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A Little Christmas Spirit
"A tender story guaranteed to warm your heart this holiday season." --RaeAnne Thayne
The best Christmas gifts--family, friendship and second chances--are all waiting to be unwrapped in this sparkling new novel from USA TODAY bestselling author Sheila Roberts.
Single mom Lexie Bell hopes to make this first Christmas in their new home special for her six-year-old son, Brock. Festive lights and homemade fudge, check. Friendly neighbors? Uh, no. The reclusive widower next door is more grinchy than nice. But maybe he just needs a reminder of what matters most. At least sharing some holiday cheer with him will distract her from her own lack of romance...
Stanley Mann lost his Christmas spirit when he lost his wife and he sees no point in looking for it. Until she shows up in his dreams and informs him it's time to ditch his scroogey attitude. Stanley digs in his heels, but she's determined to haunt him until he wakes up and rediscovers the joys of the season. He can start by being a little more neighborly to the single mom next door. In spite of his protests, he's soon making snowmen and decorating Christmas trees. How will it all end?
Merrily, of course. A certain Christmas ghost is going to make sure of that!
The best Christmas gifts--family, friendship and second chances--are all waiting to be unwrapped in this sparkling new novel from USA TODAY bestselling author Sheila Roberts.
Single mom Lexie Bell hopes to make this first Christmas in their new home special for her six-year-old son, Brock. Festive lights and homemade fudge, check. Friendly neighbors? Uh, no. The reclusive widower next door is more grinchy than nice. But maybe he just needs a reminder of what matters most. At least sharing some holiday cheer with him will distract her from her own lack of romance...
Stanley Mann lost his Christmas spirit when he lost his wife and he sees no point in looking for it. Until she shows up in his dreams and informs him it's time to ditch his scroogey attitude. Stanley digs in his heels, but she's determined to haunt him until he wakes up and rediscovers the joys of the season. He can start by being a little more neighborly to the single mom next door. In spite of his protests, he's soon making snowmen and decorating Christmas trees. How will it all end?
Merrily, of course. A certain Christmas ghost is going to make sure of that!
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 28, 2021
241 people are currently reading
4744 people want to read
About the author
Sheila Roberts
109 books1,984 followersWith fifty books to her credit, both fiction and non-fiction, Sheila Roberts is a frequent USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller - and a fan favorite. Her books have sold over three million copies and have been turned into movies for the Hallmark, Lifetime and Great American Family channels. Before settling into her writing career, Sheila owned a singing telegram company and played in band. When she's not traveling, Sheila can be found hanging out with friends, playing tennis, and, of course, writing and reading. Sometimes she even remembers to post books she's read!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 425 reviews
November 19, 2021
A Little Christmas Spirit by Sheila Roberts is a 2021 Mira Books publication.
This is everything a holiday story should be!
Stanley lost his beloved wife, Carol, in a car accident three years ago.
Never much of a people person to begin wife, Stanley retreats from life entirely after Carol’s death.
When his in-laws make overtures at Thanksgiving, he declines the invitation, preferring to have frozen pizza and pumpkin ice cream at home, all alone, in front of the television.
But then he receives an unexpected visitor…
Carol!
Carol begins popping in periodically, encouraging Stanley to start living his life again. Naturally, he’s resisting. But his new neighbors, Lexie, a single mom, and her young son, Brock, draw him into their lives, and he suddenly becomes ‘Grandpa Stanley’.
But his curmudgeonly ways are a hard habit to break, and he struggles with socializing, making it hard for people to move past his regular faux pas- which are either horrifying or laugh out loud funny.
It looks like Stanley may have made an unforgivable mistake… and despite Carol’s best efforts, he may end up spending Christmas alone, after all.
I’m on a Holiday roll this year, so far, which is a vast improvement from last season’s disappointing offerings. I read this book in one sitting!
Stanley and I might have a few things in common- if it wasn't for my family, I’d probably be a hermit, too.
His trips down memory lane were lovely and bittersweet and of course he stole my heart, despite his crankiness.
I also loved Brock, who is a fine example for the adults when it comes to the ability to forgive.
Lexie is a lovely character who definitely deserved her own happily ever after.
Overall, if you love Christmas stories with the right balance of heartwarming holiday inspirations with a healthy dose of humor and emotion, this will make a great choice.
