This book was very hallmark movie meets HBO. In this day and age no one would just allow a drunk stranger into their home but that’s what makes this book very hallmark. It was a charming fast read. I really enjoyed the characters and their backgrounds. It wasn’t your usual sad widower, I’m lost, need to find myself trope. The spins to their stories was a nice change. Even the background characters were pleasant to get to know. And as much as I wish there was a 5 years later part at the end to see what happens, it’s kind of nice you don’t have a shiny red bow on the top to end it.

Sutton is from South Africa and finds herself in the small village of Connington in the Lake District with no money and nowhere to stay. She's trying to find a cottage to squat in when she sees the man known as Mr Christmas, kicking and punching his giant inflatable Santa. Sutton might be a little bit drunk on tequila so when she tries to help him out, she ends up face-planting into the concrete. Gus, Mr Christmas, hauls her inside and lets her sleep on his couch. He then decides to hire her as a nanny for his 4yr twins.

Sutton is slowly working through some childhood trauma and she needs to stand up to her best friend but while she's living with Gus and his twins, she falls in love with him and even though she leaves for London, as soon as things go wrong, she runs back to Gus's open arms.

This was a cute and fuzzy little Christmas story, but when Sutton was considering her options, including staying in the Lake District, she was talking about having to give up her new job opportunity at a a hospital in London but when she spoke to them they actually told her they had openings around the country. So I don't see why it has to be London or nothing but she doesn't seem to remember this when she's considering everything. I did really like Gus though, he was a great character and will be the perfect partner, celebrating Sutton and letting her go at her pace. He was super supportive even with his own baggage hanging over him from when his wife died. He was everything you could want in a book boyfriend - or a real life boyfriend!

Highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a cosy Christmas read.

Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

3.5 rounded up.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and One More Chapter for this arc to review.

This is a cute Christmas romance that I enjoyed reading. Sutton is a really interesting character, and I loved seeing her grow into someone who stands up for themselves and speaks their mind.

Gus was a bit fantastic, a traditional grump with a soft side, especially for his kids.

I struggled a little with their relationship - I felt like their attraction to each other was definitely there but their connection kind of appeared out of the blue. I would have loved to see more of their relationship build. I always struggle a little with third person too, but that's a personal preference. My only other issue with this book was the way the spice was written - I found it very wordy and almost whimsical.

This is a great book to get knto the Christmas spirit with! This little town is obsessed with the holiday - you'll have a fun time visiting.

A great heartfelt romantic comedy for the holidays. We see the emotions and challenges both the FMC and MMC face. A worthwhile read to make you heart sing.

Confessions of a Christmasholic is cute. It's a breezy holiday rom-com.

There are some inconsistencies that mean the characters just don't feel believable. The first line of the description says that Sutton hates Christmas, but she really doesn't seem to. Do either of them have cold hearts? No. The writing gets repetitive (I can't tell you how many times their eyes slammed/collided/locked together).

Sutton's dynamic with the twins is very sweet and Gus's MIL is the real redeeming force.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This story wasn’t typical. Sutton wasn’t broken from a past romantic relationship, but an important platonic one. And although Gus’s wife died, there were all kinds of conflicting and complicated emotions around her as well. These were two broken people, but not broken in the typical romance-novel way.

The conversations between the main characters was realistic and charming. The wit made me chuckle several times throughout the book. I also loved the way the adults interacted with the children. The one thing I wasn’t quite sold on was the four-year-old girl. Yes, the adults did talk about her being very smart and advanced for a child, but I don’t think even the most advanced four-year-old could have come up with the stuff she said! She WAS very entertaining and funny, but didn’t seem four.

All the supporting characters were LOVELY! They were so humorous and added so much to the story! I especially loved the grandma, and how she wanted the best for her grandkids and their father, even if it was sometimes emotionally painful for her.

This story was a little spicy. The bedroom scenes got started, and there was a little description, but then it turned to closed door, and picked back up the morning after.

The story ended ok, with the promise of future happiness. I would have loved an epilogue that would have shown them a few years into the future.

Overall, I really did enjoy this book! It was a very quick read, and a fun Christmas story!

The author did a fantastic job portraying the drunkenness of the FMC at the the beginning. I was so annoyed, but thankfully I realized it was just how she was acting while drunk.

This was a cute Christmas story with a little spice. I absolutely loved the kids, which made me connect more to the story!

I wish the love aspect was different. It felt rushed and not authentic. It’s supposed to be love at first sight, but I didn’t get that from either character.

I also didn’t love that the gay couple was pretty 2 dimensional.

Other than that, it was fun, quick and had all the usual Christmas story tropes.

If you’re looking for a fun Christmas read that you don’t have to think hard about, this is for you!

The book is charming and alive with Christmas vibes, many of which we see in plenty of Christmas books. But we love Christmas books and keep reading them. This one is a bit different in the sense that it's usually the guy who is grumpy and doesn't like Christmas or whatever, this time it's the girl. Sutton Alsop hates Christmas and then she stumbles upon the home of Mr. Christmas with its glitzy lights that could surely double as a runway. Gus Langston is known about town as Mr. Christmas, he runs an all-year-round Christmas village shop.
Sutton agrees to nanny for him over the holidays with him being a single dad. This is the cutest little family ever. Mr. Christmas has a secret that only Sutton knows, one that would surprise everyone in town. A spicy Christmas romance that was fun and full of laughter and good times. You'll be sure to read it more than once.

Pub Date 19 Oct 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

So cute and spicy! I loved the single dad/nanny trope! What a great way to get the holiday season started. The dynamic between Sutton and Gus is chef's kiss. And all the other characters just add to the enjoyment. It was like reading a Hallmark movie.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

This book was overall an enjoyable book. I liked the Christmas element of the book as I LOVE Christmas. The characters were likeable and the writing was easy to read unlike some books. I was able to read it in about 2 days. I would totally recommend to anyone look for a romance and wants to get into the Christmas spirit ; )

★ ★ ★ ★ //5
Confessions of a Christmasholic
by Joss Wood

THOUGHTS:

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

If you love :
*Single Dad/Nanny Tropes
*Second Chance
*Falling Fast

This book is for you!

I just simply adored this spicy little holiday read. It gave me the warm fuzzy holiday feels with giggles throughout the book. The spice was just the right amount and not too overwhelming which is perfect for those just testing the spicy waters. This book was told in 3rd person which I enjoyed!! I loved watching the dynamic and relationship of Gus and Sutton, these two were absolutely adorable, funny and easy to love. This book was so easy to get lost in and the story line keeps you turning page after page until you hit the end. I loved sitting down and getting cozy with this book, a fire and a cup of hot chocolate. This book is the perfect holiday pick-me-up and should be on everyone’s TBR. You will not be disappointed.

All the Christmas feels wrapped with a Hallmark bow of romance!

Such a new take on a Christmas grump story! Loved the drunken intro of Sutton hating on Santa. She’s drunk, broke and homeless wanting to beat up the inflatable Santa in Gus’ front yard but Gus already beat her to it.

Needing some money and a place to stay Sutton ends up becoming Gus’ nanny of his adorable twins. His wife passed away and he’s been juggling a lot in life. No longer having fun or enjoying Christmas his life turns upside down the moment Sutton enters his life.

Rosie is so smart and curious. Felix is more shy and lets his sister do all the bossing. I do feel Felix didn’t get as much acknowledgement as Rosie so you didn’t click with him as much. The author is very descriptive of what Rosie wears but doesn’t mention much when it comes to him. Just something I wish was more equally brought to the story. I get Rosie is smart but making Felix seem way lesser was hard. Maybe it was just me and I got it all wrong.

There is spice in this holiday romance.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this arc set to publish October 19th.

Attention fans of Hallmark holiday movies!!!

If you love Hallmark movies, this book is for you. A down-on-her-luck woman passing through town stumbles across a widowed father of twins. There’s a dog named Pig, a pig named Pepper, and hilarious supporting characters.

Sutton spent most of her life saving up to travel across much of Europe with her best friend. After the bestie backs out of the trip at the last minute and betrays her, Sutton decides to make the most of it and go solo anyway.

Once she runs out of money, she ends up in cute small-town-England, just before Christmas. Stumbling out into the cold after getting tequila drunk, Sutton sees a man punching an inflatable Santa. Looking to join in on the fun, Sutton proceeds to trip and fall in front of the mystery man. He turns out to be the local Mr. Christmas...who secretly might not like the holiday so much. Through a series of chaotic events, Sutton becomes a nanny to Mr. Christmas’ kids as she gets back on her feet. Love ensues!

I can’t help it that I want Christmas already. If you like slightly spicy, romance novels mixed with a Hallmark Christmas movie then this one’s for you. Sutton Alsop drunkenly stumbles onto Gus Langston’s front yard and destroys his Christmas decorations. He hires her as a nanny for his 4-year-old twins (Rosie and Felix) since his wife passed away 3 years ago. It’s a fun and easy read (219 pages)- I read it in one day. I was rooting for Sutton the whole time. I wish there was less internal dialogue at times since it took away from the scene and I wish the book had an epilogue as it ended a bit abruptly. If this was made into a movie I’d watch it. 4/5

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins for the ARC.

A fun, cozy, witty holiday read to kick off the season!

If you enjoy an eggnog season read (with some spice), this small town, feel good, grumpy vs. sunshine romance is for you!

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for a honest review. 3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Joss Wood for the opportunity to read Confessions of a Christmasholic. This is my honest and I paid review of the book.
Honestly going into this book I was excepting the usual cookie cutter, Hallmark movie kind of plot, characters etc that I’ve come to expect sometimes from books. However, I am very pleased to say this book did deliver the Hallmark Christmas movie vibes but with a whole lot of gingerbread spice! On top of all of that was a wonderful story about friendships, both good and bad, developing meaningful connections, making hard choices and figuring out what’s best for oneself despite being drawn in many directions and living your life in a way that makes you happy. This book is wonderfully written, it was funny with out some of the over the top, confusingly verbal banter I’ve suffered through recently in some other romance books. This book delivers a heartwarming experience without beating you over the head with a sturdy piece of mistletoe. I finished this in one afternoon (or 2 coffees, a cup of tea and half of a beer).

Sutton hates Christmas! . So much when a house looks like Santa vomited Christmas she drunkenly destroys every light, This house belongs to Gus Langston, single dad and Mr. Christmas himself.
Mr Christmas has a secret.
They were forced together for the holidays, and sparks between them are so hot they can melt the coldest of hearts!
I do recommend this book and love Ross Woods writing.

This was an extremely quick read that is silly, spicy and mostly fun. I read it in a couple of hours, so, if you are looking for something fast, that won’t take too much of your concentration, this Christmas romcom could be for you leading into the holidays.

Sutton and Gus meet each other when Sutton drunkenly stumbles into widower Gus’s outrageous Christmas yard display. From there she moves in to become a temporary nanny for his twins and she needs a lot of the townspeople in this quaint little English neighborhood. There are some cute and funny side characters, and relationships , but the relationship between Sutton and Gus felt way too fast and forced. We were told that there was instant attraction, but it was tough to feel it. I was also perplexed at how they were allegedly in love, because there were hardly any truly meaningful scenes that would have gotten them to that place in my opinion.

Another thing I really didn’t like was how Gus was sometimes mean to his kids. I have a sensitive spot for that.

The conclusion of the story was nice but very fast and we don’t get to learn what happens after Christmas. There was a lot of jolly Christmas merriment, which I did enjoy immensely but the repetition in the middle of the book and the unbelievable relationship between our main characters had me wishing for more.

Thank you for the advanced copy! I think a lot of people will like this book.

Just a fun and witty rom-com that you can read over the holidays! Once I started it, I couldn't seem to put it down. This Book had me hooked from just the first chapter. I would say that my only criticism would be that I felt that the ending was quite abrupt and I would have wanted to know what happened at the end a little bit more, but other than that I really enjoyed this read. The chemistry between the two main characters was unmatched! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys...
single dad
small town
feel-good
grumpy x sunshine
strangers to lovers

Move over The Holiday, because this may be my new holiday romcom of choice. Witty, steamy, heartfelt and at times, laugh out loud hysterical, I want to pack up and move to small town England as long as their is a Mr. Christmas waiting for me. I loved the secondary characters of Moira, Eli and Will almost as much I loved Gus and Sutton (and the twins of course). Wood created the perfect English Christmas Village and provided enough history and real time events, to make you feel like you were part of the story. This was the first book I've read by Joss Wood and I will definitely be coming back for more. Get comfy, grab a hot beverage and dive into the perfect holiday tale and dream of finding your own Mr. Christmas (or punching an inflatable Santa, your choice.) This is my honest review after receiving an ARC of this book.