When the Snow Falls Mass Market Paperback – September 30, 2014

Each story is a wonderful tale by itself. Tears were nerdy plentiful in the story set in The Alps. Experiencing the loss of her fiancé WHILE ON A WONDROUS vacation was devastating to Bianca. After 5 years she is still torn to pieces. Her healing is a wonder to behold with the support of Jack. The final story takes me back to my hometown, Townsend , TN. This was a fantastic journey and joyful. A beautiful journey.

I was disappointed in this compilation of Christmas stories. I don't expect a short story to have the same depth as a longer book, so I made allowances for the short story format, which I love when well done. However, these stories had some major flaws. I'm not reviewing them individually, because I think they all shared the same problems to one extent or another.The stories were slow paced and dragged at times. I think it was because there was too much detail about extraneous matters, which there is not room for in a short story. There were too many details about how every meal or drink was prepared, and where meals were eaten and what was eaten, too many details about numerous articles of clothing, too much detail about makeup, and too many details about scenery. I normally love those kinds of details, but these were short stories; I expected more emphasis on character development and the plot. The stories simply lacked a sense of life and passion.Most of the heroes and heroines were somewhat likeable, but seemed flat at times. Maybe this was because the dialogue often felt dull and stilted. As well, almost every heroine had some unlikeable traits and had odd reactions and comments; sometimes they were very nasty to the hero for no apparent reason. For example, one heroine who was a private investigator working undercover on a case, got very belligerent with her client, his second, and her colleague, who was also the hero. She practically accused them of sexual harassment, jumped up from a meeting at a table in a restaurant and stomped off to the ladies room. Why? Because she was asked to act as a floor model for skiwear so she could observe the store where computers were hacked to steal money. The client told her they thought it was a good way to place her in the store because with her beautiful looks and figure, she looked like a model, so no one would suspect her true purpose. No one was hitting on her or making crude comments. She was supposed to be a professional and she acted like a petulant child. I'm a feminist, but this seemed like overreaction.The only story that had a plot that I really enjoyed was the paranormal one by Rosanna Chiolafalo. This could have been a five star story if there had been less emphasis on setting and more on characterization.This was an okay book for passing the time, but it is not one I would reread. I didn't pay much for it, but I wish I had borrowed it from the library. I was on the fence about recommending it, but honestly, I can't recommend it. It didn't engage me, it bored me and it left me feeling disappointed. I expected better from traditionally published mainstream authors.

A Smoky Mountain Gift by Lin Stepp is included in the anthology, When The Snow Falls, with works by Nancy Bush, Rosanna Chiofalo, and Fern Michaels. My review is for A Smoky Mountain Gift only. This story covers Veda Trent’s return to her hometown of Townsend, TN. It is a wonderful story of achieving many things in life, that she thought were long gone. It’s a story focused on love, hope, and respect. Highlights personally include: the story is set in my favorite, Townsend, TN and Veda meets Grace Conley, the owner of a local Bed & Breakfast. Grace Conley is the main protagonist in another Lin Stepp story, Down By The River. Both, Grace and her story, are my very favorite Lin Stepp works! Visit Townsend, TN… you will not be disappointed!

I bought this book because of Lin Stepp's "A Smoky Mountain Gift" and was not disappointed with it. I've read her novel Down by the River set in the Smoky Mountains, so I wanted to read her Christmas story. I love Tennessee and stories set there. Her story is a five all the way, but I have to rate the book itself as a four, since all the stories were not as engaging or well written. My favorite story out of the entire book was hers. Some I just couldn't get into or finish reading. They didn't hook me in the beginning and draw me in like hers. If you enjoy Christmas stories, you'll enjoy this book, and "A Smoky Mountain Gift" will offer you a special Christmas treat. I'm glad I bought the book because I wouldn't have missed that story. Loved it.B. J. Robinson, author of River Oaks Plantation and Christmas in the Smokies

Exactly as expected. Short stories of love, love lost, finding love again. This all happens during the backdrop of the holidays, trees, caroling and such with a friendly ghost or two to help love along. I'm getting bored with simple love stories these days and like a little more thrill and mystery thrown in with the romance so I just couldn't give it 5 stars.

I love a book that has different authors with different stories as each one has their unique way of expressing their story. This book has four different authors so you get a variety as you read. They all are involved around holiday time which can be a hard time for many. These stories give you insight into others concerns about the holidays and how they over came their fears or disappointments of this time of year.

I didn't like the first two short stories at all. They were boring and I seriously considered not finishing the book. I have only done that with one book in my entire life. The third book starts out really dull for the first ten or so chapters. Then it picked up and I could identify with it because I have lost so many people who were dear to me. As the girl in the book, I lost my fiance in an accident shortly after he had proposed and I lost my dear husband at an early age. I've lost parents, grandparents, and recently a dear sister as well as many friends and in-laws. I empathized with the girl who lost her new fiance in a terrible accident. The fourth book was the better of the four over all. All the writers seemed to be first time authors. However the proofreaders did a good job on the book.

My very favorite story in this book is "7 Days of Christmas." It just really took my heart. The other stories are wonderful too. I like this book a lot and I have read a lot of these books.

Got this on the KindleThis was an awful book so much so I never finished itThe 1st story while it wasn't that good as it repeats about her birthday being on Christmas Eve & the owner of the ski resort the person who did it the name was just suddenly there saying this is who it is & who they areThe 2nd story well if that how Jane is i never have her for a PI it was a rubbish story & didn't enjoy it at allBy this time i got so fed up with reading such rubbish which i felt a shool child could have done better i gave upIf i could leave a minus star on the overal book i would

I loved it, but then I have never read a book by FERN MICHAELS that didnt like, more please!!!

What I was looking for - Christmas romances. Good stories

Sorry just didn't get into it.

Always enjoy Fern Michaels books..especially the Sisterhood series