Amazing book!
I was thoroughly engaged throughout this book and I didn't want to put it down! The author captured my attention from the get go! Five stars from me :)

This is a collection of eight short stories that are, for the most part, very different from each other. McFadden touches on family, childhood dreams, lost loves, afterlife and so much more.
I devoured this collection in an afternoon. Each story was quickly paced and enjoyable from first word to last. It is the perfect read for the holiday season.
The ebook has some links in it that brings readers to some of the authors longer works which is good for those interested.

Thank you Netgalley, Derek McFadden and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for the chance to read this in return for an honest review.

8 stories in the book. Very interesting. They were all well written and interesting. Each one different from the next. Great book to read

A mixed bag of Christmas stories, some sweet, some sad and some strange.

I enjoyed the sweet Christmas ones but some of the others did not appeal to me, however, well they seemed to be written.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC copy of this holiday short-story collection.

I enjoyed my time reading these nine (there is one bonus story) Christmas-themed short stories. Derek McFadden does an excellent job of including stories varying in length, message, emotion, and genre. This motivated me to continue reading and not put the book down between stories. It also provides something for every type of reader!

This would be a great book to read as a tradition during the days leading up to Christmas. I believe this could be recommended for any reader with positive messages regarding family love, personal growth, and recovering from loss.

Although I did not love every story, I would absolutely re-read the majority of them, hence the 4-star rating.

This would be a great gift or stocking stuffer for a book lover!

All Systems Snow by Derek McFadden ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This quick selection of Holiday short stories was an easy read, but not the light joyful read I was hoping for. Honestly, too many of these stories were downers for me. There were a couple of bright spots though.

Honestly, there is probably a story for everyone in here. There are just too many I would skip.

Thanks to @netgalley for the chance to read and review!

What do you get when you add 8 engaging holiday themed stories into one volume? The perfect gift for every stocking on your mantle. Derek McFadden's ALL SYSTEMS SNOW is perfect for those Christmas fanatice who started decorating before Halloween and won't take the decorations down until spring. Full of the wonder the holidays bring and the emotions of those who find their miracles in the snow, this was an excellent read.

A super collection of Christmas/holiday stories! All different, but all with similar messages of hope and healing, renewal and promise.

I meant to save this for closer to the season, but as it got colder here in the UK, I devoured this in an afternoon! A must-read for those who love uplifting seasonal stories without the forced romance and kitsch found in too many seasonal reads.

A must-read! Oh, and a couple of the stories are cleverly linked to the author's <i>excellent</i> The Santa Claus Agreement from last year—a heartwarming prequel for Carrie Clark and a fun story in rhyming prose for Harold the Raindrop, aka Frosty the Snowman.

Do NOT miss out on putting this in your seasonal stocking. You won’t be sorry!

There are eight stories in this collection, and for the most part, they are all very different from one another.

The first story is ’The Last Christmas Gift’, which was a very moving one, set on the day before Christmas, and begins on a ferry ride.
’I know this is a ride to nowhere. To nowhen, actually.’...
’I’m trying to find my way back to a place I once knew and loved. A place in which I was always assured of being both known and loved.’

’Carrie Clark’s Christmas Wish’ follows with a story of reminiscing of the days gone by, the freedom of childhood and the love of books and libraries. Her mother’s love of Santa ’”because Santa is magic. And magic is easy to love.”’ which wins her daughter over to going to visit Santa. This short story is somewhat of a prelude to the author’s The Santa Claus Agreement’ which I read recently, and loved.

Third: ’The Bell-Ringer’, a very short story of a man following his childhood dream by sharing what he loves with others, as the holidays approach.

Fourth: ’The Fairness of Life’ a moving story of a man who has already faced the loss of a loved one, and worries about the life of his daughter.

Fifth: ’Written by the Victors: A Vignette’, a story about family, a grandfather who is fighting cancer, and a grandson who shares his hopes and dreams for the future.

Sixth: ’Who We’ll Be’ a story of ‘celebrating’ the holidays over a computer during the pandemic. A grandmother trying her best to figure out ’this Zome thing’ so they could connect online, if not in person.

Seventh: ’A Window Into The Future’ The story of a best-selling author at a book signing, and a strange man who insists on having a strange and somewhat hostile conversation with him about his book.

Eighth: ’The Uncertain New Day of Harold the Raindrop’ A story with a lot of charm of the life of a raindrop waiting for his turn when the cloud announced a change of plans, letting Harold know they aren’t quite sure where he will drop. This was one of my favourites among these stories, and I really hope it will be released as a book for children.

Bonus Story ‘What Eternity Taught Eve’ A brief glimpse into the Afterlife, which is, apparently, ’bureaucratic as all hell’ despite the fact that ’there is no hell’.


Pub Date: 02 Nov 2023

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Papillon du Père Publishing

Nothing like acquiring a great anthology of Christmas stories to help with the chill coming in and pre Christmas excitement! This has something for everyone with all different types of stories depending on what mood you are in and I so oook forward to sharing this with readers.