A Mountie for Christmas: A Snowy Ridge Holiday Novella

by Clayton Thorne

When Constable Elias Ward is reassigned from his prestigious Toronto post to the remote frontier town of Snowy Ridge, the last thing he expects is a Christmas that will change his life forever.

Accustomed to polished city life and the expectations of his wealthy family, Elias arrives in Snowy Ridge determined to endure the assignment, do his duty, and return home as soon as possible. But the rugged beauty of the mountains—and the warmth of a town that refuses to let anyone stand alone—begin to work their way into his guarded heart.

No one makes a deeper impression than Clara Dunn, the town’s dedicated young schoolteacher. With gentle strength and quiet resilience, Clara carries more responsibility than she lets on. Her kindness draws Elias in from the start, even as he battles the pull he feels toward a life far different from the one he left behind.

As Christmas approaches, a dangerous storm, a missing child, and a simmering tension with a mysterious outsider test Elias in ways he never expected. And when darkness falls over Snowy Ridge, Elias must choose between the life he always knew… and the life he never dreamed he could have.

A Mountie for Christmas, a bestselling book on Amazon, is a heartwarming frontier holiday novella filled with slow-burn romance, community spirit, and the timeless hope of redemption. Perfect for fans of When Calls the Heart, sweet historical romance, and cozy winter love stories.

Step into Snowy Ridge—and discover a Christmas where courage is tested, love takes root, and miracles feel close enough to touch.

Genres: Romance, Novella, Historical Fiction

58 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2025

Reviews

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short novella that is set in Canada during the winter time. Constable Elias Ward, a Mountie, has been moved from the large city of Toronto where his wealthy family lives to the small town of Snowy Ridge. Elias is not sure how he will get along with the people of this small mountain town. Little does he know that he will fall in love with the people of Snowy Ridge but also find good friends and romance.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has potential

This book definitely has potential. The quality of the descriptive writing was good, and the overall idea was the same. My only complaint is that it feels rushed and is too short for the scope of what happens throughout. I feel that we missed out on a lot of the substance of the main character winning over the town and the school teacher in favour of focusing more on jumping from event to event. The development of relationships is the most enjoyable part of any meeting, so I hope that the author will revisit this one and flesh all of that good stuff out in the future. I was also a little confused that the whole bad guy arrives in town storyline seemed to go nowhere other than a vague reference to something perhaps happening in the future. While this would work if something significant had also happened in the now, to bring him in just to be vaguely suspicious feels like another missed opportunity. The story has good bones, and the author clearly has a talent for writing. It just needs a little more time and patience to be fully realised.

[Dreamers Moon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book definitely has potential. The quality of the descriptive writing was good, and the overall idea was the same. My only complaint is that it feels rushed and is too short for the scope of what happens throughout. I feel that we missed out on a lot of the substance of the main character winning over the town and the school teacher in favour of focusing more on jumping from event to event. The development of relationships is the most enjoyable part of any meeting, so I hope that the author will revisit this one and flesh all of that good stuff out in the future. I was also a little confused that the whole bad guy arrives in town storyline seemed to go nowhere other than a vague reference to something perhaps happening in the future. While this would work if something significant had also happened in the now, to bring him in just to be vaguely suspicious feels like another missed opportunity. The story has good bones, and the author clearly has a talent for writing. It just needs a little more time and patience to be fully realised.

[Chanover55 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elias Ward has been assigned as the new Mountie to Snowy Ridge, after the death of the previous Mountie. He is not sure he wants to take the assignment but does, . Clara Dunn is the school teacher in town, much loved hut afraid to trust and lose again. As he goes about his work with skill and caring, Clara's heart starts to thaw; as dies his. Will they regret it? And what danger does a man from Ckara's past pose for the town? This is not answered in the story but likely will come up in another book. A sweet Christmas read

[Bonnie Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice read for a snowy morning!

I enjoyed the descriptions of the winter in a small town in the mountains. I live about an hour from Canada, and my Mom was born and raised there. Lots of familiarity with the snow and rugged people who lived in that area. The mountains and snow storms are unpredictable.

[Ken Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a full story

This is not really a full story, more like a collection of vignettes, or snippets of stories. I felt like they were somewhat disjointed. The characters are fine, but there's an implied danger in the beginning that never gets resolved, so this is more like a lead-in to another book.

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Skip it.

So many plots started but none resolved it; it should be labeled as a prequel. It only introduced storylines; a good book resolved at least one. It left questions that I don't care to even find out about. We weren't given enough to care about the characters.

[Kees · Rating 5 out of 5]

a Mountie for Christmas

Looking forward to the next instalment of this story and resolution of the dangers lurking in the presence of the man from the past life