Review Card & Book Review- The Holiday Hookup List By Alexis Daria

Valencia

After calling it quits with my cheating fiancé, I’m definitely not feeling the Christmas spirit this year. But when my best friend invites me to a holiday dance party, I show up ready to shake my ass.

Except I must be on Santa’s naughty list, because who do I run into? My infuriatingly sexy high school archnemesis, Gideon Noble.

The pulsing music, red and green strobe lights, and Gideon’s bitable bottom lip make me reckless, so I drag him onto the dance floor.

And then? I take him home with me.

Gideon

If this is my second chance with Valencia, I’m not wasting it.

We’re both alone this Christmas, so we create a naughty and nice list that would make Santa blush: twelve days of wholesome yuletide cheer, and twelve nights decking each other’s halls.

As Christmas Eve, and the end of our list, approaches, I realize that twelve days with Valencia Torres isn’t enough.

I want forever.

But does she?

About The Author

My Review

The story follows Valencia, an EPA lawyer, who unexpectedly reunites with her former high school rival, Gideon, during a night out in New York. What begins as a chance encounter and one-night hookup quickly develops into a spirited arrangement: twelve days of holiday outings by day paired with an adventurous intimacy bucket list by night. The result is equal parts “Hallmark after dark” and heartwarming romance.

Daria skillfully balances lighthearted festive fun with deeper themes, including family complications, past betrayals, and the vulnerabilities of starting over. The chemistry between Valencia and Gideon is undeniable, and the intimacy is not only passionate but also refreshingly mutual and exploratory.

What particularly sets this novella apart is its casual queer and Latine representation, offering an inclusive and modern take on holiday romance. The Holiday Hookup List is both sexy and heartfelt, making it a perfect seasonal read for those seeking something vibrant, diverse, and delightfully unconventional.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 20 February 2026

The Woman Who Turned Her Life Around By Fiona Gibson

🎸 Is it ever too late for an encore? 🎸

When they were young, Josie and Shane thought both they and their band were headed for greatness.

But fast forward three decades, and Josie’s life looks more like this:

A dead-end job in a niche London bookshop

A boyfriend who thinks the answer to their financial problems is Josie sharing photos of her feet on OnlyFans

A grown daughter who’d rather Josie stayed out of her new family’s business

Then Ravi – their band’s fearless frontwoman and Josie’s oldest friend – dies, leaving one last request: for Josie and Shane to finish the ‘tour’ they abandoned all those years ago.

Which is how Josie ends up rattling up the motorway in a retired ambulance with one mattress, one map, and the man who once broke her heart.

Will this be yet another mistake for Josie? Or could it be her chance to make her life what she’d always dreamed it would be?

The Cottage In The Clouds By Caroline Young

When Elin Pugh’s life in London crumbles, she returns to the Welsh mountains of her childhood to care for Anwen Jones, the enigmatic artist who once filled her young heart with dreams of creativity and freedom.

Anwen lives alone in a ramshackle cottage high in the hills, surrounded by cats and decades of dust-covered paintings. Fiercely independent and famously difficult, she’s spent years driving away visitors with her sharp tongue and signs warning trespassers to ‘Go Away’. But as Elin settles into life in the shadow of the mountains, she discovers that beneath Anwen’s prickly exterior lies a woman with an extraordinary story to tell.

Helping the ailing artist catalogue a lifetime of work, Elin begins to uncover long-buried secrets about her own past that her mother has kept hidden for over thirty years. Soon she discovers that her journey home was about more than escaping – it was about finding out who she really is, rediscovering the life-changing joy of creativity and learning where she truly belongs.

A sweeping story of love, loss and the wonder of the natural world, The Cottage in the Clouds explores how creativity and unexpected bonds can help us to heal and find our way back to ourselves.

Review Card & Book Review – Suddenly Mine By Katie Evergreen

This Christmas, love is the best surprise of all . . .

Merry Sinclair used to adore Christmas — until heartbreak ruined her holiday spirit. Working in New York’s famously festive Carroll’s Department Store over the holidays is not helping matters. Until she meets new employee Christian, whose easy confidence and deep chestnut eyes make her heart skip.

Estranged heir to a global empire, Christian Carroll hasn’t set foot inside his family’s store in years. But when his father tells him the company’s struggling, he reluctantly agrees to return, on one condition — he’ll work undercover as a janitor.

The last thing he needs is a distraction in the form of the charming and quirky store-greeter he can’t seem to stay away from.

As Merry and Christian grow closer, their connection becomes undeniable. But when Christian’s true identity is revealed, Merry must choose — can she trust him with her heart, or will past heartaches keep them from finding their own place under the mistletoe?

About The Author

My Review

This is a festive, fun, and flirty addition to the Appex Billionaires series. Set against the twinkling lights of New York during the holiday season, it captures both the magic and the messiness of love. Merry Sinclaire is a hardworking, relatable heroine—drained from long shifts at the Caroll family department store and weighed down by responsibility for her sister’s healthcare. Her struggles with exhaustion and financial pressure add a layer of realism that makes her easy to root for.

Enter Christian Caroll, the reluctant heir forced back from his overseas charity work to rescue the family empire. Disguising himself as a janitor, Christian soon collides—literally—with Merry, sparking a connection that’s equal parts hilarious and sizzling. Their banter, undeniable chemistry, and steamy moments keep the pages turning, while the backdrop of Santa encounters, mulled wine, and holiday chaos adds a cozy sparkle.

Though Christian’s secret identity creates tension, his sincerity shines through, making the romance sweet and satisfying. With its blend of humor, heat, and heart, this is a lighthearted Christmas romance that delivers both laughs and feels in equal measure.

My Rating

Link To Purchase