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Christmas in Signal Bend
A massive storm hits the Midwest on Christmas Eve. TV meteorologists are calling it “Snowmageddon” and predicting up to two feet of accumulation by dawn on Christmas morning. They warn everyone to be inside and off the roads by noon.
In Signal Bend, Missouri, the townspeople scramble to relocate their traditional Christmas Eve festivities indoors, to the compound of the Night Horde MC, and figure out how to retain some of the magic of their shared traditions. Lilli Lunden, a town leader and the old lady of former Horde president, Isaac, is in charge of that effort.
Lilli and Isaac have greater worries than trying to save the town Christmas. Their daughter, Gia, is still in Columbia, where she’s a senior at the University of Missouri. She’s making the 100-mile drive home on this day, over country roads, and she is not taking the weather forecast seriously. Isaac and Lilli try to get her home before the storm, but she thinks they’re being controlling and overprotective. She ignores their warnings, of course.
She shouldn’t have.
A Christmas in Signal Bend is the story of a Christmas in crisis and the efforts a family makes to come together and save the holiday. Among other things.
In Signal Bend, Missouri, the townspeople scramble to relocate their traditional Christmas Eve festivities indoors, to the compound of the Night Horde MC, and figure out how to retain some of the magic of their shared traditions. Lilli Lunden, a town leader and the old lady of former Horde president, Isaac, is in charge of that effort.
Lilli and Isaac have greater worries than trying to save the town Christmas. Their daughter, Gia, is still in Columbia, where she’s a senior at the University of Missouri. She’s making the 100-mile drive home on this day, over country roads, and she is not taking the weather forecast seriously. Isaac and Lilli try to get her home before the storm, but she thinks they’re being controlling and overprotective. She ignores their warnings, of course.
She shouldn’t have.
A Christmas in Signal Bend is the story of a Christmas in crisis and the efforts a family makes to come together and save the holiday. Among other things.
- GenresChristmas
124 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 24, 2023
About the author
Susan Fanetti
84 books1,420 followersI was born and raised in the Midwest, but I was transplanted into the dusty soil of Northern California and have apparently taken root there. An inveterate geek and gamer, I am a fan of many things considered pop culture and maybe even lowbrow.
As a reader, my favorite genres are science fiction and fantasy, but as a writer, I've found my home in romance--or perhaps it's better to say simply "love stories." I have a yen to try other genres, too, at some point, but for now my muse wants to tell stories about lovers and families.
I write for the joy of it, and I write stories that I want to read. If others like them, too, that's just the cherry on top. I’m not interested in rules and formulae. I follow my muse and my characters and let them take me where they want to go, wherever that might be. I like big emotions, dark and light.
I like complicated characters with flaws and weaknesses as well as strengths, and I like each character’s strengths and weaknesses to be different from those of other characters. I’m much more concerned that my characters be interesting and diverse than that they be widely considered to be likable. I try to create people, not types.
Likewise, I want my stories each to be distinct from the others. Once I’ve told a story, I don’t want to tell it again. So even within a series, one of my books might be very different from the next. Some might be very dark, others equally mild.
That isn’t to say there aren’t trends and recurrences in my work. I’m drawn to certain themes and settings, and my muse has her favorite toys and tools. But I guard against those tendencies becoming a formula.
Find my blog at www.susanfanetti.com
Find my FB author page: https://www.facebook.com/authorsusanf...
A note: I don't spend much time here on Goodreads. I try not to read any reviews of my own work. Besides, this is a site for readers, but since I write at a fairly manic pace, and read and edit for other writers, I don't have much time to read recreationally. Mainly, I log on to update my info. So if you message me here, it might be a while before I see it.
As a reader, my favorite genres are science fiction and fantasy, but as a writer, I've found my home in romance--or perhaps it's better to say simply "love stories." I have a yen to try other genres, too, at some point, but for now my muse wants to tell stories about lovers and families.
I write for the joy of it, and I write stories that I want to read. If others like them, too, that's just the cherry on top. I’m not interested in rules and formulae. I follow my muse and my characters and let them take me where they want to go, wherever that might be. I like big emotions, dark and light.
I like complicated characters with flaws and weaknesses as well as strengths, and I like each character’s strengths and weaknesses to be different from those of other characters. I’m much more concerned that my characters be interesting and diverse than that they be widely considered to be likable. I try to create people, not types.
Likewise, I want my stories each to be distinct from the others. Once I’ve told a story, I don’t want to tell it again. So even within a series, one of my books might be very different from the next. Some might be very dark, others equally mild.
That isn’t to say there aren’t trends and recurrences in my work. I’m drawn to certain themes and settings, and my muse has her favorite toys and tools. But I guard against those tendencies becoming a formula.
Find my blog at www.susanfanetti.com
Find my FB author page: https://www.facebook.com/authorsusanf...
A note: I don't spend much time here on Goodreads. I try not to read any reviews of my own work. Besides, this is a site for readers, but since I write at a fairly manic pace, and read and edit for other writers, I don't have much time to read recreationally. Mainly, I log on to update my info. So if you message me here, it might be a while before I see it.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 15, 2023
LOVED IT!! The book hit me in the feels.
Returning to Signal Bend felt like stepping into a familiar embrace; it immediately resonated as home. The dynamics between the characters struck a chord that I believe many can relate to. Whether as a parent witnessing their young adult child take their own path or as that independent young adult, feeling the push and pull of parental guidance while striving for autonomy – it's a narrative that echoes reality.
Set on Christmas Eve in Signal Bend, the story revolves around Gia's return to her family (Isaac, Lilli, and her younger brother Bo). The weather station is calling for a huge storm and is urging people to stay off the roads. Gia, however, stands firm, refusing to yield to both family persuasion and weather forecasts, to leave earlier to make it home before the impending storm.
I loved that we got to see the rest of the Horde members.
"Buncha broken-down old men. Still hot as f*ck, though."
Ms. Fanetti said, "You don’t need to have read any of my books to enjoy this one, but if you have read the Night Horde books, then Christmas in Signal Bend also serves as a bridge from the stories I’ve written to the stories I’m planning and currently writing. The first book of the Night Horde next-generation series readers have been asking for since 2014 is on deck, and it features Gia as the female lead. (I also introduce the male lead of this first book in Christmas, but it’s subtle and Gia and he don’t interact.)"
I'm so excited to see more from Ms. Fanetti!!
Returning to Signal Bend felt like stepping into a familiar embrace; it immediately resonated as home. The dynamics between the characters struck a chord that I believe many can relate to. Whether as a parent witnessing their young adult child take their own path or as that independent young adult, feeling the push and pull of parental guidance while striving for autonomy – it's a narrative that echoes reality.
Set on Christmas Eve in Signal Bend, the story revolves around Gia's return to her family (Isaac, Lilli, and her younger brother Bo). The weather station is calling for a huge storm and is urging people to stay off the roads. Gia, however, stands firm, refusing to yield to both family persuasion and weather forecasts, to leave earlier to make it home before the impending storm.
I loved that we got to see the rest of the Horde members.
"Buncha broken-down old men. Still hot as f*ck, though."
Ms. Fanetti said, "You don’t need to have read any of my books to enjoy this one, but if you have read the Night Horde books, then Christmas in Signal Bend also serves as a bridge from the stories I’ve written to the stories I’m planning and currently writing. The first book of the Night Horde next-generation series readers have been asking for since 2014 is on deck, and it features Gia as the female lead. (I also introduce the male lead of this first book in Christmas, but it’s subtle and Gia and he don’t interact.)"
I'm so excited to see more from Ms. Fanetti!!
December 17, 2023
3.5 Stars ⭐️
November 28, 2023
What more could you want this holiday season? Promising, exciting and fresh. I can't wait to see what Fanetti has up her sleeve for the future in Signal Bend.
November 24, 2023
4+ Stars
I loved being back in Signal Bend, so much so I didn’t want it to end LOL.
While Christmas didn’t go as planned, it will be one they will never forget!
I loved being back in Signal Bend, so much so I didn’t want it to end LOL.
While Christmas didn’t go as planned, it will be one they will never forget!
June 19, 2026
★★★☆☆ 3 Stars
This was a nice little return to Signal Bend and I enjoyed catching up with the Night Horde and seeing where everyone was at. That was definitely the best part of the book for me—getting those family updates and spending time with characters I’ve grown attached to throughout the series.
That said, the snowstorm pretty much took over the entire story. For such a short book, it felt like a lot of the plot revolved around being stranded and trying to get home, which made it drag a bit for me.
I also got pretty frustrated with Gia. Her insistence on driving home in the middle of a blizzard felt unnecessarily stubborn and made it hard for me to fully enjoy that part of the story.
Overall, it was worth reading for the extra time with the Signal Bend crew and the holiday feel, but it wasn’t one of my favorite installments. More of a comforting check-in than a standout story.
This was a nice little return to Signal Bend and I enjoyed catching up with the Night Horde and seeing where everyone was at. That was definitely the best part of the book for me—getting those family updates and spending time with characters I’ve grown attached to throughout the series.
That said, the snowstorm pretty much took over the entire story. For such a short book, it felt like a lot of the plot revolved around being stranded and trying to get home, which made it drag a bit for me.
I also got pretty frustrated with Gia. Her insistence on driving home in the middle of a blizzard felt unnecessarily stubborn and made it hard for me to fully enjoy that part of the story.
Overall, it was worth reading for the extra time with the Signal Bend crew and the holiday feel, but it wasn’t one of my favorite installments. More of a comforting check-in than a standout story.
December 31, 2023
It was wonderful to return to Signal Bend! I loved re-reading about these wonderful characters, and for a novella, this story felt so fleshed out and well done! I can't wait to read Gia's story. As head strong as she is, she's sure to give her love interest a run for his money. This story was the perfect way to finish up my reading challenge for 2023!
February 24, 2024
Loved this book! Yes, I shed more than a few tears...Susan Fanetti writes MC books like no other! Loved catching up with all the characters from the Signal Bend series. Hope we get to read more books with these characters.
December 7, 2023
Short and sweet...I loved being back in Signal Bend! Looking forward to what's next!
December 15, 2023
Missed these "people"...
January 7, 2024
I always forget how much I love this series💕. One of the best, can’t wait for more
February 9, 2024
Loved it a perfect easy holiday read. It was so lovely to go back and visit everyone in Signal Bend
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews