The town of Snow Haven, North Carolina, is weeks away from Christmas, and little does Diana Merriman know that life as she knows it will be altered in unexpected ways.

Diana is a PT and prides herself on her professionalism with patients. She's worked hard and will be interviewing for a promotion. One of her patients dubbed her Elsa, which she took offense to. In questioning her fiance, Linus Grant, the conversation switches to setting a wedding date that ensues into an argument.

Due to her mother's absence, Diana was raised by her no-nonsense grandmother, and Diana isn't used to the Grant clan.

December 4th starts as an ordinary day with Diana working through her patients and then heading to her interview. This day is anything but ordinary when she encounters a setback with her first patient, upsets the second patient, learns the fate of the coveted promotion, and cancels on getting together with her friend. The next thing is two police officers deliver horrible news concerning Linus being in an accident.

After three weeks, Diana discovers a hidden gift from Linus. When her neighbor pays a visit, it triggers a mysterious event where Diana will get to relive a single day with her loved one. If Diana can figure out the details, this could be an opportunity of a lifetime.

I enjoyed seeing the growth of Diana, although it frustrated me how reserved she was at the thought of gaining a large family and sidestepped setting a wedding date. The story had me contemplating if I had a chance to relive a single day, how I would spend it, and with whom.

I received an advanced reader's copy and voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

Huge thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the ARC version of this book!

Normally I am not a huge fan of time loop plotlines (in books or movies) as I find the repetition to be quite boring. However, when it's done right, I am a fan. Throw in the fact that this is a Christmas romance, you've got me hooked. I really loved this story because while at the base it was about Diana trying to save Linus, it's really about saving others and yourself. I loved that each day she realized how she could help someone else, and I really enjoyed the way everything turned out in the end. Ultimately, it's also about finding what works best for you in this life (work/life balance, marriage) and not just doing what's expected of you.

If you're a fan of Christmas, time loops, and feeling your feelings, give this book a read. No need to wait until the holiday season to read either!

4.5 stars
Through the Snow Globe, by Annie Rains, is a sweet, delightful, ultimately uplifting Groundhog Day retelling of sorts. By its conclusion it ended up being one of my favorite Christmas reads, but it didn’t start out that way.

The main character, Diana Merriman, is a by-the-book physical therapist who is angling for a promotion she thinks she wants. She avoids emotional entanglements with her patients because she deems it unprofessional. She’s also avoiding setting a wedding date to her beloved Linus, a toy store owner because she fears his large and loving family, having never had one of her own. They have an argument and Linus questions if he should have proposed after all. The next morning, Linus is hit on his bicycle while riding to work and ends up in a coma. Through some mystical means, Diana has the opportunity to see a loved one one more time and she is determined to find a way to save him.

Through a chunk of the story, Diana was immensely immature, rigid, unbelievably naive and almost ruined the story for me. She repeatedly came across as obtuse, inconsiderate, and highly disagreeable, which made for a frustrating reading experience. I also found it implausible that Diana and Linus would be considering marriage, when they knew so little about each other. There were so many opportunities for Diana to simply talk to her fiancé and explain her feelings, which would resolve so many problems, but she chose to keep her concerns to herself. I wanted to advise her to accept input and advice from others who cared about her without being so easily offended, but I doubt she would listen.

After multiple cycles through the worst day of her life, Diana finally learned the life-impacting lessons she needed to learn. The overall plot arc and character evolution absolutely won me over in the end and converted my frustrated thoughts into contented ones. This is a story of self-reflection and discovery. It is hopeful, touching, and magical. Through the Snow Globe is an endearing and heartwarming story, just like any good Christmas story should be.

Through the Snow Globe by Annie Rains
Contemporary holiday romance. A touch of paranormal via Groundhog Day scenario.
Diana Merriman is probably the only person in the small town of Snow Haven, North Carolina, who isn’t looking forward to Christmas. Her fiancé, Linus, is in a coma after being hit by a car on the way home from the toy store he owns and manages. Diana’s only wish for Christmas is to have Linus alive and back home. A neighbor, trying to help Diana feel better, puts an enhancement on a snow globe gift and Diana finds herself reliving the day of the accident over and over again.

The major overall feeling of this story is sadness and heartbreak. As the same day progresses over and over again, we learn more about Diana and the reasons she has withheld herself from others. Just like in the movie, Diana has to learn to open her heart to others.
It is a love story, both to her finance and to Diana herself as well.
It’s an incredibly emotional story that had me crying along the way. It’s a romance as well, and we do get a happily ever after so don’t despair. The ending feeling is breathtaking and beautiful. But it is a hard fought journey.
I would recommend this to any romance reader that doesn’t mind a good cry knowing they will get their hea.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

I love a good holiday book. Throw in a touch of magic and I'm all in!!

This story was a play on the Groundhog Day trope. Diana is facing the possibility that she may never get her HEA with her fiance, Linus, the love of her life, when he is in an accident that puts him in a coma. With the help of a snow globe, a gift from Linus, and a "helpful" neighbor, Diana gets that chance to relive the last day she had with him before his accident. As she tries, and fails, to change the outcome of his accident she discovers a lot about herself and her inability to move forward and how it's affected her happiness and her relationships and maybe, just maybe, it's not the accident that she needs to change, but herself.

This story was emotional but heartwarming. It's a good reminder to appreciate the people who are in your life and allow yourself to move forward through past hurts, distrusts and fears rather than pretend to just get over them. That being vulnerable with someone you love doesn't make you weak but instead it makes you stronger and, in turn, enhances your happiness and allows you to really grow as a person.

I definitely recommend this to my readers who don't strictly read romance.

*I received an early copy from Kaye Publicity for voluntary review

I'm not a fan of a wonderful life, so I was hesitant about the premise. But I liked, the book well enough.

I received this book as a NetGalley ARC. I am already a fan of Ms. Rains, so of course I jumped at the chance to read this book. Her books give me all the feels each and every time- this one is no exception!!! Diana and her fiancé have not set a wedding date yet. Linus is wonderful and they are so awesome together. Diana did not have the best childhood and it has made her a little wary of feelings. Linus has an accident and ends up in a coma. Diana gets a chance to relive one day with someone she lost. She picks that day. Only one problem, she cannot change the outcome. Heavy, right? This book is so much more than fighting for your one true love. It’s about looking inside yourself, tearing down the walls that you have put up to protect yourself and learning what you really want even if you are afraid. Grab your favorite warm drink, light your favorite candle, put on your favorite comfy clothes and settle in. Be prepared though, once you finish you may just need some time to reflect. Well done!

I've had my fair share of time loop movies, where the same moment in time gets replayed, offering the chance to alter outcomes or instill important lessons. So, the central theme of "Through The Snow Globe" wasn't entirely novel to me. However, Annie Rains masterfully transcended this familiar concept, touching heartstrings and leaving behind a warm afterglow that fuels my curiosity to explore her other literary works.

Within "Through the Snow Globe," we encounter Diana, whose upbringing in a dysfunctional family shapes her perceptions of relationships. This evolving mindset steers her to prioritize her career over wedding planning. But when an unfortunate accident befalls her fiancé, Linus, a magical snow globe propels her into a cycle of reliving that pivotal day. In these repeated instances, Diana endeavors to avert Linus' injury. This unique opportunity ultimately imparts profound lessons about life's priorities and the true essence of family, which extends beyond bloodlines.

Imagining the agony of reliving a dreaded day, helpless to change the outcome for your most cherished person, weighs heavily. My heart went out to Diana, as Annie Rains crafts words that transport readers into the core of Diana's trials and the emotional intensity she endures. Rains transforms this well-known narrative into her own by crafting an enchanting, heartwarming tale set against the backdrop of Christmas. Undoubtedly, the festive atmosphere enhances the story's resonance; who can resist the allure of Christmas, the purity of snow, and the embrace of familial bonds?

In its entirety, "Through the Snow Globe" was an indulgence I couldn't resist. I devoured its pages in a single day, captivated by Diana and Linus, two profoundly relatable characters. Annie Rains skillfully brings them to life in ways that resonate deeply with any reader. A heartfelt applause to you, Annie Rains, for conjuring an unforgettable narrative that promises delight to anyone fortunate enough to read it.

Linus and Diana are engaged and Linus is looking to set the date. Only Diana keeps pushing back. She just needs to get through the job promotion interview. Only Linus is hit by a car and is in a coma. Diana is distraught. She never realizes how much she misses Linus with his sense of humor and smile. So she finds the snow globe that he bought for her for Christmas. As she shakes the globe, she gets to keep reliving that day. She goes through all the various emotions. She finally comes to the conclusion, it's to painful to keep reliving that day and will accept what the future holds for her. Little did she know, that when Linus wakes up, that everything that happens is better than she could ever imagine. I just loved the ending.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Diana is concerned when her fiance is injured in an accident. She is hoping he will get better. When she has a groundhogs day moment, what will she do differently. This was a good book.

This book was lovely. What I thought would be a pretty predictable change the timeline story was really more. The magic was watching Diana as she slowly worked through her feelings and her past and found what made her happy. It was my favorite trope of grumpy old guy with a hidden heart of goo cast as a young professional woman.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. I am required by law to disclose this in my review.

THROUGH THE SNOW GLOBE - Annie Rains

SWEET AND HAPPY - 5 stars

Plot - 5 stars - An unexpected visit from a friendly neighbor and a snow globe of Snow Haven—a gift Linus had hidden in the closet—changes things in ways Diana never would have imagined. On Christmas Eve she wakes up to find that it’s December 4 all over again, the day Linus got hurt, and as mystified as Diana is, she immediately starts a plan to save her partner from his fate. But instead of a single repeat, Diana finds herself in an endless loop of that day, experiencing every possible variation of events. Along the way, she uncovers startling truths about herself, her relationships, and even her career.

Writing - 4.5 stars - Rains caught my attention right from the first page with her appealing characters. Even knowing what to expect, it was fun to read about her thought processes as she began the repetitious daily loop, each time desperately trying to make changes in order to save Linus. Along with Diana, this reader also got a little tired of the repetition, but Rains did a good job of making each day different so there was not a significant amount of frustration or boredom.

Characters - 5 stars - Diana is an excellent main character. She's a strong and very independent professional, but she also shows her vulnerable side during this extraordinary situation. We can easily see the growth she's experiencing as she faces each new challenge. Linus is a wonderful foil for her. He's easy-going and charming, with a strong kind streak. I was definitely rooting for his health and happiness as Diana worked through the various stages of the repeating day.

Title - 4 stars - Pretty self-explanatory, although it's not quite right since Diana doesn't travel through the snow globe but uses the snow globe as her aide, so to speak.

Cover - 5 stars - A beautiful color to draw the eye, with a simple holiday design.

Overall - 5 stars - Although this scenario has been done already, of course, Rains makes it fresh with her wonderful characters and simple yet significant changes. It's clear that Diana needs to make adjustments in her thinking in order to come out on the other side of the time loop. She keeps trying, but she also, understandably, gets frustrated and unhappy with her progress (or lack thereof). But her goal always remains the same, and I enjoyed watching her make slow but steady steps. And her loyalty to Linus never falters, which was very heart-warming. The snow globe gives the book a holiday feel and sets a potential timeframe for a happy ending.

I've not had good luck with books using the Groundhog Day setup...until now. Where other books have left me bored and skipping pages early on, Annie Rains has written a story that engaged both my interest and my heart.

One of the things I most enjoy about an Annie Rains novel is her characters. They are fully developed, multi-layered characters with flaws that are relatable to most readers. While there is a romantic thread in this book, this is primarily Diana's story. Her gradual evolution is a deeply emotional, realistic process that kept me flipping pages to discover what would happen next. I love how Rains uses even the smallest change in Diana's personal life outlook to show the ripples of change within her as well as among those with whom she interacts. It's a thought-provoking process that offers real-life lessons.

If you enjoy Christmas stories with emotional depth, magical realism, life-altering growth, and hard-won, happy endings, I recommend Through the Snow Globe by Annie Rains. Like the movie, It's a Wonderful Life, I have a feeling this heart-tugging book will become one of my annual holiday traditions.

*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley. Fair and unbiased review.

The Groundhog day scenario was too redundant for me. Although a few things changed each day, based on the previous day's outcome, I found myself skimming through the story.

To think that a child visiting Linus' toy store experienced the same phenomena, was bizarre.

I enjoyed the Love story but not the book setup. Although I enjoy the author, usually, this was not as good as her usual stories.

I received a free ARC eBook from Net galley and the publisher, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 / 5
This had all the right ingredients: Christmas mood, "It's a wonderful life" + "Groundhog day" + "If Only" vibes.
I was surprised to see myself so invested in so little time. I was even more surprised when this book managed to make me cry so early on.
Another thing I really enjoyed, was repeating Dec 4th over and over, while having a different feel every time. I really appreciated seeing Diana be so human and flawed. Despite reliving the same day, she messes things up from time to time, and her resolve wavers at times. It made the whole thing so believable.
The only thing I'd say as a "negative" thing, is that sometimes it felt a bit mushy. But I think that's to be expected from a story like this (especially if it's Christmas time).
All in all, I'd totally recommend this one!


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

I have enjoyed books by this author in the past and I just knew this would be such an enjoyable read. I am so ready to start reading this year’s Christmas books.
Through the Snow Globe is fun, caring and optimistic.
I have not read many time-loop books but this one was a hit with me and now I’ll be looking for more.


Diana Merriman, a physical therapist, is not looking forward to Christmas. Her fiancée has been critically injured on his bicycle and is fighting for his life. Before his serious injury their relationship isn’t in the best shape.

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He really would like to make wedding plans but she’s avoiding anything wedding related. She wants to advance in her career first. I didn’t like Diana’s character at first, she seems self-centered.


When Diana finds an enchanted snow globe in Linus’s closet it changes her life. This beautiful snow globe puts her in a time-loop as she relives December 4th over and over again. She experiences every possible scenario of what has already happened on this day. The good and the bad. Diana learns a lot about self-discovery and what really is important in life and her relationships.

You can emphasize with her character as she knows what’s going to happen. I just loved the ending and seeing Diana and Linus having another chance at happiness.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This was an interesting book as it was a little bit like the movie, Groundhog's Day.  Diana is engaged to Linus, who is eager to get married but Diana keeps putting off setting a date because she is working on a promotion at work.  The truth is Diana is afraid to make the commitment because of her past.  Everyone has left her.  Her dad, her mom, and even though her grandmother raised her she did not want her either.  Her grandmother also taught her to show no emotions.I liked that the snow globe, along with the neighbor's enchantment, showed us how much Diana was changing and opening up herself to strangers and loved ones.  One of their patients had called her a cold ice queen.  I liked this new warm Diana and the changes she made.  This book had surprises I did not think would happen and I am so glad about that.  I really enjoyed reading the intriguing story. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

This was a sweet romance with a Groundhog Day feel to it. Diana has a lot to learn about relationships, despite having a very loving partner in Linus. But her childhood made her wary of completely opening up, and now it's starting to cause problems. She may lose the promotion she's hoping for to someone more outgoing and friendly.

When an accident leaves her fiance in a coma, Diana has the opportunity to go back and spend one more day with him. But what she doesn't realize is, she's going to be stuck in that day until she learns a few important lessons.

It was fun to see all the different approaches Diana takes to the crucial events of that day, and what she ultimately learns along the way as she begins to open her heart to those around her.

Very enjoyable sweet and clean romance.

Thanks to Annie Rains, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

I was so excited to read this but unfortunately this book was not for me. It was a little too slow for me. I will give this another try when it gets a little more toward the season. However I did not finish this at this time. But, just because I didn't finish it doesn't mean you won't love it! Try it out!

My Review
☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️

Through the snow Globe.
Annnie Rains.

Magical realism
Holiday fiction.
Of the best kind, Annie Rains Writes the best stories.. This is a Second chance romance. With Christmas all wrapped in to one perfect gift..

What would you do. A snow globe. One wish.
To have that chance again. To relive it again. And again. Would you make that wish. Would you shake that snow globe. Some wood. Some wouldn't.

Diane Merriman,
A physical therapy. Has everything. She could ever want a job, a boyfriend, and life is just perfect. Until something happens. And then the snow globe.
The things that Happen. Will the future turn out like she's anticipating or will it be Something completely different..
Days seem to run over each other. Each day seems like it was like the day before. But soon it has to end. But will it..

A gift. Sometimes it's just a gift.
Because life is a gift.

Man this was such a good book I read it I loved it. I really suggested to others who truly Enjoy this author's work. Every time I read a book by this author they just get better and better.

Thank you annie Rains. For so many wonderful stories.

Annie Rains