I would describe this book as a sapphic hallmark movie in book form. It isn't usually my type of thing, but let's be real there isn't much representation out here for LGBTQ+ Christmas books, so it filled me with joy to see representation for myself in this. It made me feel happy and festive and I could not recommend enough. Thank you for giving me the chance to read and review this.

When I read the description of this book I was excited to read about two women stranded together in a hotel room who then end up spending the holidays together. But for a successful story, the execution has to match or surpass what is described. I got to about 25% and just could not continue reading. I did not find the characters relatable or particularly enjoyable. The story that I read felt like it was very disjointed. I cannot recommend it to other readers, although some people may find this holiday story their cup of tea. 2 stars


I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I like when I find a lesbian holiday book, and even better when it's a good read. There is a crazy but loving family who have secrets from each other. This is an age gap romance but they don't make a big deal about it..

Logan Brady is going home for Christmas and dreading it. She knows she needs to come out to her family, oh, and tell them she lost her job (due to the pandemic) but feels pressure not to disappoint anyone. Logan feels like she doesn't measure up to her brother or sister. While en route from DC to Kansas City, Logan runs into Mick Finnegan, who is heading to KC to meet with a friend about a potential investment opportunity. They end up stranded due to canceled flights, sharing a hotel room, and also losing their luggage in the process.

What I appreciate about the set-up is that it is just as wild as you expect a holiday romcom to be. The banter between the characters is cute but also kind of rife with misunderstanding. Logan isn't the easiest character to like; in fact, there were times when I wondered how Mick could be attracted to her. However, both characters do grow over time, which I feel is important for this particular couple. Mick is so swoon-worthy. I wish I knew more about the kind of work she actually does and how she was able to go from foster kid from the streets to uber-successful and driven. Some of the plot feels rushed and hard to follow near the end, leading up to the BIG ROMANTIC GESTURE.

The family dynamics really add to the entire narrative because as Mick falls in love; she begins to fall for the whole family. The mom was really adorable and authentic. The writing is really good, especially in the open-door steamy scenes. Ultimately, this is a solid Christmas trope=y book with lots to like. If you like the movie <i>Family Stone</i> and midwest settings with seriously sweet family hijinks and fruitcake, take a chance on this. 3.5 stars

My family calls me the Grinch and for good reason. I don't necessarily hate the holidays, but there are certain aspects of it that I just don't enjoy. One of which is the forced get-together of families and trying to be who you think everyone wants you to be. And that's just what this book is about. I like my holiday romances a bit more romantic and let's say "'airy" instead of family dynamics and drama.

Mick and Logan meet while their plane to Kansas is stranded/ diverted to Chicago due to the weather. Logan is drunk and Mick takes care of her. Very night in shining in armor, pretty good start. That is until their one-night stand between strangers turns into a try of fauxmance that lasts a couple of hours, family introductions, and all in all crazy weird family things. Mostly a family just not communicating, as one would expect really. Because as it turns out Mick is Logan's brother's friend who he invited for the holidays and to invest in his game. She's a crazy rich self-made billionaire, this side of Mick and how she got to where she is is pretty interesting, but we don't get enough of it. Nothing really. We don't get to know the MCs at all is what I would say, not them as an individual, only how they fit into the family dynamics.

I just missed the Christmas cheer and happiness and easiness that I want to associate with a holiday romance. And while I say romance, it's lacking in that department as well. I want more romance and wooing in these things, I expect it in a holiday-themed romance. Might just be me, but that's ok. This is like one of those toe-curlingly horrible Christmas movies that you watch because it's Christmas, but you don't necessarily enjoy it. And it isn't horrible enough to make it funny, you know?
Anyway, not my favourite, I'm sure some others will enjoy it.

I thought I’d give a different type of book a go and I’m glad I did. It was nice to see things from a different perspective. I enjoyed it. Well written and well done.

This book just wasn't for me. I had to DNF at about 30% because I didn't like the writing style, the plot, or the characters. It's really unfortunate because I was excited to read a Sapphic Christmas romance set in Kansas. As a native Kansan, it's not common to see books set here and I was excited to find something I'm interested set in my home state. But I was left disappointed. I'm sure this works really well for some people, but it doesn't do it for me. It might be better with some additional editing as the dialogue and some plot points are a little choppy and don't always make sense.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻.

This one reminds me of a bad Hallmark Christmas movie and if that's your thing, (I know it's some people's thing) this one would suit you. The broad premise is normal enough but the story feels exaggerated.

The characters in the budding romance are Logan and Mick who originally engage in a one night stand while their plane is stranded in Chicago before finding out that they aren't strangers. But the focus ends up being on Logan's family and their drama. Logan has a dysfunctional relationship with her family and I'm not sure I can explain it properly so I'm not going to try. But basically the family functions on secrets, no communication and lies. Logan fears judgement from her family members for who she is and what goes on in her life and spends a lot of time gathering the courage to come clean with them about things. But in reality, none of the family mean any harm and a lot of the fear is unsubstantiated.

Mick is an interesting character, being Logan's brother's friend and an invited guest to their family Christmas gathering. I like how she's made it in life all on her own and I love how protective she gets of Logan at times. I would have liked to get to know her better and for more focus to be on her and her relationship with Logan. But Logan is rather self-absorbed so Mick is just overshadowed by everything else that goes on in the book.

This is a festive romance and most of it is lighthearted and exaggerated. This book may not have been my thing but I think there will be people who will enjoy it more.

Warmed my cold and dead Scrooge of a heart

I’m not a huge fan of Christmas, part of that reasoning is because as a queer person it’s so easy to feel lost in a world of continuous romances aimed towards straight folk (hallmark I’m looking at you.)

However I can’t tell you how happy it makes me when I find something sapphic, and Christmas themed that is really well written and makes me want to feel festive. (I genuinely felt a need to buy more tinsel after reading this.)

The story follows Logan (Mid 20’s) and Mick (Mid 30’s) and vaguely follows a one night stand into a kind of enemies to lovers trope which I was seriously here for. Give me all the arguing and making out.

‘They we’re like the Addams family on crack.’

I really loved seeing both the dynamics of the family with their daughter Logan, but also with Mick who doesn’t have a family of her own. It makes the story such a joy to read and such a comforting tale. Also Mick is so business driven it was nice to see her slowly letting go and letting others in.

The sex scenes are also incredibly well written, they’re believable and emotive and make the story all the more gripping. Like think spice level 3.5/5, it’s descriptive and sweet and sexy, and yeah; definitely one for adults.

My only complaint was it was kind of that over done Christmas story trope but I love that overdone trope so damn much that -I seriously- didn’t care it was following a trope.

Sapphic and looking for a cute as hell Holiday read? This is it.

I liked the premise of this book and enjoyed having an LGBTQ holiday book to read. There were some things I had trouble believing, and at times I felt there were too many ups and downs in such a new relationship.

I really liked the concept of this book, but unfortunately I found the execution to be lacking. The writing style felt really off to me, and the way the plot was set up - the characters meeting each other but not finding out that they're going to be spending the holidays together - felt really forced, because they did share their life stories with each other but they'd just conveniently forget to mention some aspects so it would stay a secret that they were talking about the same people. Additionally, as an aroace person I did not appreciate the way being perpetually single is something that makes you "the family screw-up", or the idea of family pressuring each other to date in general. I've read a lot of fake dating stories, but they typically handle this more sensitively. Because of this, I didn't end up finishing the book.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Logan returning home for the holiday’s she dreading it because she lost her job and hasn’t come out of to her family. When her plane gets sidetrack by a snowstorm she has to spend overnight in Chicago. Mick is on her way to meet her college friend for the holidays when she meets Logan in which they share a room.

Logan and Mick are surprise when they learn their heading to the same place. Logan brother Dom who is Mick college friend is trying to get Mick to invest in his gaming idea all the while trying to force Logan to come out and in a way he kinda of did. I wish we had more time with Logan and Mick but I did like how protective Mick was with Logan. Ok read I like that this family is supportive despite never really talk about the important things. The only thing needed was to fix the dialogue because some parts felt jumble and awkward.

This is an entertaining story about a dysfunctional family and yet they still are very close.
Logan Brady finds herself on the way home for the holidays until her plane is diverted. She's dreading going home and has had a few too many drinks.
Mick Finnegan is on the way to visit her college friend who has a project he hopes she'll invest in. Logan and Mick meet as Logan can barely walk off the plane and then proceeds to vomit all over Mick. What's Mick to do just leave her there looking half dead and smelling even worse?
As they spend time together they soon learn that they are headed to the same destination since Logan is the younger sister of Mick's friend.
Mick and Logan will be spending the holidays together and their attraction develops while trying to maintain some sense of privacy from the family. But Logan's mom knows everything so don't even try it.
This is an entertaining turn of events that is well worth your time.

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the advanced copy.

I, unfortunately, did not enjoy this book. The plot was supremely disjointed and I had a hard time finding any of the characters relatable, or even likable. At times, it felt like the characters didn't even like each other, which further made it hard to get into the spirit of the holidays, something that felt all but missing. I think the bones are good, however, and that the book could do with a few rounds of edits.

Tis the season for holiday romances. Logan Brady is returning home to Kansa City for the holidays. Logan is nervous because she needs to tell her parents she lost her job and wants to come out to them. When a snowstorm strands her flight home overnight in Chicago she ends up meeting and sharing a room with Mick Finnegan. It turns out that Mick is Logan's brothers friend from college, who he's invited for the holidays. He wants her to back his new gaming idea.

The word quirky kept coming to mind as I read this story. Most of the characters are a hot mess for various reasons. The Brady bunch (yes, that's what they're called), are a loud, loving, supportive, but let's not talk about anything, family. Brother Dom is pushy, wanting to force Logan's coming out and kind of does. Logan spills her sister's big secret. There are very few honest conversations anywhere. It is more like reading an episode of a TV sit-com family. The characters seem over the top and almost cartoonish but everyone likes it that way. I couldn't relate to any of them.

Logan and Mick being together is instant and I never see what Mick likes about her other than her attraction to the antics of the family. The pacing feels off too. Sweet moments between siblings or a parent quickly give way to the next hijinks. And usually with family shenanigans there is lots of humor but other than the fruit cake fight I wasn't laughing. The grand gesture is sweet but extreme, demonstrating character growth for Mick. I really wanted more time with Logan and Mick together so I could get behind their relationship. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

*Lyn Cole is a pen name and I have a guess that is a Bold Stroke's author I've enjoyed in the past that lives in KC. I'll have to check back and see if my suspicion is correct.

Logan Brady has a lot of problems, including getting fired and still hiding in the closet from her parents. On her flight back home for Christmas she bumps into Mick Finnegan, rich bitch and unknowingly to them both, her brother’s best friend. They have undeniable chemistry that they tackle while Logan is still having a breakdown about her problems.

When it came to characters I liked none of them. Logan was too self involved and Mick a bit too judgmental. Logan’s brother even more judgmental, her sister was weirdly the one I liked even though she was described as the bad seed. This was all purposeful of course, the writers intent to make them grow, which did fall a bit short in my opinion.

I liked Logan and Mick together, Mick’s protectiveness over Logan was the cutest darn thing.

The pacing of this book could’ve been a lot better and the dialogue had a lot of awkward moments where they jumbled together. I guess my biggest critique here would flow, it wasn’t a very smooth book.

This book reminds me of a hallmark Christmas movie. Crazy, cheesy, bad pacing and hilarious.

Honestly, longer scenes or more description would’ve helped. Some of the most dramatic scenes in this book went by in the blink of an eye making its impression fleeting.

There was also a few things that didn’t make sense and I didn’t particularly like. This includes everything with Logan being in the closet, she spends all the book getting to the point where she want to come out and the reaction to it is just so underwhelming. Also I still didn’t get a grasp of Mick.

I’m not too sure if I recommend this. If you’re into hallmark movies that are so bad that they’re good, then yeah. If you’re looking for something serious and with good depth, then probably no.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in return for a honest review.