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Arcadian Falls Christmas #1
A Very Grumpy Christmas
My neighbor is a Grinch.
Since I run the Christmas Emporium and sometimes moonlight as an elf, that's kind of a problem for me.
No surprise, though. When I brought over cookies to welcome him to the neighborhood this summer, he slammed the door in my face.
Until he brings his kid to visit Santa one of the days I'm working as an elf, and I realize there are key parts of their story I'm missing ...
1. The little girl is his much younger sister, not his daughter.
2. He's her guardian since their parents died in a tragic accident.
Now all of his handsome, broody glares make so much more sense. As one of Santa's elves, I make it my mission to make this Christmas as special for them as possible. Which somehow includes trespassing on his property to hang Christmas lights and braiding the little girl's hair regularly.
Despite his glares and grumpiness, I discover the soft underbelly of the beast. Will this Grinch's heart grow three sizes as well? And if it does, will it have room for me?
A Very Grumpy Christmas is a standalone, small town, neighbors to lovers romance featuring a grumpy single dad and the sunshiny neighbor who's determined to make his Christmas better. Full of heat and heart with an HEA guaranteed!
Since I run the Christmas Emporium and sometimes moonlight as an elf, that's kind of a problem for me.
No surprise, though. When I brought over cookies to welcome him to the neighborhood this summer, he slammed the door in my face.
Until he brings his kid to visit Santa one of the days I'm working as an elf, and I realize there are key parts of their story I'm missing ...
1. The little girl is his much younger sister, not his daughter.
2. He's her guardian since their parents died in a tragic accident.
Now all of his handsome, broody glares make so much more sense. As one of Santa's elves, I make it my mission to make this Christmas as special for them as possible. Which somehow includes trespassing on his property to hang Christmas lights and braiding the little girl's hair regularly.
Despite his glares and grumpiness, I discover the soft underbelly of the beast. Will this Grinch's heart grow three sizes as well? And if it does, will it have room for me?
A Very Grumpy Christmas is a standalone, small town, neighbors to lovers romance featuring a grumpy single dad and the sunshiny neighbor who's determined to make his Christmas better. Full of heat and heart with an HEA guaranteed!
Kindle Edition
First published November 22, 2021
About the author
Jerica MacMillan
44 books503 followersJerica MacMillan has been reading romance since she stumbled into the paperback section of the library as a middle schooler. And it's been an ongoing love affair ever since!
You can frequently find her sipping coffee out of snarky mugs while dreaming up stories and trying to bring them to life on the page. Join her Book Club at www.jericamacmillan.com/book-club and get a free book!
You can frequently find her sipping coffee out of snarky mugs while dreaming up stories and trying to bring them to life on the page. Join her Book Club at www.jericamacmillan.com/book-club and get a free book!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 376 reviews
November 24, 2023
3.5⭐️ an average cute holiday read
December 27, 2021
Bu yıl okuduğum yeni yıl kitapları içinde, Christmas ruhunu en iyi yansıtan kitaptı. Çiftin ilişkisi klişe ve tahmin edilebilir ilerlese de; süslemelerle, noel babasıyla, elfleriyle, aile ilişkileriyle, huysuz komşu ve sevimli kardeşiyle keyifle okuduğum bir kitaptı. Beklentiyi çok yükseltmeden bu dönemde okunacak güzel bir alternatif bence🎅🏻🎄🎉🎁🎊
November 16, 2022
3.5 stars
Trigger warnings - grief over loss of parents; unexpected guardianship
I thought the Christmas element of this romance was spot-on. Even though there are heavy topics touched on, this remains a lighter read that's cute. Sarah (h) manages a Christmas store and is full of holiday spirit along with her family. Her new neighbor, Shane (H), is not, but for good reasons. He is grumpy, but like others have said in their reviews, he's grieving and caring for his younger sister after the loss of their parents so it's a different kind of grumpy. He's a teacher and football coach, but his focus is on his sister. Sarah worms her way into their lives, at first to bring some Christmas cheer and happiness, and then as a supportive neighbor that shifts into romance. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither are virgins (it's been months for each of them).
I liked both Sarah and Shane and I really enjoyed both of their interactions with his sister, Sophie. Some of those scenes were so adorable with Sarah teaching him how to braid hair, movie nights, building snowmen. This has a single parent feel with more angst around that aspect because he's unexpectedly parenting and feels like he's failing. There's some repetition about their grief and other details, which I think tightening up would have made the story flow better. I felt like the tension and chemistry between the main characters could have been stronger too. But I did like these two together and how Sarah nudged Shane into accepting help and realizing that support didn't mean pity. Their physical attraction was instant, but their romance was a slow build. Steamy times start when they become friends with benefits. There are mixed signals and some frustrations since he's concerned about not being able to have a relationship right then, which works for Sarah too since she's so busy with the season. But of course once they're both hitting a stride, they start to wonder about more even as they feel limited in that arrangement. Which of course crashes into a problem.
I loved that Sarah's family are warm and caring side characters also in love with Christmas. Her parents started a Christmas Emporium and play Santa and Mrs. Claus each year while two of her siblings are sometimes elves with her. Sarah's BFF (who gets her own book next) was a sounding board but wasn't supportive of their relationship, with valid concerns. Shane is a bit more adrift as he's at odds with his older siblings as they work out their grief but has a teacher co-worker who's also supportive and offers advice.
With some help and realizations, Sarah and Shane do end up in their HFN ending. The last chapter has a few months jump ahead in time with them engaged. I always want a more extended epilogue and I would have liked to have seen some scenes of Shane and Sarah officially together with Sophie, but there's also a bonus scene available from the author with a link at the end of the book that I haven't read and might offer up some of that. The last chapter also has hints for the next book with Sarah's brother and her BFF.