This is the kind of book I was looking for last year, and never could find. Such a lovely story, with a sweet, touching conclusion that is sure to help you shake off the bah humbugs.
4 stars
This is everything a holiday story should be!
Stanley lost his beloved wife, Carol, in a car accident three years ago.
Never much of a people person to begin wife, Stanley retreats from life entirely after Carol’s death.
When his in-laws make overtures at Thanksgiving, he declines the invitation, preferring to have frozen pizza and pumpkin ice cream at home, all alone, in front of the television.
But then he receives an unexpected visitor…
Carol!
Carol begins popping in periodically, encouraging Stanley to start living his life again. Naturally, he’s resisting. But his new neighbors, Lexie, a single mom, and her young son, Brock, draw him into their lives, and he suddenly becomes ‘Grandpa Stanley’.
But his curmudgeonly ways are a hard habit to break, and he struggles with socializing, making it hard for people to move past his regular faux pas- which are either horrifying or laugh out loud funny.
It looks like Stanley may have made an unforgivable mistake… and despite Carol’s best efforts, he may end up spending Christmas alone, after all.
I’m on a Holiday roll this year, so far, which is a vast improvement from last season’s disappointing offerings. I read this book in one sitting!
Stanley and I might have a few things in common- if it wasn't for my family, I’d probably be a hermit, too.
His trips down memory lane were lovely and bittersweet and of course he stole my heart, despite his crankiness.
I also loved Brock, who is a fine example for the adults when it comes to the ability to forgive.
Lexie is a lovely character who definitely deserved her own happily ever after.
Overall, if you love Christmas stories with the right balance of heartwarming holiday inspirations with a healthy dose of humor and emotion, this will make a great choice.
This is the kind of book I was looking for last year, and never could find. Such a lovely story, with a sweet, touching conclusion that is sure to help you shake off the bah humbugs.
4 stars
July 25, 2022
A Little Christmas Spirit by Sheila Roberts was such a heartwarming Christmas story. This was such a perfect book for the holiday season. I have no clue what i'm doing reading Christmas books in July, but i'm trying to get into the Christmas spirit early because this hot weather is driving me nuts and making me miss winter more and more. A Little Christmas Spirit is about helping neighbors and working together to make the Christmas season special for anyone. I adored this book so so much. I was hooked from the very first page, and couldn't put it down. The cover is so cute and it gave me all the Christmas feels. Please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book, and a cozy blanket and just read your way through. I know Christmas stories are supposed to be happy and cheerful, but this book made me a little teary eyed. This was my first ever book by Sheila Roberts, but I loved it so much, i'm going to have to read her other books.
Lexie Bell is a single mom, to her six year old son, Brock. Lexie and Brock moved to a new neighborhood hoping for friendly neighbors and new friends. Lexie hopes to make their first Christmas in their new house memorable for Brock. Lexie is also a kindergarten teacher. Lexie was supposed to have this big fancy wedding but her ex-fiance told Lexie he loved someone else, he also signed over his parental rights. Festive lights and homemade fudge? Check. Friendly neighbors? Ummm, possibly no. Lexie and Brock were at the local hardware store buying Christmas lights, when Lexie slipped on ice in the parking lot where she got a chip fracture on her ankle causing Lexie to be in a walking boot, which made it difficult to drive and or climb a ladder to hang up their Christmas lights. The widower next door is more grouchy than nice, but maybe he just needs a little reminder of what matters most.
Stanley Mann lost his Christmas spirit when he lost his wife, Carol a little over three years ago when she lost her life due to a car accident. Ever since losing his wife, Stanley sees no point in looking forward to the holiday season. Carol's Christmas ghost spirit shows up in Stanley's dreams and informs him it's time to ditch his scrooge attitude. Carol loved the Christmas season, but since Stanley lost her he sees no point in being festive. Brock notices that Stanley is outside hanging Christmas lights, so he goes over and introduces himself. Brock is instantly drawn to Stanley, he always calls him Grandpa Stanley. Stanley is so stubborn, but Carol is determined to haunt him until he opens his eyes and discovers the joy of the holiday season. When Stanley was telling the story of his wife's death, there was no dry eye in sight. I love how Shelia Roberts incorporated the life Stanley and Carol had before she died.
