Tropes: Holiday Romance, One Bed, Forced Proximity
Grumpy (Her)/Sunshine (Him), Snowed In
Release Date: December 9, 2025
BLURB
For a solid five years, Jasper Madden has done nothing but look the other way when it comes to Calliope Hodges. At first, she was way too young for him, barely eighteen the first time he laid eyes on her. It also didn’t help that he’d witnessed her at the lowest of lows, practically making peace with rock bottom.
But as time goes by, he realizes that Calliope is different. She’s a brave, stunning young woman that has slowly captured his heart while he was watching from the shadows.
He knows that it’ll take time for her to realize that he’s not the enemy, but instead her saving grace. So he decides to play the long game.
For years, he’s waited in the periphery for her to be ready. He stands right there, knowing that one day she’ll look up and finally see him as the man that is desperately in love with her.
But that chip on her shoulder keeps her from looking everywhere but his direction.
Luck finally leans his way when she moves in next door, and a battle of the neighbors ensues.
Where she sees war in the form of a friendly holiday decorating competition, he sees the opportunity of a lifetime.
All it takes is one bed, a freak snowstorm, and a Christmas miracle for her to realize that he’s been there all along. A silent knight in shining armor willing to take on the world just to make sure she never has to feel unworthy ever again.
He's A Mean One" concludes this captivating series with a high note, focusing on the long-awaited character, Jasper, also known as Hush. His banter with Calliope is engaging and keeps the reader engaged. The witty banter between these two was priceless.
Despite their age difference and familial ties, their chemistry is undeniable. We found ourselves giggling throughout the story; it also had a tad of suspense thanks to mysterious events that piqued our interest.
The holiday setting adds a festive touch to the story, making it even more enjoyable. Calliope's ability to see past Jasper's perceived imperfections and be drawn to him is heartwarming. Jasper's character is endearing, and his subtle observations of Calliope steal the reader's heart. Their imperfectly perfect love story is beautifully portrayed. If their story doesn't touch your heart, nothing will.
The ending could not be more ideal for this couple. We loved it, and we are going to miss these awesome characters.
Lani Lynn Vale is an American author of humorous romantic suspense novels. Born in the Great State of Texas, she has lived the majority of her adult life in East Texas where most of her novels are based. She’s married to her high school sweetheart whom her readers refer to as “LLV’s Bearded Half.” She published her first novel, Boomtown. in the summer of 2013 after the birth of her third child. She’s gone on to publish over 100 novels, with most of them going on to become USA Today Bestsellers.
After a Thanksgiving PR disaster went viral, I’m back in Snowberry Falls, Vermont, running the town’s Christmas festival—and praying it saves my career.
Enter Penn Radford: Boston Bucks enforcer, tabloid magnet, and currently stranded without a room at the fully booked inn. I know his type. Loud, flashy, allergic to shirts…and the guy who punched mall Santa.
My solution? Team up. Fake a holiday romance. Nail the festival. Fix his image. Easy.
But the mistletoe buzzer won’t quit, and those pretend kisses? They feel way too real. And when my past comes back swinging, I have to figure out if Penn is the real deal…or just another mistake wrapped in peppermint sheets.
The plot is focused on Boston Bucks enforcer Penn Radford and PR specialist Jaylyn Quinn. The story follows their fake engagement turning into something real. The plot explores themes of betrayal, jealousy, secrets, and love in a heartwarming manner.
The characters are vibrant, and the romance is both spicy and heartfelt.
This is a friends-to-lovers romance that is filled with passionate scenes and characters with great chemistry. The couple's sexual encounter was fun and flirty, and hot! They made a beautiful couple.
The story also includes a diverse cast of characters, making it quite enjoyable and making things interesting. We love how Jay's family rallied around Penn in support, claiming him as family.
This was a cute and enjoyable holiday romance. We laughed throughout the entire story. The descrptions of the Inn where the couple stayed and the room they were in were comical.
We love a good plot filled with secrets, betrayal, jealousy, and love. This was a new author for us, and we are looking forward to more of her works to come. This was a nice holiday, we quite enjoyed it.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cathryn Fox is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, aunt and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. Cathryn lives in beautiful Nova Scotia with her husband, who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. When not writing, Cathryn can be found Skyping with her son living in Seattle (could he have moved any farther away?) shopping with her daughter in the city, watching a big action flick with her husband, or hanging out and laughing with friends.
Leo Watson needs a pretend wife for a business Christmas party.
Could the cute barista who serves his favorite coffee drink play the part?
Camille Hendricks is willing… for a price—an interview at his sister’s PR company.
The game seems easy but their attraction is all too real.
When sexy lines are crossed, both Leo and Cammie stand to lose something more important than business.
They risk losing each other.
Leo Watson needs a fake girlfriend for a work event and turns to Cammie, a barista with dreams of becoming a graphic designer.
In this heartwarming holiday tale, the author delivers a delightful story with relatable characters and a perfect mix of fun, romance, and holiday cheer.
Cammie's love for the Christmas spirit and the holiday season starts to influence Leo, who initially isn't a fan of it. Does this love story give off a hint of those "Pretty Woman" vibes?
Leo and Cammie make a beautiful couple. She is perfect for Leo in many ways, and her infectious personality draws him in from the start, encouraging him to slow down and enjoy life's offerings. They make a cute couple.
As the couple spends more time together, their feelings deepen. A small hiccup tests their relationship, but will it lead them to part ways, or will a Christmas miracle bring them back together?
The epilogue is a perfect conclusion for this couple. Leo surprises us with a heart-melting gesture at the end. We loved it!
Carly Phillips is the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over eighty sexy contemporary romances featuring hot men, strong women, and emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. She is happily married to her college sweetheart and lives in Westchester County, NY. She is the mother of two adult daughters and three crazy dogs who star on her Facebook and Instagram pages. She loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers. Way back in 2002, Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa and was the first romance on a nationally televised book club. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. For more information on upcoming releases, sign up for her newsletter (below) and receive two free books!