hit-and-run accident while driving through town after work one evening)<ref>Her story is the main plotline of ''[[The Christmas Town (book)|The Christmas Town]]'', the book immediately proceeding this in the series.  In Lauren's case, her witnessing the accident required her to return later to identify the offending driver; ultimately she continued to return there to volunteer for an upcoming fundraiser.</ref>, her previously unhappy and unfulfilled life has totally changed: she has moved there, works at the same grocery store as Ben (known for his hand-written messages he gives to his customers; she works in the floral department), continues to volunteer at Glory's Place (where she volunteered the prior Christmas season, and where she met most of her now closest friends), and is in a serious relationship with Travis Mabrey (who convinced Lauren not to emotionally shut down and run away from the people of Grandon after a bad incident the year prior, as the children at Glory's Place missed her greatly; he continues to work for the local parks and recreation department and this year he gets to hang a lighted star in the town square's gazebo, the gift of a local resident).

After several of the children (including "Maddie") in the Glory's Place after-school program suggest that Travis and Lauren should get married, the following day Travis proposes.  The two decide on an outdoor wedding in the gazebo (a place special to them both), which Miriam (who volunteers herself to be the wedding planner) loves, only to be mortified when they decide to hold the wedding on Wednesday, December 21 (an outdoor wedding on what is expected to be a cold day), don't want upscale dresses for the bridesmaids, desire to hold the reception at Glory's Place (so the children can participate) with the reception meal consisting of chicken wings and potato salad and candy for the children (they end up having a cake, which Gloria will purchase as a gift).

After several of the children (including "Maddie") in the Glory's Place after-school program suggest that Travis and Lauren should get married, the following day Travis proposes.  The two decide on an outdoor wedding in the gazebo (a place special to them both), which Miriam (who volunteers herself to be the wedding planner) loves, only to be mortified when they decide to hold the wedding on Wednesday, December 21 (an outdoor wedding on what is expected to be a cold day), don't want upscale dresses for the bridesmaids, desire to hold the reception at Glory's Place (so the children can participate) with the reception meal consisting of chicken wings and potato salad and candy for the children (they end up having a cake, which Gloria will purchase as a gift).