A lovely Christmas read which I truly enjoyed
The characters were so well written the setting was perfect it felt so magical
I read this in one sitting snuggled up
Perfect for Christmas a must read

This was a really sweet romance, with the added bonus of featuring a whole bunch of rescue animals!

The book opens with Sammi and Keegan’s disastrous first date, before fast-forwarding several months to them as friends but still dancing around each other. With a bit of push from a match-making grandmother they are forced to spend more time together, and the rest is history!

The plot was fairly straightforward, so much so that Keegan’s casual dating life happens entirely off-page. I didn’t really mind though, as it meant we just got to enjoy a cosy, no-angst story about two people realising they’re in love. Sammi and Keegan were so well-matched, and I thought the author did a really convincing job of dragging out their get-together for just the right amount of time.

Most of the book didn’t feel particularly Christmas-y, but the final few chapters definitely cemented it as a seasonal read. I really enjoyed the epilogue too, which gave the story a lovely happily-ever-after without rushing any of the main plot.

This was a very sweet read, perfect for dog-loving sapphic romance readers!

I received a free copy for an honest review.

One year ago, Sammi and Keegan had a date. It went so well that the two of them ended up kissing … and then kissing some more, until it was all too much and Keegan bolted, leaving Sammi wondering what she’d done wrong. Now, the two of them are somewhere between friends and acquaintances. They text, and occasionally they meet in person, and every time they do, the two of them try their hardest to ignore the past.

This time, when Sammi and Keegan are meeting for lunch, Keegan announces that she’s seeing someone. Sammi, however, is not. But it was nice to reconnect! However, Fate, in the form of Sammi’s grandmother, Mia, decides to take charge of the situation and the two women end up winning King and Queen — er, Queen and Queen — of the local Christmas parade. Between posing with puppies, baking treats, and a wintertime flu, Sammi realizes she never got over Keegan. Now, the women need to figure out if there is any chance for a relationship between them, or if the opportunity has passed them by.

Honestly, I have some issues with how this book is put together, things that really didn’t work for me as far as plot and character. The book opens with Keegan leaving the date with Sammi, but we never learn how long they knew one another before the date. Was this their first date, their sixth? Did they grow up together, since they both live in the same town, or did they just meet on the date? There’s no background, no way for me to understand where the two characters start from because the book seems only focused on getting to the end where they’re in love, living together, and drinking eggnog.

Sammi fell in love with Keegan during their date. When Keegan bailed, she was left heartbroken, with a crippling insecurity, confusion, and a bit of shame. Was her kissing that bad? Was she a bad date? What happened? In the days that followed, she didn’t text, didn’t explain, just went silent. If it weren’t for Sammi texting her, Keegan would have ghosted her. However, Sammi is still hung up on Keegan, so much so that, even knowing Keegan has a girlfriend, Sammi can’t help but flirt, trying to get closer. Sammi’s behavior made me uncomfortable, with her constant need and want to have Keegan in her life, even when the other woman didn’t seem interested.

Keegan and her new girlfriend aren’t close. When Jules calls them girlfriends, Keegan is quick to deny it. They’re not girlfriends, they’re … just seeing one another. Still, she and Jules are clearly in some form of relationship, which makes Keegan’s actions towards Sammi — flirting one minute, backing away the next — really not a good look. And then, after spending a platonic evening together sleeping on the couch with Sammi (who came over to take care of Keegan when she was sick), Keegan breaks up with Jules.

Keegan’s relationship with Jules felt pointless. Why did she have to have a girlfriend if Jules had no impact on the plot? Just so Keegan and Sammi couldn’t fall into bed when they reconnect at lunch? To instill some tension between the two? If so, it didn’t work for me, as it was so heavy handed and clearly a manufactured moment that I wondered why it was there. There was never any tension, any chemistry between Keegan and Sammi, any sense of the push and pull of two people coming together. Instead, they acted like an old married couple from the beginning, with a slightly tepid scene where Keegan apologized for bailing on the date.

This Christmas takes place in the same universe as the author’s Puppy Love series, but can easily be read as a stand alone. While a character or two from previous books make cameos, this story focuses on Keegan, Sammi, and Mia. Mia, the meddling grandmother, is still very much mourning her husband and son. Interestingly, her thoughts — other than fancying herself as a matchmaker — have very little to do with her granddaughter, who lives across the street from her, or her daughter-in-law, who she lives with. All of her focus is on being alone, aging, and feeling bad for the dogs at the shelter she volunteers for.

I’m sorry, but I didn’t enjoy this book. The writing is fine, the pace was quick, and it was easy to read, but I felt like there wasn’t much there to read. However, if you like this author and their other books, then this might hit the spot for you.

Sweet and cute holiday romance. Full of cute dogs. Some nice scenes and full of dog descriptions. It fits the christmas holidays representation.
The novel didn't catch my attention fully, but it was what I expected from a Christmas book. The plot was plain and basic. The moments with dogs were so cute and heartwarming. The book was predictable in a good way, thought I didn't feel the connection needed between the two MC's. But Christmas miracle, dogs and grandma will make you smile.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for gifting me with a free copy. Opinions are my own and are freely given.

What a delightful feel good book, great family dynamics between three generations of women, a slow paced romance and many very cute dogs. Full of snowy scenes, lovely people and festive joyfulness, from a reliable writer of cracking stories.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really am trying to think about what it was about this book that just didn't make me love it. It did have the usual Christmas cheer and the romance, I was just bored. It didn't have anything special of that it blew me away. Halfway I considered DNFing but I pushed through. It was okay at best.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was another good book by Beers and a wonderful holiday read.

Keegan Duffy made a mistake a year ago and friend zoned someone she can't get over, but she pretends to decently well until she becomes one half of royal couple to help Junebug Farms raise money for all the animals and ends up spending a lot more time with the one she let get away.

Sammi Sorenson still doesn't understand why Keegan freaked out and ran away or why she was put in the friend zone so quickly, but she still wants to spend time her despite her feelings. When she becomes queen for the Christmas donation campaign trail. she never expected Keegan to be doing it with her.

This was very slow burn, low angst book and I absolutely loved all the side characters especially Mia. Who wouldn't love a meddlesome 80 year old grandmother who loves you and wants you to be happy. Not to mention supportive. Hilarious book with great writing and wonderful setting. Only gripe would be I wish we got to see Keegan and Sammi together as a couple more.

I would recommend this book to get you into the Christmas spirit. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For those already familiar with this author, this book will be a delight as it reunites multiple protagonists from her previous works. Junebug Farms is the animal shelter that serves as a meeting place and a hub of relationships, having been the setting for various highly recommended stories. If you haven't read them, you're missing out.

This time the protagonists are two women who have known each other for years and had a near-intimate relationship that ended abruptly and strangely, without them knowing how to move forward in either direction, much to their despair.

One of the girls' grandmother, very active for her age, subtly rigs a contest to choose the king and queen of the contest organized by Junebug Farms in an attempt to raise funds, which are always needed for their activities, especially since they've lost some state funding.

So, two queens are chosen: Sam and Keegan. They will have to maintain contact during the various activities organized to promote the shelter. Almost like a series of dates. In the pre-Christmas period. Cute.

So, with almost no drama, festive fun, cute animals, great people, and lots of love, this story is the perfect Christmas read.

My rating is 3.5 stars.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the setting of the small town, especially with the focus on the no kill animal shelter! It's a very unique idea and it added such a wholesome aspect to the book.

I felt that the characters weren't as developed as I would have liked, and I felt they were somewhat one dimensional. I would have loved to see more of the characters personal lives on top of the main romance plot.

The writing style was very straight forward, and I felt that it didn't leave much to the readers imagination. At some points things were overly described, and I would have loved to see more developed characters rather than descriptions for everything.

Overall, this was a very quick and wholesome book, and I would recommend it to readers who want a holiday romance that is a nice palate cleanser, with low stakes and lots of dogs!

I would describe this novel as very nice, but underwhelming. This was a pleasant and cute holiday story full of dogs, romance, meddling family, and delightful winter wonderland scenes. If you like dogs (I do!), this novel has a lot to offer with plenty of descriptions of our furry friends. Our protagonists go through a number of pleasant scenes and nice moments. This was an easy read with essentially zero stress and very low stakes, which is sometimes exactly what you want around the holidays. The supporting characters were exactly that; very supporting and loving and overall delightful to read. There were some truly heartwarming scenes involving the doggos, which I loved.

The novel was, unfortunately, a little boring. I never found myself drawn in and there wasn’t really anything to grab my attention. It felt like we were going through the paces. There wasn’t much plot, which is honestly fine in a romance novel depending on what else you get, but there also wasn’t a lot of romance either. The premise was an instant hit with some meddling family and forced proximity, however they didn’t DO very much with those building blocks. I simply didn’t feel the usual fun tension or longing or whatever else you would expect from that kind of premise.

Possible minor spoiler (although this is mostly from the prologue): My biggest issue was the relationship, or rather the barriers that they were facing. It was very underwhelming. The issue was essentially that one character got spooked and then they never discussed the possibility of a relationship again. I expected some underlying issue or history that the character needed to overcome, but nothing ever came of this point. They both liked each other, but neither would do anything about it, and without any compelling reason. It was such a minor conflict, and so easily overcome, that the entire novel was underwhelming to the point of being a bit frustrating.

I was also confused about the protagonist’s relationship. It seemed like they had been friends for a long time, then it was said they had only “ran into each other a bunch of times before trying a date”, and then it seemed like they were great but infrequent friends….. I just never really figured it out and had trouble connecting with it.

All said though, this was an easy read with some heartwarming bits in it. I am sure that some readers would connect with the story more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.

DNF at 35%

After the fourth time the grandma said that a holiday queen and queen was a good idea because it was “progressive” I had to tap out.

This book was just so heavy handed. There were quite a few times when I caught myself getting a little frustrated and thinking to myself “ok, we get it.”

First with the “progressive” queen and queen. And don’t misunderstand me thinking I wasn’t for there being two queens. I read the blurb. I knew this was a sapphic romance and was excited for it but continuously pointing out how progress this is, is actually the opposite.

The second time was the continuous judgement of people who surrender animals. Do I agree that people need to make smart and informed decisions when getting pets? Absolutely! Do I dislike people who don’t make smart and informed decisions leading them to surrender their pets? Absolutely! But it became so preachy and completely pulled me out of the story.

Add to all of this, my confusion at Keegan’s visceral reaction to Sammi in the beginning of the book. Then my unease when she tried to get over Sami by wasting some poor other woman’s time and I just wasn’t having a good time. I didn’t feel any connection to these characters and I wasn’t rooting for them to get together so I decided to DNF

I enjoyed this story, I would have given it 31/2 stars but I guess you can't do 1/2 stars here. If you are looking for a quick read without much angst but just a sweet story I would recommend this one. The main characters, Keegan and Sam, are well written but the connection between them just wasn't there for me. I don't know if it was due to how their story started off right out of the gate in such an abrupt way or how I kind of thought she was taking a bit of advantage of Sam's feelings but I just couldn't warm up to Keegan. In the end I was kind of cheering them on, but hesitantly I guess.

The side characters were fun, Grandma Mia was cute and brought a fun twist to the story. One thing, if your are expecting cameos from all the Junebug staff, this isn't the storyline for that. Yes the MC and grandma's group spend time at Junebugs but only the owner pops up every so often...which is how it should be since this story-line is about Sam and Keegan.

If you are looking for a nice read for the holidays and you enjoy Ms. Beers' books before (like I do), I think you will like this one, it will put you in the holiday sprite I believe.

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, as well as Ms. Beers, for a review copy of This Christmas.

"This Christmas" is a delightful and heartfelt holiday romance that captures the spirit of the season beautifully. From the first page, I was drawn into the charming small-town setting and the lives of the relatable characters. Beers weaves themes of love, forgiveness, and the magic of Christmas seamlessly into a story that feels both comforting and fresh.

It was a nice, fluffy read that made me feel warm inside—perfect for curling up with a cozy blanket and a cup of something hot. The protagonist’s journey of self-discovery and second chances was enjoyable to follow, and I loved watching their relationships evolve against the festive backdrop of twinkling lights and snow-covered streets. The dialogue was witty, the pacing was just right, and the holiday cheer was infectious. Add dogs to the plot and I'm sold.

For fans of holiday romances or anyone looking for a cozy escape, *This Christmas* is a must-read. It left me smiling, warmed my heart, and reminded me why this season is my favorite of them all. I'm giving 4 stars for this novel that feels like a Hallmark movie in the best way possible!

Thank you, NetGalley and Bold Strokes, for the opportunity to read and review this delightful book.

First of all, the amount of dogs in this book had me extremely happy. I loved the characters and their growth. How this was beyond a simple romance with all the side stories. A very happy and festive beginning to the Christmas and party season.

It’s what you need, something that is hopeful, funny, full of fur- and people loving kindness. Sure, Keegan needs to get her head out of her *bleep* and Sam is super cute in her torch-carrying ways, but this is low-angst love story. Smirky nod to the Hawllmark channel traditional holiday movies and the wink wink to the people (like my spouse) who has a weird love for true crime. Between an adorable meddling grandma and dogs you are dying to adopt (they’re not even real and I want them all!), this is for anyone who wants a heart filled lesbian romance now. It’s a holiday palette cleanser in a time of blech.

Another wonderful romance for the cold winter days. A good book, some snacks and perhaps a small glass of wine would make a great way to spend a cold winter day. It’s Christmas at Junebug Farms and the place is full with dogs and cats looking for a forever home and hopefully some will be going to their new homes.
Sammi, along with her grandmother, Mia spent some of their time walking the dogs. Not a hard job seeing how much they both love animals. Love was something Sammi knew all about and a year ago she felt she’d met her match, Keegan but when things were getting serious Keegan couldn't handle all the overwhelming feelings. So she ran. Not that far, it isn’t a big city, so…
Mia, Sammi’s grandmother was somewhat a matchmaker, or so she thought she’d help the young ladies get together by making sure the Junebug Christmas float had two queens instead of a king and queen. With a little help she ensured the two on the float would be her granddaughter and Keegan. Perhaps if they spent time together Keegan would fall in love with Sammi. All in all a very nice Christmas romance.
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books

A sweet romance that comes with a reminder to all the introverts that find it hard to believe they can reach and gain love if they at least make a move. But really this book is all about the rescue dogs. They are the true stars of the story. The author gives some good descriptions so it’s fun imagining them and taking them for walks in your mind. An excellent advert for dog shelters. The love between a granddaughter and grandmother is also beautifully observed.

A very sweet love story between Keegan and Sammi. They were friends and then Sammi wanted more but Keegan was not . They kept in touch as friends but nothing more. I like the plot and characters along with the family situations I recommend this book for all romance readers..

Very sweet!

Sam and her friend Keegan are voted as the queen and queen for the promotional events Junebug animal shelter are doing to raise funds and awareness during the Christmas period. With unshared feelings for one another between them, Sam and Keegan go about their duties as the queens but with volunteer Mia doing all she can to get them together because they seem clueless on their own, will the magic of Christmas and the loving animals they are helping bring them the romance they deserve.

This was so unbelievably amazing and cute! It had all the magic of a Christmas romance with a bit of a set up and some very cute furry companions to make it all the more special. There was an awkwardness between Sam and Keegan that could have resulted in the whole promotion of Junebug becoming a disaster but I admired their willing to try and overcome all of that to do what was right for the animal shelter and the community. In each other they found support and their friendship only grew, with each of them using their strengths to help each other get through their commitments and enjoy them.

Then there were these turning points where it was obvious they were meant to be together and that Mia’s assumptions and plan to put them together was the right thing to do. They melted my heart having fun together, taking care of one another, and developing a relationship that was envious because of how cute it was, but there was something else between them, that thing stopping them from crossing that line. However when it comes down to it and they admit to others in their lives that there might be something there we really learn the truth, and suddenly everything makes sense.

I loved every second of this story! It was packed with emotion, sentiments that were completely heart-warming and cute little furry friends. It’s a must read to get you all cosy and ready for Christmas.

This has all the parts for a cute Christmas romance. Junebug Farms, the local animal shelter, is looking to increase donations and adoptions with a social media campaign. When they announce a contest for a pair to take part in activities promoting the shelter and getting to ride on the float in the Christmas parade. When the two winners are both women it becomes a Queen and Queen royalty. Sam and Keegan are happy to take the spots. They are friends and enjoy the planned activities. Lots of cute doggos get spotlighted as well.

I love that Beer’s works in Junebug Farms, which was the setting for her previous Puppy Love series. A couple of those MC's make brief appearances. And a careful reader will catch a mention of a character from her Swizzle Stick series. I love when author’s include little easter eggs like that for their fans. And it shows a consistency in their world building. What is missing in this book is the connection between Sam and Keegan. From the first scene we know that they know each other. But it is never filled in on whether they have known each other for years or a few dates. Without the beginning of them it is hard to connect to them as a couple. Especially as one is involved with someone else during the part of the story.

I love Beer’s books and hers are one’s I often pull from my shelf (or iPad) and read again for a quick comfort or to pick me up. This is a cute story with sweet main and side characters. (3.5 Stars)