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!

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

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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