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keikiqueen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Still upset about the surprise trope but honestly love this series and was able to move past it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage
etidorpha's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Please see my content warnings.
Winnie Baker is a childhood star of religiously bent television and movies. She married young and stayed in her marriage because that’s what was expected of her.
Kallum is the K of the INK boyband turned midwestern pizza mogul. What he’s most famous for in his 30s though? A Sex tape.
Passion is ignited when they get reacquainted on the set of Hope After Dark’s first film Santa, Baby. Winnie needs instruction in the more sensual aspects of her role and Kallum is all too happy to oblige.
This book was ultimately fun to read, though I felt a little hoodwinked by the big plot twist in the middle (see content warnings if you want more info). Winnie’s story of deconstruction and realizing her self worth was more than in being a pure and virtuous woman was one worth telling and was an enjoyable read.
I do wish that Winnie’s narcolepsy had been dealt with. She’s just falling asleep in bars and I don’t think she ever told Kallum - even though it explains several parts of their pre-Hope After Dark meetups.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Winnie Baker is a childhood star of religiously bent television and movies. She married young and stayed in her marriage because that’s what was expected of her.
Kallum is the K of the INK boyband turned midwestern pizza mogul. What he’s most famous for in his 30s though? A Sex tape.
Passion is ignited when they get reacquainted on the set of Hope After Dark’s first film Santa, Baby. Winnie needs instruction in the more sensual aspects of her role and Kallum is all too happy to oblige.
This book was ultimately fun to read, though I felt a little hoodwinked by the big plot twist in the middle (see content warnings if you want more info). Winnie’s story of deconstruction and realizing her self worth was more than in being a pure and virtuous woman was one worth telling and was an enjoyable read.
I do wish that Winnie’s narcolepsy had been dealt with. She’s just falling asleep in bars and I don’t think she ever told Kallum - even though it explains several parts of their pre-Hope After Dark meetups.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage and Religious bigotry
This book deals heavily with evangelical religious deconstruction.emmas_bookshelf's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you so much to Avon for the copy of this book! I loved the first Christmas Notch book, A Merry Little Meet Cute, and was so excited to read this! Kallum is a former boy band member turned Kansas City pizza king. Winnie is a wholesome Hallmark actress who needs to rehab her image after getting divorced while also trying to shed the purity culture she grew up in and trying to figure out how to do things for herself. When they are cast in a steamy Santa movie, things heat up fast! I thought the first half of the book was great, and it was very steamy. Also, as a Topekan and wanna-be-Kansas Citian, I loved all the KC and Royals love in this book! 💙
🚨SPOILERS AHEAD🚨
🚨SPOILERS AHEAD🚨
🚨SPOILERS AHEAD🚨
🚨SPOILERS AHEAD🚨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Minor: Miscarriage and Vomit
sarahsbookss's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
uranaishi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
elyssathelibrarian's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
I had a hard time rating this one and an even harder time finishing it. I think this is the most let down I’ve felt overall a book in a long time. I loved A Merry Little Meet Cute and was so looking forward to another Christmas Notch book. I was very happy to receive an ARC and an ALC.
I liked how different Winnie is from Bee. I loved the body diversity with Kallum not being a traditional romance novel male MC. I enjoyed the dynamic between Winnie and Kallum. I loved returning to Christmas Notch but I like that AHJEA can be read as a standalone. The first half of the book was great. Every bit the ridiculous, cheesy, spicy romcom I expected.
Then halfway through they threw in a trope that I definitely don’t love and actively avoid because it stirs up some stuff in me. Had there been any indication that this trope would come up, I would not have read this book at all.
It became an entirely different book in the second half. I struggled to finish and I really should’ve just put it down. It did a massive disservice to the story, but especially to Winnie and her character’s growth and separation from purity culture. By the end, I couldn’t stand Winnie and Kallum wasn’t much better. Despite my being over it all by the end, the ending still felt a bit abrupt.
I’ll probably still read Isaac’s story if they write it, but I’ll definitely read reviews first.
I liked how different Winnie is from Bee. I loved the body diversity with Kallum not being a traditional romance novel male MC. I enjoyed the dynamic between Winnie and Kallum. I loved returning to Christmas Notch but I like that AHJEA can be read as a standalone. The first half of the book was great. Every bit the ridiculous, cheesy, spicy romcom I expected.
Then halfway through they threw in a trope that I definitely don’t love and actively avoid because it stirs up some stuff in me. Had there been any indication that this trope would come up, I would not have read this book at all.
It became an entirely different book in the second half. I struggled to finish and I really should’ve just put it down. It did a massive disservice to the story, but especially to Winnie and her character’s growth and separation from purity culture. By the end, I couldn’t stand Winnie and Kallum wasn’t much better. Despite my being over it all by the end, the ending still felt a bit abrupt.
I’ll probably still read Isaac’s story if they write it, but I’ll definitely read reviews first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Miscarriage
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