About the Book - Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood

For two former childhood friends, a blustery winter storm stirs some frosty—and scorching—memories in a delightfully sexy short story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.

All newly minted pediatrician Jamie Malek wants is to borrow a roasting pan for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, that requires her to interact with Marc—her best friend’s troublemaking brother, who’s now a tech billionaire. He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who broke his heart. Outside, a howling blizzard. Inside, a crackling fire. Suddenly, being snowbound with the man she never expected to see again might not be such a bad way to spend a winter’s night.

Ali Hazelwood’s Cruel Winter with You is part of Under the Mistletoe, a collection of sexy December romances to warm the cold winter nights. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.

About the Book - Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey

A single mother working in a thrift store. A gentle giant farmer who can’t find jeans that fit. When opposites attract, they find themselves making alterations in more ways than one in this smoking-hot short story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey.

Evie Crowe is starting over in a strange town with her newborn, and men are the furthest thing from her mind. If only the quiet, hulking farmer, Luke Ward, would stop coming into the thrift shop and piquing her reluctant interest. Evie wants to stay single all the way—she can’t trust anything more than friends-with-holiday-benefits. But Luke is in it for the long haul. He’s fixed on making this a Christmas Evie will remember forever. If she gives him a chance.

Tessa Bailey’s Merry Ever After is part of Under the Mistletoe, a collection of sexy December romances to warm the cold winter nights. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.

With the holiday season upon us, I decided to get in the mood by reading the first two books in the Under the Mistletoe Collection. Of the two, I much preferred Cruel Winter with You by a long shot. I found it to be entertaining. I liked Marc. He was incredibly kind and so down bad for Jamie—even though she didn’t realize it at times. However, he had said some rude things to her while they were growing up, and I would have loved to know his feelings at that moment. I don’t recall him apologizing to Jamie either. There are quite a few time jumps within the novella; however, I think they are perfectly placed and much needed.

Merry Ever After didn’t feel like a holiday novella. The plot could have taken place in any other season, and almost nothing would change. It was too fast-paced and so much unnecessary smut. I liked the tropes in this one, but I didn't like the writing and execution. Evie’s son felt almost nonexistent and there was no emotional depth.

Final Thoughts

Cruel Winter with You feels like a holiday novella with two characters being forced to communicate while snowed in. Marc and Jamie had known each other for years, and for most of his life, Marc had crushed on Jamie. The book is unfortunately slightly hurt without the POV of Marc. All and all, it’s a short and sweet holiday novella.

With Merry Ever After, I decided to give Tessa Bailey another chance after avoiding her books for years. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this one. The dialogue felt silly, and the pacing was just too fast.

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