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Christmas Sanctuary
James Patterson’s BookShots. Short, fast-paced, high-impact entertainment.
Emma Kelly needs a Christmas miracle.
Nick Shepherd loves his life in Salt Spring Island, where he sculpts in a studio with the grizzled and talented artist Mike Nagorski. Mike's estranged daughter, Emma Kelly, arrives in their quiet haven, and though Nick is immediately drawn to her, he tries to resist his feelings. There may be Christmas magic in the air, but Nick knows it can't last forever...
Emma Kelly needs a Christmas miracle.
Nick Shepherd loves his life in Salt Spring Island, where he sculpts in a studio with the grizzled and talented artist Mike Nagorski. Mike's estranged daughter, Emma Kelly, arrives in their quiet haven, and though Nick is immediately drawn to her, he tries to resist his feelings. There may be Christmas magic in the air, but Nick knows it can't last forever...
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 28, 2017
34 people are currently reading
430 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
955 books355k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 3, 2017
As soon as I saw winter wonderland-esque cover for Lauren Hawkeye's Christmas Sanctuary, I knew I had to have it! Holiday romances are my addiction this year.
The result? Short and sweet, Lauren Hawkeye's Christmas Sanctuary shows that christmas miracles can be possible.
Christmas Sanctuary introduces the alternating POVs of Nick Shepard and Emma Kelly.
Emma's life hasn't been going well lately. Her mother won't listen to her and her fiancé feels like more of a friend than a lover. She finally hits her breaking point, however, when she finds out that her mother and fiancé have been lying to her. Cutting off ties with her mother and fiancé, she flees to Canada in search of the father she never knew she had. What she finds, though, is something she didn't anticipate: a young sculpture named Nick who infuriates yet excites her....
The aspect I loved the most about Christmas Sanctuary was the setting. I always enjoy reading about snowy, Thomas Kinkade like settings, and that's exactly what I got here. It was especially hilarious to see Emma - a southern girl - adjust to the cold weather albeit a few slightly embarrassing hiccups. The scenes involving her storming off into the snow wearing her high heeled boots were some of the best.
I liked the characters in Christmas Sanctuary. My heart broke for Emma. It's bad enough to find out one of your loved ones has been lying to you but to find out it's TWO loved ones...well, that's just a disaster. It was fun to see Emma find her groove again in Christmas Sanctuary. Better yet, I loved how a feisty side in her began to appear. At first, she was quiet, unwilling to speak up when she disagreed; however, as the book continued, she began to speak her mind, no matter the situation. Nick, on the other hand, was gruff and standoffish, yet there was something I still found appealing about him. I didn't like how he was with Emma at first, but as the book continued, he started to redeem himself.
My only problem here involved development. Given the novella's short length, I didn't find the plot lines to be incredibly well developed, especially those involving Emma's family. I wish more of the storyline had been dedicated to Emma's father. The handling of it was very quick and to the point - overshadowed by Emma's developing romance with Nick.
Overall, if you love holiday romances with sweet endings, Christmas Sanctuary is for you! It wasn't my favorite holiday read of the year, but it still was a good weekend read.
Grade: B
The result? Short and sweet, Lauren Hawkeye's Christmas Sanctuary shows that christmas miracles can be possible.
Christmas Sanctuary introduces the alternating POVs of Nick Shepard and Emma Kelly.
Emma's life hasn't been going well lately. Her mother won't listen to her and her fiancé feels like more of a friend than a lover. She finally hits her breaking point, however, when she finds out that her mother and fiancé have been lying to her. Cutting off ties with her mother and fiancé, she flees to Canada in search of the father she never knew she had. What she finds, though, is something she didn't anticipate: a young sculpture named Nick who infuriates yet excites her....
The aspect I loved the most about Christmas Sanctuary was the setting. I always enjoy reading about snowy, Thomas Kinkade like settings, and that's exactly what I got here. It was especially hilarious to see Emma - a southern girl - adjust to the cold weather albeit a few slightly embarrassing hiccups. The scenes involving her storming off into the snow wearing her high heeled boots were some of the best.
