Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'
A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone
36 reviews
10tlgibs's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry
kaykaysbookshelf's review against another edition
3.5
What to expect: forced proximity, workplace romance, movie/porn industry, holiday romance, curvy main characters
This one was fine. I enjoyed the first book more
Spice: 3
This one was fine. I enjoyed the first book more
Spice: 3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Pregnancy
kaseybereading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Vomit
etidorpha's review
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: Religious bigotry and Miscarriage
This book deals heavily with evangelical religious deconstruction.emmas_bookshelf's review
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: Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Moderate: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Minor: Vomit and Miscarriage
sandywich89's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
4.75
Rating: 4.75 out of 5
Spice: 4 out of 5
Part of a series, but can be read as a standalone (I did).
A Holly Jolly Ever After features retired boy band member turned pizza entrepreneur with a sex tape and dadbod Kallum Lieberman who is starring in a new Hope Channel movie filmed in Christmas Notch. Together with recently divorced ‘fallen from grace’ Winnie Baker who suffers from narcolepsy.
This book just has everything I want in a romance novel. It’s got a golden retriever MMC who is never taken seriously and never seen as the ‘guy you end up with’, a FMC that is trying to cut loose from growing up as a childstar in purity culture and for this movie, she needs sex lessons.
Winnie has never had an orgasm in her life and she desperately needs help for the sex scenes in the movie. Kallum therefore suggests she needs to do some ‘research’ and she is struggling. She ends up deciding to watch Kallum’s sex tape because where else better to begin the research. Since googling how to get an orgasm didn’t do her much good. Unfortunately even with the tape it doesn’t seem to work and she’s getting more desperate by the hour.
Thankfully Kallum shows up at the right time and she boldly asks him if he can help her out. Kallum having had a crush on her would be crazy to deny her that right? Right?
This was so much fun. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. Kallum is the epitome of a DILF. The steam is out of this world amazing. I should’ve known that with Sierra Simone partly writing it that it would. It even has some elements in the steam that surprised me, especially when considering Winnie is trying to break free of purity culture.
A Holly Jolly Ever After features retired boy band member turned pizza entrepreneur with a sex tape and dadbod Kallum Lieberman who is starring in a new Hope Channel movie filmed in Christmas Notch. Together with recently divorced ‘fallen from grace’ Winnie Baker who suffers from narcolepsy.
This book just has everything I want in a romance novel. It’s got a golden retriever MMC who is never taken seriously and never seen as the ‘guy you end up with’, a FMC that is trying to cut loose from growing up as a childstar in purity culture and for this movie, she needs sex lessons.
Winnie has never had an orgasm in her life and she desperately needs help for the sex scenes in the movie. Kallum therefore suggests she needs to do some ‘research’ and she is struggling. She ends up deciding to watch Kallum’s sex tape because where else better to begin the research. Since googling how to get an orgasm didn’t do her much good. Unfortunately even with the tape it doesn’t seem to work and she’s getting more desperate by the hour.
Thankfully Kallum shows up at the right time and she boldly asks him if he can help her out. Kallum having had a crush on her would be crazy to deny her that right? Right?
This was so much fun. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. Kallum is the epitome of a DILF. The steam is out of this world amazing. I should’ve known that with Sierra Simone partly writing it that it would. It even has some elements in the steam that surprised me, especially when considering Winnie is trying to break free of purity culture.
I didn’t know about the surprise pregnancy trope before I dove in and the minute I read it I had the feeling of impending doom. It’s my least favorite trope next to amnesia and I was really worried for the third act for a minute. Fortunately though this book surprised me in a great way!
I wouldn’t necessarily call this a christmas book, but it really does invoke the feelings you get when you watch a christmas movie. And ofcourse they are recording a christmas movie including a malfunctioning snow machine.
It has the great found family vibes and this book was just such a breath of fresh air, it really gave me all the great feels. I am definitely going to read A Merry Little Meet Cute now since I am curious about Nolan and Bee’s story. And when are we getting Isaac’s story? Because.. I want it now. I so love me a great widow trope.
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for providing an ARC.
I wouldn’t necessarily call this a christmas book, but it really does invoke the feelings you get when you watch a christmas movie. And ofcourse they are recording a christmas movie including a malfunctioning snow machine.
It has the great found family vibes and this book was just such a breath of fresh air, it really gave me all the great feels. I am definitely going to read A Merry Little Meet Cute now since I am curious about Nolan and Bee’s story. And when are we getting Isaac’s story? Because.. I want it now. I so love me a great widow trope.
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for providing an ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Misogyny and Religious bigotry
More...