Wrapped in Love: A Festive Winter Novella

by Melanie Moreland

NYT bestselling author Melanie Moreland brings a reason to celebrate in this snowed-in romance.
Christmas is a time for family.
It’s been years since Shane Foster was able to share the season with his.
So, an unexpected snowstorm, rerouted flights, and lost presents aren’t going to defeat him.
In a twist of fate, he ends up in a store run by a woman as alone as he is. She is sweet and warm, and he is captivated by her.
Unable to leave her alone, he convinces her to join him and his family for Christmas, somehow knowing she was meant to be his.
Could he be what she needs as well?
He wants to wrap her in love—not only for the holidays but forever.
Will she make his wishes come true?

Genres: Novella, Romance, Christmas, Holiday, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance

75 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2024

About the author

Welcome Romance Readers!
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A bit about me:
NYT/WSJ/USAT International bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of lots of lovely years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.
While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys travelling, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.
Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She's learned happily ever-afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story. 

Melanie is represented by Flavia Viotti at Bookcase Literary Agency. For any questions regarding subsidiary or translation rights please contact her at flavia@bookcaseagency.com

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrapped in Love: A Festive Winter Novella is a stand alone holiday story by Melanie Moreland. All proceeds from the sale of this title are benefiting the Hamilton Food Share. This little story is filled with the magic of Christmas, bringing two lonely people together to discover a love that will last a lifetime.

Shane Foster is a pediatric specialist in Calgary. His life is wrapped up in work, with long hours and stress. Shane is close with his family who live hundreds of miles away but they haven’t been able to get together for Christmas for years. This year is the one where everyone was going to make it. Until he got caught in a huge storm and had to spend the night in a tiny town called Simcoe. Then fate took him to a tiny gift shop to purchase some gifts for his family and there she was. A beautiful woman who took his breath away.



Callie James runs a small shop of crafted items along with books and plenty of other things. Callie is alone, along with her very old, cantankerous cat. When the beautiful man shows up at her shop just as she was getting ready to close up, she can’t turn him away. And in the short time they spent together, a bond quickly formed.

“There was something about this girl – a draw I couldn’t fight. One I didn’t want to fight.”

One night quickly turns to more and then Callie and Shane can’t seem to imagine their lives without each other. But Shane’s job is far away. Callie’s life is in Simcoe. How could anything survive the distance? Is there a chance for them or was this just a short lived Christmas romance?

This was such a sweet, wonderful little story. I read it in no time and it left my heart so happy and warm. And it’s for such a wonderful cause.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[farmwifetwo · Rating 2 out of 5]

He flies into Ottawa, to get to Brighten and ends up in Simcoe??? Which is Norfolk County along L Erie. Brighten is in Northumberland which is L Ontario. Then they're going to live in Grimsby but she could go to school there.... did I mention the????????
Now had he flown into Windsor or London, might accept it but why would he be on secondary highways in a blizzard and not the 401 and get off in a city??? As for Grimsby.... you and I both know there's no post secondary institutions there except maybe a college satellite office.

The story was ridiculous but, people live here.... at least use real places or make it up entirely.

2 stars because I finished it.

[Melissa (honeybee.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐

Wrapped In Love is a festive holiday novella that is so easy to read. I binged this in less than an hour and it was such a good time. It's short, sweet and spicy, just the perfect little treat to enjoy one morning or night with a hot drink in front of the fire and Christmas tree. I am not one for instalove (I mean I knew it would be because it's a novella obviously), but Melanie got me and made it work fully. The way they connected and interacted just felt so genuine. Melanie truly made us connect with the characters in such a short time, which was amazing. Two lost souls that found each other on Christmas with a Christmas miracle.

Overall, just a beautiful Christmas novella that made me feel all the festivities and possibilities of Christmas miracles.

[Father Lib · Rating 5 out of 5]

MELANIE PUT ME AS A CHARACTER IN HERE !!! coolest thing ever 😭🫶🏼

[My Own Bookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love December with all the holiday stories. They all have a theme of joy and hope. This author never fails to deliver on all those feelings with a romantic HEA like the cherry on the sundae.

It is 75 pages so you are in for a instalove story-which is my favorite. But for such a short, it packs a really amazing relationship building for the characters.

Shane and Callie aren't looking for love. But the magic of Christmas sprinkle love dust on these two as they figure out replacement gifts for Shane. If you've never read Melanie Moreland, this short give you a nibble into her storytelling voice.

100% of royalties are being donated to Hamliton Food Share. Doubly makes for joy!

FTC requires disclosure that I am contractor for Moreland Books, Inc. This review is my honest opinion on the short story.

[Elyvia (eliv_bookstagram) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shane, becomes stranded during a storm while trying to get home to his family. He's in a panic because he hasn't got any presents due to logistics. Enter Callie, the owner of a charming gift shop, who is more than ready to help him out.

