Title: Naughty-ish
Author: L.B. Dunbar
Series: Holiday Hotties #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

One of the things that I enjoy most about L.B. Dunbar books is that they always feature couples who are that little bit older. For Nick and Holliday, they are next door neighbours who find their joy and happiness with each other at Christmas. Both have a whole lot of issues to get over, but I love how they come together as lovers fairly quickly. Plus, for both of them, their primary love language is gifts and acts of service. The courtship between them is slow and occurs through their willingness to give to each other. It’s really cute and sweet. But also build towards being able to communicate and just be together.

Nick’s willingness to join in with Holliday’s life and jump into being part of a family unit is really sweet. Rather than trying to take control, or not understanding the importance of Christmas, he tries to make Holliday’s life easier. I love that Dunbar doesn’t shy away from how difficult it can be for a Mum at Christmas time. Reading this at Christmas time with my first intense Christmas as a Mum of two (my second born was only 2 months for our first Christmas as a family of four, so this one was intense) made me feel so validated and seen. It highlighted the difficulties (and the joys) of what the Festive Season entails for mothers and the pressure we feel to make everything perfect.

Naughty-ish is the first romance that I’ve read in a while with an irritating ex who doesn’t actually get any kind of, well, anything. He doesn’t help Holliday out, he is selfish, and at the end of the story, all of his crappy decisions and their impact on his children are just… nothing. It’s kind of irritating, but then, it’s also so much more realistic than a lot of the romances that I read. I mean, most of the time the selfish fool doesn’t ever realise that they are a selfish fool. And Holliday does, after all, have to co-parent with Mitch for the rest of their lives.

As a mum of two little ones, I am absolutely dreading the idea of Elf on a Shelf when they get old enough. And Naughty-ish did nothing to change my mind. I’m seriously hoping I can come up with a good idea as to why we don’t do this tradition – it just adds to the stress and difficulties of Christmas time and the festive season. This was such an adorable Christmas romance, and I love that it featured a single mum who has to deal with all of the nonsense of magic this time “magical”.

Image source: The Reading Cafe

Title: Grouch-ish
Author: L.B. Dunbar
Series: Holiday Hotties #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2024

I absolutely adored that this is a Christmas romance which is based on the twelve days of Christmas. I didn’t know that the twelve days of Christmas are actually the twelve days after Christmas – the 26^th December until the 6^th January. Plus, each of Brock’s twelve tasks have a lingering echo of the Christmas carol. It was so much fun picking up all of those little echoes, as I fell more and more in love with Brock and Pear. This was a ridiculously fun and light read, and honestly, the only reason it took me so long to read is that it was on Kindle Unlimited, and I have to read that on my glitchy phone.

Grouch-ish is a great romance with a bit of an opposites attract couple. Pear is eternally optimistic, even when she’s been dealt a pretty crappy hand of cards. I mean, some of the tragedies in her past would make anyone collapse. The fact that he’s a grumpy, silver fox, fireman with children just makes it all that much more yummy. I mean, he eventually lets some of his issues slide and some of his grumpiness diminishes. It’s particularly nice that Pear’s joy of life and patience is what brings Brock around to being a calmer, better version of himself.

I love how Brock and Pear are both incredibly lonely, and build their relationship on getting to know one another. There is the instant attraction, but their romance is kind of slow-burn, they slowly increase the intensity of their attachment until it all implodes. I always enjoy a good story in which the couple take the time to get to know one another, and don’t rush into an insane relationship just based on lust and attraction. Their loneliness might be the instigator of some of their relationship, but it’s not just companionship that keeps them together. Rather, a mutual sense of admiration and joy in each other’s company.

Although this story technically takes place just after Christmas, it is still a beautiful Christmas story. It’s a reminder that sometimes, Christmas can be hard for some families around loss. But it can also be incredibly joyful and one of the most promising times of year. A time for fresh starts, forgiveness and joy in the little things. At least, that’s how I feel about Christmas, and I found that Grouch-ish reflected this perfectly.

Image source: Lisa Loves Literature