Trigger warnings - grief over loss of parents; unexpected guardianship
I thought the Christmas element of this romance was spot-on. Even though there are heavy topics touched on, this remains a lighter read that's cute. Sarah (h) manages a Christmas store and is full of holiday spirit along with her family. Her new neighbor, Shane (H), is not, but for good reasons. He is grumpy, but like others have said in their reviews, he's grieving and caring for his younger sister after the loss of their parents so it's a different kind of grumpy. He's a teacher and football coach, but his focus is on his sister. Sarah worms her way into their lives, at first to bring some Christmas cheer and happiness, and then as a supportive neighbor that shifts into romance. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither are virgins (it's been months for each of them).
I liked both Sarah and Shane and I really enjoyed both of their interactions with his sister, Sophie. Some of those scenes were so adorable with Sarah teaching him how to braid hair, movie nights, building snowmen. This has a single parent feel with more angst around that aspect because he's unexpectedly parenting and feels like he's failing. There's some repetition about their grief and other details, which I think tightening up would have made the story flow better. I felt like the tension and chemistry between the main characters could have been stronger too. But I did like these two together and how Sarah nudged Shane into accepting help and realizing that support didn't mean pity. Their physical attraction was instant, but their romance was a slow build. Steamy times start when they become friends with benefits. There are mixed signals and some frustrations since he's concerned about not being able to have a relationship right then, which works for Sarah too since she's so busy with the season. But of course once they're both hitting a stride, they start to wonder about more even as they feel limited in that arrangement. Which of course crashes into a problem.
I loved that Sarah's family are warm and caring side characters also in love with Christmas. Her parents started a Christmas Emporium and play Santa and Mrs. Claus each year while two of her siblings are sometimes elves with her. Sarah's BFF (who gets her own book next) was a sounding board but wasn't supportive of their relationship, with valid concerns. Shane is a bit more adrift as he's at odds with his older siblings as they work out their grief but has a teacher co-worker who's also supportive and offers advice.
With some help and realizations, Sarah and Shane do end up in their HFN ending. The last chapter has a few months jump ahead in time with them engaged. I always want a more extended epilogue and I would have liked to have seen some scenes of Shane and Sarah officially together with Sophie, but there's also a bonus scene available from the author with a link at the end of the book that I haven't read and might offer up some of that. The last chapter also has hints for the next book with Sarah's brother and her BFF.
December 25, 2021
[1.5] :’) he’s not even that grumpy
November 29, 2021
Ay... Las partes de Sophie con Santa fueron lindas y tristes a partes iguales. 🥰🥺 Solo daban ganas de ir a abrazar a la pequeña. ✨
La relación de Shane y Sarah ps jajajajaja se veía venir de lejos el drama. 🤣
Esto del grumpy/sunshine trope tiene su encanto. 😏🔥 🔥 🔥
Sarah me exaspero con lo de poner luces en la casa del vecino sin avisar... ¿No conoces límites, mujer? 🙄
_
"I thought a relationship would make me worse, but what it really did was make me better. I was happier when I was with you than I was before or after..."
_
"I couldn’t help myself, though. I got very attached very quickly. To both of you."
La relación de Shane y Sarah ps jajajajaja se veía venir de lejos el drama. 🤣
Esto del grumpy/sunshine trope tiene su encanto. 😏🔥 🔥 🔥
Sarah me exaspero con lo de poner luces en la casa del vecino sin avisar... ¿No conoces límites, mujer? 🙄
_
"I thought a relationship would make me worse, but what it really did was make me better. I was happier when I was with you than I was before or after..."
_
"I couldn’t help myself, though. I got very attached very quickly. To both of you."
November 18, 2022
This is my first book ever from Jerica Macmillan. I honestly did not know what to expect from it. And it turns out, that the book actually surprised me in a very good way. It was the perfect book to start my Christmas Holidays book.
The actual story was a bit sad at the beginning. We were presented to Shane and his little sister Sophie, who were trying to get over the fact that their parents died 6 months ago and Shane being Sophie's guardian. And then enter Sarah. She was so cheerful and happy and was trying to help them move on even with the smallest things.
And then we have the attraction, that forms between Shane and Sarah and how he is trying to resist it. But like in any other Holiday story, they did let themselves go and we managed to see how their love blossoms.
The Epilogue was soo nice and cute and a bit unexpected for me.
But I won't say anything more. You have to read it, to find out ;).
The actual story was a bit sad at the beginning. We were presented to Shane and his little sister Sophie, who were trying to get over the fact that their parents died 6 months ago and Shane being Sophie's guardian. And then enter Sarah. She was so cheerful and happy and was trying to help them move on even with the smallest things.
And then we have the attraction, that forms between Shane and Sarah and how he is trying to resist it. But like in any other Holiday story, they did let themselves go and we managed to see how their love blossoms.
The Epilogue was soo nice and cute and a bit unexpected for me.
But I won't say anything more. You have to read it, to find out ;).
December 9, 2021
dnf 47%
okay so i really liked the first half of this book - i liked that sarah was determined to help shane even when he was being distant and cold, the emporium/xmas theme was fun and sophie was pretty cute
BUT when i could see the whole friends with benefits thing brewing, i lost interest and couldn’t even be bothered to finish this
the mc’s had zero chemistry, there was no tension or proper getting-to-know-you, just shane thinking a lot about his dick and sarah constantly telling herself it’s a bad idea
i didn’t care at all about them together and wasn’t even bothered about skim reading to the end, and after reading other bad reviews, i’m glad i didn’t waste any more time on this
the writing wasn’t even bad at all??? just wasn’t for me i guess
okay so i really liked the first half of this book - i liked that sarah was determined to help shane even when he was being distant and cold, the emporium/xmas theme was fun and sophie was pretty cute
BUT when i could see the whole friends with benefits thing brewing, i lost interest and couldn’t even be bothered to finish this
the mc’s had zero chemistry, there was no tension or proper getting-to-know-you, just shane thinking a lot about his dick and sarah constantly telling herself it’s a bad idea
i didn’t care at all about them together and wasn’t even bothered about skim reading to the end, and after reading other bad reviews, i’m glad i didn’t waste any more time on this
the writing wasn’t even bad at all??? just wasn’t for me i guess
November 27, 2021
Grumpy + Sunshine
Single Parent (Guardian)
Small Town
Holiday Magic
Hot Sex
𝐀 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐆𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐏𝐘 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 had a winning set up! I loved that this book handled grief and healing. It went deeper (pun intended 😉) than the average Holiday Romance!
Sarah is a very sweet and sunshiney lead! I loved her giving nature and how she wouldn't be intimidated by Shane's gruff exterior. And Shane is a great Cinnamon Roll Hero! Grumpy on the outside and sweet and sensitive on the inside.
Sophie (Shane's much younger sister and his ward) is a refreshingly real kid in Romance. She is sometimes sweet, sometimes bratty, sometimes sassy, and sometimes crabby. I love an AUTHENTIC and flawed child in books.
My issues with 𝐀 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐆𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐏𝐘 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 were it was very repetitive. The reader gets a full explanation of the dead parents' will and the finances allotted to each if their children. Fair enough. But we get the full explanation 2 more times. And there is a lot of repetition in Shane's constant mulling over if he's failing as a Guardian. It really overwhelmed the story because it comes up in practically every chapter.
𝐀 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐆𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐏𝐘 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 is a pretty good holiday read with a heavy dose of steam (yay!) that a lot of readers might really love.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: death of parents
FEELS-O-METER: 3/5 - So many feels you might tear up a little.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
BUY IT HERE: https://amzn.to/3d5WnEV (affiliate)
👇🏻HANG OUT WITH ME HERE!👇🏻
INSTAGRAM | YEAR OF SMUT CHALLENGE
Single Parent (Guardian)
Small Town
Holiday Magic
Hot Sex
𝐀 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐆𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐏𝐘 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 had a winning set up! I loved that this book handled grief and healing. It went deeper (pun intended 😉) than the average Holiday Romance!
Sarah is a very sweet and sunshiney lead! I loved her giving nature and how she wouldn't be intimidated by Shane's gruff exterior. And Shane is a great Cinnamon Roll Hero! Grumpy on the outside and sweet and sensitive on the inside.
Sophie (Shane's much younger sister and his ward) is a refreshingly real kid in Romance. She is sometimes sweet, sometimes bratty, sometimes sassy, and sometimes crabby. I love an AUTHENTIC and flawed child in books.
My issues with 𝐀 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐆𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐏𝐘 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 were it was very repetitive. The reader gets a full explanation of the dead parents' will and the finances allotted to each if their children. Fair enough. But we get the full explanation 2 more times. And there is a lot of repetition in Shane's constant mulling over if he's failing as a Guardian. It really overwhelmed the story because it comes up in practically every chapter.
𝐀 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐆𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐏𝐘 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 is a pretty good holiday read with a heavy dose of steam (yay!) that a lot of readers might really love.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: death of parents
FEELS-O-METER: 3/5 - So many feels you might tear up a little.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
BUY IT HERE: https://amzn.to/3d5WnEV (affiliate)
👇🏻HANG OUT WITH ME HERE!👇🏻
INSTAGRAM | YEAR OF SMUT CHALLENGE
November 14, 2023
Y comenzamos con las historias navideñas!!
Me gustó, fue una historia muy bonita, con sus momentos tristes, que me hicieron soltar una lagrimita, y naturalmente Sophie se ganó mi corazón.
Me gustó, fue una historia muy bonita, con sus momentos tristes, que me hicieron soltar una lagrimita, y naturalmente Sophie se ganó mi corazón.
December 13, 2021
❄️𝐴 𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝐺𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑦 𝐶ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑠 by @jericamacmillan 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 ❄️
RATING: 4.5⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
SPICINESS: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔸CHARACTERS: First thing there's to say is that there's no in-between for me: I instantly like a character or I tolerate him/her/them throughout the whole book at best. And HERE, here I instantly thought ‘if this character existed, we’d be best friends for ever’.
-Sarah is a young, ever-smiling woman who works at the family's emporium 365 days a year, helping costumers finding something special for their loved ones and dressing up as an elf during Christmas season. She's in love with this time of the year since she was a little girl and she just cannot accept your her very hot, very next door neighbor is the Grinch. But when she finds out the story behind his grumpiness, she's more than determined to make his Christmas (and his little sister Sophie's) the best one possible.
-Shane: cold and rough at the exterior, this guy is the epitome of chocolate souffle with a warm, soft heart. Love BOTH of them (mmmmh...to have a piece of chocolate cake right now🥲😋)
🔸TENSION: after reading about these two characters' opposite personalities, you could imagine how thick the air would be if brought together in the very same room, very same sofa by a 6-year-old. The answer is THICKKKKKK (and not only that😏)
🔸 OVERALL STORY DEVELOPMENT: well written and fast paced, this book has romance and spice (nothing too excessive if you ask me, just the right amount) and it's the perfect read for those who're looking for an holiday novel about an elf on a mission and a very persistent Grinch
RATING: 4.5⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
SPICINESS: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔸CHARACTERS: First thing there's to say is that there's no in-between for me: I instantly like a character or I tolerate him/her/them throughout the whole book at best. And HERE, here I instantly thought ‘if this character existed, we’d be best friends for ever’.
-Sarah is a young, ever-smiling woman who works at the family's emporium 365 days a year, helping costumers finding something special for their loved ones and dressing up as an elf during Christmas season. She's in love with this time of the year since she was a little girl and she just cannot accept your her very hot, very next door neighbor is the Grinch. But when she finds out the story behind his grumpiness, she's more than determined to make his Christmas (and his little sister Sophie's) the best one possible.
-Shane: cold and rough at the exterior, this guy is the epitome of chocolate souffle with a warm, soft heart. Love BOTH of them (mmmmh...to have a piece of chocolate cake right now🥲😋)
🔸TENSION: after reading about these two characters' opposite personalities, you could imagine how thick the air would be if brought together in the very same room, very same sofa by a 6-year-old. The answer is THICKKKKKK (and not only that😏)
🔸 OVERALL STORY DEVELOPMENT: well written and fast paced, this book has romance and spice (nothing too excessive if you ask me, just the right amount) and it's the perfect read for those who're looking for an holiday novel about an elf on a mission and a very persistent Grinch
December 5, 2021
the beginning was so good but by the time the “friends with benefits” plot started, it got boring and repetitive. and it wrapped up wayyyy too quickly after the third act break up. cute kid tho.
December 23, 2021
Sweet holiday romance, but a little sad since it features a grieving little girl. The guy is a bit of a hot/cold jerk and there’s really not much relationship building going on. Meh.
December 30, 2022
This was, by far, the best Christmas romance that I read this holiday season. It had the perfect blend of romance and holiday atmosphere that made this a delightful read for me. Sarah and Shane are neighbors who get off to a rocky start when Sarah drops by to offer some cookies when Shane moves in, but Shane rudely slams the door in her face. Sarah is full of optimism and brightness, manager of her family Christmas store, part-time elf, and full-time creator of unique Christmas ornaments. Shane is the 'grump' of the story, but he has a good reason for the grumpiness. His parents were both killed in a car accident, leaving him as the guardian for his 6 year-old sister. It completely changed his life, and he hasn't quite come to terms with everything. He is tired off all the pity and the looks that come from everyone around him, and he isn't interested in being subjected to Sarah's sunshine and optimism. All that changes when he brings his sister to the Santa visit in which Sarah is acting as an elf to her Dad who is playing Santa. When Sophie shares a Christmas wish with Santa, Sarah takes it upon herself to share an uplifting message with her from Santa, leading to her desire to somehow bring more joy to this family that has been so touched by tragedy. One thing leads to another, and it turns out that Shane isn't a total grump. There's a good man inside who is just trying to do the right thing for his sister, and maybe Sarah can help him to find the joy that he thought he lost when his parents died.
I enjoyed this story quite a bit. I loved Sarah's optimism. I loved how she was able to crack Shane's tough exterior to soften him and bring happiness to both Shane and Sophie. I loved the moments where Sarah and Shane could just hang out together. It illustrated their growing attachment to one another. The beginning of the HEA was satisfying. I especially appreciated the interactions between Shane and his colleague, CJ, who was able to see the heart of what Shane was struggling with and offer perfect advice. It was a great way to finish my Christmas romance reading season.
There were a few things that could have made this better. Once Shane realizes that he is attracted to Sarah he knows that he is not ready for a relationship. He is too committed to caring for Sophie, and a relationship might hurt that. Sarah thinks that she is too busy to commit to anything. Their solution? Friends with benefits. Ugh! I am not a fan of this 'solution' in romance stories because I am not convinced that this sort of casual use of sexuality in relationships is healthy at all, even when both people are committed to maintaining this sort of relationship. Why? It just seems like it is impossible to remove emotion from the physical relationship. It is inevitable that one or both members of the relationship are going to develop deeper feelings, leading to all sorts of conflicts. That happens here. I knew it was headed this way almost from the beginning. And once Shane began to see that he was falling in love? Well, this was headed into the dreaded We-have-to-break-up-because-someday-we-might-break-up story line. I HATE this! It's obvious that Shane and Sarah are falling in love, but we have to endure a gazillion pages of dithering because of Shane's worry about screwing up his job as guardian for his sister. Luckily, CJ was able to talk sense to Shane, and I understood Shane's motivation enough to have a degree of patience for his idiocy. (SIDE NOTE ... does anyone else see how their decision to stay out of Shane's bedroom because of a fear that Sophie would hear them, but instead to choose the LIVING ROOM COUCH for their interactions was insane? They are dang lucky that Sophie conveniently always chose to announce her presence before leaving her room. What 6 year-old does this? I was horrified by all the potential to traumatize her if she ever decided to come downstairs for a glass of water without yelling for her brother beforehand.)
Despite the flaws in this story, I did enjoy it, and I have plans to read the second book in the series next Christmas. I give it four stars. I really liked it.
I enjoyed this story quite a bit. I loved Sarah's optimism. I loved how she was able to crack Shane's tough exterior to soften him and bring happiness to both Shane and Sophie. I loved the moments where Sarah and Shane could just hang out together. It illustrated their growing attachment to one another. The beginning of the HEA was satisfying. I especially appreciated the interactions between Shane and his colleague, CJ, who was able to see the heart of what Shane was struggling with and offer perfect advice. It was a great way to finish my Christmas romance reading season.
There were a few things that could have made this better. Once Shane realizes that he is attracted to Sarah he knows that he is not ready for a relationship. He is too committed to caring for Sophie, and a relationship might hurt that. Sarah thinks that she is too busy to commit to anything. Their solution? Friends with benefits. Ugh! I am not a fan of this 'solution' in romance stories because I am not convinced that this sort of casual use of sexuality in relationships is healthy at all, even when both people are committed to maintaining this sort of relationship. Why? It just seems like it is impossible to remove emotion from the physical relationship. It is inevitable that one or both members of the relationship are going to develop deeper feelings, leading to all sorts of conflicts. That happens here. I knew it was headed this way almost from the beginning. And once Shane began to see that he was falling in love? Well, this was headed into the dreaded We-have-to-break-up-because-someday-we-might-break-up story line. I HATE this! It's obvious that Shane and Sarah are falling in love, but we have to endure a gazillion pages of dithering because of Shane's worry about screwing up his job as guardian for his sister. Luckily, CJ was able to talk sense to Shane, and I understood Shane's motivation enough to have a degree of patience for his idiocy. (SIDE NOTE ... does anyone else see how their decision to stay out of Shane's bedroom because of a fear that Sophie would hear them, but instead to choose the LIVING ROOM COUCH for their interactions was insane? They are dang lucky that Sophie conveniently always chose to announce her presence before leaving her room. What 6 year-old does this? I was horrified by all the potential to traumatize her if she ever decided to come downstairs for a glass of water without yelling for her brother beforehand.)