💭I can't believe how this 75-page book managed to make me cry! 😭 Melanie always writes the best holiday romances, and this short story gave me all the feels. Despite its pages count, it packs an emotional punch and truly captures the spirit of the season. If you're looking for a quick read that will warm your heart, this is definitely the one to pick up.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable Sprinkled With A Little Spice

This was a beautiful novella centered around two single people who ended up being each other’s beacons in the storm of life.

They connected quickly, fell hard and found a way to merge their lives.

One year later they are more in love than ever and so incredibly happy 🥰🥰

This was a fun read

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Shane and Callie's story. I love that the story takes place in Ontario and that I was familiar with the locations where the story takes place. I was born in Grimsby!
Shane is a lonely doctor home to visit with his family and nieces and nephews. He finds Callie at her book store when he discovers his gifts never made it to his sister's house. He can't show up with nothing for the kids! Callie opens her store and her heart to Shane and they share an attraction and love that warms my heart.
"Don't send me away. Let me stay with you. Just this one night, let me be a part of something good in your life."
"They're going to wonder where you have been all my life."
Thoroughly enjoyed this shorter Christmas story and will definitely read more by this talented author.

[Kim (Chipperbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrapped in Love- Shane and Callie

Such a sweet Christmas read.

Shane needs some gifts quick, and runs into Callie’s store. After spending some time together, the sparks fly fast. They both end up with what they need most, each other.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insta Love

Cute christmas novella. A shop owner falls for her handsome customer looking for gifts on Christmas Eve. I love how their love story begins insta love.

[Sowbarnika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why must such books end!?🥺🫶

[jlawfosho · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not been in the mood for holiday reads but this was short and sweet 🎄😍 perfect bite of a holiday novella.

[yourssincerelyvanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Everything is happening too fast.

[UnusualChild{beppy} · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star
POV: 1st person past tense

Shane is heading home for Christmas for the first time in a few years. He gets stopped in a small town in because of a snowstorm, which is how he meets Callie. Callie runs a specialty/gift shop? (It sells a wide variety of things, from cookies to books to jewelry to soaps/bath products to glass creations.) One thing leads to another, and they end up sleeping together. The next morning, Shane doesn't want to have Callie not in his life, so he invites her to his home for Christmas, because Callie is a lonely, lonely woman. After some protest, she agrees, and Callie meets his family. Togetherness abounds, but looming over them is the day that Shane will have to head back home, leaving a devastated Callie in his wake.

Oh, boy. Way to start the new year reading off with a bang, beppy. Is this indicative of the author's writing style? Because if it is, I'm not sure that we will mesh. I do understand that not everybody who can write can write short stories, so I will give another try, but this author is on my "one more like this and we're done" list. (Yes, I do have that list. No, it's not called that, but it is something similar.)
So, when I am not into the story, I pick. I pick at editing, I pick at writing, I pick at pretty much everything. And I picked in this one. I picked A LOT. First of all, I just didn't buy the instant "I will follow you anywhere" connection between Shane and Callie. Which means that I didn't buy that she would foist herself on unsuspecting strangers for Christmas. I have no problem with them having sex after just meeting, and that made sense to me. (About the only thing that did, frankly.) About the only thing that I was happy with was that Shane's invite didn't feel like a pity invite.
Now for the real picking. Shane got up "early" on Christmas day to continue his journey. It seemed to me that it was daylight, which would be around 7:30am in Simcoe. However, I am giving them the benefit of the doubt and saying it was 6:30. They had to talk awhile and then wait for Callie to get ready, which took half an hour. That takes them to 7. It was a two hour drive. That makes it 9 when they get there, assuming everything is clear sailing. (And why wouldn't it be, with a horrific storm the day before? *sarcasm*) Greeting/meeting the family, a little chit-chat, I'll say half an hour again, so 9:30. Then they open presents. I'll be generous again, and say that 14 people opening gifts from multiple people simultaneously could maybe open all the gifts in half an hour. That takes us to 10. At that point, Shane's mother invites Callie to help her get the turkey in because, and I quote: "we like to eat early and then snack later on." 🤔 Hold the phone. You have to prep the turkey, which entails different things for different cooks. I'll say half an hour to prep the turkey and get the bird in the oven. So it's now 10:30 - at the earliest. To feed 14 people, it is probably at least a 15lb turkey. That takes at least 3.5 hours to cook. That takes you to 4. Add in time for the turkey to rest, and you're now looking at around 4:30. That doesn't seem so early to me. And then, after Shane had chatted with the menfolk for a little bit, he went in to the kitchen, thought that the kitchen smelled lovely (how does it smell lovely? How long did you talk to your menfolk? Turkey doesn't even start to smell until it's been cooking at least an hour.) And when Shane went in, Callie was mashing potatoes (!!!????), three hours early.
Second major pick: when Shane and the other menfolk (who did no kitchen work) were talking, one of the menfolk mentioned that Shane and Callie live hundreds of km apart. Me: really? Pretty sure it's more like thousands. Sure enough, it is thousands. Three of them, in fact. As in, it is over 3000 km from Simcoe to Calgary.
So, with all my focusing on logistics and trying to figure out exactly what could and couldn't be, the story did not hold my attention at all. Kind of trite writing, very predictable. And yes, that is to be somewhat expected in a holiday story. But I've read lots where I'm engaged and rooting for the couple, and I was apathetic at best.

[Kerri Bonvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holiday love sweetness

This is the sweetest holiday story. Its short, sweet, and spicy, but in a classy way. I laughed at moments because they reminded me of something very relatable or something that sparked a memory. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Atleast this story didn't require an epi-pen (My Favorite Boss). It' A beautiful story and a beautiful cause. This is a must read.

[Karrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartwarming little story. Two lost souls who found each other on Christmas Eve due to some snow storms and lost parcels that were supposed to be Christmas gifts for his family. Shane and Callie meet when he goes knocking on her store’s door needing Christmas presents for his family. What he found was even greater and his greatest treasure, his one and only, meant to be together forever.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Callie & Shane

This was a lovely, sweet holiday read! ❤️ 💚🎄❤️💚🎄

Callie & Shane have an instant connection, chatting & learning about one another as they shop for his family & spend more time together. Super quick & cute story! And I love the ending!

😍😍😍

[paige o’neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

finding melanie moreland this year was wonderful, her books are always so amazing and emotional. knowing she was releasing a christmas novella made me so happy, shane and callie are a special couple! this was a novella so it was super fast paced and didn’t give us lots of depth, but we still knew the characters backgrounds enough to connect with them. i didn’t mind the lack of depth as i knew it was a novella and insta love. i enjoyed how magical it felt and the family feel this book has was so special. it’s wholesome and wonderful read. the instant connection between callie and shane was undeniable and there was a few lines that had me swooning. i loved how welcoming shane’s family was and even though it was a novella how natural the relationship grew and the couple evolved. a very sweet and enjoyable christmas read

[Amy.Reads.Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melanie had me wrapped up in this book! It was so good! Even though it was a novella I did not feel like the story was overly rushed. I generally do not read a ton of books that are not on KU or another reading service I subscribe to, but this author is amazing AND the sales of the book are going to such an amazing cause! All proceeds to the sale of this book go to a food share!

This story is an insta-love, snowbound, spicy novella about a big city pediatrician who is coming home for Christmas and gets stuck in a blizzard with our heroine, a small shopkeeper who happens to save the day by keeping her store open for him to shop for Christmas presents for his family. There is an instant connection between the two and when the next morning rolls around our hero asked her to come with him to meet his family and have Christmas with him.

Once the holidays are over and the magic of Christmas is over will our couple find out that it wasn’t just the holiday magic but true love that lasts a lifetime?

I absolutely adored this book and if you love a good spicy love story AND Christmas, so will you!

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Butterflies: 🦋 🦋🦋🦋

[Trina Smith-patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story had my whole heart wrapped up!

I have been a Melanie Moreland fan for over 10 years. It doesn't matter how big the story is, the size of an encyclopedia or as postage stamp if it was written by Melanie, I'm reading it! Th is the little story is continuing my love for all the words she shares with us.

Shane and Called were two lost souls that met during the miracle of Christmas that outshines any Hallmark story. Meeting a soulmate and having the ability to heal on both sides, is one of my favorite Christmas tropes! Called is struggling all alone, Shane is struggling because, even though he has family, he lives far away, has a demanding job, and hasn't been able to see his family in many years. A desperate knock on her shops door, assistance with replacing lost parcels, an offer of food, gift wrapping, and "glow in the dark" wrapped, ahem, tinsel "napping", made up this story of the heart knowing what was missing. And we were along for the lovely ride!

This will become a Christmas re-read for me!

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this sweet and spicy holiday romance. A snowstorm wreaks havoc on Shane‘s travel plans and schedule. Landing at an airport miles out of his way, Shane is on a road trip from Ottawa to Toronto. Stopping for the night in Simcoe, a call to his sister informs him that his gifts never arrived from Calgary. He descends upon a small gift shop, only to find much more than just gifts. He finds sweet, kind and rather shy Callie, who instantly warms his heart then claims it. A night of companionship, then shared passion leads to being reluctant to part. Two lonely hearts have fallen instantly and deeply in love, but can they build a future together? They have some sizeable roadblocks ahead, if they decide that love, even instant love, is worth the fight and effort.

I wholeheartedly recommend this charming and captivating book.

[Karen_Lee_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrapped in Love: A Festive
Winter Novella
By Melanie Moreland

Author Melanie Moreland is the queen of Insta-love/Insta-Spark novellas and Wrapped in Love is her latest shout out to lovers all over the world.

Take one lonely lady (Callie Janes) who has just closed up her shop on Christmas Eve add in one handsome out-of-towner (Dr. Shane Foster) and you have the two main characters for this short seventy-five page story.

A pile of parcels gone missing, two lonely people and the spirit of the Holiday season gives her readers one of her sweetest holiday love stories yet!

Add to this the fact that the author is giving the proceeds of this Holiday love story to a favored local charity and you can’t ask for more. Love and sharing, isn’t that what the season is all about?

[it.sgottabethebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy insta-love novellas especially holiday ones. This story delivered all the warm fuzzies just like a nice hot drink and cozy blanket would do. The title is perfect for this couple, it’s definitely a story wrapped in love. Their meet cute was not so much a meet cute but was a cute meeting that was meant to be. Fate and destiny brought these two together and it found a way to bring them back to each other. I adore this author and the words she always gifts us. This season she has gifted us with love wrapped up in this book whilst donating proceeds from the sale to a local food bank. I highly recommend this book. Gift yourself a fabulous holiday novella and perhaps share the love and gift someone special a copy too.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

My rating: ⭐️⭐️.5
Trope: Holiday Romance, novella
Spice: 🔥.5

Synopsis: An unexpected snowstorm, rerouted flights, and lost presents aren't going to keep Shane from making it to his family’s Christmas. In a twist of fate, he ends up in a store run by a woman as alone as he is. She is sweet and warm, and he is captivated by her. Unable to leave her alone, he convinces her to join him and his family for Christmas.

Thoughts: I’m a fan of Melanie Moreland, but this one missed the mark big time for me. I know with novellas, the timeline is faster and the character development is slim; however, this felt rushed and clunky.

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75✨

Its an okay quick read over all. A bit cheesyy.
It annoyed me the first time it switched povs, it gave us the bit of the same scenario but with his perspective. It would have been best if it started from where it left of from the previous chapter. But it was only a one time thing so it was fine.

The writing was not the best, but not the worst either.

Some lines where not fully thought over, like when the MMC said his parents where coming to make sure he didn’t drop the baby?? Isn’t he a pediatrician?? Even if it was a joke it wasn’t a very good one.

All likable characters which was nice.

Safety
No ow/om, cheating
No third act breakup
No manwhore/ no past mentioned
Hea

[Lindsey Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shane and Callie's story is like a warm fuzzy blanket and a cup of hot chocolate. Melanie Moreland is brilliant at writing instalust and Wrapped in Love is a perfect blend of Christmas goodness and love at first sight.

Melanie Moreland created a beautiful connection between Shane and Callie that I loved. Though this is a short story, their back stories made for well rounded characters and Shane's family added to all the family love.

A wonderful Christmas story that can easily be devoured in one sitting.

[Debbie Readsalotl Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor gift shop owner Callie has no family of her own, and it's almost Christmas when Shane comes knocking on her door a minute after closing on Christmas Eve. He needs gifts for his family - they haven't all been together for 5 years. He's a well-off doctor and goes all out in Callie's shop. They're attracted to one another, and she offers him dinner and help with his gift wrapping.

They spend a passionate night together, and he already knows he doesn't want it to end.

This is a super sweet insta-love story with a pretty happy ending for all.

[Moodreader24 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way to start off the Christmas season with a Christmas Novella by Melanie Moreland.
To start off Wrapped In Love is on sale and all will proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Hamilton Food Share.
This book reminds be a lot of the Hallmark Channel and I loved it. We have Callie a small-town shop owner with her farting cat Jake. And we have Shane trying to get to his family for the Christmas season. But is snowed in. Both have a wonderful steamy night getting to know each other. That turns into true love. With a lovely HEA <3.

[FunUndertheCovers · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a heart warming holiday story of family found, look no farther. This one is so sweet and addictive, you won't want to put it down nor will you want to leave this magical world created by Melanie Moreland.
While trying to make his way "home for the holidays", Shane lost his packages and his way on Christmas Eve. He is led to Callie who is about to help him in so many ways.
This is such a beautiful story, even after the holidays, it will bring some human spirit to your heart!
Review by C. Seymour - blogger

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read!!

I absolutely loved Wrapped in Love. The instant attraction between Callie and Shane was beautiful. Two lost souls that found each other and didn't know it. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a lil Christmas magic. If you love to read a story of loss, sadness, loneliness that turns into love, happiness and family check this one out or any fantastic book by Melanie Moreland you won't be disappointed.