I often found myself cheering on Lexie for being a single mom to a six year old, but also for stepping up to play the role of two parents. As grouchy as Stanley was, I often found myself cheering him on as well for getting out of him comfort zone and playing with Brock, and not getting mad when Brock called him Grandpa Stanley. Stanley prefers his own company, so getting out and meeting Lexie and Brock is a bit out of his comfort zone. Overall, this was just a really good book, and I loved every minute of it. I can't promise I won't read any more Christmas books until December. As Stanley gets to know Brock, he finds himself hanging Christmas lights for them, decorating Christmas trees, and building snowmen. To anyone who reads this amazing story, I hope you love it as much as I did. I always wonder what other people think of books that I've read and loved so dearly. A Little Christmas Spirit was so heart touching, but also a cute story.
Lexie Bell is a single mom, to her six year old son, Brock. Lexie and Brock moved to a new neighborhood hoping for friendly neighbors and new friends. Lexie hopes to make their first Christmas in their new house memorable for Brock. Lexie is also a kindergarten teacher. Lexie was supposed to have this big fancy wedding but her ex-fiance told Lexie he loved someone else, he also signed over his parental rights. Festive lights and homemade fudge? Check. Friendly neighbors? Ummm, possibly no. Lexie and Brock were at the local hardware store buying Christmas lights, when Lexie slipped on ice in the parking lot where she got a chip fracture on her ankle causing Lexie to be in a walking boot, which made it difficult to drive and or climb a ladder to hang up their Christmas lights. The widower next door is more grouchy than nice, but maybe he just needs a little reminder of what matters most.
Stanley Mann lost his Christmas spirit when he lost his wife, Carol a little over three years ago when she lost her life due to a car accident. Ever since losing his wife, Stanley sees no point in looking forward to the holiday season. Carol's Christmas ghost spirit shows up in Stanley's dreams and informs him it's time to ditch his scrooge attitude. Carol loved the Christmas season, but since Stanley lost her he sees no point in being festive. Brock notices that Stanley is outside hanging Christmas lights, so he goes over and introduces himself. Brock is instantly drawn to Stanley, he always calls him Grandpa Stanley. Stanley is so stubborn, but Carol is determined to haunt him until he opens his eyes and discovers the joy of the holiday season. When Stanley was telling the story of his wife's death, there was no dry eye in sight. I love how Shelia Roberts incorporated the life Stanley and Carol had before she died.
I often found myself cheering on Lexie for being a single mom to a six year old, but also for stepping up to play the role of two parents. As grouchy as Stanley was, I often found myself cheering him on as well for getting out of him comfort zone and playing with Brock, and not getting mad when Brock called him Grandpa Stanley. Stanley prefers his own company, so getting out and meeting Lexie and Brock is a bit out of his comfort zone. Overall, this was just a really good book, and I loved every minute of it. I can't promise I won't read any more Christmas books until December. As Stanley gets to know Brock, he finds himself hanging Christmas lights for them, decorating Christmas trees, and building snowmen. To anyone who reads this amazing story, I hope you love it as much as I did. I always wonder what other people think of books that I've read and loved so dearly. A Little Christmas Spirit was so heart touching, but also a cute story.
December 3, 2021
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A LITTLE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT by Sheila Roberts is a wonderful Christmas holiday standalone fiction story with romance elements. A grumpy old neighbor who lost his Christmas spirit when his wife died, a single mother and her young son who are new in the neighborhood are all brought together by a Christmas ghost.
Stanley Mann lost the love of his life, Carol, three years ago in a terrible car crash and he has never recovered. He continues on by himself and wants nothing to do with anyone or anything outside of his home and he especially hates the holidays. Then Carol’s spirit returns during several nights to remind Stanley of their time together and to encourage him to start living life again and not just existing and he can start by helping his new neighbors.
Kindergarten teacher Lexi Bell and her young son, Brock, have moved from California to the Pacific Northwest and are excited about spending their first Christmas in their new home. Their next-door neighbor at first is more grumpy hermit than neighbor, but Lexi and Brock have a way of squirming into his heart during the day even as Carol nudges him into being the man she remembers during the nights.
