Die Geschichte hat alles, was es an lustigen Kitsch zu bieten hat - aber sie ist auch herzerwärmend, frisch und sehr witzig.
Gute Unterhaltung mit tollen Sprechern!

This book was quite a surprise, but not in the best way. While I expected a classic grumpy-sunshine romance, what I got was a story with a male lead who wasn’t particularly grumpy—just introverted and dealing with some trauma—and a heroine who came across as more annoying than endearing.

One of the common complaints with Christmas-themed books is that they don’t quite capture enough of the holiday spirit. In this case, however, it was the opposite—there was an overwhelming amount of Christmas, to the point where it felt like every Hallmark trope was crammed into one story. If the author had stuck to the original premise outlined in the description, it could have been a solid read. Instead, the narrative became scattered and lost its way. There was potential, but it ultimately fell flat. And let's not forget the incredibly cringey sex scenes that were hard to get through and best left forgotten.

First off, the chemistry between Elisha and Ves is off the charts! They've got this banter that'll have you grinning like a fool while you're reading. Elisha's the kind of character you just wanna be best friends with—funny, relatable, and with a heart of gold. And Ves? Swoon alert! He's charming and mysterious, the perfect romantic interest.

The setting is also amazing. Picture this: Piney Peaks in a cozy little rural town. It's like stepping into a Hallmark movie, but with way more depth and sass. I loved how the author weaved in all these quirky side characters that made the story feel alive.

What really got me hooked was the way the author tackled themes of friendship and finding yourself. It's not just about the romance (though that's pretty adorable), but also about personal growth and figuring out what truly matters.

If you're looking for a feel-good, swoon-worthy read with characters you'll want to hug, "Wrapped Up with a Beau" is your book. Trust me, you won't be able to put it down!

A warm and cosy holiday romance with grumpy sunshine vibes! I loved the setting and characters but I was not a huge fan of the narration which maybe has affected my view of the book so I will be re-reading physically!
Wrapped with a Beau was so wholesome and cute that I flew through it in one sitting. I loved the banter and witty exchanges between Elisha and Ves — she was such an unexpectedly random character that was just perfect to melt through Ves' icy exterior. I loved how the author managed to toe the line perfectly between insa-attraction and slow-burn romance. It was my first novel from this author but I am definitely intrigued!

Wrapped with a Beau by Lillie Vale

This was the perfect mixture of cute Christmas setting, good background characters and even better main characters thanks to Elisha and Ves. I really enjoyed all of the food descriptions and in particular the chocolate shop. The story was very well paced and the audio was really well done, I found myself flying through this one. Lillie Vale is a new author to me and one that I will definitely be looking out for in the future. Thanks so much to Netgalley, Bonnier UK Audio and Zaffre for this audio advanced copy in return for my honest thoughts and opinions.

This was a feel good small town romance. How can you not root for a happy ever after in a book like this. And it was such an enjoyable read.

This was a cute Christmas read and just what I needed after being let down by some others in the genre. I loved the dynamic between the two leads, especially the banter. The audiobook was great for this.

I loved the narrators of the audiobook, but sadly the content was only so-so. This is billed as a grumpy/sunshine small-town Christmas romance and it does tick nearly all those boxes. But the sunshine-y heroine was far too annoying, and the grumpy hero was more introverted than grump.

That said, it did fill some time in the countdown to Christmas. I liked the idea of the town being famous because of an old movie and the heroine trying to get the sequel filmed at the same location. I just wish we'd gotten more of a tie-in with the movie, because it all felt a bit haphazardly thrown together.

Wrapped with a Beau was one of my favourite reads of 2023! I absolutely loved the story of Elisha and Ves. It's your typical grumpy big city guy and your sunshine small town girl romance but it wasn't overly cheesy and you really get invested in the main characters. I was fortunate enough to get a copy of the audiobook and I really enjoyed the narration by Keylor Leigh and Sean Patrick Hopkins. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Audio for an advanced copy

This book was a classic Christmas romance, closed off New York writer gets thrust into a diehard Christmas town in December and meets a girl you cannot get more hallmark than that. I enjoyed the character of Elisha, she is a woman who knows her mind and puts herself first. Ves was also an interesting character at the start he seemed grumpy and closed off but as we got to know his we found his sensitive and reserved but also able to be emotional. The chemistry between the characters was fun and I enjoyed that they were flirting from the get go and didn’t ever deny their feelings. I felt there were some pacing issues and the film plot felt very slow at the start and kind of rushed at the end. Overall this was such a fun book with a healthy sprinkle of spice and I enjoyed listening to it.

This was such a delight. The perfect Christmas read. Elisha and Ves were the definition of a Grumpy and Sunshine romance and the background setting of Piney Peaks made this a great romance read.

I must admit that whilst I enjoyed it for all the festive elements, it wasn’t the most memorable and felt a lot like other books I’ve already read.

I don’t like to leave bad reviews, but if Iam being honest I didn’t really enjoy this book. It has taken me weeks to get through because I just haven’t cared enough about the story or the characters to carry on reading it. It’s hard to say what exactly I didn’t like, as the storyline and setting was nice enough. I think it didn’t really flow well, and the main characters despite having lots of spice in the bed room scenes writing didn’t have any actual chemistry for me.
I had the audio version and I didn’t like the tone of the narrators voices either. I don’t think their style / tone worked well with the writing. Certain parts felt way too descriptive in the way they had been written in a style that didn’t flow well with the story telling. Anyways hopefully other people enjoy it more then I did.

Cute little festive romance. Listened on audio and wasn’t expecting the spice! Felt like it could be a Hallmark movie - which isn’t a bad thing at all. Cute and loved the narrators for this audio too.

This book is great if you're just looking for a fluffy rom-com to get you into the holiday spirit. I had some issues with the pacing, wasn't quite sure why certain characters were so prominently featured, and thought some of the intimate scenes were... awkward and rushed. I really enjoyed the narrator for Ves, and thought the narrator for Elisha was fantastic - except for when she was actually speaking as Elisha. Her inner dialogue was great, but her actual speaking voice seemed too shrill at times, it made her come across as whiney, where when it was the male narrator, Elisha sounded more playful. It wasn't a huge issue, though, and I still really loved Elisha nonetheless. There were definitely some plot points and characters that just didn't resonate with me or left me a little confused, but all in all it was still a fun, witty, romantic holiday read.

Was an ok read, my only real issue was the audiobook narrator - sounded very mechanical and too fake, I couldn't immerse myself into the book properly unfortunately

I started this book just a couple of days before Christmas and I hoped I would finish it by Christmas but I haven't had the time. Anyway, not to worry as I felt like the last bit of the book wasn't so Christmassy anyway.

An easy, romantic book with a little bit of spice. I feel like the last 2 Christmas books I read had a bit of spice, but I guess it's what's needed for the book to sell.

I'm normally a sucker for romance books and same in this one I was rooting and couldn't way for the two main characters to get together and stay together.

Lastly, I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and to the publisher for offering me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a fan of cute (or/and smutty) Christmas romances and so I thought that this would be right up my street. I really enjoyed the beginning of the story and the setting. The author and audiobook narrator both do a great job at bringing the setting to life. But my biggest problem with it was the male main character. He is not as bad as other men I read about in romance novels, but he nevertheless is possessive and somewhat of an alpha male and I'm just done with those types of characters. The relationship drama that the author created also felt very artificial and wasn't necessary. So all in all, it was an okay read.

I LOVED Wrapped with a Beau. It was exactly the Christmas romance novel that I was looking for. Begrudging children's author goes to picturesque Christmas town to look after the estate of his beloved relative and meets the efficient and nerdy local girl who is obsessed with helping market her town for the remake of a Christmas film. It is cheesy, predictable, and funny. I particularly liked that there isn't a really cringy or bizarrely dramatic crisis even thought there is appropriately mild peril. It throws a lot of different ideas and tropes in but I really enjoyed it all and have listened to it all over again.

Wrapped With A Beau by Lillie Vale
Narrated by Keylor Leigh; Sean Patrick Hopkins

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Zaffre and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

In its heyday, Piney Peaks and its beloved Christmas House were made famous by Sleighbells, a romantic holiday movie. 50 years later, the small town is ready for a new love story.

As a successful film liaison, Elisha Rowe has her heart set on one thing and one thing only: putting her hometown back on the map. So, when she gets the chance to secure a sequel to Sleighbells, she's willing to do whatever it takes to make sure everything goes smoothly. Unfortunately, that includes claiming to have already secured permission to film at the historic Christmas house—permission she was very much denied by the gorgeous new owner.

Ves Hollins is only back in Piney Peaks long enough to sell the house he inherited from his great-aunt. The holidays have always been tough for Ves, and it's not any easier when he's distracted by memories of a Christmas long, long ago, and the undeniable charm of neighbor Elisha. Ready to return home to New York as quickly as possible, he has no plans to put down roots or fall in love...even if Elisha unravels his hesitations like a bad Christmas sweater. 

There's no question the two are opposites in every way. Ves is unquestionably frosty. Elisha is brimming with warmth. He doesn't do commitment. She never runs from a challenge. But as the two grow closer, they quickly realize that the growing spark between them may be just what the season calls for.

My Opinion

This is my first book by Lillie Vale and so I am not sure if I didn't connect with the author or the story. I felt like this book had a lot of unfulfilled potential. It was okay, and it got off to a strong start but quickly I found myself being easily distracted. This is one of those books that I feel you will have to read for yourself to find out if you will enjoy it as I have seen mixed reviews.

Rating 3/5

A very sweet and funny story and your good old small town Christmas romance. I liked that for one it was the guy who had to uproot his life instead of the woman. I read so many of these and this one didn't particularly stand out. 3 stars