A Christmas in the Alps

Written by Melody Carlson

Narrated by Jeanine Bartel

Get ready for a magical mountain holiday

After a time of heartache and loss, Simone Winthrop discovers a tantalizing letter from her French great-grandmother, which seems to suggest that Simone is heir to a family treasure. Ever practical, Simone assumes the claim is baseless, but her
best friend encourages her to find out for sure. Despite her deep-rooted fear of flying, she boards a jet and travels to Paris at Christmastime to uncover the truth.

During the long flight, Simone meets the charming Kyle Larsson, who’s on his way to France to become an apprentice clockmaker. Though they abruptly part ways, an unexpected rendezvous in the French Alps at Simone’s family’s clock factory
may lead to the discovery of the family treasure … and so much more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781705038369

Melody Carlson

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books for teens, women, and children. Before publishing, Melody traveled around the world, volunteered in teen ministry, taught preschool, raised two sons, and worked briefly in interior design and later in international adoption. "I think real-life experiences inspire the best fiction," she says. Her wide variety of books seems to prove this theory.

Reviews for A Christmas in the Alps

[carolyn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was a light hearted romance and mystery. It was clean and entertaining.

[Becky Baumgartner · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cute, light, clean Christmas romance with a nice wintry setting. The narrator did an admirable array of voices and accents.

[robbyefaye · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have read several of Melody Carlson's books and found them to be very enjoyable. My favorites, though, are always her Christmas tales. Every year, I eagerly anticipate and can't wait to read them. A Christmas in the Alps did not let me down!Every component—from the mysterious letter to the hasty choice to fly to France, from the enigmatic Kyle to the clockmaker factory—built upon the others and helped to create a beautiful, suspenseful story that had me fascinated and hooked from the start.The French Alps provided the ideal backdrop for Christmas. I could almost physically feel the cold, see the icy landscapes, and imagine the breathtaking views.The faith component was understated and subtle. However, it complemented the story well.A Christmas in the Alps is a novella which makes it the ideal book for a quick read when you are feeling nostalgic for Christmas, or during the holiday season.I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[bookymouse · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well written, if a bit predictable. The characters are charming and the setting cozy. Perfect for a short Christmas read with enough mystery and romance to keep the pages turning.

[peggy.s · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoy reading Melody Carlson's Christmas books every year - and this year was no exception! A Christmas in the Alps is her Christmas novella for this year. It is a sweet story, set in the French Alps. There is a little mystery – a little romance – and a little family drama. Altogether, a nice story for the Christmas season!

[lindz2012 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Christmas in the Alps is a lovely and enjoyable story set for Christmas. You will find yourself wanting to find out more about the two main characters exploring France. This book is set during and takes place mainly in France around Christmas.We meet Simone while she is cleaning out her great grandma's house. Her friend found a letter and read it to Simone. The letter starts Simone on her journey to discover her great-grandma's treasure and heritage. Will she find more than that? Will she overcome her flying fear? She meets Kyle during her flight from Seattle to France.This story is doing a bit of genealogy and a bit of romance. So far, it is excellent. It looks like Simone has made at least two friends. There seems to be a mystery going on as well at this point. Is Leon's Aunt related to Simone's Great-grandma, or does she know anything about her Great Grandpa rescued during WW2?Will Kyle and Simone find love with each other? Will Simone find the true treasure and family? There seems to be a family feud or a rift in a relationship. Can Simone find a solution and fix the relationship with her great aunt? To this end, you will want to read more from this author. Melody Carlson will bring you in to enjoy the culture of her lovely books and Christmas books. This one is no different.

[goodsew · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a charming Carlson story of finding family and restoring relationship. The young woman suffers through a long flight in order to see Paris for the first time. Then she moves to a chateau-hotel in a quaint village in the Alps for Christmas. She makes awkward attempts at communicating in French.Many reviewers compare this to a Hallmark movie. What is wrong with that? There are several love triangles in this story. How will they affect the outcome of the story? Will Simone find her grandmother’s “treasure”?Check out this little novella. I understand Melody Carlson has written other holiday novellas. I will check them out.

[marciablnc · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book was very predictable. It reminded me of a Hallmark movie when you know what the ending will be.

[fcplcataloger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What better way to start the holiday season than an armchair trip to the French Alps? Melody Carlson's newest book is an enjoyable novella that sends Simone Winthrop on a trip to find the treasure that her late great-grandmother mentioned in a note. Along the way, she discovers so much more: relatives that she's never met, a new friendship that may turn into something deeper, and a "Christmas treasure that would last forever!"Reading Melody Carlson's annual Christmas book has become a tradition for me, and A Christmas in the Alps certainly doesn't disappoint. Simone, Kyle, and Tante Estelle are especially memorable characters, there is a light mystery surrounding the treasure, and I especially enjoyed the description of the Christmas decorations around Paris and the French countryside. There's also a spiritual reminder that earthly possessions aren't our true treasures!A Christmas in the Alps is a fast, enjoyable Christmas read and I recommend it to all who enjoy clean romance stories centered around the holidays. Four stars for this well-written novella!This book was provided courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews. All opinions are my own.

[tatoosh-3 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is a boring book. The premise is generic and Carlson’s write-by-the-numbers telling of the story lacks even a hint of creativity or freshness. I groped for something more to say, but the truth is this brief novelette wasn’t worth reading.

[polarmath · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Simone decides to visit her great-grandmother and overcomes her fear of flying to do so. While traveling she meets Kyle and finds herself meeting up with him again while in Paris and the French Alps. They work together to uncover family secrets and treasures. A great happy read that puts you in the mind for Christmas. I received a copy to read, the review is mine.

[becky_l-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh, my goodness! After reading A Christmas in the Alps, I have the strong urge to go out and purchase all of Melody Carlson’s other Christmas novels and novellas! Carlson recounts an amazing story of finding family and restoring relationships long ago damaged and severed. All set against a backdrop of a young woman seeing Paris for the first time, then staying in a lovely chateau-hotel in a quaint village in the Alps. I felt like I was traveling along with Simone, suffering through the trans-Atlantic flight, seeing the beautiful sights, stumbling through awkward attempts at communicating in French.If you love Hallmark movies, you will love this novel that begs to be its own movie. Several love triangles make for romantic tension and swoon-worthy reading. Team Kyle or Team Noel? Team Sylvie or Team Simone? How will the love triangles affect the loyalties and action and other relationships in this beautiful story?*Sigh.* I don’t reread books. But I just may have to make an exception!I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads. All opinions are my own.

[gincam · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beloved author Melody Carlson is known for her heartwarming, heart-tugging holiday tales. With their captivating characters, compelling story lines, and underlying element of abiding faith, her seasonal stories are not to be missed. "A Christmas in the Alps" is the story of a young woman's journey outside her own personal boundaries and how the truths she finds and the discoveries she makes will bring the past into the present and clear the way for the future to come. After the death of her grandmother, Simone Winthrop finds a letter addressed to her from her French great-grandmother, who was also named Simone. The long unseen letter had never been opened, and Simone is stunned by its contents. According to the letter, Simone has inherited a treasure, but she must travel to France to claim it. Despite her fear of flying, Simone is encouraged by her best friend to take a leap of faith and claim the treasure. Simone is quite discomfited on the flight--until a nice young passenger, Kyle Larsson, calms her and makes the time pass in a pleasant manner. Kyle is on his way to Europe to become an apprentice clockmaker. They part ways at the airport, but have an unexpected reunion at the clock factory owned by Simone's family. This is a sweet, charming, holiday love story where the true meaning of "treasure" is love of family and friends, spiritual faith, and care for one's fellow man. The descriptions of holiday celebrations in other cultures are like a happy travelogue, and are especially uplifting to those of us facing travel restrictions.Review Copy Gratis Revell Books

[mizroady · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Who wouldn’t want to spend Christmas in France in the scenic Alps! I know you can’t see me but my hand is raised! A trip like this isn’t possible for me but I was able to travel with Simone and share in her experiences.Solid, responsible and loving, Simone has taken care of her Grandmother Betty for the last couple of years. Her friend Andrea is helping her with the monumental task of sifting through a life time of accumulation. During their endeavor they come upon 3 year old letter addressed to her from her great grandmother. If that weren’t enough of surprise, Simone reads that her great grandmother asks her to make a trip to the French Alps to find a hidden treasure she has left during the war. Her grandmother has since died and was a nonagenarian when she wrote it. The chances of it still being there after all these years and the mental state of her relative when she wrote it are questionable. Would it be worth a trip to France on such slim chances? Andrea thinks Simone is ready for adventure and a change of scenery. She encourages . . . no pushes. . . forces Simone into making the trip. While Simone sees many obstacles, the biggest is her paralyzing anxiety about flying!After Andrea, being the good friend she is has made all the arrangements Simone boards her flight to France. She is blessed with a kind, not to mention handsome, young man named Kyle. He calms her through her panic attacks along the way. They go their separate ways in Iceland but exchange numbers, hoping to meet again in Paris.Meeting and becoming acquainted with her French side of the “family” is not all joyfulness and affection, but she perseveres and the secrets of her ancestry open up in surprising ways. She finds the treasure her great-grandmother wrote of is not at all what she imagined. I received this book from Revell in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are my own.

[eccl-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Christmas in the Alps, by Melody Carlson, is a heart warming short Christmas story. It is well written and the perfect length to read in an evening. I enjoyed how Simone knew nothing of her extended family and was getting the chance to know them. It surprised me that someone in today’s world would have no background of their family. I liked the character of Kyle. He is so caring yet he has a hint of mischief in his personality. This is a wonderful story with the message that God will provide when the time is right.I received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

[macnoid · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Christmas in the Alps is a beautiful story of family reconciliation, and new love, all in the beautiful setting of a quaint village in the French Alps at Christmas. Simone, the main character, knows little of her family history, having been raised by grandparents, and never knew her mother. She steps out of her comfort zone, with prodding by her best friend, to try to find a family 'treasure' that her great grandmother left her, but she must first find her great grandmothers relatives, and the family home in France. The idea intrigues her, because she has no surviving relatives in her present life. A whole new world opens up to her, as she finds her family, and love , and the 'treasure', which turns out to be more valuable than she could have imagined! The story is short, easy to read in one sitting, and held my interest throughout. There was an exclusive bonus chapter at the end, which was interesting, but I'm not sure it means another book will follow, or it was just to wrap up some more of the story after the epilogue! Another great Christmas read from Melody Carlson, who never disappoints!

[lamb521 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Title: A Christmas in the Alps: A Christmas NovellaAuthor: Melody CarlsonPages: 176Year: 2021Publisher: RevellMy rating: 4 ½ out of 5 stars.Melanie Carlson’s latest Christmas novella is about a woman who is on the threshold of learning more about her family. The book starts with Simone Winthrop cleaning out her grandmother’s house when a friend discovers a letter never opened. Through the loving pressure of her friend, she decides to act upon the contents of the letter, which takes her across the ocean to France.Simone meets a caring man on the same flight named Kyle Larsson who is looking to find an apprenticeship with a clock maker. However, there are a couple of tasks Kyle must do before he arrives in France. When they both end up in France, the enticing scenery, food, and mystery sets them both on a path neither of them ever expected!The novella is a tale filled with mystery, romance and faith that is sure to captivate and charm readers. It captures the imagination from the first page until the very last! I hope readers will enjoy the book and share it with family and friends. The book does contain some French words and phrases that sometimes inhibited my enjoyment of the story, although the author does let audiences know what is being said by the context, direct translation or in characters conversation.I recommend Melanie Carlson’s other Christmas themed tales such as A Christmas by the Sea, The Christmas Joy Ride and The Christmas Cat just to name a few.Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Melody Carlson Christmas books are always short and sweet, with minimal conflict or drama. A Christmas in the Alps is the story of a young girl who decides to sell her grandmother's house and use the money to travel to the French Alps to look for treasure. After her grandmother's death, Simone Winthrop realizes she has no family left, she can have a fresh start. While she's cleaning out the house her grandmother left her, Simone's best friend discovers an un-opened letter to Simone from her great-grandmother. In it she mentions treasure and her hometown in the Alps. With nothing holding her back and at her friend's extreme encouragement, Simone takes a leap of faith and decides to spend Christmas in the Alps. What she doesn't expect to find is family, romance, and a new take on life - but her great grandmother really delivers on the "treasure" that can be found if one is really looking for it. Very sweet, would make a good Hallmark Christmas movie.

[nadinec.keels · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A mysterious letter from Simone's late great-grandmother seems to suggest that Simone has inherited a family treasure over in France. To discover whether or not it's true, Simone takes a trip to Paris in A Christmas in the Alps by author Melody Carlson.I've enjoyed a handful of this ChristFic author's Christmas novellas so far. I almost wish this one could have been a split-timeline story to make the family history more vivid.While this tale starts off with some redundancy and spends too much time on an early matter that isn't necessary to the plot, the book becomes more interesting once Simone makes it to her destination. It's ultimately the plot that gives this Christmas story its strength.Plus, it does indeed remember it's a Christmastime tale, with festive and sparkling depictions of the holiday season in the City of Light.Now, the story's style is simplistic at times, and I never found the narrator's exclamation points to be necessary. There's also some last-minute melodrama that leads to a speedy wrap-up, and the Happily-Ever-After ending becomes excessive with its repetitive descriptions about the "happy" characters living on "happily" in their "happy" circumstances.On an even more technical note, my editor's side would have cut down on the number of sentences that begin with "And" and "But"—by at least half.Nevertheless, this short and sweet read with a thread of family mystery delivers the kind of warm and wholesome holiday story that many readers will find uplifting.________Revell provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.

[drebbles · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Simone Winthrop is feeling at loose ends after the loss of her grandmother and great-grandmother – the only family she has ever known. When she finds a letter from her great-grandmother saying she left her a treasure in Avre, France, her friend Andrea convinces Simone that she should go to France to find it. Simone reluctantly agrees thinking that it might be the change she needs in her life. Little does Simone realize the visit will change her life forever.“A Christmas in the Alps” is a very nice, if slim, Christmas romance by Melody Carlson. I loved a lot of things about this book starting with Simone – her despair over the loss of her grandmother and great-grandmother is very real and I felt for her as she struggled to rebuild her life. I also liked the character of Kyle, although he was not as fully developed a character as Simone is. And that is the one thing that I really didn’t like about this book. While Carlson is a very descriptive writer – the scenes where Simone flew for the very first time are very well done and Carlson’s description of Avre is so well done that I felt like I was there – this book is very slim and some things felt rushed and not fully developed. A case in point is Simone’s relationship with Kyle – one meeting on a plane and they are practically engaged. I wish the book was longer and that Carlson had taken more time to develop their relationship. (Yes, this is a novella but I think it would have been better as a full-length romance.) The same goes for Simone’s relationship with her long-lost relatives – that too felt rushed and not fully developed. Still, as a Christmas romance, this isn’t a bad way to spend a few hours reading. “A Christmas in the Alps” is a short but sweet Christmas romance.

[thebooklover2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Carlson's Christmas in the Alps was a wonderful read. Since I don't travel this book was just a dream and imagined a trip to Paris and the French Alps just as I would imagine it. The added romance was a bonus! Simone Winthrop (a wonderful name for the main character) meets Kyle on the flight to Paris. They part ways but soon meet again - unexpectedly at Simone's family;s clock factory. Of course, there is a family secret involved. Could you ask for more. If you like the genre, this is a must read. Treat yourself to an early Christmas gift and get in the mood for the holidays.

[medwards429 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for providing an advanced review copy of the book through Library Thing. A positive review was definitely not required or requested in any way; all words are my own. I previously read The Christmas Swap by the author, as well as The Happy Camper. So, I was delighted to see this little stand-alone novella. After all, I LOVE Christmas stories any time of the year. I love the holiday anytime of the year as well, and no, I wasn’t born at Christmas. The cute, artsy cover reminds me of those old-fashioned Christmas cards of years ago, and definitely those cozy Christmas Villages people decorate with. I’ve always wanted them – sadly, no money and no room for them. But, the cuteness, coziness, and whimsiness is there, some nostalgia as well. I was expecting that same content in the book. And, it was sort of there, though not quite.A small village is where Simone Winthrop is heading after discovering a letter from her great-grandmother, her grandmother’s mother, when cleaning up the house left to her by her grandmother. Told in third-person from Simone’s POV, the story opens with her cleaning her grandmother’s house. And, to be honest, the Hoarders refence is a theme I’ve seen quite bit. Thankfully, no graphic descriptions. And, it was more “stuff” than “junk”, or “trash”. There is talk of a treasure that great-grandma wants her to have. And, I thought this was definitely going to be a cutesy and exciting read – treasure and romance. And, for the most part it is – cutesy and slightly romantic. It just didn’t grab me the way I’d hoped, and I didn’t really get interested until around chapter 8 or so. I definitely enjoyed it while I was reading it. There might be some “trigger” or content issues: hoarding, Alzheimer’s, and the mention of Hitler because of a connection to WWII. The characters didn’t grab me right off. I definitely thought Simone’s friend Andrea was far too pushy. Thankfully, she doesn’t show up after chapter 5. There were a few questions I had when it came to her. And, still do. Simone, despite her fear of flying, is wrangled into the trip. Her fear is understandable, but it actually resembled more of anxiety with panic attacks. That is far different. I was a bit apprehensive of flying in June 2014 when I traveled to New Jersey by myself. And, for the record, I have long said “if I can’t drive there, I don’t need to be there”, yet I flew there – by myself. The last time I flew was in April of 1980 when I was a little girl – so, 31 years between flights. I can understand the fear, but Simone was definitely far past that (thinking up worst case scenarios even) and I felt, given her “fear” and background – perhaps she should’ve sought help prior to flying. That might’ve prepared her. It wasn’t like she could’ve have had a few professional visits before the trip to fully prepare. In addition, she should’ve researched more. Anyway …Her fears are calmed when a sweet guy, Kyle, sits next to her. And, truthfully, he was the best character of them all. Sincerely the absolute best. Though a flight transfer separates the two briefly. Simone falls in love with Paris and the author goes to great lengths to describe it, at times the narrative reads like a tour guide. You can almost close your eyes and imagine the sights. That’s the only thing I’d have a problem with – being on a flight that long for international travel. Maybe someday. And, yes, Paris is on that list – along with Australia and London. As far as the rest of Simone’s family that she meets in France – they were a bit … interesting. The innkeeper, Noel, was a fantastic guy and is through him that Simone meets up with a link to her “Beaumont” family side. And, as it turns out, Kyle is connected to them as well. And, it seems great-aunt Estelle’s likes Kyle far more than she does Simone. Though why? Despite her great-aunt Estelle’s coldness at first, Simone finally learns the history of her great-grandma’s family. And, she learns the truth about what real treasure is.Some of the plot involved a clock and watch factory that is floundering and one of the family members wants to change it to something else. Thus, Simone and Kyle work to “save” it. That part I felt kind of detracted from the cuteness and whimsy of the book. There was VERY little “romance” and that doesn’t take part until about 50% of the way in. This is more fiction than romance. I do have to admit that Estelle showed the best character development and growth overall from the time we meet her until the end of the book, including the bonus chapter. The bonus chapter will be available in books sold through certain retailers. Having never had a book with “bonus content”, seeing the bonus version was interesting and insightful. It didn’t really change the overall tone or message of the story. With a novella, they are short reads. This was also helped by the shorter chapters. And, this is EASILY a day read. At times, the narrative seemed to drag on a bit. I had a feeling that there was something in the family background between Simone’s great-grandmother and great-aunt Estelle. I loved Noel’s mom’s name (yes, my name). Anytime a character has the name MARIE in it, and they’re a good one, I tend to smile a bit. While distributed by Revell, a Christian/faith themed publisher; there were only a few slight references to prayers in general, some church attendance, and a mention of God. These are definitely not integral to the story.Some fans of the author as well as the genre might enjoy this read. It wasn’t a bad book, just not too high up on the re-read scale. I likely would read another book by the author though.

[lusetta · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoy reading Melody Carlson's novels. This one did not disappoint. Since it is a novella, there wasn't the full character development and scenery description that would be in a full-length novel. But it is a fun and quick read, with enough character development and scenery description to make it satisfying. And the bonus chapter lets you know that there is a sequel coming! I enjoyed seeing how the past affects the present and that perspectives can change no matter how old you are.

[koalamom_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Simone was raised by her grandparents - a nice childhood but after they did she had no one. On her deathbed her great-grandmother had asked Simone to go back to her place of birth in France and find her treasure. Simone was confused but after much encouragement from her good friend, decides to do just that. She indeed finds a wonderful treasure but not the one her great-grandmother had imagined. She finds family.A very readable and fun story.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I look forward to reading Melody Carlson’s annual Christmas story every fall. This year she has given us A Christmas in the Alps which takes readers to the French Alps. Simone Winthrop just lost her Grandma Betty, and she is busy clearing out her cluttered home. She comes across a letter written to her by her great-grandmother and namesake who has since passed away. Simone is told in the letter that there is a treasure her namesake left behind in Avre when she departed France in the 1940s with the American airman who would become her husband. Her great-grandmother wants Simone to have to the treasure, but she does not provide further details. Simone’s best friend, Andrea convinces her go on the adventure to France. I got to take the journey with Simone to Paris and then Avre. France in December sounds enchanting especially the Christmas markets. I found A Christmas in the Alps to be well-written with steady pacing. This is a short but engaging tale. Simone meets Kyle on the plane and finds herself attracted to him. Unfortunately, Simone fails to get his last name or number before Kyle rushes to catch his flight to Oslo. We wonder if they will meet again. The romance is sweet and plays out slowly. I enjoyed the descriptions of Avre and the factory that makes watches and clocks. The village has an old-world charm that is magical especially at Christmas. Simone gets a chance to search for family and the treasure. There is a light Christian element that emphasizes the importance of prayer and leaving our troubles with in God’s hands. A Christmas in the Alps is a story about family and forgiveness. You do not want to wait until it is too late because then you may never get that chance to make amends with someone important. This is a lovely novella, but I found it lacking the humor and magic of Melody Carlson’s earlier Christmas stories. It is a sweet Christmas tale, but I just wanted a little more. A Christmas in the Alps is a cheery Christmas novella with a lost letter, a furtive treasure, a petrifying plane ride, a charismatic seat companion, charming Christmas markets, secret searches, striking clocks, and an astonishing answer.