This story is absolutely perfect for a holiday read! It is full of love, family, forgiveness, and holiday spirit. Brock is endearing and you can understand how he was able to worm his way into Stanley’s closed-off heart. Lexi’s trial of looking for the perfect man is all too familiar for many of us. When Stanley sits down with The Grinch and Scrooge in one of his dreams it was very entertaining. The secondary characters all make their appearances at just the right time and give this story a realistic feel even with its ghostly apparition. Keep the tissues close for a few of the scenes. This is the first time I have read a book by this author, and it will not be the last.
I highly recommend this Christmas tale of love!
A LITTLE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT by Sheila Roberts is a wonderful Christmas holiday standalone fiction story with romance elements. A grumpy old neighbor who lost his Christmas spirit when his wife died, a single mother and her young son who are new in the neighborhood are all brought together by a Christmas ghost.
Stanley Mann lost the love of his life, Carol, three years ago in a terrible car crash and he has never recovered. He continues on by himself and wants nothing to do with anyone or anything outside of his home and he especially hates the holidays. Then Carol’s spirit returns during several nights to remind Stanley of their time together and to encourage him to start living life again and not just existing and he can start by helping his new neighbors.
Kindergarten teacher Lexi Bell and her young son, Brock, have moved from California to the Pacific Northwest and are excited about spending their first Christmas in their new home. Their next-door neighbor at first is more grumpy hermit than neighbor, but Lexi and Brock have a way of squirming into his heart during the day even as Carol nudges him into being the man she remembers during the nights.
This story is absolutely perfect for a holiday read! It is full of love, family, forgiveness, and holiday spirit. Brock is endearing and you can understand how he was able to worm his way into Stanley’s closed-off heart. Lexi’s trial of looking for the perfect man is all too familiar for many of us. When Stanley sits down with The Grinch and Scrooge in one of his dreams it was very entertaining. The secondary characters all make their appearances at just the right time and give this story a realistic feel even with its ghostly apparition. Keep the tissues close for a few of the scenes. This is the first time I have read a book by this author, and it will not be the last.
I highly recommend this Christmas tale of love!
December 6, 2021
A fun modern day twist on "The Christmas Carol".
When Lexie Bell and her young son Brock moved to the small Pacific Northwestern town she was looking for a fresh start. Hoping to connect with her neighbors she is disappointed by the lack of welcome. For neighbor Stanley Mann, life is little more than making it through the day since the death of his wife three years earlier. Grumpy and uninterested in company Stanley sees the interruptions of Bock and Lexie as a pesky annoyance. But when his wife starts haunting his dreams, encouraging him to unburden his heart, Stanley begins to open himself up to new possibilities.
A sweet Christmas story that would be a great Hallmark movie.
When Lexie Bell and her young son Brock moved to the small Pacific Northwestern town she was looking for a fresh start. Hoping to connect with her neighbors she is disappointed by the lack of welcome. For neighbor Stanley Mann, life is little more than making it through the day since the death of his wife three years earlier. Grumpy and uninterested in company Stanley sees the interruptions of Bock and Lexie as a pesky annoyance. But when his wife starts haunting his dreams, encouraging him to unburden his heart, Stanley begins to open himself up to new possibilities.
A sweet Christmas story that would be a great Hallmark movie.
September 27, 2021
Bighearted, festive, and uplifting!
A Little Christmas Spirit is an amusing, tender tale set in the quaint town of Fairwood, Washington, that takes you into the lives of two main characters. Lexie Bell, a young single mother whose main focus is raising her son and making their first Christmas in their new home as memorable as possible, and Stanley Mann, an elderly widow who prefers his own company and is still struggling to adapt to living each day without the love of his life.
The prose is light and sweet. The characters are lonely, considerate, and kind. And the plot, using a back-and-forth, past and present style, is a delightfully touching tale about life, loss, love, marriage, parenthood, family, friendship, a touch of romance, happiness, and grief.
Overall, A Little Christmas Spirit is another cosy, uplifting, delightfully enchanting story by Roberts that reminds us to surround ourselves with those we love, especially during the holidays, and to always live life to the fullest.
Thank you to Uplit Reads for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
A Little Christmas Spirit is an amusing, tender tale set in the quaint town of Fairwood, Washington, that takes you into the lives of two main characters. Lexie Bell, a young single mother whose main focus is raising her son and making their first Christmas in their new home as memorable as possible, and Stanley Mann, an elderly widow who prefers his own company and is still struggling to adapt to living each day without the love of his life.
The prose is light and sweet. The characters are lonely, considerate, and kind. And the plot, using a back-and-forth, past and present style, is a delightfully touching tale about life, loss, love, marriage, parenthood, family, friendship, a touch of romance, happiness, and grief.
Overall, A Little Christmas Spirit is another cosy, uplifting, delightfully enchanting story by Roberts that reminds us to surround ourselves with those we love, especially during the holidays, and to always live life to the fullest.
Thank you to Uplit Reads for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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September 28, 2021Best way to get into the Christmas spirit is reading a Sheila Roberts book! 🎄
December 27, 2021
Favorite Quotes:
She’d taken over some cookies once when she’d thought she caught sight of someone in their dining-room window, but the only welcome she’d gotten had been from a couple of garden gnomes sitting on the front porch. It was like living next door to Boo Radley.
Oh, good grief. Just what every woman dreamed about: a proposal in a parking lot with a dead rose.
Her cousin, who fancied herself a singer, sang Paul Stookey’s “Wedding Song.” She didn’t murder it, only maimed it severely.
No single dads had come across her path, though several rom-coms had convinced her they would.
Getting to know him was like befriending a feral animal. There was a lot of coaxing involved.
My Review:
This was a sweet and delightfully heartfelt holiday women's fiction story that gently touched the feels while warming the heart and frequently pulled my lips into an amused smile with wry humor and witty observations. This was my first taste of the clever craft of Sheila Roberts and I am kicking myself for not noticing her works sooner. Her engaging storylines were easy to follow, relatable, and enjoyably entertaining. The characters were original, realistic, knowable, and highly likable people, even the old curmudgeon who was happy being haunted by his late wife. I was pulling for him even when he pushed back.
She’d taken over some cookies once when she’d thought she caught sight of someone in their dining-room window, but the only welcome she’d gotten had been from a couple of garden gnomes sitting on the front porch. It was like living next door to Boo Radley.
Oh, good grief. Just what every woman dreamed about: a proposal in a parking lot with a dead rose.
Her cousin, who fancied herself a singer, sang Paul Stookey’s “Wedding Song.” She didn’t murder it, only maimed it severely.
No single dads had come across her path, though several rom-coms had convinced her they would.
Getting to know him was like befriending a feral animal. There was a lot of coaxing involved.
My Review:
This was a sweet and delightfully heartfelt holiday women's fiction story that gently touched the feels while warming the heart and frequently pulled my lips into an amused smile with wry humor and witty observations. This was my first taste of the clever craft of Sheila Roberts and I am kicking myself for not noticing her works sooner. Her engaging storylines were easy to follow, relatable, and enjoyably entertaining. The characters were original, realistic, knowable, and highly likable people, even the old curmudgeon who was happy being haunted by his late wife. I was pulling for him even when he pushed back.
September 23, 2021
Ok y’all this one is just begging to be made into a Hallmark movie! It was completely heartwarming, it had all the holiday vibes and I think it would appeal to a few different types of readers because it wasn’t just a straightforward romance. At its heart it’s about an unlikely friendship between Lexie, a single mom and her neighbor, Stanley. Stanley is a grouchy old man who is mourning the loss of his wife and he wants nothing to do with the holidays, in fact he really wants nothing to do with the outside world period. Until Lexie’s son decided Stanley would make a perfect stand in grandpa and he begins seeing his late wife’s ghost. Or is he cracking up? So an adorable premise and it was executed so well, I really enjoyed this one. I liked that romance was a very small part of the story and that it was really about found family and embracing the holiday spirit with friends instead. It sure made me get into the right frame of mind a few months early 😉 but I definitely recommend it when you’re ready for a warm and cozy holiday read! The audio was also fabulous, Ann Marie Gideon also narrated the authors previous series and I’ve grown to love listening to her!
September 11, 2021
I adore all 0f Sheila Roberts’ books. Stanley is a curmudgeon who lost his wife three years ago. He’s a grump, but he does the right thing, promoted by the ghost of his wife. Lexie and her son Brock are adjusting to a new town. Brock latches on to Stanley, along with a cute dog. All of the necessary ingredients are present for a happy holiday read with warmth, sadness, and joy. I’ve always had a soft spot for old grumps so Stanley went straight to my heart. If you need a little Christmas right this very minute, read this book. Thanks to Mira and NetGalley for the early copy.
November 29, 2021
Christmas 2021 - NICE!
I bet I'm not the first to dub this, "A Man Called Ove" meets "A Christmas Carol."
Stanley is a grumpy old man, visited at Christmas by the spirit of his wife who passed away three years ago. He can't get over her death and has become antisocial and lonely. With her creative and mischievous encouragement, he slowly befriends his new neighbors, single mom Lexi and her 6 year old son Brock. They help him learn to embrace life again.
I loved this story and all the characters, and I got choked up at the end - the perfect Christmas read!
I bet I'm not the first to dub this, "A Man Called Ove" meets "A Christmas Carol."
Stanley is a grumpy old man, visited at Christmas by the spirit of his wife who passed away three years ago. He can't get over her death and has become antisocial and lonely. With her creative and mischievous encouragement, he slowly befriends his new neighbors, single mom Lexi and her 6 year old son Brock. They help him learn to embrace life again.
I loved this story and all the characters, and I got choked up at the end - the perfect Christmas read!
December 21, 2021
A feel good Christmas read.
October 4, 2021
A Little Christmas Spirit by Sheila Roberts is a delightful, heartwarming Christmas book. It’s the perfect story for the holidays as it’s all about helping neighbors and working together.
Lexie Bell is a single mom to her six-year-old son Brock and has recently moved to a new home and she’s hoping they both can make new friends with their neighbors. Except their neighbor is Stanley, a recently widowed grumpy recluse.
Stanley hates Christmas and doesn’t want anything to do with his new neighbors, but Brock has taken a liking to him and insists on calling him, Grandpa Stanley. Can a young woman and her charming young son help Stanley get back his Christmas Spirit? Maybe with a little help from his late wife’s ghost, they can.
I enjoyed this heartfelt Christmas book and it really got me into the Christmas spirit. I liked how these characters needed each other but didn’t necessarily want to be near each other! I liked how the author told Stanley’s story of meeting and falling in love with his wife, it gives Stanley a bit of humanity as he’s so grumpy and anti-social.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a feel-good Christmas story that will warm your heart. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Lexie Bell is a single mom to her six-year-old son Brock and has recently moved to a new home and she’s hoping they both can make new friends with their neighbors. Except their neighbor is Stanley, a recently widowed grumpy recluse.
Stanley hates Christmas and doesn’t want anything to do with his new neighbors, but Brock has taken a liking to him and insists on calling him, Grandpa Stanley. Can a young woman and her charming young son help Stanley get back his Christmas Spirit? Maybe with a little help from his late wife’s ghost, they can.
I enjoyed this heartfelt Christmas book and it really got me into the Christmas spirit. I liked how these characters needed each other but didn’t necessarily want to be near each other! I liked how the author told Stanley’s story of meeting and falling in love with his wife, it gives Stanley a bit of humanity as he’s so grumpy and anti-social.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a feel-good Christmas story that will warm your heart. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 16, 2021
What a heartwarming Christmas story that will melt your heart!
If you love Charles Dicken’s Christmas Carol and /or Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch you will love this story. Stable is Scrooge and the Grinch all rolled into one. Such a hard book to put down. You keep reading because you can’t wait to see what happens next. A great case of characters and very well written. I hated for it to end and wished there was more.
Sheila Roberts you outdid yourself writing this book!
If you love Charles Dicken’s Christmas Carol and /or Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch you will love this story. Stable is Scrooge and the Grinch all rolled into one. Such a hard book to put down. You keep reading because you can’t wait to see what happens next. A great case of characters and very well written. I hated for it to end and wished there was more.
Sheila Roberts you outdid yourself writing this book!
September 25, 2021
The sweetest most feel good Hallmark type Christmas story! Happy tears at the end!
November 4, 2021
I am a sucker for the Scrooge, crotchety old man character. Stanley reminded me a bit of Ove from A Man called Ove, and that just cracked the ice from my heart. This was a cute, heartwarming story about grief, living life because you only have one to live, and enjoying those around you. One of my absolute favorite tropes is found family, and this book has a cute one!! I laughed, a shed a few tears, and I smiled a ton. Recipe for a great read!!
October 3, 2021
I’ve been reading a lot of Christmas themed stories lately, and I’d been wanting to read more from Sheila Roberts after loving the one book of hers that I’ve previously read, so I was excited to dive into A LITTLE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!
My review is live at Fresh Fiction - https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i....
My review is live at Fresh Fiction - https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i....
November 25, 2021
A Little Christmas Spirit by Sheila Connolly is a heartwarming Christmas tale. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning. This is a cute holiday tale that will put a smile on your face. The book is well-written with realistic dialogue and characters. Stanley Mann is still mourning the loss of his wife, Carol. He has become something of a hermit and curmudgeon. Then his deceased wife, Carol makes an appearance. She is tired of Stanley moping about the house and has come to give him a big nudge. Lexie and her son, Brock have moved in next door. They are new to town and could use a father/grandfather figure in their lives. Stanley begins by doing little things and then he starts spending more time in their company until he says the wrong thing. It looks like he will end up spending Christmas alone despite Carol’s best efforts. Is there a way to get them all back together again? Stanley may seem gruff but there is a softie in there somewhere. We get to know more about Stanley and Carol’s life together through the reminisces. We get to see the special life the couple had together as Stanley travels down memory lane. Lexie is a teacher raising her son on her own. She is grieving the loss of her father. Lexie wishes her mother would visit her, but her mother is grieving as well. Lexie would like to find a man to be a part of her and Brock’s life, but she wants to make sure that he is nothing like her ex-boyfriend. Brock was your typical little boy. He really took a shine to Stanley and helped bring the man out of his shell. Brock’s behavior could be an example to adults especially his ability to forgive. There is a cute Westie in the story too. I have a feeling Carol helped the dog find Stanley. A Little Christmas Spirit is just what I needed to put me in the mood for the holidays. I knew I could count on Sheila Connolly to provide a touching Christmas tale. A Little Christmas Spirit is a tender holiday story with a cute canine, a bubbly boy, a calamitous matchmaking attempt, a grouchy grandpa, an inconvenient injury, and a tenderhearted teacher.
October 8, 2021
I always look forward to Sheila Roberts' Christmas stories and this one was one of the best I have read this year. This was a bit of a Scrooge retelling, but it is a very different story. Stanley Mann lost his Christmas spirit when he lost his wife and he sees no point in looking for it. He is miserable, unfriendly and very unneighbourly. When a single mother, Lexie Bell and her young son, Brock move in next door, Stanley has no intention of getting to know them. When he begins seeing his wife in his dreams he gets a rude awakening. She prods him to get to know the new neighbours and Brock very quickly begins calling him Grandpa Stanley as he just lost his grandfather. It takes a while, but Stanley becomes close to Brock and Lexie and they become a surrogate family to him.
I loved this story. It was all about family, both found and blood, as well as love, community and caring. Brock was such a great character. He brought Stanley and Lexie together as a family and he made me smile so many times. Lexie was such a great mom. She wanted the best for her son, even if it meant moving away and starting over with a new job and a new community. I also loved Stanley. I totally understand how he felt, losing my husband 6 weeks before Christmas several years ago. Stanley didn't have any family to pull him out of the doldrums, so Lexie and Brock did the job. I also liked learning about Stanley and Carol as well as their romance and life together that was told through flashbacks. I can't forget to mention the little dog that Stanley finds at the beginning of the story that also becomes part of his life. This was such a wonderful story of caring, community, found family, Christmas Magic, friendship and hope. I did a read/listen of A Little Christmas Spirit, narrated by Ann Marie Gideon. I enjoyed her performance, and have listened to several other books she has narrated. She gives voices to the various characters that helped identify who was speaking. Her expression and inflection are wonderful and add to my enjoyment of the story. She is a narrator that I watch for. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
I loved this story. It was all about family, both found and blood, as well as love, community and caring. Brock was such a great character. He brought Stanley and Lexie together as a family and he made me smile so many times. Lexie was such a great mom. She wanted the best for her son, even if it meant moving away and starting over with a new job and a new community. I also loved Stanley. I totally understand how he felt, losing my husband 6 weeks before Christmas several years ago. Stanley didn't have any family to pull him out of the doldrums, so Lexie and Brock did the job. I also liked learning about Stanley and Carol as well as their romance and life together that was told through flashbacks. I can't forget to mention the little dog that Stanley finds at the beginning of the story that also becomes part of his life. This was such a wonderful story of caring, community, found family, Christmas Magic, friendship and hope. I did a read/listen of A Little Christmas Spirit, narrated by Ann Marie Gideon. I enjoyed her performance, and have listened to several other books she has narrated. She gives voices to the various characters that helped identify who was speaking. Her expression and inflection are wonderful and add to my enjoyment of the story. She is a narrator that I watch for. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
November 29, 2021
Straight up holiday cheer featuring a single mom and a cranky curmudgeon. The characters were charming and I loved seeing Lexie chip away at his cranky exterior. Add an adorable little boy and a cute dog and you have all the makings of a great Christmas book! I loved this one and it definitely got me in the Christmas spirit while reminding me to look around at my neighbors and see how I can spread some Christmas cheer of my own. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!
