Kissing Kristmas

by Megyn Ward

Kristmas Cavanagh Was My Everything. She's been my best friend and my next-door-neighbor since we were 6. For 8 years we were inseparable. She was the center of my universe. Nothing made sense without her, and I was sure it would be that way forever. Everyone in our tiny Connecticut town just assumed that we'd grow up, fall in love and get married... until our parents did instead.
Suddenly, Kris wasn't my best friend anymore.
Wasn't the person I was supposed to fall in love with.
She was someone I couldn't have.
Someone I wasn't supposed to love.
And that drove me nuts. Turned me into someone neither one of us recognized.
And that tore us apart.
We were 18 when I finally told her how I felt. What I wanted, but it was too much. Or maybe I was just too late to repair the damage I'd done.
It's been 10 years since I left. I've written her 120 letters, and every single one of them have come back to me, unopened. I'd resigned myself to the fact that she was gone. That I'd never see her again. Never get another chance... and then there she was, standing right in front of me. I can't say I handled it well. I can't say I was a gentleman. But I can say
Kristmas Cavanagh got away from me once. I'll be damned if I'm going to let it happen twice.

Second chance/stepbrother/bully-light/new adult/friends-to-enemies-to-lovers

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Romance, Second Chance

360 pages, Paperback

Published October 11, 2022

About the author

USA Today best-selling author Megyn Ward lives on coffee, chocolate and more than the occasional glass of red wine. When she's not spending time with the hot, dirty-talking Alphas and the strong, capable women who love them who live in her head, she's busy chasing chickens (and kids), hanging laundry and burning dinner. Either way, she is almost always in the company of her eight dogs, her truest and most faithful companions, and her almost as faithful husband, Joe.
Megyn is also the author of the award-winning Sabrina Vaughn thriller series, written under the name Maegan Beaumont.

Reviews

[Rombookfanlove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok I think I’m learning that second chance romances just make me cry. Everything they’ve lost and everything they still cherish about each other - staaahhp 😭

This a story of a sort of tortured relationship: best friends who secretly like each other - turned step siblings, taking their hidden feelings, and anger, about the situation out on each other. It’s a dual timeline with the story in their past and catching up to them today.

I like how kind of realistic the portrayal is in this one, how much it would actually suck and how much you’d worry about what everyone at school would say so you don’t even try to entertain it. And yet… well, you have to read.

As I expect from Megyn - it’s hot, it’s angst, it’s real and messy. Their back and forth with each other makes you want to shake them sometimes and tell them to just stop but it also lends so well to all the emotion contained behind it all.

It’s love lost and second chances. It tugged at my heart and gave me tears.

The book starts out pretty in your face and direct, might take a minute to adjust to that. Also be aware most of the spice happens in the past timeline which means they’re of age but just - end of high school. There’s a few minor typo errors but nothing that significantly disrupts the story.

It’s a shorter book which packs a lot of emotion and spice into the space, good depth. Nothing feels wasted, everything is central and important.

Despite all the bickering and pent up heat that comes out in kind of negative ways between them (this book has light bullying), there’s also just such a sweetness - especially on Maddox’s part. I would have liked to see Kristmas a bit more passionate or something to match Mad’s vibes but overall it works well and the story is good. The letters…oh geez, be still my heart 😭

This isn’t a cozy Christmas story, there’s Christmas in it but you don’t get the whole cozy Christmas cheer vibes - if you’re looking for that, this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for a high emotion, angsty, “it’s always been you” type of romance in a quick and enjoyable package - this is definitely it.

Overall a great read and reminded me why I like Megyn’s books so much! Recommend!!

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many typos!!!

[Annabelle Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this read completely blind—I didn’t know anything about the story or even the author. I had a vague sense that it was about Christmas, somehow, but something was just drawing me to it. What an incredible surprise! This book was an absolute revelation, and if I could give it more than five stars, I absolutely would. It’s beautifully crafted, with a complexity that digs deep emotionally while still being so easy to follow. Every character is vividly described, each bringing a unique flavor to the story.

The balance of romance and steam is just right—enough sexy scenes to make it sizzling hot without overshadowing the love story itself. And make no mistake, those scenes were smoldering. I couldn’t put it down and almost missed picking up my son from school because I was so engrossed. I found myself grinning, gasping, and completely immersed from start to finish, and I only wish the epilogue had been longer.

One thing’s for sure: I’ve added all of this author’s books to my TBR (and they’re now at the very top), and I’m already on my way to get a physical copy.

[The Windy City Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a bummer for me. There was so much back and forth in the timeline that I just could not enjoy the story. I also cringe at the steamy scenes being written in the high school portions of the book. Honestly, Kristmas is treated horribly by the young men in her life- treated like an object when she is barely old enough to consent. Maybe my distaste for the book is because I'm a mom to teen daughters and I would never want them to allow themselves to be degraded and disrespected the way the FMC allows herself to be.

[Tiffany Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

So the cover of this book literally says “hot romance”. To me that means spice. There were maybe like 4 scenes. I felt like there was a lot of time set in the past which yes, have to establish the history,but not enough time of the now. I was hoping that at some point the letters would have been part of the story, to learn of the things in the gaps of time. There was one letter but if I was supposed to be the last and all the happy things it sure was a short list. This one just didn’t meet my expectations.

[Jean · Rating 1 out of 5]

There's a lot of telling, not showing in this book. It doesn't seem like it's told in the right sequence. If you want to go between past and present, start with the present and then you can build a story arc, revealing step by step how the characters got to this point. Also, I didn't really like either one of them and the whole thing with Maggie not being Maddox's biological kid seemed like a cop out. Tried and tried, but finally gave up at 70 percent.

[Lorey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Megyn Ward read. I absolutely loved this story about a second chance. Kris and Maddox's story of happiness is an emotional rollercoaster. Their connection is powerful. Their story is full of angst, sexual tension, steamy times, heartbreak, and so much more. It's well-written. A truly beautiful story. Highly recommend.

[Meilani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book length for a short flight. I started this book this morning when my flight took off and was able to complete it before landing! I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a cute Christmas read, it was mildly spicy and a best friends to lovers. Step brother/MF/F2L/long lost love

[Karen N Strauss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddox & Kristmas: Great read. I occasionally had tears in my eyes. Megyn never disappoints with her writing. Sometimes it’s agonizing waiting for the characters to finally get together at the end.

[Donna Nalbandian Woerner Homschek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Megyn Ward and won’t be my last. Beautiful love story of two people meant to be together. Their emotions were so well written they made you connect immediately with h and H.

[Joy Boutwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good second chance romance and it would be a lot better if it didn't go from then to now through the entire story.

[Lori Laidlaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable Christmas book with a great story. Plus romance, conflict, and groveling!

[Beachbaby]

Kindle edition

[Terri 【Rheereadsbooks] · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the best friends to lovers aspect. So many things and people were working against them but there is a sweet hea at the end.

[Nicole Noell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing story by Megyn Ward! I’m so glad I chose to read this so close to Christmas. This story played with my emotions.

[Crys Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is one of Megyn's favorite books, but that may reveal too much about me. Oh well. I like morally gray situations; this one is generally very light on it. It isn't traumatic and or painful, bringing you anxiety and tears, like many morally gray taboo books. I personally like the back and forth of Now & Then as it puts you in that same feeling of angst and impatience as the characters, a nice slow burn. It may have worked better if it hadn't been a dual viewpoint but I do love my duals.

The book is a short one, so it doesn't get annoying to me. It feels like a smutty taboo romcom for the holidays, and I enjoy that vibe. It is angsty and naughty and not overly annoying with the Christmas aspect. Megyn is always amazing with dialogue and setting up a story, making to fall in love with characters even when they have flaws. I just reread this one and it is on my bookshelf. My only complaint is that I wish it were longer and filled with more of the spicy scenes Megyn is so good at ;)

[Tamy Splawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good second chance holiday story. Megyn never disappoints. A must read for sure.