Merry Christmas Eve! Here are two Christmas books I enjoyed this month:

Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey
Publisher: Avon
Pub Date: 10/1/2024

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey is a Christmas romance about Stella, a woman with a tough past, who gets a chance to design window displays for a department store. As she works with Aiden, the cheerful owner, their growing connection turns into a sweet and steamy love story about second chances.

I found a signed copy of Window Shopping at The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn last month so it already felt special even before I started reading. Overall, I really enjoyed this short holiday romance! The grumpy vs. sunshine, opposites attract, and forced proximity tropes were all wonderfully done. Aiden is a bit corny and dorky, but he’s such a sweetheart. Stella’s troubled past makes her guarded, but I love how Aiden brings out the best in her. While insta-love doesn’t usually work for me, it fit the story perfectly here. There are a couple of spicy scenes sprinkled throughout, adding just the right amount of heat. If you’re looking for a fun, heartwarming holiday read set in New York City during Christmas, I definitely recommend picking this one up!

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
Publisher: Avon
Pub Date: 9/24/2024

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter, cozy mystery author Maggie Chase and thriller writer Ethan Wyatt must put aside their rivalry to solve the disappearance of a famous author from a locked room during a snowbound Christmas party. As they unravel the mystery, they uncover unexpected truths—and possibly love—while navigating twists, turns, and each other’s sharp edges.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year was on sale on LibroFM so I decided to purchase the audiobook. This was my first book by Ally Carter and I enjoyed it! The story is written in third person, primarily from Maggie’s perspective, with occasional police recordings and a few chapters told through Ethan’s POV. There’s a great balance between the slow-burn romance and the locked-room mystery, both of which were well-written and fast-paced. The author did an excellent job building the chemistry between Maggie and Ethan evolving their relationship from enemies-to-lovers as they worked together to uncover Eleanor’s disappearance. I highly recommend picking up this holiday read!