In this standalone holiday novella, return to the charming Cornish village readers fell in love with in The Secrets of Paper and Ink.Women’s counselor Joy Beckman has always been a friend and helper to all. That’s why she’s given up everything to be with her parents as her mother suffers through Alzheimer’s. Joy may not have a thriving career or a love life at the moment, but she’s doing what she … but she’s doing what she does best—taking care of others. And even though it’s difficult, she knows it’s where she is supposed to be.
But life throws a curveball when she has to leave her parents temporarily to travel to Cornwall, England, for the Christmas-time wedding of her best friend. While there, Joy helps Sophia tackle her last-minute to-do list, and in the process, finally meets a man who turns her head—and her heart. The only problem? He lives in snowy London, and her life is with her parents back in sunny Florida.
She tries to resist Oliver Lincoln’s charms, but it’s harder than it should be. With her heart torn in two, Joy is forced to choose between a life she knows she’s meant for and the one she didn’t see coming.
“The sumptuous sea-swept shores of Cornwall provide a unique and alluring canvas for Harrel’s Like a Winter Snow. Readers wishing for an arm-chair vacation for the holidays will find themselves happily accompanied by Joy and Oliver to a beguiling British setting. Borrowing the enchanting village from her reader favorite The Secrets of Paper and Ink, Harrel’s foray into Christmas romance is bolstered by a strong and empathetic look at love, faith, restoration and the promise of love where we least expect it. I hope to revisit Port Willis for many reading adventures to come.” —Rachel McMillan, author The Three Quarter Time series
“A romantic Christmas story set in beautiful seaside England? Yes, please! Lindsay Harrel’s Like a Winter Snow is the perfect mix of depth and charm. Joy and Oliver are so likable and relatable—and together, they’re just plain adorable. Plus, I can’t help but love that they’re a little older than your average hero and heroine. From the Christmasy atmosphere to moments both swoony and poignant, I loved this story…and I know readers will, too!” —Melissa Tagg, Carol Award-winning author of Now & Then & Always and the Walker Family series
“Like a Winter Snow offers all the depth of emotion Lindsay’s readers have come to expect from her books—wrapped up with a wonderful Christmas bow! A beautiful story of learning to let go of the uncontrollable and opening your heart to love. I highly recommend!” —Liz Johnson, bestselling author of The Red Door Inn
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This novella is a sigh-worthy romance that’s just right for the Christmas season, yet it’s not “sappy sweet” at all. We met several of these characters in Lindsay Harrel’s “The Secret of Paper and Ink” and in this book we return to Port Willis in Cornwall for Sophia’s Christmas wedding.
This story, however, focuses on Joy Beckman, Sophia’s best friend. The author does a great job of helping the reader relate to Joy and her struggle of trying to make the best decisions of how to take care of her aging parents, even to the point of giving up her career and her future plans. There’s much to admire about Joy, and her determination to help her parents and be the best friend possible to Sophia. Oliver Lincoln is a great guy, too, and it’s obvious to all that Sophia and Oliver would be the perfect match. I think I felt all of Joy’s emotions in this story: love, joy, heartache, worry, concern, and happiness. Even though this is a shorter story, the pacing of this storyline is great and when the reader reaches the ending, it seems just right. This is an encouraging story that’s filled with faith and love.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The sequel to The Secrets of Paper and Ink has you once again enjoying the sights, sounds, food, and people of Port Willis in Cornwall, England. I want to move there and be a part of this community!
There is humor, affection, special relationships, and a feeling of love … well established, maturing, and newly found. The sense of family responsibilities are strong and are a defining line in Joy’s life. Faith is woven throughout the pages along with friendships and the lesson of learning how to forgive oneself.
Thank you to the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I hope we will be able to travel to Port Willis again. But if not, any adventure with Lindsay Harrel is worth traveling!
