Three heartwarming, interconnected stories of faith, love, and restoration, brought to you by three Louisiana-native authors. Will a rare snowy Louisiana Christmas bring restoration and hope to the hometown and hearts of three women from the town’s founding family?
In A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith, meet A passionate visionary who learns to forgive and finds love in unexpected places…
In Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant, meet An artist and prodigal daughter who discovers love exists in the very place she once called home…
In A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth, meet A beautiful widow who finally dares to love again…
And don’t forget Granny, whose feisty spirit, blunt dialogue, and quirky ways play an important and endearing role.
Author Morgan Tarpley Smith is a world traveler who weaves stories of history and heart. She loves to write inspirational fiction that transports readers to faraway places and intertwines past and present to explore questions of truth and faith.
Her debut novella releases this fall with Barbour. She is the founder of A Split in Time Fiction Group on Facebook for lovers of split time novels and its companion group on Goodreads >> https://rb.gy/ahzyvr
She is an award-winning journalist who works as a freelance writer and author assistant and lives in Louisiana with her husband and son. For more information, visit www.morgantarpleysmith.com
Subscribe to her newsletter for writing updates, giveaways, book recs & more: http://eepurl.com/gCgIQr
Four strong women from a Louisiana family. Three engaging Christmas romances. Two generations of heroines. One resilient small town. And a partridge in a pear tree. (Ok, not that last one lol) Readers will encounter all this and more on the pages of A Louisana Christmas to Remember – a collection of sweet Christmas romances set around the town of Moreau and the Lavigne women. Each author brings her own writing voice and style to this collection, but all three stories flow seamlessly from one to the other. The shared characters and setting are consistent, with complementary themes and an overarching festive mood that keeps the Christmas spirit humming through the whole book.
In Morgan Tarpley Smith’s A Louisiana Snow, we meet three of the four main players in this collection – Mattie, her aunt Adale, and her 80 year old Granny. I loved Mattie’s passion for her town and her determination to revitalize it after a devastating hurricane. Her high school nemesis (and crush) Paul is steady and sweet, and I loved how he chipped away at Mattie’s walls, intent on repairing the years between them and finally acting on his feelings for her. Betsy St. Amant’s Restoring Christmas introduces us to Mattie’s cousin Jolene who also has old wounds that need to be dealt with. The juxtaposition of Jolene’s work on the town mural and the work God is doing in her heart touched me as I read this story, and the sparks that fly between her and Cameron (the guy in charge of her work) are oh-so-swoony. Lenora Worth wraps up the collection with A Christmas Reunion which focuses on the collision of Aunt Adale’s past and her present, which just may result in a future that redeems both. I loved the surprise twist in this story, wrapping up a subplot that the other two authors teased in their own novellas, and I swooned over her beau’s steady love for her – for years! Be still my heart for long-held love! And then there’s Granny who steals the show in all three stories. I absolutely adored her feisty self – what a hoot! I’m also hoping we get another set of stories with Granny at the helm, based on something she says at the end, because I would gladly spend multiple more reading hours with this fun character!
Bottom Line: A Louisiana Christmas to Remember was the perfect ‘first Christmas read of the season’ for me and a lovely set of interconnected stories by three talented authors. Readers will fall in love with the characters and the town, and you’ll be caught up in the Christmas spirit with themes such as forgiveness, restoration, and redemption. Old wounds are treated and new dreams are chased, even though the mood stays light and festive. Swoony romance is my jam…. swoony romance at Christmas? Sign me up!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
What a fun, interesting, and stimulating Christmas in Louisiana. Three authors and three, make that four, distinct characters. Three interwoven stories involve the restoration and revitalization of their small old town. Their town and their hearts. Could it be the restoration of their hearts is more difficult than the town project? Bravo, ladies! Your three Louisiana hearts have made this Louisiana heart warm and cozy.
I received a free copy of, A Louisiana Christmas to Remember by Betsy St. Amant: Morgan Tarpley Smith: Lenora Worth, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book has three Christmas stories set in Louisiana. First book is A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith which is about newspaper reporter Mattie Hayes, will this be the Christmas that Mattie falls in love? Second book is Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant. Jolene Broussard is back in her hometown of Moreau, Louisiana, back with her cousin Mattie from book one, Jolene is burdened with a secret, will this be the Christmas to be forgiven? The third story is A Christmas Reunion by, Lenora Worth, Adale Lavigne-Marchand Broussard is a widow and mother to Jolene and aunt to Mattie. A bit lonely will this be her Christmas to find love again? I loved how these stories and characters weaved together, it was interesting to read each characters different take on the characters.
I truly enjoyed this Louisiana family centered collection of stories. I liked that one followed the other through the Christmas festivities. The book kept getting better, the further I read.. The women all had different outlooks on life even though they were relatives and had lived in the same house together for many years. I really enjoyed the Louisiana traditions included and the grandmother was certainly the thread that moved through all three stories and was fun yet astute. Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.
This novella collection is based on fictional Moreau, Louisiana but is actually loosely based on the real town of Natchitoches, Louisiana. I recall the small town of Natchitoches fondly as a child for the huge Christmas light displays and fireworks and in my adult years the marketplace and meat pies. Each novella focuses on a character in the story who are all interconnected in the same family. Granny is the glue that binds them together with her quirky wisdom and blunt manner of speaking. Meet the strong and creative women of Moreau: Mattie who lives with her Aunt Adale and her Granny in their founding family’s ancestral home. Her high school nemesis is the mayor’s sun Paul who has recently returned home seemingly just to annoy Mattie. Jolene is the prodigal daughter of Adale who has has finally returned home after long absence. She is a talented artist but has just had a major career goal setback. Can she be trusted to have a huge part in the town restoration after a hurricane? Adale is now a widow who reunites with a long-lost love. Even though she had a very happy marriage, she secretly contemplates a second chance at happiness. Can she trust that Remy is there to be the lead architect on the chapel renovation, or is he looking for more? I received an e-copy of this book from a Net Galley and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
A trio of novellas tied together with family, friendship and romance. Set in a quaint Louisiana town, the main characters are brought together through their involvement in events in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The timeline for the stories overlap, making the book feel cohesive, like a regular novel.
The family of women who are featured in each tale are introduced in the first one, and there is a bit of a mystery involving the older women that concludes in the last story. I liked all of the family history and the interactions with the spunky grandmother. I would love to hang out with her and drink sweet tea. The French culture of the area was interesting, including delicious food descriptions that made me hungry.
"Maybe God wanted to restore her as much as she wanted to restore the church and town." There were spiritual gems tucked into the tales as each person struggled with different issues, both past and present. I felt for Paul and Remy the most. Old grudges, misunderstandings and some prejudice made for a bumpy path to romance. Jolene was my favorite of the three women featured, and her struggle to create something unique was one I cheered at the end. I liked how the last story brought it all together.
An enjoyable light read perfect for the busy holidays. 4 stars (An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
Three delightful stories from three authors. Each is a separate story but the setting and main family are carried through in each. Secrets from the past and conflicts and challenges in the present create scenarios that keep a reader’s interest as to how things are ever going to be resolved. These heartwarming romances set during the Christmas season will entertain readers any time of the year. I was given a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley and I listened to a library copy of the audiobook. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions are my own.
Three stories on three wonderful women. Mattie is overseeing getting the town Christmas projects to raise money to make repairs after a hurricane. She is on the committee with her old high school nemesis. Jolene is Matties cousin and returned to town after five years. She is an artist and will be restoring the town mural. She is working with a local contractor who is close with her granny. Adale is Jolene's mother and a widow. When it comes to restoring the chapel, the architect called in is her former boyfriend. All three are great stories.
A Louisiana Christmas is three stories in one that are connected. There are three family members who get a romance. A mother, daughter and a niece. Each story was sweet and made me feel like I was watching a sweet and clean Christmas movie on T.V. This definitely made me think I need to get in the Christmas spirit because it will be fast upon us quickly. *I was given a copy of this book by Barbour Publishing and this is my honest opinion.
A Louisiana Christmas to Remember is a collection of three interconnected romances set in the fictional Louisiana town of Moreau, which is loosely based on Natchitoches, the oldest European settlement in Louisiana
A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith This is the story of Mattie Hayes, small-town journalist and organiser extraordinaire, who is organising the Christmas market to raise funds to restore the local chapel after it was damaged in a recent hurricane. This means working with Paul Ammons, her long-time rival since he beat her to become high school valedictorian and won a coveted scholarship to Paris.
Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant This is the story of Jolene, Mattie’s artist cousin, who is hired at the last minute to repaint the town mural, and Cameron, Jolene’s new boss.
A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth This is the story of Mattie’s aunt … and I don't want to say too much more about it, because that will ruin the surprise.
My favourite story was Mattie’s, perhaps because she is the character I related to best, and perhaps because I’m a big fan of friends/frenemies to more stories. My least favourite story was Adala’s, because even though I know these are made-up stories, I’m not a fan of controlling parents who go out of their way to do what they want rather than seeking what’s best for their child (as God does for us).
I loved the way the three stories were separate but intertwined. Even though they are all standalone stories and all set at the same time it’s best to read them in order, as each story introduces situations and characters that become more relevant in the next story.
It’s also fun to see the came characters from different points of view. In the first story, Mattie has definite opinions about Jolene and whether she can be trusted, but Jolene’s story explains why she is how she is.. I enjoyed seeing Granny Eloise in all three stories as well, as the mentor figure able to give advice whether it’s wanted or not.
The three stories combine to provide a heart-warming Christmas set of Christian romances, even if the Louisiana snow is a far cry from the sunshine I am used to at Christmas.
Thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Moreau has always been special, but I believe that hurricane united us.
After the last hurricane damaged the town of Moreau’s beloved Le Petit Chapelle, three main characters--plus feisty Granny Eloise--have a vision to restore her to her original beauty. Three authors portray those characters in each of their novellas & bring a very lovely story to life!
I enjoyed getting to know Mattie, Jolene, Adale and Grandma Eloise. They were complex characters with many layers that the authors peeled back and gave us a glimpse of what made them tick. We can’t forget to include the heroes…Paul, Cameron and Remy who definitely added their own charm and personality. I wished the town of Moreau was real because it would be one to put on my bucket list to visit. If I had to pick a favorite character, I’d say Jolene fit the bill. She’s so much like me at times and it made her so relatable. My heart went out to her as she struggled to find her way back into her “hometown”; Cameron was the perfect soulmate for her. I also loved the faith thread in these stories; reminders of knowing who we are in Christ, forgiving the past, and keeping our faith strong no matter what happens (good or bad). Knowing God has each of us in His hands, guiding our paths. I love seeing this played out in each story! These authors seamlessly tied all three novellas together to make it feel like one long & satisfying read. Let’s not forget to mention the Christmas charm and all the traditions the town of Moreau keeps!
The love troupes are just as charming; Mattie & Paul are friends-to-more, Jolene & Cameron are opposites attract and Adale & Remy are second chance romance. This is definitely an “all the packages tied up in a neat bow to unwrap on Christmas day” kind of read to enjoy over and over any time of the year!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. *
What a perfect Christmas read! A Louisiana Christmas to Remember contains three novellas that all connect to make one delightful story.
The characters are four generations of Lavigne women. Eloise is the grandmother and matriarch. Adale is her daughter. Jolene is Adale's daughter. And finally there is Mattie. She is also a granddaughter like Jolene but her parents are deceased and she has been raised by Adale.!!
The overall story starts two weeks before the annual Christmas Market and go through the annual Christmas Eve Ball. Lots of misunderstandings and heartbreak but also lots of opportunities to set things right and make up!
I believe the final story, which is Adale's is my favorite. (Probably because she's closer to my age.) It not only tells us her part of the story but it also wraps everything up in a pretty bow. After all you need a happy ending for a Christmas story.
If you love to read Christmas novellas like I do you can't go wrong by adding this one to your collection.
These are wonderful stories that are interwoven with one another in a fun and entertaining way. I especially loved the first one that introduced the characters (and made me care about them) and established the small-town setting and the protagonists' conflicts. A most enjoyable Christmas read!
Being a native Louisianan I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book set in my home state. The characters and stories are cleverly woven together. I will definitely read this one again and again.
Three stories in one book, interconnected. These sweet tales follow three women in their search for redemption, forgiveness, and love. When it comes to family, You need all three. Definitely a nice read to get yourself into the holiday mood.
Cute set of interconnected Christmas romances. I enjoyed the familial connection of the story and the bit of mystery in two of the stories. Solid Christmas collection of novellas.
This sweet trilogy of novellas is like a Hallmark Christmas movie weekend in print! The stories center around a family of women in Moreau, a fictional small town in Louisiana as they come together to plan some very special holiday events. Each one finds love and a renewed connection to their town and to each other, and their faith plays a big role as well.
A Louisiana Snow gets things started with Mattie who is one of the key planners for a holiday marketplace that will also be a fundraiser as the town is recovering after hurricane damage. On her team is Paul, a school friend that she saw as a rival. As they are forced to work together, Mattie learns to let go of her need for control as she gets to know Paul again and their friendship is rekindled.
Enter Mattie's cousin Jolene, an artist who has been away from Moreau for years and has a reputation for being unreliable. When she comes home for the holidays, Mattie gets her to paint an important mural in the second novella, Restoring Christmas. Jolene reluctantly takes on the project under the supervision of Cameron, and they get off to a very rocky and combative start. Jolene's attempts to find inspiration for the art help her work through her guilt and fears, and their truce becomes a romance as Cameron sees Jolene for who she is and wins her trust.
A Christmas Reunion focuses on Jolene's mother, Adale, a beautiful widow whose contribution to Moreau's holidays is planning the Christmas ball. She's caught completely off guard by the architect that has come to oversee the restoration work on the chapel. Remy is not just any architect - he is the boy who stood her up in Paris when she was sixteen years old. While Remy has never forgotten Adale and wants to win her again, Adale is reluctant and fearful of being hurt. It's only when she finally learns the truth about the past that she is able to fully forgive and allow herself to accept the second chance for happiness with him.
Despite being by three different authors, the stories are well coordinated and follow chronologically. Eloise, or Granny, is the matriarch of the family, and her presence in each story helps tie them all together as well. The characters and storylines work together so well that there's not a jarring change in style when a new author takes over. The viewpoint characters simply change, and this does allow a little bit more character development than most novellas have time for, since the four women appear in each story, even though they may be more in the background.
Charming, heart-warming, light holiday reading with sweet romances and small town characters.
**I received a digital ARC of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.
Small towns. Everyone knows everything about everyone. Ugh! Mattie Hayes wasn't going to let the not-really-a-mistletoe-moment ruin her plans for the first-ever, hopefully forever, Moreau, Louisiana Christmas Festival; the goal being to generate enough funds to restore their town's beloved historic chapel. She had her list and was checking it twice, and no one with the first name of Paul was going to be a distraction. Gracious! Could the tiniest part of her heart want him to be a distraction? - A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith
"Sounds like you might need to give yourself the gift of forgiveness this year."
What was she even doing here? Oh, that's right. Her grandmother's eightieth birthday party. Jolene Broussard's original plan was to drop into Moreau, join her family for the celebration, and then head back to . . . . . . nowhere . . . . nothing. So when she agrees to delay her departure in order to complete a town mural, (after all, everyone still considered her to be an artist) Jolene and a local contractor don't exactly see eye to eye on the plan (understatement alert!). Can a restoration project restore Jolene's shattered faith in herself? (plus, draw a permanent truce with the handsome man who has wormed his way into her heart). - Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant
" . . . . Remy Vachon had shown up here in Moreau, Louisiana, in her town of all places. As a renowned architect at that?"
Adale Lavigne-Marchand Broussard's precise life tilted on its axis when the man who had broken her young heart arrived at her mother's eightieth birthday party. How was it even possible that out of all the historical architects in the universe had the town chosen Remy Vachon to restore the town's chapel? And even more infuriating? Her mother didn't seem the least bit surprised. Well, a lot of water had flowed under that Paris bridge over the years, and Adale was not especially ready to forgive or forget . . . . . or was she? - A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth
Three delightfully inspiring holiday romances with an amazing fluidity between stories, making the three voices that wrote them seem as one.
A Louisiana Christmas to Remember by Betsy St. Amant, Morgan Tarpley Smith, Lenora Worth Three heartwarming, interconnected stories of faith, love, and restoration A Rare Snowfall Leads to a Christmas to Remember Three heartwarming, interconnected stories of faith, love, and restoration, brought to you by three Louisiana-native authors. Will a rare snowy Louisiana Christmas bring restoration and hope to the hometown and hearts of three women from the town’s founding family? In A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith, meet Mattie: A passionate visionary who learns to forgive and finds love in unexpected places… In Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant, meet Jolene: An artist and prodigal daughter who discovers love exists in the very place she once called home… In A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth, meet Adale: A beautiful widow who finally dares to love again… And don’t forget Granny, whose feisty spirit, blunt dialogue, and quirky ways play an important and endearing role. In A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith Mattie, her aunt Adale, and her 80 year old Granny. This is Mattie and Paul's story. Betsy St. Amant’s Restoring Christmas This is Jolene and Cameron's story. A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth A beautiful widow who finally dares to love again… And don’t forget Granny, whose feisty spirit, blunt dialogue, and quirky ways play an important and endearing role. This is Aunt Adale & Remy's story. This is Granny Eloise and Chef Earnie's story. I recommend this book. A Louisiana Christmas to Remember by Betsy St. Amant, Morgan Tarpley Smith, Lenora Worth is a wonderful well written 5 star book. I am looking forward to reading more books by Betsy St. Amant, Morgan Tarpley Smith,Lenora Worth. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
A Louisiana Christmas to Remember Interconnected stories of faith, love, and restoration.
Morgan Tarpley Smith - a Louisiana Snow Mattie, who has built walls no one can penetrate and controls everything in her life, down to the smallest details, learns that some things are out of her control. Enter Paul, the mayor’s son, an old high school nemesis she sees as competition. The two are thrust together to plan the town’s Christmas market. Not everything goes as planned and sometimes, that’s a very good thing. I enjoyed the focus on small town, family, Christmas market, misunderstandings made clear, and deeper connection to God.
Betsy St. Amant - Restoring Christmas Jolene, the town’s prodigal daughter, returns to spend Christmas with her family as well as celebrate Granny’s 80th birthday. Tasked with painting the town’s mural, Jolene learns a lot about herself, her family, and her town (which happens to now include Cameron). I loved the instant energy between these two and the life lessons shared.
Lenora Worth - A Christmas Reunion Adale has had a wonderful life. She loves her town and her family. Despite being widowed, she has not given much thought to being lonely. Then Remy shows up at Granny’s birthday party. Adele’s convinced it’s a set-up. Granny insists it’s a God Wink. There’s 40 years worth of unanswered questions that have to be relinquished to faith, belief in second chances, and some Christmas magic. I loved how Remy was steadfast in his pursuit while remaining honorable to those involved. Adale has much to reconcile, but has a great family to help her do so. There was a lot of back and forth, but with 40 years of emotions, that is understandable.
I did love how all the stories intersect, highlight Louisiana’s traditions, and focus on faith and forgiveness. A truly enjoyable Christmas book with three stories interwoven to offer multiple perspectives and further glances into the character’s experiences.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
A Louisiana Christmas to Remember is a wonderful holiday collection of three interconnected novellas. Set in the small (fictional) town of Moreau, readers follow four women from the same family as they experience turmoil, hope and healing in each other, our Heavenly Father, and new and old loves during this magical Christmas season.
Told by three different authors, each novella carries on from where the previous one left off, and this collection overall ended up feeling like on interconnected novel. I loved how effortlessly all three author's voices blended together. I don't think I'd be able to pick a favorite story, as each was so different, but equally heartwarming and wonderful with a lovely faith element that rounded out each one beautifully.
The fictional town of Moreau was the perfect setting, and each story is immersive to the point it truly comes alive on the page to the reader. I can foresee this being a favorite Christmas read of mine to return to for rereading year after year during the holiday season, and it was so much more than I was even expecting.
Definitely recommended for anyone who enjoys heartwarming Christmas reads and/or contemporary Christian romances.
Final Rating: 4/5.
I loved this novella collection overall and can definitely see myself rereading it in the very near future. I wish it had honestly includes recipes as the food the family prepares throughout sounded amazing and I would have loved to have tried my hand at making many of the family recipes!
Thanks so much to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to advance read and review this one!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Barbour) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.
A Louisiana Christmas to Remember contains three Christmas romance stories by Betsy St. Amant, Morgan Tarpley Smith, and Lenora Worth. I like how the stories are tied together with the same town, characters, and season. We get to visit Moreau, Louisiana in December as they are preparing for various events that include the Christmas Market, an eightieth birthday celebration for the town’s matriarch, and the Christmas Eve ball. We get to learn about Louisiana’s traditions and some of its history. We get to meet some interesting characters with my favorite being Granny. Granny is astute and spunky. She enjoyed meddling in her daughter and granddaughter’s lives. I did find the stories to be predictable especially when it came to romance. Faith was nicely woven into the story. There were some insightful nuggets in each novella. Each lady needed to overcome an emotional obstacle before there could be a happily ever after. There are good life lessons. A control-oriented individual gets to learn that some things are beyond their influence. Forgiveness, regrets, hope, healing, and second chances are other themes. I liked the festive Christmas atmosphere especially the snow. Christmas is a magical time of year when the impossible is possible if you believe. A Louisiana Christmas to Remember contains three heartwarming tales that will have you singing Christmas carols and dragging out your Christmas tree.
Having recently moved from the Pacific Northwest to the South--where the heat and humidity are nothing like I have ever experienced, haha--I enjoyed this short-story collection on some extra levels! :D Who'd've guessed?!
Reading each story brought back memories of my own Nola visit a few years back, and I especially appreciated all the food talk--it made me hungry, truth be told! I'm ready for some gumbo and beignets (but not together)!
And, as summer theoretically draws to a close, so my local friends and family promise me, I very happily turned my attention toward Christmas throughout the read. Each story builds on the one before it, and they're worth reading in order to fully appreciate that. If I had to choose a favorite of the three, I'd go with St. Amant's--likely as I've read several of her other books before, so I was admittedly already partial, but I do love her writing style and thought she did particularly well with bringing Moreau to life. But they all have their unique perks!
Christmas is ever coming, and this is a great read to get you in the mood, especially if (like I, and the authors are!) you're still awaiting even autumn to make its promised approach.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
A fun Christmas novella collection that follows different members of the same family.
A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith
A fun novella about Mattie and Paul who are biggest of rivals, but are forced to work together on the Christmas market to try to save the historic chapel in town. Will they be able to overcome their pasts and move forward? Will Mattie realize that perfection is unachievable?
Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant
After many years away, Jolene decides to come home and spend Christmas with her family. After an unexpected turn of events, Jolene is tasked with the mural as a part of the town's restoration. Only problem is Jolene has given up art. Will Jolene be able to complete the mural? Will she overcome her fears about art? A good Christmas novella.
A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth
Adale met her first love as a teenager in Paris and hasn't seen him in decades since he stood her up her last night in Paris. She is shocked to see him at her mom's birthday party and doesn't know if she is ready to forgive him. A fun Christmas novella about second chances, missed opportunities, and forgiveness.
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This trio of Christmas stories is set in the fictional Louisiana town of Moreau (loosely based on Natchitoches.) You meet the Lavignes women in the town (Mattie, Jolene, and Adale) who each get their own 'love story' with their beloved Granny (Adale's mom and Mattie and Jolene's grandmother) constantly in the background cheering or pushing them onward. Lots of Louisiana culture is woven into the stories as all three authors have a connection to the state.
Overall the plots are your typical romance with a strong sense of Christian faith woven into the characters and town. I far prefer the 'clean' romance that these stories provide along with the dose of southern charm.
I had one BIG conflict when reading this title. While the description of the title says a 'rare snowfall,' when I read the book it seemed like it wasn't such a rare thing for the characters. I grew up in SE Louisiana and can count on one hand the number of times it has snowed since the early 1970s. If Moreau is located in the middle of the state, it could be more likely. But, if it snows it usually is there and you blink to see it vanish. It wouldn't be hanging around for multiple days with multiple times of snow occurring.
A sweet Christmas story that involves a family of wonderful.ly flawed ladies.
Why I chose this book: I love Christmas stories and, as the author said, it's difficult to find one set in Louisiana. I have a love for books set in Louisiana ever since reading another author who set her stories there. The culture is unlike any other in the US.
Type of book: contemporary Christian romance
Overall: This was a cute read. It's a "Hallmark read" for me; you know the ending from the beginning but still it's a cozy way to spend a couple hours a day. The setting is a legitimate part of the storyline--I like it when the setting itself is a character in the book. Some people don't give the setting enough credit.
Favorite Character: At first I didn't think I had a favorite character but as I sat with it, I like the mom (our third story) the best. Ok...there are two moms and they both hold their own on the page.
Bookshelf worthy? It depends on your taste. I think I'd be happy borrowing this from the library each year. I don't think it's one that I'll be raving to my friends about--not everyone likes Hallmark.
Teenability: Yes, this is an appropriate read for teens.
What a delightful set of stories to help us usher in fall and then the Christmas season. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of stories. The stories all take place in the same Louisiana town of Moreau during the same Christmas holiday season. Each of the three stories tells a more in-depth portion of the overall plot, meaning the characters are all essentially the same, but we hear the details about three different ladies and their holiday. This might be my favorite kind of collection, where the stories are all connected and we learn more about different characters in each one, but they are all unique because they are told by different storytellers. Each story was well written and I appreciated the personal growth that each character experienced through each of the stories. It is a lovely Christmas read, but it is also not all just fluff and nonsense due to the strong character growth. I highly recommend this as a holiday read or an anytime read if you do not mind a Christmas story outside of the Christmas season.
I requested and received a copy of this book for review. The thoughts expressed here are wholly my own.