If you're looking for hallmark vibes in a book, look no further than Snowy Serendipity by Melissa Ferguson! This book features two fun and fast-paced christmas romcoms, sure to put even the biggest grinch in the christmas spirit!

I had so much fun with this book, but especially with Willow and her love interest ( I don't want to give too much away!)

For all the audiobook lovers, the narration on this was impeccable
I highly recommend this for all lovers of christmas and Romcoms

Only one of the two stories in this collection was new to me. But I remembered enjoying the one I'd read so much that it was worthwhile to me to hear the audio version of it too.

Melissa Ferguson writes light-hearted, sweet romances, and these two stories are no exception!

In "Dashing through the Snow," there's a bit of the absurd as our heroine, Willow, ends up taking a two-week, Christmas train ride for two all by herself. Her boyfriend, who had purchased the tickets with the intention of proposing, had a change of heart and decided to run away with a waitress instead. Since the trip was already paid for, Willow opted to take the trip anyway and ended up discovering more about herself and what she wanted out of life than she had ever dreamed or imagined.

In "Pining for You," our heroine, Skye, returns to her childhood home to help her parents run a Christmas tree farm. Little did she know that the man who broke her heart when they were young would be there too!

Both stories were easy and enjoyable Christmas romances.

Thanks to Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Snowy Serendipity by Melissa Ferguson is two stories in one book.

I really loved the first story, after a bit of an over the top start. The Christmas Express is one train I'd love to ride! The idea was fresh and fun, and the characters were likeable. I enjoyed the slight backdrop of caring for elderly people or those with illness, but not as a burden, but as a calling. So 5 stars for this cute and christmassy story that definitely made me feel all warm and cosy.

The second story didn't work nearly as well with me. I found both main characters slightly annoying, and especially hated how there's a "you told me not to contact you" with a "you should have known I lied! You should have fought for us" kind of thing, which I just can't stand. If you straight out tell someone to leave them alone and block them, it's simply the respectful thing to do to actually let them go. Anything else would be more stalker style. There's also some family issue mystery, the resolution of which I also didn't like. I did enjoy the setting and some of the moments, so 3 stars for this story.

Overall I'll go with the average 4 for both together.

In this double novella from Thomas Nelson, you get two GORGEOUS Christmas stories in one fabulous package...or in this case, audio book! That's right! I listened to this one through NetGalley (did you know that was a thing?!), and quite honestly fell in love with it! As opposed to the prior novel featured, this one is squeaky clean, but that doesn't mean there aren't moments of sparkage, moments of closeness, or moments that will make you wear a silly grin and sigh (yes, I totally did this!). Dashing Through the Snow .... gives us a woman on the romantic holiday trip of a lifetime, having to go it solo thanks to her now ex-boyfriend pulling the plug on the most wonderful time of the year. Willow seizes the day, thanks to her pushy but loving friend, and not only revels in the spirit of the season, but finds that while her heart may be wounded, it doesn't mean she won't love again...perhaps sooner than she thinks! Pining for You... delivers the story of Skye and Theo which takes place on a Christmas tree farm. Old wounds are healed, recreated, and potentially healed once again, but a lot of old truths are brought into a clarifying light, allowing these two matched at heart to find a start in the here and now. Of the two, I gotta play favorites with the first, but I have no regrets in listening to the second.

Book 122 of 200 ~ 2023

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Makes me feel warm and Christmassy. I loved that the author who actually stays/owns a farm added those elements into the novella. Was a fun listen and definitely apt for the upcoming holiday mood. Nicely done

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, @netgalley

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How cute a cozy. These are very sweet and will be easily liked by those wanting to get in the holiday spirit but also love Hallmark (and no spice).

Very cute Christmas short stories. Definitely gives off the Hallmark vibes, but I just wasn't into it. First story is too insta-love and second I was just not into it. At least the second book wanted to tackled a couple of things but since it was a short story, I guess she didn't have time to develop it.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio-arc version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

𝙎𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙗𝙮 𝙈𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙖 𝙁𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙪𝙨𝙤𝙣

This was a well done audiobook! The voice actors were great!

𝔻𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕟𝕠𝕨 🚂

Willow has just recently been abandoned by her boyfriend of 5 years for a woman he just met. She decides to go on a trip they planned together anyways. The trip is a 2 week train ride through beautiful scenery and Christmasy excursions and activities. Along the way she meets the train owner’s son and develops a friendship with both son and father. This story was really cute! I loved Willow’s relationship with Clarence, it was truly heartwarming. As a novella the story unfolds very quickly. Even with how quickly the story moves, I could definitely see the love between the characters! The one horse open slay was so cute!
Rating: 4⭐️

ℙ𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕐𝕠𝕦 🌲

Theo’s family owns a Christmas tree farm run and operated by Sky’s family. Theo and Sky were childhood loves until Theo and her drifted apart after an incident. Recently sky discovered that her father’s paychecks are hardly what would be considered a living wage. Knowing Theo is more than financially capable of properly paying her father, Sky begins to harbor a lot of animosity towards him. I did not enjoy Theo, his words and his actions did not match up. I do not appreciate the cheating trope. As a second change romance, I don’t understand how he can be in a happy relationship and just drop that individual after running into a childhood flame for 2 days.
Rating: 2⭐️

Two cute and sweet holiday novellas, easy to listen to and a good way to enjoy the holiday season. If you enjoy the Hallmark movie vibe then these are for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me an early read of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own, I do not accept money for reviews.

This was a cute, wintery, Christmas time read. I listened to the audiobook for these two stories, they were way to listen to, it was easy to zone out during, but the stories were sweet.

Of the two stories, I would say only the first one, Dashing Through the Snow, is a Christmas time story. I think in the second one, Pining for You, is just set in December, I didn’t remember any mention of anything Christmas other than just there’s seasonal help on a Christmas tree farm.

I don’t have anything profound to say on either story, but I do recommend these for getting in the Christmas time feels.

I really enjoyed the first story in this collection, but the second story was quite boring unfortunately (maybe I'm not a huge fan of second-chance romance).

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an advanced listener copy (audiobook) in exchange for my honest opinion.

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