I liked the characters in Christmas Sanctuary. My heart broke for Emma. It's bad enough to find out one of your loved ones has been lying to you but to find out it's TWO loved ones...well, that's just a disaster. It was fun to see Emma find her groove again in Christmas Sanctuary. Better yet, I loved how a feisty side in her began to appear. At first, she was quiet, unwilling to speak up when she disagreed; however, as the book continued, she began to speak her mind, no matter the situation. Nick, on the other hand, was gruff and standoffish, yet there was something I still found appealing about him. I didn't like how he was with Emma at first, but as the book continued, he started to redeem himself.
My only problem here involved development. Given the novella's short length, I didn't find the plot lines to be incredibly well developed, especially those involving Emma's family. I wish more of the storyline had been dedicated to Emma's father. The handling of it was very quick and to the point - overshadowed by Emma's developing romance with Nick.
Overall, if you love holiday romances with sweet endings, Christmas Sanctuary is for you! It wasn't my favorite holiday read of the year, but it still was a good weekend read.
Grade: B
January 2, 2023
cosy Christmas book
Perfect for a winter’s afternoon! Grab the hot chocolate and a blanket and snuggle up and enjoy the Christmas spirit!
Perfect for a winter’s afternoon! Grab the hot chocolate and a blanket and snuggle up and enjoy the Christmas spirit!
December 5, 2017
I can’t imagine waking up one day to realize that your mother has been (let’s call it) withholding information about your father from you for your entire life. Add to that, your fiancé knows all about your roots as well! And you are living in the dark. I think I’d be royally ticked… Not giving a lot of details so as not to spoil the story, Emma Kelly takes off to meet her father. Funny side to this trek is that Emma is from the south and her father is living in Canada! As someone who has lived in the south and its warmer weather, I can tell you she is almost a fish out of water. But she’s strong and makes her own way. She meets her father’s work mate, Nick Shepherd, and they have an explosive story to read. Throw in some Christmas cheer, lots of tension between these two, a clueless father, and you get a wonderful story written in true Lauren Hawkeye style!
May 6, 2024
Light and quick read. Christmas and romance novella.
November 27, 2017
Christmas Sanctuary by James Patterson and Lauren Hawkeye is a standalone, contemporary romance.
Emma Kelly needs a christmas miracle. She wants to spend the holidays with her family, but fate and karma decide to unravel a ugly truth.
She´s up and on her way to Canada to find something long lost. Everything could be sunshine and rainbows, but no, now the real fun begins. What she finds at Salt Spring Island is not what she expected.
I started reading and was immediatedly sucked into Emma and Nick´s story. I read the book in one sitting, I couldn´t put it down. I had to know what happens to the characters.
Christmas Sanctuary kept me well entertained. I love the writing, the story and the words. I could feel the characters emotions in the words. I give 5 stars. Thank you, James Patterson and Lauren Hawkeye !
Emma Kelly needs a christmas miracle. She wants to spend the holidays with her family, but fate and karma decide to unravel a ugly truth.
She´s up and on her way to Canada to find something long lost. Everything could be sunshine and rainbows, but no, now the real fun begins. What she finds at Salt Spring Island is not what she expected.
I started reading and was immediatedly sucked into Emma and Nick´s story. I read the book in one sitting, I couldn´t put it down. I had to know what happens to the characters.
Christmas Sanctuary kept me well entertained. I love the writing, the story and the words. I could feel the characters emotions in the words. I give 5 stars. Thank you, James Patterson and Lauren Hawkeye !
December 5, 2017
Christmas Sanctuary is a sweet short written by Lauren Hawkeye with an introduction by James Patterson. This is more of a laid back book for Ms. Patterson, but just as enjoyable to read as her more “spicier” books.
Emma Kelly finds out that her mother has been lying to her all of her life about who her father is. She also realizes that she’s not in love with the fiancee who never has her back. So she does some investigating and ends up on Salt Spring Island off of Vancouver, Canada. When she attempts to meet her dad, she runs into artist Nick Shepherd, and the sparks fly! But can Nick handle a relationship?
This was a much tamer read for Hawkeye, but sweet and emotional makes up for it!
