Tag: indie author

Book Review: The Holiday Club by Ashley Manley

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Holiday Romance Novella
Length: 203 pages
Author: Ashley Manley
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 30th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s lost the holidays she loved. He never wanted them in the first place. But this Christmas, everything could change.

Hollis Hartwell lives for parades on Main Street, matching pajamas, and small-town holiday magic—until a custody agreement hands every Christmas and town festival to her ex-husband. Now, with her magazine column on festive traditions looming and her heart anything but merry, Hollis is desperate for a new way to celebrate.

Enter Jay Randall. A rugged nonconformist who’d rather spend December riding a horse and buggy with his oddball best friend than decking any halls. When Hollis barges into their anti-Christmas plans hoping to prove that traditions matter, she gets more than she bargained for.

Sparks fly, beliefs are challenged, and amid beertending and unexpected pear trees, Hollis begins to wonder if the best traditions are the ones you create for yourself.

(please note, this title contains explicit language and romance)

OOOH I LOVED THIS.

Who knew that this charming novella would find its way to me this season and totally light up my day? I mean, it does kind of gut punch you in the beginning, but stay the course!!

I think as a parent, the sentiments surrounding creating the “perfect” holiday season and trying to accomplish all the things is what sang to me most. Understanding and realizing what’s actually important and what your children are truly noticing.

And I liked the romance!! For a novella I thought the slow burn was honestly pretty good. It gets a touch spicy for me, but easy to skip over. I loved the unconventional gang between Jay, Marv and Hollis. The core themes of this book just really spoke to me and I devoured this one.

Overall audience notes:

  • Holiday Romance Novella
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2-3ish open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: cheating (recounted), divorice

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Book Review: 12 Days of Mistletoe by Jen Atkinson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 328 pages
Author: Jen Atkinson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 14th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

How to end up in Christmas kissing lessons with your downstairs enemy…

Break apartment rules? Guilty.
Send holiday cards to the downstairs neighbor’s grandma? Done.
Accidentally become said neighbor’s fake girlfriend for a family Christmas photo? Wait, what?

I, Bonnie Miller, am no troublemaker. I’m just an anxious girl trying to keep my emotional support pup in a no-pets apartment building. But my downstairs neighbor is determined to be my personal Grinch and get us both evicted.

Just when I think things can’t get any worse, Elliot Eaton offers me a deal I can’t refuse. Suddenly I’m playing girlfriend and giving mistletoe kisses to my sworn enemy, all to keep my home.

Who knew that breaking one little rule would lead to a fan-mistletoe-tastic holiday?

12 Days of Mistletoe is a closed door, laugh out loud, warm your wintery heart romcom. If you need a book with all the feels, some mistletoe kisses, and lots of holiday spirit, look no further!

LOVED THE ANXIETY REP.

This was my first book by this author and I think I would read another one! I was spouting genuine laughter during those opening scenes and chapters. I loved the fake dating plot and the wildness of Elliot’s family. It’s light and holiday themed with a nice whimsical feel to it.

I don’t always love a meddling grandmother so that one bugged me here and there. Let people kiss on their own terms, ya know?? But I did enjoy the family dynamics on a larger scale.

The anxiety representation was heartfelt too. I connected to many thoughts and feelings from Bonnie and appreciated those dynamics woven into the story too. Not mad at all that I added this to my holiday reads this year.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Content Warnings: anxiety attacks (on page)

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Book Review: Silent Heist by Jenessa Fayeth

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Holiday Romance
Length: 225 pages
Author: Jenessa Fayeth
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 19th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He came for the painting…

Soren Stapley is a professional thief. He is prepared for every scenario and has a plan for every situation.

But he never planned for her.

The painting he needs? It’s being guarded by the woman he once loved and the nine-year-old terror she’s nannying.

What’s worse? He’s not the only one hunting it down.

Christmas is about to get complicated…

…she became his reason to stay.

Maya Perry is out of options. Her job as a nanny is the only thing standing between her and rock bottom, and she’s not about to lose it—not to Arabella Hartwell, a feral child with a Nerf gun she nannies, and definitely not to the thief who shattered her heart. Soren may be charming, but he’s dangerous. And still the guy who broke her heart and apparently learned absolutely nothing about knocking.
It’s only a matter of time before he disappears again, but this time, Maya isn’t going to break.
At least, that’s the plan.

Silent Heist is an adventure filled, closed door, Christmas romantic comedy inspired by Home alone.

I’D REC IT.

Y’all know I go on a big holiday romance quest every year and this one came highly recommended. I really do love reading a Christmas romance that brings a different vibe than the usual and the light heist vibes of this one were fun!

I think what works great for shorter stories like this is that there’s some kind of second chance angle. And this one pulled at my heart strings!! I loved the little mentions and notions to their back story and you could see the chemistry between Maya and Soren from the beginning.

I’m not sure all of the Home Alone antics worked for me? But I know that’s totally a personal preference. For a book set entirely in one location I was impressed at the plot created. I definitely plan to continue reading Jenessa Fayeth’s books.

Overall audience notes:

  • Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild

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Book Review: Since We’ve No Place to Go by Kate Watson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 330 pages
Author: Kate Watson
Publisher: Little Biks Creative
Release Date: November 19th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Caught in a blizzard with the baseball player she despises, a sports analyst is about to see if holiday cheer can thaw even the coldest hearts.

SCATTERED.

It’s like I liked this but also some stuff took me out of it?

I thought the banter was fantastic. It’s cheeky and full of great quips. I loved Cooper pushed Liesel’s buttons without being over bearing and it made for some solid moments. I loved the baseball dynamics and it has a soft sports vibe (no games are played, but baseball is definitely part of the story).

I loved Liesel’s over bearing family. They drove me a bit crazy but I also appreciated the sentiment of their care and love so it worked well. This book is also a little bit heavier than I was expected and I found myself really invested in a part of the plot and loved how that worked out for the conclusion.

There’s definitely a good amount of showing, and yet there was just enough telling too that I noticed and it bugged me? I would have loved to just have had enough more show. I do love a good argument scene though and this one was great. Some momentum issues, but this was my first book by Kate Watson and I would try another!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Content Warnings: a parent with agoraphobia, loss of a mother (recounted, grief depicted)

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