Christmas Runaway

Single Title #2

by Mimi Barbour

A romantic Christmas story about a teenage runaway and the woman who finds her - taking place on Vancouver Island.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Short Stories, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit

10 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 6, 2011

About the author

Mimi is an incredibly busy NYT and USA Today award-winning, best-selling author who has nine series to her credit, as well as over 45 books and numerous multi-author box collections.

Mimi lives on the East coast of Vancouver Island with her pup, Charli, and writes her various romances with tongue in cheek and a mad glint in her eye.

She’s been known to say: “If I can steal a booklover’s attention away from their every-day grind, absorb them into a fantasy love story, and make them care about the ending, then I’ve done my job.”

**1st place prize of the 2015 - Chanticleer Reviews - Clue Awards. Special Agent Francesca
**A TOUCH OF PASSION, has just become the 2016 WINNER of The Romance Reviews Readers' Choice Awards.

Reviews

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

While driving through a storm Sara Hanson’s Samoyed dog Pegi forces her to drive her car into a ditch. When Sara opens the car door Pegi darts off finding an injured female teen with an ankle injury. Sara takes the girl Amy Watson to her car and tells her she was running away from home. Amy's father Jack comes to take them both to his home and Sara and Jack start a romance. I really enjoyed this short-story young adult Christmas novel.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I just finished Special Agent Charli and this book cover has the stained glass Christmas village made by Poppa John (AKA Popsicle), I assumed that this would be Charli and Blake's 1st Christmas. Other than the cover, it is a completely unrelated Christmas fantasy novella.

[Alice Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable

What a wonderful story for our busy time of year. Mini Barbour has done it again.
While this story is a little lighter then most of Mini Barbour's stories it is still very enjoyable.

[Rachelle Ayala · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute story to get you thinking of Christmas, chance meetings that were meant to be, and new love. Very sweet.

[Donadee's Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first time being a single mom you make the decision to let your only son stay with a friend over the holidays, cause it would be so cool to be in Hawaii. So you plan dinner and a movie after you drop Kai at the airport. Everything went well you got all dressed up and you feel pretty but the movie ran a little later than you thought. Oh no, the weather has turned into a snow storm. You even felt sorry for you for dog, Pegi a Samoyed and took it with you too. On the way back Pegi starts acting funny like something is wrong, you step on the brakes too hard and end up in the ditch. Oh boy, what else can go wrong. Letting Pegi out he takes off, you try to catch but going is slow in your nice high heeled boots. Pegi leads you to a young girl in the snow with a hurt ankle. Well things go down hill from here but luckily your not far from home. This is a very well written book about the single parenting and the only child for both. Sara and Jack have a whole house full of issues that they have to work out. Any and Kai (the kid's) have some too work out. Strong cast, with lots of humor, apprehension, fear plus the beginnings of love and friendship. The cast have a lot to go through but the are strong and up for the task. Leading you right into an excellent read.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, short story. The characters were done quite well, especially for such a short time to "show" them. Amy, the young girl acted as a lot of young girls might - at least they might want to - when adjusting to a new location, school, etc which is hard to do and would be extremely rough on a 13 year old girl. I like Jack, although there wasn't much time devoted to him. I loved that Mimi included the missing son (who'd gone to Hawaii with a friend) by having him "call" his Mom on the computer. Would love to know what the future holds for these four people and the dog (very informative to address the issue of chocolate being extremely bad for dogs). Recommend for anyone wanting a short, sweet holiday read.

[Kylie Stoneburner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very short story. The characters are not that believable. Sara is too naive and is hard to picture as a mother. Both of the teenagers are supposedly brats, but they are overly apologetic for their behavior when no teenager admits to their faults. The vocabulary is over the top during some of the conversations when people don't really use most of those words in everyday conversation. Jack and Sara "fall in love" in a matter of hours and plan on spending forever together when they had barely just finished their first meal together. Pegi the dog was my favorite character of the whole story because she was the only one who seemed to have believable behavior.

[Patti Trantham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it and felt many of the reviews harsh. Totally plausible plot for a 'happily-ever-after' short story.The abrupt ending could be improved by an epilogue -- Kai assists Amy's social entry at school and on the soccer field, Pegi gets a canine pal, and Jack and Sara tie the matrimonial knot. Very few grammatical/spelling errors in this one. Overall, a nice way to spend an hour with coffee and biscotti.

[Deb Diem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas Runaway by Mimi Barbour is a very short read, perfect for those with limited time for reading or a lunch break read. Ms Barbour has delivered a clean, sweet holiday read. This story is appropriate for any age. The characters are lovable and make this an enjoyable short story. I enjoyed Christmas Runaway and look forward to reading more from Ms Barbour in the future. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the same author that wrote "Loveable Christmas Angel (Angels with Attitudes)". I didn't realise it when I started reading it although it quickly became apparent as there are similarities to both stories. If you like this book then you will like that one, and vice versa. For me, they are both a bit too mediocre. Pleasant enough but nothing to grab and keep hold of my attention.

[April Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have actually liked to read more of this story. It started off pretty promising and just as it was getting you hooked, it's over. The main character and the girl's father got "involved" much to quickly. Had it been a longer book, it could have been extended for a better, more realistic, heart warming Christmas love story. That says a lot considering I don't usually like romances. lol

[PN · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute enough but even for a short story not nearly enough development with the characters or the story or romance. To me the romance was kind of phoned in and not really believable. I didn't hate it but it was just okay.

[T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I downloaded Christmas Runaway as a free book from Amazon. Plot wasn't very believable, especially the insta-love between the two adults. It was a quick HEA read, but too short to have any real meat to it.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a slow moving story. It starts of good with a story line but got boring. And the ending was blunt and not very good.
But I will not be deterred I will try other books of Mimi to see of I like them

[Mimi Barbour · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a romantic short story about a teenage runaway lost in a freak snowstorm and the woman who finds her and then the frantic father who has to rescue them both.

[Literary Chanteuse · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable short story that surprises you with a not so usual circumstances for a holiday book. Also a reminder to treasure your loved ones especially this time of year.

[Lillie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very short, so there wasn't much room for a long romance, but the couple fell in love very quickly. Even so, it was an enjoyable, heart-warming story.

[Darcysmom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet short story. I would have given it a higher rating if the author had devoted a couple more pages to developing the characters.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

start to finish this story is horrible. i would be so freaked out if i took a strange man home and hes squeezing my hand and telling me hes waited for me forever!!!

[Kathee · Rating 3 out of 5]

ended suddenly, too suddenly.

[Jeanne Mccartney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick easy holiday read.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

To short!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, sweet short story

Such a quick, sweet read. Would love to read a full length novel about this couple and their dating escapades.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, enjoyable short holiday read by a new author

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little feel good story