Title: Lock, Stock and Jingle Bells
Author: Donna Kauffman
Series: Hamilton Christmas #2
In: Kissing Santa Claus (Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis & HelenKay Dimon)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance, Small town romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2009

It’s fairly obvious from the beginning of the story that Holly is kind of a grinch. Not in an overly aggressive way, but in a “I don’t actually like Christmas” way. I mean, if you had the name and the upbringing, the backstory that she does, it makes total sense. Living in a Christmas Wonderland full time just sounds absolutely exhausting. And to have your parents prioritise that over your own health and wellbeing, yeah, I completely get where she’s coming from. Which just means that having a story in which she is given her “inheritance” of a Christmas shop was an even more intriguing plot line.

I love that Sean Gallagher of the Gallagher clan was just as awkward and uncomfortable as every other teen. Even if he had an amazing and loving family behind him. And was all of those popular stereotypes that actually turn out to be kind of realistic. Yet, as with reality, our perceptions of people aren’t always true and I love that both Sean and Holly, in their teenage years made a whole lot of assumptions. But, as adults, Sean is finally brave enough to go for what and who he wants.

Holly spends the majority of this story trying to figure out what her future holds, whilst still holding onto and honouring her mother’s dream. It’s a fine line to walk. Particularly as Holly gets her inheritance when her mother is actually still alive. A lot of emotional turmoil and past secrets are revealed and dealt with throughout this Christmas novella. I’ll probably enjoy reading this again in the future.

Image source: Amazon