Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 344 pages
Author: Jess Heileman
Publisher: Vagabond Publishing
Release Date: November 9th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Love can be downright messy.
This last year has been a total disaster, but my failed six-month marriage takes the cake. While my ex is out having the time of his life, my coping mechanisms consist of an unhealthy obsession with true-crime podcasts and trying to revive my floundering social media account.

So, when I get an offer from one of social media’s darlings—Nikki Aker—to make gingerbread centerpieces for her Christmas wedding, I can’t refuse. Not only because the job pays well (my maxed-out credit card will attest to how much I need this money), but it’s a last-ditch effort to increase my following before I’m forced to get “a real job.”

There’s only one small problem I didn’t account for: Nikki’s a self-proclaimed matchmaker, and apparently, I’m her next target. My only hope to escape unscathed is to conspire with Nikki’s grumpy—albeit gorgeous—brother, Landon, who seems equally determined to get through this wedding with his single status fully intact.

All we need to do is convince Nikki we’re developing feelings for each other. What can possibly go wrong?

*This is a sweet/clean romance

PRETTY GOOD.

I liked this one y’all! Unfortunately not as much as I hoped but we’ll get into that.

All of the Christmas/holiday vibes were here. Adored the setting and plot set-up. The gingerbread houses were a fun touch and I wish I could see those in person!!

Landon was a dreamboat. I absolutely couldn’t get enough of him. He was clearly smitten from the get-go and really pulled out all of the stops in genuine ways to show Quinn that love after divorce is still possible. I loved a lot of the conversations and sentiments expressed between them and it pulled at my heartstrings at the tough things both main characters had to work through.

I did struggle with Quinn’s character. For most of the book I was cool with the mindset and difficulties. It worked with the plot and made sense for everything else. BUT, the character growth hardly showed up and that wasn’t until 90% through the book. I wanted to see a bit more of it overall and watch Quinn learn for herself how much she’s worth and how much she deserves.

There’s a lot of great moments here and I truly did have a good time reading it. Even with my one main issue I’d still recommend because a lot of people I know loved this one!

Overall audience notes:

• Contemporary Holiday Romance
• Language: none
• Romance: kisses
• Trigger/Content Warnings: both main characters are divorced, emotionally manipulative parents

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