With the name Holliday, you’d think I’d be all about the Christmas season. Most years, I am, but this one not so much. Between my ex being a real Scrooge-in-the-backside, re-entering the workforce, wrangling my two children, and evading my eight-year-old’s questions about Santa’s existence, I’m struggling to believe in the magic myself.
Enter Nick, my next-door neighbor. My very hot, single, fireman neighbor. He’s full of the seasonal spirit from hanging my outdoor Christmas lights to playing Santa for the local church breakfast.
Funny thing about Nick, he kind of resembles the man in red, in a younger, sexier, silver fox way, complete with snow in his beard but rather tight abs suggesting cookies are not part of his diet when they are a staple of mine.
Anywho, he’s sweet in a rugged sense, and if he were the man making a list and checking it twice, I’d like to be in his naughty column. Because something tells me being a little naughty-ish with Nick from next door might bring me tidings of comfort and restore my joy in this season.
When he discovers I have a seasonal list myself, he’s determined to help me accomplish all the to-dos, only falling in love with my next-door neighbor wasn’t one of them.
+ + +
From L.B. Dunbar comes another SHE-grump Christmas tale of holiday shenanigans and jingling bells with a sunshine silver fox fireman.
L.B. Dunbar loves sexy silver foxes, second chances, and small towns. If you enjoy older characters in your romance reads, including a hero with a little silver in his scruff and a heroine rediscovering her worth, then welcome to romance for those over 40. L.B. Dunbar’s signature works include women and men in their prime taking another turn at love and happily ever after. She’s a USA TODAY Bestseller as well as #1 Bestseller on Amazon in Later in Life Romance with her Sterling Falls, Lakeside Cottage, and Road Trips & Romance series. L.B. lives in Chicago with her own sexy silver fox.
To get all the scoop about the self-proclaimed queen of silver fox romance, join her on Facebook at Loving L.B. or receive her weekly newsletter, Love Notes.
і не сказати нічого поганого, бо як для різдвяної новели – все добре.
святковий настрій – є. передріздвяні приготування – є. хтось любить Різдво, а хтось розчарований – є. різдвяні імена (Нік і Холлідей – тут усе очевидно) – присутні. гарячий сусід – також у наявності.
це було легенько, і гарно час провела. шкода, що Нік лише на сторінках))) похвалю його ще тут!!
If you don't go into this book thinking there's going to be a lot of smut, you're going to really enjoy it. However, the last scene...it's a good one. Though I do wish the author would have focused more on how the ex cheating on Holliday affected her self-esteem, because she's really down on herself throughout a lot of the book and I kept forgetting she went through such a devastating event, which led me to just get annoyed with her a decent amount. But I really liked Nick's character. Though I really would have guessed his dad or brother was Santa Claus lol.
4/5⭐️ 2/5🌶️ Tropes:single mom, reverse grump sunshine, holiday novella, next door neighbor This was absolutely a wonderful read. Holiday is a single mom recently separated/divorced from her ex. She’s desperate to make this year special and have her kids have new experiences and traditions.Nick is the hot firefighter next door who is basically Santa the good guy who’s supportive of the single mom and gives holiday the magic and spirit she’s been missing. This story is a good example that the holidays are so much more than presents or having the best most expensive things it’s about memories and being present for the ones you love. It’s about creating new experiences and traditions it’s about doing good in the world. This was sexy and fun and fast paced and the perfect little holiday romance.
I really really loved this story! Such an addictive, gorgeous, sexy holiday read!
"Kissing Nick is the first spark of hope I've felt in a long time. I'm not empty inside. I've been...dormant, maybe. Waiting. Healing."
Loved Holliday and Nick! Holliday has lost her confidence after divorcing her cheating ex, but Nick behaves in such a way that not only gives her back her confidence, but a whole lot more. Seriously, that man was gone for her. His actions and words couldn't have been any louder. I adored the way he was with her kids, Nash and Eloise, always having the time of day for them. Holliday's to do list was fun and sweet, and Nick was seriously romantic!
"I want us to be an us."
Yeah, that about sums it up. This story was festive, fun, sexy and heartmelting! Adored it!
A steamy, slow burn, reverse Grumpy/Sunshine, small town holiday novella that sees two neighbors falling for one another over Christmas. I love L.B Dunbar's holiday stories and this latest was no exception. A divorced single mother falls for the cinnamon roll firefighter next door as he slowly gets her to rekindle her love for the holidays. Great on audio narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Stella Hunter.
He’s right. That isn’t it. I’m lonely, and I’m sad. The holidays are wearing on me when I don’t want them to. This is the happiest time of the year, right? I have children who make this time magical, but I’m finding it difficult to muster the jolly brightness I need.
I really had mixed feelings about this one. This is a story about a single mom who’s still drowning in the chaos and turmoil of her new single parent life.
Holliday’s neighbor Nick is determined to make her see she is the one for him. He’s been conveniently showing up for her and has become a friend she can truly rely on in times of need. Nick finds a list of things Holliday wants to do for the season that doesn’t involve all the typical stressors of this time of year.
I wanted to like this one but it seems no matter what Nick did Hollidays inner monologue was so over the top negative and down. I get where she is coming from, truly but it brought me down a lot too. As a mom who struggles during this season I need to be lifted up, not validated 😂 and to top it off there was this weird mystery of where Nick really came from that felt a bit unresolved at the end. Maybe the author meant to do that exactly but it didn’t work for me.
The one thing I took away that I enjoyed was the ideas to make the season enjoyable and the message to live in the moment. If you are looking for a sweet read about a super stressed mom this might be for you but don’t think too hard about all the other things happening or you will probably lose interest.
If ever a book captured the holiday spirit it is this one. I thought Nick stole the show though for me, talk about phenomenal charisma. Had not read this author before and will be checking out more for sure.
OVERALL: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ▪︎Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶/ 5 •Recommend: Yes ▪︎Re-read/re-listen: Aslo, yes! •Trope: Single mom, hot neighbor, Christmas novella •Narrator: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧/5
• Thoughts: I really enjoyed this novella. It was sweet. It gets you into the holiday spirit. It leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy. I honestly wish this could have been longer than a Novella. I would say that is my biggest complaint. In the first book of this series, Scrooge-ish, I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything. It felt like a completed story for it being a novella. and I know with novells generally everything happens at an excellerated pace, and I am completely fine with that. For Naughty-ish, however, I do truly feel the story had a lot more to unfold, more meaning to the story had it been longer. Now, don't get me wrong, it was a great story. I very much enjoyed it. I just felt as if something was missing. Truly though, I did enjoy Naughty-ish. I want that to be known. Ha.
Narrators: I did listen to this on audio. It was a duet style, but it was also a first-person point of view. Stella Hunter and Teddy Hamilton were so good! I love it when they narrate together. I am learning that I am not as big of a fan from First Person POV. I kept waiting to hear from Nick's POV.
I adored this fast paced, steamy, holiday romance. If it had been a weekend day, or during a break from school, it would have been devoured in one day. As it was I might have sneaked in finishing it at my desk on the Friday before our Thanksgiving break at school. Like the little image above, I do really wish I could get my own Nick for Christmas. I mean, he was perfection. And the way the author told the story, I almost wondered for a bit if he was supposed to be THE Nick we all think about for the holidays. Especially when he kept saying things but being cagey about who his family was.
I had a tiny bit of irritation with how Holliday kept pushing Nick away, even as I understood it based on what she’d dealt with her ex-husband. But oh my gosh was Nick really just perfect. While the story itself took place during the holiday season, we got a quick look back at when Holliday and her kids had first moved in and what the interactions between her and her new hot firefighter neighbor since that time. I loved how all of it, included one of the very first interactions, led up to a perfect connection between the two. This book made me smile, laugh, swoon, and fan myself at several points. The perfect holiday read that I needed this year!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (for Nick inventing the Naughty list and unwrapping Holliday, if you know you know)
This is my first single mom romance where the MMC wasn't a single father as well. And I must say the way Nick treats Holliday's children makes me want to read more.
"Dear Santa, can I have Nick naked underneath my Christmas tree, please?" But actually! 😍
“If you hadn’t already noticed, I can be kind of a hot mess at times.” “No mess.” He watches me. “Just hot.” God it's me again, just wondering when it will be my turn 🤧.
I'm going to be that person for a minute, but Holliday's insecurities got old fast. Not because she had them, we all do. But because instead of trying to work through them, so used them as excuses to why Nick wouldn't want her or why he was a bad person. After constantly showing her otherwise. Now I get her struggling with trust issues, but judging his character off her asshole ex was cringe. There were times that Holliday made the Grinch look like a Christmas enthusiast 😅.
“My date was my mom. She has the flu.” “Your mom?” I cough on the excuse. He’s using his mom as a cover for his canceled date." Like, huh? I literally rolled my eyes 💀.
"Even moms deserve toys. Let this bring you comfort and joy. If you need instructions, here’s my number." Note to self get a man who buys you vibrators 🥴😂.
This by far is the spiciest LB Dunbar book I have read to date. The phone sex scene alone was simply delightful!
Nice to see Brock is still causing trouble for people 😂. And appearance from Zebb and Eva was chef's kiss. I loved how quickly Eva and Holliday became friends. Plus a glimpse at the events prior to their epilogue.
“You look angelic and innocent, and I’m the damn devil who wants to muddy you up.” Sweet Jesus Nick!
Naughty-ish isn't my favorite in the series. While the story and spicy wasn't lacking, I just wished that Holliday could have overcame her insecurities and "felt more like myself" from within herself and not mainly from Nick's attention. But I do appreciate her sense of independence, she finally has things of her own, and I love that for her. However the third act conflict made me throw my kindle across the room. Holliday quite literally made me want to rip my hair out, girl why?!?!
But Nick is my favorite "-ish" MMC “You’re better than sugar plum fairies dancing in my head.” “Wanna see how hot my fireplace gets?” “I know, honey. Be naughty on my lap.” His dirty talk did some things to me 🥵.
Plus I enjoyed how Nick gets Holliday to see things in a different perspective. And as a turtle lover, the fact her bought her children turtles did it for me ❤️.
Naughty-ish was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. While having a touch of inspiration for being more productive in 2025.
"Send Peace. See the lights. Be the light. Be present. Wrap someone in a hug."
Some Nick inspirational quotes:
“Right now, you’re doing something. You’re a bank teller, but it’s passive, not passionate, when you’ve been called to be creative, and make something. Neither path is right or wrong, just different for each of us.” And shoot that even inspired me to look at what I'm doing, and if I'm passionate about it.
“But Christmas isn’t really about a man in a red suit with a jolly smile and a white beard. It’s a feeling, honey. It’s magic and mystery. And it’s belief in the good in people.”
"A man passing out presents as a reward for good behavior might seem archaic but it’s also a phase until children can be the present. Give rather than receive.”
“You know what? Maybe you should stop writing lists and start writing your future.”
Holliday is recently divorced and starting all over. She moved into a new town home and she just so happens to live next to a tall muscle tattoo’d man who is easy on the eyes. Her kiddos love him and he just so happens to do sweet things for her, like mow her lawn since she doesn’t have a lawn mower. In return she go gets little gifts to show her gratitude. A pot of plants for her front door, a case of beer or cookies.
Nick is a firefighter who loves to give back to his community. During the holiday’s, he dresses up as Santa and not just the kids love him but the Moms do too! He’s also single and has eyes for the his single mom next door neighbor.
During a breakfast with Santa, Nick sees Holliday have a little tiff with her ex husband. While checking on her, she kind of rambles how she hates the holiday because she’s struggling. Nick later on asks her out and shows her some holiday cheer.
I loved that these two slowly got to know each other. Definitely Angsty and a slow burn but so worth it!
Tropes: Single Mom Firefighter tattoo’d MMC Holiday Spirit Let Me Take Care of You Reverse Grumpy/Sunshine Forced Proximity(neighbors)
I really loved Holliday and Nick! This man does things without expecting anything from her and even helping to put her children at ease. She's an overthinker but it's all due to how fast she is falling for him.
Single mom Holliday, is having a hard time this Christmas season. Her ex is not pulling his weight with the kids, she's re-entered the workforce, and wrangling two kids, and she's struggling to feel the magic of the season.
Enter Nick. my hot next-door neighbor. The single firefighter, who is full of the Christmas spirit, hung Christmas lights on her house and playing Santa at the local church. A younger, sexier Santa.
After discovering her seasonal to-do list, he makes it his mission to help restore her joy of the season. Falling for her neighbor was never on her list.
Thank you so much to the author and Wordsmith for this ARC to review.
Omg this story was soo cute! My little single mom heart absolutely loved it!! I don’t know if it is because I can relate but i really liked how true and realistic this story was.
Everything between Holliday and Nick was very well written, I was laughing and swooning, feeling and rooting for them. Nick is seriously a dream, wooow 🥵
This made me believe in love, i know it was a bit fast paced but i honestly enjoy fast paced stories. This brings out the magic of Christmas with spice 😉 while also explaining what it’s like for a single mom to start over on such an important time of the year.
If there is one thing I know, it is that L.B. Dunbar never fails to deliver an entertaining story with characters who are engaging and so easy to relate to; probably because her characters are more mature and closer to my age and that resonates with me.
I love any story that is centred around Christmas; it’s a time for family and friends to get together and celebrate life. I enjoy L.B. Dunbar’s style of writing; Naughty-Ish kept me entertained from the first to the last chapter.
Add in that our heroine Holliday is a single mum to Eloise and Nash and our hero Nick is a fireman so for me Naughty-Ish was a win/win.
This is a beautifully written, witty, and at times emotional story that ticked every box for me as Nick did his best to convince Eloise that he is the man for her and her children.
“If you hadn’t already noticed, I can be kind of a hot mess at times.” “No mess.” He watches me. “Just hot.” I laugh. He’s so smooth with the lines but he’s also full of coal. Nick has naughty-ish written all over him...
Holliday is struggling to find the Christmas spirit while creating new traditions for her kids. I love how positive hot neighbour Nick was. As older characters I liked that they didn't waste time in deciding to give their relationship a chance and the list was a cute, and only slightly cheesy, plot device.
I just love me a good holiday read and that is exactly what this one is. It is a sweet short fun holiday read. You are going to love Nick and want to start asking Santa for help because hello who wouldn’t want their very own Nick Santos. I mean even his name is sexy. You will absolutely love Nick and Holliday they just work together . It just sucked that it took them quite a bit to get out of their own way. Highly recommend.
Sweet, short, and a little spicy holiday read from one of my fave authors. Heroine is divorced thanks to her gross cheating ex. He’s a terrible dad to their 2 kiddos. Luckily she lives next door to the hot single fireman neighbor who loves Christmas. Its more of a novella, so don’t expect a ton of character development. I listened to this to get me through the final dregs of the gross American election. It did the trick. 3.5 holiday stars for this book!
NAUGHTY-ISH is cute, funny and spicy but is also has a message. Throughout the story, Christmas favorites like “A Visit From St. Nick” and Christmas songs are seamlessly woven into the plot. Nick is nothing short of a unicorn, and Holliday someone that needs to reclaim life for herself and her children. I really enjoyed Holliday’s humor and Nick’s depth.
Another fun, five star read from L.B. Dunbar. Holliday and Nick are neighbors. He’s the hot, single Fireman to her divorced mother of two kids, selfish ex and struggling to make a new home for her kids. It’s a fun story of finding your joy during the holiday and fulfilling your dreams and what brings you joy. Look forward to book three…Grouch-ish
3.5 Stars. A solid choice for a rom-com Christmas novella. I appreciated how the author used middle-aged characters rather than very young characters which has been popular lately, so it was a nice change of pace. I took off half a star because of some cringe-worthy language (honey… why do we still call people honey??) but overall a good read.
Poor Holiday, ever since divorcing her husband and re-entering the workforce she just hasn’t felt the holiday spirit. Lucky for her and her two children their next-door neighbor, Nick, is full of the holiday spirit and willing to spread good cheer. And maybe a holiday romance is just the thing to reignite the Christmas spirit.
what a good, quick holiday read! Nick was swoony! Even though he could have done better with using his words, his actions were AMAZING! Definite swoon. Holliday was so relatable. Watching her open up and fall in love was so good.
Kısacık minicik bir novella okuduk. Güzeldi keyifliydi ama wooow değildi. İçine çekmedi ama sıkmadı da. Sanırım kısa olmasından kaynaklı bu durum. Öyle okuduk bitti fena değildi. Yıllık şablonu doldurmak için okunabilir 😅😅