A Christmas quest for a fabulous book. Sounds perfect for the changing of the seasons. Plus it was short and sweet and everything I need. I loved how the MCs had to kind of go on a scavenger hunt of sorts to find this precious book. I loved it so much also very unique plot and that’s hard to do with holiday books

Once Upon a Christmas Legend, by Ciara Knight, is an interesting tale with shades of Beauty and the Beast. Audrey, a rare book dealer, is in search of a special volume of Once Upon a Christmas Kiss, which legend states the person who has it in possession at Christmas will find their one true love. Having been cheated on by her former fiancé and best friend, Audrey has set out on a quest to find this rare book, not for a collector but for herself.

This quest has brought Audrey to the small town of Cherry Creek in the Smoky Mountains. Seeking the last known folks to have had the book, Audrey ventures to first an empty school with some cheerleaders selling old books, or is it information, which then leads her to the Cherish Cafe on Main Street. Upon meeting owner Scarlet and her fiancé Duke, Audrey learns that they believe it was this special book that brought them together just a year ago. However, after that the book was put back in the Free Library outside the cafe. Duke states he knows someone who might know more and offers to take her in his truck since her small car would never make it up the gravel road. Putting her fears aside, Audrey agrees. Once they arrive at the remote location, Duke smoothly gets Audrey to leave his truck, quickly apologizes, and takes off. And now the story becomes more complicated as Audrey meets former host of a show debunking myths and legends but now complete recluse, Ramen Johnson. However, Ramen is the victim of a myth he could not debunk and wears the disfiguring evidence to prove it.

This is a beautifully written story showing the pain, the fragility, and the promise of mere humans. Ms. Knight has written a moving holiday story. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it.

I loved this story! It was the perfect cute little re-telling of a modern Beauty and the Beast. Even though it wasn’t that long I never felt like the pacing was to quick, which I was very impressed by.

I highly recommend it and it would be a perfect read for the start of December. It has a few winter and Christmas elements, but it wasn’t a full on Christmas book, which is also the only negative thing I have to say about it.

This the cutest short story. You root for the couple the whole time. Even if it isn't Christmastime, this book is really good for year around. I would highly recommend it.

This was such a fun modern day twist on Beauty and the Beast. I really love Christmas romances and this one was the perfect one to get me in the Christmas mood.

Audrey Blythe is on the hunt for a special book but this time it is not for one of her customers. She is looking for the book Once Upon A Christmas Kiss. The legend says if a person is in possession of this special book at Christmas time then you will find your true love. And Audrey wants that more than anything.

Audrey is told that the elusive former Truth or Legend show star, Ramen Johnson, has some leads on the magical book. Ramen is hiding out in the small town after a run in with a real legend left him with scars and nightmares. Audrey convinces Ramen to help her search for the book. Read it to find out if they find the book and fall in love.

I can never say this enough but I love Ciara Knight!! Her books are so good and easy to read. This was a nice take on Beauty and the Beast. I love that movie so this was extra enjoyable for me. This was a really fun holiday read and I would definitely recommend this book.


Thank you NetGalley and Author Collective 20 for allowing me to read this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.

Once Upon a Christmas Legend is a unique story by Ciara Knight. The hunt for the special Christmas true love book seemed silly to do. However, it was such an enjoyable story I didn’t even care that Audrey should find a more reasonable way to look for love. Her hurt and disillusionment was so strong and honest I couldn’t help but pull for her. In the end she learns to trust herself, her judgment and her feelings. That was wonderful in itself, but then Ramen Johnson’s self-loathing needed some help too. Former legend researcher TV star now scarred hermit also was in need of an attitude as well as a perspective change. All it took was the persistent Audrey showing up in his life.

I liked how it was not an overnight change for Ramen. His emotional scars were too deep for that but the positive did begin to evolve early on, even with some setbacks. An easy read story that may take place at Christmas but is not actually a Christmas story. It is as described, a Beauty and the Beast contemporary romance that happens during the holiday season. Also it is one I thoroughly enjoyed reading straight through in one day, so not very long (150 pages or so).

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A charming and touching modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

This story instantly captivated me with the talk of books, realistically flawed characters, and the poignancy in which a tough topic was dealt with.

Audrey is searching for a legendary book in small-town Cherry Creek, and ends up encountering the tortured soul that is Ramen.

Where do I begin with how much this book meant to me?

Some of the words that Ramen said about being unloveable due his scars sounded just like ones I had heard before too. Yet love doesn't see those scars, but rather allows to us to see into a person's true self. Beautifully written and handled to the point of happy tears in my eyes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Author Collective 20 for the opportunity to read this story for free and provide my honest opinion.

This Beauty and the Beast retelling follows Audrey (F) and Ramen (M) as they come to terms with their own, and each other’s, physical and emotional scars.

Set in a small town with Christmas vibes, this clean and wholesome book is a simple, light read, that can easily be finished in an hour.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Two things I love: Beauty and the Beast and holiday romances. Needless, to say when I saw this one--- a holiday retelling of Beauty and the Beast, I couldn't wait to check it out.

I don't read a ton of fairy tale retellings, but when I do, I am looking for those that have enough elements of the original story that I can recognize it as such... but also be a unique story all on its own too. I think in many ways, that can be a rather difficult balance to create but the author of this story did it wonderfully. Audrey is searching for a legendary book that promises it will bring true love. This leads her to Ramen who had been a TV host for a show about legends until facial scarring led him to become a hermit, considering himself a beast. I don't want to give too much away... but there is definitely a great blend of both the new and the familiar to capture my interest. I found this to be a really fun holiday romance and one that I certainly enjoyed.


**I received a copy for consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is A Beauty and The Beast Sweet Small Town Holiday Romance and it is Audrey and Ramen’s story. Audrey spent her time looking for rare books and after finding her fiancé in bed with her best friend her life took a turn for the worse and then she found out that they were getting married so now Audrey is looking for a certain book called Once Upon a Christmas Kiss as the legend said that the person that holds the book during Christmas time will find there one true love so Aubrey is determined to not only find the book but also move forward with her life after the betrayal of the two people that was important to her so when she finds out that there is a man that may be able to help her find the book she is determined to find him and ask for his help. Ramen used to be famous because of his show called Truth or Legend and traveled all around the world but now he is a recluse and grump who likes to hide away from everyone after the accident that took everything from him leaving him so scared and no longer able to trust anyone. When Aubrey and Ramen meet everything goes wrong and he wants her out of his life but Aubrey is stubborn and one determined lady and she wants that book so no matter how hard he tries to push her away she is here to stay until that book is in her hands. Audrey and Ramen are so perfect for each other and have both gone through so much in there lives and even though they will have many ups and downs along the way and there is also a lot of push and pull they both deserve happiness and you find yourself hoping that they can eventually find there way back to each other. This was a beautiful and magical story that had you turning the pages because you just couldn’t put it down and I can’t wait to read more books from this author in the future.

First of all, thank You netgalley for the ARC granted, and secondly... I am totally caught up when it comes to christmas books and this one adds up that "Beauty and the Beast" touch that always makes enjoy the reading. I liked a lot!

I adored the clean and wholesome nature of this heartwarming Christmas romance. It was such a delightful change of pace from the usual stories I come across. What truly captivated me was the mystery that surrounded the origins of this tale. I wondered whether it was based on actual events or simply a product of folklore. This added a charming layer of intrigue to the story and kept me engaged until the end. Overall, it was a truly enchanting experience that left me feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

Thank you to NetGalley and Author Collective 20 for allowing me to read and review this book.

Once Upon a Christmas Legend by Ciara Knight is a sweet Beauty and the Beast Holiday romance.
This is my sixth title I’ve read and enjoyed by this author. And I’ve really liked them all.
Knights writing is captivating and she really draws the readers into the story. Watching the characters and their journey unfold was amazing.
A heartwarming small-town romance. That is packed with emotions and the connection Audrey makes with Ramen is special.
If you are looking for a sweet Christmas romance that definitely has Hallmark Channel vibes, then look no further. Ciara Knight's new Christmas book ticks all the boxes.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Author Collective 20 for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #DefyTheDarkPublishing for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.This is a novella so it is a short,quick read.Loved how they both had to work through their scars, the visible and invisible, on their quest forward.

