Review:Let it Snow (A Holly Grove Anthology)

Let it Snow: A Holly Grove Anthology

by
Jennifer Acres, Joel Bain, Jessica Calla, J.P. Dailing,
Cindy Dorminy, Jordin Kay, K.D. Proctor, Larissa Weatherall

Welcome to Holly Grove, Vermont, dubbed the “best little town in the country.”

It’s going to take the residents of Holly Grove a lot more than an evergreen and a few strings of lights to pull off their famous holiday tree lighting ceremony this Christmas Eve. First of all, Mother Nature is not cooperating with her plans to dump the Blizzard of the Century as a Christmas present. Not to mention that the Mayor and Sheriff are both distracted, native Holly Grovers brought their complications back home with them, and the newbies to the town are causing their own special types of ruckuses. Each resident will have to be brave, face their fears, accept changes, and embrace their pasts, to pull together and accomplish the sacred tradition of their small town—the adorably quaint, low on acreage but high on drama, Holly Grove.

Experience the true meaning of the holidays, fall in love, laugh, and cry in these eight novellas, each a full story on its own, with characters who pop in and out of each other’s lives. We think you'll like it here...

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What I thought about Let It Snow

One of the best parts about reading an anthology like this one is getting to revisit authors I really like and get to experience authors I haven't read before.  There are eight offerings in this holiday anthology, all set in the town of Holly Grove, Vermont.  You just know there's going to be snow amidst the steam!

Each story in this anthology deals with the holiday preparations in the town and while each story stands alone, they are interconnected like the characters in the stories. Taken collectively,  this anthology give a nice view of the good and the bad of small town life. Of course it's the holidays, so things tend to work out for all involved.

There's plenty of steamy action between the characters too as they resolve their issues and have their holiday happy ever after.  The stories are just the right size for a quick read after work (or shopping) and unlike some of the anthologies I have read where I put it down after reading my favorite author's story, I've kept going to read some new authors and that is a very good thing.

So overall, a wonderful collection of holiday inspired stories at a great price that are just the right size and with enough heat to keep you warm on a cold night.

An ARC was provided for review.

About the Authors

Jennifer Acres 

Jennifer Acres' writing experience began back before she attended Houston Baptist University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition. She wrote three screenplays both during her time there and after, all of which received awards from the Houston International Film Festival. After working as a script supervisor in Houston and L.A., she discovered that she was in love with story and wanted to pursue writing novels.
So now, Jennifer is a YA and NA author who loves complex characters in emotionally moving stories. She writes to encourage empathy and understanding of one another. When she is not writing, she is often reading, crafting, and following her fandoms. Jennifer and her husband have made Houston their little corner of the world.

Joel Bain
Joel Bain makes his home in Vancouver, Canada. His first novel, A BULLET FOR THE BRIDE, debuted in 2009, while his latest novel, EACH OUR OWN DEVIL, hit bookshelves in 2017.
He started Dumple Meadows Publishing in 2008, delving into a variety of platforms including fiction and digital magazines in the pursuit of developing and encouraging aspiring writers. He formerly held the role of Editor-in-Chief of Sour Grapes Winery from 2009-2014.
He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia (2009) with a B.A. in International Relations and English Literature. In 2016, he completed his Certificate of Editing from Simon Fraser University. Among his writing interests are storytelling, social commentary, and film.

Jessica Calla
Jessica Calla is a contemporary romance and women's fiction author who moonlights during the day as an attorney. If she's not writing, lawyering, or parenting, you'll most likely find her at the movies, scrolling through her Twitter feed, or gulping down various forms of caffeine (sometimes all three at once). A Jersey girl through and through, she resides in the central part of the state with her husband, two sons, and dog.
Find Jessica on Twitter (@jess_calla) or at her website (www.jessicacalla.com). She loves to make reader and writer friends.

 J.P. Dailing
While still in high school I got a ridiculously outdated computer, even for its time. It was loud and boxy and didn’t even support spell check. But got an idea for a novel and started writing. It was horrible. So I wrote some more, and it was slightly less horrible. Later I got distracted and did other things that weren’t writing. Then I got depressed and wanted to chuck it all away for good. But then I came back to myself, moved to Houston, found the old smoldering embers, and reached in to build an inferno.
With my writing, I hope to engage the mind and soul. I have a passion for writing that has remained undimmed for the past decade. I love to write young adult fiction with whispers of science fiction or an edge of fantasy. Story for me isn’t just entertainment or a way to pass the time. It expands the imagination, dives into the depths of the human condition, and can lightly touch or brutally ensnare the heart. It all comes down to characters with the choices the make and the values they fight to the end to defend. That’s what makes story compelling and worth writing.
When I’m not actively writing (or actively not writing and calling it so), I am found with my wife, re-watching the same TV shows we love. Or I’m wasting time on my PC playing Kerbal Space Program and whatnot. Or sitting around just with my thoughts: building characters, worlds, epic feats of valor, crushing acts of betrayal, or twisted deeds of trickery.

Cindy Dorminy
After several decades of writing medical research documents, Cindy decided to switch gears and write stories where the chances of happy endings are 100% and the side effects include satisfied sighs, permanent smiles, and a chuckle or two. She writes romance novels with a slice of humor that range from historical romance to southern fried romantic comedies. Cindy was born in Texas and raised in Georgia. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Kennesaw State University and her Master’s Degree from The University of Georgia. Cindy enjoys gardening, reading, bodybuilding and a whole bunch of movies. She can be overheard quoting lines from her favorite movies… a lot. But her favorite pastime is spending time with Mark, her bass playing husband, Maddie Rose, the coolest girl on the planet, and fur child Daisy Mae. She currently resides in Nashville, TN where live music can be heard everywhere, even at the grocery store.

Jordin Kay

K.D. Proctor
KD Proctor loved college so much that when it came time to graduate, she didn’t want to leave. Finding her niche in graduate school, she traded her textbooks for student handbooks and began a career in College Student Personnel, fulfilling her wish to stay on a college campus forever. When she took a stab at writing her first novel, her mother rejoiced--she finally had a reason to use that undergraduate degree in English!

KD is a multi-award winning author who lives in west-central Minnesota with her husband and fur-kids. She likes to write fun twists on the usual tropes that we all love. Her characters are smart, funny, and always swoony. And yes. They always get their happily ever after.

Larissa Weatherall 

Larissa Weatherall is a born and raised southern girl who currently lives in the “big city” to the north with her flyboy husband and two adorable little handfuls. From the first moment she watched Cinderella and Prince Charming kiss and ride away at the end of the movie, she’s been obsessed with happily ever after.

Larissa is a sucker for stories that shred her heart then heal it when love conquers all in the end. When she’s not writing all the swoony, southern heroes, Larissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends and the occasional hour she can soak up the sun on her back porch with a book.