The Christmas Token

Hardman Holidays, Book 2

By: Shanna Hatfield

Narrated by: Michael L Canaan

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Desperate to escape an unwelcome suitor, Ginny Granger flees to her brother's home in Eastern Oregon for the holiday season. Returning to the community where she spent her childhood years, she plans to relax and enjoy a peaceful visit. Not expecting to encounter the boy she once loved, her exile is proving to be anything but restful.

A talented carpenter, Blake Stratton enjoys a simple existence in the small western town of Hardman. With honest work and good friends, his life is nearly perfect, at least until the day Ginny Granger arrives, setting him on his ear and turning his world upside down. Infuriated by her meddling presence, he's further exasperated to discover she kept a Christmas token he gave her along with his heart the day she left town many years ago.

©2013 Shanna Hatfield (P)2017 Shanna Hatfield

Good Story but Terrible Narration

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I do not recommend the audible version of this book. The narration was off and very distracting to the realistic feel and setting of this time period.

Enjog

Most enjoyable. Looking for book three next
Thankz
Nothing more needed nor nothing more to say

Sweet story - not a fan of narration

This story is sweet, and an old time romance. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline. The narrator has a beautiful voice, until he is voicing women or children. His falsetto is both distracting and annoying. Perhaps a dual narration or not attempting to change his voice so much would have been better options.

Good but....

I love Hatfield romances, but the narration... 🙄. Canaan does an excellent male voice, but his female voice and English accent were difficult to bear at times. This was in 2013, so I’m sure he’s better now.

Great Christmas Romance

I truly enjoyed the story. Hated the narration!! It’s the voices — why make all the women sound like simpering idiots — whiney voices for all of them? Really? I enjoy a narrator who changes voices, but if you really think all women sound like that....

Nice story… average narration

I really love Shanna Hatfield’s “Hardman Holidays” novels. I read The Christmas Token two times back to back. I was so excited to get them on Audible. The stories are engaging, heartfelt, and have nice twists that the reader might not expect. The narration is difficult. As a reader of the story, Mr. Canaan has a pleasant voice. However he struggles with the female and kid voices. His voice for the hero in this, the 2nd Hardman book, is pleasant and believable. I hope more of Shanna Hatfield’s books become available as audio books but with a more versatile narrator. 4 stars over all because the story is good. 3 stars for narration.

Shanna Hatfield is one of my new, favorite authors!

I loved The Christmas Token, by Shanna Hatfield! A follow-up novel to The Christmas Bargain, both take place in Hardman, Oregon before the turn of the century. This time, it’s Luke Granger’s little sister Jenny who “runs away” to Hardman for Christmas. She’s got lots of growing up to do, a privileged New York attitude, and her old love 💕 right there in Hardman with whom to spar. It’s wonderful fun and enjoyable reading. Novelist Hatfield’s well-developed characters make you feel like you are well-acquainted with each one and you are right there in the room, participating with them in actions and conversations. It’s a hit read that’s hard to put down! I highly recommend it!

Wonderful !!

What a beautiful story, lovely narration as well. This is my second book from this author and can't wait to listen to the next book in this series.

Cute Storyline, Dreadful Narrator

Cute storyline in Hatfield style, if not a bit tedious with misunderstandings between main characters a bit drawn out. As with some of my favorite stories, "The Christmas Bargain" & the "Baker City Brides" series, the narrator (Michael Canaan) is dreadful - especially horrible with female voices. It's a chore listening to him. I struggle through the complete audiobook versions only because I like the stories so much, but it's so disappointing - would be great listening with a good narrator. Has Shanna Hatfield actually listened to her books read aloud by Canaan & approved them? Sorry.

Needs different narrator.

The narrator had a terrible woman’s voice as well as child’s voice. His English accent sounds more Australian than English, but was pretty terrible either way.