Carol Langstrom hates Christmas. Growing up in a dysfunctional home, with a birthday on December 25 and too many dashed childhood expectations, the holiday season is something she would rather avoid. And working in the design industry, where she manages seasonal decor for wealthy, entitled clients, certainly hasn’t helped!   

So, this year her goal is to flee to the Bahamas–by herself–bah humbug! But bad weather and God’s radically different plan redirect her flight to blustery Michigan, where she gets stuck on her aunt’s farm and discovers a different kind of Christmas–one wrapped in love, family, and holiday spirit.

~Standalone Title~

This is a clean, sweet romance with either closed doors or fade to black, or only kissing.

Title:  Once Upon a Christmas Carol
Series:  ~Standalone Title
Author:  Melody Carlson
Published:  September 2, 2025
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Once Upon a Christmas Carol proves that the right people come into our lives at exactly the moment that we need them to.  Carol is a staging expert for houses that need to look fantastic when they go on the market for sale.  Of course, any home decorated for Christmas will get a closer look; it’s just ironic that Carol absolutely hates the Christmas season.  She was born on Christmas Day, but there’s no coziness about sharing your birthday with probably the most celebrated holiday of the year. Plus, her parents were true pieces of work who never made Carol’s special day or the holidays anything more than another chance to bicker.

This year she’s going to give herself a present; completely escaping the Christmas scene by heading to the hot climate and warm sands of the Bahamas… except a massive winter storm wrecks havoc with her plans, stranding her near where her estranged aunt lives.  Being stuck in Michigan in a winter storm with a stranger, although Maria is her aunt, they’ve never met, is not how Carol expected to spend her dream vacation escape.  Yet, sometimes, God has a different plan than what we thought of, and found family, new experiences, and perhaps a new romance is on the horizon if Carol can let go of her inherent dislike of anything Christmas… and allow something amazing to take over her perspective.

I enjoyed Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Melody Carlson so very much.  It’s my first book (novella) by this author, and believe me, I’ll be back for more!  Carol, Maria, and Victor grabbed my attention and my heart early on and never let go.  Watching the changes in Carol’s attitude was heartwarming, meeting Maria was so special, and having Victor as a friend and perhaps more turned Carol’s life upside down in the best way possible.  If you love a well-written, emotional Christmas novella with a bit of faith, a touch of romance, characters to love (or loathe in the parents’ case), and a story that will stay with you long after the final page, then you’re going to love this one.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust.  It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)