Despite the flaws in this story, I did enjoy it, and I have plans to read the second book in the series next Christmas. I give it four stars. I really liked it.
November 24, 2022
4/5
this was a cute & quick holiday read! i liked seeing them act like a family with sophie. shane & sarah were pretty cute together too! (why do all their names start with S tho hold on)
the title is so misleading tho bc he’s barely a grump😭he’s grieving & rightfully so, so why does the title call him a grump tf😭
also i would’ve liked this a lot more i think if it had more tension/a slower buildup between the two🤌bc it does escalate into a fwb situation which i’m not the biggesttt fan of, but i was in a good mood reading this so😌
the third act conflict was a bit annoying (as they normally all are), but it made sense so i can’t be too mad about it🤷♀️
this was a cute & quick holiday read! i liked seeing them act like a family with sophie. shane & sarah were pretty cute together too! (why do all their names start with S tho hold on)
the title is so misleading tho bc he’s barely a grump😭he’s grieving & rightfully so, so why does the title call him a grump tf😭
also i would’ve liked this a lot more i think if it had more tension/a slower buildup between the two🤌bc it does escalate into a fwb situation which i’m not the biggesttt fan of, but i was in a good mood reading this so😌
the third act conflict was a bit annoying (as they normally all are), but it made sense so i can’t be too mad about it🤷♀️
December 25, 2021
Sarah'ı çok sevdim ama Shane fazla grumpy olmuş bence. Anlıyorum onu da yaşadığı şeyler normal değil tabii ki ama yine de çok etkileyemedi.. Ona rağmen kitap gerçekten çok tatlıydı özellikle Sarah'ın ailesini ve Sophie'yi çok sevdim. Okuduğum kitaplar arasında ennn fazla Noel havasını aldığım kitap oldu 😍
November 25, 2021
3.5 stars
This isn't grumpy × sunshine as much is opposite attraction, still so adorable.
This isn't grumpy × sunshine as much is opposite attraction, still so adorable.
December 20, 2022
The guy wasn't really "grumpy". He literally just lost his parents, was put into a situation he wasn't expecting, and was having a hard time figuring things out.
This book started off really strong and I was really into it. By 60% I found myself finishing it just to finish it. By the time they actually started hooking up, I almost didn't care and then the 3rd act break up happened and everything wrapped up REALLY quick after.
*SPOILER*
I'm also not a fan of super fast falling in love/engagement things and that happens here. Like literally within 6 months. It's mostly unrealistic unless an unplanned pregnancy is involved which doesn't happen here. Lol.
*END OF SPOILER *
The one thing I absolutely loved was Sarah's big heart. Everything she did for Sophie was super sweet and made me tear up a bit. The world needs people like her. ❤️
This book started off really strong and I was really into it. By 60% I found myself finishing it just to finish it. By the time they actually started hooking up, I almost didn't care and then the 3rd act break up happened and everything wrapped up REALLY quick after.
*SPOILER*
I'm also not a fan of super fast falling in love/engagement things and that happens here. Like literally within 6 months. It's mostly unrealistic unless an unplanned pregnancy is involved which doesn't happen here. Lol.
*END OF SPOILER *
The one thing I absolutely loved was Sarah's big heart. Everything she did for Sophie was super sweet and made me tear up a bit. The world needs people like her. ❤️
December 27, 2023
This book was a warm Christmassy hug and I LOVED it! The single dad trope for whatever reason is FOR. ME. MMC Shane has been suddenly thrust into the role of guardian for his six year old sister. This will be their first Christmas without their parents, who recently passed in a car accident. Next door neighbor Sarah runs the local Christmas store and when Sophie visits Santa at the shop and Sarah overhears her wish to get a message to her parents in heaven, Sarah can't help herself--she has to step in. Even though her next door neighbor, Shane, is a grump. While Sarah wants to make Sophie happy, this means spending time with her. And Shane. Of course their relationship grows and its sweet and there's Christmas trees and lights and snowman building...So good!!
December 5, 2021
This was just fine. I’m not sure there was anything major I didn’t like, but a bunch of small things kept me from really enjoying it fully.
A pet peeve to start - why are all the main characters names so similar? I know it’s weird to say, but Shane and Sarah, then his sister Sophie…they just felt too similar and I kept double checking myself lol. This could very much be a “me” problem.
I thought this started strong and initially liked Sarah and Shane. But somewhere around 50% this just fizzled out and then I wasn’t really rooting for them. He ran hot and cold except when it came to sex. She was willing to take whatever he was willing to give and overeager to please. She was right about herself - she just kept inserting herself into his life. After that point, it just didn’t feel realistic.
I also don’t see how she forgave him and went back to him after he broke up with her. I’d be pretty damn weary of someone always changing their mind.
And last - while I get he’s his sister’s guardian, Shane and Sarah literally don’t have a single date in the entire book. Any alone time was just sex and then he was throwing her out. What kind of relationship is that?
So yeah - ok, forgettable, easy read.
A pet peeve to start - why are all the main characters names so similar? I know it’s weird to say, but Shane and Sarah, then his sister Sophie…they just felt too similar and I kept double checking myself lol. This could very much be a “me” problem.
I thought this started strong and initially liked Sarah and Shane. But somewhere around 50% this just fizzled out and then I wasn’t really rooting for them. He ran hot and cold except when it came to sex. She was willing to take whatever he was willing to give and overeager to please. She was right about herself - she just kept inserting herself into his life. After that point, it just didn’t feel realistic.
I also don’t see how she forgave him and went back to him after he broke up with her. I’d be pretty damn weary of someone always changing their mind.
And last - while I get he’s his sister’s guardian, Shane and Sarah literally don’t have a single date in the entire book. Any alone time was just sex and then he was throwing her out. What kind of relationship is that?
So yeah - ok, forgettable, easy read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2021
C’était si bon! J’ai déjà hâte au tome 2 ! Premier livre que je lis de cette auteure et je ne suis pas déçue !
January 18, 2022
3.75⭐
That's "grumpy" in the title so... You know me.
And the grumpy hero grunts and has problems saying "thank you". And the heroine, Sarah, is such a sweetheart 💕
After a tragedy, Shane has become the legal guardian of little Sophie who loves her hair braided but not just by his brother.... by her sweet neighbor.
This book is a feel good, Christmas delight and a little heart-wrecking. Recommended!
*ARC kindly provided by Grey's promo for an honest review
That's "grumpy" in the title so... You know me.
And the grumpy hero grunts and has problems saying "thank you". And the heroine, Sarah, is such a sweetheart 💕
After a tragedy, Shane has become the legal guardian of little Sophie who loves her hair braided but not just by his brother.... by her sweet neighbor.
This book is a feel good, Christmas delight and a little heart-wrecking. Recommended!
*ARC kindly provided by Grey's promo for an honest review
August 22, 2022
Sarah was way too fucking good for Shane. In between her doing wonderful things for him and Sophie like bringing her presents and braiding her hair and shoveling their driveway, we get Shane slamming doors in her face, insulting her and glaring.
He isn't grumpy.
He's a jerk.
He isn't grumpy.
He's a jerk.
November 22, 2021
Amazon
Some people may have left her small town, wanting bigger and more glamorous lives, but Sarah always loved it here. She loves nothing better than running her parents' Christmas company, bringing joy to everyone around her. So when she first meets her new neighbor, Shane, and he soundly rejects her offer of neighborly cookies as a welcome to the neighborhood, she's taken aback. But not so much so that when he brings a little girl to see her father as Santa, she instantly wants to make Sophie happy. Showing up at Shane's place with a little message for Sophie should have been a one time only thing, but she finds herself melting in the face of Sophie's pleas to help her - braid her hair, on the surface, but down deep, she knows Sophie just wants someone to bring that maternal presence she and Shane are now lacking. So what if Shane puts her off, again, she is determined to make Sophie (and Shane) happy even if Shane seems determined to keep her at a distance. A little Christmas cheer never hurt anyone, right?
Shane is falling down on the job of parenting his little sister, Sophie. Ever since they lost their parents and he took over her guardianship, he can't seem to get a handle on the job. He doesn't braid her hair properly, she's unhappy more often than not, and he sure as hell doesn't want pity from anyone, especially his cheerful (gorgeous) neighbor, Sarah. He doesn't have time for dating, let alone feelings, so when he finds he can't seem to keep from kissing her, he thinks a fwb arrangement should suit them. They can have fun without catching feelings. Yep...
Oh God, but this one was sweet. Sophie was absolutely adorable, and spot on for a little girl who had lost her mother. I loved Sarah's entire character, from her big, open heart, to her determination to bring a little happiness to everyone around her. I hurt for her when Shane pulled her close, then pushed her away so many times. Honestly, he didn't seem like he'd ever get it right, and he really didn't, until the very end. Thank God a little birdie talked some sense into his dumb ass, or this cute holiday romance would have left me (and Sarah and Sophie) with broken hearts. I am definitely ready for Christmas now after having fallen so hard for these 3, and would love to read more holiday love by Jerica.
ARC provided by Grey's Promotions for an honest review.
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December 30, 2021
3.5 rounded up
Tropes: friends with benefits, neighbors to lovers, single parent/gaurdian
General Review:
First of all, IN MY DEFENSE, my family celebrates Orthodox Christmas (January 7th) SO I AM STILL IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT (this whole defense is a lie and I would've read it anyway lol). AND IT'S SO WORTH IT BECAUSE THIS WAS SO GOOD. It's literally so cute and I love Shane's unique storyline. It's pretty well written, my only complaint would be that it's a bit repetitive (yes we get it they're friends with benefits they BOTH agreed because they're BOTH too busy for a relationship) but it did not need to be mentioned every single chapter from both POVs. Apart from that this is so enjoyable and had me grinning and squealing. AND DO NOT LET THE CARTOON COVER FOOL YOU😏 THE SMUT IN THIS IS #IKHBDEK#H (and I love how we don't get a mention of Shane's *size* but rather his ✨skills✨)
Characters:
Sarah - she is literally so wholesome, I love her. She's so generous and kind and the way she would help a stranger just to make their day on Christmas is so sweet. She's also so stubborn and persistent and I relate lol
Shane - when a man knows how to interact with a child it is actually one of the hottest things ever. He's so gentle and caring and I LOVE HIM. He annoyed me a little bit with the whole 'can't date because I'm the only guardian of my little sister' because like one of the other characters mentioned, THEN ALL PARENTS WOULD BE DIVORCED. Also, I wish we would've gotten a scene where he played football because I wanted to see more of his ✨skills✨😏
Favorite Scenes:
- hair braiding lessons
- movie nights
- banter about Sarah helping
- SUDDEN KISSES
- Shane apologizing for apologizing (as he should)
- Sarah is on her period!!
- Shane realizing he's an idiot and going to find Sarah
- CHAPTER 42!!!
Tropes: friends with benefits, neighbors to lovers, single parent/gaurdian
General Review:
First of all, IN MY DEFENSE, my family celebrates Orthodox Christmas (January 7th) SO I AM STILL IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT (this whole defense is a lie and I would've read it anyway lol). AND IT'S SO WORTH IT BECAUSE THIS WAS SO GOOD. It's literally so cute and I love Shane's unique storyline. It's pretty well written, my only complaint would be that it's a bit repetitive (yes we get it they're friends with benefits they BOTH agreed because they're BOTH too busy for a relationship) but it did not need to be mentioned every single chapter from both POVs. Apart from that this is so enjoyable and had me grinning and squealing. AND DO NOT LET THE CARTOON COVER FOOL YOU😏 THE SMUT IN THIS IS #IKHBDEK#H (and I love how we don't get a mention of Shane's *size* but rather his ✨skills✨)
Characters:
Sarah - she is literally so wholesome, I love her. She's so generous and kind and the way she would help a stranger just to make their day on Christmas is so sweet. She's also so stubborn and persistent and I relate lol
Shane - when a man knows how to interact with a child it is actually one of the hottest things ever. He's so gentle and caring and I LOVE HIM. He annoyed me a little bit with the whole 'can't date because I'm the only guardian of my little sister' because like one of the other characters mentioned, THEN ALL PARENTS WOULD BE DIVORCED. Also, I wish we would've gotten a scene where he played football because I wanted to see more of his ✨skills✨😏
Favorite Scenes:
- hair braiding lessons
- movie nights
- banter about Sarah helping
- SUDDEN KISSES
- Shane apologizing for apologizing (as he should)
- Sarah is on her period!!
- Shane realizing he's an idiot and going to find Sarah
- CHAPTER 42!!!
December 6, 2021
This is my first book by Jerica Macmillan as the title and storyline caught my attention. I try and read as many holiday romances as possible in December, and was pleasantly surprised by this little gem. I love when people meet by chance and these two polar opposites aren’t very neighborly at first especially since he moved in right next-door and wants nothing to do with being social.
Sarah is such a kind soul and is filled with the Christmas spirit. She runs her family business, a Christmas Emporium and is smart, giving, and such fun to be around. She meets Shane and Sophie officially as they were in her store visiting Santa and Sarah was a cheery elf.
Shane’s parents died leaving him to raise his six-year-old sister on his own. I could personally relate because my father and his three siblings were all in their 20’s when their baby sister was born. Grandma thought she was going through menopause and nope, it was baby number five.
There are many layers to our hero and I loved watching their friendship, trust, and physical relationship grow day by day. This story is often sad and heartbreaking, but also hopeful and filled with many joyous moments and the theme to appreciate the past, the here and now, and that it’s ok to look forward to the future. I just loved their journey together, meeting his siblings, and especially her family who are so warm and welcoming.
I admired Shane from the beginning trying to do right by his sister and being both a dad and big brother. Sophie was so positive and I loved how she just wouldn’t take no for an answer and injected herself into their lives. Sophie just adored her and grumpy Shane slowly succumbed to her charms and because of her kind heart and spirit, began to live life again.
And readers will appreciate the bonus epilogue which was my favorite part!
Sarah is such a kind soul and is filled with the Christmas spirit. She runs her family business, a Christmas Emporium and is smart, giving, and such fun to be around. She meets Shane and Sophie officially as they were in her store visiting Santa and Sarah was a cheery elf.
Shane’s parents died leaving him to raise his six-year-old sister on his own. I could personally relate because my father and his three siblings were all in their 20’s when their baby sister was born. Grandma thought she was going through menopause and nope, it was baby number five.
There are many layers to our hero and I loved watching their friendship, trust, and physical relationship grow day by day. This story is often sad and heartbreaking, but also hopeful and filled with many joyous moments and the theme to appreciate the past, the here and now, and that it’s ok to look forward to the future. I just loved their journey together, meeting his siblings, and especially her family who are so warm and welcoming.
I admired Shane from the beginning trying to do right by his sister and being both a dad and big brother. Sophie was so positive and I loved how she just wouldn’t take no for an answer and injected herself into their lives. Sophie just adored her and grumpy Shane slowly succumbed to her charms and because of her kind heart and spirit, began to live life again.
And readers will appreciate the bonus epilogue which was my favorite part!
December 2, 2021
I've only read two other holiday romance novels and didn't care for them. I decided this is the year I'm going to explore the genre more. I picked this one based on a bookstagrammer's recommendation and it was a great place to start!
Sarah is the manager of the family business, Christmas Emporium, and sometimes works as one of Santa's elves. She lives for Christmas year round. Her neighbor Shane has slammed his door in her face and appears to be a real life Grinch. But then he shows up to see Santa with the six year old sister he's raising since their parents died. Now Sarah's impression of him is very different and she's determined to get to make his first Christmas without his parens a happy one.
This is a sweet, funny story from start to finish. It made me laugh and swoon, and it's a bit of a heartbreaker. The subject of grief from loss of parents is huge throughout the book.
The only thing keeping me from giving it five stars is that the writing was weak in spots, mostly in dialogue. Some spots were clunky and repetitive, it felt like the author didn't trust the reader to remember what had previously happened.
Otherwise, this was a great start to my exploration of holiday romances. I highly recommend it and I'll look for more by this author.
Sarah is the manager of the family business, Christmas Emporium, and sometimes works as one of Santa's elves. She lives for Christmas year round. Her neighbor Shane has slammed his door in her face and appears to be a real life Grinch. But then he shows up to see Santa with the six year old sister he's raising since their parents died. Now Sarah's impression of him is very different and she's determined to get to make his first Christmas without his parens a happy one.
This is a sweet, funny story from start to finish. It made me laugh and swoon, and it's a bit of a heartbreaker. The subject of grief from loss of parents is huge throughout the book.
The only thing keeping me from giving it five stars is that the writing was weak in spots, mostly in dialogue. Some spots were clunky and repetitive, it felt like the author didn't trust the reader to remember what had previously happened.
Otherwise, this was a great start to my exploration of holiday romances. I highly recommend it and I'll look for more by this author.
November 14, 2021
*ARC provided for an honest review*
A Very Grumpy Christmas is an enjoyable read that I absolutely loved!!
The christmas setting in books always gets me so excited to read them and this book did not disappoint! Shane and Sarah are next door neighbors and the connection they begin to form is something that I really liked in this story. When Sarah first meets Shane he is definitely grumpy and has these walls build up but slowly she gets to know him and his past. With Shane being guardian to his sister, Sophie, the moments between them made me smile so much!! Sarah’s character I actually really connected with and admired. She’s so selfless and wants everyone around her to feel happy. I love how she always shows she truly cares about things no matter how small they may be.
Overall this book is great to read if you want some christmas vibes and grumpy/sunshine characters!! Shane and Sarah have great chemistry that was written so well. Also the moments between Shane, Sarah, and Sophie are so cute and will have you smiling so much. This is the first book I read by this author and it definitely won’t be the last!
A Very Grumpy Christmas is an enjoyable read that I absolutely loved!!
The christmas setting in books always gets me so excited to read them and this book did not disappoint! Shane and Sarah are next door neighbors and the connection they begin to form is something that I really liked in this story. When Sarah first meets Shane he is definitely grumpy and has these walls build up but slowly she gets to know him and his past. With Shane being guardian to his sister, Sophie, the moments between them made me smile so much!! Sarah’s character I actually really connected with and admired. She’s so selfless and wants everyone around her to feel happy. I love how she always shows she truly cares about things no matter how small they may be.
Overall this book is great to read if you want some christmas vibes and grumpy/sunshine characters!! Shane and Sarah have great chemistry that was written so well. Also the moments between Shane, Sarah, and Sophie are so cute and will have you smiling so much. This is the first book I read by this author and it definitely won’t be the last!
December 27, 2021
"You were the best part of my day, you and sophie. I loved joining you for dinner and listening to her stories and helping put her to bed. Seeing my ornaments on your tree in a place of honor.. . it made me feel important and like I belonged. "
4,5/5 Empecé esta historia pensando que sería algo ligerito, fácil y sexy pero ¡para nada! aquí tenemos una historia preciosa, que tiene lugar en la primera navidad que Shane y su hermana pequeña Sophie pasan tras la muerte de sus padres. Ambos están muy tristes y lidiando con el duelo, los recuerdos y el dolor y van a tener la ayuda de Sarah, su vecina de enfrente que es, prácticamente, el espíritu de la navidad reencarnado.
La forma en que Sarah se esfuerza en que la navidad de ellos sea lo más feliz posible... me ha hecho emocionarme muchísimo.
Y bueno, la forma en que evoluciona la relación entre Sarah y Shane me ha encantado, súper real y a muy buen ritmo... vamos, que el único motivo por el que no le doy las 5 estrellas es porque me hubiera gustado saber más del pasado de ambos, pero aún asi... una historia perfecta para estas fechas.
4,5/5 Empecé esta historia pensando que sería algo ligerito, fácil y sexy pero ¡para nada! aquí tenemos una historia preciosa, que tiene lugar en la primera navidad que Shane y su hermana pequeña Sophie pasan tras la muerte de sus padres. Ambos están muy tristes y lidiando con el duelo, los recuerdos y el dolor y van a tener la ayuda de Sarah, su vecina de enfrente que es, prácticamente, el espíritu de la navidad reencarnado.
La forma en que Sarah se esfuerza en que la navidad de ellos sea lo más feliz posible... me ha hecho emocionarme muchísimo.
Y bueno, la forma en que evoluciona la relación entre Sarah y Shane me ha encantado, súper real y a muy buen ritmo... vamos, que el único motivo por el que no le doy las 5 estrellas es porque me hubiera gustado saber más del pasado de ambos, pero aún asi... una historia perfecta para estas fechas.
December 16, 2021
I was flirting between a 3 and 3.5 star for this but the epilogue really let me down so 3 it is. (The epilogue is fully unnecessary and only serves to hint at the next book in this companion series)
Apart from the epilogue, I really did enjoy this holiday romance. While there is a lot of (healthy) discussions of healing and grief there's are plenty of steamy scenes to make this feel like a romance still. Shane and Sarah have good chemistry and their relationship progressed just like I thought it would (but I did get frustrated a time or two at Sarah for her expectations of Shane vs what he told her upfront). Shane was so kind and gentle with his little sister Sophie, who he is now the guardian of. The story was really heartwarming and perfect for the holiday season.
Apart from the epilogue, I really did enjoy this holiday romance. While there is a lot of (healthy) discussions of healing and grief there's are plenty of steamy scenes to make this feel like a romance still. Shane and Sarah have good chemistry and their relationship progressed just like I thought it would (but I did get frustrated a time or two at Sarah for her expectations of Shane vs what he told her upfront). Shane was so kind and gentle with his little sister Sophie, who he is now the guardian of. The story was really heartwarming and perfect for the holiday season.
November 22, 2021
This was my first Christmas read of the year and it didn’t disappoint! I really enjoyed this book. It has two of my favourite tropes: single dad and grumpy/sunshine🤩
I loved all the characters! Sarah was so sweet, selfless and relatable. Shane is a typical grumpy hero, which I love, and he really steps up and is a great ‘dad’ to Sophie. Sophie stole the show! She was so funny and cute, I absolutely adored her.
Sarah and Shane had a lot of chemistry. They worked so well together. And I loved their friends with benefits relationship. They both so obviously wanted more, even if they didn’t realise and I loved it!!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved all the characters! Sarah was so sweet, selfless and relatable. Shane is a typical grumpy hero, which I love, and he really steps up and is a great ‘dad’ to Sophie. Sophie stole the show! She was so funny and cute, I absolutely adored her.
Sarah and Shane had a lot of chemistry. They worked so well together. And I loved their friends with benefits relationship. They both so obviously wanted more, even if they didn’t realise and I loved it!!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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