I loved revisiting the town of Port Willis and if characters. I adore Christmas books and this one features a wedding Romance meets women’s fiction with a side of Faith. Joy’s story is a sweet one and Oliver is her “meet cute”. Joy wants to help everyone, to fix everything, and she certainly tries! She does not allow herself any grace although she would be the first to extend it to others in the same situation! Joy must learn to surrender, to have faith in the outcome, and to live life to its fullest without the boundries she has set for herself. This novella, continuing the story that began in The Secrets of Paper and Ink, only made me want to read even more about this town and it inhabitants! I loved this story and didn’t want it to end 🙂
I loved this Holiday Novella! I really enjoyed that it featured characters from The Secrets of Paper and Ink! I also loved that it was centered around Christmas time, however it wasn’t anything and everything related to Christmas. The characters were likable and I really felt sucked into the setting as soon as I started reading! I felt that there was a lot of story packed into the short pages of this novella and I think Lindsay Harrel balanced it all quite nicely. I also loved how this one ended! I would definitely add this one to your winter/Holiday reading list!
As I read this Christmas novella, I kept thinking that Like A Winter Snow would make a wonderful Christmas movie. The charming little town right on the coast in England provides a great setting as friends prepare for a Christmastime wedding. A quick trip to London adds a little history and the return trip home to Florida helps to provide clarity and answers. Although the truth might be hard for the main character to hear and accept, once she does, she is ready to fully embrace her life. Her answers might not be easy to find but she discovers help along the way. Besides other lessons, the story demonstrates that true friendship involves lovingly supporting one another. The biggest reason that I enjoyed this story was the return to the town of Port Willis, as well as, the return of characters from Harrel’s previous book, The Secrets of Paper and Ink. However, this novella can be fully enjoyed on its own. I was given a copy of this book by the author. All opinions are mine.
Like a Winter Snow is a charming Christmas novella that ventures back to Port Willis and some of the characters in Lindsay Harrel’s novel, The Secrets of Paper and Ink. It was such fun to return and visit again. With a setting in Cornwall at Christmas and some fantastic, endearing characters, it was easy for me to settle in for this delightful, easy read. Joy and Oliver were wonderful main characters, and I enjoyed seeing them interact.
Themes of faith, friendship, and forgiveness of self are deftly woven into the novella. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and my only complaint is that I wish it were longer!
I received a complimentary copy from the author, but I have also preordered a copy. All opinions are my own.
I simply adored this Christmas novella. It was wonderful to return to the fictional town of Port Willis and revisit the residents readers met in The Secrets of Paper and Ink.
In Like a Winter Snow, we get to read Joy’s story. I loved having a heroine that wants to take care of everyone, but finds she cannot do it all. It is this vulnerability that makes her so lovable and relatable.
The beautiful setting, the return of well-loved characters and delightfully fun romance make this a engaging read. But it is the tender moments of vulnerability, caring for elderly parents, fear of a complicated relationship along with a subtle faith thread make this a must read for the holiday season.
Harrell pens beautiful images that will speak to her readers. Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
“Look how powerful our God is. You never have to be afraid of anything because there’s not a lightning bolt he doesn’t know about, not a drop of rain he doesn’t allow to fall.”
“And in that moment, they became like two falling snowflakes that were drawn to each other-impossible to separate.”
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
I loved The Secrets of Paper and Ink and was so glad to revisit characters I fell in love with. My only complaint is it didn’t last long enough. The sweet romance, difficulties of a parent with Alzheimer’s, and Faith elements all combine to make a great Christmas novella. This story has perfect balance and you will be engrossed until the end. Be ready to be swept away.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
I really enjoyed this sweet little novella! I loved returning to Port Willis at Christmas time! Having met the characters previously in Lindsay Harrel’s The Secrets of Paper and Ink, this story is a perfect follow-up of that. This book is engaging and a fun read. It’s well written and had everything I love in a novella. Easy read, wonderful lessons, and sweet romance! I loved it!
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own