Emma Kelly finds out that her mother has been lying to her all of her life about who her father is. She also realizes that she’s not in love with the fiancee who never has her back. So she does some investigating and ends up on Salt Spring Island off of Vancouver, Canada. When she attempts to meet her dad, she runs into artist Nick Shepherd, and the sparks fly! But can Nick handle a relationship?
This was a much tamer read for Hawkeye, but sweet and emotional makes up for it!
August 8, 2020
Started this book after I'd read some other James Patterson books and bookshots. Started reading this around christmas to read something christmas festive but it wasn't really christmassy just set around the holiday season. I had not expected it to be a romance short story, but that is likely due to my own fault of not properly checking what the book was about.
It is well written, though once events are in motion the final outcome is predictable. If I'd rate this purely on whether I Iiked this, I'd have given it 2 stars but that would be an unfair reflection on the quality of the book.
It is well written, though once events are in motion the final outcome is predictable. If I'd rate this purely on whether I Iiked this, I'd have given it 2 stars but that would be an unfair reflection on the quality of the book.
December 27, 2024
Emma is getting ready for her wedding to Matthew when she finds out that she’s been lied to her whole life about who her father is. So she leaves Georgia and flies out to Canada to meet the father she never knew existed and to get away from her mother and fiancé. While in Canada she meets her father’s apprentice, Nick, and she realizes that she doesn’t even know who she is. Nick helps her find her spine and she helps him face his own demons. This was a short novella that wrapped everything into a beautiful Christmas bow.
December 5, 2017
Love this Christmas novella by Lauren Hawkeye. The forward by James Patterson was cute and unexpected, and heeled set the tone for the novella.
Emma is engaged to someone whom loves her mother more, and when some truths are revealed, her entire world gets tilted on its axis. She seems to embrace the new change, and what follows is an adventure full of love and laughs.
Please note that I did receive an ARC, and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Emma is engaged to someone whom loves her mother more, and when some truths are revealed, her entire world gets tilted on its axis. She seems to embrace the new change, and what follows is an adventure full of love and laughs.
Please note that I did receive an ARC, and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
December 27, 2019
I dont know. This genre obviously isnt my jam. Another story that started out promising and then just fell flat. I liked the characters more so than the others I've recently read, and brooding artists living on islands I too enjoy. But it all just comes out a little generic in the end, and I didn't find anything worth much merit.
April 27, 2018
Good story
Don't normally read romance stories but enjoyed this one.Well written with an easy to follow storyline. Well worth a read.
Don't normally read romance stories but enjoyed this one.Well written with an easy to follow storyline. Well worth a read.
February 3, 2019
Perfect Xmas read short and sweet
December 6, 2019
Very satisfying story!
This was a great quick read. An lovey story unfolded with a real set of strong characters with an edge of intrigue making you turn the pages
This was a great quick read. An lovey story unfolded with a real set of strong characters with an edge of intrigue making you turn the pages
April 30, 2020
The storyline of this book is really good. There is sex and a bit of swearing in it so it is definitely an adult book.
December 7, 2020
Lame and I didn't think the title accurately described the story, although it was during winter Christmas wasn't the main theme.
December 2, 2021
So many Southern phrases jammed into a tiny novella.
December 1, 2022
Loved it.
December 11, 2022
This is obviously a Lauren Hawkeye book, not
a James Patterson book. Misleading and makes me want to avoid dual authors.
a James Patterson book. Misleading and makes me want to avoid dual authors.
January 12, 2023
A quick read. It was an ok story.
November 20, 2023
I love book shots. Sometimes you just don't have alot of time to read and these fill the spot.
February 6, 2024
a romantic Bookshots book A young lady learns who her real father is and goes to meet him. She instead meets his good friend and they fall in love
July 3, 2025
great book
Good book not like the usual James Patterson books . I enjoyed it though good short read. Would recommend light reading.
Good book not like the usual James Patterson books . I enjoyed it though good short read. Would recommend light reading.
October 9, 2025
Good book
I wish we seen more of Nick and a slower development of him, but loved the book and recommend if u like love stories
I wish we seen more of Nick and a slower development of him, but loved the book and recommend if u like love stories
December 18, 2025
A short but not so sweet Christmas read.
December 20, 2025
This book felt unfinished and rushed in the ending. The character plot was just starting and suddenly it stopped and the book was over
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews