Tag Archives: Hideaway Harbor

Book Review: The Holiday Post by L. B. Dunbar

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The Holiday Post by L.B. Dunbar

A Romance Novel published by L.B. Dunbar Writes, Ltd. (11/14/25)

Summary: It’s Never Too Late For Happiness and Romance

“I’ll take an order of one hot Santa lookalike with a side of sexy time.” (Kindle Edition).

Lumi is a single mom and lifelong small-town post office worker whose dull holiday season is upended when a blizzard strands a charming stranger on her doorstep. With no rooms available, he becomes her unexpected houseguest. As they grow closer, his holiday magic and her fear of being left behind collide, forcing Lumi to decide whether this mysterious man with a deadline can be more than a fleeting Christmas miracle.

Keywords:

 Contemporary, Hideaway Harbor, Christmas, Family Business, Mature Main Characters, Small Town 

My Review:

This fourth book in the Hideaway Harbor series hooked me right away, but as the hints piled up that the main love interest, Saint, might actually be Santa (or related to Santa), I grew less and less interested in the story. I went in expecting a contemporary romance, and I got a Santa-adjacent-Christmas-magic version of magical realism. There were so many Holiday puns and Santa insinuations, it started to get distracting.

Still, the book absolutely shines as a warm, character-driven holiday romance, especially when it comes to Lumi. Her journey is relatable in a way that surprised me. Her journey feels relatable and grounded. When I’m finished with my current job, I will also be at a standstill in my life, just like Lumi. I’m also afraid of how to make the change in my life to get to where I want to be. What will I want when that moment happens? It’s easy to let the momentum of daily life dictate the future, and for Lumi, tomorrow feels inevitable until the change arrives in the form of Saint. He is the catalyst for changing the way she’s been thinking about her life and what she wants to do today, tomorrow, and in the future. And who she wants to do it with…

The chemistry between Lumi and Saint is undeniably cozy, and their connection feels earned. Even as mature characters, their love has a youthful, hopeful quality. And while some of the magical elements weren’t for me, the forced-proximity setup remains one of my favorite romance tropes, and it’s done well here.

If you want a sweet, slightly whimsical holiday romcom with heart and Santa magic sprinkled on top, then this book delivers.

I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by L.B. Dunbar Writes, Ltd. on 11/14/2025 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.50

Links for more information

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Book Review: The Holiday Grump by Enni Amanda

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The Holiday Grump by Enni Amanda

A Romance Novel published by Lumi Publishing (11/21/25)

Summary: Christmas brings together two broken hearts

“Maybe home wasn’t a place you decorated. Perhaps it was this feeling. Being known. Being expected.” (Kindle 43%).

Runaway bride Noelle has been hiding out for the last year. Grumpy bookseller Fredrik doesn’t think he’ll ever find love again. One meet-cute later, and Noelle happens to be running the pop-up shop next to Fredrik’s bookstore. They agree on friendship because Noelle will be gone after the holiday season, and Fredrik is, well, a grump after all. But when the snow falls and the walls come down, even the grumpiest hearts can melt.

Keywords:

Slow-Burn, Contemporary, Hideaway Harbor, Christmas, Broken Heart, Opposites Attract, Runaway Bride, Grumpy/Sunshine

My Review:

Noelle is the epitome of sunshine, while Fredrik is her opposite. I loved the way Noelle is a free-spirited, talk-her-mind, unpretentious person. There is a great deal of characterization and life in Noelle. “She simply spoke without thinking, the words bursting out of her like an uncontrollable sneeze.” (Kindle 14%).

Fredrik is thought of as a grump, but he’s so much more. He is depressed. He is thoughtful. He is always thinking about others. He is also set in his ways. He can’t help but notice and want to protect and help Noelle. She is somehow both independent and helpless.

They both have baggage, and I loved every scene with them together because their push-pull banter is witty and on point while their chemistry simmers from the get-go. Their meet-cute and developing relationship is delightfully awkward, and while both are keeping secrets, they must learn to trust each other if they’re going to make a go of things. “We led very different lives that somehow fit together perfectly.” (Kindle 78%).

I loved reading further into the world of Hideaway Harbor, and this book was a perfectly crafted and entertaining Holiday read about found family, healing, and second chances.

I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Lumi Publishing on 11/21/2025 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information

Goodreads

Book Review: The Holiday Clause by Lydia Michaels

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The Holiday Clause by Lydia Michaels

A Romance Novel published by Bailey Brown Publishing (11/18/25)

Summary: 

When three billionaire brothers are told they must marry to inherit their father’s empire, their childhood friend Wren suddenly finds herself at the center of the chaos. What follows is a mix of rivalry, nostalgia, and unexpected feelings as Wren navigates old bonds and new possibilities. It’s a cozy, funny, and sometimes messy story about love, family, and choosing what truly matters.

Keywords:

Contemporary, Hideaway Harbor, Christmas, Small-Town, Alpha Males, Billionaire, Friends to Lovers, First Love, Competition, Rivalry

My Review:

I didn’t love the prologue. It didn’t feel like the start of the story and didn’t draw me in. However, after the first few chapters, I started to get sucked into Hideaway Harbor, the three Hawthorne boys, and Wren.

The book centers around Wren just as much as the three Hawthorne brothers: Greyson, Soren, and Logan, but I didn’t get to know Soren and Logan as much as Greyson. The setup felt very romcom – whoever finds a wife will secure the family inheritance. The setup is intriguing, even if a little outlandish (like a typical Netflix romcom does), and I liked that it tackled heavier topics like loss and grief amidst the festive holiday backdrop. I appreciated that layer of depth.

I was always rooting for Wren, the girl next door, the small-town free spirit who runs her own business and lovingly looks after her quirky dad. She’s warm, grounded, and easy to connect with. Greyson, on the other hand, was harder for me to like. His “alpha” energy and possessive streak came across as more controlling than romantic, especially given that Wren had never dated before. That dynamic felt a little off to me and gave the story a tone that reminded me more of a shifter romance than a contemporary one.

The story did continue to draw me in, and I wanted to get to the exclusive relationship and find out if Wren and Greyson would get over themselves and get together. By the end, I was invested in how things would work themselves out, and the emotional payoff was satisfying.

I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

This novel was published on 11/18/2025 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.25

Links for more information

Goodreads

Book Review: The Holiday Whoopie by Sara L Hudson

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The Holiday Whoopie by Sara L Hudson

A Romance Novel published (11/11/25)

Summary: It’s Just Business Until It’s Not

“I know exactly what it’s like to live entirely at work and leave the rest empty because you’re never really there.” (Kindle 25%).

When a driven pastry chef and an equally ambitious Hollywood lawyer collide, sparks (and whoopie pies) fly. Audrey traded the high-stakes world of the Ritz-Carlton for the small town charm of her whoopie-pie in Hideaway Harbor, determined to build something of her own. Jack, the Hollywood Lawyer, never planned on staying long. But when a snowstorm, a viral Christmas tree disaster, and a few too many pun-filled pastries throw them together, neither can ignore the chemistry simmering beneath their banter. What starts as a business relationship turns into something deeper, as they learn that sometimes the sweetest things in life come when you stop trying to control the recipe.

Keywords:

Contemporary, Hideaway Harbor, Christmas, Lawyer, Small-Town, Bakery, Expectations, Competition, Pies

My Review:

Audry is the pastry chef at the top of her game who left a prestigious position at the Ritz Carlton to open a Whoopie pie innuendo laden bakery in the small town of Hideaway Harbor. I relate to her Type A personality so much! She has trouble relinquishing control of anything in her life. And she’s out to prove to her mother that her career change was a good choice, in any way possible. She’s burning the candle at both ends, and it’s never enough. Her dream of a small-town life with a husband and kids has been set aside because she’s too busy. She’s stuck in the constant cycle of doing more while not being enough, and that’s quite relatable. She’s driven, sharp, and definitely not looking for a man in a thousand-dollar suit who treats deadlines like oxygen.

Jack is the LA lawyer who is always treated as the sidekick. He barely gets any attention when he’s out and about with his clients. He’s viewed only as his profession. LAWYER in all caps whenever he’s in public. Even Audrey only sees him as business-only, Scrooge-like, holiday downer of a dude who is only in it for the billable hours.

It’s just business for them both… Until it’s not. I loved seeing the two perspectives of these main characters as they spent more time with each other and brought out the best in each other. The croissants are good, but the sex is better! It gets just as steamy as any of the other books in the Hideaway Harbor series.

I loved this book and could not put it down. The writing is smooth and smart, the pacing keeps you hooked, and I’ve grown to love the town of Hideaway Harbor with this series of books.

I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

This novel was published on 11/11/2025 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00

Links for more information

Goodreads

Book Review: The Holiday Fakers by Evie Alexander

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The Holiday Fakers by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (11/07/25)

Summary: Finding Redemption Through Love

“I’ve spent almost a lifetime fantasizing about kissing Brody King.” 42%

Brody may be a celebrity with a messy past and a notorious reputation, but underneath it all, he’s a genuinely good guy. Piper, the sweet girl-next-door who’s always cared for him, has loved Brody since childhood. While Brody fears dragging Piper into the fallout of his public image, Piper worries about risking her career and letting down her family. To help each other out, they strike a deal to fake-date. As old feelings resurface and close quarters blur the lines, can they keep their friendship intact, or will their hearts finally get in the way?

Keywords:

Self-sabotage, Celebrity Romance, Slow-Burn, Contemporary, Longing, Public Life, Brooklyn, Hideaway Harbor, Past Mistakes, Reputation, Christmas, Fake Dating

My Review:

The POV is first-person, allowing for a lot of introspection, so we really get into the characters’ minds. I love seeing their thought processes laid out. It’s raw, self-reflective, and full of rationalizations that feel so human and relatable.

The romantic tension is on point. There are questions of boundaries, restraint, and denying feelings, which create a sort of push-pull dynamic that builds the slow-burning romance. But when we get to the juicy parts, they are for sure juicy! The heat is set to boiling. The sex scenes are long, graphic, and unapologetically explicit. They are way more intense than a fade-to-black romance.

The small-town setting of Hideaway Harbor adds so much charm and continues to delight me with this “second” book in the Hideaway Harbor setting. It’s full of quirky, nosy, but lovable characters, holiday traditions, and the warmth of found family. I’m delighted that the town is the setting of multiple books set in the universe of Hideaway Harbor. It even reminds me of the town of Leavenworth in Washington – aka the Village of Lights: Christmastown.

If you love a good contemporary slow-burn romance with erotic scenes, then this is a great read to pick up for the Holidays (or really anytime you want a fun, easy-to-read romance).

I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 11/07/2025 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00

Links for more information

Goodreads

Book Review: The Holiday Hate-Off by Angela Casella

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The Holiday Hate-Off by Angela Casella

A Romance Novel published (11/04/25)

Summary: Christmas feud turns into enemies into lovers

“But I wanted to find a man who wanted me, and none of them did. I was too stubborn to pretend to be someone else for their benefit.” (Kindle 3%).

Christmas in the cozy town of Hideaway Harbor turns into a festive feud when Lucy, a transplanted coffee shop barista, clashes with Enzo, the grumpy guy next door who’s back home to save his family’s Italian market. What starts as snarky banter and sabotaged holiday events quickly turns into sizzling chemistry. 

Keywords:

Contemporary, Hideaway Harbor, Christmas, Opposites Attract, Enemies to Lovers, Fake Dating, Grumpy/Sunshine

My Review:

She’s looking for Mr. Perfectly Okay. Someone to practice dating (and intimacy) with so she’s ready for Mr. Right. He doesn’t need to be brilliant, super hot, or even funny.

The Holiday Hate-Off is everything I want in a cozy Christmas romcom. It’s funny, flirty, festive, and surprisingly layered. Lucy and Enzo have that perfect grumpy/sunshine, enemies-to-lovers energy that makes you root for them even when they’re driving each other (and everyone else) crazy. The prank wars and banter were highly entertaining to read. When they both have to have the last word, the insults will cut lower and lower. They are both equal parts stubborn and uncompromisingly themselves. This makes for incredibly funny dialogue (ie, banter that never stops) that is highly entertaining.

When Lucy admits she’s “the lonely woman who wants a home so badly she fools herself into thinking she’s found one,” it felt like a gut punch. I am so invested in Lucy that I empathize with her emotional longing for family. The author captures Lucy and her insecurities so well that it feels like I know Lucy as a real person.

The writing itself is raw, witty, and deeply introspective. I felt like I was inside Lucy’s and Enzo’s heads, hearing every messy, contradictory emotion. There’s one line about their “frenemies-with-benefits agreement” that sums up the whole story: two people pretending they can keep things casual while their hearts have other plans. It’s sharp, funny, and full of heart.

I love Hideaway Harbor, and this is technically the first book set in that world. Hideaway has all the small-town charm, meddling families, and holiday chaos that make for a great Holiday escapism read.

I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

This novel was published on 11/04/2025 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00

Links for more information

Goodreads