Sleigh Bells at Moonglow

by Deborah Garner

Christmas in the small Montana town of Timberton is always filled with heartfelt camaraderie, exquisite cuisine, and holiday cheer. An old-fashioned sleigh ride through the forest this year promises to bring plenty of joy as well as a sense of community for both visitors and townsfolk as they celebrate the season.

Resident artist and chef, Mist, always finds a way of bringing inspiration to those around her. Add in the traditional Christmas Eve feast in the Moonglow Cafe and the sweet gathering for Betty's Cookie Exchange, and it's guaranteed to be a holiday to cherish. As always, no one leaves Timberton without renewed hope for the future.

Genres: Christmas, Cozy

135 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2025

About the author

Deborah Garner is an accomplished travel writer with a passion for back roads and secret hideaways. Born and raised in California, she studied in France before returning to the U.S. to attend UCLA. After stints in graduate school and teaching, she attempted to clone herself for decades by founding and running a dance and performing arts center, designing and manufacturing clothing and accessories, and tackling both spreadsheets and display racks for corporate retail management. Her passions include photography, hiking and animal rescue. She speaks five languages, some substantially better than others. She now divides her time between California and Wyoming, dragging one human and two canines along whenever possible.

Reviews

[Elizabeth H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely enamored with the Moonglow Christmas series and I enjoy visiting this quaint Montana town during the holidays.

The series is centered around the town of Timberton and the local hotel where every guest is welcomed like family. Mist, the quirky and eccentric proprietor of the Moonglow Cafe inside the hotel puts her special touch on everything from the decor, to personalized gifts for the guests, to the food, and infuses Christmas joy into everything she does. Working alongside the innkeeper Betty, Mist makes every guest’s stay special and somehow has a “knowing” of just what each guest needs to make their holiday brighter.

This year, the town has added a sleigh ride event to the local Christmas festivities and it’s simply enchanting. The townsfolk are all welcoming and everyone helps out each other. There is such a community and so much love and care that I just want to live inside Timberton with everybody else.

As always, the author has several pages of holiday cookie recipes that’ll make you smile and keep your belly full and happy.

Sleigh Ride at Moonglow is a perfect addition to your holiday reading list. I highly recommend the entire series!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is very delightful. The characters and the story surround you with an amazing and loving feeling about the holidays. I highly recommend this series in the author.


Amazon synopsis:
Christmas in the small Montana town of Timberton is always filled with heartfelt camaraderie, exquisite cuisine, and holiday cheer. An old-fashioned sleigh ride through the forest this year promises to bring plenty of joy as well as a sense of community for both visitors and townsfolk as they celebrate the season.

Resident artist and chef, Mist, always finds a way of bringing inspiration to those around her. Add in the traditional Christmas Eve feast in the Moonglow Cafe and the sweet gathering for Betty's Cookie Exchange, and it's guaranteed to be a holiday to cherish. As always, no one leaves Timberton without renewed hope for the future.

[Yvonne Strahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy entering the town of Timberton, Montana each Christmas season. My favorite character is Mist. She works at the bed and breakfast owned by Betty. Mist adds her touches to the season, cooking delicious food, adding creative touches in the rooms for the guests to enjoy, and my favorite are the small paintings she gives each guest on Christmas morning. The paintings are small but meaningful to that specific guest. The town has their characters, but they are lovable and willing to help one another and pull together as a community. If you enjoy baking, cookie recipes are included at the end of the book.

[Charline Romine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sleigh Rides

The continuing story from the several before makes this an enjoyable holiday read. Always new people and the regular crowd of home folks. Lots of good food with shared recipes at the end. Make a plate of cookies, get a nice hot cup of hot chocolate and a cozy chair with blanket and spend some time with Mist, Betty and the residents and guests at the Moonglow Cafe and Hotel. Enjoy!

[JoAn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I look forward every year to Ms. Gardner latest story set at Christmas in Timberton. I would love to have an opportunity to visit this small town and enjoy the food, the shops and meet Mist, Betty, Clive and the other friendly community members. With perfect pacing and the descriptive writing, I felt like I was in the hotel and enjoying the sleigh ride and other Christmas activities as the story flowed to the end.

[Deborah Gaspar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Delight

Always a light hearted and fun read during the holiday season. And this year it included horses and their carrots. New people and those who return. Enjoy the warmth of the story.

[Kinsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I look forward to a new Moonglow Christmas book every year and Deborah Garner never disappoints. Every book in the series brings me joy and gives me such a cozy and comforting feeling. I can’t recommend this series enough!

[angela tulloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moonglow

Love all these books mist is my favourite. Would love to visit here for Christmas.the food company and get a painting to take away..can't wait for next Christmas till we meet again

[Nana Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!

[Kassie R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I look forward to this series every Christmas!

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these stories and look forward to Mist and friends every year! Thank you for another wonderful visit <3

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I look forward to the new Moonglow Christmas book every year. It's always a sweet story with new guests every year as well as recurring characters that are old friends.

[Alison Ramsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know Christmas is almost here when a Moonglow story appears. I wish I could visit Timberton to experience the enchanting snow, the hotel and cafe, the shops and the people who make it seem like family.