I love a Christmas book!
This was a really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed & will recommend to others.
Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it

4.5⭐️
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC copy.

I loved this book so much, it was a cute festive romcom with extremely lovable characters. I adored the friendship between Raff And Franca, Raffs family were also just extremely loveable characters and their love for christmas was just contagious. I will 100% be recommending this book to everyone.

*Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️ 4/5
❤️ Enemies/rivals to lovers
🎁 Christmas shop owners
❤️ Former ballet dancer fmc

This was a very cosy and cute read for the holidays. Filled with lovable characters and a festive and warm setting. Franca and Raff were very likeable main characters and I appreciated the heartwarming character growth. I especially loved how uplifting and supportive Raff was, and he’s definitely the book boyfriend we all deserve during the holiday season!

It was a little repetitive in places, but overall a very enjoyable read. If you’re a fan of sweet Christmas stories with a Hallmark feel then this is the book for you.

This was such a cute, holiday addition to the Ever After series. While predictable, the story was fun, sweet, and truly enjoyable. I loved the characters, flaws and all, and the changes they made. A great holiday read for all who need a sprinkle of magic in their lives.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a lovely story! I enjoyed this book so much! It was an immense pleasure to read this uplifting, emotional story. I honesty did not want this book to end.

The characters are wonderful. I especially loved the two main characters. It is so easy to judge others without knowing them, from impressions that you believe to be true. This fictional story shows how people should act. Showing kindness and be forgiving makes the world and your life a much better place.

Thank you for much to the author, Jaimie Admans for creating this special place and this magical story. I will definitely be recommending to my reader friends.

I also want to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

This is a fun, entertaining, enchanting read. Raff and Franca are interesting, wounded, intriguing, strong, relatable, entertaining characters. It took me a bit to like Franca, but she grew on me as the story moved along. I enjoyed their romance and the path it took to get to their HEA. I love this world of Ever After Street and the sense of small town. I love the growth in self-awareness of these characters. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. The story is easy to read and get into.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 ⭐️ This is *THE* Christmas book! In this story we follow Raff and Franca who are rival shop owners and when I say rivals, I mean REALLY rivals. Their journey is beautiful and super fun to read! It was a book that didn't bore me at any point besides being super fast paced.

Christmas Ever After is a Christmas book that will surely put a smile on your face and your heart in Christmas mode.
Franca was a ballerina and now she is the owner of a shop that specializes in nutcrackers. She had to look for help after an accident that left her with broken fingers. Much to her dislike she must turn to Raff – the owner of a snow globe store. Needless to say, enemies is the word for their relationship.
The story is full of Christmas and the chemistry between the two is one you will enjoy watching change.
Thank you NetGalley and Jaimie Admans for the ARC of the book Christmas Ever After. This is my personal review.

A magical Christmas story about a blossoming romance between Franc, who makes nutcracker figures and Raff, who makes snow globes in Ever After Street. They start out as bitter enemies but gradually, as in all Christmas romances, find true love. A wonderful, feel good story to be read at any time of year. Can’t wait for the next instalment.

I would have liked to have given this book 4 stars based on the creative storyline. Unfortunately, I barely made it through the first half due to the snail’s pace and the amount of repetition in the characters’ back stories. It wasn’t until the ¾ mark, when the pace and the romance picked up that I truly engaged with the Christmas spirit and enjoyed the reading.

Franca Andrews reinvented herself after a disastrous betrayal that ended her ballet career. She established herself as an artist following in her grandfather’s footsteps producing high quality, decorative nutcrackers. Her shop, located in a charming shopping district named Christmas Ever After, is struggling and another accident that sidelines her may be the tipping point for its closure.

Much of the tension in this enemies-to-lovers novel is derived from a competition between Franca and a fellow shop owner. Raff Dardenne is a skilled craftsman, producing exquisite snow globes with a reputation for uniting soul mates. This legendary magic was established by his grandfather and now Raff finds it both a blessing and a curse for his business. Based on her childhood perceptions of parents’ tumultuous relationship linked to one of these snow globes, Franca is determined to prove Raff is a fraud and to drive him out of business.

I found the focus on nutcrackers and snow globes a refreshing twist on the themes of most traditional Christmas novels. The transformation in the relationship between Franca and Raff kept me engaged despite the slow pace. The most reflective of the Christmas spirit was the description of Raff’s family and how they embraced Franca when she was most vulnerable.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

What a super cute read! All of feels of Christmas during this warm summer weather. This book oozed Christmas.

I read this as a standalone so I was not familiar with the Ever After Street Series. Imagine having a street dedicated to Christmas all year round! The various shop names made me smile - Coming Gnome for Christmas and All You Need is Gloves, being just a couple of examples.

Christmas Ever After revolved around Franca and Raff - two business owners who always seem to be at loggerheads with one another until Franca has a fall and breaks three of her fingers. With her injury, she's unable to make any of her bespoke nutcrackers, so Raff comes to her rescue and helps her craft the nutcrackers and also shows her that he isn't a bad person after all.I really liked Raff's character and I loved how he showed Franca so much love and positivity.

Christmas Ever After was captivating - brilliantly capturing the magic of Christmas and I will definitely be reading the previous books in this series.

Thank you to netgalley, publisher and the author for the offer to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been awhile since I’ve managed to get myself enthralled in a good story. Great tale about Christmas of Franca and Raff to crafty shopowners.. what starts as a rivalry quickly becomes a friendship. Good character development the two main characters and supporting cast.

Easy but really enjoyable. Read well worth it.

My first Jamie Aldman book and I already know its not going to be the last one. This is an amazing enemies to lovers book with heartwarming themes clearly represented throughout.

I immediately saw this in my head as a great Hallmark movie ( Hallmark- reach out to Jamie!) I loved the main characters and their banters. I could see the Christmas stores so clearly in my head. I also enjoyed how crafting was incorporated in such a way it felt like I needed to craft. Both characters, Raff and Franca were so well written. I especially loved Franca’s humor, but how good hearted she was.

This book has me now anxiously waiting for the Holiday season.

⭐️4 stars ⭐️

This book was such a cute Christmas rom com! It was such an easy, sweet and clean (no spice), read that is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit.

A short summary of the book:
After an accident that ends her career as a ballerina, Franca opens a nutcracker shop on Christmas Ever After, a street where its Christmas all year round. Raff runs the snow globe shop his grandfather founded after he passes away. Because of something in her past, Franca has declared Raff her enemy. Her hatred for him has lead him to loath her as well. They have an everlasting fued for years until Raff causes her to fall which makes them grow closer and realize that maybe Christmas can bring people together.

4.5 rounded up. That you NetGalley for the arc of this new addition to the ever after series. I've read almost all of the ever after series and have really enjoyed them and this one is no exception. I love all the references to Disney movies as well as the other characters from the series. Jaimie Admans really knows how to make a Christmas book feel packed with Christmas spirit. If you're into hallmark Christmas movies this is definitely the author for you

Bloody loved this book! It’s been 23 degrees today and I have been sitting outside totally hooked on a Christmas book! Was totally invested and feel all glowy and mushy! Just an amazing soft, funny, soppy, romantic feel good book! Highly recommend

I love Jaimie Admans’ books, I love a Christmas book, and I love an ‘enemies to lovers’ book – How excited was I to get this book which has all 3!! This is one of a series of books about ‘Ever After Street’ but can be happily read as a stand-alone book.

Franca is an ex-ballet dancer who runs a nutcracker stall on Ever After Street where it’s Christmas all year long. It would be perfect if it wasn’t for Raf, who runs the snow globe shop nearby. Raf has taken over the shop from his grandfather, and Franca blames him for her parent’s divorce and her horrible childhood. Things get to such a bad place between the two owners that the owners say that the two shops have to prove themselves and one will be leaving. That suits Franca until Raf inadvertently causes an accident which breaks some of her fingers – effectively stopping her working.

I love the characters of Franca and Raf. Both have different things from their childhood which affect their personalities. Franca has divorced parents who hate each other and ruined her childhood. Raf has to go into his grandfather’s business but really doesn’t want to – however Raf’s family are wonderful and very supportive. Jaimie Admans has done it again – not only do I want to read more Ever After books – I want to live there!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6695796631
https://maddybooksblog.blogspot.com/2024/07/christman-ever-after-by-jaimie-admans-i.html

What an adorable Christmas addition in the Ever After Street Series!

I love a good enemies to lovers story that’s for all the wrong reasons, and Franca and Raff’s road to romance was funny and entertaining throughout the novel. They are rival shop owners of year-round Christmas stores competing against each other, located on Ever After Street.

This is a cute Christmas story to add to your TBR list this upcoming holiday season!

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

4 ⭐️

ARC Review:

This is a truly heartwarming enemies to lovers book.

The main characters are rival shop owners of year round Christmas stores. Throughout the book they revive the joy of Christmas in each other and bring back the love they each had for their craft and life in general.

I really enjoyed this read; Raff is such a wonderful character! I loved both his & Franca’s humour, but mostly how good natured he is and the fact he is proudly in touch with his emotions. Also we need to talk about how amazing his family is!

My first book by Jaimie Adman’s, but I would definitely read more.

0/5 🌶️ rating

Favourite quotes:
He might be a con-artist, but at least he’s a con-artist who reads.

‘I’d rather eat peanut butter straight from the jar than worry about gaining an extra few pounds. Life’s too short to count calories.’

‘Sorry, I’m a hugger.’ He steps back sharply and holds both hands up in a surrendering gesture. ‘If I see someone in need of a hug, I can’t help myself. Even if they’d probably impale me with a giant nutcracker if they had full use of both hands.’

Crying doesn’t make anyone weak. You don’t always have to be tough and standoffish. It’s okay to need help sometimes

‘I can be nice sometimes, when I’m not busy being an arch-nemesis.’

He throws his arms out and turns in a circle. ‘It’s the craft room of dreams!’

‘Be careful, you’re getting dangerously close to suggesting we have something in common, and it might be against the rules of the universe to have anything in common with your arch-nemesis.’

I’ – he lets out a fed-up sounding sigh, and when he catches the wood this time, he doesn’t toss it again – ‘have nothing left to give.’

It’s my personal mission to support any shop with such a good pun in its name.’

‘Christmas is the time of year to remember what we’ve forgotten and feel like a kid again. You’re never closer to your younger self than you are at Christmas. The years melt away and it’s okay to be young and silly and believe in magic again.’

Maybe I’ve accidentally swallowed a mouthful of sawdust because there’s no way I’m thinking again about Raphael Dardenne being attractive. Sawdust, that must be it.

‘I can’t go for dinner with your family! I can’t hold utensils, Raff! I can’t use a knife and fork! I can’t eat in public! Dardenne public, at that!’ ‘Oh, don’t worry, we keep our horns and cloven hooves hidden at meal times.’

‘Oh, good, it’s “let’s talk about Raff’s love life” time again,’ Raff says good-naturedly. ‘And we’ve only had this conversation three times so far this week, but God forbid we let Franca leave without the full Dardenne experience.’

The existence of a pulse makes you the perfect candidate for my family to embarrass me in front of.’

‘Sorry, I did warn you – I’m a hugger and a crier.’ ‘If only more men were. C’mere.’

‘The world needs more men who aren’t afraid to show their emotions. I know you’re the strong one for your family, but you don’t need to put on a front with me. Life isn’t easy and it gets really tiring trying to pretend that it is.’

‘And I couldn’t possibly think less of you than I did before, so the only way is up.’ His adorable giggle turns into a full-blown guffaw, and somehow, his fingers are still intertwined with mine. ‘A surprisingly comforting thought.’

‘I don’t want you to go, Raff.’ ‘For years, you’ve wanted to see the back of me.’ ‘And now, I quite like seeing the front of you.’

‘I’m not sure if you’re a genius or seriously sleep-deprived…’

‘I think the fumes from your ceramic kiln have scrambled your brain… in the best way possible,’

‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that Maltesers always taste better from a box than from a bag.’

‘Have you read The Hunger Games?’ Raff whispers into my ear, and I nod. ‘It’s like the beginning of that where they can all run to the centre point and grab any weapons they can get, except no one gets horribly murdered in this version.’ He glances behind us. ‘Unless anyone takes that chocolate reindeer. Then all bets are off because that’s ours.

‘Haven’t you eaten enough?’ Erin looks at the quickly diminishing pile of gingerbread on Trisha and Sofia’s cake board. ‘There’s no such thing as enough, Mummy! It’s Christmas!’ Something else we can all agree on.

‘I don’t think any family is perfect, but they’re yours, aren’t they? Every family is individual and there’s no right or wrong, they just are.’

‘Yay!’ He presses a kiss to my cheek from behind and then groans. ‘Can you pretend that you didn’t just hear a fully grown adult man utter the word “yay”?’ I laugh and tilt my head back until my lips find his jaw and brush against it. ‘Trust me, I will never forget, but you have my assurance that I will never tell anyone about this oversight in your manhood.’

‘I’ve never had an arch-nemesis, but I don’t think that’s quite the way you’re supposed to look at someone you hate.’

‘It’s time to move on. Away from nutcrackers, Christmas, and any kind of magic.’ ‘You never believed in magic anyway.’ My lip wobbles and my voice breaks. ‘I did when I was with him. I believed in everything. Enchanted snow globes. The magic of Christmas. Santa.’

Find someone who makes you feel like a Christmas tree when the lights have just been plugged in, and when you do, hold onto him tight, and when things get difficult, you bloody well fight for him too.’

I think this is my favourite Jaimie of Admans so far. So magical. You have old and new characters. Fran and Raff falling in love is a beautiful story with twists, family secrets and the magic of Christmas Ever After. I love the snow globes and nutcracker. You just escaped into this book. I did not want to finish it. Brilliant