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A Sprig of Holly #1
A Sprig of Holly
An accident on a lonely mountaintop.
Alone and far from help in the freezing night.
Everything depends on an enchanted sprig of holly.
Greta lives with her grandfather in a cabin in the mountains.
The winter is harsh and they must venture out into the snow for more wood, or freeze.
Their handsome neighbour Matthias would help, but he is stuck in the snowy mountain passes and cannot get home.
But then disaster strikes.
The sleigh breaks, the logs are lost, and her grandfather is badly hurt.
Greta must get him back to safety before night sets in, but how?
Temperatures are dropping fast and they are all alone in the icy darkness.
…or are they?
(Short story of approx 8k words)
Alone and far from help in the freezing night.
Everything depends on an enchanted sprig of holly.
Greta lives with her grandfather in a cabin in the mountains.
The winter is harsh and they must venture out into the snow for more wood, or freeze.
Their handsome neighbour Matthias would help, but he is stuck in the snowy mountain passes and cannot get home.
But then disaster strikes.
The sleigh breaks, the logs are lost, and her grandfather is badly hurt.
Greta must get him back to safety before night sets in, but how?
Temperatures are dropping fast and they are all alone in the icy darkness.
…or are they?
(Short story of approx 8k words)
23 pages, ebook
First published December 3, 2012
29 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Clement
28 books46 followersJ.A. Clement lives near London with her partner and a lunatic lurcher puppy with a predilection for watering cans. She writes her fantasy series whenever she can, mostly in her lunch hour (which probably explains the excessive number of bacon sandwiches that have to be edited out later). Her "To-Write" list is as big as your "To-Read" list (and covers several genres, but she just needs to finish this series first...)
***For a free ebook of The Locket, sign up to her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/WLfLH***
or follow her on Bookbub at
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She's happy to be contacted by readers via email at jaclement [dot] ondarkshores [at] gmail [dot] com. She is happy to answer any questions she can without spoilers, and does love a good gossip with fellow bookworms. You have been warned...
***For a free ebook of The Locket, sign up to her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/WLfLH***
or follow her on Bookbub at
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-a-c...
She's happy to be contacted by readers via email at jaclement [dot] ondarkshores [at] gmail [dot] com. She is happy to answer any questions she can without spoilers, and does love a good gossip with fellow bookworms. You have been warned...
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 30, 2016
A great read for youth
This is a short classic tale for all ages... but perfect for reading aloud to children. A good read for all ages.
This is a short classic tale for all ages... but perfect for reading aloud to children. A good read for all ages.
April 19, 2018
A little strange
Didn't know what to make of this initially but a very sweet story with a lovely ethos and a HEA.
Didn't know what to make of this initially but a very sweet story with a lovely ethos and a HEA.
August 2, 2017
Young Greta and her grandfather are in trouble. It’s deep snow, they’re nearly out of fuel, so they go out to collect some. She’s hit and knocked unconscious by a falling tree and her grandfather is trapped beneath the trunk. All seems hopeless, but help comes from a surprising source.
This reminds me of the stories I read as a child. It’s got a bit of natural history and a dollop of magic. It’s only short but comes full circle and is a satisfying read. A little gem. I’m looking forward to Book 2.
This reminds me of the stories I read as a child. It’s got a bit of natural history and a dollop of magic. It’s only short but comes full circle and is a satisfying read. A little gem. I’m looking forward to Book 2.
December 27, 2022
This is an enchanting little story perfect for reading to children in winter. Full of magic and love and with a happy ending.
December 27, 2018
A charming new fairy tale.
This is a delightful tale full of winter magic with well developed fairy tale qualities that enrich the story telling. While the chatracters are not very complex, they are likeable and engaging, and the reader does develop a sense of empathy and concern for them at the beginning of the story that helps to hook them into the events of the tale. Of course, it is a short story, so the characters are not required to be developed in any depth or detail. It is enough that they do what they do and that the story is beautifully told.
The story also has some lovely Yuletide elements, although not so much that it is only a story for the Christmas season.
This would be a lovely story for family reading, particularly on a winter’s night.
This is a delightful tale full of winter magic with well developed fairy tale qualities that enrich the story telling. While the chatracters are not very complex, they are likeable and engaging, and the reader does develop a sense of empathy and concern for them at the beginning of the story that helps to hook them into the events of the tale. Of course, it is a short story, so the characters are not required to be developed in any depth or detail. It is enough that they do what they do and that the story is beautifully told.
The story also has some lovely Yuletide elements, although not so much that it is only a story for the Christmas season.
This would be a lovely story for family reading, particularly on a winter’s night.
September 4, 2017
A fun little story with plenty of magic, leaving you guessing and impatiently waiting for the next.
December 25, 2018
Sweet
Sweet heartwarming Christmas love story , loved the Snowmadien and can imagine her beauty and the sweet dance her and the snowman has in the early hours .
Sweet heartwarming Christmas love story , loved the Snowmadien and can imagine her beauty and the sweet dance her and the snowman has in the early hours .
July 13, 2019
Enchanting short story.
A very cute read. If you're looking for a short and sweet, feel-good read I would recommend this. The ending had me smiling.
A Sprig of Holly is the first book in the Sprig of Holly series.
Final Rating: 4 Stars
A very cute read. If you're looking for a short and sweet, feel-good read I would recommend this. The ending had me smiling.
A Sprig of Holly is the first book in the Sprig of Holly series.
Final Rating: 4 Stars
October 2, 2017
Short and cute
Very cute short story.
Im not sure exactlly how i feel about how short it was though....it kinda upsetted me. Like this could be an amazing stand alone full length novel but it just ran quick and simple.
Greta seems a perfect charcter with strength will and joy.
To learn more about her life would have made the book even better.
For a short story i think this would be a five star but i didnt know that and was kimda disappointed when it ended quite quickly
Very cute short story.
Im not sure exactlly how i feel about how short it was though....it kinda upsetted me. Like this could be an amazing stand alone full length novel but it just ran quick and simple.
Greta seems a perfect charcter with strength will and joy.
To learn more about her life would have made the book even better.
For a short story i think this would be a five star but i didnt know that and was kimda disappointed when it ended quite quickly
November 11, 2018
There is trouble ahead for her when she learns her parents cannot see their magical friends. She goes to them and they do not even know her. What is going on? Can she find out? How will it all go? Follow her adventures
November 24, 2018
I didn't like the writing style on this one - maybe a bit young for my taste. It also took quite a long time for things to happen, like working out what the snowmaiden wanted... and that sudden leap to what it actually was didn't quite gel to me. Probably nicer as a children's story.
August 6, 2017
Story of yuletime love
Such a clean enjoyable short story to read that brings a smile and tears to your eyes and a very happy ending. But leaves for another story to follow.
Such a clean enjoyable short story to read that brings a smile and tears to your eyes and a very happy ending. But leaves for another story to follow.
August 15, 2017
Great story. To think of what our minds can help us to create in times of need is amazing. The magic of the world came alive in this story.
December 25, 2017
This is a lovely winter fantasy tale. A very quick read.
March 21, 2018
Whimsical Short Story
A Sprig of Holly reminded me of a fairytale from yesteryear. It has danger, romance, adventure, kindness, and magic, all with innocent charm.
A Sprig of Holly reminded me of a fairytale from yesteryear. It has danger, romance, adventure, kindness, and magic, all with innocent charm.
November 12, 2018
A short story that would be good for a family to read together. A story I enjoyed reading it is only 23 pages. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 29, 2019
*Indiecember White And Blue*
A wonderful winter tale! Perfect story for all ages on a cold winter day with a warm mug of tea.
A wonderful winter tale! Perfect story for all ages on a cold winter day with a warm mug of tea.
December 30, 2015
A Sprig of Holly was a cute read. I haven't read something like this in a long time. It's a book that I probably would've read when I was little. It has that cheerfulness of Christmas. Very cute, and a very quick read.
December 14, 2013
A nice Christmas fairy tale. Good read for family.
July 20, 2016
This is a nice short sweet different Christmas story. Simply written about the love of Christmas time and helping each other.
April 13, 2019
Lovely
What a great wee story. It made you feel the Christmas spirit and smile when everything tuned out all right. Totally enjoyed. Highly recommend.
What a great wee story. It made you feel the Christmas spirit and smile when everything tuned out all right. Totally enjoyed. Highly recommend.
December 31, 2017
Not sure I will finish the rest of the series but I really loved the story. It's really nice Christmas themed short story if you want that kind of thing but other than that not really eventful
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews