This was the first one I picked up and it set such a great pace for the collection. I loved the secret identity component to this story, because when This was the first one I picked up and it set such a great pace for the collection. I loved the secret identity component to this story, because when she makes a wish to fall in love by New Years, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with Santa Claus. Especially since she doesn’t know who the boy behind the mask is—and he isn’t allowed to tell her....more
This is tied for my favorite of the bunch. A grumpy/sunshine romance, we have two people forced to work together to bring holiday joy to those less foThis is tied for my favorite of the bunch. A grumpy/sunshine romance, we have two people forced to work together to bring holiday joy to those less fortunate. It’s magical watching a young Scrooge find his love for the holiday season again....more
This is a sweet forced proximity romance with a bit of a reverse grumpy/sunshine going on. A child of divorced parents just wants a break from the oveThis is a sweet forced proximity romance with a bit of a reverse grumpy/sunshine going on. A child of divorced parents just wants a break from the over-the-top holiday excitement, but when her parents pay a new boy in town to spend time with her in hopes of showing him what Garland, ME has to offer, it’s nearly impossible to shake off the love of Christmas....more
There’s something about Lisa Unger’s books that pull me in and keep me begging for more.
Even when they’re about the last topic on earth I want to readThere’s something about Lisa Unger’s books that pull me in and keep me begging for more.
Even when they’re about the last topic on earth I want to read about: creepy dolls.
This was the perfect novella to read for the spooky season, and it was a quick one too. Beyond the fact that it’s a novella, it’s also one you won’t be able to put down!...more
The last book in the standalone novella series, Lee truly goes out with a bang here! Ex-boyfriend’s father, mutual pining, father’s riHOT, HOT, H-O-T!
The last book in the standalone novella series, Lee truly goes out with a bang here! Ex-boyfriend’s father, mutual pining, father’s rival, workplace romance, forced proximity, age gap… I mean, what more could you want???
I have truly loved each of these novellas, but seriously, what a note to end on! Set at a publishing house, readers get to enjoy being surrounded by bookish chatter alongside all of the spice we’re gifted.
And just in time for Father’s Day tomorrow, too ...more
I love Lee Jacquot’s ability to pack a steamy punch in such a short novella.
With a bit of an Easter theme, this book revolved around a SLOW burn. Two I love Lee Jacquot’s ability to pack a steamy punch in such a short novella.
With a bit of an Easter theme, this book revolved around a SLOW burn. Two strangers who met on one day year after year and their timing was just never on point. And yet, the attraction and interest never burned out. So five years later… a move is finally made.
And while I did truly love Harper’s character, I think Andrew Dawson stole my heart from the moment he entered the page (even if it was digitally). I saw one review that said they’d wait for Andrew Dawson forever. And honestly, I can completely understand why.
Also… Lee manages to give “Easter egg hunt” an ENTIRELY new meaning
Merged review:
I love Lee Jacquot’s ability to pack a steamy punch in such a short novella.
With a bit of an Easter theme, this book revolved around a SLOW burn. Two strangers who met on one day year after year and their timing was just never on point. And yet, the attraction and interest never burned out. So five years later… a move is finally made.
And while I did truly love Harper’s character, I think Andrew Dawson stole my heart from the moment he entered the page (even if it was digitally). I saw one review that said they’d wait for Andrew Dawson forever. And honestly, I can completely understand why.
Also… Lee manages to give “Easter egg hunt” an ENTIRELY new meaning...more
I love this series and I'm so grateful Lena told me about this novella because I was not ready to be done in Outtatowner! I know her next series is a I love this series and I'm so grateful Lena told me about this novella because I was not ready to be done in Outtatowner! I know her next series is a spinoff and will still revolve around this town, but I needed more of the Sullivan family, and while I wasn't expecting this novella to capture the local grumpy baker and a newcomer, I am SO glad that's the angle Lena took with it!
Their chemistry was palpable. The only thing I wish I could change is that it had been longer! I wanted more of them!!
Tropes: - grumpy/sunshine - city girl/small town guy - instalove...more
Eleanor has been a fantastic side character since the first book in the series and I was so excited to get to know a bit more about her! The last thinEleanor has been a fantastic side character since the first book in the series and I was so excited to get to know a bit more about her! The last thing I expected was a fake dating scheme!!!
Reggie was a fun character I also wasn't expecting. Per usual with Jillian's novellas, I WANTED MORE! The novella is a fantastic snapshot, and I truly love the character development that she manages to portray in such a short story, BUT I end up loving the characters so much I want more. And Reggie and Eleanor were no exceptions. Once they realized they enjoyed each other's time? It just kept getting better and better!
Tropes: - holiday novella: July 4th - small town - fake dating - Small town - friend's brother - fling to more - one bed - forced proximity - He falls first...more
This was such a fun workplace, boss/employee, holiday novella! I will say that I wanted more as soon as I realized it was coming to an end. Jillian isThis was such a fun workplace, boss/employee, holiday novella! I will say that I wanted more as soon as I realized it was coming to an end. Jillian is fantastic at developing her characters into people you just want to spend more time with, and for that reason I always feel as though full-length novels feel best for her characters.
That said, it's still a phenomenal quick read you won't want to put down!
Tropes: - holiday novella: Christmas - vacation romance: Switzerland - enemies to lovers - workplace/work trip romance - boss/employee - forced proximity - one bed - he falls first - mutual pining...more
This wasn't my favorite, which feels sad to admit because it was my first book by Jennifer Probst... I'll pick up another though, since such a short sThis wasn't my favorite, which feels sad to admit because it was my first book by Jennifer Probst... I'll pick up another though, since such a short story doesn't feel like it does an author's work justice for a first intro. I just wanted the characters to have a bit more development... and the third person POV pulled me out of the story frequently, which was unfortunate as well. Still a cute plot though!...more
This was my first story by Emily Rath and OH. MY. GOD. I NEED MORE!!!
This steamy number ended on a cliffhanger if I’ve ever read one and I don’t know This was my first story by Emily Rath and OH. MY. GOD. I NEED MORE!!!
This steamy number ended on a cliffhanger if I’ve ever read one and I don’t know how I feel about it. But I do know it’s an effective way to get me to read more! Well done, Emily. Well done.
Tropes: - Fling - Strangers to lovers - Banter - Possessive MMC - One night stand - Cliffhanger (leads into full series)...more
This was such a cute, sweet romance. It was a brief story! I love how Lilly has all but given up on romance and the one chance she feels a connection This was such a cute, sweet romance. It was a brief story! I love how Lilly has all but given up on romance and the one chance she feels a connection she thinks he’s the partner of one of the mother’s she’s helping through a delivery, so she shuts it down vehemently. But even once they give it a chance, Travis’ baggage gets in the way, since he has a toxic ex who won’t leave them alone.
I won’t ever stop being impressed by the layers of plot Jenny manages to weave together in her stories — especially in these short novellas! I can’t get enough of them....more
Jenny has shredded my heart and put it back together so many times I have officially lost count.
We all had childhood crushes though. And most of us haJenny has shredded my heart and put it back together so many times I have officially lost count.
We all had childhood crushes though. And most of us have known the pain of not being seen or embarrassing ourselves in front of said crush. So this is the crush redemption story. This is the story for everyone who has ever felt invisible to their crush and wished it had turned out a different way. This is the story for our younger selves that we didn’t even know we needed.
Oh, and Bo… he’s mine. He might have been immature and oblivious as a kid, but now? Nothing but green flags baby!
Tropes: - Childhood crush - Snowed in for Christmas - Holiday novella - Forced proximity - Grand gestures...more
This workplace romance, vacation/island/work getaway novella was delightful. I do wish it had been lonMia Sosa writes enemies to lovers SO DANG WELL!!
This workplace romance, vacation/island/work getaway novella was delightful. I do wish it had been longer so we could get to know the characters and their backstory a bit more, but overall it was such a fun read that I barely noticed what I was missing. I loved reading about Naomi and Donovan, but I especially loved their interactions with each other since they couldn’t seem to help but spar with one another for the majority of the story. Likely due to simmering feelings beneath the surface… Hmm…
This book was adorable. Everything about it — even including the characters’ insecurities.
A story about how much wealth truly matters when you fall foThis book was adorable. Everything about it — even including the characters’ insecurities.
A story about how much wealth truly matters when you fall for someone’s personality — a story about being your own person rather than the one set forth for you by your family — a story about so much more than the neighbors to lovers romance that graces the pages and pulls you in from the beginning.
I appreciated how Jenny handled these characters and their situations. There were insecurities and miscommunications that were natural and realistic, but didn’t lead to the fallout that usually follows miscommunication in romance novels.
This is definitely a novella to add to your TBR!
Tropes: - Neighbors - Chasing dreams - Nanny - Middle class vs wealthy expectations - Forced proximity - Trapped in an elevator...more
This was such a great sapphic holiday romance novella! In such a short story, it managed to have a bit of everything from cheating to dealing with exeThis was such a great sapphic holiday romance novella! In such a short story, it managed to have a bit of everything from cheating to dealing with exes to best friends to discovering your sexuality to family dynamics and even finding oneself.
I loved Clara and Evan’s relationship. Because of it, it was easy to see their fake relationship evolve so quickly into something real once their feelings became seen — but boy do I feel for Evan for pining over Clara for so long!
Tropes: - Sapphic romance - Holiday novella - Fake dating - Best Friends to lovers...more
This is one of my favorite novellas to date — and a holiday novella? I’m sold!
I’m quickly becoming a fan of everything Jessica Joyce writes and I cannThis is one of my favorite novellas to date — and a holiday novella? I’m sold!
I’m quickly becoming a fan of everything Jessica Joyce writes and I cannot wait for her next book to release to solidify this fact. This novella was mesmerizing and managed to paint a connection between Claire and Connor in such a short story that I’m shocked it wasn’t a full-size novel by how well I feel I know them both.
Claire has always lived life carefully, earning her the nickname of “Claireful” and Connor tends to go with the flow, taking risks far more often. But the one night Claire decides to take a risk just so happens to be the same night Connor wants to be careful — albeit with a different meaning. He wants to take care, use care, because he cares about Claire even though he’s just met her.
I loved their connection from the start and I truly loved how this story transpired. It was absolutely magical.
Tropes: - Fling to forever - Snowed in - Forced proximity - Chasing dreams - Insta-attraction - He falls first...more
This author has great ideas. The premise of this one gripped me from the start: slow burn, age gap, mom's best friend, former nanny, forced proximity This author has great ideas. The premise of this one gripped me from the start: slow burn, age gap, mom's best friend, former nanny, forced proximity on a family camping trip? OOH-LA-LA! Sign. Me. Up.
Unfortunately, the premise didn't deliver for me. Marilynn is super sweet and let me know this was her first book—one she plans to rework since she has so much more experience writing since she released this one, and I look forward to the revisions she makes on it. Because like I said, the premise is awesome!
Despite my love of romance, this book felt more cringy to me than sexy. Written from a male POV, Evan didn't seem to have a single thought that wasn't sex-related. He narrated that he wasn't the typical frat bro and yet the way he acted and thought about women aligned with that persona most of the time anyway.
The descriptions revolving around sex were off-putting for me. A few examples are below: - describing his cock as "opening at the tip" to release the tension isn't exactly how that works and had me visualizing venus fly traps rather than a penis. - the number of times the MC had to describe himself as too big in girth for women to "fit him" made me wonder if he knew anything about sex and how to make his partner ready for him (especially when it happened seemingly so easily with the one woman he couldn't stop thinking about). - one of the girl's tells him that she can't wait until next time because she's "never had sex with just the tip of a penis before and it was amazing" ... this just had me open-mouthed trying to understand why this was part of the story in the first place.
Additionally, there was a subplot (and trigger warning) of being roofied/drugged and the character's reaction to it was a bit off-putting as well, claiming that he shouldn't care as much since he's a dude. Besides the physical reaction and getting angry for all of a chapter, this part of the story didn't impact the rest of it and felt a bit demeaning to people who have been roofied and taken advantage of since it's so easily brushed aside.
I know some people have loved this book, and I'm glad. I'm a huge advocate that while a book might not be for every person, there is always the right person who will love each book. I'm not the right person for this one, unfortunately, but I urge you to give it a try if the above still intrigues you....more
This book was such a delight. I've always enjoyed the movie You've Got Mail, and to put this modern holiday spin on it made it absolutely wonderful!
I This book was such a delight. I've always enjoyed the movie You've Got Mail, and to put this modern holiday spin on it made it absolutely wonderful!
I loved the pen pal element alongside these characters meeting in person by sheer happenstance. I loved watching them get to know each other in two completely different ways both in person and through the letters. It felt natural, organic, and like a dream all at once.
Jenny Proctor will always be one of my favorite romance authors, and this novella might just be one of my favorite novellas to date, too.
Tropes: - holiday novella - penpal/Christmas letters - You've Got Mail plot - EMT MMC - choosing new paths / chasing dreams - forced proximity - insta attraction - friends to lovers - TW: loss of parents...more
This was my first book by Ann and it will definitely not be my last. A quick holiday novella filled with everything IThis book was utterly DELIGHTFUL!
This was my first book by Ann and it will definitely not be my last. A quick holiday novella filled with everything I love — I couldn’t put it down!
I was laughing at the shenanigans and felt pulled toward each character, constantly wanting more. I loved watching Jack open up and seeing Presley give her boss a second chance while simultaneously giving herself a second chance at happiness, too.
If you’re looking for a fun, heartwarming, sweet romance? You have officially found it!
Tropes: - Holiday novella - Enemies to lovers - Boss/employee - Office romance - Fake dating - One bed - Found family - Holiday wishlist/mistletoe shenanigans...more
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