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Christmas in Chestnut Crossing: Four Holiday Tales
Not yet published
Expected 22 Oct 26- GenresChristmas
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 22, 2026
About the author
Heidi Chiavaroli
22 books1,138 followersHeidi Chiavaroli is a hope-inspired storyteller writing from the deep curiosity of her own heart. Her debut novel, Freedom's Ring, was a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist, a Romantic Times Top Pick, and a Booklist Top Ten Romance Debut. Her second Carol Award-winning novel, The Orchard House, is inspired by the lesser-known events in Louisa May Alcott's life and led her to write The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast series, a contemporary twist on Little Women. Her latest work, Draw Close to Jesus, is a fiction-based devotional inspired by Scripture and an ECPA bestseller. Heidi makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband and two adult sons. Visit her online at heidichiavaroli.com.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 15, 2026
An enjoyable set of stories set in a small midwest town at Christmas time. An uplifting, inspirational read for anytime of the year, especially over the holiday season.
There were some overlapping characters, and the authors brought them together as they interacted in the town's shops and Christmas events. The main characters were women of differing ages, who shared the experience of loss, and were struggling to move ahead. Community support and faith gave them the encouragement they needed to go forward, to find renewed hope and purpose in their lives.
Friendship, family and faith themes thread throughout each story, with some touching moments. One story had a little romance, featuring a couple with a renewed friendship that grew deeper. The last one was especially touching with an empty nester stepping out of her comfort zone to help a pair of siblings reconcile. I liked the bit of mystery in the first one too with the letter.
Recommend to readers who enjoy an inspirational lighter read with small town charm set around the holidays. 4.5 stars
(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
There were some overlapping characters, and the authors brought them together as they interacted in the town's shops and Christmas events. The main characters were women of differing ages, who shared the experience of loss, and were struggling to move ahead. Community support and faith gave them the encouragement they needed to go forward, to find renewed hope and purpose in their lives.
Friendship, family and faith themes thread throughout each story, with some touching moments. One story had a little romance, featuring a couple with a renewed friendship that grew deeper. The last one was especially touching with an empty nester stepping out of her comfort zone to help a pair of siblings reconcile. I liked the bit of mystery in the first one too with the letter.
Recommend to readers who enjoy an inspirational lighter read with small town charm set around the holidays. 4.5 stars
(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Step into the sparkle of the season with Christmas in Chestnut Crossing by Heidi Chiavaroli, Amy Clipston, Tia McCollors, and Shaen Layle—a delightful collection of four heartwarming holiday novellas woven together with forgiveness, hope, faith, and small-town charm. Each easy-to-read story features likable, relatable protagonists, while the festive setting of Chestnut Crossing adds an inviting glow. Thoughtfully crafted and beautifully complementary, these inspiring tales offer meaningful reflections on love, second chances, and the joy of the season. Christmas in Chestnut Crossing is a warm, uplifting holiday read that will leave your heart merry and bright.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advance review copy (ARC) of this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Is there such thing as too much Christmas? Ordinarily I'd say no, but this collection of four short stories overdoses on sweetness and on-the-nose names for everything from shops to food items. If you're someone who thrives on Hallmark Christmas movies, you'll probably really enjoy this. Based on that alone, I'd say I'm probably not the target audience for this book.
I do think it's worth noting, too, that the characters are all of a mature age. While the Christmas element was giving Hallmark, the four women in these stories reminded me of a Christian, holiday version of the Golden Girls. Two were widowed senior ladies, one was in her 30s or 40s, and the other was a mother experiencing empty nest syndrome for the first time. As a reader, I didn't find I could connect with any of these women, unfortunately, which likely impacted my enjoyment of the book. But, again, I'm not the target audience - I think, if this was pitched to the right person, perhaps someone going through a situation similar to those in the stories, they would find a great source of comfort in this book.
My final note is that stories like these, where the town is so focused on making everything Christmas-themed, always make me wonder what these people do the other 11 months out of the year. Do they still feel holly jolly in the height of summer? Do they have Christmas in July? Ironically, the stories themselves tied everything else off in a neat little bow - these are the sort of questions I'm left with.
Is there such thing as too much Christmas? Ordinarily I'd say no, but this collection of four short stories overdoses on sweetness and on-the-nose names for everything from shops to food items. If you're someone who thrives on Hallmark Christmas movies, you'll probably really enjoy this. Based on that alone, I'd say I'm probably not the target audience for this book.
I do think it's worth noting, too, that the characters are all of a mature age. While the Christmas element was giving Hallmark, the four women in these stories reminded me of a Christian, holiday version of the Golden Girls. Two were widowed senior ladies, one was in her 30s or 40s, and the other was a mother experiencing empty nest syndrome for the first time. As a reader, I didn't find I could connect with any of these women, unfortunately, which likely impacted my enjoyment of the book. But, again, I'm not the target audience - I think, if this was pitched to the right person, perhaps someone going through a situation similar to those in the stories, they would find a great source of comfort in this book.
My final note is that stories like these, where the town is so focused on making everything Christmas-themed, always make me wonder what these people do the other 11 months out of the year. Do they still feel holly jolly in the height of summer? Do they have Christmas in July? Ironically, the stories themselves tied everything else off in a neat little bow - these are the sort of questions I'm left with.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A heartwarming collection of hopeful Christmas novellas set in Chestnut Crossing.
Everything Beautiful in Its Time by Heidi Chiavaroli
When Deborah finds a Christmas wish tucked inside the pages of a book donated to the Christmas Market, she is so touched that she goes on a mission to bring hope to its sender.
Over the course of the story she meets many people and learns more about the sender, giving her hope on her first Christmas after the death of her husband. Heartwarming and hopeful a sweet story for Christmas.
Love Never Leaves Us by Tia McCollors
Gloria is starting over in a new town after the loss of her husband. She takes over the local bakery and decides to take part in the local Christmas Market. Over the course of the story she makes new friends and finds a new sense of belonging in this heartwarming tale.
One Starry Night by Amy Clipston
Sadie returns to her hometown after heartbreak, and finds herself reconnecting with an old acquaintance she never thought she'd talk to again. A sweet second chance romance Christmas time, full of second chances and forgiveness.
Candlelit Christmas by Shaen Layle
Ella is disappointed to have her holiday plans cancelled, but a chance encounter with a stranger gives her and opportunity to help someone in need and help restore the hope of another and herself at Christmas.
A heartwarming collection of feel-good Christmas stories with themes of new beginnings, hope, and forgiveness.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Everything Beautiful in Its Time by Heidi Chiavaroli
When Deborah finds a Christmas wish tucked inside the pages of a book donated to the Christmas Market, she is so touched that she goes on a mission to bring hope to its sender.
Over the course of the story she meets many people and learns more about the sender, giving her hope on her first Christmas after the death of her husband. Heartwarming and hopeful a sweet story for Christmas.
Love Never Leaves Us by Tia McCollors
Gloria is starting over in a new town after the loss of her husband. She takes over the local bakery and decides to take part in the local Christmas Market. Over the course of the story she makes new friends and finds a new sense of belonging in this heartwarming tale.
One Starry Night by Amy Clipston
Sadie returns to her hometown after heartbreak, and finds herself reconnecting with an old acquaintance she never thought she'd talk to again. A sweet second chance romance Christmas time, full of second chances and forgiveness.
Candlelit Christmas by Shaen Layle
Ella is disappointed to have her holiday plans cancelled, but a chance encounter with a stranger gives her and opportunity to help someone in need and help restore the hope of another and herself at Christmas.
A heartwarming collection of feel-good Christmas stories with themes of new beginnings, hope, and forgiveness.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and publisher for the arc of these short stories in Christmas in Chestnut Crossing in exchange for an honest review. There are 4 stories all in one small Wisconsin town leading up to the holiday season.
#1: Everything Beautiful In Its Time. I loved the mystery of an old letter found and the search for the people who wrote it and it was intended for. The messages about grief and healing and feeling loved and supported by your community.
#2: Love Never Leaves Us. This was another deeply emotional story about grief and moving forward with kindness of the community and finding your path through God.
#3: One Starry Night. This is a second chance romance and healing and believing in yourself.
#4: Candlelit Christmas. This story follows a mother finding purpose after your children are off pursuing life. Of reconnecting others and those in your own life.
These stories are all centered around God and how he works in each of our lives and how we can become most affected around the holidays. How blessings are all around us and with prayer and faith and love, anything is possible. Each story had it's own special message, but #1 and #3 were my favorites, whereas I still resonated with #2 and #4 and had heartfelt messages, they didn't hold my attention as much.
Overall, these were wonderful and heartfelt stories that are perfect for the holidays.
#1: Everything Beautiful In Its Time. I loved the mystery of an old letter found and the search for the people who wrote it and it was intended for. The messages about grief and healing and feeling loved and supported by your community.
#2: Love Never Leaves Us. This was another deeply emotional story about grief and moving forward with kindness of the community and finding your path through God.
#3: One Starry Night. This is a second chance romance and healing and believing in yourself.
#4: Candlelit Christmas. This story follows a mother finding purpose after your children are off pursuing life. Of reconnecting others and those in your own life.
These stories are all centered around God and how he works in each of our lives and how we can become most affected around the holidays. How blessings are all around us and with prayer and faith and love, anything is possible. Each story had it's own special message, but #1 and #3 were my favorites, whereas I still resonated with #2 and #4 and had heartfelt messages, they didn't hold my attention as much.
Overall, these were wonderful and heartfelt stories that are perfect for the holidays.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A big thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for the review copy in exchange for an honest opinion.
This was a cozy read. Even though I read it in September, I’m already feeling a little Christmassy after reading it. 🎄
It’s a collection of four short stories that all take place in a small town called Chestnut Crossing.
What I like about this collection is that characters and places reappear in the different stories (a little bit like in the Marvel universe). Also, I love that the protagonists of the stories are all in different stages of their lives, dealing with topics such as identity after loss, grieving, and not giving up on love.
I especially enjoyed the last two stories, one by Amy Clipston and the other by Shaen Layle.
Another detail that I enjoyed in this book is the “Letter from the Author” after each chapter. It added a lovely personal touch.
I have to admit that the first and the second story fell a little flat for me personally. The first one felt a little rushed, while the second story was a little too kitschy for my taste.
All in all, though, I really enjoyed reading “Christmas in Chestnut Crossing” and its message to be kind to one another, to be a light in a world that sometimes can feel very dark. 🙏✨
This was a cozy read. Even though I read it in September, I’m already feeling a little Christmassy after reading it. 🎄
It’s a collection of four short stories that all take place in a small town called Chestnut Crossing.
What I like about this collection is that characters and places reappear in the different stories (a little bit like in the Marvel universe). Also, I love that the protagonists of the stories are all in different stages of their lives, dealing with topics such as identity after loss, grieving, and not giving up on love.
I especially enjoyed the last two stories, one by Amy Clipston and the other by Shaen Layle.
Another detail that I enjoyed in this book is the “Letter from the Author” after each chapter. It added a lovely personal touch.
I have to admit that the first and the second story fell a little flat for me personally. The first one felt a little rushed, while the second story was a little too kitschy for my taste.
All in all, though, I really enjoyed reading “Christmas in Chestnut Crossing” and its message to be kind to one another, to be a light in a world that sometimes can feel very dark. 🙏✨
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There’s something about Christmas novellas that I really love. They feel like little cups of Christmas cheer you can pick up whenever you have a quiet moment. 🎄📖
Christmas in Chestnut Crossing is a collection of four sweet holiday stories, and each one brings something a little different—second chances, forgiveness, friendship, belonging, a touch of mystery, and plenty of hope.
I loved the small-town Christmas feeling throughout the collection, but especially the reminder that some of the best gifts aren’t things we can wrap. Sometimes they look like forgiveness, a new beginning, an unexpected friendship, or simply finding your way back to hope.
This was such an easy, cozy read for the Christmas season. I could see myself reading one of these stories with a cup of coffee on a quiet December morning and then coming back to the others whenever I needed a little more Christmas spirit.
Sweet, uplifting, faith-filled, and full of heart. ❤️🎄
Thank you to NetGalley and Guideposts for the ARC!
Christmas in Chestnut Crossing is a collection of four sweet holiday stories, and each one brings something a little different—second chances, forgiveness, friendship, belonging, a touch of mystery, and plenty of hope.
I loved the small-town Christmas feeling throughout the collection, but especially the reminder that some of the best gifts aren’t things we can wrap. Sometimes they look like forgiveness, a new beginning, an unexpected friendship, or simply finding your way back to hope.
This was such an easy, cozy read for the Christmas season. I could see myself reading one of these stories with a cup of coffee on a quiet December morning and then coming back to the others whenever I needed a little more Christmas spirit.
Sweet, uplifting, faith-filled, and full of heart. ❤️🎄
Thank you to NetGalley and Guideposts for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Christmas in Chestnut Crossing” is such a warm and cozy Christmas collection. Each of the four stories in this collection point readers to the True meaning of Christmas and turn thoughts away from one’s self and onto others. I think one of my favorite parts of this collection is that each story is written by a different author, so they all have their own style. But, those styles blend very well to make a book that feels like one very complete story instead of four separate ones. Also, each of the stories is set in the same small town of Chestnut Crossing, so readers bump into characters from the other stories as they read. This adds to that cozy and familiar feeling of entering into the lives of friends, not just another literary escape. I cannot choose a favorite story from the four in the collection, because they are all so unique: from a new widow starting over with a new bakery, to another newer widow pressing on through the busyness of Christmas as she copes with grief, to a mom finding her way with a freshly empty nest, to a young woman newly returned to her hometown, each storyline has something for every reader. This book is a perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit. I envision reading this book nestled in a cozy chair under a fuzzy blanket with a cup of hot cocoa nearby.
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September 25, 2026Christmas in Chestnut Crossing is a sweet combination of Christmas novellas by four different authors. Heidi Chiavaroli, Tia McCollors, Amy Clipston and Shaen Layne.
I truly enjoyed the cozy stories about a town in Wisconsin, celebrating the Christmas season. Each story was unique and engaging. Sweet, clean and enjoyable. A perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit.
I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I truly enjoyed the cozy stories about a town in Wisconsin, celebrating the Christmas season. Each story was unique and engaging. Sweet, clean and enjoyable. A perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit.
I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC to read and give my honest opinion on.
I highly enjoyed the set of the four stories. They were very fast paced, easy to get into and very enjoyable. Definitely a comfy small town cozy feel.
Highly recommended.
I highly enjoyed the set of the four stories. They were very fast paced, easy to get into and very enjoyable. Definitely a comfy small town cozy feel.
Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Loved this book by 4 authors writing about Chestnut Crossings. All the stories tied in with each other. A VERY GOOD READ.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Christmas in Chestnut Crossing by Heidi Chiavaroli, Tia McCollors, Amy Clipston, Shane Layle. Getting you ready for the magic of the holiday season with this sweet, inspirational small town stories. My favorite one was Amy Clipston’s. I love that hers had a second chance, friends to more romance which is my favorite trope. Thank you to #NetGalley and #Guideposts for this arc. This is my honest review. Releases Oct 13,2026
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews