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Heartbreaker Bay #2.5, 4.5
Holiday Ever After: One Snowy Night/Holiday Wishes/Mistletoe in Paradise
Three fan-favorite Jill Shalvis novellas are together for the first time in this holiday anthology!
One Snowy Night
It’s Christmas Eve and Rory Andrews is desperate to get home to her family. Problem is, her only ride to Lake Tahoe comes in the form of the annoyingly handsome Max Stranton, her long-time crush, and his big, goofy, lovable dog. A long road trip in a massive blizzard might be just what they need to face their past…and one steamy, snowy night is all it takes to bring Max and Rory together at last.
Holiday Wishes
When Sean O’Riley shows up for his older brother’s bachelor weekend, the last person he expects to see is Lotti Hartford, the woman he lost his virginity to a decade ago. As the weekend continues, Sean realizes he wants to leave his hook-up life behind, but can he convince Lotti to open her heart to him again?
Mistletoe in Paradise
Years after their secret fling ended, Hannah isn’t eager to see James during their families’ annual joint holiday-themed yacht adventure. But when they’re the only people who show up, James and Hannah are stuck together on the high seas for days. As the former lovers try to make the best of the Christmas snafu, they soon realize the best things in life can’t be planned, and sometimes love is sweeter the second time around.
One Snowy Night
It’s Christmas Eve and Rory Andrews is desperate to get home to her family. Problem is, her only ride to Lake Tahoe comes in the form of the annoyingly handsome Max Stranton, her long-time crush, and his big, goofy, lovable dog. A long road trip in a massive blizzard might be just what they need to face their past…and one steamy, snowy night is all it takes to bring Max and Rory together at last.
Holiday Wishes
When Sean O’Riley shows up for his older brother’s bachelor weekend, the last person he expects to see is Lotti Hartford, the woman he lost his virginity to a decade ago. As the weekend continues, Sean realizes he wants to leave his hook-up life behind, but can he convince Lotti to open her heart to him again?
Mistletoe in Paradise
Years after their secret fling ended, Hannah isn’t eager to see James during their families’ annual joint holiday-themed yacht adventure. But when they’re the only people who show up, James and Hannah are stuck together on the high seas for days. As the former lovers try to make the best of the Christmas snafu, they soon realize the best things in life can’t be planned, and sometimes love is sweeter the second time around.
352 pages, ebook
First published October 26, 2021
About the author
Jill Shalvis
400 books13.1k followers Multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is … mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning heartwarming and full of humor novels wherever books are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. Her newest Sunrise Cove novel, THE BRIGHT SPOT, is out now, and THE SUMMER ESCAPE comes out in June!
Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning novels wherever books are sold. Visit http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and fun blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
Connect with Jill:
http://instagram.com/jillshalvis
http://facebook.com/JillShalvis
http://twitter.com/jillshalvis
Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning novels wherever books are sold. Visit http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and fun blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
Connect with Jill:
http://instagram.com/jillshalvis
http://facebook.com/JillShalvis
http://twitter.com/jillshalvis
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
November 1, 2021
This is three Romance short stories all in one book. I have to say I really enjoyed all three of these books. I did find one to move way to fast, but it is a short story. I love the Christmas parts in these stories. I love the characters in this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Avon) or author (Jill Shalvis) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
November 7, 2021
Three charming novellas of second chance love are front and center in Holiday Ever After. While I know that these characters appear in certain series, I did not know of their past and still enjoyed these novellas. I will say that they were all definitely insta-type loves with both the hero and heroine having a definite past connection. Each story is sweet and romantic and of course a happily ever after all set around the holidays.
* A copy was kindly provided by Avon via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
* A copy was kindly provided by Avon via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
December 21, 2021
One Snowy Night (Heartbreaker Bay #2.5) by Jill Shalvis
So, this was a quickie ... in more ways than one lol. The story was short in length and so was the journey itself. IMO, it would have ended just as well and a bit more believable with a HFN ILY assumed than and actual ILY happening. However, because Rory and Max not only have known each other for quite some time, but they've been dancing around each other as well, the ILY didn't make my eye twitch too badly lol
This is a cute short story. There's not much else to say. Jill Shalvis wrote it, so of course it will be well written. As for plot and what not .. not too many surprises, just some heart-warmth and feels in all the right places.
A little advice with this series ... I wouldn't just pick up any book and start where you feel. I would start from the beginning and work my way forward. It's the best way to enjoy every detail of each character :)
Holiday Wishes (Heartbreaker Bay #4.5) by Jill Shalvis
Hmmmmmmmmmm …. What to say …. Well, it’s shorter than I expected. Maybe expected isn’t the correct word. Basically, in my opinion, it was a bit too short to stand on its own. If you’re going to enjoy it, like I did, you really have to read the rest of the series. Why? Because it brings together past characters and its length doesn’t quite allow for the right amount of exploration between our leads. It was enjoyable, but I’ve read the series, so for me, it was an outstanding long epilogue type of story. But if you’re starting out here with this series because you want to enjoy some holiday reads, it’s probably not going to be a good read for you.
All in all, the story was humorous and romantic with a dash of holiday spirit and a sprinkle of heart!
Mistletoe in Paradise (Wildstone #5.5) by Jill Shalvis
TBR → I’m not caught up with this series just yet, but as soon as I am I will update this review :)
So, this was a quickie ... in more ways than one lol. The story was short in length and so was the journey itself. IMO, it would have ended just as well and a bit more believable with a HFN ILY assumed than and actual ILY happening. However, because Rory and Max not only have known each other for quite some time, but they've been dancing around each other as well, the ILY didn't make my eye twitch too badly lol
This is a cute short story. There's not much else to say. Jill Shalvis wrote it, so of course it will be well written. As for plot and what not .. not too many surprises, just some heart-warmth and feels in all the right places.
A little advice with this series ... I wouldn't just pick up any book and start where you feel. I would start from the beginning and work my way forward. It's the best way to enjoy every detail of each character :)
Holiday Wishes (Heartbreaker Bay #4.5) by Jill Shalvis
Hmmmmmmmmmm …. What to say …. Well, it’s shorter than I expected. Maybe expected isn’t the correct word. Basically, in my opinion, it was a bit too short to stand on its own. If you’re going to enjoy it, like I did, you really have to read the rest of the series. Why? Because it brings together past characters and its length doesn’t quite allow for the right amount of exploration between our leads. It was enjoyable, but I’ve read the series, so for me, it was an outstanding long epilogue type of story. But if you’re starting out here with this series because you want to enjoy some holiday reads, it’s probably not going to be a good read for you.
All in all, the story was humorous and romantic with a dash of holiday spirit and a sprinkle of heart!
Mistletoe in Paradise (Wildstone #5.5) by Jill Shalvis
TBR → I’m not caught up with this series just yet, but as soon as I am I will update this review :)
November 1, 2021
"Review for One Snowy Night"
So I'm kinda a fan of all things Jill Shalvis. I'm never ever disappointed by her books - In fact, I love them greatly and her heartbreaker bay series is a favorite from 2016. One thing I absolutely love is following her Instagram account as many of her pics are from Lake Tahoe. So why am I mentioning that here? Well I romanticize Lake Tahoe/Donner Pass. I've experienced a blizzard on this stretch of I-80, so it picture Max and Rory's dread filled road-trip. There's almost nothing about this little adventure that either of them look-forward to and it promises to be the longest 5+ hours of either of their lives.
Max and Rory have a very contentious relationship, surviving the drive from SF to Lake Tahoe is going to be tricky as it is. Add in a blizzard on Donner Pass and the stress is ratcheted quite up a bit. This drive is going to requires team work but there's a very old grudge is at play here and both are simply stubborn people. They challenge each other at every turn and just can't seem to get along.
Both Max and Rory have formed opinions of each other based on assumptions. The time alone gives them the opportunity to set things straight. Not just with each other, but also with their families. That's what makes this such a lovely holiday story. The path forward is one of clearing the air and making way for forgiveness. Combine that with the undeniable chemistry between them and it looks like they may just get the chance to do right by themselves and each other. My one complaint is that the story is too short (I know, it's novella what did I expect?) but I would love to see more of Max and Rory and their Christmas celebrations & their road-trip home. 4 Stars and recommendation!
"Review for Holiday Wishes"
I adore this series and have come to care for this little community of friends. There's a theme going on with this series too, and at this point more than half of the stories center around the Christmas season which serves this series well. In Holiday Wishes, we catch up with Finn's ( from Sweet Little Lies ) younger brother Sean and his second chance to make good my his high school hook-up Charlotte.
Lotti is all grown up now and so is Sean, but is the distance created by time and proximity enough to right the wrong that Sean so clearly sees' in hindsight "He’d had his chance and he’d walked away from her. Man, he’d been such a stupid sixteen-year-old punk." ? Shalvis writes some of the best sensitive Alpha men and Sean clearly falls smack in the middle of this category.
This novella is a quick read and we get to know a bit about Lotti's life in the years since she and Sean last saw each other. As with all of Jill's heroines, she's smart, confident (mostly), and headstrong, a good match for Sean's temperament. Although it's not entirely necessary to read the series in order to read this novella, in part it's such a good read as it catches us up with Pru and Finn. The epilogue absolutely melted me and so I recommend this delightful and heartfelt novella!
"Review of Mistletoe in Paradise"
In the spirit of the holidays, Jill Shalvis offers us this fun, sweet, and fast paced novella. Set on a yacht traveling the Caribbean from Florida to St. Thomas Island, the annual trip brings together two families. But this year, it gives once upon a time young lovers, Hannah and James, a second chance.
When Hannah steps on her stepfather Harry's boat for a Christmas holiday, her nerves are frayed. This intensifies when she discover childhood friend James is joining them. Neither are happy to find themselves there, together. But they must make the most of it, and they do. The trip is filled with high seas hi-jinx, laughter and passion.
While the two reconcile their differences, they are forced to confront what a possible future together would look like. They lead such opposing lifestyles, which is what tore them apart. Hannah craves stability, maintaining success in her work, and being a home. While James is a wanderer, a man of adventure, home is wherever he finds a pillow. This is also where his success is founded. But with this time together, they gain so much.
With Jill Shalvis' amazing flirty and dazzling dialogue, situations and settings, I gobbled this book right up. I experienced all the feels, as I felt the swell of the waves, the sand in my toes, and the taste of the ocean. 4.5 Stars and recommendation.
Favorite excerpts:
"And in that moment, there wasn’t anything she wanted than more— more of this, more of him, more of them . . . All of which she tried to convey with her kiss, something he returned with a heat and hunger that stole her breath."
“I’d never cheat.” But she laughed.
“Uh-huh,” he said, unable to keep from laughing with her. She was . . . infectious. “So when you had a quick bikini-top malfunction out there and flashed me, that was entirely by accident?”
She lifted her chin, but her eyes revealed both heat and humor. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
So I'm kinda a fan of all things Jill Shalvis. I'm never ever disappointed by her books - In fact, I love them greatly and her heartbreaker bay series is a favorite from 2016. One thing I absolutely love is following her Instagram account as many of her pics are from Lake Tahoe. So why am I mentioning that here? Well I romanticize Lake Tahoe/Donner Pass. I've experienced a blizzard on this stretch of I-80, so it picture Max and Rory's dread filled road-trip. There's almost nothing about this little adventure that either of them look-forward to and it promises to be the longest 5+ hours of either of their lives.
Max and Rory have a very contentious relationship, surviving the drive from SF to Lake Tahoe is going to be tricky as it is. Add in a blizzard on Donner Pass and the stress is ratcheted quite up a bit. This drive is going to requires team work but there's a very old grudge is at play here and both are simply stubborn people. They challenge each other at every turn and just can't seem to get along.
Both Max and Rory have formed opinions of each other based on assumptions. The time alone gives them the opportunity to set things straight. Not just with each other, but also with their families. That's what makes this such a lovely holiday story. The path forward is one of clearing the air and making way for forgiveness. Combine that with the undeniable chemistry between them and it looks like they may just get the chance to do right by themselves and each other. My one complaint is that the story is too short (I know, it's novella what did I expect?) but I would love to see more of Max and Rory and their Christmas celebrations & their road-trip home. 4 Stars and recommendation!
"Review for Holiday Wishes"
I adore this series and have come to care for this little community of friends. There's a theme going on with this series too, and at this point more than half of the stories center around the Christmas season which serves this series well. In Holiday Wishes, we catch up with Finn's ( from Sweet Little Lies ) younger brother Sean and his second chance to make good my his high school hook-up Charlotte.
Lotti is all grown up now and so is Sean, but is the distance created by time and proximity enough to right the wrong that Sean so clearly sees' in hindsight "He’d had his chance and he’d walked away from her. Man, he’d been such a stupid sixteen-year-old punk." ? Shalvis writes some of the best sensitive Alpha men and Sean clearly falls smack in the middle of this category.
This novella is a quick read and we get to know a bit about Lotti's life in the years since she and Sean last saw each other. As with all of Jill's heroines, she's smart, confident (mostly), and headstrong, a good match for Sean's temperament. Although it's not entirely necessary to read the series in order to read this novella, in part it's such a good read as it catches us up with Pru and Finn. The epilogue absolutely melted me and so I recommend this delightful and heartfelt novella!
"Review of Mistletoe in Paradise"
In the spirit of the holidays, Jill Shalvis offers us this fun, sweet, and fast paced novella. Set on a yacht traveling the Caribbean from Florida to St. Thomas Island, the annual trip brings together two families. But this year, it gives once upon a time young lovers, Hannah and James, a second chance.
When Hannah steps on her stepfather Harry's boat for a Christmas holiday, her nerves are frayed. This intensifies when she discover childhood friend James is joining them. Neither are happy to find themselves there, together. But they must make the most of it, and they do. The trip is filled with high seas hi-jinx, laughter and passion.
While the two reconcile their differences, they are forced to confront what a possible future together would look like. They lead such opposing lifestyles, which is what tore them apart. Hannah craves stability, maintaining success in her work, and being a home. While James is a wanderer, a man of adventure, home is wherever he finds a pillow. This is also where his success is founded. But with this time together, they gain so much.
With Jill Shalvis' amazing flirty and dazzling dialogue, situations and settings, I gobbled this book right up. I experienced all the feels, as I felt the swell of the waves, the sand in my toes, and the taste of the ocean. 4.5 Stars and recommendation.
Favorite excerpts:
"And in that moment, there wasn’t anything she wanted than more— more of this, more of him, more of them . . . All of which she tried to convey with her kiss, something he returned with a heat and hunger that stole her breath."
“I’d never cheat.” But she laughed.
“Uh-huh,” he said, unable to keep from laughing with her. She was . . . infectious. “So when you had a quick bikini-top malfunction out there and flashed me, that was entirely by accident?”
She lifted her chin, but her eyes revealed both heat and humor. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
October 30, 2021
Sometimes I just want a short and sweet romance with the promise of an HEA without long drawn drama. Novellas fill this need perfectly. All three of the stories in Holiday Ever After have a bit of a forced proximity element, two are second chance romances, and one is unrequited love. All tropes I really love in a romance! With the second chance romance or unrequited love, you know the couple already have a history so it’s plausible to fall in love in a short amount of time, which fits in perfectly with a novella. I had fun with all three! Here’s a short breakdown of each story
One Snowy Night: Rory needs a ride home for the holidays and Max, her high school crush who never noticed her, offers to take her. Max is attracted to Rory, but her actions cost him a scholarship. Things worked out for him, but still. However, when a massive storm strands them together they’re forced to talk about the past and clear things up. Spending time together brings the simmering attraction between them to the surface. Can one dark snowy night of passion turn into forever?
Holiday Wishes: Sean and Lotti lost their virginity together back in high school after years of close friendship led to more. Lotti hoped when she moved away they could keep their romance going, but Sean broke her heart instead. Ten years later they meet while Sean and his brother, Finn, arrive at Lotti’s family inn for Finn’s pre-wedding celebrations. Knowing they had a once in a lifetime love, Sean is determined to make the most of his second chance and woo Lotti back, and it seems he has mother nature working with him when a freak storm damages roads stranding the whole wedding party. I really loved this second chance romance! Lotti was hesitant, and I couldn’t blame her, but Sean was sincere and focused!
Mistletoe in Paradise: James and Hannah’s families spent every Christmas together island hoping in the Caribbean. They had a friendship that developed into more, but tragedy and circumstances tore them apart. After years apart they’re both finally going to do Christmas on the boat again. Better still, their parents miss the boat and must meet them at a later port giving these two time together to work it all out. Another sweet second chance romance with the perfect HEA.
Three fun holiday-themed romance novellas, spicy and sweet. A guaranteed quick fix for your HEA cravings!
A copy was kindly provided by Avon via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
One Snowy Night: Rory needs a ride home for the holidays and Max, her high school crush who never noticed her, offers to take her. Max is attracted to Rory, but her actions cost him a scholarship. Things worked out for him, but still. However, when a massive storm strands them together they’re forced to talk about the past and clear things up. Spending time together brings the simmering attraction between them to the surface. Can one dark snowy night of passion turn into forever?
Holiday Wishes: Sean and Lotti lost their virginity together back in high school after years of close friendship led to more. Lotti hoped when she moved away they could keep their romance going, but Sean broke her heart instead. Ten years later they meet while Sean and his brother, Finn, arrive at Lotti’s family inn for Finn’s pre-wedding celebrations. Knowing they had a once in a lifetime love, Sean is determined to make the most of his second chance and woo Lotti back, and it seems he has mother nature working with him when a freak storm damages roads stranding the whole wedding party. I really loved this second chance romance! Lotti was hesitant, and I couldn’t blame her, but Sean was sincere and focused!
Mistletoe in Paradise: James and Hannah’s families spent every Christmas together island hoping in the Caribbean. They had a friendship that developed into more, but tragedy and circumstances tore them apart. After years apart they’re both finally going to do Christmas on the boat again. Better still, their parents miss the boat and must meet them at a later port giving these two time together to work it all out. Another sweet second chance romance with the perfect HEA.
Three fun holiday-themed romance novellas, spicy and sweet. A guaranteed quick fix for your HEA cravings!
A copy was kindly provided by Avon via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2021
I fell in love with Jill Shalvis's writing after reading her Wildstone series, so I was basically ecstatic to read her holiday anthology Holiday Ever After: One Snowy Night/Holiday Wishes/Mistletoe in Paradise. Unfortunately, I have not read her Heartbreaker Bay series yet, but it didn't keep me from enjoying each and every one of these lovely novellas. Each one gave me all the Christmas feels and I loved the slightly spicy romances too! Mistletoe in Paradise is the novella that made me the most emotional, and while they each have an emotional aspect as her novels tend to do, that is the one that left me in tears. I feel like she left the best for last, sneaky woman she is, and while I enjoyed them all, Mistletoe in Paradise was my favorite of the 3.
This is one of the few anthologies I have ever read, and I loved the wintery settings of One Snowy Night and Holiday Wishes. You don't really have to read this for Christmas, and I think it is a great winter read that you can pick up at any time! I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Karen White & Erin Mallon and I was thrilled to have both of them! White narrated the first couple of books of the Wildstone series before it switched over to Mallon and it was great having her back. They both did an excellent job narrating these novellas, and I think this is such a great book to listen to on audio. Holiday Ever After is fine as a standalone even though it is technically part of a series, and it is written the way I would expect from Shalvis. If you enjoy her novels, you should definitely enjoy these novellas!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is one of the few anthologies I have ever read, and I loved the wintery settings of One Snowy Night and Holiday Wishes. You don't really have to read this for Christmas, and I think it is a great winter read that you can pick up at any time! I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Karen White & Erin Mallon and I was thrilled to have both of them! White narrated the first couple of books of the Wildstone series before it switched over to Mallon and it was great having her back. They both did an excellent job narrating these novellas, and I think this is such a great book to listen to on audio. Holiday Ever After is fine as a standalone even though it is technically part of a series, and it is written the way I would expect from Shalvis. If you enjoy her novels, you should definitely enjoy these novellas!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 13, 2021
Read this review in its entirety at
Fresh Fiction
In the mood for a cozy Christmas anthology? Then look no further because Jill Shalvis has got you covered! If you’ve never read her Heartbreaker Bay series before, then you’re in for a treat because with this anthology, you’re able to read a few of the Christmas novellas set in this world. It’s a great way to test the waters and see if you’ll like the series and best of all, you can get into the holiday spirit with it!
Having read all of them, my favorite is probably One Snowy Night. However, all of them do have their selling points. Sometimes, I can see a bit of her Women’s Fiction writing style in some of these stories, but mostly, they are Romance-focused. All of these stories are enjoyable reads, especially if you’re trying to get into the Christmas spirit!
In the mood for a cozy Christmas anthology? Then look no further because Jill Shalvis has got you covered! If you’ve never read her Heartbreaker Bay series before, then you’re in for a treat because with this anthology, you’re able to read a few of the Christmas novellas set in this world. It’s a great way to test the waters and see if you’ll like the series and best of all, you can get into the holiday spirit with it!
Having read all of them, my favorite is probably One Snowy Night. However, all of them do have their selling points. Sometimes, I can see a bit of her Women’s Fiction writing style in some of these stories, but mostly, they are Romance-focused. All of these stories are enjoyable reads, especially if you’re trying to get into the Christmas spirit!
October 19, 2021
“One Snowy Night” by Jill Shalvis is book # 2.5 in the Heartbreaker series. It can be read as a stand-alone, however, it should be noted that this story is about characters who have been featured in the previous books in the series.
I have been following the Heartbreaker series from the start, so I was happy to know that Rory and Max would be getting their story. When I realised that this would be a novella, I was a bit wary. Why? Well with novellas the stories are generally short and at times you may find that events are not satisfactorily wrapped up. That being said, I decided to take my chances, after all, it’s Max and Rory’s story.
From reading the previous books in the series, I recognized that these two were attracted to each other, but never once did they act on it. The reason for this became clear in “One Snowy Night” Not only did these two have chemistry they also had a history which dated back to their high school years. Rory had no clue that Max blamed her for ruining his life back then. Now with a little interference from well-intentioned friends, these two find themselves travelling together as they return home for the Christmas. They now have the opportunity to confront the past and in the process heal old wounds.
I enjoyed the intense interaction between the characters. It was great learning about their pasts which assisted me in getting to know and understand them better. It was fun watching them coming to terms with the issues of the past and starting a new chapter in their lives.
Despite the length, I enjoyed this installment. (The book ended at about 59%. The rest of the book is excerpts from the other books in the series.) It was fun, sweet and entertaining. All in all, it was a great addition to the series. That being said, just as I feared the ending was not satisfactorily wrapped up. I wished that more details were provided as it relates to Rory’ relationship with her family and Max. It ended rather quickly for my liking.
If you are looking for a quick, funny and entertaining read “One Snowy Night” will do the trick.
Holiday Wishes by Jill Shalvis is book #4.5 in the Heartbreaker Bay series. Like the other books in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. However, if you want to get the full benefit of this fun and adorable series, I would recommend you start at the beginning.
Holiday Wishes features one of my favourite tropes, a second chance romance. Combined with my favourite holiday and a weekend wedding and I knew I would be in for a treat.
The Story
A short and sweet Christmas read that allowed me to hang out with the Heartbreaker gang while enjoying the development of the romance between the protagonists. A well-written story with relatable characters and steady pacing made this a worthwhile read.
The Characters
Sean is a character with whom I am familiar. When I met him in the first book in the series, I found him to be immature and irresponsible. However, in this installment he demonstrated that he was not the irresponsible and immature young man persons perceived him to be. I loved this side of him.
I could not fault Lotti for her initial reaction to seeing Sean again after all these years. It could not have been easy for her to face the one person who had the power to break her heart into tiny pieces. However, in spite of her fears the one thing she could not deny was the explosive attraction between them, which was as strong as ever.
It was a treat watching them navigate their un-resolved feelings and off the chart chemistry. I loved them together, and I silently hoped that they would get it right this time around.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Fans of the series will enjoy this Christmas themed novella. If you have not started the series, then I recommend that you do so as soon as you can as you are missing out on some fun and awesome stories.
Another hit from one of my favourite authors and a great addition to the Heartbreaker Bay series.
Mistletoe In Paradise
I have been a fan of Jill Shalvis ever since I read her Heartbreaker series. Since then, I jump at every opportunity to read her books. Therefore, when the offer to read and review Mistletoe in Paradise appeared in my email, my response was an automatic yes. A point to note, despite this being a part of the Wildstone series, it can stand on its own.
Set on a boat, sailing the Caribbean Sea, Mistletoe in Paradise provided me with a sweet, second chance, friends to lover’s romance. In this story the reader met Hannah, her step-father Harry and James.
Now Hannah and James have been friends since childhood and as the years went by their feelings for each other developed beyond friendship. However, losing someone close to them both coupled with their thirst for different things in life led to them drifting apart. A few years later, Hannah is a workaholic with no social life and no time for relationships. She lives for her work, and so she was far from amused when her mother’s actions placed her in a position of delivering bad news to Harry, while spending time with him on his boat for the holidays. To make the situation worse, James would also be on the trip, not what she had signed up for.
I had a wonderful time with this novella. I laughed, and I teared up watching James and Hannah trying to deny their feelings and realising that it was an exercise in futility. Time and distance in no way dimmed the spark which existed between them.
I admired Hannah for her dedication to her job, but she needed to find some balance. I loved the fact that they communicated with each other and in the process managed to resolve the issues that initially tore them apart. The question is though despite coming to terms with their past, will their relationship survive the current situation given their different lifestyles?
Suitable for fans of the author and for readers who enjoy short and sweet romances
I have been following the Heartbreaker series from the start, so I was happy to know that Rory and Max would be getting their story. When I realised that this would be a novella, I was a bit wary. Why? Well with novellas the stories are generally short and at times you may find that events are not satisfactorily wrapped up. That being said, I decided to take my chances, after all, it’s Max and Rory’s story.
From reading the previous books in the series, I recognized that these two were attracted to each other, but never once did they act on it. The reason for this became clear in “One Snowy Night” Not only did these two have chemistry they also had a history which dated back to their high school years. Rory had no clue that Max blamed her for ruining his life back then. Now with a little interference from well-intentioned friends, these two find themselves travelling together as they return home for the Christmas. They now have the opportunity to confront the past and in the process heal old wounds.
I enjoyed the intense interaction between the characters. It was great learning about their pasts which assisted me in getting to know and understand them better. It was fun watching them coming to terms with the issues of the past and starting a new chapter in their lives.
Despite the length, I enjoyed this installment. (The book ended at about 59%. The rest of the book is excerpts from the other books in the series.) It was fun, sweet and entertaining. All in all, it was a great addition to the series. That being said, just as I feared the ending was not satisfactorily wrapped up. I wished that more details were provided as it relates to Rory’ relationship with her family and Max. It ended rather quickly for my liking.
If you are looking for a quick, funny and entertaining read “One Snowy Night” will do the trick.
Holiday Wishes by Jill Shalvis is book #4.5 in the Heartbreaker Bay series. Like the other books in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. However, if you want to get the full benefit of this fun and adorable series, I would recommend you start at the beginning.
Holiday Wishes features one of my favourite tropes, a second chance romance. Combined with my favourite holiday and a weekend wedding and I knew I would be in for a treat.
The Story
A short and sweet Christmas read that allowed me to hang out with the Heartbreaker gang while enjoying the development of the romance between the protagonists. A well-written story with relatable characters and steady pacing made this a worthwhile read.
The Characters
Sean is a character with whom I am familiar. When I met him in the first book in the series, I found him to be immature and irresponsible. However, in this installment he demonstrated that he was not the irresponsible and immature young man persons perceived him to be. I loved this side of him.
I could not fault Lotti for her initial reaction to seeing Sean again after all these years. It could not have been easy for her to face the one person who had the power to break her heart into tiny pieces. However, in spite of her fears the one thing she could not deny was the explosive attraction between them, which was as strong as ever.
It was a treat watching them navigate their un-resolved feelings and off the chart chemistry. I loved them together, and I silently hoped that they would get it right this time around.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Fans of the series will enjoy this Christmas themed novella. If you have not started the series, then I recommend that you do so as soon as you can as you are missing out on some fun and awesome stories.
Another hit from one of my favourite authors and a great addition to the Heartbreaker Bay series.
Mistletoe In Paradise
I have been a fan of Jill Shalvis ever since I read her Heartbreaker series. Since then, I jump at every opportunity to read her books. Therefore, when the offer to read and review Mistletoe in Paradise appeared in my email, my response was an automatic yes. A point to note, despite this being a part of the Wildstone series, it can stand on its own.
Set on a boat, sailing the Caribbean Sea, Mistletoe in Paradise provided me with a sweet, second chance, friends to lover’s romance. In this story the reader met Hannah, her step-father Harry and James.
Now Hannah and James have been friends since childhood and as the years went by their feelings for each other developed beyond friendship. However, losing someone close to them both coupled with their thirst for different things in life led to them drifting apart. A few years later, Hannah is a workaholic with no social life and no time for relationships. She lives for her work, and so she was far from amused when her mother’s actions placed her in a position of delivering bad news to Harry, while spending time with him on his boat for the holidays. To make the situation worse, James would also be on the trip, not what she had signed up for.
I had a wonderful time with this novella. I laughed, and I teared up watching James and Hannah trying to deny their feelings and realising that it was an exercise in futility. Time and distance in no way dimmed the spark which existed between them.
I admired Hannah for her dedication to her job, but she needed to find some balance. I loved the fact that they communicated with each other and in the process managed to resolve the issues that initially tore them apart. The question is though despite coming to terms with their past, will their relationship survive the current situation given their different lifestyles?
Suitable for fans of the author and for readers who enjoy short and sweet romances
August 1, 2021
Holiday Ever After by Jill Shalvis is an anthology of three novellas, One Snowy Night, Holiday Wishes, and Mistletoe in Paradise. Three romantic, steamy, and engrossing stories with a holiday setting.
In One Snowy night, we meet Rory who needs a ride to Lake Tahoe from San Fransisco and Max is her only option. Max and Rory have been friends since High School where Rory had a crush on Max, but never felt worthy enough to let him know. Max has his big dog Carl with him, and Rory falls in love with Carl almost immediately. Their snowy trip to Lake Tahoe is full of detours and distractions, and that time allows Rory and Max to get closer.
In Holiday Wishes, Lottie Hanfield runs her family’s Bed and Breakfast. Lottie’s first love Sean has planned a bachelor weekend for his brother’s upcoming wedding at her Bed and Breakfast. She’s reluctant, but since it’s only a weekend, she figures she can handle the close proximity to the man who broke her heart. But, when a storm blows through and extends the wedding party’s stay, Sean and Lottie can’t stop their old feelings from resurfacing.
Mistletoe in Paradise takes place on a yacht in the Caribbean, and is my kind of holiday! Hannah and James had a secret love affair years ago, and they are not happy when they find themselves the only passengers on Hannah’s father’s yacht, sailing in the Caribbean. Will their forced proximity bring back any old feelings?
These three novellas were all forced proximity tropes with each couple having a past together. Since each novella was short, the relationships heated up pretty quickly, but since each couple had a past together, it wasn’t unrealistic at all. Although they were all holiday-themed novella’s, they were not over the top, sappy holiday stories.
Although short stories, I felt connections with all the characters right away and rooted for all three couples to find their happiness. Even with the short novella format, the author was able to formulate complex backgrounds and emotional stories for these characters. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
In One Snowy night, we meet Rory who needs a ride to Lake Tahoe from San Fransisco and Max is her only option. Max and Rory have been friends since High School where Rory had a crush on Max, but never felt worthy enough to let him know. Max has his big dog Carl with him, and Rory falls in love with Carl almost immediately. Their snowy trip to Lake Tahoe is full of detours and distractions, and that time allows Rory and Max to get closer.
In Holiday Wishes, Lottie Hanfield runs her family’s Bed and Breakfast. Lottie’s first love Sean has planned a bachelor weekend for his brother’s upcoming wedding at her Bed and Breakfast. She’s reluctant, but since it’s only a weekend, she figures she can handle the close proximity to the man who broke her heart. But, when a storm blows through and extends the wedding party’s stay, Sean and Lottie can’t stop their old feelings from resurfacing.
Mistletoe in Paradise takes place on a yacht in the Caribbean, and is my kind of holiday! Hannah and James had a secret love affair years ago, and they are not happy when they find themselves the only passengers on Hannah’s father’s yacht, sailing in the Caribbean. Will their forced proximity bring back any old feelings?
These three novellas were all forced proximity tropes with each couple having a past together. Since each novella was short, the relationships heated up pretty quickly, but since each couple had a past together, it wasn’t unrealistic at all. Although they were all holiday-themed novella’s, they were not over the top, sappy holiday stories.
Although short stories, I felt connections with all the characters right away and rooted for all three couples to find their happiness. Even with the short novella format, the author was able to formulate complex backgrounds and emotional stories for these characters. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 15, 2021
Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired and on bookstagram.
Three short, sweet, emotional stories that can, surprisingly, be read as standalones or after visiting Jill Shalvis' Heartbreak Bay and Wildstone series. They're quite quick reads, the romances move quick, but if you're a fan of second chance love you'll love the quick gratification you get from these. Plus, they're all based around the Christmas season, even the sunny island romance has holiday warmth.
“One Snowy Night” by Jill Shalvis is book # 2.5 in the Heartbreaker series and features Max and Rory. These two have a past, but not quite a warm and fuzzy one. With a ton of history between them and a snowstorm keeping them from their respective family homes, the two finally address the elephant in the truck. This novella is emotionally intense and has just the right amount of smut. It's a happily ever after that feels good, but certainly makes you want to read the other novels in the series.
"Holiday Wishes" by Jill Shalvis is book #4.5 in the Heartbreaker Bay series featuring Sean and Lottie. These two are old flames, separated by distance in their youth and running into one another on what should be a weekend bachelor/bachelorette weekend. Only, like only Northern California can, it dumps insane weather on them and shuts the world around them down. Keeping Sean's brother from his wedding plans, Sean enlists Lottie to make his rustic, Christmas dreams come true and in the process, Sean makes Lottie's vacation dreams come true. This one is lust-filled, silly, and entirely cute. I really enjoyed this one the most, I could've read a full length novel of these two.
"Mistletoe In Paradise" by Jill Shavlis is book #5.5 in the Wildstone series and features longtime family friends Hannah and James. They haven't seen one another since a secret, fated fling and the loss of James' brother. This, potentially last, Christmas charter only makes Hannah think negatively, but her dad has other plans and plays matchmaker with Hannah and James. This one is very fast, but it's warm and fuzzy and made me want to read the Wildstone series. I'm sure longtime Wildstone fans will like the couples' refreshed connection.
ARC provided.
Three short, sweet, emotional stories that can, surprisingly, be read as standalones or after visiting Jill Shalvis' Heartbreak Bay and Wildstone series. They're quite quick reads, the romances move quick, but if you're a fan of second chance love you'll love the quick gratification you get from these. Plus, they're all based around the Christmas season, even the sunny island romance has holiday warmth.
“One Snowy Night” by Jill Shalvis is book # 2.5 in the Heartbreaker series and features Max and Rory. These two have a past, but not quite a warm and fuzzy one. With a ton of history between them and a snowstorm keeping them from their respective family homes, the two finally address the elephant in the truck. This novella is emotionally intense and has just the right amount of smut. It's a happily ever after that feels good, but certainly makes you want to read the other novels in the series.
"Holiday Wishes" by Jill Shalvis is book #4.5 in the Heartbreaker Bay series featuring Sean and Lottie. These two are old flames, separated by distance in their youth and running into one another on what should be a weekend bachelor/bachelorette weekend. Only, like only Northern California can, it dumps insane weather on them and shuts the world around them down. Keeping Sean's brother from his wedding plans, Sean enlists Lottie to make his rustic, Christmas dreams come true and in the process, Sean makes Lottie's vacation dreams come true. This one is lust-filled, silly, and entirely cute. I really enjoyed this one the most, I could've read a full length novel of these two.
"Mistletoe In Paradise" by Jill Shavlis is book #5.5 in the Wildstone series and features longtime family friends Hannah and James. They haven't seen one another since a secret, fated fling and the loss of James' brother. This, potentially last, Christmas charter only makes Hannah think negatively, but her dad has other plans and plays matchmaker with Hannah and James. This one is very fast, but it's warm and fuzzy and made me want to read the Wildstone series. I'm sure longtime Wildstone fans will like the couples' refreshed connection.
ARC provided.
December 18, 2022
Actual rating: 2.5
I only really liked the first story. The second was alright. And the third was just poorly written.
I only really liked the first story. The second was alright. And the third was just poorly written.
December 29, 2021
One snowy night: 3 stars
Holiday Wishes: 1.5 stars
Mistletoe in paradise: 1.5 stars
Holiday Wishes: 1.5 stars
Mistletoe in paradise: 1.5 stars
October 28, 2021
I love it when an author puts together an anthology of short stories! Especially when the holidays season is just beginning. It's a busy time year already and yet I can still squeeze in a good read. Also, it's a perfect stocking stuffer type of read. If you haven't read the Heartbreaker Bay series this is a wonderful introduction!
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October 26, 2021
This is a collection of three novella length Christmas stories in one book.
I really enjoy the writing style of this author so these were a true delight to read.
The stories had a common theme of second chance romances. The couples all had a past history but due to some hurts and misunderstandings they went their separate ways.
Being that it's Christmas time with joy being in the air it seems like the perfect time for a second chance at the possibility of love working out this time.
Some of these couples meeting up again was by mere coincidence but the outcome had the couples talking out the past and putting it behind them.
You can't always forget what happened in the past but you can forgive what happened.
I recommend these sweet holiday romances.
Pub Date 26 Oct 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
I really enjoy the writing style of this author so these were a true delight to read.
The stories had a common theme of second chance romances. The couples all had a past history but due to some hurts and misunderstandings they went their separate ways.
Being that it's Christmas time with joy being in the air it seems like the perfect time for a second chance at the possibility of love working out this time.
Some of these couples meeting up again was by mere coincidence but the outcome had the couples talking out the past and putting it behind them.
You can't always forget what happened in the past but you can forgive what happened.
I recommend these sweet holiday romances.
Pub Date 26 Oct 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
December 15, 2022
Happily Ever After, an Anthology of Jill Shalvis Novellas! One Snowy Night, Holiday Wishes, and Mistletoe in Paradise.
I'm thoroughly enjoying these three second chance romances set during Christmas, but not necessarily all in a winter setting. Each with its own twists and turns as to why the first chance didn't happen and how the second chance comes about for them. Great characters who find themselves in situations that can change their lives and hearts forever and bring them a happily ever after.
I'm thoroughly enjoying these three second chance romances set during Christmas, but not necessarily all in a winter setting. Each with its own twists and turns as to why the first chance didn't happen and how the second chance comes about for them. Great characters who find themselves in situations that can change their lives and hearts forever and bring them a happily ever after.
July 28, 2021
Jill Shalvis delivers three novellas in this Christmas themed anthology. They are combined for the first time but have been preciously written as parts of others series by the author. All three have couples meeting up for a second time.
One Snowy Night: Rory is catching a ride from San Fran to Lake Tahoe on Christmas Eve in the middle of a storm. They knew each other in high school. She crushed on him but she left home at 17. Max blames Rory for costing him his chance at college. This is a forced proximity trope and the only story where I felt I was missing some background that probably came from other books in its series.
Holiday Wishes: Sean O'Riley shows up at an Inn in Napa with his brothers wedding party. He wants everything to go perfectly for the brother that has done so much for him. At the Inn is Lotti Hartford. They were each others firsts in HS before her family moved away and he ghosted her efforts at staying in touch. I enjoyed both of these MC's and could easily have read a full novel about them. A pet parrot adds some extra humor.
Mistletoe in Paradise: Hannah and Jack's families spent the week of Christmas together on her stepdads commercial yacht while they were growing up. They haven't seen each other for years. She has come to deliver divorce papers to her stepdad and Jack has come to tell his parents he wants out of the family business. This is my favorite story as the characters seemed more developed and have actual growth in the few days together. There is flirting and tugs at heart strings.
Each story contains steaminess which feels natural especially in the later two stories where they've been together before. Only in the first did everything feel very rushed. I will say that although all three are set at Christmastime they could have been at anytime of year. I'm new to Jill Shalvis and like her writing style and level of heat. I'm always glad to read new to me authors who already have books (and series) that I can binge through. Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
One Snowy Night: Rory is catching a ride from San Fran to Lake Tahoe on Christmas Eve in the middle of a storm. They knew each other in high school. She crushed on him but she left home at 17. Max blames Rory for costing him his chance at college. This is a forced proximity trope and the only story where I felt I was missing some background that probably came from other books in its series.
Holiday Wishes: Sean O'Riley shows up at an Inn in Napa with his brothers wedding party. He wants everything to go perfectly for the brother that has done so much for him. At the Inn is Lotti Hartford. They were each others firsts in HS before her family moved away and he ghosted her efforts at staying in touch. I enjoyed both of these MC's and could easily have read a full novel about them. A pet parrot adds some extra humor.
Mistletoe in Paradise: Hannah and Jack's families spent the week of Christmas together on her stepdads commercial yacht while they were growing up. They haven't seen each other for years. She has come to deliver divorce papers to her stepdad and Jack has come to tell his parents he wants out of the family business. This is my favorite story as the characters seemed more developed and have actual growth in the few days together. There is flirting and tugs at heart strings.
Each story contains steaminess which feels natural especially in the later two stories where they've been together before. Only in the first did everything feel very rushed. I will say that although all three are set at Christmastime they could have been at anytime of year. I'm new to Jill Shalvis and like her writing style and level of heat. I'm always glad to read new to me authors who already have books (and series) that I can binge through. Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
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December 7, 2022DNF @ 15%
December 13, 2021
would have been 3 stars but the last story SUCKED
October 27, 2021
Bring on the holiday novellas!
One Snowy Night
Short and sweet!
Rory, Max, and Carl have one of those if-anything-can-go-wrong-it-will road trips, made all the more fun with the fact that the two humans have some crazy chemistry going on and the canine has some major love for both of them.
Plus, he's really big (a Doberman) and has a tendency to 1) run off at the drop of a hat and 2) insert himself into any situation that looks like it might be fun to be in, both of which add to the overall humor of the story.
Rory and Max have a bit of a past, which is really the only way a short romance novella like this has a chance of being believable. If you've read The Trouble with Mistletoe you'll start out ahead, already knowing who the characters are, but it's not really necessary. It takes place on Christmas Eve (mostly) and the characters are both on their way home for the holiday, but the event itself isn't a huge part of the story other than being the reason they're trying so hard to get home to be with their families. Really, the snow is a bigger event here than the calendar date, and of course the sparks between the two of them manage to overshadow both :)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
Holiday Wishes
Such a sweet second chance novella!
Holiday Wishes is a short novella, but it packs a punch. If you've read the other books in the series, nearly all of the series characters show up here (I think last year's Christmas novella is the only exception), which is awesome; if you haven't read them, it's still a really cute story and nice intro to the series.
Sean's acting as best man for his older brother (Finn from book one, Sweet Little Lies ), and with Finn and Pru's example and the fact that most of their friends group is pairing up, he's already been thinking that his love 'em and leave 'em lifestyle is growing old. Then he runs into Lotti, the first girl he loved and left (it wasn't totally his fault--they were young and life wasn't doing anything to help them out at the time, but still...) Lotti wants nothing to do with him, but he's a paying customer and Mother Nature has other ideas, so...
Things happen pretty quickly, because this is a short story, but the fact that the two of them have a history makes their relationship feel like less of a stretch.
Rating: 4 stars / B+
Mistletoe in Paradise
A cute second chance, holiday-themed novella!
I didn't feel quite as connected to the characters as I usually do in a Jill Shalvis book--due to the shortened format, maybe? A bit more telling than showing with their pasts and present lives?--but it was still a fun holiday read. The epilogue was especially sweet.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars / B-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
One Snowy Night
Short and sweet!
Rory, Max, and Carl have one of those if-anything-can-go-wrong-it-will road trips, made all the more fun with the fact that the two humans have some crazy chemistry going on and the canine has some major love for both of them.
Plus, he's really big (a Doberman) and has a tendency to 1) run off at the drop of a hat and 2) insert himself into any situation that looks like it might be fun to be in, both of which add to the overall humor of the story.
Rory and Max have a bit of a past, which is really the only way a short romance novella like this has a chance of being believable. If you've read The Trouble with Mistletoe you'll start out ahead, already knowing who the characters are, but it's not really necessary. It takes place on Christmas Eve (mostly) and the characters are both on their way home for the holiday, but the event itself isn't a huge part of the story other than being the reason they're trying so hard to get home to be with their families. Really, the snow is a bigger event here than the calendar date, and of course the sparks between the two of them manage to overshadow both :)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
Holiday Wishes
Such a sweet second chance novella!
Holiday Wishes is a short novella, but it packs a punch. If you've read the other books in the series, nearly all of the series characters show up here (I think last year's Christmas novella is the only exception), which is awesome; if you haven't read them, it's still a really cute story and nice intro to the series.
Sean's acting as best man for his older brother (Finn from book one, Sweet Little Lies ), and with Finn and Pru's example and the fact that most of their friends group is pairing up, he's already been thinking that his love 'em and leave 'em lifestyle is growing old. Then he runs into Lotti, the first girl he loved and left (it wasn't totally his fault--they were young and life wasn't doing anything to help them out at the time, but still...) Lotti wants nothing to do with him, but he's a paying customer and Mother Nature has other ideas, so...
Things happen pretty quickly, because this is a short story, but the fact that the two of them have a history makes their relationship feel like less of a stretch.
Rating: 4 stars / B+
Mistletoe in Paradise
A cute second chance, holiday-themed novella!
I didn't feel quite as connected to the characters as I usually do in a Jill Shalvis book--due to the shortened format, maybe? A bit more telling than showing with their pasts and present lives?--but it was still a fun holiday read. The epilogue was especially sweet.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars / B-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
November 21, 2021
Holiday Wishes were written by Jill Shalvis and originally published in 2016 and 2017. I had not read any books in the Heartbreak Bay series, but I enjoyed them both. Mistletoe in Paradise was originally published in 2020.
'One Snowy Night' has Rory Andrews trying desperately to get home to Lake Tahoe with her step-father's gift for her mother. Her only way home is to hitch a ride with Max Stranton, her long-time crush, but those feelings were unrequited, but were they. I loved this story and especially, Max's lovable dog that caused their trip to have a few hiccups. A happily ever after is in the works when they get stranded in a blizzard.
'Holiday Wishes' has Sean O'Riley coming home for his brother's bachelor weekend. He runs into Lotti Hartford, the woman he was attracted to ten years earlier, the one he lost his virginity to. Lotti told him she loved him, he did not reply and moved away. Now he is back and Lotti just wants to have a good time. Sean is staying at the B&B, where Lotti is the manager. Of course the heat picks up and Sean realizes he is finally ready to make a commitment. This is a roller coaster, emotional story, which I enjoyed.
'Mistletoe in Paradise' is from her Wildstone series. Hannah and James have been friends since childhood, but had a secret fling years earlier. Hannah has no desire to see James, but realizes she needs to make the best of it for their families. Their families are once again having their annual holiday-themed yacht adventure, or are they. When everyone else gets held up, the only ones who arrive are Hannah and James and they are now stuck together for four days at sea. Hannah is dedicated to her job advocating for children's health, but she needs balance. As they spend time together and talk, they realize they still have feelings for one another, but can they make it work considering their differing lifestyles. I enjoyed this novella, with all the emotion it entailed. I loved learning about their pasts and presents as well as about their families. Of course things do work out for this couple.
All three of these novellas are a combination of second chance romance as well as forced proximity. I have not read the Heartbreak Bay series, but had no problem enjoying or following the stories. I enjoy Wildstone and recognized some of the characters, although this can be read as a standalone as well. They are quick reads (novellas) to the romance move quickly as well. I loved all the characters and the second chance romances. They are all based at Christmas time, so there is holiday warmth and magic in each story. I think my favorite of this collection was One Snowy Night because of big, goofy, lovable Carl, Rory's dog. Overall, this is a great book to get you in the mood for the magic of Christmas. The narration of this audiobook was performed by Karen White and Erin Mallon. I enjoyed both of these voice actresses and they added to my enjoyment of the story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
'One Snowy Night' has Rory Andrews trying desperately to get home to Lake Tahoe with her step-father's gift for her mother. Her only way home is to hitch a ride with Max Stranton, her long-time crush, but those feelings were unrequited, but were they. I loved this story and especially, Max's lovable dog that caused their trip to have a few hiccups. A happily ever after is in the works when they get stranded in a blizzard.
'Holiday Wishes' has Sean O'Riley coming home for his brother's bachelor weekend. He runs into Lotti Hartford, the woman he was attracted to ten years earlier, the one he lost his virginity to. Lotti told him she loved him, he did not reply and moved away. Now he is back and Lotti just wants to have a good time. Sean is staying at the B&B, where Lotti is the manager. Of course the heat picks up and Sean realizes he is finally ready to make a commitment. This is a roller coaster, emotional story, which I enjoyed.
'Mistletoe in Paradise' is from her Wildstone series. Hannah and James have been friends since childhood, but had a secret fling years earlier. Hannah has no desire to see James, but realizes she needs to make the best of it for their families. Their families are once again having their annual holiday-themed yacht adventure, or are they. When everyone else gets held up, the only ones who arrive are Hannah and James and they are now stuck together for four days at sea. Hannah is dedicated to her job advocating for children's health, but she needs balance. As they spend time together and talk, they realize they still have feelings for one another, but can they make it work considering their differing lifestyles. I enjoyed this novella, with all the emotion it entailed. I loved learning about their pasts and presents as well as about their families. Of course things do work out for this couple.
All three of these novellas are a combination of second chance romance as well as forced proximity. I have not read the Heartbreak Bay series, but had no problem enjoying or following the stories. I enjoy Wildstone and recognized some of the characters, although this can be read as a standalone as well. They are quick reads (novellas) to the romance move quickly as well. I loved all the characters and the second chance romances. They are all based at Christmas time, so there is holiday warmth and magic in each story. I think my favorite of this collection was One Snowy Night because of big, goofy, lovable Carl, Rory's dog. Overall, this is a great book to get you in the mood for the magic of Christmas. The narration of this audiobook was performed by Karen White and Erin Mallon. I enjoyed both of these voice actresses and they added to my enjoyment of the story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
October 30, 2021
One Snowy Night 3*
I wish I liked this one more, One Snowy Night should have been a story I loved-a second chance romance between childhood friends, taking place during Christmas? How could it go wrong? While I liked both Rory and Max individually, I never felt a real connection with them. I am glad they worked out their differences and cleared the air, but with most of the book focused on the past, it was hard for me to get invested in them as a couple. I would have liked just a little bit more of them together at the end.
Holiday Wishes 4.5*
4.5*
Such a sweet, second chance romance! This was a really enjoyable read, Lottie and Sean will tug at your heartstrings, as they work through what caused their separation a decade ago. Sean knew he hurt Lottie and I loved that he went all out to show her how far he'd come from that 16yo boy who ran scared. His grand gesture was completely swoon worthy, how could anyone resist?!?
Just a really, really sweet read.
Mistletoe in Paradise 4*
Mistletoe in Paradise was a quick, easy read. It's a sweet second chance romance that had me tearing up in a couple spots.
I loved the history between Hannah and James. The fact that they were childhood friends and knew so much about each other, had always been there for each other, gave the story an emotional punch.
It always amazes how an author can create such well developed characters in a novella, and Ms. Shalvis did just that with MiP. I found myself quite invested in Hannah and James, and their families. I wasn't expecting to become so invested in these characters, but I found myself rooting for their hea!
I wish I liked this one more, One Snowy Night should have been a story I loved-a second chance romance between childhood friends, taking place during Christmas? How could it go wrong? While I liked both Rory and Max individually, I never felt a real connection with them. I am glad they worked out their differences and cleared the air, but with most of the book focused on the past, it was hard for me to get invested in them as a couple. I would have liked just a little bit more of them together at the end.
Holiday Wishes 4.5*
4.5*
Such a sweet, second chance romance! This was a really enjoyable read, Lottie and Sean will tug at your heartstrings, as they work through what caused their separation a decade ago. Sean knew he hurt Lottie and I loved that he went all out to show her how far he'd come from that 16yo boy who ran scared. His grand gesture was completely swoon worthy, how could anyone resist?!?
Just a really, really sweet read.
Mistletoe in Paradise 4*
Mistletoe in Paradise was a quick, easy read. It's a sweet second chance romance that had me tearing up in a couple spots.
I loved the history between Hannah and James. The fact that they were childhood friends and knew so much about each other, had always been there for each other, gave the story an emotional punch.
It always amazes how an author can create such well developed characters in a novella, and Ms. Shalvis did just that with MiP. I found myself quite invested in Hannah and James, and their families. I wasn't expecting to become so invested in these characters, but I found myself rooting for their hea!
September 17, 2021
I've read 2 of the 3 novellas in here and loved them! I am looking forward to reading Mistletoe in Paradise in here. I know I will love that one too because I always enjoy Jill Shalvis' writing.
November 29, 2021
3.5 stars for these cute cozy reads. They were the perfect thing to get me into the holiday season. A bit predictable, but I do love a good second chance romance and these hit the mark.
December 14, 2022
feel good, i love love. and christmas. thanks mom
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November 10, 2022Why would you choose this cover if 2 of the 3 stories happen in warm places!? 😠
December 21, 2021
This amazing holiday anthology, 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫, has 3 must read novellas! I loved them all!
❄️ 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ❄️
A road trip to Lake Tahoe, a massive blizzard, a big dog and two passengers harboring old resentments and undeniable attraction for each other. Max and Rory had so much chemistry. For a quick novella, I felt like we got enough backstory and emotional background that we root for them to come clean, make amends and start fresh with each other. I don’t know if I enjoyed this even more because these characters were in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘦 which I had just read but I loved this one just a little extra than the rest - definitely my fave of the three novellas.
❄️ 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝗪𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 ❄️
A snowed in bachelor/bachelorette weekend reunites two long lost lovers. A fun second chance romance that takes us from an awkward first encounter to sizzling heat. Loved the secondary cast in this one and of course the snowed in together aspect always ends up being romantic and steamy! I really enjoyed this one but it would come in third if I had to rate these in order.
❄️ 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞 ❄️
Two secret lovers who haven’t seen each other in years end up the only passengers on what should have been a joint family vacation. Unresolved feelings, impossible to ignore attraction and a yacht adventure - yup, I was sold! This one didn’t have the wintery, cold & snowy feel I enjoy in my holiday reads but a sexy, beachy getaway works too. I enjoyed the angst and chemistry between Hannah and James and the familial ties in this one. Shalvis knows how to write steam with heart! My second favorite novella of the anthology!
❄️ 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ❄️
A road trip to Lake Tahoe, a massive blizzard, a big dog and two passengers harboring old resentments and undeniable attraction for each other. Max and Rory had so much chemistry. For a quick novella, I felt like we got enough backstory and emotional background that we root for them to come clean, make amends and start fresh with each other. I don’t know if I enjoyed this even more because these characters were in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘦 which I had just read but I loved this one just a little extra than the rest - definitely my fave of the three novellas.
❄️ 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝗪𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 ❄️
A snowed in bachelor/bachelorette weekend reunites two long lost lovers. A fun second chance romance that takes us from an awkward first encounter to sizzling heat. Loved the secondary cast in this one and of course the snowed in together aspect always ends up being romantic and steamy! I really enjoyed this one but it would come in third if I had to rate these in order.
❄️ 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞 ❄️
Two secret lovers who haven’t seen each other in years end up the only passengers on what should have been a joint family vacation. Unresolved feelings, impossible to ignore attraction and a yacht adventure - yup, I was sold! This one didn’t have the wintery, cold & snowy feel I enjoy in my holiday reads but a sexy, beachy getaway works too. I enjoyed the angst and chemistry between Hannah and James and the familial ties in this one. Shalvis knows how to write steam with heart! My second favorite novella of the anthology!
August 12, 2021
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I started this book in July as my annual “Christmas in July” book but then we went on vacation and life just pretty much got crazy busy when I returned home, so I just finished it last night. I LOVED IT!!!! It had a Hallmark feel to it but not so G rated and included some steamy, NOT Hallmark-type love scenes. I truly enjoyed all 3 short stories that were in this collection but if I had to pick a favorite it would be the last one- Mistletoe in Paradise. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves happy, feel-good Christmas novels…especially if you’re looking for a quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2021
Spice rating: 🌶 out of 5 (this is my first time reading Jill Shalvis, so I’m assuming her romances are light on the sexy times). What someone would call cozy romances.
Three Christmas time novella’s, all of these stories surround a second chance either with the couple or a second chance to change things for themselves.
These were cute romances
Three Christmas time novella’s, all of these stories surround a second chance either with the couple or a second chance to change things for themselves.
These were cute romances
December 12, 2021
I listened to this book in audiobook format.
September 16, 2021
4 stars. Three fun Holiday novellas full of love, sweetness and cheer!
Here are my thoughts:
*** One Snowy Night: 3.5 stars. This was a cute little novella packed with emotions. I really enjoyed Rory and Max's story. I just wish it was longer. It ended at 58% and I felt like I needed more to be secure in their HEA. I did really enjoy this book, but I wanted more. I'm glad I will get to see more from this couple in later books in the series.
*** Holiday Wishes: 4 stars. This is a cute little novella! This is Sean and Lottie's story. Sean is the best man for his brother, Finn's wedding. He is responsible for planning the joint bachelor/bachelorette weekend at a B & B. He is taking his duties very seriously, but is shocked when they arrive at the inn to find Lotti is the owner. Lotti and Sean had a short relationship in high school and they were each others' firsts before Lotti moved away with her parents. Lottie has had a lot of bad relationship luck since high school and is a little bitter at Sean over the way things ended between them. But Sean has changed from the lonely, struggling kid, whose parents had just died. He now co-owns a bar and is a mature adult ready for a real relationship with the one he never should have let get away. Sean is willing to pull out all the stops in this second chance love story to get Lotti back!
This was an enjoyable, sweet read! Sean and Lotti were great together and it was nice to see them both finally get the happiness they deserved. I also enjoyed catching up with the whole Heartbreaker Bay gang and seeing Pru and Finn tied the knot.
Overall, this was a sweet, sexy, easy read and I really enjoyed it! I can't wait to read more from this fun series!
*** Mistletoe in Paradise: 3.5 stars. This was a pretty good novella. Mistletoe in Paradise is part of the Wildstone series, but can be read as a standalone. This is James and Hannah's story. James and Hannah's families have been best friends and have vacationed together since they were young kids. The two have a long, complicated history with a dash of tragedy and heartache. This Christmas they find themselves together for the first time in a few years with their families on the family boat. Hannah and James have a lot to work out about their past misunderstandings and hurts. But they are able to come together, heal and admit their love for each other.
I thought this was a good story, though it was definitely angsty. Still, I liked it. I really liked the tropical location and the friends to lovers vibe. I enjoyed that Hannah and James grew up together. They were very sweet once they got together. I was happy that they were able to move on from their pasts and be happy together. This was a good, quick, easy read and it had a cute ending.
Overall, this was a sweet, Holiday themed read with some added drama. I enjoyed Hannah and James' story. I look forward to more from this series and Ms. Shalvis in the future.
*** Overall, this was a fun set of novellas to get you in the Holiday spirit!
*arc provided in exchange for an honest review*
Here are my thoughts:
*** One Snowy Night: 3.5 stars. This was a cute little novella packed with emotions. I really enjoyed Rory and Max's story. I just wish it was longer. It ended at 58% and I felt like I needed more to be secure in their HEA. I did really enjoy this book, but I wanted more. I'm glad I will get to see more from this couple in later books in the series.
*** Holiday Wishes: 4 stars. This is a cute little novella! This is Sean and Lottie's story. Sean is the best man for his brother, Finn's wedding. He is responsible for planning the joint bachelor/bachelorette weekend at a B & B. He is taking his duties very seriously, but is shocked when they arrive at the inn to find Lotti is the owner. Lotti and Sean had a short relationship in high school and they were each others' firsts before Lotti moved away with her parents. Lottie has had a lot of bad relationship luck since high school and is a little bitter at Sean over the way things ended between them. But Sean has changed from the lonely, struggling kid, whose parents had just died. He now co-owns a bar and is a mature adult ready for a real relationship with the one he never should have let get away. Sean is willing to pull out all the stops in this second chance love story to get Lotti back!
This was an enjoyable, sweet read! Sean and Lotti were great together and it was nice to see them both finally get the happiness they deserved. I also enjoyed catching up with the whole Heartbreaker Bay gang and seeing Pru and Finn tied the knot.
Overall, this was a sweet, sexy, easy read and I really enjoyed it! I can't wait to read more from this fun series!
*** Mistletoe in Paradise: 3.5 stars. This was a pretty good novella. Mistletoe in Paradise is part of the Wildstone series, but can be read as a standalone. This is James and Hannah's story. James and Hannah's families have been best friends and have vacationed together since they were young kids. The two have a long, complicated history with a dash of tragedy and heartache. This Christmas they find themselves together for the first time in a few years with their families on the family boat. Hannah and James have a lot to work out about their past misunderstandings and hurts. But they are able to come together, heal and admit their love for each other.
I thought this was a good story, though it was definitely angsty. Still, I liked it. I really liked the tropical location and the friends to lovers vibe. I enjoyed that Hannah and James grew up together. They were very sweet once they got together. I was happy that they were able to move on from their pasts and be happy together. This was a good, quick, easy read and it had a cute ending.
Overall, this was a sweet, Holiday themed read with some added drama. I enjoyed Hannah and James' story. I look forward to more from this series and Ms. Shalvis in the future.
*** Overall, this was a fun set of novellas to get you in the Holiday spirit!
*arc provided in exchange for an honest review*
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