Despondent and barely coping with the death of her fiancée, Jason, Ellie Plank searches for comfort in the wedding mementos she has collected and displayed. When she discovers her fiancée’s last gift to her, she makes an impulsive and unfortunate decision. She packs her bags and sets out alone for Yosemite National Park. Unfortunately, a massive snowstorm throws her off course and before she knows how or why it happened, she finds herself trapped in a one-room mountain cabin with no running water, very little food and a woodstove as her only source of heat. With no cell service she can’t call for help and even if she could, the only way through the woods to the cabin is blocked by her smashed Mercedes Benz and the tree that killed it.
For the first time in her life, Ellie won’t have her bossy big sister around telling her what to do or Jason to take care of her as he promised he always would. Instead, she’ll be forced to learn the skills she needs to survive freezing temperatures and snowfall that nearly buries her snug little cabin. None of this, however, is enough to drive away the loneliness and fear that haunts her. But Ellie’s will to survive is stronger than she ever imagined and when Christmas morning dawns, she discovers an answered prayer, a new friend, and a sense of confidence and accomplishment she never thought possible.
By D. W. Kavanaugh