Cynthia Scott has hated Christmas ever since her sister's tragic death in December of 1977. It surprises everyone when she writes Candlelight Christmas, a book that goes straight to the bestseller list. After years of moderate accomplishments as a scholarly writer, Cynthia is embarrassed and baffled by its popularity. She receives a flood of correspondence about her protagonist, Danny Anderson, whose past is littered with screw-ups. Readers love his redemption story. Book reviewers elevate him to literary sainthood. Only Faye, Cynthia's childhood friend, deciphers the dark secrets hidden between the lines.
With encouragement from her editor, Cynthia seeks real-life versions of Danny on her cross-country book tour. In every province, Cynthia connects with random strangers while her relationships with friends and family seem to be dissolving and falling apart. Her pilgrimage starts as a fun romp and ends with a collection of flawed halos. In between, the mysterious circumstances surrounding a forty-year-old tragedy blur the lines separating fiction and memoir. Who owns the myth of a shared history? Cynthia is the author, but Faye is compelled to rewrite the narrative that allowed someone to get away with murder. Their lifelong friendship faces a challenge. One of them believes it's too late for revenge. The other can't forgive herself until she achieves it.
What defines a Canadian Saint? Cynthia believes it is the energy of love. Faye believes a saint is one who has walked barefoot in the snow. Both are transformed by suffering and renewed by the warm glow of human hearts.