Holiday With A Twist by Shannon Stacey | Novella Review

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey celebrates the season in this brand-new holiday novella 
After a messy breakup, Leigh Holloway is ready to start her life over. Until her parents put the family home on the market and call her back for one final, memory-making Christmas. The last thing she wants to do is deprive her mom of the perfect holiday, so she'll lie her way through the visit and worry about her future in the New Year. Too bad the only bar in town is owned by a guy she seriously wronged in high school.  
Leigh's best friend broke Croy Dawson's heart, and Croy knows it was Leigh's fault. They've never liked each other, but Croy isn't cruel: he'd never turn away a pretty woman in need of some family-Christmas fortification. He doesn't expect her to drink just enough candy-cane martinis to tell him her secrets—and he definitely doesn't expect to get caught up in her holiday madness. 
Despite the surprising love and laughter, Croy and Leigh can't escape the truth: he can't walk away from his family obligations and she has a life and career to reboot. But anything is possible if your holiday comes with a twist… 
 
This book is approximately 30,000 words 
 
 
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you're looking for with an HEA/HFN. It's a promise! Find out more at CarinaPress.com/RomancePromise.

Shannon Stacey writes some of my favorite Christmas themed novellas. They’re quite romantic with just the right bit of spice and adult parts. Her latest addition to the holiday oeuvre is Holiday With A Twist. It’s a sort of small town story featuring two main characters who go way, way back. Overall, I highly enjoyed Holiday With A Twist. It was pretty much what the doctor ordered to jump start my Christmas spirit.

Holiday With A Twist by Shannon Stacey is about this woman named Leigh Holloway who was living in a big city doing social media work. She has this awful breakup, however, she keeps it secret. So, Leigh comes home for the holidays and her family basically thinks she’s all but engaged to this one guy despite her breakup. Also, Leigh’s parents are busy getting ready to sell their house so it is one last Christmas in the house. Leigh does not want her parents to feel they need to keep the house, so she pretends that everything is okay. Alas, due to some stress, Leigh finds herself visiting the local bar owned by former friend Croy Dawson.

There’s a little bit of old resentments between Croy and Leigh. You see, Leigh’s best friend dated Croy. Croy and her best friend broke up in no small part due to Leigh. However, that was many years ago. And now, it seems, there’s a little bit of potential attraction between Croy and Leigh.

So, as I said above, I really liked Holiday With A Twist. It is a super fast read. I think the novella is only 90 or so pages. I read via computer cloud reader and it took me like an hour to get through. I was invested in the romance between Leigh and Croy. The characters were well suited for each other. The happy ending delivered as well.

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO CLARK GRISWOLD, HOW MUCH CHRISTMAS SPIRIT DOES THIS BOOK HAVE?

Well, Holiday With A Twist is basically in the middle of the scale. It’s more like the film While You Were Sleeping, there are Christmas things going on. However, it is not a story about Christmas per se, but a romance with Christmas elements. There are a whole lot more moments of swoon with this book than with Christmas Vacation.

Other reviews of Holiday With A Twist by Shannon Stacey:

• Twimom – “a wonderful holiday treat“
• Smexy Books – “has that holiday charm“
• Hearts On Fire Reviews – “this one is a definite for your shopping list“

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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