Reviews with content warning for Grief - A Novel Christmas

I loved this! A super-fast lovely holiday romance — listened in audio on one day and it was such a treat while driving and then unpacking, lounging, and resting at home. The two main characters, Saira and Dorian (and their lovely narrators Charlie L. Wood and Tony Roberts!) had so much chemistry and such fully drawn personalities and identities and backstories! I loved it. The MCs also had really believable and significant family and friend relationships, as well as work that they cared about a lot — important to me in a romance or rom-com!! And I always love a bookish protagonist like Saira. I found the sex writing SO HOT (despite generally finding the word “yoni” icky and that being the author's word of choice, hahaha, but it didn’t ruin it for me which is saying a lot honestly).

I thought a few moments were very expository in a sort of heavy-handed way — like in Dorian’s initial chapter where he basically lists out in chronological order the tragic circumstances of his wife’s death leading to his current life as a (hot) widower! Just those and a few other writing-y things that slightly didn’t work for me — a handful of exact-wording repetitions, etc. But overall a delight and will for sure be really excited to read more by Charity Shane’.

Content Warnings

dawnstrickland's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? No

4.0

Holiday Magic
This story brought the holiday cheer! Great characters, including a unique town. There was playful banter and intoxicating connection. I thoroughly enjoyed the festive holiday elements and culture being showcased. Saira's winter wonderland firsts guide Dorian to find love again. A blanket of snow, heartfelt emotion, and joy.

Content Warnings

abyrdsjourney's review against another edition

Go to review page

slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Content Warnings

blessedroyaltee's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Content Warnings

qrb's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

5.0

Content Warnings

brittany_214's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful 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

4.5

This was a cute, spicy holiday romance. It was a quick read but the story was well developed. The author did a great job with the mmc working through his grief.

Content Warnings

jackiepreston's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

Content Warnings

More...