e-book, 160 pages
Release Date: November 20, 2025
Published by: Easton Creative
Read from: November 20-22, 2025
Stand-alone
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Content Warning: Parental Loss, Traumatic Birth, & Babies in the NICU
For Readers Interested In: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, e-Book, Sparkly Cover, Most Anticipated, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Second Chance Romance, Texas Local Reads, Holidaze, Family DiversityFrom the author of The Kiss Countdown comes a charming holiday novella about a Type A lawyer, a rigorous to-do list, and the man determined to unwrap her heart.
After a string of heartbreaks, all Eve Matthews wants this year is a quiet holiday with her pregnant sister. But when early labor changes everything, so must Eve’s plans. While her sister cares for her newborns in the hospital, Eve will stay behind to finish the nursery, decorate the house, and create the perfect holiday homecoming—because if she can’t control life’s disappointments, she can at least control Christmas.
There’s just one Grant Simmons. Her brother-in-law’s infuriatingly charming brother…and the man whose peppermint-flavored kiss she’s never forgotten. She pushed him away once to protect her heart, and now he’s back—claiming he only wants to help his brother’s growing family by helping her.
It starts with stolen pie and ends with him taking up more space in her holiday, and her life, than she ever planned. Between tangled lights, flour fights, and laughter she thought she’d lost, Eve realizes what Grant really wants is a place in her heart, and that maybe the best Christmas moments aren’t on any checklist.
Still, opening her heart means risking it all. Can Eve let go of her need for control, or will fear keep her from the one gift she needs most this Christmas?
*MY THOUGHTS*
As soon as I saw Etta was writing a holiday story, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. I knew this was going to be good as soon as I realized she was writing it. And sure enough, I everything worked out as soon as I sat down to read this.
This was a good time! I loved the plot and the lengths that Eve went to to ensure that her twin had some sense of peace when she returned home. And the way she was worn down just from Grant being who he is. They just worked so well together. I loved them so much. I was so impressed that this felt like a full length novel in 160 pages. I want an entire story with her and the sister and the babies. I love them so much and it just seems like it would be a good story. I hope we see them somewhere later.
Her humor and writing style was still there as well. I found myself laughing out loud at that pie scene and the light scene. I know it wasn’t Grant was a hot mess but also so sweet and so funny. He was there for the comedic relief when everything was so heavy with the babies and stuff, and Easton made him do his job well. I could see why Eve was so taken with him.
Their romance was so cute. I have to admit, I wasn’t a huge fan of Eve…. She was so dramatic and mean. And I get it. She was this super serious person and this thing with her sister and the babies just rocked her to her core. But Lordt, this was so sad. She took everything that happened out on him. I hated the way she was acting toward him. And yes, I know this is probably a me thing since I don’t like enemies to lovers lol But she was mean to him and I wanted him to walk away from her way earlier than he did lol I was glad she got it together, but I’m not sure I would have been ok with just that. She never realized that she was taking something special from him too. She didn’t seem to remember that he had a brother that was sad and those were his nieces too. Idk, maybe its just me, but I think she needed to take more accountability. I get that she was scared, but scared shouldn’t be pushing him away from his family too.
This book was so much fun. I loved seeing their romance develop over the holidays. This story packed an emotional punch for it to be so short. Definitely a cute story that helped ease me into the holiday season. Thank you Easton for this super fun story! I really hope you write some more. Maybe from the Dad? (Look at me begging lol)
Overall, I give this
