Once Upon a Winter Wonderland
Join USA Today best-selling author Susan May Warren, award-winning author, Rachel D. Russell, and talented multi-published Minnesota authors Michelle Sass Aleckson and Andrea Christenson in this delightful twist on Bing Crosby’s holiday favorite song, Winter Wonderland.
A Deep Haven wedding at Christmas? With snow glistening in the lane, sleigh bells ringing, and all the world a winter wonderland—magical, right?
Or maybe not, because the snowstorm of the century has buried their small town, and as Vivien Calhoun and Boone Buckam fight the sleet, snow, and ice, just about everything can—and does—happen to skid their big day into the ditch. It’ll take all their friends—and a few strangers—to turn this Christmas wedding from a blizzard to a beautiful sight in this charming collection of novellas.
Discover four enchanting stories featuring old friends, and new, who discover that there just might be a happy ending waiting in this winter wonderland—if only they can shovel their way out of trouble.
Book 1: A Beautiful Sight
Vivien Calhoun has planned the perfect wedding—and it had better be perfect, because the pre-wedding day jitters have hit her like a snowplow. Boone’s recent call-outs with the Deep Haven Crisis Team haven’t helped. She just needs a perfect day—and that starts with the perfect dress.
The perfect, custom-made dress that she designed, herself. The dress that she left with her seamstress…that has now gone AWOL.
It’s a race to find it before their date at the altar…but is the dress just an omen for a wedding day disaster?
Book 2: We’re Happy Tonight
Detective Duke Lowry hates Christmas, and a wedding at Christmas is simply a double whammy. But he’ll show up as Boone’s best man, and he’ll take charge of Boone’s beloved Mustang, getting it detailed and ready for Vivien’s crazy picture idea. He’ll even put up with Vivien’s quirky, somewhat annoying friend, Zuri, from Minneapolis.
And then the Mustang goes missing, and Zuri’s the last one to see it. Suddenly, it’s up to Duke and Zuri to save the day. And along the way, Zuri just might change the Grinch into a guy with a heart of gold.
Maybe.
Book 3: The Snow is Glistening
“Keep the guests happy and don’t burn down anything.” These are Owen Christiansen’s parting words to his cousin, Romeo Young, before leaving him in charge of the Evergreen Resort—and the Wilder wedding venue—while the family vacations in Florida.
But when the blizzard hits, Romeo will have to keep the resort running and the wedding on track. The last thing he needs is a tag-along in the form of a guest. But Owen did say to keep the guests happy…
Stella Brown can’t believe that she’s third-wheeling on her parents’ second honeymoon, but what’s a girl to do when her life is derailed? Helping Romeo add some Christmas cheer to the resort seems the right answer. But when her “help” turns into horror, has she destroyed yet another bright future?
Book 4: Sleigh Bells Ring
Pastor Bob Brown feels frozen over. And not just from the Minnesota cold. He’s numb from the never-ending problems in his parish. He just needs a break, okay? A getaway with his wife seems the perfect Christmas holiday. And he’s delighted to have his daughter, Stella, along. Maybe he’ll even get some peace and quiet, and hear, deep in his soul, his now-silent calling.
With their best friends recently divorced, and Bob acting, well, weird, Margaret Brown fears the worst. But with this getaway, she intends to put some heat back into her chilly marriage. Thank goodness their daughter seems to have gotten the hint. The only one who remains clueless is Bob.
Maybe their love has turned icy, no longer able to hear the love song from the past. But she’s not going to give up…
Spend your Christmas in Deep Haven, where the sleigh bells ring and love is listening, in Once Upon a Winter Wonderland.
My Thoughts
Well, these were fun! I loved the return to Deep Haven. This anthology gives you four different, short and sweet, Christmas novellas.
Book #1 – A Beautiful Sight
Vivien is not the person you’d think of when you think of the best heroine of a Deep Haven novel. In past novels, she has been… well, less than the ideal character. But..this story gave me a chance to get to know her, and see what really makes her tick. It was surprising!
I found myself being endeared to Vivien, the longer I read.
This was her wedding story, and it’s a fun one!
Book #2 – We’re Happy Tonight.
Luke’s story. He’s determined to be the best law enforcement officer he can possibly be. But somehow, things just seem to go wrong.
This was a fun story, with some unexpected twists and turns.
Book #3 – The Snow is Glistening
In this story you meet Romeo, the Christiansen’s cousin. Romeo has been left behind at Deep Haven (while everyone else is off vacationing) to run the lodge. But is he up to the challenge? He’s got Stella Brown to help him. What could possibly go wrong?
Book #4 – Sleigh Bells Ring
And now, last, but not least. The story of Pastor Brown and his wife, who are vacationing at Deep Haven. With their daughter Stella (whose story was mostly told in book #3)
This story is an intriguing, sweet romance about a couple who has been married for many years. It gives a look at what love means when you’re in it for the long haul.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
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All-of-a-kind Mom 