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Back in Your Arms #1.5
Cuffing Season
Maeve Murphy doesn't have much to celebrate this holiday season. Ten years ago, she moved from Kingsford with no intention of returning. But home came calling, in the form of her mother's unexpected death. The least thing Maeve wants is to make friends—she's only back in Kingsford to help her father keep the family business, Murph's, afloat.
Bianca Rossi, whose father is the chef at Murph’s, moved to Kingsford four years ago from the hustle and bustle of New York City. She loves everything about the charming little river town, and her positive attitude and willingness to engage is usually reciprocated by the Kingsford locals.
Maeve’s been resistant to Bianca’s attempts to strike up a friendship so far, but a little holiday magic may be just the thing they need to push them both in the right direction.
Cuffing Season is a 65k full-length standalone romance novel set in the world of Back in Your Arms.
Bianca Rossi, whose father is the chef at Murph’s, moved to Kingsford four years ago from the hustle and bustle of New York City. She loves everything about the charming little river town, and her positive attitude and willingness to engage is usually reciprocated by the Kingsford locals.
Maeve’s been resistant to Bianca’s attempts to strike up a friendship so far, but a little holiday magic may be just the thing they need to push them both in the right direction.
Cuffing Season is a 65k full-length standalone romance novel set in the world of Back in Your Arms.
7 pages, Audiobook
First published December 5, 2021
219 people are currently reading
1153 people want to read
About the author
Monica McCallan
17 books1,468 followersMonica McCallan was an enthusiastic fan of romance novels before she began writing them.
Writing is her passion project, and she currently lives in Philadelphia, working at a startup which gives her lots of great inspiration for the settings and storylines of her contemporary romance novels.
She lives with her partner and two tiny dogs, cannot parallel park to save her life, enjoys playing pool a few times a week, and has enjoyed every second of the craft beer explosion these last few years.
Join her mailing list here: http://bit.ly/MonicaMcCallanLesfic
Writing is her passion project, and she currently lives in Philadelphia, working at a startup which gives her lots of great inspiration for the settings and storylines of her contemporary romance novels.
She lives with her partner and two tiny dogs, cannot parallel park to save her life, enjoys playing pool a few times a week, and has enjoyed every second of the craft beer explosion these last few years.
Join her mailing list here: http://bit.ly/MonicaMcCallanLesfic
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
December 10, 2021
All the pining!
I loved this and these idiots. Maeve and Bianca start out as co-workers who slowly morph into friends and then more. Bianca is so sweet and lovely and Maeve is the opposite of that, but I still loved her so much. I love grumpy characters and Maeve was so grumpy she had me laughing out loud several times.
I recommend this is if you're wanting a sweet, funny wintry read with lovable characters.
I loved this and these idiots. Maeve and Bianca start out as co-workers who slowly morph into friends and then more. Bianca is so sweet and lovely and Maeve is the opposite of that, but I still loved her so much. I love grumpy characters and Maeve was so grumpy she had me laughing out loud several times.
I recommend this is if you're wanting a sweet, funny wintry read with lovable characters.
January 7, 2025
this was super sweet with a dash of holiday (though really winter-y, moreso) romance. monica mccallan is quickly becoming one of my favorite sapphic authors, as with the exception of one out of five that i've read now, only one left me kinda wanting a little more. and my biggest complaint of that was literally that i just wanted more/thought it was a tiny bit rushed and too short. i think what i like best about her books so far are the characters. she does a really good job of making them feel like real people. they talk like real people, they're fleshed out (side characters included!), their conflicts all feel genuine and not contrived just for the sake of drama needed to be there.
in this one, i absolutely fell in love with bianca pretty much same as maeve did. the progression of their friendship, to sorta friends with benefits, kinda, to actual relationship was a nice pace. i loved getting to see glimpses of quinn and sawyer (and even lily and bennet, near the end!) from some of mccallan's other books that i've read, and it made the universe mccallan crafted feel all that more real, with nods to other things. i'm pretty sure that i'm just going to slowly read everything that mccallan ever writes.
in this one, i absolutely fell in love with bianca pretty much same as maeve did. the progression of their friendship, to sorta friends with benefits, kinda, to actual relationship was a nice pace. i loved getting to see glimpses of quinn and sawyer (and even lily and bennet, near the end!) from some of mccallan's other books that i've read, and it made the universe mccallan crafted feel all that more real, with nods to other things. i'm pretty sure that i'm just going to slowly read everything that mccallan ever writes.
December 11, 2021
WOW!
You can fall for someone even if you go in with the intention of not getting serious. So entering into a casual relationship for a certain period is not the smartest thing to do. But what if…..? Absolutely loved this story even if it was frustrating at times and I wanted to shake them both. Cuffing Season is a beautifully told romance with irresistibly, adorable chemistry and the dramatic tension was very satisfying. Monica McCallan is a born storyteller who makes it impossible not to care about her heroines. I highly recommend Cuffing Season.
You can fall for someone even if you go in with the intention of not getting serious. So entering into a casual relationship for a certain period is not the smartest thing to do. But what if…..? Absolutely loved this story even if it was frustrating at times and I wanted to shake them both. Cuffing Season is a beautifully told romance with irresistibly, adorable chemistry and the dramatic tension was very satisfying. Monica McCallan is a born storyteller who makes it impossible not to care about her heroines. I highly recommend Cuffing Season.
December 20, 2021
While this story takes place over November/ December and later I wouldn't necessarily call this one a holiday romance. Of course, because of the timing, there are some Thanksgiving and Christmas references and lots of holiday-themed movies, but in my opinion, it could just as easily have been a spring season romance.
Ok so for the cuffing, with another book I established cuffing is this weird hetero term and I really don't like it. What Meave and Bianca set out on in this book is not something I'd call cuffing. I only think they name it that as a joke. Which is fine by me, but sets them up with some rules and expectations for an ending that is unnecessary. Bianca and Meave basically are two idiots with great chemistry who just don't know how to transform their "cuffing" into an actual relationship.
Also a mistake in my account, because I wasn't fully aware of it. Sawyer and Quin from Back in Your Arms make an appearance in this book. I have this one on my Kindle but I figured it could wait until I finished my holiday reading (which is now by the way). I think it would be best to read Back in Your arms before reading Cuffing Season. If you aren't planning on reading Back in Your Arms you are fine to just read this one, it's basically a stand-alone, but it does "spoill" Sawyer and Quin's story a little.
I really enjoyed Cuffing Season because while it is mostly set over the holiday period the romance doesn't happen because of the holidays. Bianca and Meave are very different characters but they fit very well together and and are just this fun couple and as mentioned before, idiots. They are fun, funny and cute.
Ok so for the cuffing, with another book I established cuffing is this weird hetero term and I really don't like it. What Meave and Bianca set out on in this book is not something I'd call cuffing. I only think they name it that as a joke. Which is fine by me, but sets them up with some rules and expectations for an ending that is unnecessary. Bianca and Meave basically are two idiots with great chemistry who just don't know how to transform their "cuffing" into an actual relationship.
Also a mistake in my account, because I wasn't fully aware of it. Sawyer and Quin from Back in Your Arms make an appearance in this book. I have this one on my Kindle but I figured it could wait until I finished my holiday reading (which is now by the way). I think it would be best to read Back in Your arms before reading Cuffing Season. If you aren't planning on reading Back in Your Arms you are fine to just read this one, it's basically a stand-alone, but it does "spoill" Sawyer and Quin's story a little.
I really enjoyed Cuffing Season because while it is mostly set over the holiday period the romance doesn't happen because of the holidays. Bianca and Meave are very different characters but they fit very well together and and are just this fun couple and as mentioned before, idiots. They are fun, funny and cute.
November 14, 2025
This was a good book. I loved the characters, particularly the cameo’s from Back In Your Arms who got a nice mini-sequel with this novel. This was relatively low-angst and primarily featured two protagonists dancing around each other for the majority of the novel; the kind of thing that may or may not be annoying depending on what you’re looking for in a novel. I appreciated that there wasn’t any forced or convoluted conflicts and the story simply focused on a slow-burn romance in a realistic manner.
This was dual POV and switched back and forth frequently. This is something that I sometimes find annoying but in this case it was done very well and helped a lot to tell the story and keep me in the scene. Thankfully the POV switches are always clear and don’t leave you confused like in some novels.
I do wish that there had been a bit more substance in this novel, particularly in the end section. There could have been a few more chapters and I think it might have added a lot to the ending. Overall this was an enjoyable read though and a perfect book for a lazy weekend/winter/holiday day.
Rating: B / 4-Stars
This was dual POV and switched back and forth frequently. This is something that I sometimes find annoying but in this case it was done very well and helped a lot to tell the story and keep me in the scene. Thankfully the POV switches are always clear and don’t leave you confused like in some novels.
I do wish that there had been a bit more substance in this novel, particularly in the end section. There could have been a few more chapters and I think it might have added a lot to the ending. Overall this was an enjoyable read though and a perfect book for a lazy weekend/winter/holiday day.
Rating: B / 4-Stars
December 23, 2023
3.5 stars. Monica McCallan is a good writer and I enjoyed this book. She always does a good job of developing her characters. I’m looking forward to reading more of her books.
January 11, 2025
4.5⭐️ I loved this. I’ve said it before, but McCallan’s ability to write heart swelling couples and fully fleshed out realistic characters is outstanding, and Bianca and Maeve are no exception. I love how this is written so that you are enveloped in the relationship, experiencing its evolution like you are part of it. Moving from first impressions, to learn more and more little details about each character, knowing them by the end like only an intimate partner would.
This is fun, emotional, and hot as hell. McCallan manages to hold tension from start to finish, with just enough angst to keep you hooked but not too much that it spoils the warm embrace that this story is. This is a perfect book to curl up with on a quiet day, and will leave you feeling completely satisfied.
Oh and the scattered glimpses into Quinn and Sawyer’s lives post “Back in Your Arms” were a real treat.
Audiobook: somehow Prince breaths even more life into these characters and I can’t imagine experiencing this story a better way.
This is fun, emotional, and hot as hell. McCallan manages to hold tension from start to finish, with just enough angst to keep you hooked but not too much that it spoils the warm embrace that this story is. This is a perfect book to curl up with on a quiet day, and will leave you feeling completely satisfied.
Oh and the scattered glimpses into Quinn and Sawyer’s lives post “Back in Your Arms” were a real treat.
Audiobook: somehow Prince breaths even more life into these characters and I can’t imagine experiencing this story a better way.
January 21, 2022
4,5 stars
This was fun, cute and very well written. I actually liked it better than the first one in the series. The MCs were relatable, they had great chemistry and while there was a bit of miscommunication it was on a believable level, so it didn't feel forced for the sake of some conflict.
It's also not nearly as christmasy as the cover would suggest. Which is probably a good thing.
This was fun, cute and very well written. I actually liked it better than the first one in the series. The MCs were relatable, they had great chemistry and while there was a bit of miscommunication it was on a believable level, so it didn't feel forced for the sake of some conflict.
It's also not nearly as christmasy as the cover would suggest. Which is probably a good thing.
December 10, 2021
Maeve Murphy finds herself back in Kingsford after her mother's death. Her father needs help keeping his bar in business. She's staying just long enough to do her part and then she is heading back to New York City to resume her photography career. Bianca Rossi is a receptionist at the vet clinic and works at Murph's Bar. She loves everything about Kingsford and everyone in the town loves her. Bianca always has a positive attitude and a smile. Everyone wants to be her friend, everyone but Maeve. Bianca doesn't understand the attractive, aloof woman. After extending the friendship branch on more than one occasion, Maeve finally accepts. Friendship leads to someone more. Will Bianca have her heart broken when Maeve returns to the city? Will Bianca cuff her to the bed so she can't leave?
This book is not at all what I thought it would be about when I saw the title. I thought Monica McCallan had decided to have a go at writing erotica. But, no such luck, cuffing season occurs when the weather gets chilly and short term relationships are formed to help pass the time during the cold. I am a serious Monica McCallan devotee. Her books always make me smile and bring characters into my life that I wish were real so I could befriend them or cuff them, whichever they are agreeable to. ;-)
When a character returns to their hometown they usually find that what kept them away isn't as important as what brings them back. Maeve didn't want to return to Kingsford but her mother's sudden death changes Maeve's plans. She left to live a bigger life and to escape her father's disapproval of her career. Maeve is a complex character. She doesn't really have friends and is fine being on her own, at least she's trying to convince herself she is. You can't be hurt if you build a wall around your heart. Bianca is all sunshine and sappy Christmas movies. She loves her town and the people in it. She "sees" Maeve more than anyone else. She looks beneath the surface to the vulnerable woman Maeve tries so hard to hide. Where others look at Maeve and see someone who is standoffish, Bianca can see the sadness that consumes Maeve. Sadness at the loss of her mother and sadness at the loss of the life she left behind and the life she feels stuck in.
Bianca is Maeve's equal. She may seem more emotionally available because on the surface she is but when you look closer, she brings out in Maeve the feelings she has but tries so hard to repress. Maeve can't help but to open up and let Bianca in because she needs someone regardless of how hard she tries to pretend she doesn't and Bianca knows Maeve is the one meant for her and who will kill all the spiders.
When I think I can't possibly love Monica McCallan mores as a writer, she says, "hold my tiny dog whilst I make some word magic" Not only has she created two more beautiful, nuanced characters in Bianca and Maeve but she brings back Quinn and Sawyer from Back in Your Arms and I couldn't be more thrilled to catch up with them. This is the perfect book to sit in front of the fireplace and enjoy with a piping cup of hot cocoa and those annoyingly cheerful Christmas songs playing in the background.
https://sapphicbookreview.com/review/...
This book is not at all what I thought it would be about when I saw the title. I thought Monica McCallan had decided to have a go at writing erotica. But, no such luck, cuffing season occurs when the weather gets chilly and short term relationships are formed to help pass the time during the cold. I am a serious Monica McCallan devotee. Her books always make me smile and bring characters into my life that I wish were real so I could befriend them or cuff them, whichever they are agreeable to. ;-)
When a character returns to their hometown they usually find that what kept them away isn't as important as what brings them back. Maeve didn't want to return to Kingsford but her mother's sudden death changes Maeve's plans. She left to live a bigger life and to escape her father's disapproval of her career. Maeve is a complex character. She doesn't really have friends and is fine being on her own, at least she's trying to convince herself she is. You can't be hurt if you build a wall around your heart. Bianca is all sunshine and sappy Christmas movies. She loves her town and the people in it. She "sees" Maeve more than anyone else. She looks beneath the surface to the vulnerable woman Maeve tries so hard to hide. Where others look at Maeve and see someone who is standoffish, Bianca can see the sadness that consumes Maeve. Sadness at the loss of her mother and sadness at the loss of the life she left behind and the life she feels stuck in.
Bianca is Maeve's equal. She may seem more emotionally available because on the surface she is but when you look closer, she brings out in Maeve the feelings she has but tries so hard to repress. Maeve can't help but to open up and let Bianca in because she needs someone regardless of how hard she tries to pretend she doesn't and Bianca knows Maeve is the one meant for her and who will kill all the spiders.
When I think I can't possibly love Monica McCallan mores as a writer, she says, "hold my tiny dog whilst I make some word magic" Not only has she created two more beautiful, nuanced characters in Bianca and Maeve but she brings back Quinn and Sawyer from Back in Your Arms and I couldn't be more thrilled to catch up with them. This is the perfect book to sit in front of the fireplace and enjoy with a piping cup of hot cocoa and those annoyingly cheerful Christmas songs playing in the background.
https://sapphicbookreview.com/review/...
January 7, 2024
I like MCs who have flaws and who feel human and real.
So no, I didn't like this book a lot because I don't like perfect characters. Espescially not if the golden MC (Bianca) is just there to shine like the sun and bring happiness to the people and the other MC is not perfect and has growing up to do or has to get over their grumpiness (Maeve).
Sadly, I guess also my empathy is broken and I'm turning into a sarcastic b**** or maybe I always have been one. Hard to say.
Seriously, I can't find my eyeballs they got stuck while rolling around so much.
I'll share some quotes about Bianca the perfect MC.
"Heaven should just open up and take Bianca back to where she belonged. It wasn’t down here on Earth with the mortals."
🤢
"It was one thing Bianca prided herself on. Sometimes she was maybe a little evasive when the situation called for it, but always in service of not hurting someone. Whenever possible, she tried to be honest. Like, she’d never tell a patient’s owner something that would hurt them to know, but she would focus on relaying all the positive attributes of their pet’s health and making the conversation as comforting as she could. Even if she knew that it was a horrible situation, like in cases where an illness or injury was unexpected. Someone could ask her directly in those cases, and she’d still talk around it. Other than that, she was always honest, and on top of that, she tried to always be positive. It made her feel better about the life she was leading, and there was almost always something good to say, even if that meant leaving the bad things unsaid."
🙄 Honesty is something different, girl. This is lying to youself and others to seem sweet and pleasant, not being honest.
Oh and Bianca during sex because she knew Maeve would be leaving soon:
"But this wasn’t about her. It was about making Maeve come so hard that any other future lover would be a comparison—not a different experience." 🙄
And the one time Bianca is sad because of her work in a veterinary clinic, obviously it had to be over the most heartbreaking accident possible:
"“I’m okay. It was just one of those freak things. A car saw something on the side of the road and stopped. It was a mother and three puppies. The mom had already been hit by a car and the puppies were cuddled into her trying to stay warm. The driver brought all of them in, but the mom and two of the puppies didn’t make it." As she said the words, she felt the tears start to fall again, but she couldn’t stop them. “Oh god, Bianca. I’m so sorry. Come here.” Maeve pulled her into a surprisingly soft hug given how tightly she was holding Bianca in her arms. For a moment, all of Bianca’s sadness was washed away—so was the emptiness—and she felt the full strength of what Maeve in her life, through the good and the bad, could mean. Comfort and solace and passion and support."
Oh I'm always so happy when one MC can bring the other MC happiness they wouldn't have/experience on their own 🙄 (this was another sarcastic eyeroll btw).
Ok I'll stop now.
Tldr: sweet sweet novel with a perfect MC and a grumpy/bitter MC. Perfect for many, sadly not for me.
So no, I didn't like this book a lot because I don't like perfect characters. Espescially not if the golden MC (Bianca) is just there to shine like the sun and bring happiness to the people and the other MC is not perfect and has growing up to do or has to get over their grumpiness (Maeve).
Sadly, I guess also my empathy is broken and I'm turning into a sarcastic b**** or maybe I always have been one. Hard to say.
Seriously, I can't find my eyeballs they got stuck while rolling around so much.
I'll share some quotes about Bianca the perfect MC.
"Heaven should just open up and take Bianca back to where she belonged. It wasn’t down here on Earth with the mortals."
🤢
"It was one thing Bianca prided herself on. Sometimes she was maybe a little evasive when the situation called for it, but always in service of not hurting someone. Whenever possible, she tried to be honest. Like, she’d never tell a patient’s owner something that would hurt them to know, but she would focus on relaying all the positive attributes of their pet’s health and making the conversation as comforting as she could. Even if she knew that it was a horrible situation, like in cases where an illness or injury was unexpected. Someone could ask her directly in those cases, and she’d still talk around it. Other than that, she was always honest, and on top of that, she tried to always be positive. It made her feel better about the life she was leading, and there was almost always something good to say, even if that meant leaving the bad things unsaid."
🙄 Honesty is something different, girl. This is lying to youself and others to seem sweet and pleasant, not being honest.
Oh and Bianca during sex because she knew Maeve would be leaving soon:
"But this wasn’t about her. It was about making Maeve come so hard that any other future lover would be a comparison—not a different experience." 🙄
And the one time Bianca is sad because of her work in a veterinary clinic, obviously it had to be over the most heartbreaking accident possible:
"“I’m okay. It was just one of those freak things. A car saw something on the side of the road and stopped. It was a mother and three puppies. The mom had already been hit by a car and the puppies were cuddled into her trying to stay warm. The driver brought all of them in, but the mom and two of the puppies didn’t make it." As she said the words, she felt the tears start to fall again, but she couldn’t stop them. “Oh god, Bianca. I’m so sorry. Come here.” Maeve pulled her into a surprisingly soft hug given how tightly she was holding Bianca in her arms. For a moment, all of Bianca’s sadness was washed away—so was the emptiness—and she felt the full strength of what Maeve in her life, through the good and the bad, could mean. Comfort and solace and passion and support."
Oh I'm always so happy when one MC can bring the other MC happiness they wouldn't have/experience on their own 🙄 (this was another sarcastic eyeroll btw).
Ok I'll stop now.
Tldr: sweet sweet novel with a perfect MC and a grumpy/bitter MC. Perfect for many, sadly not for me.
January 8, 2022
Loved this book a lot. Great buildup of the characters and the romance.
August 18, 2023
This is a nice low,low angst romance. It's sweet, funny and hot as hell. Like all the best desserts my sweet tooth is aching and satisfied. Bonus points for the audiobook being narrated by Lori Prince. I'm giving 5 stars for the perfect beach, book corner, back yard, vacation read out there.
December 27, 2024
3 stars. This was sweet and cute, but I admit I almost knocked down the rating because of how easily the problems got resolved. Not realistic, but in the spirit of the Hallmark holiday season, I’ll let it pass.
March 11, 2022
Lovely story which is definitively better for having read 'in your arms.' Great characters - I'd expect nothing less from MMcC - recommended.
November 22, 2023
It surprised me how much I liked this one, considering it was quite short, and I wasn't that much into Back in Your Arms when I read it.
I guess it was unexpected how much I liked both Maeve and Bianca without one of them being a favorite, which is usually the case for me.
I also appreciated the lack of drama. The miscommunication was so minimal, you can't even really call it that. Very sweet but not overly cheesy.
I guess it was unexpected how much I liked both Maeve and Bianca without one of them being a favorite, which is usually the case for me.
I also appreciated the lack of drama. The miscommunication was so minimal, you can't even really call it that. Very sweet but not overly cheesy.
August 18, 2023
I think I was more excited to read Cuffing Season than I was to read Back in Your Arms, so of course I quickly followed up Back in Your Arms with Cuffing Season. And I can promise you that all my book reviews won’t be of Monica McCallan’s books, but there will likely be more later in the year.
We get a quick glimpse Bianca and Maeve in Back in Your Arms. They both work a local Irish pub, owned by Maeve’s father, that also serves as an incredible Italian restuarant, run by Bianca’s father. Sawyer suspects there’s a mutual atraction between the two, but they don’t otherwise play a role until Cuffing Season, which takes place approximately 6 months after the ending of Back in Your Arms. There is a little inconsistency in this timeline, but it’s not super important, so I’m trying not to dwell on it.
Maeve is back in Kingsford after the sudden and tragic death of her mother. She’s been running her father’s bar since she died because he’s a depressed and devastated shell of his former self. So her move back, which was supposed to be temporary and short in duration has turned into a little more than half a year away from New York City, where she’s desperate to get back to. Bianca, who grew up in NYC, followed her parents to Kingsford when they retired and works once a week at the Murphy’s bar so that she can support her father live out his restaurant dreams. And it’s great. She likes working at the pub, except for the fact that Maeve has no interest in making friends. Bianca, who is probably the world’s nicest person, really struggles with the fact that Maeve just doesn’t engage.
By some miracle, though, Bianca evetually breaks through Maeve’s don’t-come-close facade and a friendship in born. But attraction and feelings start to make a play, even though Maeve is still making plans to move back to NYC and Bianca is breaking her own rules about casual relationships. And Bianca’s off-handed remark about cuffing season becomes both a siren’s call and a prediction.
This is an opposites-attract, slow burn romance that will definitley warm your heart in the middle of the cold winter. McCallan manages to hold the tension of this narrative without letting the angst get too heavy, and I loved spending time in Kingsford again. Especailly since there are plenty of cameos from from the Back in Your Arms crew, My one complaint is that the bowling alley was entirely underused in this novel.
We get a quick glimpse Bianca and Maeve in Back in Your Arms. They both work a local Irish pub, owned by Maeve’s father, that also serves as an incredible Italian restuarant, run by Bianca’s father. Sawyer suspects there’s a mutual atraction between the two, but they don’t otherwise play a role until Cuffing Season, which takes place approximately 6 months after the ending of Back in Your Arms. There is a little inconsistency in this timeline, but it’s not super important, so I’m trying not to dwell on it.
Maeve is back in Kingsford after the sudden and tragic death of her mother. She’s been running her father’s bar since she died because he’s a depressed and devastated shell of his former self. So her move back, which was supposed to be temporary and short in duration has turned into a little more than half a year away from New York City, where she’s desperate to get back to. Bianca, who grew up in NYC, followed her parents to Kingsford when they retired and works once a week at the Murphy’s bar so that she can support her father live out his restaurant dreams. And it’s great. She likes working at the pub, except for the fact that Maeve has no interest in making friends. Bianca, who is probably the world’s nicest person, really struggles with the fact that Maeve just doesn’t engage.
By some miracle, though, Bianca evetually breaks through Maeve’s don’t-come-close facade and a friendship in born. But attraction and feelings start to make a play, even though Maeve is still making plans to move back to NYC and Bianca is breaking her own rules about casual relationships. And Bianca’s off-handed remark about cuffing season becomes both a siren’s call and a prediction.
This is an opposites-attract, slow burn romance that will definitley warm your heart in the middle of the cold winter. McCallan manages to hold the tension of this narrative without letting the angst get too heavy, and I loved spending time in Kingsford again. Especailly since there are plenty of cameos from from the Back in Your Arms crew, My one complaint is that the bowling alley was entirely underused in this novel.
December 13, 2021
Bravo!! Job very well done by Monica McCallan. I didn’t want to put this book down and managed to read it very quickly. This book plays off McCallan’s recent book, Back in Your Arms, which I also liked very much.
McCallan has a way of writing that portrays so much emotion but manages to layer it just enough not to completely break you. This book has a lot of tough subject matter. However, it was well thought out and enough time passed. Meaning each character had ample time to process all that was going on. This means a lot to me in any book. It’s very realistic. Even down to the language and conversations I could see myself having with a best friend or lover.
On that note, the main characters had palpable chemistry. So enjoyable to experience their story. The supporting characters really wrapped the whole book up in one amazing package.
McCallan books are now officially a no-brainer for me to put on TBR list!
McCallan has a way of writing that portrays so much emotion but manages to layer it just enough not to completely break you. This book has a lot of tough subject matter. However, it was well thought out and enough time passed. Meaning each character had ample time to process all that was going on. This means a lot to me in any book. It’s very realistic. Even down to the language and conversations I could see myself having with a best friend or lover.
On that note, the main characters had palpable chemistry. So enjoyable to experience their story. The supporting characters really wrapped the whole book up in one amazing package.
McCallan books are now officially a no-brainer for me to put on TBR list!
December 30, 2022
A well written winter romance that actually had the main characters make decisions like actual people. The pacing was decent and I appreciated that there was no extra unnecessary drama because the character's chose to move at their own pace. This was the first time reading this author so I was constantly afraid the other shoe would drop and was pleasantly suprised that the vibes stayed consistent throughout.
I did choose to round down because of the technique used by McCallan. It was when someone says something and then it spurs an internal tangent as the character ponders their options. It's an efficient way to release information when necessary, as opposed to front loading the reader, but I find it disrupts the flow of the scene. There were lots of these tangents throughout the book and it would cause me to lose interest in the scenes near the end.
I am happy to have another author to watch out for even if the writing style didnt fit me perfectly. If you're looking for a lower angst lesfic with a grumpy and sunshine pairing I suggest giving it a try.
I did choose to round down because of the technique used by McCallan. It was when someone says something and then it spurs an internal tangent as the character ponders their options. It's an efficient way to release information when necessary, as opposed to front loading the reader, but I find it disrupts the flow of the scene. There were lots of these tangents throughout the book and it would cause me to lose interest in the scenes near the end.
I am happy to have another author to watch out for even if the writing style didnt fit me perfectly. If you're looking for a lower angst lesfic with a grumpy and sunshine pairing I suggest giving it a try.
October 18, 2024
4.25 stars. Incredibly cute!!!
March 1, 2025
(February 28, 2025) I read this previous when binging the author's book on Kindle unlimited. I found my library now has the audiobook, delightfully read by Lori Prince. It has been long enough it was like reading it for the first time. I enjoyed it just as much now as I did in my original review below.
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(December 13, 2021) I've been working my way through all of McCallan's books on kindle-unlimited and she releases a holiday winter romance this weekend. A perfect way to finish (for now) her collection of writing. Maeve Murphy is 28 and packed up and left NYC returning to small town Kingsford after her mothers death. She's been helping run her dad's bar but is still planning on returning to her photography career in the big city. Bianca Rossi works for the local vet. She also works Friday nights at Murph's Bar. Bianca is lovely, kind and welcoming. She is also intrigued by the more quiet, grumpy Maeve who showed up and stayed for her dad. She first sets out to befriend Maeve which slowly works it way to more. Maeave doesn't want to make friends because she isn't planning on staying. But maybe her plans can change.
This is a very sweet, low angst, winter (cuffing season) romance. I enjoyed both characters. I liked the side characters but thought BF Jonny was a little too pushy. There is a pleasant amount of steaminess to help keep you warm while reading. This is a stand alone novel but happens in the same world/city as Back In Your Arms. If you have time read both (start with Arms).
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(December 13, 2021) I've been working my way through all of McCallan's books on kindle-unlimited and she releases a holiday winter romance this weekend. A perfect way to finish (for now) her collection of writing. Maeve Murphy is 28 and packed up and left NYC returning to small town Kingsford after her mothers death. She's been helping run her dad's bar but is still planning on returning to her photography career in the big city. Bianca Rossi works for the local vet. She also works Friday nights at Murph's Bar. Bianca is lovely, kind and welcoming. She is also intrigued by the more quiet, grumpy Maeve who showed up and stayed for her dad. She first sets out to befriend Maeve which slowly works it way to more. Maeave doesn't want to make friends because she isn't planning on staying. But maybe her plans can change.
This is a very sweet, low angst, winter (cuffing season) romance. I enjoyed both characters. I liked the side characters but thought BF Jonny was a little too pushy. There is a pleasant amount of steaminess to help keep you warm while reading. This is a stand alone novel but happens in the same world/city as Back In Your Arms. If you have time read both (start with Arms).
January 1, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
I almost screamed at the two characters: "Don't you get it? You are both smitten!"
I didn't know Cuffing Season was a sort of spin-off from Sawyer and Quinn's story from Back in Your Arms. I loved reading again about them as I liked their story a lot.
Cuffing Season is another coming back to town, grumpy meet cute or broody meet an incredible but insecure optimist novel.
Maeve and Bianca are adorable together, but they are so afraid of getting hurt, of their feelings not being reciprocated, that they end up not seeing what is clearly in front of them.
Communication is always the key and it takes time if you are not used to open up and say what you feel.
All of this back and forth helps although to the longing and pining, and it makes the coming together delicious to read. Oh yes, I love a good miscommunication trope.
Bianca is a total dormant powerhouse. I could totally feel the Italian temperament in her, while Maeve is the adorable grumpy outsider who finally finds a home, and stops running away.
The spiders quote was just too cute and it also made me giggle.
I almost screamed at the two characters: "Don't you get it? You are both smitten!"
I didn't know Cuffing Season was a sort of spin-off from Sawyer and Quinn's story from Back in Your Arms. I loved reading again about them as I liked their story a lot.
Cuffing Season is another coming back to town, grumpy meet cute or broody meet an incredible but insecure optimist novel.
Maeve and Bianca are adorable together, but they are so afraid of getting hurt, of their feelings not being reciprocated, that they end up not seeing what is clearly in front of them.
Communication is always the key and it takes time if you are not used to open up and say what you feel.
All of this back and forth helps although to the longing and pining, and it makes the coming together delicious to read. Oh yes, I love a good miscommunication trope.
Bianca is a total dormant powerhouse. I could totally feel the Italian temperament in her, while Maeve is the adorable grumpy outsider who finally finds a home, and stops running away.
The spiders quote was just too cute and it also made me giggle.
December 21, 2021
Cuffing season….what in the world is that?!? Monica McCallan has written such a sweet, delightful read about grumpy and sunshine pining for one another while trying to maintain that it’s just a cuffing season deal. Bianca was exactly who Maeve needed to help her come to terms and deal with the trauma of losing her mother. I can relate as my mom passed away 2 years ago. It doesn’t get better, it gets different. I really enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Shirley! I thoroughly enjoyed this low angst, adorable read and I’m thrilled I now understand what cuffing season really means!
December 23, 2021
9/10*
// tldr tldr
nicely seasoned (christmas/ny) slowburn
// tldr
definitely recommend if you're ready for cute characters adorably pining for one another but not overly much where it gets impossibly dull and forced
//
Maeve and Bianca. (would give 5 stars just for the names tbh)
I literally never read a book where MCs have prettier names than these right here. I was happy just because they were named like that. Plus, Bianca is my favourite girl name which I would literally give to my nonexistent child (if tloml didn't hate it ofc lol).
Anyway - i LOVED the slowburn. I was feeling the nerves go through my body because of the constant pining.
Would've loved it even more were it a bit longer? Maybe it's a bit too quick?
I liked all the characters even though this is a holiday romance so we don't really get to know much of anyone. We barely scratch the surface of MCs but i'm guessing that's the genre thing. No time for deeper story (although there is a bit of a talk of it but i guess all of it just feels too brushed off to me - like, yeah we went over that in a paragraph and we filled up the minimum angst quota for the book). I mean i guess that makes sense since holiday romance books are supossed to go to the feel-good shelf. Too much angst would f*ck that up for sure.
Bianca and Maeve are so cute, both when they're together and when they're not. For some reason I had a (surprisingly accurate) picture of Meave in my head even at the beginning when i only knew her name (probably because of Maeve from The Sex Ed). Still, it worked. Bianca was also almost 100% accurately portrayed in my head before the author described her features. It was kinda weird ngl.
I only read one book by Monica McCallan (tapping into love - which i liked) and then added almost all of her books in my tbr list but only now got to read it. Judging by these two I'd definitely recommend her works!
* thought about rating it 8/10 if i'm being honest but i realized that i read it in one breath and literally felt all the feelings that MCs had that i couldn't not give it 5 stars
// tldr tldr
nicely seasoned (christmas/ny) slowburn
// tldr
definitely recommend if you're ready for cute characters adorably pining for one another but not overly much where it gets impossibly dull and forced
//
Maeve and Bianca. (would give 5 stars just for the names tbh)
I literally never read a book where MCs have prettier names than these right here. I was happy just because they were named like that. Plus, Bianca is my favourite girl name which I would literally give to my nonexistent child (if tloml didn't hate it ofc lol).
Anyway - i LOVED the slowburn. I was feeling the nerves go through my body because of the constant pining.
Would've loved it even more were it a bit longer? Maybe it's a bit too quick?
I liked all the characters even though this is a holiday romance so we don't really get to know much of anyone. We barely scratch the surface of MCs but i'm guessing that's the genre thing. No time for deeper story (although there is a bit of a talk of it but i guess all of it just feels too brushed off to me - like, yeah we went over that in a paragraph and we filled up the minimum angst quota for the book). I mean i guess that makes sense since holiday romance books are supossed to go to the feel-good shelf. Too much angst would f*ck that up for sure.
Bianca and Maeve are so cute, both when they're together and when they're not. For some reason I had a (surprisingly accurate) picture of Meave in my head even at the beginning when i only knew her name (probably because of Maeve from The Sex Ed). Still, it worked. Bianca was also almost 100% accurately portrayed in my head before the author described her features. It was kinda weird ngl.
I only read one book by Monica McCallan (tapping into love - which i liked) and then added almost all of her books in my tbr list but only now got to read it. Judging by these two I'd definitely recommend her works!
* thought about rating it 8/10 if i'm being honest but i realized that i read it in one breath and literally felt all the feelings that MCs had that i couldn't not give it 5 stars
May 7, 2022
3.5*
May 16, 2023
I enjoyed this. A slight check in with the two mains from back in your arms. The mains romance held my interest. Nothing too deep or angsty, which is just what I wanted.
May 23, 2023
3.5 stars for the story. Extra 0.5 star for the epilogue
Why are two books set in the same town with overlapping characters so similar??! 😭 This is a major reason why I did not enjoy the book as much as I had thought I would.
The writing is good. This book would be great as a standalone but if you club it with Back In Your Arms, you'll find yourself skimming pages like I ended up doing towards the end.
Why are two books set in the same town with overlapping characters so similar??! 😭 This is a major reason why I did not enjoy the book as much as I had thought I would.
The writing is good. This book would be great as a standalone but if you club it with Back In Your Arms, you'll find yourself skimming pages like I ended up doing towards the end.
December 16, 2024
I always love Monica's characters. They're cute, sweet, romantic, and always bring some good spice and chemistry. Sprinkle in a little holiday cheer and I'm all over it.
February 25, 2023
3.5 A sweet and quick read
July 19, 2022
I have got to admit it: bianca and Maeve are really cute. But I love the book especially because I got to see more of Quinn and Sawyer. Solid 4.5
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