3*

I loved reading/listening to the first story of this book. It’s such a nice setting: girl gets dumped right before she’s boarding a festive train holiday (where her now ex-boyfriend would propose), meets the love of her life there and spends the most wholesome time with him and his father. I listened to this audiobook in one go and couldn’t put it to a pause. The narrator’s tempo was just perfect and she really could tell a story! The only thin I didn’t like was how she lowered her voice every time she’d quote a male character. The book is from a female POV and I’d much rather had the whole story in her normal voice. Like you would tell a story to a friend.

The second book however, couldn’t get me no didn’t finish it, because after 5 chapters, I caught myself not really knowing what I was listening to. Hence the 3 stars in total.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC in advance of the publishing date.

This is a 2 book/novella set. Dashing Through the Snow & Pining for You. These are two cute love stories.
In Dashing Through the Snow, a young woman, Willow gets dumped by her long time boyfriend just weeks before Christmas. They were scheduled to go on a two-week specialty train ride; so Willow goes by herself. Along the way we meet quite a cast of characters and Willow learns some truths about herself that might just lead her to her own happily ever after.

In Pining for You, we meet Theo & Skye; two childhood friends that grew apart when they both headed off to college. After 14 years, circumstances bring them together again when her father gets injured on the job. Will they be able to see each other as they are now and yet still remember how things were between them growing up? Will past mistakes and errors in judgment be forgotten or forgiven?

These are two wonderful stories that I enjoyed listening to. They have wonderful characters and delightful settings.

Such a fun book! It has two short stories in it that are easy to get lost in for a while. The first one will give you Polar Express vibes, cringy meet cutes that turn into awkward snake encounters, and a sweet old man that helps bring together the two love interests!

In the second story, it is second chances at its best! It was so sweet!

I loved that both stories had minimal drama. Since they are short stories, we still get a full character development and well rounded stories!

Two adorably cute love stories during wintertime. Narrator is great and fun to listen to...wished there were more!

I really enjoyed these short stories. The author has written wonderful stories and I am not surprised that these go right along with the rest. The holidays are a magical time of year and these stories show the magic and happiness that can happen. The narration was great. Which helped me envision the stories.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of the audio in exchange for an honest review.*

Unfortunately, these stories didn't work for me. I liked the first one more than the second.

The first novella could have been really good if it had been longer. The relationship that we are supposed to be invested in needed to be developed more. And having two possible love interests in such a short story was not a great idea.
The second novella was just not for me. I didn't like Theo. And I don't like romances where one of the people is in a relationship during most of the story. I didn't care about their second chance romance.

The audio itself was good, but in the second story the changing POVs could be confusing because the narrator's voice was pretty much the same the whole time. She was very easy to listen to, but it would have been better if it was more distinct in the changes.

I loved the Narrators Talon David and Kayla Jackson, and two sweet short holiday books in one was great! especially the french Accent!

🚂 Dashing Through the Snow 🚂

This was a 4 star read for me I adored it!!! Think the Polar express Meets a Hallmark Movie!

Willow Is Dumped By her Boyfriend she was Hoping would Propose, so Takes the festive train they had Planned on together - Meeting Ian - who catfishes her in a whole new but fun way - Clarence her Chess Buddy and Lastly Oliver who starts to put that twinkle back in her eye... Yep LOVED IT.


🎄 Pining for You 🎄

Meh - This one really wasn't for me - A bit boring - 2.5 stars

Theo (Whom i didn't really like, he was a bit of a distant character... not a lot to him) Returns to his tree farm and Reconnects with Skye, who's Father Runs the Tree farm - Skye was fun But a skim over their past really never Delves any deeper to facts in how they met ect. so we start on with a bland kind of resentment and love with no real Basis. The story Centers around a payslip Skye finds and how she Thinks Theo is Paying her dad Unfairly the Minimum pay. The conclusion felt rushed. but it was a shortie and readable.

I love a holiday romance, and these audio novellas were a great start to my Christmas reading list.

Snowy Serendipity was my first read by Melissa Ferguson and I really enjoyed her writing. The narrators were the perfect compliment and did a great job of giving lots of personality to each of Melissa’s characters.

❄️ Dashing Through the Snow ❄️
This novella was holiday perfection and gave The Polar Express meets Hallmark Christmas. In true novella fashion the romance moved quickly and newly-single FMC Willow was letting her heart guide her. Even to quirky train elf Ian! I loved the friendship between Willow and Clarence, and the relationship that formed between Willow and Oliver was super cute.

🎄Pining for You 🎄
I think this novella would have done well as a full-length read. There was a lot of history between Theo and Skye and the short format made their relationship and HEA feel rushed.

Overall, this was a great listen and I loved the 2-for-1 format!

Thank you to NetGalley,
Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio, and Melissa Ferguson for an advance copy. This is my honest review.

These two hallmark style Christmas novellas are the cutest romance stories to get you into the mood for Christmas.
The first story, Dashing Through the Snow, was a bit whimsical. Following Willow onto a Christmas vacation train ride with employees who resemble Santa and his elf’s.
The second story was Pining for You. Which is a second chance romance following Theo and Skye on a Christmas tree farm.
The narration and audio production were well done.

3 Stars / Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Dashing Through the Snow 🚆
- This Christmas novella definitely brought out the Polar Express vibes. However, the main female characters actions and wording are nothing short of cringey. She gets left by her boyfriend of many years to go on a train trip they planned alone (four days later). Within five minutes she immediately falls head over heels for none other than a train elf, yes you heard me. A train elf who acted so sophisticated and yet ended up having a bunch of weird animals and comic books stashed in his room giving major "can I have a hug" vibes. The author was very good with describing but this book just wasn't for me. The narration was also confusing since one woman was voicing every character.

Pining for You 🎄
- The complete 180 of the first novella. While it is Christmas themed, this book wasn't bringing on cheery vibes. The main character Theo was how should I say, an ass. This story takes place on a Christmas tree farm where the workers are being paid less than minimum wage. It so happens that Theo owns the farm and is paying Sky's (his childhood lover) Dad barely enough to get by. Before reading this second novella be warned it does talk about heavier subjects like poverty, gambling addiction, and a cheating trope.

These are two short and sweet holiday novellas in one book and my first reads by Melissa Ferguson.

I listened to these through and ALC I received from NetGalley for my review. Thanks NetGalley and Melissa!

The first book in this duo is Dashing Through the Snow and it's super cute though because of the shortened novella format I had a hard time completely buying into the romance part that felt super rushed and incomplete. I feel like it had potential to be a bit longer. That said, Willow has been dumped and is embarking on a holiday train ride alone, and there meets a cast of characters she comes to feel deeply for. It's cute!

The second story is mountainside story of a second chance romance. This was one also short and cute but just felt a little too rushed in order to feel connected to the characters or the romance as a whole.

No spice for either of these.

Since they came as a packaged deal I give the duo 3 stars.

I love Christmasy romcoms and the novellas in Snowy Serendipity fit the bill! I enjoyed the first story a little more than I did the second, but they're quick, cozy romances for any Hallmark movie lover. Highly recommend and look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio and NetGalley for this holiday ALC!

Thank you NetGalley and Melissa Ferguson for this ARC.

I enjoyed these novellas. So cute!
Holiday cozy read. I liked the first story a little more than the 2nd but both are cute. Quick read.

This audiobook includes two novellas by Melissa Ferguson: Dashing Through the Snow & Pining for You.

❄️Dashing Through the Snow ❄️

Willow is Dumped by her boyfriend shortly before they were going to go on a getaway on the Christmas Express.  After a pep talk from her best friend, Willow decides to go without her now ex boyfriend.  She wears a festive outfit and is cheery, and determined to make the most of it and have a good time.  She meets a man who is also dressed festively and she thinks he could be perfect for her. Will she still feel that way when she finds out who he really is?  Could she find love on the Christmas Express?


🎄 Pining for You 🎄

Sky moves back to her hometown after being gone 14 years so she can help her parents with their finances.  She runs into her childhood sweetheart and her and Theo, who is in a relationship.  They have things to talk about and work through, will they rekindle their love?


🎄 I enjoyed the these novellas the and gave it a strong 3 stars. 

❄️Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC of the audio of this ARC.

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

#book122of200 #amreading #netgalley #tbrpile #instareads #readstagram #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #goodreads #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2023 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds

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).