November 29, 2022
Loved this book - definitely a little bit of Christmas magic at work here and put me in the Christmas Spirit! 😉🎄
September 11, 2021
I absolutely adored this story! I laughed, I cried .. I fell in love with Stanley Mann! Such a beautiful heartfelt story. It shows what " true love" can do for a persons spirit! I hope we see more of Stanley Mann... A story I will not quickly forget! Touched my heart and soul!
Beautifully done Sheila Roberts! Highly Highly Recommend
Pat D
RI
Beautifully done Sheila Roberts! Highly Highly Recommend
Pat D
RI
February 18, 2022
I think I am addicted to Christmas stories!
December 24, 2021
Sometimes all you need is a little Christmas Spirit!
A Little Christmas Spirit is a charming story set in small town Fairwood, Washington where single mom Lexie Bell and her six year old son Brock has just moved into their new home. All Lexie wants is for Brock to have an amazing Christmas but there seems to be a scrooge living next door. Their neighbor Stanley lost his wife three years ago and since then has retreated from the outside world.
This lovely holiday story is the perfect read I needed to warm the heart this holiday season and fill the soul with the holiday spirit. The story had humor, emotional element, found family, and addressed themes about loss, grief, and forgiveness.
A Little Christmas Spirit is a charming story set in small town Fairwood, Washington where single mom Lexie Bell and her six year old son Brock has just moved into their new home. All Lexie wants is for Brock to have an amazing Christmas but there seems to be a scrooge living next door. Their neighbor Stanley lost his wife three years ago and since then has retreated from the outside world.
This lovely holiday story is the perfect read I needed to warm the heart this holiday season and fill the soul with the holiday spirit. The story had humor, emotional element, found family, and addressed themes about loss, grief, and forgiveness.
December 11, 2023
Love love loved this sweet Christmas story! Fans of A Man Called Ove will adore curmudgeonly Stanley and in my mind, Carol made the whole story! Brock got on my nerves at times because I really hate whining but otherwise this was the perfect Christmas read full of sugar, spice and a little Christmas magic too. Oh, and there's a DOG!!
January 5, 2023
En väldigt lättläst bok som jag tyckte mycket om.
I början hade jag svårt att ta upp den men varje gång jag satt och läste så tyckte jag mer och mer om den.
En lite julig variant av "En man som heter Ove". Om en butter äldre man med ett hjärta av guld. 💛
I början hade jag svårt att ta upp den men varje gång jag satt och läste så tyckte jag mer och mer om den.
En lite julig variant av "En man som heter Ove". Om en butter äldre man med ett hjärta av guld. 💛
December 10, 2024
This book almost made me so cry, it was such a beautiful story. A must-read for the Christmas season.
Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, Jesus.
November 25, 2021
A sweet holiday story of neighborly love. Lexie is new to town and slowly gets to know her neighbor as the holidays come around.
Her neighbor has a gruff exterior but as she gets to know him and has to rely on him for some help, she learns he’s not all bad!
A timely reminder that we never know what someone is going through and that it doesn’t hurt to show a little kindness
Her neighbor has a gruff exterior but as she gets to know him and has to rely on him for some help, she learns he’s not all bad!
A timely reminder that we never know what someone is going through and that it doesn’t hurt to show a little kindness
November 19, 2021
All the holiday feels. Perfect!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 1, 2021Categories
Romantic Comedy, Women's Fiction, Wholesome Romance, Holiday Romance
Romantic Comedy, Women's Fiction, Wholesome Romance, Holiday Romance
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