Is it entirely clichéd and predictable? Yes of course. But that's half the fun with this kind of story. Enemies to lovers, picturesque chocolate box small town, evil ex, Christmas traditions ......check check check

A heartwarming Christmas romance which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.

This book has everything and more to make you feel happy and festive and leave you with a "Happy Ever After" feeling! From the beginning, I instantly fell in love with the main characters, Elisha and Ves. Although Ves was initially grumpy, their journey towards a beautiful ending was magical!

I found myself holding onto hope for a happy ending despite the challenges faced by the characters in the story. The relatable plot made the experience even more enjoyable. Ves and Elisha, with their troubled family histories, were both endearing and determined to avoid further heartbreak.

Their connection became palpable as they worked together to prepare the house for filming. Their relationship blossomed perfectly, with the spicy scenes adding just the right amount of excitement to the overall feel of the story.

The small town of Piney Peaks was absolutely charming. The community was supportive and always willing to lend a helping hand, coming together for social events. The vivid area descriptions made me feel like I was transported into the story, and I couldn't stop listening.

I would love to visit Piney Peaks and join in on the Christmas jumper cookie decorating. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a heartwarming story with a happy ending.

Overall, it was a great read!

A very cute festive read with plot and chemistry! Ves and Elisha definitely don’t get off to the best of starts though I’m going to go ahead and argue it’s a meet cute anyway - don’t fight me on this! I’m always here for some (sort of) fake dating, warm and welcoming families, and Christmas chaos and this book definitely delivers!

We have small town festive activities and a villainous ex, roaring fires and long lost loves. This really ticked a lot of boxes for me, and even ones I didn’t know needed ticking. It’s fun and warm (hello grandpa enlisting Ves as his helper) and we really see the connection between Ves and Elisha growing as they open up to each other and spend more time together. The ending was perhaps a little rushed but overall a great seasonal book that promises fuzzy feelings and a good dose of spice. With the dual perspective, we have two different narrators for the audiobook and they were both perfect for the parts and also offered great voices for the side characters - which is definitely not always the case in audiobooks!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Will this scratch your Hallmark Christmas story itch? Perhaps— it’s definitely got all the ingredients and all of tropes down. All of them. There were some cute moments and much potential, but overall, this one was not for me. Regardless, thank you @netgalley and Bonnier UK Audio for a copy of this book.

As a Chinese American reader, representation absolutely matters but not at the expense of authenticity. It felt like the author had a checklist of things to drop in “nonchalantly” but they just seemed so random and forced. Every “extra” or minor character was multi cultural, gay (sometimes both) or LGBTQ+ friendly. And it was pointed out in a way that distracted from what was going on in the story. (A waiter with a rainbow pin took their order, her emails are signed off as she/her, only the international meals were described with a lot of detracting detail while other meals were not; there was a moment where he reads off high school friend’s names and they are all clearly not white— which, really? In a small charming Christmas town away from the big city?) I love inclusion, but feel this was done strangely.

The spicy scenes are cringy and awkward, complete with weird similes. Most notably: her building excitement like the clanging in a pinball machine? And a few paragraphs later, her sense of wonder/joy towards him makes her think of a childhood memory of looking up at the lights under a Christmas tree. Really? While making out in a walk-in fridge?

The description sounded amazing and I wanted to try this author’s books so this was great opportunity to do just that. This was my first one and I’m sad that it didn’t worked for me. I’m sure it’s me problem, not the author. The writing style didn’’t worked for me so I (unfortunately) DNF it.

I can’t say this was the audio book for me. As a first timer to the audio book world, I think I needed more of a book that would have captivated me but I found I really struggled to immerse myself in this one. The plot was very cute and I think if id read it instead of listened I could have enjoyed it more.

This is so fun and cute, and I really enjoyed the narration. It’s got the right amount of tension without leaning into miscommunication or other tropes that annoy me :)

Also I love a Christmas village. This place sounds amazing with the comedy place names, frankly yummy sounding restaurants and chocolate shop! Mmmmmm.

Elisha is definitely someone I want to befriend! I’d have liked to have spent more time with both of their friends, I felt like I couldn’t tell you much about them which is sad. I did love her family though! I also wanted more resolution on the ex story line - not sure what was going on there!

But overall this is a brilliantly cute Christmassy read with just the right amount of spice. 3.75 stars

Thanks Netgalley for arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️ this was just a super cute, feel good christmasy book.

It was easy going and defo leaves you feeling all the feels.
It reminds me of a chilled Sunday scanning the tv for that ultimate romcom to watch.
I loved it thanks for putting me in the Christmas mood

A cute and cosy festive read. I absorbed this so quick - it was exactly what I needed in a Christmas read. I will definitely be recommending this to everyone to read.

Vas goes to the picturesque small town of Piney Peaks to sell the house he's inherited from his great aunt Maeve. He meets Elisha, a local girl who has the perfect plan to bring her beloved town back on the map. Elisha convinced the director of "Sleighbells Under Starlight" to film the sequel of the famous christmas movie in Piney Peaks, fifty years after the original film was shot in her hometown. But to make that happen, she now needs to convince Vas to allow the filming in "his" house. Vas, who's always felt like he didn’t belong anywhere, will slowly come to the realzation that the welcoming town of Piney Peaks, it's charming community and the beautiful Elisha are exactly what he needs in his life.

Charming story, with a nice "Christmas in a small town" atmosphere. The main characters are alright, with interesting back stories (thank you dear author for not over-doing it with the childhood traumas 🙏🏻 I realize that I'm the one who's traumatized by too many badly written romance characters 😅). All in all, it’s a nice and uplifting holiday romance book that I would recommend to anyone who's into this genre.

🎧 Audiobook narration : 2.5/5 way too much vocal fry in Elisha's voice and Vas made weird "mini-pauses" (for lack of a better word) whenever he spoke. I think it was intentional, to show that he often felt awkward around people. It just wasn't very nice to listen to.

⛄️ Is it Christmassy enough ? 5/5 on my personal and totally subjective scale.

Thank you NetGalley and Bonnier Uk Audio for giving me access to this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is exactly what I expected it to be, which is not a bad thing! I wanted a fun, light hearted Christmas romance and this delivered exactly that.

It was great getting to know Elisha and Ves, and seeing them interact was super fun.

Only wish there had been more film elements, I’m biased and used to work in film so that would’ve been great for me!

I will say I’m not a fan of spice, so I skipped those scenes. If that’s for you, that’s great! It’s just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook.

Everything you’d expect from a Hallmark Christmas movie (literally everything) inheritance of a Christmas lodge in ye olde worldy Christmas town with a history of an old movie set. A pesky ex, confectionery stores. A big plan underway for Christmas that’s about to be wrecked. You can smell the cinnamon and spice. Cute funny if a little overkill.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier U.K. audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

Cute merry grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, limited time together romance. I liked it - loved the holiday feel and the characters.
Ves is a great traditional grump with a past of massive rejection from family. Elisha is the cute girl next door, returned to her hometown to help them build a presence.
I loved their banter. And of course Ves' bestie and his husband - loved them so much.
Very enjoyable holiday read.

"Wrapped with a Beau" by Lillie Vale, narrated by Keylor Leigh and Sean Patrick Hopkins, is a delightful holiday romance that weaves together nostalgia, small-town charm, and the magic of the Christmas season. Set in the picturesque Piney Peaks, the story revolves around Elisha Rowe and Ves Hollins, two characters brought together by the chance to create a sequel to a beloved holiday movie, "Sleigh bells Under Starlight."

The novel successfully captures the essence of a charming Christmas tale, complete with a small town eager to relive the magic of a bygone era. Elisha, with her determination to put Piney Peaks back on the map, and Ves, a city boy with plans to sell his inherited house, make for a delightful pair of opposites. The dynamic between the two characters, each with their unique backgrounds and perspectives on the holidays, adds depth to the narrative.

Lillie Vale infuses the story with warmth and festive spirit, creating a cozy atmosphere that envelops the reader in the magic of the season. The description of Piney Peaks, its historic Christmas House, and the nostalgic backdrop of "Sleighbells Under Starlight" contribute to the novel's festive ambiance.

The audiobook, narrated by Keylor Leigh and Sean Patrick Hopkins, enhances the storytelling experience. Their performances bring the characters to life, capturing the nuances of emotion, humour, and romance. The dual narration adds a dynamic element, providing distinct voices for the main characters and enhancing the overall listening enjoyment.

"Wrapped with a Beau" is a heart-warming romance that celebrates the holiday spirit and the magic of love during the festive season. Lillie Vale's storytelling, combined with the engaging narration, makes this audiobook a perfect choice for those seeking a feel-good, Christmastime love story. Whether you're a fan of holiday romances or simply looking for a cosy and enchanting escape, this audiobook is sure to leave you with a smile and a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Spoiler: Sugar, SPICE, and everything nice.

This is all I could have asked for in a Christmas romance. Picturesque small town? Checked. Sunshine FMC that wants to help said small town? Checked. Grumpy MMC that wants nothing to do with her or the small town? Checked.
Some of the quotes were just too good not to swoon over: "You taste like Christmas came early." EXCUSE ME??? Plus, it is a slow-burn, which I just love.
I loved Ves' history with the village, and how comfortable he grew with the people there, but also with himself. His relationship with Elisha was well written, with great banter and even better tension. It was just so fun.
The side characters were a highlight, especially Elisha's grandfather and Maeve.
I listened to an audio version of this book, and both narrators were exactly right for me. They both portrayed the characters so well, with their complexities and extremely different personalities.
As light-hearted as the book was, it also dealt with some difficult topics, like feelings of inadequacy in a parent-child relationship, death and the many ways you can grief. They are all handled so carefully.
One of the best romances of the year. Seriously, this book made me want to buy a house and move to Piney Peaks. Literally feels like a winter wonderland.

I think this was a very cute Christmas romance, and I related to the characters a lot. There is a fair amount of smut, and personally I felt that their relationship began based on lust as there was a lot of general caring about people, but it was all very nice. I did feel like I wanted a bit more from the ending but nothing major.

I came across this book as it was under 'lgbt' on netgalley, but there is just a couple of lgbt side characters who feature minimally in the book. Alisha makes a comment about 'gay thoughts' that didn't make much sense nor was she portrayed as lgbt, so I felt short-changed here. This is nothing against the book, but I was expecting/hoping for a main character to be bi/pan at least. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

Had my attention from start to finish… I couldn't put it down and finished it in a day. Can't wait for more from this amazing author What an absolute cracker of a book!!!…

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wrapped with a Beau by Lillie Vale, an audiobook narrated by Keylor Leigh and Sean Patrick Hopkins is a sweet, cute, light, romantic, and gorgeous festive story! What I really enjoyed was a lot of small but valuable quotes!
The main characters were so lovable that there was an instant connection between them and the reader/listener. And Keylor's voice was just perfect for a festive book! Seriously good choice for this book!
I loved that there were male and female narrators as was easy to listen and no confusion about what was going on. All together, absolutely brilliant Christmas story!

The heart of this story is Elisha whose mission is to put Piney Peaks back on the map with a sequel to Sleighbells Under Starlight. To do that she is ready for everything and city boy Ves or her ex-fiance will not stop her!
It was so nice to witness a connection between Elisha and Ves. They were so different but so the same! And as we know small town works magic, especially around Christmas time!

I loved every minute of this book!

Thank you, Bonnier UK Audio, Zaffre, and NetGalley for this festive copy!

This was such a cute hallmark-esque seasonal read with a cheeky bit of spice.

I really liked the premise of this one and the romance tropes were ones that were right up my street. There was great an opposites attract, chemistry filled banter between these characters that made for an easy binge of a listen. The narration was good - I always like it when you have a different narrators for the MMC and FMC - this helps bring it all to life for me so that was a real plus.

The storyline was everything I’d look for in a Christmas romance - small town, loves Christmas, a need to band together - all the festive feels.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my audio of this story.