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Secrets in the Snow #0.6
Skiing with Santa
Sandy is like the original Scrooge – he thinks Christmas is commercialised claptrap, and refuses to have any part of it. So it's like his own personal nightmare when Ski School manager Jude tries a new marketing ploy, 'Ski with Santa' and he has to play a part he abhors. Will his naughty and nice pupils help this reluctant Father Christmas to face his ghosts and discover the quintessence of the season?
"Skiing with Santa" is a Christmas short story from the 'White Cairns Ski School' series about a Scottish snowsports school. Chronologically, it sits between episodes 1 and 2.
Whilst this is a stand-alone story, you might enjoy reading the series from the 1st episode, "Winter Arrives".
Please note:
British English spelling and grammar
PG / PG-13 content, including a couple of mild swear words
This is a short story of approximately 4,400 words or 18 pages (depending on your device and font size)
"Skiing with Santa" is a Christmas short story from the 'White Cairns Ski School' series about a Scottish snowsports school. Chronologically, it sits between episodes 1 and 2.
Whilst this is a stand-alone story, you might enjoy reading the series from the 1st episode, "Winter Arrives".
Please note:
British English spelling and grammar
PG / PG-13 content, including a couple of mild swear words
This is a short story of approximately 4,400 words or 18 pages (depending on your device and font size)
- GenresChristmasShort Stories
18 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2013
5 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Roz Marshall
58 books75 followersUSA Today bestselling author Roz Marshall pens romantic women's fiction, contemporary fantasy, and clean small-town romance. She loves writing uplifting stories set in her native Scotland, with strong heroines and page-turning plot lines.
A software engineer turned ski instructor turned author, she spends her spare time on horseback exploring the glorious Scottish countryside, or with her hubby and their talkative cat and squirrel-obsessed Jack Russell :-)
She also writes Cozy Mystery set in the Scottish Highlands as R.B. Marshall: https://books2read.com/rl/RBMarshall
and Historical Romance telling the story of Mary Queen of Scots, as Belle McInnes: https://books2read.com/rl/MarysLadies
A software engineer turned ski instructor turned author, she spends her spare time on horseback exploring the glorious Scottish countryside, or with her hubby and their talkative cat and squirrel-obsessed Jack Russell :-)
She also writes Cozy Mystery set in the Scottish Highlands as R.B. Marshall: https://books2read.com/rl/RBMarshall
and Historical Romance telling the story of Mary Queen of Scots, as Belle McInnes: https://books2read.com/rl/MarysLadies
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 27, 2014
A heart-warming short (under 5K) festive story with a familiar theme but an entirely novel setting. This story focuses on one specific instructor at the ski school (the setting of the series), telling of how the encounters with one particular group of students gave him pause.
June 5, 2014
This is a short story about one of the workers at the White Cairns Ski School. Sandy looks like Santa, but is nothing like him. In fact, Sandy detests Christmas. The instructors are asked to dress as Santa for the day and listen to the wish lists of the skiers as they ski. Sandy encounters a couple of people who bring a whole new perspective to the holiday season and he comes to the realization that things aren't the way he thought they were. I loved the lessons he learned and the insight the reader gains about his character.
Content: one or two mild swear words; no violence; brief mention of a woman with a female partner. Clean.
Content: one or two mild swear words; no violence; brief mention of a woman with a female partner. Clean.
July 12, 2017
This is a good story to put you in the holiday mood. In a way, it's predictable; the Scrooge-like person who hates Christmas learns its true meaning. But it's entertaining to see this realization take place on the ski slopes. The characters are entertaining and you can feel their pain and doubt. It's worth the read.
April 15, 2014
This is an adorable short story about Sandy, one of the ski instructors. Sandy gets to dress up as santa for the day, which puts him back in the right frame of mind. Very cute story that honors Christmas and the reason for the season.
December 27, 2020
Sandy is a ski school instructor, and also a bit of a Scrooge, hating what he sees as the commercialized claptrap of Christmas. Unfortunately, his boss, Jude, has a new marketing plan--skiing with Santa. Even worse, she's picked Sandy as the instructor best able to pass for Santa with the younger students. He has to deck himself out in costume he hates, and listen to his students' Christmas wishes, while conducting their skiing lessons.
But much as he resents the assignment, Sandy doesn't want to be mean to the students. Children, teenagers, and even one or two adults, need someone who will play the part--and Sandy finds himself hearing dreams and needs he wasn't prepared for.
It's a sweet short story, perfect for the holiday season.
This audio short story was offered for sale through the author's newsletter, and I'm not sure how widely available it is. Recommended if you see it. I am reviewing it voluntarily.
But much as he resents the assignment, Sandy doesn't want to be mean to the students. Children, teenagers, and even one or two adults, need someone who will play the part--and Sandy finds himself hearing dreams and needs he wasn't prepared for.
It's a sweet short story, perfect for the holiday season.
This audio short story was offered for sale through the author's newsletter, and I'm not sure how widely available it is. Recommended if you see it. I am reviewing it voluntarily.
November 26, 2017
4 stars
I purchased Skiing with Santa September 2016 written by Roz Marshall and this review was given freely. This is a well written short snippet that focuses on a day near Christmas and Sandy's regaining the real meaning of Christmas. Best if read in sequence and with the remaining sections of the Secrets in the Snow story.
I purchased Skiing with Santa September 2016 written by Roz Marshall and this review was given freely. This is a well written short snippet that focuses on a day near Christmas and Sandy's regaining the real meaning of Christmas. Best if read in sequence and with the remaining sections of the Secrets in the Snow story.
March 19, 2014
Again, I raise my hand and hope I'm not falling foul of GR etiquette rules by leaving a 'review' of my own book, but I hope my words can add a little to your understanding of the story. If you've read it, I hope that you enjoyed it, and it would be a huge boost to me if you could leave a review and spread the word!
I wrote and published this short story in December 2013, and had a lot of fun doing it. Once I got the plot of the story sorted out in my head, writing the characters and their interactions was great fun, and I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I enjoyed the writing!
The short stories give me a chance to explore one character more fully, and describe a day or an event in their lives. This story focusses on Sandy, the older instructor who runs the B&B with his wife.
Chronologically, it sits after 'Winter Arrives' (Ep1) which you should read first if you can. However, this has a plot arc of its own, and so, as with most of my books, can be read as a stand-alone story.
Next in the series is another short story, 'A Dream for Hogmanay' which is set on New Year's Eve in White Cairns; then Episode 2 ('Fear of Falling'). Episode 3 will be released on 31 March 2014 :-)
I wrote and published this short story in December 2013, and had a lot of fun doing it. Once I got the plot of the story sorted out in my head, writing the characters and their interactions was great fun, and I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I enjoyed the writing!
The short stories give me a chance to explore one character more fully, and describe a day or an event in their lives. This story focusses on Sandy, the older instructor who runs the B&B with his wife.
Chronologically, it sits after 'Winter Arrives' (Ep1) which you should read first if you can. However, this has a plot arc of its own, and so, as with most of my books, can be read as a stand-alone story.
Next in the series is another short story, 'A Dream for Hogmanay' which is set on New Year's Eve in White Cairns; then Episode 2 ('Fear of Falling'). Episode 3 will be released on 31 March 2014 :-)
December 12, 2015
I found this book a delight in getting in the holiday mood as I drank my mid-day mug of black hazelnut coffee, sweet.
Sandy, like some people, hates how everyone participates in the commercialization the holiday season has become and have forgotten what the holiday is all about. He even resents being reminded about it by his wife; but she’s doing it more for their grandkids than anyone else.
Sandy’s boss, Jude, at the ski school where he works comes up with the wonderful idea of having all their instructors dress up as Santa so they can hear the Christmas wishes their patrons have. While there no three spirits in this story to help with Scrooge’s transformation. As he hears the students assigned to him talk about the holiday and their wishes, Sandy slowly begins to realizes he’s the one who been brainwashed by the overly commercialization and that there are still others who hold to the true meaning of the holiday and its value the way he remembers them to be.
For having been GOOD in writing this story, this Santa’s Helper is giving this author, 5 STARS.
Sandy, like some people, hates how everyone participates in the commercialization the holiday season has become and have forgotten what the holiday is all about. He even resents being reminded about it by his wife; but she’s doing it more for their grandkids than anyone else.
Sandy’s boss, Jude, at the ski school where he works comes up with the wonderful idea of having all their instructors dress up as Santa so they can hear the Christmas wishes their patrons have. While there no three spirits in this story to help with Scrooge’s transformation. As he hears the students assigned to him talk about the holiday and their wishes, Sandy slowly begins to realizes he’s the one who been brainwashed by the overly commercialization and that there are still others who hold to the true meaning of the holiday and its value the way he remembers them to be.
For having been GOOD in writing this story, this Santa’s Helper is giving this author, 5 STARS.
December 20, 2016
I received a gift copy of this book from the author, and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Sandy had had his fill of Christmas and with the approaching season he is once again confronted with the overt commercialism that surrounds Christmas. Ski school owner Jude asks her instructors to dress up as Santa, and Sandy looks the most authentic of the lot. However, his heart is not in the venture. Having lived in a country where Christmas is not celebrated at all, and also having been in the troughs of despair over one Christmas, I could identify with Sandy's feelings about a holiday that has been taken over by red suited Santas, noisy irreverent jingles and budgets being overextended. However, like Sandy I also had my perspective upended, leading me to the realisation of what Christmas is actually all about. Skiing with Santa is a gentle reminder of the meaning of Christmas and the reason we celebrate this holiday.
Sandy had had his fill of Christmas and with the approaching season he is once again confronted with the overt commercialism that surrounds Christmas. Ski school owner Jude asks her instructors to dress up as Santa, and Sandy looks the most authentic of the lot. However, his heart is not in the venture. Having lived in a country where Christmas is not celebrated at all, and also having been in the troughs of despair over one Christmas, I could identify with Sandy's feelings about a holiday that has been taken over by red suited Santas, noisy irreverent jingles and budgets being overextended. However, like Sandy I also had my perspective upended, leading me to the realisation of what Christmas is actually all about. Skiing with Santa is a gentle reminder of the meaning of Christmas and the reason we celebrate this holiday.
April 19, 2014
Blink and you'd miss it!
I'm struggling with the novella, I'll admit. I wanted to explore and understand the character a lot more, so felt a little frustrated. That said, I thought this was a really pretty story, and ultimately encapsulates what Christmas is all about.
I'm struggling with the novella, I'll admit. I wanted to explore and understand the character a lot more, so felt a little frustrated. That said, I thought this was a really pretty story, and ultimately encapsulates what Christmas is all about.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews