Book Review: "Moody's Grumpy Holiday" by Lane Hayes

Yes, I know that the holidays are over. That doesn’t mean I’m done with my holiday reads! There’s still snow on the ground here, so I’m good.

Hudson’s engagement ended and he’s honestly not that heartbroken. After spending some time at the fancy California beach resort where his honeymoon was supposed to be, he’s ready for a fresh start. And investing in the Oak Ridge Ranch seems to be the solution.

On the way to the ranch, Hudson decides to do a little sightseeing in nearby Christmas Town, known for their year-round tree and apparently some of the best chicken noodle soup you’ve ever tasted.

While waiting for some soup, Hudson visits Moody’s Marvelous Bah Humbug Bookshop and is immediately intrigued by Moody, the store’s adorable, nerdy owner. Moody is no dummy; he can’t take his eyes off the handsome cowboy that walked into his store. But there’s no way he could be interested in someone like him, right?

Not only is Hudson attracted to Moody, who uses phrases like “two shakes of a lamb’s tale,” but the more he gets to know him, the more he realizes what his heart has been missing. But strangely enough, even though Moody lives and works in Christmas Town, the month of December is his least favorite. He truly embodies the “bah humbug” in his store’s name. Can Hudson help change that?

This was sweet, funny, and romantic, and boy howdy, it was super HOT!! I love how both characters grew through the book and the way they interacted with the supporting characters. All in all, quite a festive story!

Book Review: "The Jolliest Bunch: Unhinged Holiday Stories" by Danny Pellegrino

“I was an emotional kid, who turned into an even more emotional adult—one who mourns the good times as much as he mourns the bad. Perfect days end with me wiping up the same tears that result from the crappy days.”

The holidays always seem to bring out healthy doses of both joy and craziness. I guess that’s why they’re such great fodder for writers. In The Jolliest Bunch, Danny Pellegrino, host of the podcast “Everything Iconic with Danny Pellegrino,” shares some of his holiday memories. They’ll either make you feel good about your own experiences or make you think he doesn’t know what crazy really is.

Having read his last book, How Do I Un-Remember This, I really enjoy Pellegrino’s voice. His stories never seem so wild as to be preposterous, but they’re always at least a notch or two beyond the usual holiday experience.

Some of my favorites include: “The Nativity,” which meshes your typical Christmas play story with an overly dramatic child with abandonment issues; “Black Velvet,” in which he gives Mrs. Claus her long-overdue adventure; “The Night Before,” about his mother’s annual meltdown before hosting a Christmas Eve party; and “The Ghostly Duo,” where he recounts his experience being haunted by a gay, pop culture-savvy ghost.

Not every story was a winner for me, but many of them touched my heart, reminded me of my own experiences, and/or made me laugh. No matter what Pellegrino talked about, it reminded me to always find the joy in being with those I care about, because you never know when circumstances will change.

While I mostly read fiction, this book was a fun departure for me. This reminds me a bit of a David Sedaris collection but it has a charm all its own.

Book Review: "Five Gold Rings" by Kristen Bailey

Oh, my heart. Given that We Three Kings is one of my favorite books this year, I decided to go backward and read Five Gold Rings now. (They're both standalones but this one was written first.) Loved this one, too, Kristen Bailey!!

“‘Nah, it’s just I know Christmas people. I thought you’d be more of a low-key Christmas dude. A sensible jumper and mulled wine kind of man.’”

“‘I’m novelty jumper, all the way. I Christmas hard.’”

Christmas is approaching and Eve is excited. She can’t wait to get home from a conference to see her boyfriend Chris and go shopping with him for the last few gifts they need to buy. But when she arrives home, she finds her boyfriend in the shower…with another woman.

Angry and devastated, Eve throws all of the gifts she got for Chris’ family out the window, and then escapes to the jewelry store where she works part-time. The owners call on Eve’s coworker, Joe, to help lift her spirits. Of course, Joe has more than a tiny crush on Eve, so he’s all too happy to help, although he doesn’t want to come across inappropriately.

There’s another crisis at the store: five rings were not delivered to their correct recipients, which means their events could be ruined. So Eve volunteers to distribute the rings and hopefully save the day, and Joe—fresh from his other job as a barely clothed elf—will serve as chauffeur and partner-in-crime. Can they keep Christmas from imploding?

I was hooked on this book from the first few sentences. I honestly loved everything—the characters and their stories, the banter, the holiday spirit, the emotion, all of it. I’m a Bailey fan for sure now!!

Book Review: "Deck the Fire Halls" by N.R. Walker

One indie author I’ve become a huge fan of over the last 12-18 months is N.R. Walker. She writes lots of fantastic MM romances, and I think I’ve read at least 2-3 of her books this year alone.

Rob’s constant work as a doctor has burnt him out and left him with little opportunity for a life away from his job. It’s gotten so bad, he’s considering walking away from medicine completely. But a friend suggests he move to the small town of Hartbridge, Montana, to work as a general practitioner.

Hartbridge is one of those picture-perfect small towns where everyone is incredibly friendly. He meets his next door neighbor, Soren, who happens to be a muscular, sexy firefighter. Even though the last thing Rob wants is to jump into a relationship so soon, he wouldn’t mind jumping on Soren either!

Soren has never been attracted to a (slightly) older man before, but Rob drives him crazy. He has lived in town for two years and loves that there is an actual gay community, but there hasn’t been anyone for him. Until Rob’s arrival, that is.

The more time Rob spends in town, the more he falls in love with it. The sparks between him and Soren intensify as well, and while each wants to take it slowly to see if something real can develop, it’s becoming impossible to resist giving into their passion. What else can they do?

I loved the setting of this book and all of the characters. The banter was pretty great and the circle of friends cracked me up. This is one steamy book, but it’s also a romantic one!!

Book Review: "One Night, Two Holidays" by Ali Brady

While Christmas is held on the same day every year, Hanukkah moves around based on the Hebrew calendar. Some years it happens in late November or early December, some years it’s much later. But this year both Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah were celebrated on the same day.

Given the “Chrismukkah” celebrations, discovering Ali Brady’s novella was perfect timing.

It’s Christmas Eve. Jack is a medical resident, ready to release some of his stress by spending a few days with his family in Denver. The last thing he was counting on was an epic snowstorm that cancels all flights out of Chicago. He is sad, frustrated, and lonely.

Nessa is alone for Hanukkah, since her roommates both had other plans and her parents are traveling. When she witnesses Jack’s frustration, she tries to coax a smile out of him. After all, she and her roommates have been intrigued by him for a while.

When the power goes out in their building, Jack is caught completely unaware. He finds Nessa’s apartment and the two plan to wait the storm out together. They talk about each other’s holiday traditions, their hopes and fears, and of course, start to draw closer. (The game of strip dreidel didn’t hurt.)

I love how Ali Brady gave equal weight to both holidays and both characters. They had terrific banter and sizzling chemistry, but I loved how they took their time before anything heated up physically. This was really a sweet story.

Book Review: "12 Dates of Christmas" by Brigham Vaughn

“It suddenly feels a little crazy to realize I totally uprooted my life in Chicago to move to some Christmas-themed small town on the off chance of finding love.”

Leo likes living in Chicago, but dating there drives him crazy. He’s tried it all—apps, bars, blind dates—but he can’t seem to find the right person. He’s even gotten scammed because he’s too naive.

His best friend Hayden had moved to the small town of Christmas Falls a year or so ago—reluctantly—but he ultimately found true love and decided to stay. With his job as a web developer, he can work from anywhere, so he decides to give Christmas Falls a try.

He already has a client in town he’s been working with—Nick, who runs a matchmaking service. When he meets Nick face-to-face for the first time, Leo is instantly smitten. But Nick is not only a widower, he’s straight. So when Nick offers to set Leo up on some dates as a way to thank him, Leo agrees.

Each date turns out to be a total flop. And after every date, Leo and Nick debrief, which Leo starts enjoying more than anything. When Nick tells Leo that he’s actually bisexual, Leo is filled with hope that they might get together. But Nick needs to be sure that his heart is ready to take a chance on love again. Will Leo be willing to wait?

