This was a cheesy routine romance, but that's what made it so much fun. Second chance romance, small town Christmas, growth and redemption of characters. And finding the love for each other they thought was lost. A perfect little escape, on that I thoroughly needed, and enjoyed.

When I started reading this story I had no idea that A. It was a short novella, and B. It was a part of a series (Mirror Lake).

I have a love hate relationship with novellas because sometimes they’re just too light on plot or substance, but that wasn’t the case with this story.

This ended up being a perfect second chance romance with a holiday theme as a bonus. Graham and Grace used to be married, but their marriage fell apart after the premature birth and death of their son. Neither knew how to handle the grief and pushed the other away. Years later, on a joint cross-state car ride, their feelings are rekindled and they’re forced to deal with all of the old feelings they never talked about between their sons death and their divorce.

The characters were likable. Graham was a business owner and Grace was a children’s book author, which added to their interest.

Toward the end they wind up in the town of Mirror Lake, and at that point very minor characters were suddenly name dropped and I realized this was part of a bigger series. Readers of the Mirror Lake series will love it, but me as an outsider, I was thrown a bit at first. That said, I kind of want to go read the rest of the Mirror Lake series and see what other stories those characters have!

A mild content warning: The subject matter may be triggering for those who have lost children. Also, 99% of this book is clean, but there is one sex scene.

SHOULD YOU READ IT? This is a sweet story of love lost and found. If you want a contemporary romance holiday story, but don’t have a lot of time, this might be worth the read.

This is a Christmas Novella that is part of the Mirror Lake Series. It is very easy to read and you don't need to read the series to enjoy this short Christmas story. Graham is heading to Philadelphia for Christmas and gives his ex-wife, Grace, a ride right into a blizzard. After a crash near Mirror Lake they discover a Christmas miracle. You can see it coming but it's still a nice story.

Can't Miss Christmas takes place in Ms. Liasson's Mirror Lake world (as does her Spikonos Brothers series) but introduces two brand new characters, temporarily stranded from out of town so it would work for people new to the series as well as those who are waiting for the last Spikonos brother to come back into town (which he may or may not have done here... ;)) The glimpses we get of Mirror Lake/Spikonos Brothers characters are fleeting, so really, this is great as both a standalone romance and a teaser for other books you'll probably be adding to your TBR in the future.

Plus, holiday romance! (Did I mention? ;))

is a quick read, so it's perfect for when you're busy with holiday stuff/NaNoWriMo/regular life but just need a quick pick-me-up. Grace and Graham were married once but their responses to a shared tragedy and some misunderstandings pulled them apart. It's Christmastime, though, and a surprise encounter, a snowstorm, Mother Nature, and the town of Mirror Lake all conspire to bring them back together. Is it too late?

(Spoiler alert: of course not! The magic of Christmas and second-chance romance to the rescue!)

A sweet read whether you're new to Ms. Liasson's books or already a fan.

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

This book is so great i can't wait for others to be able to enjoy it like i was

A short and sweet second chance romance just perfect for the Christmas season. On their way through the small town of Mirror Lake, Graham and Grace find their way to forgiveness and their second chance at love. The story is written with heart and warmth, leaving you with the joy of a magical town and the goodness of its residents.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

I absolutely loved this Christmas-themed novella! I always like when, as a reader, I enter the story in "the middle" of it.

This is a genuinely touching, sweet novella and I really enjoyed it!

Grace and Graham and both lovely characters that I wanted to give a big hug, they have had an awful tragedy in their lives that no parent should ever have go through and grown apart as a result.  I was becoming a mini cheerleader for them to get back together as the novel went on!  It is an easy read, the words flow so well I couldn't give it anything other than 5 stars.

It is book 3.5 of the Mirror Lake series but it can be read as a standalone without any problem, I haven't read the other books in the series as yet! 

The book was released on the 7th November 2017 so you can grab your copy now- it is the perfect read in the run up to the festive season.

I have read a few Miranda Liasson books lately and she is becoming one of my new favorites.

This was a quick and enjoyable Christmas novella. You were able to feel the characters love and emotions. They had a tragedy in their lives and neither could comfort the other so they parted ways. The need to get somewhere during a snowstorm put them together again and they were able to reconnect again. I love second chance stories and this one is good.

I received a copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Graham Walker is passing by the bookstore where his ex wife is signing her latest children’s book just two days before Christmas when he thinks perhaps he should stop in, say hi and pick up a book for his niece. After entering and seeing the crowd and knowing he has quite the long drive ahead Graham thinks twice but is stopped before leaving. When Graham is ushered up to his ex he overhears her travel problems due to the weather and before he knows it he is offering to drive her to her next signing at a children’s hospital in Philadelphia.

Grace Alberts never thought she would be climbing into a car in a snowstorm with her ex-husband just two days before Christmas but with no other options she reluctantly agreed to the ride. After some awkward conversation the couple finally seem to just starting to relax around one another when a deer pops out of nowhere and they find themselves stuck in Mirror Lake, Connecticut facing all the problems that were never resolved between them and the love they still feel for one another.

Can’t Miss Christmas by Miranda Liasson is a contemporary romance novella that is a part of the Mirror Lake series. As with most romance series out there this can be read fine as a standalone book with new main characters involved in this holiday read. For the fans of the series overall though there will be mentions here and there of previous characters in the very small town of Mirror Lake.

I will say this one was a bit deceiving in looks, I was expecting a cute, light holiday romance when picking up this novella and while it is written with holiday hope in mind the story is one that was quite heartbreaking reading about. A couple coming back together to work things out is perfect for a novella length read since the reader knows they have a history and chemistry between them but this particular couple had split apart after the loss of their child so it’s quite touching. With great writing and an emotional tale to bring tears to the eyes this was a quite the lovely holiday read.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Publisher's Description:

Here comes a charming standalone Christmas novella by Amazon bestselling author Miranda Liasson. Fans of both Mirror Lake series will recognize familiar elements and people along the way.

