Delightful
Once Upon A Winter Wonderland is a delightful collection of four novellas by four Christian authors. Each story deals with the same time period and setting but is told through different eyes. Each story perfectly complements the others. This is a perfectly charming book to read in the run up to the festive season.
A Beautiful Sight by Rachel D Russell shows how nerves can get the best of us in the lead up to our wedding. We all hope for the perfect wedding but a wedding is just one day, marriage is for a lifetime. We need to include God in our marriages. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. We need to give and receive forgiveness and remember to pray about all things. My favourite quote was: “Don’t let fear tear you away from the wonderful plans God has for you.”
We’re Happy Tonight by Michelle Sass Aleckson is a delightful tale showing characters who overcome personal difficulties. “Scars are … our history.” Not all scars are visible. The ones we carry inside often weigh heavy and pull us down. We need to trust God with our lives. “God is … in the business of finding lost things.” We are reminded that God searches relentlessly for us when we are lost. My favourite quote was: “When so many out there criticize… you find a way to hope and encourage.” We all need to be encouragers today.
The Snow Is Glistening by Susan May Warren shows the importance of trusting God. “God had me in His hand, even when life felt out of control.” There are times when life seems to make no sense at all but nothing comes as a surprise to God. He sees our ending from our beginning. We can trust Him to lead us. “Trusting God’s peace.” Even in the midst of storms, we can know God’s peace that passes understanding. We cannot always control what happens to us but we can choose our responses. If all around us seems chaotic, maybe we are in the middle of the storm but all will be well at the end because God is in in control. If its not all well, it’s not the end. We can trust God to guide us.
Sleigh Bells Ring by Andrea Christenson is a delightful tale showing our faithful God. There are times in life when our lives seem to hit roadblocks. We feel alone, abandoned even by God. “Maybe it wasn’t that God had stopped talking, but that in all his busyness, [he] had stopped listening.” We are so busy doing things for God that we lose sight of God. God never leaves us to struggle alone. He walks beside us every step of the way. Sometimes when life overwhelms us, we shut everyone out, even God. We question everything but really “maybe he didn’t need answers. He just needed a Savior.” We are all in need of a Savior and His name is Jesus.
I received a free copy from Just Read Tours for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: October 9, 2022
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Join USA Today best-selling author Susan May Warren, award-winning author, Rachel D. Russell, and talented multi-published Minnesota authors Michelle Sass Aleckson and Andrea Christenson in this delightful twist on Bing Crosby’s holiday favorite song, Winter Wonderland.
A Deep Haven wedding at Christmas? With snow glistening in the lane, sleigh bells ringing, and all the world a winter wonderland—magical, right?
Or maybe not, because the snowstorm of the century has buried their small town, and as Vivien Calhoun and Boone Buckam fight the sleet, snow, and ice, just about everything can—and does—happen to skid their big day into the ditch. It’ll take all their friends—and a few strangers—to turn this Christmas wedding from a blizzard to a beautiful sight in this charming collection of novellas.
Discover four enchanting stories featuring old friends, and new, who discover that there just might be a happy ending waiting in this winter wonderland—if only they can shovel their way out of trouble.
Book 1: A Beautiful Sight
Vivien Calhoun has planned the perfect wedding—and it had better be perfect, because the prewedding day jitters have hit her like a snowplow. Boone’s recent call-outs with the Deep Haven Crisis Team haven’t helped. She just needs a perfect day—and that starts with the perfect dress.
The perfect, custom-made dress that she designed, herself. The dress that she left with her seamstress…that has now gone AWOL.
It’s a race to find it before their date at the altar…but is the dress just an omen for a wedding day disaster?
Book 2: We’re Happy Tonight
Detective Duke Lowry hates Christmas, and a wedding at Christmas is simply a double whammy. But he’ll show up as Boone’s best man, and he’ll take charge of Boone’s beloved Mustang, getting it detailed and ready for Vivien’s crazy picture idea. He’ll even put up with Vivien’s quirky, somewhat annoying friend, Zuri, from Minneapolis.
And then the Mustang goes missing, and Zuri’s the last one to see it. Suddenly, it’s up to Duke and Zuri to save the day. And along the way, Zuri just might change the Grinch into a guy with a heart of gold.
Maybe.
Book 3: The Snow is Glistening
“Keep the guests happy and don’t burn down anything.” These are Owen Christiansen’s parting words to his cousin, Romeo Young, before leaving him in charge of the Evergreen Resort—and the Wilder wedding venue—while the family vacations in Florida.
But when the blizzard hits, Romeo will have to keep the resort running and the wedding on track. The last thing he needs is a tag-along in the form of a guest. But Owen did say to keep the guests happy…
Stella Brown can’t believe that she’s third-wheeling on her parents’ second honeymoon, but what’s a girl to do when her life is derailed? Helping Romeo add some Christmas cheer to the resort seems the right answer. But when her “help” turns into horror, has she destroyed yet another bright future?
Book 4: Sleigh Bells Ring
Pastor Bob Brown feels frozen over. And not just from the Minnesota cold. He’s numb from the never-ending problems in his parish. He just needs a break, okay? A getaway with his wife seems the perfect Christmas holiday. And he’s delighted to have his daughter, Stella, along. Maybe he’ll even get some peace and quiet, and hear, deep in his soul, his now-silent calling.
With their best friends recently divorced, and Bob acting, well, weird, Margaret Brown fears the worst. But with this getaway, she intends to put some heat back into her chilly marriage. Thank goodness their daughter seems to have gotten the hint. The only one who remains clueless is Bob.
Maybe their love has turned icy, no longer able to hear the love song from the past. But she’s not going to give up…
Spend your Christmas in Deep Haven, where the sleigh bells ring and love is listening, in Once Upon a Winter Wonderland.