A collection of a two short stories. Holiday in theme. I enjoyed the first story the most. Holiday train, quirky characters, unexpected meet cute. Stories are short and sweet. They definitely could be expanded into a full novel. If you are looking for a few quick reads this collection is perfect to add to your TBR during the holidays.

These were my first Melissa Ferguson stories, and I am not mad to have experienced them.

Dashing Through the Snow was everything you want in a holiday romance.
A holiday themed romantic hotel on a train?
Sounds adorable.
Add in heartbreak, cuties on the train, a sweet old man who likes chess, some hilarity and a lot of fabulous writing and we have a winner! It really had all the feels you could want🥰

Pining for You was good, but not as good as the first story. Nothing overtly wrong with it, just struggled as an encore. Still a cute small town romance, I would just suggest reading it first instead🤷‍♀️
The narration for these was absolutely fantastic and I will definitely be looking for more from Talon David and Kayla Jackson, hopefully in cahoots with Melissa Ferguson.
Much love to NetGalley & Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio for my ALC.

Dashing Through the Snow

When Willow’s boyfriend of seven years dumps her on the eve of a romantic getaway, she decides to take the two-week train trip on The Christmas Express alone. Hurt as she feels, she can’t anticipate how the hilarious rebound ride with conductor Oliver, elf Ian, and aging world adventurer Clarence will heal her heart—and renew her sense of worth and holiday wonder.

Pining for You

Pining for You is a second Chance story involving Skye Fuller and Theo Watkins. When Skye’s dad Ralph, manager of Evergreen Farms Christmas tree farm, is injured as the tractor rolls on him, Theo returns to the farm, seeing Skye for the first time in almost 15 years. When the two went their separate ways it was not on a friendly basis and when they see each other again the same hard feelings seem to have remained. As Skye and Theo work together to put in the new evergreen seedlings, old times and old feelings arise and set about an unexpected series of events.

These are both fun holiday novellas just right for this time of year! I did enjoy them and do recommend them both.

Cute Christmas novellas. I liked the first one more than the second. Thank you UpLit Reads for providing an ALC through NetGalley

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Read if you like:
Sweet romance
Christmas romance

Perfect read to get you into the Christmas spirit. Book One was by far my favorite the story like and characters were wonderful and I couldn't help but cheer when the ex was pummeled with snow ball !

Esse foi meu segundo contato com a escrita de Melissa, e já em um outro formato, de áudio, que por si só foi uma experiência bacana, mas infelizmente, no todo, o livro ainda foi uma leitura bem maçante e distante. Por vezes até confusa.

Não vou falar muito das histórias em si porque são dois contos/noveletas, mas fica aqui minha decepção com a falta de envolvimento que tive com eles. A primeira história, centrada num trem, até que foi tranquila, quase me apeguei aos personagens, e curti a breve abordagem de cardápio alimentar adaptado para quem tem restrições, alergias e afins. A segunda, por outro lado, foi ainda mais distante pra mim, e ainda que eu tenha entendido um ou outro ponto dos personagens no final, ainda foi meio vaga demais.

Mas o problema maior mesmo é o romance. A proposta do livro é ser uma leitura leve e fofa mas, infelizmente, os casais do livro não me convenceram à esse ponto, principalmente no segundo conto, em que tudo pareceu até meio forçado. No primeiro ainda deu pra curtir eles individualmente, mas no segundo os protagonistas me deram sono. Fora que a narração, em especial nesse segundo, me confundiu um pouco no início, por usar a mesma narradora, feminina, para os pontos de vista tanto da Skye quanto do Theo.

Uma decepção literária, é o veredito final. Talvez, possa funcionar melhor por escrita mesmo, ainda que eu já tenha aproveitado muito outros audiobooks antes desse, mas acontecem exceções, fazer o que?

Two really cute stories that are perfect for any time of year. If you enjoy a clean romance with a little eye roll, these are for you!

This is my second read by Melissa Ferguson (FAMOUS FOR A LIVING) and this novella was really cute and a nice little intro to the holiday season. I know were still deep into spooky season, but this was gifted to me by NetGalley and I had to read it ASAP.

