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Single Bells
Not many people can say they own a reindeer, but Nick McLeish is a vet, and happens to have a whole herd. At Christmastime they’re the star attraction at fetes and events all around Edinburgh, so when a handful escape from their home pasture, Nick tries to recruit as many people as possible to help get them back.
After his drunk and rather inelegant first meeting with his new neighbour, Joel Brodie doesn’t expect to see much of Nick. But the start of Christmas break from his job at a matchmaking company coincides with the reindeer getting lost, and it’s not exactly a chore to spend more time with Nick searching for them. Maybe a little Christmas spirit is what they both need to turn their single situations around.
After his drunk and rather inelegant first meeting with his new neighbour, Joel Brodie doesn’t expect to see much of Nick. But the start of Christmas break from his job at a matchmaking company coincides with the reindeer getting lost, and it’s not exactly a chore to spend more time with Nick searching for them. Maybe a little Christmas spirit is what they both need to turn their single situations around.
60 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2022
18 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Anna Martin
48 books480 followersAnna Martin is from a picturesque seaside village in the south west of England. After spending most of her childhood making up stories, she studied English Literature at university before attempting to turn her hand as a professional writer.
Apart from being physically dependent on her laptop, she is enthusiastic about writing and producing local grassroots theatre (especially at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she can be found every summer), travelling, learning to play the ukulele, and Ben & Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk.
Although her most recent work is in the LGBT romance genre, in the past Anna has worked on a variety of different projects including short stories, drabbles, flash fiction, fan fiction, plays for both children and adults, and poetry. She has written novels in the Teen or Young Adult genre, Romance and Fantasy novels.
Anna is, by her own admission, almost unhealthily obsessed with books. The library she has amassed is both large and diverse; "My favourite books," she says, "are 'The Moonstone' by Wilkie Collins, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee and 'Oryx and Crake' by Margaret Atwood." She also owns multiple copies of Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park books and re-reads the Harry Potter novels with almost startling regularity.
Anna claims her entire career is due to the love, support, pre-reading and creative ass-kicking provided by her closest friend Jennifer. Jennifer refuses to accept any responsibility for anything Anna has written.
Apart from being physically dependent on her laptop, she is enthusiastic about writing and producing local grassroots theatre (especially at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she can be found every summer), travelling, learning to play the ukulele, and Ben & Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk.
Although her most recent work is in the LGBT romance genre, in the past Anna has worked on a variety of different projects including short stories, drabbles, flash fiction, fan fiction, plays for both children and adults, and poetry. She has written novels in the Teen or Young Adult genre, Romance and Fantasy novels.
Anna is, by her own admission, almost unhealthily obsessed with books. The library she has amassed is both large and diverse; "My favourite books," she says, "are 'The Moonstone' by Wilkie Collins, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee and 'Oryx and Crake' by Margaret Atwood." She also owns multiple copies of Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park books and re-reads the Harry Potter novels with almost startling regularity.
Anna claims her entire career is due to the love, support, pre-reading and creative ass-kicking provided by her closest friend Jennifer. Jennifer refuses to accept any responsibility for anything Anna has written.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 22, 2022
3.5 stars
First of all, REINDEERS!!! Yes, this holiday short story involves our main characters - Nick and Joel - looking for missing reindeers. I found that adorable - if not for the fact that there were reindeers missing, and I should be worried instead *laugh*.
Would like the ending to be less open-ending though since I felt Nick and Joel had good connection. At the same time, this IS a short story. Therefore, the ending which shows a start of a possible romantic relationship suits the short time-span.
Thank you Feliz Navidaddy from Goodreads Secret Santa event for this book
First of all, REINDEERS!!! Yes, this holiday short story involves our main characters - Nick and Joel - looking for missing reindeers. I found that adorable - if not for the fact that there were reindeers missing, and I should be worried instead *laugh*.
Would like the ending to be less open-ending though since I felt Nick and Joel had good connection. At the same time, this IS a short story. Therefore, the ending which shows a start of a possible romantic relationship suits the short time-span.
Thank you Feliz Navidaddy from Goodreads Secret Santa event for this book
December 11, 2022
This one suffered by comparison to what I read immediately before it, otherwise I might have enjoyed it more. Cute and fun but the ending was awfully abrupt.
