Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Tassamara #2.5

The Spirits of Christmas

Rate this book
This is a short story (14,000 words) that takes place in Tassamara between the ending of A Gift of Thought and the epilogue of A Gift of Thought. It is as spoiler-ific as it could possibly be for A Gift of Ghosts, as in every secret gets given away, while it's only a little spoiler-ific for A Gift of Thought. Consider yourself warned!

Akira's plans are simple: write wedding invitations, bake Christmas cookies, and eat red meat. (The last surprises her, too.) But when Rose, the ghost who haunts her house, asks for a favor, Akira can't say no. Little does she realize that although she's faced danger before, even death, a toddler who doesn't like peanut-butter-and-jelly might just be her worst nightmare.

57 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 24, 2012

72 people are currently reading
265 people want to read

About the author

Sarah Wynde

19 books191 followers
Sarah Wynde graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in English, which she actually managed to put to use by becoming an editor. She's worked on magazines, websites, and books, including ten years spent as a senior acquisitions editor with Pearson. Eventually, her love of writing pushed her into independent publishing. She likes to think of the stories she writes as unexpected fiction—bending, blending, and occasionally breaking genres.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
183 (47%)
4 stars
120 (31%)
3 stars
70 (18%)
2 stars
10 (2%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Jeannie and Louis Rigod.
1,991 reviews39 followers
March 11, 2017
Akira and Zane are preparing for their wedding as well as getting used to the idea of their first child coming. Akira is experiencing strange cravings, for her, of steak etc. but, is also scared silly of taking care of a child. After all her own mother died when she was an infant so she had no role model to follow.

Zane is busy trying to ease her fears when Rose, their house ghost, runs in and begs Akira for a favor. It seems the 'mean ghost' inhabiting the house Akira refused to even view, is threatening the woman and child in the house if they won't leave.

Akira who loves Rose, the teenager that died of suicide in the 50's, agrees to try and convince the woman to move. The woman, of course, thinks she is nuts and tells Akira to leave. Her son, however, sees the 'mean lady' and so...

Then there is an emergency...Akira and Zane rush to aid the woman and child.

To tell you more would probably be move words than this short tale has. I will tell you that it answers questions about Rose that I had been developing in my mind. Great tale and leaves you thinking.
Profile Image for Tracie Hall.
861 reviews10 followers
July 16, 2018
I'm enjoying this series so much that I am now following Sarah Wynde's blog, and as a result, received the pdf of the short story about Maggie's arrival to this (fictitious) Florida town of Tassamara. I wasn't finding this "Spirits of Christmas" in any of my usual digital library collections, and didn't have the patience to see if any of them would follow my purchase recommendations. It's pretty short, so they may not be inclined. Therefore, I bit the bullet & purchased this one through Amazon Kindle. I think it was a hefty $1.99. :-) 'Looking forward to book 3 now.
Profile Image for Helen.
200 reviews4 followers
January 1, 2018
A Sweet Story That Will Fill You With Happiness and Joy

This is a wonderful short story that warms your heart, makes you chuckle and brings the Spirits and spirit together for a beautiful ending that will make you smile!
Profile Image for Lisa Norvell.
733 reviews7 followers
August 31, 2017
Sweet

A short visit to the town of Tassamara as Christmas draws closer. As usual ghosts are causing some trouble but a Happy ending is achieved.
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
June 29, 2018
Coming up Rose's

A terrific short story that will leave you with a smile. Terrific. Hope more are coming
Profile Image for Mai.
2,891 reviews6 followers
March 8, 2020
Very sweet little short. I want to live in Tassamara.
40 reviews
January 4, 2022
I enjoyed the entire series. Wish she had more. Perhaps she will write additional books. Live the characters.
Profile Image for L B.
244 reviews
August 9, 2022
Audiobook. The babytalk was a bit cringy, but otherwise good.
910 reviews1 follower
March 6, 2023
The Spirits of Christmas

Akita and her soon to be husband and father of her child Zane, has been called to help woman Nora and her toddler, Toby.
Profile Image for Brittany.
838 reviews1 follower
May 10, 2025
Sweet novella about a home in Tassamara being haunted by a grandmother who just wants to apologize to her son. Funny to see Akira pregnant and coming to terms with becoming a mom.
44 reviews
March 5, 2017
Great story

This is a great short story, I would recommend it. This story will leave you with a smile on your face
Profile Image for Maggie Dory.
31 reviews3 followers
September 13, 2016
I'm a sucker for holiday themed stories in general, and this was a great light-spirited read. I enjoyed that it was well developed for a short story. It was nice to learn the back story of another Tassamara ghost, and I hope the author continues to write more stories about the various singular residents of this paranormal fantasy town. I did find some of the dialogue to be a bit more forced than usual, but it is understandably hard to write a toddler's speech. Also, naming two characters Nick and Nora was the slightest bit corny, but it did make me smile.

*I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own*
1,216 reviews10 followers
November 25, 2013
Akira is pregnant, trying to plan her wedding and Christmas when Rose asks for her help. Hannah's house has new residents and Hannah doesn't want them there. Akira reluctantly gets involved with Nora and Toby. Akira is surprised when Toby can see Hannah and Rose but can't speak with them. Akira makes an agreement with Hannah, give her two weeks to find Nick before creating havoc in the house. With a few surprises for Hannah, when Nick arrives home to meet his new daughter and reunite with Toby and Nora.
Cute, make you feel good story.
Profile Image for Donadee's Corner.
2,648 reviews64 followers
December 23, 2013
I'm not going to tell you the plot of this story, you all ready know that, you came here to the reviews to see how I felt about it. Well being a person that does believe is the reason for me reading it and I found it to be most delightful. When you take Christmas and kids, then you mix them together, you come up with love. This story is well written with that main ingredient and the cast is so believable. If your a spirit person join me in a wonderful Christmas story.
2,511 reviews13 followers
August 19, 2014
Short story but lovely one. Akira is planning her wedding and the birth of her baby when Rose says someone needs her. A ghost is mad that someone moved into her house and she wants Akira to make them leave. But, the woman is pregnant also and due any today. And she has a young son. She has to figure why the ghost is mad, take care of a child which she has never done, and find the father of the young woman's child. Wonderful short story.
Profile Image for Jennifer Ashburn.
299 reviews5 followers
October 22, 2014
Yes I read these out of order,but it didn't really matter! I hope there are more short stories in the future! It was nice to revisit the grumpy ghost from book one and it was great to read more details about Roses transformation. Akira is my favorite character of the series. I love the staunchness or her science practicality warring with the preternatural part of her life's cannot recommend this series enough
Profile Image for Anna.
Author 53 books111 followers
May 25, 2014
Pure delight. If you enjoyed A Gift of Ghosts, you'll love this followup. Akira and Zane are back with more ghostly problems, character-driven drama, and happily-ever-afters. And even though The Spirits of Christmas is a short story, it's long enough to really work.

(Oops, forgot to add that I got a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.)
Profile Image for Tara Griffin.
16 reviews
May 25, 2014
I said I wanted to read more, so I downloaded this to my Kindle - a short story for $ .99? Why the heck not?
I loved it, even if I did figure it out pretty quickly - this was a short story, an enjoyable read, and again, the characters work well.
I plan to read the other two books already out, and am looking forward to future works as well~
35 reviews2 followers
January 7, 2015
I never have lik e d short stories BUT...

Loved this story. Unlike some short stories that leave you hanging by your fingers and wanting to jump up and down screaming because you want to know what happens next; this story has an ending, thank goodness. You will love it and guess what, you can read this authors full stories in her other books.
Profile Image for Alyssa.
308 reviews4 followers
December 29, 2012
Adorable story! Just like in the first book Akira, Zane, and Rose are such loveable characters! The plot line was thoughtful and perfectly told even in this short story length. I love Sarah Wynde's writing style and this book was truly a treat to read!
Profile Image for Meloney.
140 reviews12 followers
November 9, 2014
A delightful story. Once again Akira & Rose pulled me right in and introduced me to new people. This series makes me wish that Tassamara was a place I could visit. Interesting people appear at every corner that I would love to meet.
10 reviews2 followers
May 28, 2014
Faithful reader forever

I love the characters and the storylines. to me it's wonderful to think there are ways to help ghosts crossover and I love the way the heroine just follows her instincts. Will read them ALL!
109 reviews3 followers
July 15, 2014
Love this author. I am reading everything I can find that she has written. Enjoyable reads and just plain fun! Take some time out and read a book just for fun.

This is not going to win a pulitzer prize, but not everything has to be serious, does it?

Profile Image for Sue.
856 reviews1 follower
November 6, 2014
Sweet short story that revolves around a couple of the characters from the first book in this series, Gift of Ghosts. Because it was so short it didn't have time to fill out the new characters, but the 'old' ones stepped up and made it a great short!!
Profile Image for Stella Kiel.
99 reviews
January 15, 2015
What a beautiful Story

This may have been a sort story, however it packed a punch. I love everything about Akira and what she does. I even cried, I was so happy with the ending. I kinda thought it though! Thank you again Sarah for taking us away in the world of Ghosts. Love it.
Profile Image for Nikki.
360 reviews
February 27, 2015
This was a good short story about all the characters I'd read about previously, it was lovely to see the characters again and to watch them become part of another story, it had a twist in it but overall it's definitely a feel good story
Profile Image for Jen.
23 reviews
June 3, 2015
I really enjoy these stories! My only 'complaint' is I wish they were longer! It feels like they go to fast! Ms Wynde does a very good job of providing characters you like right away and that makes you want to know what happens next and know more about them. :)
Profile Image for Quartknee.
225 reviews53 followers
April 16, 2022
A very quick read and very quick for Akira but sometimes in life things accelerate when they're just meant to be. This is a sweet short story to compliment the other books in the series and I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Amy.
940 reviews2 followers
December 9, 2016
Cute

Such a sweet story! Akira is unsure of herself as a soon to be mom. Toby is a little boy who can see the mean lady and the pretty one. Hannah just wants her house back. Cute, sweet story with characters I love!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.