I am always excited to see something by Melissa Ferguson! This audio is a collection of two Christmas novellas.
The first one, Dashing Through the Snow, was great! This one had me hooked from the elf costumed meet cute. I was laughing throughout and feeling the Christmas spirit. I wanted to go find a Christmas train for myself (maybe without a python on board).
The second novella, Pining For You, wasn't as light and cheery. A story of a fancy financial analyst goes home to his families tree farm and must work along side his childhood love. While I enjoyed this one, it just didn't grab me like the first one. I think I would have liked this one more in a longer format.
I definitely recommend this one. It is a quick listen that will have you ready for the Christmas season!
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice Level: 🌶️/5

Title: Snowy Serendipity
Author: Melissa Ferguson
Narrators: Talon David and Kayla Jackson
Pub Date: September 26, 2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Snowy Serendipity contains two cozy novellas, perfect for the holiday season! If you are a fan of Melissa Ferguson, or love happily-ever-afters, you will want to check out Snowy Serendipity!

Dashing Through The Snow
After being dumped by her her longtime boyfriend, who was expected to propose at any moment, Willow decides to continue on with her plans and boards The Christmas Express, a two week train ride. When Willow meets a man before boarding the train, who shares her love for festive holiday attire, she thinks he is going to be perfect of her. What unfolds is a hilarious ride with some amazing characters that help heal Willow’s heart. I felt like the characters in this novella were so likable and it was just a super sweet, feel-good story!

Pining For You
Skye Fuller moves back home to her childhood home to assist her parents, who are in some financial trouble. Not long after she moves in, her father is injured, and Skye finds herself face-to-face with her childhood friend, Theo, the owner of the Christmas Tree farm where her father works. With Mr. Fuller injured, Theo must drop everything to play farmer on the tree farm. Will Theo be able to win the heart of his childhood best friend while taking care of the Christmas Tree farm? This is a great opposites attract, forced proximity novella!

I felt like the narrators were great for these novellas and really enjoyed listening to them as the stories unfolded!

Thank you, Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for providing me with a #gifted copy of Snowy Serendipity.

This book contains two novellas happening during the holidays. I loved the first one, Dashing Through The Snow. This follows Willow who was dumped by her boyfriend of seven years on the eve of a romantic getaway, and she decides to take the two-week train trip on The Christmas Express alone. I loved seeing her make friends with the passengers and workers on the train. Falling for Clarence and feeling how it is to be truly cherished was wonderful as well.

The second one, Pining For You, was hard to get into. I just didn't connect with the characters, especially Theo, who tried to win back the heart of his childhood best friend Skye.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. This collection releases today.

This was a cute quick read. It’s two stories and while they were both interesting I wish it would have been one longer story. I felt that the short stories just didn’t give enough details.

🩵Snowy Serendipity by Melissa Ferguson🩵

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Audio for the ARC!
This audiobook includes two novellas by Melissa Ferguson: Dashing Through the Snow & Pining for You. I’ll give a little synopsis of each and my review but no ✨spoilers✨ because that’s no fun!

🎄Dashing Through the Snow🎄

Synopsis:
After being dumped by her longtime boyfriend right before their romantic getaway on The Christmas Express, Willow boards alone in a very cheery/festive getup, determined to enjoy herself after her best friend’s pep talk. Before boarding she meets a man dressed just as festive as she who she thinks may be perfect for her! It seems like her trip might just be turning around… until she learns who he really is. Will Willow have the trip she’s always dreamed of on The Christmas Express? And possibly even fall in love with the RIGHT guy this time?

💚Romantic gestures
💚Christmas cheer
💚New friends
💚Finding yourself
💚HEA

My thoughts:
This is a fun & festive novella! Willow is presented as a caring and kind MC but is also as her best friend points out: a people pleaser. She wants everyone to be comfortable and happy but often that means she’s not doing what’s best for her. Like not getting the pet she wants because her boyfriend is *allergic.* Taking a solo trip on The Christmas Express that was originally supposed to be a romantic getaway is exactly what she needs after being dumped by her loser/selfish ex-boyfriend. Aboard The Christmas Express, Willow meets people who appreciate and deserve her genuine kindness. There’s even a Santa lookalike on board! The cast of lovable characters and the funny mishaps with the man who is certainly NOT Mr. Right along the way make this a quick and enjoyable book to listen to. I loved the characters and Christmas spirit, plus the names Oliver and Willow are so cute!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

❄️Pining for You❄️

Synopsis:
After living in Seattle for 14 years, Skye has moved back to her childhood home to help with her parents’ finances, but after 3 months her father has a bad injury and she finds herself face to face with her childhood friend, Theo, who she hasn’t seen in years. Theo is surprised to find Skye answering the door when he arrives at her parents’ house after a phone call from Mrs. Fuller about her husband’s injury. Mrs. Fuller claims she called Theo since he’s the owner of the Christmas tree farm and their employer, but it seems she might have ulterior motives in getting Theo and Skye back in the same room after so many years. Will Theo be able to manage the farm and win back the woman he loves?

🩵Childhood best friends
🩵Second chance love
🩵Forced proximity
🩵Opposites
🩵HEA

My thoughts:
Ahhh okay I love a childhood besties/second chance love story! The main characters already know each other’s past and seeing how they experience the differences between their old selves and who they are now is the best. Theo knows Skye is the one but Skye is reluctant to let him in again choosing to hold onto her anger and take pleasure in messing with him. I’m a big fan of forced proximity and trips down memory lane🤗 So if you like friends to (somewhat?) enemies to lovers and opposites attract, this is a cute quick story!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Sometimes a narrator’s voice just doesn’t fit but I’m happy to report that they did a great job on this one! Both stories were great but I really loved the second novella Pining for You🤍 I know it’s a bit early for Christmas books but really, is there ever a bad time to read/listen to a holiday romance? Check this one out when it releases tomorrow!!

4.5 stars

As soon as I got my audiobook of this duo of stories I started listening. I was looking forward to some good Christmasy/holiday stories.

And Dashing Through the Snow was just that. It felt very Christmasy as they took their two week train trip on The Christmas Express. And I LOVE train travel so I would adore taking that trip. It sounds amazing. This was a sweet story with likable characters, even the quirky ones. Also, I really liked the narrator for this one. Well done. 5 stars for this light holiday read.

I might have liked Pining for You better had I listened to it first. It was very Hallmark-esque in plot but not as light and "fun" as the first story was. And other than taking place on a tree farm it didn't feel very holiday-ish. But I could totally see it in my mind as a Hallmark movie. I could even see which actress would play the heroine. Didn't love the narration as much. Sometimes the hero's voice sounded just like the narrator reading the narration instead of voicing a male character's dialog. 3.5 stars on this one.

Both books are pretty short so it wasn't difficult for me to listen to both in one day. That also makes it perfect for listening to just one if you only have a few hours but want a full story.

No sex, language or violence
*I received a complimentary audiobook through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

I really enjoy Melissa Ferguson’s books and was really excited to get approved for these to holiday novellas!

Holiday books as novellas is definitely my style. In Snowy Serendipity your get two stories! I really enjoyed the first one more than the second… and loved how magical it was with the setting of the train. I found myself wishing it was a full length novel… that’s how much I loved it.

Both are a quick reads.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio, Thomas Nelson Fiction, NetGalley, and Melissa Ferguson for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is 2 stand-alone holiday romance novellas

Dashing Through the Snow- 3 ⭐
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.
Pining for You- 2 ⭐
Welcome to a cozy Virginia mountain town where Christmas tree farm owner Theo Watkins III has the opportunity to drop everything for one weekend to play farmer and potentially win back the heart of his childhood best friend, Skye Fuller. Only problem? He’s the kind of man who drives a Tesla, not a tractor.

These were both cute holiday romances, but I felt a bit disconnected from the stories. I think it was probably because they were both novellas and the stories were too big to be so compact. The narrator was great and I really enjoyed listening to them. If you are looking for some quick reads for a feel good HEA holiday romance I would check this out.

Sweet book of two tales/novellas. Christmas themed!
I believe this is the first I’ve read of this author…

The first novella is Dashing Through the Snow, and let me tell you, it’s adorable!
Willow is the main character, and we meet her as she embarks on her dream trip (which is a two week train ride across the states…) on the Christmas Express! The only problem is that her boyfriend of 7 years has just dumped her… and it’s a couples train. BUT, she decides to go it alone. And the tale that follows is just delicious! The characters that she encounters are just adorable…and absolutely make this one a delight! Not to be missed!!

The second novella is Pining for You.
This one features Skye and Theo, who grew up together, as children, and then more…and then grew up and apart. Now they come face to face again…and it’s not so pretty. Not a big fan of this one, BUT, the second half of the book did do some redeeming for me. I liked the character development…and the little family secrets that are revealed…and sweet.

That being said…3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me (although #1 was really more like 4 or 4 1/2!)

Thanks to #NetGalley and #ThomasNelson and #ZondervanAudio for the ARC of the audiobook to be released on September 26th…so look for it soon!

#SnowySerendipity. #MelissaFerguson

Follow me on IG for more reviews. #BookReviews_with_emsr.

Snowy Serendipity is a collection of novellas perfect for the holidays.

Dashing Through the Snow was a 5-star read for me. I loved the idea of the Christmas Express and wanted to be part of the festivities during the train ride. This was such a feelgood read for me that I didn't want it to end.

Pining for You was a 3-star read. I wasn't involved with this story as I was the first one. I felt that the reconnection between Theo and Sky was rushed, and I didn't think it had a holiday aspect to the story except for the tree farm. Overall, it was a cute story, but I wasn't invested in it as much as the first one.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio for the opportunity to listen to Snowy Serendipity. I voluntarily listened and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Snowy Serendipity is two short Christmas themed love stories in one package. The two stories are Dashing Through the Snow and Pining For You.

The first story was Dashing Through the Snow. This story I absolutely loved! Willow is dumped by her boyfriend of seven years right before a romantic couples trip on the “Christmas Express”. The Christmas Express is a two-week train ride that goes to different tourist areas along its journey.