It’s two days before Christmas and bestselling children’s author Grace Alberts needs to fulfill a promise—to make it to a book signing for the kids at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the place that did so much for her during a very rough time. But the weather’s getting awful and all flights are cancelled out of Boston, where she’s wrapping up her book tour. Then in walks her annoying but extremely sexy ex-husband, who (as usual) thinks he’s got all the answers.

Graham Walker just stopped by to get a book signed for Grace’s biggest fan, his niece, and wish Grace a Merry Christmas—why not? But he soon finds himself troubleshooting her dilemma. He’s got a Range Rover that can plow through a hundred-year Nor’easter. He’s even headed home to Philly. Trouble is, Grace's and his past is a disaster, something he has no intention of reliving while driving through a winter storm, no matter how much he once loved her. And maybe still does.

Bad weather has a way of bringing out the best and the worst in people, and when a run in with some deer antlers leads them to a forced stop in Mirror Lake, Connecticut, anything can happen, naughty or nice. Maybe a bit of enforced alone time and some Christmas magic can be just what it takes for them to face their past—and each other—once and for all.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed reading this charming second chances Christmas Novella. It was my first time reading anything by this author as I do not read much contemporary romance being more a fan of historicals.

Graham and Grace's story of separation due to the loss of their newborn son is a poignant tale that shows us how tragedy can lead to misconstrued feelings and bad results.

I gave this wonderfully written Holiday Romance 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 3.75 of 5.0 flames. There is only the one intimate scene in this short read but you can tell that this couple's breakup was a mistake.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this novella from the publicist to read for the release blitz and later from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Grace and Graham lost their marriage after the death of their infant son. When they unexpectedly run into each other and end up in a car accident they realize how much they mean to each other. Can they fight their demons and make their second chance work? Fast read that keeps you rooting for our characters to make it!

This is a lovely seasonal novella to the series by this author. This author packs loads in to this short read. Such a sweet Christmas story, you can read in one sitting. Amazing characters you will just fall in love with as you read. I can't wait to read more in this series or by this author in the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book

I've always meant to read a Miranda Liasson book but they've sat on my to read shelf for ages so I finally decided to dive into this novella when I had a chance to review it. It is a super quick read if you are looking for a holiday story to wind down with before bed.

My heart broke for the hero and heroine that they had lost a child and can only imagine the sort of trauma that can cause to a marriage. I'm so glad they got their second chance in this novella and it definitely has me wanting to go back and read the rest of the series!

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Graham and Grace are exes, but a wicked snow storm and the need to get home for Christmas have them traveling together...and ending up in Mirror Lake. I always love a second chance at love. And when these two broke up, it wasn't because they fell out of love, it was because they went through something intensely emotional that they couldn't handle at the time. Watching them find their way back to each other was immensely sweet...something I've come to expect from Liasson's books. A quick, fun Christmas read.

I received an ARC from Netgalley. While I like second chance romances this one was just too predictable. For me it’s just a preference thing and probably someone else’s cup of tea.

If you want something ‘Christmasy’ to read this is a quick fix that can entertain you as you’re trying to decompress from the holiday stress or on a car ride over to your in-laws to put you into a more positive spirit.

Liasson unveils her story through Graham and Grace who are trying to navigate the holiday as exes instead of as a married couple. The way she portrayed the emotional rawness of their feelings towards one another was surprisingly good for such a short story. She didn’t have many pages to draw out their relationship and provide adequate background yet somehow she still managed to create a believable and realistic story of their life. The fact that this is a couple who has already been married made it easier to believe in the quick chemistry since it would make sense that if it was there once it could be there again.

The common yet difficult issues of loss, broken dreams, conflict and post-divorce tension were captured realistically and well-written just as were the lingering feelings, what ifs and obvious still there chemistry.

Liasson made me want them to get back together, to find a way to work through their issues as individuals and as a couple. I ended up liking the writing so much I want to dive into more of her books to see how she holds up over longer plots.

I didn't realize this was a novella. There was so much depth that could have been explored in the love story/tragedy between this couple. I wish we'd gotten more.

I love a good second chance romance and Can't Miss Christmas was up there for me - I mean, c'mon, another shot at love AND Christmas, how could I resist that?!

This is a story of a couple in love who lost their way and for multiple reasons weren't able to get back to each other. Their meeting up again was a spur of the moment thing when Graham Walker decided to get a book signed by Grace Alberts (who just happens to be his ex-wife) when he's passing a bookstore where she is currently signing books for her young fans....

They haven't seen each other in a while but the attraction and connection is still there even though they've gone their own way and both still feel hurt from their past actions. Watching them realise what they had, what they lost and realising that there could still be a way forward for them was heartwarming and I was engaged from start to finish.

I haven't read the Mirror Lake books by Miranda Liasson but after meeting some of the characters from that series in this book I'm definitely gonna be checking out the back catalogue and catching up with the residents in the small town!

A definite 4* read for me.

Can’t Miss Christmas by Miranda Liasson

Graham Walker and Grace Alberts gave up on one another two years ago BUT when Graham goes to get a book signed for his niece Grace and he realize that the flames of their love have been banked but not put out forever. With a drive that hits a big bump, time together and some soul searching they are given a second chance at love that hopefully they will take advantage of.

Sweet story that I would like to thank Barclay Publicity for…and…I do want to know more about this author and about Mirror Lake and the series set there.

3-4 Stars