This was my second trip to Christmas Falls, and I absolutely love this series. There were so many themes at play here that I loved, and the characters were just so appealing. I’m thankful that there are so many books in this series still to read!

Book Review: "The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year" by Ally Carter

If you combine an enemies to lovers (sort of) with a locked-room mystery, you’ll get this frothy and fun book. It’s utterly adorable, full of great banter and humor.

An author of cozy mysteries, Maggie would be more than happy to skip over the holidays. Her parents died right after high school and she recently got divorced, when her husband and her best friend had an affair.

One of the things Maggie dislikes most about the holidays is the forced need to socialize with people at parties. That is not Maggie’s thing. But when she is invited to the English estate of her absolute favorite mystery author, Eleanor Ashley (aka The Duchess of Death), she reluctantly accepts the invitation. (Plus, her editor demands she does.)

And then she realizes that she’ll be traveling with Ethan, a fellow author. She hates Ethan. First, he calls her Marcie every time they see each other. Second, he’s ridiculously handsome—and he knows it. And third, his books are huge bestsellers, while hers are, well…

When they arrive at Eleanor’s mansion, Maggie is in awe of meeting her hero. That first night it snows, and the roads are impassable—and yet Eleanor has vanished. Where could an 80-year-old woman with a bad leg go in the middle of a snowstorm? Is this a real mystery, or some type of contest? As Maggie and Ethan try to figure out what happened, they draw closer—and make some real discoveries about one another.

I definitely enjoyed this although it took some time for the pacing to pick up. But I enjoyed the concept and look forward to diving into Ally Carter’s backlist!

Book Review: "Scrooge You" by Brigham Vaughn

It’s the holiday season all year long in the small town of Christmas Falls, but residents really go all out when the holidays actually come along. Joel owns Ginger’s Breads, a bakery that he bought from his aunt and uncle. Everyone loves his baked goods, both sweet and savory.

Living in a small town means you pretty much know everyone. But Joel doesn’t recognize the handsome young runner who passes by the bakery early each morning. Thanks to a patch of ice in the street, Joel meets Hayden, who has moved to town from Chicago to stay with his mother and stepfather.

Hayden is grumpy because his life isn’t going the way he planned. His post-college job evaporated before he started, and no one seems to be hiring web designers right now. Given that he absolutely loathes Christmas, being stuck in a town called Christmas Falls is truly the seventh circle of hell.

But while Hayden seethes inwardly (and not always quietly), he is intrigued by the handsome, bearish baker whose pumpkin cinnamon rolls are pretty fantastic. Joel, whose life pretty much revolves around the bakery and town events, is attracted to Hayden as well, even though he’s probably 10-11 years younger than Joel.

Flirtation turns to friendship and sex, and it’s not long before both want to spend as much time together as they can. Hayden definitely wants out of Christmas Falls, however, and is hoping he’ll find a job back in Chicago soon. But as their feelings for one another intensify, what does this mean for their future?

This is the kind of rom-com I love, full of small town charm, steamy scenes, romance, humor, and emotion. It’s apparently the 9th book in a series written by different authors, and while I got the sense that certain characters probably were from previous books, this was fine to read as a standalone. How can you resist when a Scrooge regains their love for the holidays?

Book Review: "The Christmas Countdown" by Holly Cassidy

It’s almost Christmas, but Callie can’t seem to find the spirit this year. Even though it’s been seven months since Oliver, her childhood sweetheart and longtime boyfriend, broke up with her, she’s not feeling the holidays. And she’s certainly not going home to visit her family, given that Oliver’s family lives next door.

Callie’s sister Anita is never one to pass up the chance to meddle. She wants Callie to get her joy and sense of fun back, so she creates an Advent calendar challenge for her. Every other day, she’ll be challenged to do something out of her comfort zone (and she’ll get treats on the alternate dates). The plan is for Callie and Anita to accomplish the challenges as a pair.

On the first day of the challenge, Callie meets Marco, a handsome chef and baker. She’s immediately charmed by him, but her heart is too heavily guarded to think of Marco as anything but a friend. Yet the more time they spend together, the more her feelings start to get muddled. And when he steps in to replace Anita as Callie’s challenge partner, sparks really start flying.

At the same time that Callie is being challenged to recapture her holiday joie de vivre, things at work are becoming more stressful. She’s been able to tolerate still working at the same company as Oliver, but a new supervisor really causes chaos, and refuses to take any responsibility for the tension.

Can Callie and Marco complete the advent calendar challenge with their holiday spirit intact? Can two people who are trying to protect themselves from getting hurt actually let love in? Will Anita stop meddling and let things be?

This was such a fun and sweet read. I loved the whole concept of the book and the terrifically warm characters. And all of the descriptions of desserts made me hungry!! Holly Cassidy is the pen name of Hannah Mary McKinnon, and now I love books written by both.

Book Review: "Deck the Palms" by Annabeth Albert

I’ve been loving the holiday books I’ve read so far, but given it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a white Christmas, it’s always fun to read about a less-traditional celebration. And what better place than Hawaii?

Nolan has been in love with the theater since he was young, and he’s been lucky to perform both on and off Broadway. He loves NYC, but when his sister-in-law has complications with her pregnancy and his brother is in the middle of his deployment, he drops everything and heads to Oahu to help.

Once his nephew gets out of the NICU, Nolan plans to stay in Oahu for the fall season, and takes a short-term job as the music teacher and choir director at a middle school. His responsibilities include directing the school’s holiday festival, for which he’s teamed with the school’s hunky shop teacher, Merry.

Merry, a single dad to twin boys who happen to be in Nolan’s class, comes across as a giant surfing curmudgeon. It’s not that he doesn’t like Nolan (although it seems that way), it’s just that he’s learned not to get attached to people who are in Hawaii for a short time. And despite their attraction to one another, Merry is determined to keep things professional with Nolan.

Of course, their collaboration and friendship includes lots of flirting and even a little matchmaking on the part of Merry’s kids. But what happens when Nolan’s job ends and he heads back to NYC? Is the possibility of love worth the risk of pain?

Hawaii is one of my favorite places, and so it’s the perfect setting for this rom-com. I really enjoyed both of the main characters and their banter (not to mention the steam) and I found many of the supporting characters to be a lot of fun, too.

Book Review: "The Christmas You Found Me" by Sarah Morgenthaler

“WANTED: HUSBAND FOR HIRE.” The day that Sienna’s divorce became final, an ad with this headline started appearing all over her small town of Caney Falls, Idaho. It’s the handiwork of Sienna’s best friend Jess, who was never a fan of Sienna’s ex-husband anyway.

While everyone in town knows the ad is a joke, Guy, a newcomer, doesn’t. When he introduces himself to Sienna he explains that his four-year-old daughter Emma is in end-stage kidney failure, and needs a transplant. But in order for her to remain on the transplant list, he must demonstrate financial stability, which he doesn’t have. A few hours after hearing this story, Sienna proposes to Guy, promising to be there for him until Emma gets the kidney she desperately needs.

Living and working on her family’s ranch is satisfying, but since her marriage ended, it’s been difficult to manage on her own, not to mention lonely. Guy and Emma’s presence makes things more enjoyable, and it’s not long before Sienna thinks of Emma as her stepdaughter and someone she’d do anything for.

While there’s no denying the chemistry between her and Guy, Sienna is afraid to get too close in case Guy wants out once Emma gets her kidney. But to be needed and wanted are feelings she’s not had in a long time, and there’s definitely a part of her that wants to be in this “marriage of purpose” for the long haul.

I’ve been a fan of Sarah Morgenthaler since reading her Moose Springs, Alaska series. (I would love another book in that series!) She creates such memorable, complex characters you can’t help but grow attached to.

I loved this book with every fiber of my being. It made me smile, made me blush, made me laugh, and made me sob. It’s not the jolly Christmas romance I was expecting, but it was simply amazing.

Book Review: "We Three Kings" by Kristen Bailey

Oh, my heart. I loved this book so much. This is my first book by Kristen Bailey and it definitely will not be my last!

Maggie is the head of the IT department for a financial services company. She loves her job, but what she loves the most is her three coworkers, Frank, Jasper, and Leo. They make every day fun, even when they have to deal with the idiocy of their colleagues and their IT challenges.

When they learn that Maggie is going to be alone over the Christmas holidays, each of them invites her to join them for a part. And just before she is set to go to Frank’s sister’s wedding, she is told by her company’s HR department that she has to lay one of her coworkers off. How can she make a decision like that and break up her team?

As she spends time with each of them, she learns more about what makes them tick. At the wedding of Frank’s sister, she realizes how his job and his colleagues are a respite from the constant disapproval of his mother and sisters. Spending time with Jasper’s family, she realizes the source of his sarcasm—and his happiness. And Leo—why is she just realizing how handsome and, well, desirable he is?

Maggie wrestles with the decision as sparks grow between her and Leo. But despite her anxiety, she and her friends make some wonderful memories—from being mistaken for a bridesmaid to cavorting with baby foxes and a donkey.

I loved the relationship between all of the coworkers, and the sparks between Maggie and Leo. I also enjoyed some of the supporting characters. It just was such a sweet, fun, romantic book.

Book Review: "The Nightmare Before Kissmas" by Sara Raasch

Nicholas “Coal” Claus is the heir to Christmas, as his father is the reigning Santa. But while Nicholas loves the joy the holiday brings, he really dislikes that his father has turned Christmas into more of a PR effort, especially for his family and those who work in the kingdom. He resists his obligations in every way possible, causing scandals along the way. Not a good look for a prince…

One night, after something he did with the best of intentions went incredibly awry, Coal is summoned home by his father. But before that he winds up making out with a super-sexy guy behind the bar, who quickly disappears. Could he have imagined it?

Coal is commanded by his father to do what’s best for the kingdom, which apparently means marrying his best friend, Iris, the Easter princess. Neither of them want that, of course (nor does his brother, Kris, who has always had a crush on Iris), but it’s best for both holidays to ally together.

And then a new rival for Iris’ hand in marriage emerges: Hex, the prince of Halloween. Hex is also the guy Coal made out with that night behind the bar. But while they’re both supposed to be competing to win Iris, they actually can’t keep their eyes or, eventually, their hands, off one another.

When Coal finds out about his father’s nefarious behavior to ensure Christmas’ power over other holidays, he’s determined to harness the true joy of Christmas. So he sets out a plan of his own that could change everything—or backfire, and hurt those he cares about.

This was such a great read. It was immensely creative. Sara Raasch did some great world-building in a small number of pages. It was really steamy in a few places, but just lovely in others, as the characters played so well off each other. I’m excited that Raasch has a second book in this series coming out in 2025!

Book Reviews: "Holiday Hideaway" by Mary Kay Andrews and "The Mistletoe Mystery" by Nita Prose

Sometimes I just need an escape, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to read some Christmas novellas. And given that I heard Our Lady Mariah for the first time in the holiday season, what better sign could I get?

Molly the Maid returns in Nita Prose’s The Mistletoe Mystery. She and Juan Manuel are getting ready for Christmas, both at home and at their jobs at the Regency Grand. Juan Manuel is full of Christmas spirit, but Molly is a bit melancholy, as she’s missing her grandmother, who always did her best to make the holidays special.

Just as Molly is getting ready to surrender to the Yuletide merriment, she notices that Juan Manuel starts acting strangely. He’s disappearing at odd times, seems to be keeping secrets, and Molly is convinced he’s hiding something from her. It comes to a head during the annual Regency Grand staff holiday party, when all of Molly’s anxieties transform into something unforgettable.

In Holiday Hideaway, Tilly finds herself at loose ends. Her landlady kicked her out of her apartment because she was hiding a dog, and while she’s found a new place to move to, it won’t be ready for a few weeks. So she’s been staying (err, squatting) in one of the homes her employer rents out.

Imagine how surprised she is when George, a handsome man, comes to stay at the house, which apparently hasn’t been rented in years. Turns out he’s the owner’s great-nephew, although no one seems to know he existed. He’s determined to fix the house up and put it on the market ASAP.

Tilly hides in the attic while George is around, but dashing around in secret isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And when an accident forces her out of her hiding place, sparks fly between the two. It turns out the two have more of a connection than either realized.

Book Review: "Holiday Tides" by Laura Langa

I was looking for a little bit of joy to brighten up the craziness of the last week. And then I found it: an enemies to lovers, second chance holiday romance? In a beach town? Ho Ho Ho, indeed!!

It’s been a long time since Summer was back in Wilks Beach, but it’s finally her turn to live in her grandmother’s cottage—being the youngest of six kids means you have to wait a while. It’s not long before she discovers that Nick, her high school rival, is back in town, too. He made her teenage years miserable, and Summer is determined not to let his handsome charm win her over.

Nick is thrilled to see Summer, and is saddened that the feeling is far from mutual. But seeing as he works for his adopted brother’s renovation company, and Summer’s cottage is old and in desperate need of repair, Nick is more than happy to help her out. And then she’ll owe him.

When they graduated high school, they were both headed to college and then medical school. Summer is a pediatrician now, but why is Nick back in town working construction? Why does he smell so darn good? And why is he all she thinks about, although the memories of their rivalry still stick in her craw?

Ironically, Summer loves Christmas more than anyone. Can her first Christmas back in Wilks Beach be made holly jolly by the handsome surfer in a Santa wetsuit? And are his feelings for real this time?

This was all kinds of adorable. I’m a sucker for banter, and this book has it at full-strength. I really loved the setting and the characters, and I’ll be waiting for Laura Langa’s first full-length Wilks Beach romance this summer!

Book Review: "The Fake Wedding Project" by Pippa Grant

This was utterly adorable.

The Andersons and the Silvers have been feuding for generations and their small town of Tinsel (where it’s Christmas all year long) is tremendously affected by the animosity. And no one knows why they’re fighting in the first place.

Dane Silver hates coming home to visit his family; so does Amanda Anderson. But when Amanda finds out that her grandmother is retiring and expecting her to take over The Gingerbread House, the family business, she panics. She tells her family that she and Dane are engaged, in the hope that her family will disown her.

When Dane learns of Amanda’s lie, he’s more than happy to help perpetuate it, especially if it can lead to the end of the feud. He’s really the perfect fake fiancé—but of course, the more time they spend together, the more real their feelings for each other become.

“Being family doesn’t give anyone a free pass to dismiss your goals or to treat you like you’re not capable of deciding how to live your own life, or like they own you. Being family means respecting each other and the choices you each make.”

I can never get enough fake dating romances, and even though I thought the whole feud thing was silly, these characters were so appealing. And Tinsel seems like a special place to be!!

Book Review: "A Home for the Holidays" by Taylor Hahn

“I understood how life could be both beautiful and devastating at the same time. Maybe healing was just learning how to live with both.“

⁣ ⁣ Mel has always loved Christmas, ever since her free-spirited mother Connie used to create elaborate schemes to keep the holiday magic alive as long as possible. As an adult, her memories buoy her, especially when she remembers that her mother was, more often than not, an alcoholic mess otherwise.⁣

⁣ Two weeks before Christmas, she gets a phone call from the hospital telling her that her mother has died. While this news isn’t entirely surprising, Mel is full of sadness that Connie didn’t share her health problems, as well as grief that she didn’t pay closer attention.⁣

⁣ Shortly after Connie’s death, a woman shows up at Mel’s doorstep and introduces herself as Connie’s estranged best friend, Barbara. Of course, Mel has never heard of Barbara, but Barbara can explain why, with stories of Connie’s failed music career and their fight over a man, which ended their friendship.⁣

⁣ Through Barbara, Mel gets to see a side of her mother she didn’t know, which made her decline even sadder. But as Mel gets drawn into Barbara’s family, including her son Henry, a soon-to-be-divorced doctor, she realizes that she’s not quite getting the full story, and until she does, she won’t understand her mother or, by extension, herself.⁣

⁣ I definitely loved this book. It’s funny and emotional and hopeful and sad. And while “holidays” is in the title, this isn’t really a holiday book. It’s a beautiful exploration of grief, love, addiction, and understanding how to forgive both whom you lost as well as yourself.⁣

Book Review: "All I Want Is You" by Falon Ballard

I had vowed not to start reading holiday romances for a bit longer, but I’m such a huge fan of Falon Ballard’s books, so I figured, one wouldn’t hurt. And truth be told, while it takes place over Christmas, it’s more than a holiday romance.

Jess had always dreamed of being a romance writer, and now she’s living her dream. (Well, if the dream included still working as a barista and seeing her books sell fewer and fewer copies.) She’s worried that her publisher might not even take her latest book—if she can actually find something to write about.

To add insult to injury, Jess’ ex, Nick, is a best-selling romance writer. Sure, his books don’t have happy endings so they shouldn’t really be considered romances, but it doesn’t matter to his readers. Each book makes a bigger bang than the last, and he’s even sold some to be adapted into movies.

When Jess is asked to present Nick with an award at their publisher’s holiday ball, it’s the last thing she wants to do. But it wouldn’t be good for her career to say no. So she buys a dress that she looks fantastic in, grits her teeth, and plans to give the award to Nick. Of course, when they see each other for the first time in five years, there’s still an intense chemistry between them.

Their interactions are minimal until a snowstorm keeps Jess stranded at the inn where the ball was held. And wouldn’t you know it, her reservation got lost, and the only option is to share Nick’s room—which has only one bed. But their forced proximity not only intensifies their attraction, but leads Jess to wonder why Nick ended things five years ago. There’s a lot to discuss—and lots of sexual tension to avoid.

This was everything I hoped for. It’s not only romantic and steamy and funny and emotional, but it plays on so many romantic tropes. Ballard can do no wrong, and this was so worth starting my holiday reading early!!

Book Review: "The Deal of a Lifetime" by Fredrik Backman

This novella is an inspirational story about love and sacrifice.

“Hi. It’s your dad. You’ll be waking up soon, it’s Christmas Eve morning in Helsingborg, and I’ve killed a person. That’s not how fairy tales usually begin, I know. But I took a life. Does it make a difference if you know whose it was?”

With that, Fredrik Backman draws you into a story about ambition, regret, love, fear, life, and death. I’m totally late to the party on reading this although I love his books.

There’s not much to say without giving the plot away, but essentially, the story is narrated by a father for his son. It has a bit of a holiday feel, and it’s definitely a poignant story. I wish it were a little longer, but it is what it is.

Book Review: "Christmas in Peachtree Bluff" by Kristy Woodson Harvey

In Christmas in Peachtree Bluff, the holiday season comes along with romance, family drama, and a hurricane.

I received this book last year after the holidays had ended, so I decided to add it to my stack of holiday reads for this year. Once again, I’m reminded just how much I love the way Kristy Woodson Harvey writes, how she pulls you into her stories immediately.

Ansley is excited to have all three of her daughters, Caroline, Sloane, and Emerson, home for Thanksgiving with their families. The peace and joy of the holidays is slightly marred by the antics of Caroline’s 15-year-old daughter Vivi, who keeps lashing out at Caroline because of her impending divorce. At the end of her rope, she asks Ansley and her husband, Jack, if Vivi can stay with them through Christmas.

Before that, however, Ansley and Jack have a cruise to Australia planned. But the hurricane of the century is headed for Peachtree Bluff, and she’s worried about leaving the town that means so much to her. When Vivi acts out again, little does she realize how many people she’ll put in harm’s way.

Will the hurricane hit Peachtree Bluff, and if so, will the town survive? Will each of Ansley’s daughters deal with the problems they’re facing? This is technically the fourth book in the Peachtree Bluff series, but I haven’t read the other two, and that didn’t matter at all.

This is such a charming story of family, home, and the holiday spirit. I definitely want to go back and read the rest of the series now!!