As author Gilmore says in her dedication, “For anyone who ever wished Hallmark Christmas movies were steamier, this one might do the trick,” and how right she is. Like the movies, it’s a small town Christmas romance between a pseudo-local guy (his sister now lives in the town where they both frequently visited as kids) and a former Georgia debutante who buys a farm sight unseen because she’s running away from her oppressive, uber wealthy, socially-conscious parents after her twin and best friend “abandoned” her to follow her new husband to Denmark. Turns out the farm grows and sells Christmas trees, and Kira doesn’t know the first thing about the business (other than what she’s gleaned from homesteading influencers), and, ironically, doesn’t even like the holiday. Bennett’s love language is acts of service, but his compulsive need to fix things has made him a human doormat. He’s a gorgeous, kind, cinnamon roll book boyfriend and she’s the grumpy to his sunshine. However, at some point, she’s going to have to begin believing in herself and making new friends and he’s going to have to realize that not all women just want to use him.
Gilmore makes good on her promise to make this steamier than the traditional made-for-TV movies by giving us a male lead who is the good kind of alpha in the sheets and a female lead who matches his enthusiasm. Their chemistry is hot, but the spicy scenes are also full of laughter and strong feelings. Mix in a trio of friendly mutts, a low-key treasure hunt, a plethora of Christmas activities, and busybody friends and neighbors, and it’s a winning recipe. Recommended!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from One More Chapter through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
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