November 28, 2022
Cute and sweet sort story. 3.5 stars
January 3, 2026
Couldn't think of a better way to start the new year. I didn't intend to actually finish this on New Year's Eve/Day(I started it about 12:30am so technically 1/1😉). I only planned to read a few pages as I was waiting for my laptop to do a restart but once I started I couldn't stop. These stories in Anna Martin's Christmas Shorts are, as the series label states, short but they are also very sweet, not too sweet, as Goldilocks says "just right". Its that not too sweet element that makes them very Hallmarky but better.
In Single Bells, we see Nick the new vet trying to find his footing in the community and wrangle in his reindeer. Yes, I said reindeer. You can't help but think these reindeer had an inkling their walkabout would bring Nick and his new neighbor, Joel together. Maybe that's just my take but I stand by it.
This whole series is great, short, sweet, and oh so entertainingly fun. Perfect Xmas reading that will make you smile, warm your heart, and frankly just brighten your day all around. Single Bells is a perfect example of all of that.
In Single Bells, we see Nick the new vet trying to find his footing in the community and wrangle in his reindeer. Yes, I said reindeer. You can't help but think these reindeer had an inkling their walkabout would bring Nick and his new neighbor, Joel together. Maybe that's just my take but I stand by it.
This whole series is great, short, sweet, and oh so entertainingly fun. Perfect Xmas reading that will make you smile, warm your heart, and frankly just brighten your day all around. Single Bells is a perfect example of all of that.
November 18, 2023
Oh this was so lovely! I am always in awe of authors who can write a novella yet give us well developed MCs with substantial backstories. Nick has recently moved to this suburb of Edinburgh to work at the local vet. He meets Joel who grew up in the town, when Joel, very drunk, is walking down the street in dress shoes, no coat, singing "Single Bells" and it's snowing. Joel has fallen down in the snow. Nick sees, invites him in and gives him a place to stay. So you think you know what direction this goes, but nope. Such a sweet story with reindeer!
January 20, 2023
so sweet and perfect
I love Anna’s holiday books and this was just as enjoyable as the others.
Nick and Joel’s courtship as they hunted for reindeer was en’deer’ing. I love how the author writes their stories and I sink in deep to the setting, imagining myself where the characters are.
This book was a lot of sweetness with a lot of pining and I highly recommend.
I love Anna’s holiday books and this was just as enjoyable as the others.
Nick and Joel’s courtship as they hunted for reindeer was en’deer’ing. I love how the author writes their stories and I sink in deep to the setting, imagining myself where the characters are.
This book was a lot of sweetness with a lot of pining and I highly recommend.
November 10, 2024
A Very Short Story
It’s Christmas themed, and has reindeer so there is that. But there is not much else. A bit of a storyline and a kiss without any buildup and certainly no romance. Still, it’s Christmas and ends with a hint of more.
It’s Christmas themed, and has reindeer so there is that. But there is not much else. A bit of a storyline and a kiss without any buildup and certainly no romance. Still, it’s Christmas and ends with a hint of more.
November 15, 2024
More like 2.5 stars
It’s 51 pages, not 60, and too many typos IMO for 51 pages. And Nick may have been charmed by Joel’s “acidic little barbs” but he became less likeable as the story went on. Also, very poor transitions between POVs.
It’s 51 pages, not 60, and too many typos IMO for 51 pages. And Nick may have been charmed by Joel’s “acidic little barbs” but he became less likeable as the story went on. Also, very poor transitions between POVs.
November 23, 2022
Super underwhelming and forgettable Christmas short.
December 22, 2022
3.5 stars
December 26, 2022
2.5** Christmas short story with reindeer…. This one was all the sweet gooeyness of Christmas. It needed more substance.
July 21, 2023
Short and sweet (hopeful start to something?).
Christmas in July, lol. :)
Christmas in July, lol. :)
November 21, 2023
I loved the premise, and the writing, just not quite the MC's.
December 31, 2023
I really liked this novella. I love a veterinarian MC. And this one owned reindeer! 🥰🎅🏻🎄sweet story and I liked how Joel at the end told Nick to kiss him. In a sweet way showing him he liked him.
January 6, 2024
Cute with an abrupt ending.
May 27, 2025
This shorty was sweet and fast.
November 18, 2025
Cute.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews