Review copies were provided free by the publishers with the exception of The Wedding Ringer, which I purchased.
Winter is a great time to catch up on all those fall releases you meant to get to, especially if this year’s Christmas romances aren’t sparking joy, or if you don’t celebrate it. In that spirit, I’m bringing you one Christmas romance and four more recent releases that I’ll be cozying up with this winter.
The standout among holiday romances for me so far this year is Tif Marcelo’s The Holiday Switch. It gives Dash and Lily (Netflix) vibes in a small town package with two Filipino American main characters.
Lila Santos is a high school senior finishing her last winter break before college, trying to save up every dollar she can from her job working at the Bookworm Inn’s gift shop. But her bosses’ nephew, Teddy Rivera, is starting part-time for the holidays, taking hours she was counting on and setting these two up for a rivals-to-romantic relationship. (It feels weird to apply rivals-to-lovers to a YA novel, you know what I mean).
It’s very cute and very Hallmark-y without being overly sentimental. Lila reads like a true 17-year old, a very Type A one at that. She’s a bibliophile book blogger and the story is punctuated by her book posts.
I loved seeing Lila’s Filipino family and culture so front and center in her life. And I loved that the stars of the movie that made her little town famous were also FilAm. It hits all the beats of fun wintery things to do in a town made famous by a Christmas movie and gives you a glimpse of Filipino Christmas traditions.
4 stars
Get THE HOLIDAY SWITCH from The Ripped Bodice | Bookshop.org | IndieBound | Amazon | Apple Books
This post includes affiliate links which kick us a small percentage at no cost to you if you use them to shop. If this post is useful or helps you discover something new, please use them to support my work – thanks!
If you’re looking for more Christmas romances, check out these 2020 faves from Jenny Holiday, Christina Lauren and Jenny Bayliss.
Here are 4 more books I’ll be catching up on this winter:
If a Pride and Prejudice retelling is your catnip, A Certain Appeal by Vanessa King brings Liz Bennet and Will Darcy to New York’s burlesque scene.
By day, Liz works as an executive assistant and is a stage kitten by night. (That’s the person who picks up performers props, clothing, etc. as the show goes on). As the blurb tells us, “Love’s the last thing on her mind when she locks eyes with Will Darcy across the crowded club, yet the spark between them is undeniable—that is, until she overhears the uptight wealth manager call her merely ‘tolerable.'”
After their friends fall for each other, Bennet and Darcy can’t seem to avoid each other. But their chemistry is undeniable. A Certain Appeal promises the banter you expect and a diverse cast of characters against a sexy, burlesque backdrop. And if you’re into audiobooks, it’s narrated by Julia Whalen. Yep, I’m in.
Get A CERTAIN APPEAL from The Ripped Bodice | Bookshop.org | IndieBound | Amazon | Apple Books
In her debut, the Wedding Ringer, Kerry Rea brings us a bridesmaid-for-hire story. After her fiancé cheats on her with her best friend, Willa Callister is looking to get out of town and start fresh where no one knows her. But to make that happen she needs to save up some dough.
Enter Maisie Mitchell. After a chance meeting, Maisie offers Willa a proposition that’ll get her some cash to start over: be a bridesmaid in my wedding. It’s not far off from what she’s been doing performing in a ball gown for kids parties. So why not?
As the blurb tells us, “Willa’s bridesmaid duties thrust her into Maisie’s high-energy world and into the path of hotshot doctor Liam Rafferty. But as Willa and Maisie form a real friendship, and Liam’s annoyingly irresistible smile makes her reconsider her mantra that all men are trash, Willa’s exit strategy becomes way more complicated. And when a secret from Maisie’s past threatens to derail the wedding, Willa must consider whether friendship—and romance—are worth sticking around for.”
Everything I’m hearing says this is more contemporary fiction with romance in it, than straight romance itself.
Get THE WEDDING RINGER from The Ripped Bodice | Bookshop.org | IndieBound | Amazon | Apple Books
As of December 8, 2021, The Wedding Ringer is part of a buy two get one 50% off promo on Amazon.
I’ve had a funny little habit this year of jumping into historical romance series with whatever book is new. It’s how I picked up Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas, it’s how I ended up on a Bridgerton binge. And I’ll be doing it with Julie Anne Long’s After Dark With the Duke.
It’s book 4 in the series, but a friend mentioned it was her favorite historical of the year, so I’m going in. The blurb is kind of vague other than the FMC, Mariana Wylde, is an opera singer embroiled in scandal after a duel over her. She arrives at the Grand Palace on the Thames with a mob in hot pursuit.
For his part, General James Duncan Blackmore, the Duke of Valkirk is honorable, brilliant, feared, “but nobody truly knows him” says the blurb. “Until a clash with a fiery, vulnerable beauty who stands for everything he scorns lays him bare. It’s too clear the only cure for consuming desire is conquest, but their only chance at happiness could lead to their destruction. The legendary duke never dreamed love would be his last battleground. Valkirk would lay down his life for Mariana, but his choice is stark: risk losing her forever, or do the one thing he vowed he never would…surrender.”
I still don’t know what it’s about. But it’s got a friend’s endorsement, and a cover with a Christmassy green robe and a fireplace.
There were issues with the paperback getting to stores for release day, but you can grab it in ebook now.
Get AFTER DARK WITH THE DUKE from The Ripped Bodice | Bookshop.org | IndieBound | Amazon | Apple Books
It’s been awhile since I’ve read any vampire romance, so I’m putting King of Battle and Blood on my list.
The first book in a new dark fantasy series from Scarlett St. Clair promises court politics, intrigue and steam. We’re looking at vampire king Adrian and his mortal bride Isolde who’s only marrying him to protect her kingdom. But Isolde is no damsel in distress. As St. Clair describes it, “Isolde and Adrian are fierce and angry and passionate. Their word is dark, dangerous and witchy.” It’s a thin line between love and hate for these two because despite their attraction, Isolde gets forced into an assassination attempt. Adrian’s response? Try it again and I’ll turn you. Psssshhh. I am so here for this drama.
Get KING OF BATTLE AND BLOOD from The Ripped Bodice | Bookshop.org | IndieBound | Amazon | Apple Books
