Do all gifts have strings attached? Yes, believes Jonquil Bloom as she sets out to counsel gift givers at a local department store. A single mom and graduate student in psychology, gifts fascinate Jonquil. When are they sincere? When are they not? She is skilled at helping customers choose the perfect gift for any occasion, but she soon discovers there are holes in her theory, leaving her to wonder: what are true gifts?Ten-year-old Billy Bloom is the center of her life. Billy yearns to have a dog but his mom has denied his request saying she is allergic to them. A generous and hopeful boy who refuses to give up, it doesn't occur to him that she is not telling the truth.Into both their lives enters Claude Chappel, a native French Canadian and general contractor at work on a construction site across from where they live. Claude, a handsome bachelor, is instantly captivated by Jonquil. Though past traumatic losses make her wary of romance, his charms are irresistible, if impetuous, and after a bumpy start they begin seeing each other. Yet, Claude cannot help but notice that the gift counselor has denied her own son what he most wants, a troubling paradox that spurs him to search for the solution.A heartwarming story filled with inspirational and psychological breakthroughs, The Gift Counselor will warm your heart all year long. Ideal gift for fiction lovers. Book club recommended, suitable reading for young adults.