Hazel Elliot and Ash Campbell are from the same small town and were not exactly friends in high school. When they meet again in college during a freshHazel Elliot and Ash Campbell are from the same small town and were not exactly friends in high school. When they meet again in college during a freshman year party, Hazel wants nothing to do with the boy she believed hated her while Ash is thrilled to see the object of his long-standing crush.
A few years later Hazel is an overworked grad student and Ash an aspiring architect who unfortunately works at Hazel’s favorite cafe. They become frenemies who fight/flirt over her favorite green chair. Hazel still wants zero reminders of her small town and Ash is still down bad for Hazel.
Hazel has been summoned home for her father’s wedding, but it brings up complicated feelings. Hazel was left devastated as a child after her parents divorced and her mother left to pursue her own career. Her relationship with her father has been strained ever since.
Ash, who has a large and loving family, is dealing with his own stresses; his father’s health scares, his family’s finances, and his car has broken down. He is desperate to get home for the holidays and his salvation comes in the unlikely form of Hazel Elliot.
Hazel only agrees to drive Ash home if he promises that things with them will not change. Hazel believes if things remain the same, she can minimize the probability of letdowns. Ash is desperate enough to agree, but of course everything changes.
On their journey home, Hazel and Ash encounter bad weather, a hotel with only one bed, and a lot of unwanted feelings. Once they reach home, instead of parting ways until it’s time to return to campus, Hazel and Ash find themselves willingly spending time together. Hazel is scared of things changing and Ash is afraid of scaring her away.
Watching Ash slowly break down Hazel’s walls, while always respecting her feelings, was so lovely to read. Hazel was a softy with a tough exterior and a lot of hurt feelings and Ash the sweetest hero who was 100% Team Hazel.
I loved everything about Take Me Home and I cannot wait to read more from Melanie Sweeney....more
Abby Cohen is not a fan of strong emotions, struggles with opening up, and considers herself a realist; honestly, she’s a grump. Seth Abrams is (seemiAbby Cohen is not a fan of strong emotions, struggles with opening up, and considers herself a realist; honestly, she’s a grump. Seth Abrams is (seemingly) never in a bad mood, idealistic, and frequents Abby’s cafe every single morning; honestly, he can be a bit annoying.
When Abby is tasked with organizing her small Vermont town’s first ever Hanukkah Festival, she quickly finds herself overwhelmed. It’s especially difficult trying to explain to non-Jewish people that Hanukkah is a vastly different holiday from Christmas. In a moment of desperation, she goes online hoping to find another Jewish person within a hundred miles radius, and she finds Seth.
Seth is willing to help, but in exchange for his list of contacts he asks Abby to travel with him to NYC for Hanukkah and pretend to be his girlfriend while they stay with his parents. The city does not conjure up pleasant memories for Abby, but desperate times call for desperate measures and she agrees.
While pretending to be in a relationship, Abby and Seth have to fight their mutual attraction and begin to bond over their shared experiences. Abby’s past emotional trauma has led her close herself off from potential heartbreak, but Seth is patient and slowly becomes her safe place.
Love You a Latke was a beautiful and surprisingly emotional story about finding oneself, Jewish identity, and the healing power of love....more
Same Time Next Year featured the typical Tessa Bailey tropes, but in a novella-sized version. It was over the top, a bit ridiculous, and Rating: 2.5-3
Same Time Next Year featured the typical Tessa Bailey tropes, but in a novella-sized version. It was over the top, a bit ridiculous, and featured a hero who is both a cinnamon roll and a horndog. It was an easy read, but not one I will be revisiting.
Also, I'm not a hockey girlie, but I am pretty sure that the team would handle visas for players, so the reason for the marriage of convince was weak; side note: can we please stop with the Canadian athlete marries an American for a visa trope.
Side note 2: A Tessa Bailey holiday romance that I would recommend instead is Window Shopping...more
A Mistletoe Kiss was a sweet little holiday novella in which we get to catch up with Andrew and Molly who are spending their first Christmas together A Mistletoe Kiss was a sweet little holiday novella in which we get to catch up with Andrew and Molly who are spending their first Christmas together as a couple.
I am obsessed with the Fitzpatrick world Catherine Walsh has created and I really hope Zoe gets her own book, too....more
Bright Lights, Big Christmas was a cute holiday romance and my first ever Mary Kay Andrews read.
I enjoyed reading Kerry's story and I loved the sense Bright Lights, Big Christmas was a cute holiday romance and my first ever Mary Kay Andrews read.
I enjoyed reading Kerry's story and I loved the sense of community she found in NYC - while reluctantly helping her brother sell Christmas trees from their family's farm in North Carolina - but the romance was a bit light in my opinion.
I didn't feel a deep connection between Kerry and Patrick, but I still enjoyed their story. The supporting characters were all delightful, especially Patrick's adorable son.
I loved, loved, loveeeed this story. It was the perfect holiday read. Declan and Maddie were adorable. This story was fun and steamy perfection. My faI loved, loved, loveeeed this story. It was the perfect holiday read. Declan and Maddie were adorable. This story was fun and steamy perfection. My favorite holiday read of 2020.
Declan was such a fake grinch and Maddie knew exactly how to put him in his place. I also loved all of the supporting characters, especially #Maclan super shipper, Piper.
I cannot wait to read more from Kayley Loring....more
Corporate Mandated Holiday Romance was an adorable holiday read that almost had few too many pop culture references, but that I really enjoyed.
Max andCorporate Mandated Holiday Romance was an adorable holiday read that almost had few too many pop culture references, but that I really enjoyed.
Max and Brooklyn were so sweet together while pretending to date each other in order to take down a scumbag billionaire. I loved their "dates" and how interested Brooklyn was in learning more about Max's jewish culture.
The ending was especially sweet, and I am excited to read more from Nellie Wilson....more
Some Winter's Evening is the sequel novella to Forever Your Rogue and I knew I was going to love this story when I was crying for Emilia in the prologSome Winter's Evening is the sequel novella to Forever Your Rogue and I knew I was going to love this story when I was crying for Emilia in the prologue and goner for Gavin by the end of chapter one.
Gavin is an introvert, fully of anxiety, and his own harshest critic. Emilia is all alone in the world and has learned not to rely on anyone, ever. They meet on a cold winter's evening and after a passionate encounter believe they will never see each other again. Both are shocked to discover they share a connection to the Travers family.
Although they initially agree to act as strangers, neither can stay away. I loved the way Gavin and Emilia fell in love and opened up about their deepest fears and insecurities with one another. I loved how Gavin was determined to give Emilia all the things she longed for in life while Emilia was determined to convince him his love was all she needed.
Gavin and Emilia's story was everything I didn't know I needed; there is communication, no third-act breakup, there are cozy Christmas vibes, the sweetest hero and heroine, and we get to see Nate, Cora and their little ones.
Some Winter's Evening was an absolute gem and the perfect holiday read. ...more
A Risk Worth Taking was a surprisingly charming holiday novella and the perfect read on Christmas Eve Eve.
Connor and Claire meet on what is supposed tA Risk Worth Taking was a surprisingly charming holiday novella and the perfect read on Christmas Eve Eve.
Connor and Claire meet on what is supposed to be Claire's last night in Portland and expect to never see each other again after spending the night together, but a severe snow storm has other plans. Their one-night stand turns into three magical days together that neither will soon forget.
A Risk Worth Taking was only 80 pages long but felt like such a complete and well rounded love story; there was a meet-cute, top tier banter, spicy goodness, a cinnamon roll hero, a cautious heroine who was finally going to take a risk, a Theo Spencer sort-of cameo, and the best reunion. It had it all and it just proves Jessica Joyce is an exceptionally talented writer....more
Catherine Walsh has quickly become one of my favorite authors and for good reason. Her books always offer the prefect amount of romance, comedy and emCatherine Walsh has quickly become one of my favorite authors and for good reason. Her books always offer the prefect amount of romance, comedy and emotional angst.
Snowed In features Christian, a Fitzpatrick brother we first met in my favorite holiday read from last year, Holiday Romance. Christian is headed home for Christmas and is dreading the usual family interrogation about his personal life, even if they have the best of intentions. Everything changes when he literally bumps into Megan at a pub, she is a childhood acquaintance and has her own reasons for avoiding their hometown. Megan left her home as a literal runaway bride and Christian never quite outgrew his reputation as a troublemaker which makes his relationship with his father contentious. Christian proposes a solution to all of their problems; pretend to be a couple to avoid their families' scrutiny and to help Megan feel comfortable enough to return home.
It seems simple enough, they even make it official by agreeing to terms and signing a contract on a bar napkin, but of course fake dating is never simple. It's not long before Christian and Megan develop a true friendship and open up about their fears and insecurities and as they grown closer their attraction becomes stronger. I loved the care that Christian and Megan had for one another, their protect instincts, their dedication to each other's happiness and wellbeing. Their shared history made their love story feel genuine and watching them fall in love was a delight.
Snowed In was the perfect read to start the holiday season* and I hope we get to see more of the Fitzpatrick clan in the future; it was nice to catch up with Andrew and Molly and honestly Zoe deserves her own hero, too.
*I consider September through December the "holiday season."...more
Wreck the Halls featured Melody and Beat, the children of a retired rock star duo, who are trying to pull off a Christmas miraRating: 3.5 (rounded up)
Wreck the Halls featured Melody and Beat, the children of a retired rock star duo, who are trying to pull off a Christmas miracle and convince their famous mothers to reconcile long enough to have a long-awaited reunion. There was also some blackmail involved, a live 24-hour streaming show, and a hero who was a bit tortured but completely enamored of the heroine.
Tessa Bailey dished out her typical over-the-top storyline, which was definitely chaotic, but also pretty fun. I do adore how hard her heroes go for their heroines; Beat was obsessed with Melody, and I sort of loved it. I only wish his name was not Beat - it made me laugh every time I read it.
Wreck the Halls was a fun, slightly ridiculous, yet classic Tessa Bailey read and a fun start to the holiday season.*
*I consider September through December the "holiday season."...more
I know reviews are mixed, but I loved Faking Christmas; was the reason for the forced proximity trope absolutely ridiculous? Yes. Did I care? No.
I loI know reviews are mixed, but I loved Faking Christmas; was the reason for the forced proximity trope absolutely ridiculous? Yes. Did I care? No.
I loved Laurel and Max's story and I completely understand Laurel's reason for hating Max at the beginning of the story; I would too if someone insulted my sister.
Their forced proximity makes Laurel realize that there is more to Max than the grouch she believes him to be and that he's experienced a lot of personal growth since she accidentally heard him at his worst years ago. It turns out Max has is bad for Laurel, but was incapable of expressing it in words instead of insults.
I loved the slow burn romance which had our protagonists go from enemies to more; I loved the Grant family dynamics; I loved the sisterly bond between Laurel and Holly; and I loved the Christmas vibes.
Faking Christmas was delightfully charming and the perfect holiday read....more
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