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Once Upon A Christmas Eve
Holly Goodnight’s store has just been voted best Christmas shop in America. All the publicity draws flamboyant novelist Van Keaton to the cozy town of Noel, Missouri, demanding to write Holly’s story—a dramatic tale of misfortune and triumph. She is swept up in his world of beautiful words until a local named Owen Quigly launches a plan to win her back—not just as Holly’s dearest and oldest friend—but as the love of his life.
123 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2016
14 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Anita Higman
98 books144 followersBest-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over forty books published. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA in the combined fields of speech communication, psychology, and art.
A few of Anita’s favorite things are good movies, fairytales, traveling, gardening, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.
Feel free to drop by Anita’s website at anitahigman.com or connect with her on her Facebook Reader Page at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnitaH.... She would love to hear from you!
A few of Anita’s favorite things are good movies, fairytales, traveling, gardening, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.
Feel free to drop by Anita’s website at anitahigman.com or connect with her on her Facebook Reader Page at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnitaH.... She would love to hear from you!
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 15, 2016
Holly Goodnight loves her father and the life he allowed her to live after he adopted her when she was a baby. She is happy in her little town -Noel, Missouri- and loves working in the Christmas shop that her family owns. She has a friend to whom she can talk about everything and secretly dreams of meeting her mother to know why she abandoned her. But when a young writer, interested in her personal story, arrives in town, Holly will find herself facing things that she had put aside, new and old pains and some revelations that will lead her towards her true love.
“Once Upon A Christmas Eve” is a novella set some weeks before Christmas that I would define very sweet and romantic, maybe a little corny now and then but that aspect is justified because of the topic and the setting chosen.
Holly has never met her biological parents; the only thing she knows is that her mother left her in front of The Little Bethlehem Shoppe one night on Christmas Eve and that the owner of that shop, Albert Goodnight, took her with him and raised her as his own daughter. The people of Noel loves Holly because she is a good and kind girl, always helpful with everybody. Her relationship with her father is beautiful and very tender and her friendship with Owen Quigly (a special relationship that started when they were kids) makes this story even nicer and more pleasant.
This plot about a perfect Christmas story changes when Van Keaton, a writer determined to write a book about Holly and the Christmas miracle where she is the protagonist, arrives in Noel and, slowly, gets close to the girl’s heart. Holly will be at first fascinated by Van’s manners and attention but, after a while, she will start to question her feelings because torn by two men. Who will win her heart? Van Keaton with his lovely words or Owen Quigly that has known her his whole life?
A cute story to read if you want to experience the magic of Christmas and of the feelings that are part of the protagonists’ lives that, although it did not involve me as I hoped it would because of some choices made by the main characters, I recommend to those who love Christmas stories and fairy tales about love.
“Once Upon A Christmas Eve” is a novella set some weeks before Christmas that I would define very sweet and romantic, maybe a little corny now and then but that aspect is justified because of the topic and the setting chosen.
Holly has never met her biological parents; the only thing she knows is that her mother left her in front of The Little Bethlehem Shoppe one night on Christmas Eve and that the owner of that shop, Albert Goodnight, took her with him and raised her as his own daughter. The people of Noel loves Holly because she is a good and kind girl, always helpful with everybody. Her relationship with her father is beautiful and very tender and her friendship with Owen Quigly (a special relationship that started when they were kids) makes this story even nicer and more pleasant.
This plot about a perfect Christmas story changes when Van Keaton, a writer determined to write a book about Holly and the Christmas miracle where she is the protagonist, arrives in Noel and, slowly, gets close to the girl’s heart. Holly will be at first fascinated by Van’s manners and attention but, after a while, she will start to question her feelings because torn by two men. Who will win her heart? Van Keaton with his lovely words or Owen Quigly that has known her his whole life?
A cute story to read if you want to experience the magic of Christmas and of the feelings that are part of the protagonists’ lives that, although it did not involve me as I hoped it would because of some choices made by the main characters, I recommend to those who love Christmas stories and fairy tales about love.
December 19, 2019
This is a wonderful Christmas romance. I really enjoyed reading the story of Holly, Owen and Van.
November 22, 2016
From Goodreads: "Holly Goodnight’s store has just been voted best Christmas shop in America. All the publicity draws flamboyant novelist Van Keaton to the cozy town of Noel, Missouri, demanding to write Holly’s story—a dramatic tale of misfortune and triumph. She is swept up in his world of beautiful words until a local named Owen Quigly launches a plan to win her back—not just as Holly’s dearest and oldest friend—but as the love of his life. "
Holly is searching for the love of her life, but more than that she is searching for the mother she never knew. As a Christian, she knows that she should be leaning on God to help her make the decisions that are right for her. In the end, she chooses to do so. I loved the story and the ending; however, there was one part -- a discovery that was made on her behalf -- that I felt could have been differently and added more to the story. Nevertheless, as a former English teacher, I loved the beautiful imagery that abounded throughout the book.
Favorite quotes
“Some call twilight the blue hour,” Van said in a voice as otherworldly as his flute. “It’s that precarious time right after the sun has kissed the world goodnight and disappeared under the earth’s covers.”
"You’re irresistibly soft—like the gossamer caress of a butterfly’s wing or the murmur of celestial beings.”
“Grandpa Josiah told me I should never forget that the Almighty is the only true compass, and His guidance is only a prayer away.”
"A little noiseless noise among the leaves, born of the very sigh that silence heaves.”
“Christmas is the greatest of all holidays since it represents the greatest of all mercies.”
"In fact, if I could lay out all the scenes of my life and pick the finest, the ones that matter the most to me, I would pick all the moments we’ve been together.”
Holly is searching for the love of her life, but more than that she is searching for the mother she never knew. As a Christian, she knows that she should be leaning on God to help her make the decisions that are right for her. In the end, she chooses to do so. I loved the story and the ending; however, there was one part -- a discovery that was made on her behalf -- that I felt could have been differently and added more to the story. Nevertheless, as a former English teacher, I loved the beautiful imagery that abounded throughout the book.
Favorite quotes
“Some call twilight the blue hour,” Van said in a voice as otherworldly as his flute. “It’s that precarious time right after the sun has kissed the world goodnight and disappeared under the earth’s covers.”
"You’re irresistibly soft—like the gossamer caress of a butterfly’s wing or the murmur of celestial beings.”
“Grandpa Josiah told me I should never forget that the Almighty is the only true compass, and His guidance is only a prayer away.”
"A little noiseless noise among the leaves, born of the very sigh that silence heaves.”
“Christmas is the greatest of all holidays since it represents the greatest of all mercies.”
"In fact, if I could lay out all the scenes of my life and pick the finest, the ones that matter the most to me, I would pick all the moments we’ve been together.”
November 9, 2016
Once Upon a Christmas Eve is a cute Christmas romance. Holly Goodnight was left in a basket outside a Christmas store as an infant and was adopted by the store owner. It moved a little slow in the beginning but overall, it was a good story.
December 4, 2016
Good Christmas story
Sweet story about a lady named Holly who grew up in a town without her mother. Her mom dropped her off with a man who owned a Christmas store. Holly's story is to be written by an author who comes to town. Her story changes. Read the book to find out more.
Sweet story about a lady named Holly who grew up in a town without her mother. Her mom dropped her off with a man who owned a Christmas store. Holly's story is to be written by an author who comes to town. Her story changes. Read the book to find out more.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews