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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
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:
No
𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁: I love holiday novellas and this gave me all the hallmark vibes but with some spice! I devoured this book in one sitting and it was so freakin cute. I loved the tropes, fell in love with the characters and liked seeing a fun spunky pet sidekick. I’m late getting this review up due to surgery but I highly recommend checking this out it’s a fast read that will make you smile and give you the warm fuzzies with the HEA.
Lila is a small town girlie she started working at the local inn ran by her brother best friend’s grandma after high school. She now basically co-runs the place and does all the event planning. She lives in the inn keeper cottage with his wiener dog Winston, it’s the perfect setup for her.
This holiday season will be perfect, Lila had things under control. Then a last minute wedding cancellation at the Inn changed everything. Her brother and his finance decided to take the open spot so now she has to morph the cancelled wedding into the wedding of their dreams in a week.
One more problem, her brother’s best friend Brooks is in town for the first time in years and her school girl crush is back and worst then ever. Now her and Brooks are teaming up to make this wedding a success. Throw in a dash of scheming grandma and this will be the cutest holiday disaster..umm I mean wedding ever!
𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:
* Older Brother’s Best Friend
* Grumpy x Sunshine
* Forced Proximity
* Scheming Grandma
* Lovable Weiner Dog
* Age Gap ( 33 vs 25 )
* One Bed
* Holiday Novella
* Hallmark Vibes w/ Spice
💕❄️🐾 💕❄️🐾 💕❄️🐾 💕❄️🐾 💕❄️🐾💕
https://www.instagram.com/p/DEqaFSqSloR/?igsh=dDVheG4wajRkcml6
Lila is a small town girlie she started working at the local inn ran by her brother best friend’s grandma after high school. She now basically co-runs the place and does all the event planning. She lives in the inn keeper cottage with his wiener dog Winston, it’s the perfect setup for her.
This holiday season will be perfect, Lila had things under control. Then a last minute wedding cancellation at the Inn changed everything. Her brother and his finance decided to take the open spot so now she has to morph the cancelled wedding into the wedding of their dreams in a week.
One more problem, her brother’s best friend Brooks is in town for the first time in years and her school girl crush is back and worst then ever. Now her and Brooks are teaming up to make this wedding a success. Throw in a dash of scheming grandma and this will be the cutest holiday disaster..umm I mean wedding ever!
𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:
* Older Brother’s Best Friend
* Grumpy x Sunshine
* Forced Proximity
* Scheming Grandma
* Lovable Weiner Dog
* Age Gap ( 33 vs 25 )
* One Bed
* Holiday Novella
* Hallmark Vibes w/ Spice
💕❄️🐾 💕❄️🐾 💕❄️🐾 💕❄️🐾 💕❄️🐾💕
https://www.instagram.com/p/DEqaFSqSloR/?igsh=dDVheG4wajRkcml6
4,5 ✨
The perfect Christmas novella to cozy yourself up to this holiday season. I was totally hooked from the very first second when it came to Lila and Brooks. The history runs deep with these two and they finally get to act on it this holiday season. That first kiss in the photobooth holyyyyyy that was too hot to handle. This book totally brought the Christmas magic and I’m sure that everyone who reads this book will feel that magic as they open this book.
It was sweet and cozy but also quite spicy. It was filled with so many adorable moments that will totally make you swoon right out of your seat and one meddling grandma that you will love without a doubt. The prologue sets up the story so well and once the tension that builds up through the book finally snaps then you’re almost cheering out loud cause it feels so freeing. Also the small glimpses of Fallon and Harrison I was DYINGGGGGGG. I need their book more than air tbh. The age gap was delicious between Brooks and Lila and the fact that both of them had always had a rush n wa h other even though Brooks was always seen as Lila’s big brother’s best friend, but those feelings were always there.
This book definitely scratch the itch of any holiday romance lover. It was just too good.
Thank you Ann for this ARC!
The perfect Christmas novella to cozy yourself up to this holiday season. I was totally hooked from the very first second when it came to Lila and Brooks. The history runs deep with these two and they finally get to act on it this holiday season. That first kiss in the photobooth holyyyyyy that was too hot to handle. This book totally brought the Christmas magic and I’m sure that everyone who reads this book will feel that magic as they open this book.
It was sweet and cozy but also quite spicy. It was filled with so many adorable moments that will totally make you swoon right out of your seat and one meddling grandma that you will love without a doubt. The prologue sets up the story so well and once the tension that builds up through the book finally snaps then you’re almost cheering out loud cause it feels so freeing. Also the small glimpses of Fallon and Harrison I was DYINGGGGGGG. I need their book more than air tbh. The age gap was delicious between Brooks and Lila and the fact that both of them had always had a rush n wa h other even though Brooks was always seen as Lila’s big brother’s best friend, but those feelings were always there.
This book definitely scratch the itch of any holiday romance lover. It was just too good.
Thank you Ann for this ARC!
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Cute and quick holiday read! 💗
Spice level: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Definitely one of those read it for the holidays kind of books. If you are into the big brothers best friend trope and grumpy/sunshine for the holidays, this is for you!
Spice level: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Definitely one of those read it for the holidays kind of books. If you are into the big brothers best friend trope and grumpy/sunshine for the holidays, this is for you!
"After all these years, I finally feel like I’m home. It’s not the place that matters but the person who makes even the smallest moments extraordinary."
*Before I start this review, I just want to say that this marks one year of me being a fan of author Ann Einerson, and this book is just another proof of how much her writing always tugs my heartstrings.*
The Holiday Claus is warm and fluffy hug perfect for the Holiday romantics. The book introduces Starlight Pines, Brooks and Lila, and Winston too. Brooks, Grinch-turned Santa-for-his-grandma, and Lila, Miss-Sunshine-in-a-snowglobe, perfect, perfect match.
Things I loved—
✨ how Brooks actually pays attention, from their childhood memories to present quirks Lila have
✨ how Lila is already a part of their family for how she is with Grandma Kay
✨ my heart breaks with Brooks for his guilt over being happy on their late Dad's favorite holiday, and how much Lila helped him appreciate the season again
✨ the slow burn was so good, and the spice burned so perfectly
✨ the polaroid photo! Ahhh, I'm a sucker for gifts that are well thought off
✨ oh the fact that this novella is a crossover with Aspen Grove, ahhh!! The tease with Fallon and Harrison's story got me super excited!!
I needed a moment to read through this because I wanted to take my time savoring this new world. If you're going to read one holiday book this month, PICK THIS.
Rating: ★★★★★
Spice:
*Before I start this review, I just want to say that this marks one year of me being a fan of author Ann Einerson, and this book is just another proof of how much her writing always tugs my heartstrings.*
The Holiday Claus is warm and fluffy hug perfect for the Holiday romantics. The book introduces Starlight Pines, Brooks and Lila, and Winston too. Brooks, Grinch-turned Santa-for-his-grandma, and Lila, Miss-Sunshine-in-a-snowglobe, perfect, perfect match.
Things I loved—
✨ how Brooks actually pays attention, from their childhood memories to present quirks Lila have
✨ how Lila is already a part of their family for how she is with Grandma Kay
✨ my heart breaks with Brooks for his guilt over being happy on their late Dad's favorite holiday, and how much Lila helped him appreciate the season again
✨ the slow burn was so good, and the spice burned so perfectly
✨ the polaroid photo! Ahhh, I'm a sucker for gifts that are well thought off
✨ oh the fact that this novella is a crossover with Aspen Grove, ahhh!! The tease with Fallon and Harrison's story got me super excited!!
I needed a moment to read through this because I wanted to take my time savoring this new world. If you're going to read one holiday book this month, PICK THIS.
Rating: ★★★★★
Spice:
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
super cute holiday read!! i loved that although this book is considered fast-paced, it didn't feel rushed. the timing for everything felt natural.
3.5 stars. This was a cute, spicy Christmas novella. The middle got a big boring but overall it was good. It's more of insta lust than love, but still good. Grandma Kay's matchmaking was one of the best parts
This is a super sweet, feel-good holiday novella. You have the brother's best friend trope done perfectly well here. Our FMC Lila has had a crush on her older brother's best friend Brooks since she was a teenager. That type of she falls first but he falls harder vibe is strong here. You have the magic of Christmas (including a Christmas wedding - not our MCs), a meddling grandma, some forced proximity (one bed) action & adorable small-town vibes that fit perfectly into this Hallmark-like Christmas story with added spice.
Qᴜɪᴄᴋ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴠɪᴇᴡ: ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ʀᴇᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʜᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴋɪꜱꜱ, ʙʀᴏᴏᴋꜱ ʜᴀꜱɴ'ᴛ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ʜɪꜱ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ'ꜱ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ꜱɪꜱᴛᴇʀ, ʟɪʟᴀ, ᴏꜰꜰ ʜɪꜱ ᴍɪɴᴅ. ʜɪꜱ ꜱʜᴏʀᴛ ᴠɪꜱɪᴛ ʜᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴇᴇ ʜɪꜱ ɢʀᴀɴᴅᴍᴀ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏʟɪᴅᴀʏꜱ ᴡᴀꜱɴ'ᴛ ꜱᴜᴘᴘᴏꜱᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴜʀɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ ꜱᴛᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʟɪʟᴀ ᴏʀ ʜᴇʟᴘɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴘʟᴀɴ ʜɪꜱ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ'ꜱ ʟᴀꜱᴛ-ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇ ᴡᴇᴅᴅɪɴɢ. ʙʀᴏᴏᴋꜱ ᴘʟᴀɴɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ʜɪꜱ ᴅɪꜱᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ & ʙᴜʀʏ ʜɪꜱ ꜰᴇᴇʟɪɴɢꜱ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʜᴇ'ꜱ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ʟɪʟᴀ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʜᴇ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ʜᴇʟᴘ ʙᴜᴛ ꜰᴀʟʟ ʜᴀʀᴅᴇʀ ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ɢɪᴠᴇ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴏꜱᴇ ꜰᴇᴇʟɪɴɢꜱ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʟɪᴠᴇꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏɴ ᴏᴘᴘᴏꜱɪᴛᴇ ᴄᴏᴀꜱᴛꜱ?
This is a holiday novella so you get to know these characters super quickly with little to no true development. Billionaire grump Brooks turns from a heart of coal to the spirit of Christmas fairly quickly but it's a sweet & subtle transition that gave me all the feels, especially when he gives into his feelings for Lila.
Lila is sweet, caring and wears her heart on her sleeve. I love her interactions with Brooks as she doesn't shy away from her feelings. The added bonus of her dog Winston creates some fun moments between them. You have to wait for the spice but when it hits, you will be satisfied.
This is a nice appetizer for the next book in the Aspen Grove series as we get a sneak peek of Harrison & Fallon's story that will be released next year. Ann Einerson knows how to do small-town spice and I just can't wait to read her next book.
Qᴜɪᴄᴋ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴠɪᴇᴡ: ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ʀᴇᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʜᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴋɪꜱꜱ, ʙʀᴏᴏᴋꜱ ʜᴀꜱɴ'ᴛ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ʜɪꜱ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ'ꜱ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ꜱɪꜱᴛᴇʀ, ʟɪʟᴀ, ᴏꜰꜰ ʜɪꜱ ᴍɪɴᴅ. ʜɪꜱ ꜱʜᴏʀᴛ ᴠɪꜱɪᴛ ʜᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴇᴇ ʜɪꜱ ɢʀᴀɴᴅᴍᴀ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏʟɪᴅᴀʏꜱ ᴡᴀꜱɴ'ᴛ ꜱᴜᴘᴘᴏꜱᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴜʀɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ ꜱᴛᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʟɪʟᴀ ᴏʀ ʜᴇʟᴘɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴘʟᴀɴ ʜɪꜱ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ'ꜱ ʟᴀꜱᴛ-ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇ ᴡᴇᴅᴅɪɴɢ. ʙʀᴏᴏᴋꜱ ᴘʟᴀɴɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ʜɪꜱ ᴅɪꜱᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ & ʙᴜʀʏ ʜɪꜱ ꜰᴇᴇʟɪɴɢꜱ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʜᴇ'ꜱ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ʟɪʟᴀ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʜᴇ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ʜᴇʟᴘ ʙᴜᴛ ꜰᴀʟʟ ʜᴀʀᴅᴇʀ ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ɢɪᴠᴇ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴏꜱᴇ ꜰᴇᴇʟɪɴɢꜱ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʟɪᴠᴇꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏɴ ᴏᴘᴘᴏꜱɪᴛᴇ ᴄᴏᴀꜱᴛꜱ?
This is a holiday novella so you get to know these characters super quickly with little to no true development. Billionaire grump Brooks turns from a heart of coal to the spirit of Christmas fairly quickly but it's a sweet & subtle transition that gave me all the feels, especially when he gives into his feelings for Lila.
Lila is sweet, caring and wears her heart on her sleeve. I love her interactions with Brooks as she doesn't shy away from her feelings. The added bonus of her dog Winston creates some fun moments between them. You have to wait for the spice but when it hits, you will be satisfied.
This is a nice appetizer for the next book in the Aspen Grove series as we get a sneak peek of Harrison & Fallon's story that will be released next year. Ann Einerson knows how to do small-town spice and I just can't wait to read her next book.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A cute holiday romance.