BOOK REVIEW- HER HOLIDAY FAMILY by Winnie Griggs

Texas Grooms: In search of their brides…
THE CHRISTMAS CHILDREN    

Reserved widow Eileen Pierce never considered herself the kind of woman who was cut out to be a mother. She wouldn't know what to do with one child, much less ten. But when handyman Simon Tucker is stranded in town with a group of young orphans at Christmastime, she discovers she can't just turn them away. 

Simon knows there's more to Eileen than meets the eye. Though his easygoing demeanor immediately clashes with her buttoned-up propriety, Simon's kindness soon melts Eileen's stern facade. Simon and the children already upended Eileen's quiet, orderly life. Will they do the same to her guarded heart? 
AMAZON  4.5 STARS

What a good, emotional story.  Eileen and Simon were really great main characters.  Eileen was so proper, so rigid but so hurting too.  Very few people got to see the real person underneath all that facade.  Dovie is someone who has been boarding with Eileen for some time and she has only see some of what Eileen is going through.  Dovie does prove to be quite the caring, friend to Eileen and the "family" that is now staying at the "castle".  That is the name that one of the littlest girls, Molly calls it and she is simply in awe of the castle.  As you can see, 10 children is going to be quite challenge even for people familiar with children, which Eileen is not.
Eileen had such a barren, rigid childhood, it's almost not fair to say that she had a childhood.  It becomes easy to see why order and discipline is a major part of her life.  It might not have been fun but there were times that it steadied her life.  
Simon, is like no one Eileen has ever encountered but he is a good man.  She slowly begins to see that.  And when he gives his word about something he does his very best to honor it no matter what.  It was good to see Simon's childhood also had it's bumps and bruises too.

The children all bring something to the story of course, because no matter how well behaved they are children.  Fern at 13 seems to be one of the most challenging to Eileen.  But it soon became clear to me that some of it was because they were so alike.  
I liked the slow friendship that turns to a slow romance.  As they watch each other, they begin to see more that they like in each other.  Still, that also terrifies Eileen.  An unexpected twist towards the end brings understanding to Eileen.  Understanding of what she has to lose if she doesn't just grab her courage when it comes to Simon.
I was glad to see that there was a sweet Epilogue included in the book.