A Christmas Do-Over by Shelia Roberts. Darby Brown, mean girl extraordinaire is on her way home. No job, no friends. Now that she is on the other end of mean, she's ready to change and seek forgiveness. Little did she know how hard it was going to be. Tis the season for making amends, second chances and new beginnings.
Dashing Through The Snow by Melissa Ferguson. Willow is in despair. After several years her boyfriend breaks up with her. Now on the Christmas Train for couples, she finds herself among people who are a joy. Clarence the owner and his son Oliver. The staff are all professional. But Oliver with the help of his dad, is wooing Willow. It's a sleigh ride with Oliver that sets Willow on a new path.
A Perfectly Splendid Christmas by Amy Clipston. Kacey Williams is back home in Splendid Lake helping her sister. She's a graphic designer and can work from home. Drew Murphy is the music teacher and a friend from the past. The two have been friends since middle school. A missed opportunity years later is giving them a second chance. They just have to get out of their heads and tell each other how they feel.

ON THE WAY TO CHRISTMAS: THREE STORIES is an anthology set between Thanksgiving and Christmas and is a fun read with a lot of Christmas spirit. I’ve read books by Ms. Roberts and Ms. Ferguson before, but Ms. Clipston is new to me. I look forward to reading more books by each of them. And what a cute cover!

A Christmas Do-Over by Sheila Roberts

Darby was a mean girl growing up, and it doesn’t sound like she’s changed all that much in the ensuing years. When she returns home to the small town she grew up in, most aren’t happy to see her—not even her younger sister whom she’ll have to share a room with again. We learn of her biting remarks as well as her nasty persona, but she’s trying to change when she sees her former best friends are still as nasty as ever, and she realizes how it feels when she’s on the receiving end of the mean jokes. She’s especially trying to make amends with her sister and her former best friend, Gregory. But will it be too little too late?

The story has a nice flow and vivid descriptions. I loved the holiday preparations and how Darby’s attitude changed through her hard work, along with some of her relationships.

Dashing Through the Snow by Melissa Ferguson

I liked the premise of the story but some of it gave me a creepy feel—especially Ian, the elf. I liked that Willow was able to get on with her life and get a backbone after getting dumped by her boyfriend of seven years, and just when she thought he might propose. Lucky for her, he didn’t!

Clarence and his grandson, Oliver, the current conductor of The Christmas Express, gave the story a magical feel. I loved all the thoughtful things they did, each in their own way and not looking for anything in return. Willow showed the type of person she was from the start and had a goodness about her. Even if she couldn’t always see it, others seemed to. There were a lot of Christmas activities, and most were unexpected. I loved the closure and how lives can be redirected when you open yourself up to new adventures.

A Perfectly Splendid Christmas by Amy Clipston

This was probably my favorite story, and I wish it had gone on a little longer since it ended too abruptly for me. Kacey comes home from Charlotte to the small town she grew up in to help her sister with her bakery while Dani’s husband is out of work. It helps that she can do her job remotely. Kacey never expected to run into her former best friend, Drew. She always hoped for more from their relationship, but when she went to the prom with his best friend and then started dating him, Drew could no longer even be friends. But now that their paths have crossed again and they’re both single, could there be more? If his life is enmeshed in their small town while hers is in the big city, will they be able to work it out?

There were an abundance of holiday traditions, and I loved Kacey’s relationship with her family, including her nieces, but also with Drew as they renewed their friendship. Drew was definitely on the quiet side even though he was a music teacher, but they balanced each other out. They just needed to learn to communicate better. She was very giving and wanted to make life easier for her family. The flow of the story was just right and the ending was filled with promise.

All in all, ON THE WAY TO CHRISTMAS: THREE STORIES, is a great read leading up to the holidays.

I have enjoyed all three of these novellas.

A Christmas Do Over by Sheila Roberts

Darby used to be a rambunctious teenager always testing her boundaries until she met up with the wrong crowd and started being a mean girl because she thought that made her cool. Now that she has gotten older she is still the mean girl but is trying to work on that. She has a sister who barely can stand her and Darby wants to change that.

So all she wants for Christmas is to show her sister and her hometown that she isn't the mean girl anymore.

Dashing through the Snow by Melissa Ferguson

I loved this story. As the story started out, I felt sorry for Willow because her boyfriend left her and she had to go on that romantic trip that he booked for them and then left her before they took the trip.

After reading this story I would love to trade places with Willow in a minute.

A Perfectly Splendid Christmas by Amy Clipston.

This book fits right in with the other three stories in this collection. I loved it from the beginning to the end and just could not put it down. As with any book by Amy Clipston, you will finish it pretty quickly because it is hard to do anything else until its done.

On the Way to Christmas is a compilation of three short stories by Sheila Roberts, Melissa Ferguson and Amy Clipston. This is an absolutely charming collection of stories, each one festive, Christmasy, delightful and heart-warming. Though they are short, each story is complete and well fleshed out. Each story has a different topic and tone and provides nice variety.

The first story is feisty and tells the tale of a mean girl who experiences a change of heart and decides to turn over a new leaf with her family and friends. The second story is a beautiful story about a newly single woman who uses the tickets her soon to be fiancé purchased for them both, on a cross-country Christmas train ride. The third story is about a young woman who returns to her home town to help her sister out during a difficult time, and is given a second chance with an old friend and hopeful flame.

These stories are enchanting, clean, sweet romances and the perfect choice for a busy holiday season. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the digital arc of this seasonal new release.

Three great stories, that don't fall in to the "too sweet" category that a lot of Christmas romance collections do. Pick it up-you won't disappointed.

✨𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘✨

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, anything can happen.

In this glittering and heartwarming collection, three of today’s bestselling sweet romance novelists offer up the gift of cheer for the winter holiday season.

A Christmas Do-Over by Sheila Roberts

Darby doesn’t want to go home for the holidays, but a career fail sends her slinking back to the small town she always wanted to escape. No one there is especially glad to see the former mean girl—especially not her sister, Erica, or childhood best friend, Gregory. Darby is working hard to be a better person, but has she eaten enough humble pie to make amends?

Dashing Through the Snow by Melissa Ferguson

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.

A Perfectly Splendid Christmas by Amy Clipston

Kacey adores the metropolitan life, but when she gets away to help her sister during a family crisis and run her bakery, she falls in love with former classmate Drew. The problem: he’s a small-town man, and she’s a big-city woman. Is their love big enough to overcome such a major difference.

Curl up with your favorite holiday drink and sink into three worlds where dreams once thought long-gone are still within reach.

Thank you @tlcbooktours and @tnzfiction for this tour invite.

𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 by @our_friendly_farmhouse @amy_clipston and @sheilarobertswriter released October 11, 2022.

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸?

I was excited to be able to read this book! It's fall, the perfect time to start reading Christmas stories! But to be honest, any time of the year is fine with me! While I was reading the first story, I thought it would be my favorite. It was quite interesting to hear how the mean girl grew up, changed her ways and had to apologize to her family and friends. But when I read the second story, I thought maybe it was my favorite, with the main character needing to travel alone on a special train trip, just after her boyfriend broke up with her. By the third story, I had realized I liked each story because of its own unique story!
I am thankful to Thomas Nelson Publishing for allowing me to read this e-book. My thoughts are my own.

A Fun and Cozy Holiday Collection


I am a sucker for a good Christmas story, and when I first saw this book, I was immediately drawn to it. This collection of three Christmas contemporary romances did not disappoint.


In Shelia Robert’s A Christmas Do-Over, we’re treated to a tale of second chances. As the heroine Darby attempts to right the wrongs of her past as a “mean girl,” humorous moments as well as heartfelt realizations abound in this story of holiday-time redemption.


Melissa Ferguson’s Dashing Through the Snow is a delightful story of picking up the pieces after heartbreak. I loved the setting of the Christmas-themed train ride. Willow’s verve for the holidays is endearing, along with her eclectic holiday outfits, and the community she finds through her journey is heartwarming.


Amy Clipston’s A Perfectly Splendid Christmas is a charming small-town Christmas romance with an adorable couple at its core. An enchantingly cozy setting and a sweet second-chance romance combine to create a cheery holiday story.


What is unique about this collection is that each story sets itself completely apart. Each writer has their own distinct style and each story is original, ensuring that there will be something for every reader, yet it is also a fair wager that every reader will enjoy all three novellas.


Fans of Christmas romance, rejoice! The On the Way to Christmas collection will be your new holiday tradition.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Three short stories about love at Christmas. Each one was okay, nothing to really wow you. It would have been better to just do one story.

Reading On the Way to Christmas is like opening a pretty, crimson Christmas box tied with a shimmering satin ribbon. Upon opening it, you find a special present, along with two other boxes to open! Three novellas are included in the gift that is On the Way to Christmas. It's a wonderful accompaniment to add even more joy to the special holiday season.

In A Christmas Do-over, Author Roberts creates lovely small town ambience of Eagledale, Washington, Darcy's hometown. Upon returning here for the holidays, the true spirit of Christmas prevails as Darcy seeks to heal fractured relationships with her sister and others she hurt in her youth.

Writer Melissa Ferguson takes readers on a festive holiday train excursion aboard the The Christmas Express in Dashing Through the Snow. The trip is full of romance, humor, and tenderness as the journey progresses through settings such as the Connecticut woodlands.

Kacey is from the gorgeous Splendid Lake community of North Carolina in Amy Clipston's A Perfectly Splendid Christmas. Her hometown holiday season, although the opposite of big city life, promises reconnections and the possibility of love as she helps her family.

Each of these three stories immersed me in lovely settings and filled my heart with holiday love. From soft blankets on sleigh rides, to evenings with cookie and cocoa, the book radiates the warmth that is Christmas.
Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson FICTION, Thomas Nelson. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you so much to Thomas Nelson for the chance to read and review this book prior to release.

I liked that this was 3 short stories in one and each one seemed like the perfect length. They all were sweet and fun and got me in the Christmas mood a little early this year.

I'd recommend these for a quick and easy Christmas romance fix!

These three wholesome, holiday novellas get a solid four stars from me as a whole. "A Christmas Do-Over" features Darby, a former mean girl, who finds herself eating a lot of humble pie as she reconnects with family and friends in her Washington state hometown. "Dashing Through the Snow" is an adventure on a real-life Polar Express. Willow was supposed to take the cross-country trip with her boyfriend Jonas, but their breakup has her going it alone. Can the holiday magic still warm a broken heart? Finally in "A Perfectly Splendid Christmas," Kacey comes home to help with her sister's bakery and gets the chance to rekindle her friendship with former best friend Drew. The three stories were all very different while still giving that holiday feel. I would have loved to see them be more intentional in communicating the Christmas story. Since that was not the case, I am sticking with four stars.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an ARC of this new release. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This anthology had three sweet, Christmas stories that I enjoyed reading.
A Christmas Do-Over by Sheila RobertsThis book was inspiring because Darby decided to change who she had been.  She used to be a mean girl but not anymore.  I liked how she found hope, happiness, and love along the way.  I also liked that it was set at Christmas and Darby finally spent the holiday with her family.
Dashing Through the Snow by Melissa FergusonWhat could be more romantic than a getaway on the Christmas Express for two weeks.  Willow gets to find out minus her boyfriend of seven years.I liked Willow's character and how she spreads cheer.  I also enjoyed the activities on the train and the fun characters Willow met.  I really enjoyed the ending.
A Perfectly Splendid Christmas by Amy ClipstonI liked the characters in this book.  I enjoyed that Kacey and Drew, high school friends, had reconnected and were dating.  The only problem was she was just visiting.
I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

These three stories are a perfect way to head into the holiday season and a reminder that love, and family are ever-present during this time of year. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a holiday romance or three!

A Christmas Do-Over
Darby finds herself heading home for Christmas after finding herself jobless heading into the holiday season. She realizes that she needs to change her mean girl ways of the past, when even her sister isn’t excited about seeing her, let alone others in the neighborhood. Will making amends allow her to reconnect with old friends?

Dashing Through the Snow
Instead of getting engaged before Christmas, Willow finds herself single and heading on a pre-holiday vacation meant for two, all by herself. The Christmas Express has been a dream of Willow’s and she plans to make the best of it. She hits it off with Oliver, the conductor, and his father, Clarence, which brings unexpected joy to her adventure.

A Perfectly Splendid Christmas
Kacey heads home to help her sister out in her bakery during a crisis and reconnects with Drew, a friend from high school. Kacey’s plan has always been to return to the city, but will her new relationship be enough to root her in her hometown?

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #ThomasNelsonFiction #OntheWaytoChristmas

This was such a great holiday read and was just the right vibe to send me into the holiday season.

I love that it's a collection of three short stories. Each one is so different so it really hit the spot. The first novella is about a reformed mean girl who returns home for the holidays with a plan to make reparations. The second story involved a recently dumped woman who takes a solo two week Christmas train ride across the country. The third short story involves a woman who comes home to help her sister run her bakery when she's fallen on hard times and reconnects with an old friend.

Each novella had a totally different feel but they all made you feel good. The train story was definitely my favorite and even had me looking up Christmas train rides in my area!

The fact that these are short stories worked really well for me. There wasn't a huge amount of cheese factor and I got just enough of the Holiday Hallmark vibe to feel satisfied.

This would be a great collection to pick up around Thanksgiving to kick off the holiday season on the right note.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a copy of this short story collection.

Even though fall is not done yet, tis the season for Christmas Novellas!
This wonderful collection brings all the holiday vibes! Filled with hope , joy and restoring broken relationships, with a little Christmas cheer, a a hint of romance, this book is one you definitely don’t want to miss!

Featuring three novellas :
🎄A Christmas Do -Over by Sheila Roberts
🎄Dashing through the snow by Melissa Ferguson
🎄A Perfectly Splendid Christmas by Amy Clipston

Title: On The Way To Christmas: Three Stories
Authors; Sheila Roberts; Melissa Ferguson; Amy Clipston
Publishers: Thomas Nelson--FICTION, Thomas Nelson
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"On The Way To Christmas" [Three Stories]: Sheila Roberts; Melissa Ferguson; Amy Clipston

My Assessment:

"On the Way to Christmas" was three entertaining short stories, each about the holiday.

We find the first story: "A Christmas Do-Over," was about how a mean girl finally changes her ways and, after returning home, puts it into practice letting the reader see if she had changed her ways. It will be good to see if Darby can make amends, ask forgiveness, and get second chances and maybe a HEA. We find Darby needed forgiveness from her sister...and her friend Gregory. I will stop there and say pick up this read and see how it all comes out. Let's see if Darby will be able to eat humble pie and make amends?'

The next holiday read, 'Dashing Through the Snow,' was a different kind of read where one will find it exciting and engaging fantasy story, "Dashing Through the Snow" deals with a Christmas-theme Polar Express train trip for grownups" which was a very creative story. What will happen when Willow has been Dumped by her boyfriend [Jonas] of seven years and meets a few other interesting characters on that train ride? The story involves 'taking chances, new beginnings, and maybe a HEA.'

The last holiday read was 'A Perfectly Splendid Christmas,' where two childhood best friends [Kacey & Drew] meet up again in their hometown. Will they be able to express their love for one another this time? The story was somewhat predictable but still a good holiday read. There was so much enjoyment in how these family and friends got together during the holidays and had a wonderful holiday. But will Darcey and Drew get what they want in the end?

How will things work out for the three-holiday stories? The reader will have to pick up this good package and well-written read to see how well these three authors bring out these sweet Christmas stories to the reader.

Thank you to NetGallery and Thomas Nelson for the reads and my giving my opinion for each of the three short reads.

A Christmas Do-Over - Darby's life has fallen apart. Worse, she's begun to realise it's her own fault. Back home for the holidays, can she make amends for her past terrible behaviour? Meeting an old friend makes her long for all she once turned her back on, but is it too late?

Dashing Through the Snow: Willow expected her trip on the Christmas Express to be spent with her boyfriend, but when he dumps her shortly beforehand, she decides to go on her own. Can she open her heart - but use her head! - to a truer love than she's ever known when it offers?

A Perfectly Splendid Christmas: When Kacey comes home for Christmas, she meets the man who disappointed her back at school by failing to ask her out. They reconnect, but can there be any future for them when he loves his hometown and she's always loved life in the city?

I loved the second story - a perfect balance of tender moments and quirky, humorous moments (a snake, anyone?). I also enjoyed the others, but with more reservations. The first story felt rushed, with too much telling and not enough showing; I felt that it could have made a good full-length novel if done right, but as it was, I enjoyed the idea more than the execution. The third story was good except that I kept on wishing they'd just TALK about the future instead of mistily wishing it could work while knowing it wouldn't. The idea that (at least initially) neither was willing to consider changing their plans or even talking about options bothered me. However, the ending worked well, which was good. All in all, an enjoyable collection to get one into the Christmas spirit.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Cute Christmas themed novellas

These warm and cute Christmas themed novellas are quite different but each provides life lessons for the characters in a gentle way. They provide a quick break for the reader during a busy time of year and should be enjoyed with a little cup or glass of your preferred libation.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Anything can happen between Thanksgiving and Christmas! On the Way To Christmas is a novella collection that shows us Christmas is the time of miracles and second chances.
“A Christmas Do-Over” is by Sheila Roberts, an author that is new to me. Mean Girl Darby goes home for Christmas after three years. Her friends and family have long memories and it is challenging for Darby to show them that she is ready to change.
“Dashing Through the Snow” by Melissa Ferguson is another new author to me. Willow gets dumped by her boyfriend but decides to take their romantic train they planned, solo. Willow meets a friendly Elf, a retiree and the train’s conductor. Willow is not only traveling across the country, but she is also on a trip of self discovery.
“A Perfectly Splendid Christmas” by Amy Clipston brings us back to Splendid Lake, North Carolina. Kacey returns home to help her sister run the bakery before Christmas. She runs into her former best friend and they rekindle their friendship. He’s a small town teacher and she’s a city girl. Can they overcome these obstacles to make it a Christmas to remember?
If you are looking for sweet romances, this novella collection is for you. I’m glad that I was able to “meet” two new authors, as well as read a story by a favorite author of mine. I look forward to reading more books by this author. Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.