Once Upon a Christmas Kiss was a cute Christmas romance. Audrey, our rare book seller FMC that is looking for love in a legendary book. Ramen, our recluse MMC that only wants to hide from everyone and live alone with his pigs.
I think the idea behind the book was overall super cute. But it needed more fleshing out and a lot of editing. The writing was very choppy. Originally I thought this was from a debut author but upon research, it’s a written by author with an impressive backlist. Which surprised me, as this felt very juvenile and like a first attempt into writing. For me the plot was predictable. At 4% in, I knew exactly how it was going to end. The twists and turns were also predictable. No new clues for the book? But suddenly one after visiting the nosy cafe owner? The relationships were presented as though everyone was known for years when in reality everyone was an acquaintance. It made the love story somewhat unbelievable.
I believe the book could benefit strongly with a sensitivity editor. The way the author described Ramen’s scarring was uncomfortable not in the descriptions of his looks but at how others saw him and empathized with him!m? It was off putting and felt very insensitive, not like someone falling for an individual.
I believe if I’d read this at 16, I absolutely would have been head over heels at the over the top drama and sweet love story. All the dramatic plot twists and insta love would have had me swooning. Unfortunately as an adult, it was a miss for me. Solid 2.5 stars.

A modern retelling of a classic trope, “Once upon a Christmas Legend: A Beauty and the Beast Sweet Small Town Holiday Romance”, by Ciara Knight, features a heroine searching for closure and happiness and a recluse hero running from it.
I liked Audrey’s devotion and perseverance to break down Ramen’s walls, and her immediate, steady, unshakable will to reach out for the town’s “Haunted Hermit”.
To Audrey, Ramen is “wounded but not frightening”, and so she embarks on a journey to heal him while she, too, seeks some kind of redemption and both search a legendary book.
Ramen seeing himself as “scarred and unlovable”, and ugly, is sad; wanting to hide understandable, because the rudeness and cruelty towards difference and imperfection, the staring, commenting and recording are unbearable.
I liked the way the hero warmed up to Audrey’s quest and helped her despite the initial resistance.
The final decision to face society again seemed a bit rushed.
While the visual impact of the disfigurement was fully explored, painting Ramen as a “freak show” for some people, I found the story lacked addressing the functional challenges and adaptations inevitably caused by the eye loss.

Audrey is a rare book collector. She heard the legend about the book "Once Upon a Christmas Kiss." The person in possession of the book is said to find true love. After finding her fiance in bed with her best friend, she no longer trust herself to choose.

She travels to Cherry Creek to try and find the book. The small town is the last known location of the book. Audrey gets sent to Ramen's house because he knows everything about legends.

Ramen stays locked up on his land because of facial scars he received while trying to disprove a legend/myth. He doesn't let anyone near him. Yet he finds himself wanting to help Audrey and enjoying her company.

They found love while in search of the "magical" book.

I really enjoyed this novella. I received a copy through NetGalley.

Thank you netgalley for opportunity to read and review this book. It was such a sweet take on a beauty and the beast tale. Loved how they both had to work through their scars, the visible and invisible, on their quest forward. Always nice having a clean Christmas romance story and opportunity to find out if it is truth or legend.

This book was so good, I loved it. Beauty and the Beast retellings are my favorite of all. Amd this one was fantastic. Audrey was a stubborn girl but in a good way, thank God, she wanted that book and she wanted Ramen. She liked him so much, she just wanted to be with him, nothing else mattered. She didn't care what anyone thought, inclunding himself, she liked and she was gonna show him that. Ramen had been pushed to the side and looked over simply because of his scar. But we can see that his biggest enemy is himself. People will always be mean, but how you respond to them is what defines you. He hide himself from the outside world but the moment Audrey entered, he knew things would never be the same again. He really liked her too and thought he was doing the right thing for her but he wasn't. They belonh together, never apart, they both lifted each other up. I just wish the book didn't end so abruptly, I would have liked to see them in her ex's wedding, that would be something