Release & ARC Review: Hostile for the Holidays by Erin Hawkins

Hostile for the Holidays by Erin Hawkins is live!

This is such a cute read! A laugh-out-loud-funny, sweet and sexy romance, and a gorgeous little holiday novella. I loved it.

 

Amazon

 

 



Blurb

Is there anything worse than getting sick on the four-hour flight home for the holidays?

How about the fact that my childhood rival, Jasper Jensen, is there to not only witness it, but to take care of me so he can hang it over my head for all of eternity?

Or maybe when an old fling is waiting to pick me up at the airport, hoping to rekindle our past over the holidays, and I’m so desperate to avoid him that I present Jasper as my boyfriend.

Jasper agrees to play the part if, in return, I attend his family’s famous Christmas Eve party to keep his meddling family from setting him up. It’s a small price to pay for my holiday peace.

But nothing is peaceful about the holidays this year. My sister’s getting married on New Years’ Eve and wedding planning is taking over Christmas. My family has no time for our holiday traditions; we don’t even have a Christmas tree.

Until Jasper swoops in.

Between helping me decorate for Christmas, taking me to look at light displays, and wrapping presents for underprivileged kids, Jasper shows me a side of him I’ve never known.

I’ve vowed to keep the hostility between us—my heart is safer that way—but that might be one tradition that I can’t hold onto this Christmas.

 

Add to Goodreads

 


Review

4.5 stars!

This is such a cute read! A laugh-out-loud-funny, sweet and sexy romance, and a gorgeous little holiday novella. I loved it.

Stella and Jasper are lifelong rivals. Since he moved in across the street from her as a child, they have been at each other’s throats – taunting, teasing and constantly one-upping each other, their rivalry is almost legendary in their small home town. So when they run into each other on the flight back home for Christmas, Stella is horrified when Jasper actually looks after her when she gets sick and, in a desperate moment, she begs him to be her fake boyfriend when an old hook up appears at the airport keen for a reunion. What Stella doesn’t know is that Jasper has been in love with her for as long as he can remember, and he has come home to finally win the girl of his dreams.

It’s a fun set-up, and I was laughing right from the beginning at the horrifically cringe flight which sets the tone for the rest of the story. Stella is determined to hate Jasper, but he is actually a really good guy, and he shows it in so many ways as he is there for Stella, helping her recapture the Christmas spirit that she longs for, showing how well he knows her, and proving that there’s so much more to him than she ever thought.

Along the way we get to see lots of bickering, flirting and banter, and the chemistry sizzles. From Jasper’s longing and huge heart, and the touches that seem just a little bit too easy, to PDA and kisses under the mistletoe, I could not get enough of the build-up and watching these two start to come together, and I loved every moment of it.

This quote is a little long, but OMG, this scene had me clutching my kindle with a delighted squeal…

“I think something about your kiss altered my brain chemistry. I’ve never had a sex dream before last night.”
I slam on the brakes.
“Jesus, Stella. That’s not what I was expecting a seven-thirty in the morning.”

“You were in it.”
“Damn straight,” I mutter.

“Jasper, have you had sex dreams before?” she asks.
I can’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, quite a few.”
I pull into the parking lot of our destination. “Hmm. Any of particular interest?” She wiggles her brows.
I let her question hang between us as I navigate my vehicle to a parking spot and turn off the engine. With an arm draped over the steering wheel, I turn in my seat to look at her.
“Stella, are you asking if I’ve had a sex dream about you?”
She licks her lips, her boldness from earlier lessening a notch. “Maybe.”
“Let me tell you a little secret,” I motion her closer with a crook of my finger and she leans in conspiratorially. “They’ve all been about you.”

This is a fabulously fun read that is sexy, heartfelt, and full of Christmas spirit, and I loved it.

4.5 stars.

An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.

 


About Erin

Erin Hawkins lives in Colorado with her husband and three young children. She enjoys reading, running, spending time in the mountains, and watching reality TV.

 

Connect with Erin:

Facebook  |  Amazon  |  Goodreads  |  Bookbub  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *