A Christmas Affair

by Adrianne Byrd

As president of the talent agency she built from scratch, Chloe Banks is a New York success story. But beneath the fast-track facade is a small-town girl who's never forgotten her humble beginnings—and whose past is a closely guarded secret. Until Chloe's family comes to visit and brings a special holiday gift. Sensual Southern charmer Lyfe Alton was her childhood sweetheart…and is the man who still owns her heart.

Lyfe was devastated when Chloe left their Georgia hometown for the bright lights of the big city. Now he has just four weeks to seduce her back into his bed…or lose her forever. With Chloe nestled in his arms where she belongs, can Lyfe turn their sizzling Christmas affair into a season for second chances?

Genres: African American Romance, Romance, Christmas, African American

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

National Best-selling author Adrianne Byrd has always preferred to live within the realms of her imagination where all the men are gorgeous and the women are worth whatever trouble they manage to get into. As an army brat, she traveled throughout Europe and learned to appreciate and value different cultures. Now she calls Georgia home.

Looking back, Adrianne believes her passion for writing began at the ripe old age of thirteen. It was also the age when she was introduced to romance novels by a most unlikely source: her fifteen-year old brother. The book was probably given to keep her out her brother’s hair, but it was a gift that changed her life.

In books, Adrianne found a way out of her awkward teenage years and into a world of fictional friends that would stay with her for a lifetime. It wasn’t long before her imagination took flight and she was writing her own love stories. Within a year, she completed her first book, which she vowed would never see the light of day.

Writing remained a hobby until 1994 when a co-worker approached her with an article on Romance Writers of America. Who knew there was an organization of women just like her? By 1996 she sold her first novel, Defenseless, to Kensington Publishing.

Her first release received rave reviews by Romantic Times and fans. Her other novels were consistently selected as the Magazine’s Top Pick. In 2001 Slam Jam nominated, Say You Love Me, for best romance. Her 2003 release Comfort of a Man won Romantic Times Best Multicultural Romance, Romance in Color’s Readers Choice Awards for Favorite Book, Favorite Hero, and Favorite Heroine; Shades of Romance’s Best/Arabesque Romance Book; Slam Jams Emma Award for Favorite Traditional Romance; Romance in Color’s Reviewer’s Choice Award for Author of the Year, Book of the Year and Best BET/Arabesque Book. And lastly Comfort of a Man was a 2003 Georgia Romance Writers Maggie finalist for best Contemporary. In 2004 she released her first romantic suspense novel, If You Dare, with HarperCollins. In 2006 her novel Measure of a Man was nominated for Best Multicultural Romance while her Harper Torch novel Deadly Double was nominated for an Emma. In 2007 she won an eharlequin.com Joey Award.

In 2006 Adrianne along with fellow writer Niobia Bryant penned her first Urban Novel, DESPERATE HOODWIVES, writing as De'nesha Diamond. The book is set for release February 2008 from Simon and Schuster. For more information, visit http://www.deneshadiamond.com.

Ms. Byrd has been featured in many national publications, including Today’s Black Woman, Upscale, and Heart and Soul. She has also won local awards for screenwriting. For the future, she looks forward to continue creating characters that make people smile, laugh, and fall in love.

Reviews

[Christiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was probably the 2nd best book I have read by Adrianne Byrd. My ratings may be a little exaggerating, because I'm a huge fan of her books...I will like to start off with my negative...That would be that this book was too short...Ok not really...I just didn't want this story to end. I was mad when it did. Ok the positive is the story line was really different than most...I love the way she started off with the reading of Corona's diary detailing their childhood past....It was very creative how she incorporated it into a love story. Lyfe was a hottie...At times I wanted to go and knock some since into Corona/Chloe...whatever her name was....(BTW she did have two names in this book) lol...This story is about how the two met as kids and how their life expired out of control and of course they went their own separate ways by unforeseen circumstances...I don't want to give the story away. It may sound like something you've read before....but once you start to read this story, you will see all the twist and turns Adrianne did in this story. It was very entertaining. The ending was so sweet...I think thats what really made me give this book 5 stars. There were characters in this book, that just made you want to know more about them. Adrianne has always had these memorable characters. For (ex.) Tess and Hennessy...I know there's going to be a book about them...I would love to read about those two...too funny. Anyway, this is a must read. You will not be disappointed especially if you're an Adrianne Byrd fan...

[SassyMama · Rating 5 out of 5]

A DELIGHTFUL Christmas treat...a page-turner...with loads of unexpected twists and turns...and I DEFINITELY hated for it to end...I can hardly wait to read more about those OUTRAGEOUS Alton brothers and the Banks' family...well done Ms. Byrd!

[Rebecca]

Loved it

Great story...first time reading a book from Adrianne Byrd..I am now a fan. Loved Lyfe and Corona Mae...that was serious love they had for one another. Tess and Melody were hilarious. Great book...would highly recommend.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. I loved how Lyfe loved Corona for so long and she loved him just as long. This book made you feel the love, the time lost, the hurts and misunderstandings.

[Harriette B.Tolliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is funny how we think we can leave our old life and family for what we think is better than what we had. This book was very good.

[Ranie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and very emotional sweet story.... Highly recommended

[Dafort · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas Affair – Can true love stand the test of time?


A Christmas Affair was an entertaining and refreshing read. We meet and explore the relationship of Corona Mae (Chloe) Banks and Lyfe Alton. A relationship that started in the seventh grade and progressed to teenage love at the age of 17, but once the relationship advanced to a more intimate level the young lovers were forced to make decisions that changed the course of their lives. Fourteen years later, Corona (Chloe) is now engaged to another and Lyfe realizes he still loves her and tries to convince her in four weeks that they are meant to be together.

With the help of family and a rebound fiancée, Corona struggles to determine what she really wants and how secrets have a way of revealing themselves through various avenues and inquisitive minds. There were several hilarious scenes that still have me chuckling, as well as very touching scenes of forgiveness that make you smile. I have to say the basement scene and the Rockefeller scene were my favorites in the book. I seriously hope Ms. Byrd writes a story on the remainder Alton clan as well Corona’s younger sister Tess.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. The chemistry between Corona & Lyfe was there since they were teenagers, and never went away. I have to say Ms. Byrd has a knack for writing love scenes, because Corona & Lyfe's first one was when they were teenagers, and I have to say it was hot!!! All of their subsequent love scenes were equally on fire. I'd love to read a story between Tessa & Hennesey (Corona's sister & Lyfe's brother) those two pranksters seem like they would set the pages of the book ablaze. The only thing I couldn't understand about the story was Corona's secret from Lyfe and why she kept it so long. It made sense to keep the secret in the beginning, but after so many years I just couldn't come with a reasonable reason why she would continue to do so. I really could have done without Rowan also, he was almost irrelevant to the whole story. The was a cute sweet holiday read that I'd definitely recommend.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off let me start off by stating I do not like the cheating thing, never have and probably never will.  That alone left a very unpleasant taste in my mouth.  But if you take that out of the equation, this was a laugh out loud, never put down, wonderful story.  Corona and Lyfe had a life long love that should have been saved.  I enjoyed this book from start to finish, even with the cheating.

[Cassandra Baker-Durham · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! Ms. Byrd has done it again. In a Christmas Affair Chloe ran away from home and a shot gun wedding at the age of 17. She felt she was too young to be getting married, all because she had sex. Lyfe was the jilted groom so to speak. Chloe becomes successful while living in New York, hiding from her family and keeping secrets, while Lyfe lives in Atlanta being successful as well. They are reunited and the sparks fly when one of them announces they are getting married. Excellent story.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the book was OK. It is not the best book I have read from this author. I really wanted to like it more, but some of Corona's decisions were just not believable or honorable (reference:Melody). That single part of the book is the main reason I didn't rate it more. The writing of the story flowed and was overall a good read.

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a overall good book. It seemed like a fiction made into a romance with so much going on. The child part threw me for a loop. It was short & sweet. I would've liked a longer book with more development.

[Angelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did like this book....LOVED all six of Alton men.....after reading the first maybe five chapters I couldn't stand Corona Mae/Chole or whatever she wanted to be called......but hopefully Ms. Byrd will make up for it with a book on Tess and Hennessey....and please let it be soon.....

[Shone · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shot gun wedding, a runaway bride, and a heart broken groom. What happens a decade later when you have the same shot gun, bride, and groom. Enjoy the craziness between the two shot gun weddings.

[Shantel Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another good book by Ms. Byrd; however I felt like the ending was a little rushed. I hope she turns this into a series because I would love to read more about Lyfe's brothers.

[Tiffanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner for sure. Really enjoyed the plot Of the story! Hated to see it end but can't wait to see Tess and Hennessy!!!

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good holiday read... I don't like the cover. It doesn't fit the story but then they rarely do. BRAVO Adrianne..

[Kesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was laught out loud funny and romantic. Loved this book can't wait for Tess and Hennessey's story.

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

i accidently bought this book...and im now reading it for the third time I LOVE THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN CORONA AND LYFE JUST AMAZING!

[Michelle]

Awesome! Can't wait for the other brothers stories this one was so cute and funny.

[Ladyamelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect holiday romance. That scene in the stairwell renders this a 5 star read. ;-)

[Jadah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super super cute.

[Cf · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and enjoyable read. I hope there are books for the other Alton men.