Willow immediately hits it off with a few people one being an older man Clarence. Her treatment of Clarence draws the attention of the conductor Oliver, who also happens to be Clarence’s son. Willow fits into their circle perfectly and you immediately feel things happen for a reason, Willow was supposed to find Oliver.

The second story Pining For You I found to be a little harder to get into. Theo goes back to his small hometown in Virginia to help with a Christmas tree farm. What he really wants from going back home is to win back his childhood best friend, Skye. After reading the first story in this collection and connecting with the characters so easily, I was surprised I had a hard time connecting with Theo and Skye. I did not dislike them and I wanted them to be together but I found myself not caring about how they got there, I just wanted to know how they got there.

On their own, Dashing Through the Snow would be a five out and five, and Pining for you would be a three out of five. That is how we get to our final score. This Holliday season make sure to at least check out Dashing Through the Snow.

Are you ready for Christmas books yet? I am! Check it out!!



"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."

I enjoyed this sweet audio and am enjoying the holiday mood.

The first story in Snowy Serendipity was fun and cute. A Christmas story I’ve never heard before made it even more fun. It was a toasty story that will certainly warm your heart and make you want some hot chocolate.. The second story brought my rating down because it was a very generic love story and had it not been included would have made this book much better.

Snowy Serendipity by Melissa Ferguson
Narrated by Talon David and Kayla Jackson
Dashing Through the Snow with Willow and Oliver on a Christmas train across the country was very sweet and cute. This was my favorite but I also thought that Pining for You with Theo and Skye was also good. It was not totally sweet because there is bit of a sad backstory related to Skye’s family.
Narration was very good although I was not familiar with these narrators.

Snowy Serendpity is two short stories.

Dashing through the Snow is about Willow who was dumped by her boyfriend the day before they were set to leave for a romantic getaway. She decides to take the trip on the Christmas Express anyway. Willow meets conductor Oliver and the two fall in love during the two week trip.

Pining for You is about farm owner Theo and his childhood friend Skye. The two meet again after not speaking for ten years when Skye’s father who is Thoe’s employee gets injured. He uses the time to make up the past to Skye. They realize they still love each other and give their love a second chance.

I enjoyed both stories but preferred Dashing Through the Snow to Pining for You.

These are two super cute and fun Christmas novellas! Loved the narrator and found it enjoyable to listen to while on commute

In this audio, you'll find two stories within one.

The first story transported me to a magical world where two strangers found love on a Christmas train. It was heartwarming and left me wanting more. I wished the story had explored their connection further.

Conversely, the second story, while not as captivating as the first, had its own charm. It delved into the theme of second chances in love, a concept many can relate to. However, it felt somewhat generic compared to the unique charm of the first story. The constant miscommunication between the characters was particularly frustrating.

In summary, this audio experience was engaging. The first story, with its dreamy and heartwarming narrative, shone brightly, making me long for more of its enchanting world. The second story, while less captivating, offered relatable moments and endearing elements. Both stories made for a worthwhile listen, leaving me with a mix of emotions.

I thought what better way to get into the season than to start off with some cute novellas. These are super quick and very light and fluffy if you are just looking for a feelgood read, go ahead and pick these up. I really enjoyed the first novella about the Christmas train. The whole premise and story was just what I needed to get me into the spirit. The second story was a little off for me. Theo was, I don't want to say ignorant, but his whole story before he went back to the farm felt very weird and forced. It had me cringing a bit, but the author still kept it light so I decided to keep going. I liked that he finally went after what he wanted in the end, but goodness did it take a lot to get there. 3.5 stars as a whole, 4 for the first story and 3 for the second.
It was kind of confusing to have the same narrator for both of the male and female parts because I got confused at times as to whose POV we were on.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson, Netgalley and Melissa Ferguson for an early audio copy.

4 stars for the first story, 2.75 for the second story, so meeting in the middle at 3.5⭐️

<i> In this cheerful and heartwarming collection, bestselling author Melissa Ferguson offers up the gift of cozy joy in two sweet novellas for the holiday season.

Dashing Through the Snow (also in On the Way to Christmas)

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.

Pining for You (also in This Time Around)

Christmas tree farm owner Theo Watkins III has the opportunity to drop everything for one weekend to play farmer in a cozy Virginia mountain town and potentially win back the heart of his childhood best friend, Skye Fuller. There’s just one problem: he’s the kind of man who drives a Tesla, not a tractor.

Perfect for lovers of sweet happily-ever-afters
Two stand-alone novella collection </i>

It’s hard to know how exactly to review and rate this uneven collection. It’s difficult to comprehend that the two novellas are by the same author. The first story, Dashing Through the Snow, is a delightfully festive tale, filled with holiday cheer, likable and funny characters, and a touch of (clean) romance. It was the perfect thing to listen to on an otherwise difficult day. The second story is another matter entirely. Pining for you features two angsty characters that give us no reason to like or root for them, taking the romance right out of their story. Didn’t really get any major holiday vibes from it either. I think next time I’ll just read through the first story twice.

Thank you Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really liked the narrator and the writing but felt disconnected from the characters. I am used to longer stories which could explain the disconnect. I enjoyed the Christmas stories.