So this novella has two stories: Dashing Through the Snow and Pining for You. I absolutely LOVED DTTS. It was Christmas-ey and fun and really creative and original. If this was the only story in this novella, I’d have given this novella 5 stars. It was perfect and actually got me excited for the holiday season (YES! before Spooky Season is even over! I know. Shocking!)

The second story was not as fulfilling for me. The biggest issue for me wasn’t even the story itself but that the “snow theme” was not very present; at least not enough for me to feel like “Snowy Serendipity” to be a valid title. Overall I would have given this a 3 star.

Finally, I just wanted to note that this was gifted to my as an audiobook, and I did not enjoy the narrator at all. It felt super flat and often times I would have to go back and relisten to entire chapters because their voice was so blah that I would loose focus on the story.

Overall good read if youre looking for something light for the holiday season, but i do not recommend the audiobook.

This is a duet of Christmas novellas. The first one was cheesy but cute. However, I DNFed on the second story. It opens with a man contemplating proposing to his current girlfriend, who then rushes to the aid of his first loves family at the farm he owns. I decided to abandon ship when we learned that this guy is not even paying her family a living wage. Naw, I can't fucks with greedy, asshole bosses

Two cozy novellas make for one delightful afternoon filled with holiday charm.

In Dashing Through the Snow, we find recently dumped Willow embarking on a two-week train trip on The Christmas Express. Along the journey, we meet a sweet cast of characters that make for a fun holiday listen that had me longing for a little train adventure myself!

The other novella, Pining For You, features a second-chance love story between Sky and Theo on the family Christmas tree farm after miscommunications and missteps led them astray.

This was a charming, light-hearted listen that got me in the spirit to deck the halls for the holidays – and it’s only October!

Thank you to Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance audiobook for an honest review.

Two cozy novellas to take you into the holiday spirit!

These were both quick and light holiday reads. The first novella, Dashing Through The Snow, finds Willow, recently dumped by her boyfriend, left to embark on a two week train trip on The Christmas Express alone. The characters were relatable and loveable. There was enough Christmas fun and romance to make you want to hop on The Christmas Express yourself! 4 stars.

Pining For You didn't hit the mark for me. I found the characters hard to relate to and connect with. There was less Christmas vibes in this one, but still a cute second chance romance. 2.5 stars.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio, as well as NetGalley for this advance audiobook for my honest review.

I was only able to get to 8% as it continued to crash each time restarting it. I restarted my system and it did nothing to help out I would love to try again when the systems are fixed and it can play continuously

Edit***** I was able to listen with no issues and book 1 was fantastic should have left it there not included book 2. The narrator was flat and uninteresting to listen to. Would have liked book 1 expanded a bit as it was done so well. Hope a full book comes from teaser of book 1.

The audiobook of Snowy Serendipity is comprised of two novellas, in total 4 hour 47 minutes.

Sometimes you just need a bit of Christmas. In the first novella, we are immersed in Christmas spirit on a cross-country Christmas train ride. The protagonist was to go with her boyfriend, but she went solo.

In the second novella, there is a Christmas tree farm and the owners daughter comes back home where to run in with her ex-boyfriend from her youth.

I did like one novella quite a bit more than the other.

Nice and Christmas-y, around 3 1/2 stars. Rounding up.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the advance listen copy of Snowy Serendipity in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio for approving my NetGalley request.

The snow is falling softly; the kids are snug in their beds; there are dishes to wash and laundry to fold. Who wouldn’t enjoy a fun sweet Christmas romance to listen to as you deck the halls…or just clean them?
If you’re someone who enjoys those lighthearted and serendipitous (albeit predictable) holiday movies, these two short stories will be right up your alley! Leave reality behind for a bit and climb aboard the sleigh destined for charm, a bit of wit, and happy endings.

Story 1 Dashing Through the Snow
Definitely the WAY more Christmassy of the two, this story features a jilted lead character, a supportive best friend, an elderly “Santa-like” character, and a family-business-running male lead. Cocoa, cookies, and Christmas activities abound as the two quickly fall in love.

Story 2 Pining for You
Think less Christmassy and more mountainside forest-y, this story features a second-chance long-lost love story between two people who have the chance to try again - if they can communicate truthfully to make it happen.

Clean (no language or sex).
No faith elements.

These were two cute holiday stories. I enjoyed the first one much more - the story of a woman who was recently dumped but still went on the trip planned by her ex. The trip was a Christmas Express train where she met such a wonderful cast of characters. The second story was the story of a man who had a chance to drop everything for one weekend to return home to his family farm and woo his childhood best friend. Both were sweet and cozy happily ever afters.

In the first novella when Willow’s longtime boyfriend dumps her just before the holidays, she takes their two week prepaid train trip across the US by herself. She meets a number of interesting characters including some possible romantic interests. The story is cute but the descriptions of a fireplace in a train room coupled with all the staff being dressed like elves was a bit too sweet for me. The audio format worked well but I could not become invested in the characters because the premise was unrealistic. The second story about a Christmas tree farm owner who travels a small town pretending to be the farmer and gets to unite with his best friend from his youth. This story worked better and I enjoyed it more. I thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for the opportunity to listen to this ALC.

⠀🚊Dashing Through the Snow
Rating: 5⭐️
This adorable novella takes place on a 2 week long Christmas train ride and has everything I love in a Christmas rom com:
✔️relatable FMC trying to make the most out of a crap situation
✔️a bff willing to drop needed truth bombs
✔️a cast of wonderful characters who each find a unique way into your heart
✔️wistful holiday bucket list activities
✔️sweet & oh so satisfying snow ball fight
✔️charming MMC running the family business who ends with a grand gesture
🎧Audio Review: fantastic! I loved her voices for different characters, but especially the way she portrayed the squeaky elf that made me cringe, which was perfect for the context
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🎄Pining for You
Rating: 2.5⭐️
I MAY have enjoyed this more if it had been the first story in the book. Dashing Through the Snow was “in your face Christmas,” happy and relatively light so that’s what I was expecting for this novella. Instead this one is a mildly holiday related book with heavier themes. It takes place on a Christmas tree farm but outside of that fact, nothing else is holiday related. It was such a drastic difference & I just kept waiting for the holiday cheer to kick in, but it never did. Then add that the overall themes were depressing (infidelity, poverty, gambling addiction). There’s such a drastic difference between the two that it left me feeling confused and asking, what happened and how did I get here??
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Overall, I’d recommend checking this one out from the library for the first story. I’ve loved 3/4 stories by Melissa Ferguson so I’m still a big fan of hers.

Snowy Serendipity consists of two Christmas romance novellas, Dashing Through the Snow and Pining for you.

Dashing Through the Snow was probably my favorite of the two! I loved the Polar Express kind of vibes. I will say though I was sooo concerned our first possible love interest was going to be end game. I was questioning everything at that point. But Santa Claus comes through and our MC finally ends up with someone who is going to cherish her above all else. Well except maybe not above Christmas haha

Pining for You was a second chance romance. The main characters own/work/grew up on a Christmas Tree Farm so the spin on the name is perfect. I love a good ‘nothing is as it seems’ story. They really seem to get me worked up and fully invested and if you’re those two things you know it’s a great read.

If you’re looking for a couple of lighthearted Christmas romance stories, I highly recommend Snowy Serendipity!

I really enjoyed both of these stories that got me ready for the holiday season! I would love to ride on that Christmas train in that first story!! Loved the narration as well!

Y in the first story Dashing Through The Snow after her boyfriend Jonas just broke up with her her friend Elodie talked her into going on her Christmas train vacation by herself something she decides to do before the trip is over she will have two men vying for her attention The first is Ian and he takes being an elf on board the Christmas train very serious and then there’s Oliver who’s dad Clarence owns the train and now Olly is taking over and loving it before it’s over Willow will have a new love in her life and it’s not just a man. In the second book which is called Pining For You we meet Theo who’s new girlfriend looks as if she may just have mental health issues. So when he gets a call from the Christmas tree farm that his parents own quickly takes it because the man who runs it is the father of his ex and one true love sky. Sky however seems to be holding on to the past and assuming something that may not be true can Theo get her to see the truth before he loses her again forever? The second book was twice as long as the first in both or sweet romances but I must admit the first one was my favorite I laughed out loud more than once while reading these sweet romcoms if you love Christmas and Christmas romances then you should definitely get the spot I also thought the narrator did a great job with her comedic timing and her narration as a whole. I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for my free audio arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.