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Christmas Beneath the Stars
Cosy up with a brand new heartwarming festive tale from the #1 bestselling author - already in development as an Original Christmas movie for 2021!
Nature photographer Hannah has just been given the assignment of her dreams; to photograph the Northern Lights for a prestigious magazine - and the promise of a regular gig if she gets the perfect shot.
As her base, she’s booked a stay at Christmas World - a holiday village famed for its picturesque location deep in the Alaskan forest - and she can’t wait to immerse herself in magical surroundings, festive cheer, and snowy nights camped beneath the stars.
Though upon arrival, her spirits are very quickly dampened. While the winter resort might once have been a must-visit destination, it’s apparent that the place has long since seen better days, and is a million miles from the festive wonderland she’d expected.
But when a collision with a handsome husky-dog sledder results in an injured shooting arm and an enforced stay at the uninspiring location, Hannah must find a way to shoot for the stars in more way than one …
Nature photographer Hannah has just been given the assignment of her dreams; to photograph the Northern Lights for a prestigious magazine - and the promise of a regular gig if she gets the perfect shot.
As her base, she’s booked a stay at Christmas World - a holiday village famed for its picturesque location deep in the Alaskan forest - and she can’t wait to immerse herself in magical surroundings, festive cheer, and snowy nights camped beneath the stars.
Though upon arrival, her spirits are very quickly dampened. While the winter resort might once have been a must-visit destination, it’s apparent that the place has long since seen better days, and is a million miles from the festive wonderland she’d expected.
But when a collision with a handsome husky-dog sledder results in an injured shooting arm and an enforced stay at the uninspiring location, Hannah must find a way to shoot for the stars in more way than one …
152 pages, Paperback
Published November 13, 2020
122 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Hill
133 books1,282 followersMelissa Hill is a USA Today bestselling author living in Ireland’s beautiful County Wicklow. Her page-turning contemporary novels of family, friendship and romance are published worldwide and have been translated into twenty-six languages.
A Hollywood adaptation of her international bestseller Something from Tiffany's, by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine and Amazon Studios, was released worldwide in Dec 2022.
Other novels including A Gift to Remember and The Charm Bracelet have been adapted for screen by Hallmark Channel USA, with multiple other titles currently also in development for film and TV.
For more info, visit her website at www.melissahill.info
Facebook: facebook.com/melissahillbooks
Instagram: @melissahillbooks
Melissa also co-writes forensic thrillers with her husband under the pseudonym Casey Hill. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
A Hollywood adaptation of her international bestseller Something from Tiffany's, by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine and Amazon Studios, was released worldwide in Dec 2022.
Other novels including A Gift to Remember and The Charm Bracelet have been adapted for screen by Hallmark Channel USA, with multiple other titles currently also in development for film and TV.
For more info, visit her website at www.melissahill.info
Facebook: facebook.com/melissahillbooks
Instagram: @melissahillbooks
Melissa also co-writes forensic thrillers with her husband under the pseudonym Casey Hill. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 22, 2025
Nature photographer Hannah Reed has just been given her dream assignment. She is to photograph the Northern Lights for a prestigious magazine. The plum of the assignment is promise of a regular gig if she gets the perfect shot. A stay at Christmas World - a holiday village famed for its picturesque location deep in the Alaskan forest – is less than the stellar review she remembered. Nevertheless, she can’t wait to immerse herself in magical surroundings of the lights and snowy nights beneath the stars.
In the process of settling in and setting up her adventures, she has a collision with a handsome husky-dog sledder resulting in an injured shooting arm and an enforced stay at the uninspiring location. Now, Hannah must find a way to shoot for the stars in more ways than one.
Her journey involves family secrets and a surprising twist that impacts a festive spirit. Amidst stunning Alaskan scenery, a fight to preserve cherished memories ensues.
NOTE: There is a film by the same name starring Maddy Foley, Steve Belford, Vanessa Smythe, Bill Lake, Kym Wyatt McKenzie and Jayne Lewis.
In the process of settling in and setting up her adventures, she has a collision with a handsome husky-dog sledder resulting in an injured shooting arm and an enforced stay at the uninspiring location. Now, Hannah must find a way to shoot for the stars in more ways than one.
Her journey involves family secrets and a surprising twist that impacts a festive spirit. Amidst stunning Alaskan scenery, a fight to preserve cherished memories ensues.
NOTE: There is a film by the same name starring Maddy Foley, Steve Belford, Vanessa Smythe, Bill Lake, Kym Wyatt McKenzie and Jayne Lewis.
December 7, 2020
Photographer Hannah takes a trip to Christmas World in Alaska. This should be a festive overload with dog sledding, carol singing, cookies, hot chocolate and plenty of snow promised. However, the resort has past its sell by date and when Hannah goes off in search of the northern lights on her own she gets mote than she bargained for.
I won’t say what happens next, but its a very festive storyline and at only an hours read, it’s very fast paced. The plot could have easily been filled out to make a full sized novel but I do enjoy quick reads at Christmas. I believe Christmas Beneath the Stars is being made into a Christmas movie which I think would be wonderful to watch.
Worth a read on Kindle Unlimited.
I won’t say what happens next, but its a very festive storyline and at only an hours read, it’s very fast paced. The plot could have easily been filled out to make a full sized novel but I do enjoy quick reads at Christmas. I believe Christmas Beneath the Stars is being made into a Christmas movie which I think would be wonderful to watch.
Worth a read on Kindle Unlimited.
Read
December 25, 2021I loved the idea of this book! I have really enjoyed Melissa Hill’s other Christmas novels and I liked that this one was different - set in Alaska under the Aurora Borealis rather than NYC. I think if it had been a full-length novel it would have been perfect because being the novella format the development felt rushed. However, I loved the feeling this book gave me and I’ll probably revisit it on another future Christmas!
April 18, 2021
A Christmas Destination Come True
I enjoyed this novella. A California girl and a handsome CEO of a holiday resort \ dog sled driver meeting in snowy Alaska is the beginning of a story with interesting possibilities.
I like how the people in the small village came together to bring Christmas World back to a place that guests want to come back to every year.
I enjoyed this novella. A California girl and a handsome CEO of a holiday resort \ dog sled driver meeting in snowy Alaska is the beginning of a story with interesting possibilities.
I like how the people in the small village came together to bring Christmas World back to a place that guests want to come back to every year.
December 20, 2020
Northern Lights
This was a great read. Hannah is on a job to take pictures of the northern lights. Little did she know that under the stars she would find her happily ever after. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read. It is worth the time to read it
This was a great read. Hannah is on a job to take pictures of the northern lights. Little did she know that under the stars she would find her happily ever after. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read. It is worth the time to read it
April 11, 2021
Loved the premise of this book. I would love to visit a real life Christmas World and experience the northern lights. This story would have been great as a full length novel but I definitely can’t wait for the movie!
June 16, 2021
A good read, it sounded amazing and made want to be there, it was a short story however it also leaves a lot to the imagination of a different finish! If the movie comes out I am sore it will be like a hallmark movie.
November 22, 2021
Love under the Northern Lights
What could be captured by a camera besides the Northern Lights? Could it be love or Could the dismal Christmas resort be re-energized and saved? Find out in this delightful love story
What could be captured by a camera besides the Northern Lights? Could it be love or Could the dismal Christmas resort be re-energized and saved? Find out in this delightful love story
January 11, 2025
This was a sweet little story, short bit sweet. I enjoyed getting to know the characters although there wasn’t many of them. The setting was lovely and who doesn’t like a festive Christmas story.
November 13, 2020
Love at Christmas
What was not to like!! Snow, northern Lights, sled rides, and a Christmas romance. Don't forget the hot chocolate too.
What was not to like!! Snow, northern Lights, sled rides, and a Christmas romance. Don't forget the hot chocolate too.
January 11, 2021
Quick clean Christmas romance. Enjoyed
January 21, 2022
This was a very heartwarming book. Loved the characters. Great read.
December 13, 2023
Needed a super quick read. This wasn’t my fav Melissa Hill but I always enjoy her!
December 28, 2025
A lovely free flowing Christmas novel with heart.
October 10, 2022
After finishing a thriller full of twists (you can check out my review of Alice Feeney's debut novel Sometimes I Lie), I was in the mood for something light, fun and festive.
Christmas Beneath The Stars by Melissa Hill certainly fit the bill. This sweet holiday novella is essentially a Hallmark Christmas movie come to life!
Photographer Hannah is on her way to Alaska for what sounds like a dream assignment - taking photos of the Aurora Borealis. A California girl, she's looking forward to experiencing her first 'white Christmas' along with all the side trimmings like hot chocolate, reindeer, sled rides and more.
However, the resort that she's staying at - Christmas World - is as unChristmassy as you can get. And when Hannah is left stranded with a serious injury, she thinks that things can't get any worse.
In true fairytale fashion, she ends up being rescued by a handsome stranger who may just be able to give her the white Christmas experience she was dreaming of.
It was a charming and fun read, however I felt that it would have been more satisfying as a full-length novel. Certain scenes and events felt quite rushed, giving the reader less time to appreciate the story and character development.
Christmas Beneath The Stars by Melissa Hill certainly fit the bill. This sweet holiday novella is essentially a Hallmark Christmas movie come to life!
Photographer Hannah is on her way to Alaska for what sounds like a dream assignment - taking photos of the Aurora Borealis. A California girl, she's looking forward to experiencing her first 'white Christmas' along with all the side trimmings like hot chocolate, reindeer, sled rides and more.
However, the resort that she's staying at - Christmas World - is as unChristmassy as you can get. And when Hannah is left stranded with a serious injury, she thinks that things can't get any worse.
In true fairytale fashion, she ends up being rescued by a handsome stranger who may just be able to give her the white Christmas experience she was dreaming of.
It was a charming and fun read, however I felt that it would have been more satisfying as a full-length novel. Certain scenes and events felt quite rushed, giving the reader less time to appreciate the story and character development.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews