Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Nicole lavora per il Foreign Service americano. È una donna coraggiosa, ambiziosa ed è completamente concentrata sulla carriera diplomatica. Non c'è posto per un uomo nella sua vita: troppo rischioso. Fino a quel 17 dicembre ad Amman. Fino a che, a una festa all'Ambasciata italiana, non conosce l'affascinante Alessandro della Torre. Inizia per lei una settimana di fuoco. Dopo anni di astinenza e solitudine, in soli sette giorni, Alessandro risveglia la donna passionale che è in lei. Una settimana soltanto, la settimana più intensa della sua vita. Finché, la Vigilia di Natale, il mondo le crolla addosso: Alessandro sparisce nel nulla e Nicole precipita nella più totale disperazione. E poi, esattamente un anno dopo...

35 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 23, 2003

16 people are currently reading
227 people want to read

About the author

Lisa Marie Rice

57 books1,610 followers
Lisa Marie Rice is eternally 30 years old and will never age. She is tall and willowy and beautiful. Men drop at her feet like ripe pears. She has won every major book prize in the world. She is a black belt with advanced degrees in archaeology, nuclear physics, and Tibetan literature. She is a concert pianist. Did I mention her Nobel Prize? Of course, Lisa Marie Rice is a virtual woman and exists only at the keyboard when writing erotic romance. She disappears when the monitor winks off.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
82 (23%)
4 stars
120 (33%)
3 stars
111 (31%)
2 stars
29 (8%)
1 star
11 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Anita.
2,646 reviews218 followers
December 9, 2017
Wonderful romance with a touch of suspense Novella. Really quick read and as hot and sexy as they come. Nicole is with the Foreign Service and meets the hottest Italian diplomat, Alessandro, spends a week with him, falls in love and Pooof - he disappears.
Profile Image for Fanny.
2,395 reviews50 followers
October 6, 2017



Las novelas de Lisa Marie Rice siempre consiguen atraparme, no importa que sean historias cortas como esta o libros con mas paginas, casi siempre termino satisfecha con la lectura, en esta ocasion me hubiera gustado que la autora desarrollara mas la trama y que hubiera sido mas larga pero estuvo bien para pasar una hora distraida.

Es corta, rapida y entretenida, ademas Lisa siempre me hace desear volver a Italia con sus descripciones.

2.5 Estrellas!
Profile Image for Jen_C.
1,112 reviews56 followers
November 13, 2016
It read like a satire. Couldn't believe this was LMR. Cheez-tactic. They meet, bang like bunnies for a week and then on the night he is coming to MOVE IN with her, he doesn't show. They meet again a year later.


She decides she needs to bang someone else so she can forget Alessandro but it doesn't go well.

Every muscle she had tightened. Her entire body closed in on itself in rejection and David couldn't penetrate.

Thoughts in Alessandro's head after he shows up again.

Together they'd put back on the weight they'd lose over the past horrible year. They'd stuff each other with food in bed. Food and sex, the eternal healers.

He REPEATEDLY refers to her "butterfly" a.k.a her female parts. Cringe.

He knew Nicole's butterfly like he knew his own di*k, Everything it wanted, everything it desired, what made it purr, what turned it off, what made it tick...
He wanted to be inside her butterfly as fast as humanly possible.

His love had a small little butterfly and the second time they always found it easier for him to eff her, once his seed was in her.


He held her face still for his kisses while hemounted her.
She hadn't been with another man. He'd have smelled it, felt it.

- REALLY? A year later? What a smell that would have been!

He'd shot so much semen into her they were making wet sounds and were probably staining the yellow satin of the couch. They smelled too.

Remind me never ever to cheat on you.
For the very first time, Nicole felt able to smile. "I would cut your heart out and eat it if you ever cheated on me."
"Beautiful and bloodthirsty." He gave her a quick kiss. "I'm in very deep here."

Profile Image for Heather in FL.
2,063 reviews
December 29, 2012
This was a short one, but it really packed a punch. Nicole works for the Foreign Service. Because she's a single girl, she has to be very careful about her relationships. Especially in Amman, where the story starts out. But at a party at the Italian embassy, she meets Alessandro, and the fall hard for each other. For a week. And then he disappears. Nicole is heartbroken. Can't eat, can barely concentrate. When her time is up in Amman, she jumps at the chance to transfer. She thinks she's going to Africa... but she's sent to Naples instead. What did she ever do to Karma?

How could Nicole have known what kept Alessandro away? How could she open herself back up to get walked on again? But he had a really good excuse, and hearing his side of things of what was happening while she was hurting... he had a really good excuse.

A happy ending, but a bit of angst in between. Like I said, this was a rather short story, but very impressionable for its length.
Profile Image for Chrissy.
433 reviews6 followers
December 10, 2015
***I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review***

This is a short romance, from this amazing author. I have to admit it was a fast read, but it was HOT all the same and really good. If you think this is going to be a romantic suspense it's not. It is a about a love story but it's still good, pick up your copy today!
Profile Image for Melann.
975 reviews22 followers
December 15, 2013
Un début un peu long et qui manque de crédibilité (se mettre misère des mois pour une aventure d'une semaine, faut pas pousser), une deuxième partie très (trop ?) rapide mais qui est beaucoup plus intéressante.
Profile Image for Fabiola Chenet.
Author 30 books31 followers
December 11, 2013
J'aime beaucoup les histoires de Noël en général et celle-là est toute tendre, romantique et émouvante. Elle est très courte mais tout y est et c'est super. :)
Profile Image for Ree.
2,510 reviews53 followers
December 12, 2015
This was a short, spicy read. I enjoyed it immensely. It's not as heavy on the suspense that is normally Lisa's style, but you will enjoy it regardless.
2,205 reviews
June 24, 2018
One of the things I love about romantic fiction is that it IS in fact "fiction", a place where fantasy can be real and nothing is too out there such as "insta love". People who expect reality in their fiction should read literary fiction, which I personally find boring (just my opinion, not a fact for all). This small story has all that makes romantic fantasy wonderful. There is instant recognition, hearty sex with love-god type of male, sorrow, separation, misunderstanding and then reunion with love everlasting. It is a quick read, well written and just fun.
Profile Image for Carmen Laura.
9 reviews1 follower
December 8, 2021
Me ha gustado mucho, aunque me parece que es una historia demasiado buena para que se quedará en una historia corta. Con lo bien que escribe Lisa, sería un libro magnífico con más desarrollo
Profile Image for Les Chroniques Aléatoires.
1,615 reviews17 followers
March 15, 2016
Il y a quelques jours j’ai reçu une newsletter des Romantiques annonçant qu’elles se lançaient dans la publication de nouvelles inédites en France. Et pour le tout premier ebook, c’est Lisa Marie Rice qui leur a fait confiance et j’en suis ravie !! L’ange de Noël est une courte nouvelle romantique épicée qui est totalement dans l’esprit des fêtes de fin d’année et qui se savoure parfaitement au chaud !

Nicole Caron travaille pour les Affaires Étrangères des USA, ce qui fait qu’elle a énormément voyagé pour une femme de 31 ans. Elle apparait aux yeux des autres comme une femme froide, mystérieuse et obsédée par son job, en plus d’être magnifique et désirée par ses collègues. Et pourtant, c’est une jeune femme qui ne laisse pas cours à ses sentiments romantiques n’ayant pas trouver le Prince charmant jusqu’à Alessandro qui lui brisera le cœur !

Alessandro est le bel étalon italien dans toute sa splendeur et dans la première moitié de la nouvelle, il nous est décrit comme un magnifique homme, un excellent amant et un salaud de première. Il faudra attendre la seconde partie pour avoir l’histoire de son point de vue et le trouver craquant et attachant. C’est un homme proche de sa famille et de ses racines, loyal envers son pays et amoureux de Nicole.

Lisa Marie Rice manie les scènes hot avec parcimonie et un doigté magistral ! On suit surtout les sentiments, les ressentis des deux personnages mais toujours avec une part de secret. Leur relation est passionnelle et courte, tout comme la nouvelle qui nous donne envie d’en savoir plus sur les deux amants ! Au final, c’est peut-être un peu trop court mais ça n’en reste pas moins 1€ bien investit !
Profile Image for Valérie.
1,179 reviews1 follower
December 12, 2013
Un histoire Romantique et Sensuelle un cocktail parfait.

Achetée directement sur le site des romantiques qui se lance dans l'édition numérique, cette courte nouvelle de Lisa Marie Rice est absolument délicieuse. Dépaysante par le contexte qui nous fait voyager, romantique par les sentiments profonds que ressentent les deux héros et sensuelle par les scènes amoureuses passionnées que l'auteure sait écrire à la perfection. C'est certes un court format mais tout y est pour vous faire passer un moment de lecture agréable, vous avez en une petite quarantaine de pages une vraie romance qui vous fait fondre de plaisir.

Racontée du point de vue de nos deux héros Nicole et Allessandro, nous suivons leur histoire d'amour contrariée qui s'écoule sur une année. Commencée par un coup de foudre mutuel lors d'une veillée de Noël , puis une semaine de passion torride qui occupe chaque seconde de leur temps libre, suivie d'une séparation brutale qui va ravager la jeune femme tombée amoureuse sans s'en apercevoir jusqu'aux retrouvailles surprises alors qu'elle commençait à guérir. C'est intense, torride comme sait si bien l'écrire Lisa Marie Rice mais empli de bon sentiments pour faire vibrer notre petit côté fleur bleue.

Cette petite nouvelle est une vraie réussite avec tous les ingrédients pour vous faire passer un très bon moment de lecture.

Profile Image for Sabrina (Soter) Sally.
2,155 reviews70 followers
December 14, 2013
“A costo di esalare l’ultimo respiro e trascinarsi sulle ginocchia, avrebbe soccorso Nicole. Nicole era sua, l’avrebbe amata e protetta fino alla fine del mondo.”

Un brevissimo racconto natalizio, molto passionale (stiamo parlando della Rice, insomma, una buona metà dev'essere tra le lenzuola XD) e romantico! Nicole e Alessandro hanno passato un'indimenticabile settimana di passione dopo la quale però lui è improvvisamente scomparso nel nulla lasciando Nicole con il cuore a pezzi. Un anno dopo, nella nostra magica Italia, i due si rincontrano: Alessandro è determinato a riconquistare la donna amata ma prima dovrà dare qualche spiegazione....il racconto è davvero brevissimo perciò chiaramente gli avvenimenti, anche quelli che meritavano più spazio, sono parecchio striminziti ma c'era da aspettarselo XD Piccolo appunto: Alessandro racconta a Nicole che i bambini italiani chiamato "farfallina" i genitali femminili (e lui stesso chiama continuamente così quelli di Nicole ) ma non mi risulta proprio...sarò ignorante io o la Rice ha delle idee su noi italiani a dir poco bislacche? mistero! XD
59 reviews1 follower
December 19, 2015
I received an ARC for a fair review, but honestly, I already had a copy. But as I'll collect anything by / with / from LMR, I'm all over it.

This is a rerelease of a story previously published by Ellora's Cave. It's lovely to see it available again. Rice's work with suspense and international politics is evident even in this early work. If you've got a friend you'd like to buy a gift for who might not be "into" Romance, this would be a great gift to introduce them to one of the strongest writers in the genre of really sexy romance.

Gotta say, I did get teary eyed with this one. It actually hurt.
593 reviews
October 3, 2014
Very short. Read in Japanese. Typical RMR, which I like. Just warm.

Nicole Caron lost the love of her life on Christmas Eve. Now only the Christmas Angel can help her.

In Italy.


Japanese version is within an anthology.クリスマス・エンジェル
ナポリの美しい夜景を、ニコールは寂しく眺めていた。一年前のクリスマス、アレッサンドロと過ごした夢のような時間。彼が突然姿を消してからの魂の抜けたような一年。しかし聖夜は奇跡を運んでくる…。リサ・マリー・ライスによる表題作ほか、パティシエと保安官のチャーミングな恋模様を描く『ジェサミンのクリスマスの贈り物』Jessamyn's Christmas Gift、本書のために著者が大幅に改稿した一途な愛の物語『ラブ・ミー』Love Me の計3本を収録。
Profile Image for Desiree.
15 reviews2 followers
December 9, 2015
Another masterpiece of Lisa Marie Rice.
A Christmas Tale... An intense romance... A profound love... An unexplained disappearance... Intense pain... A Christmas miracle...
It is impossible not to fall in love !!!


Mas uma obra prima de Lisa Marie Rice.
Um Conto de Natal... Um romance intenso... Um amor profundo... Um desaparecimento sem explicação... Uma dor intensa... Um milagre de Natal...
Não tem como não se apaixonar !!!
Profile Image for Aimz.
241 reviews
December 9, 2015
I love Christmas Angel…. I cannot believe I have not read this sooner! It is a quick novella, but it has all the talent that Lisa Marie Rice brings to the table! Nicole Caron is foreign service officer who has to be cautious with who she dates as most locals to where she is stationed are off limits. However, at a Christmas party she meets Alessandro…and the two are like each other’s half… for a week and he is gone. Will he ever be back, did something happen to him…. Loved this one!
Profile Image for Nancy Miller.
51 reviews1 follower
February 8, 2016
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I consider this as a Christmas present from one of my favorite authors. Lisa Marie Rice weaves a tale of love, lost and found, in the foreign service.
This is a short story, so she did try to compress a lot of information into a few pages, and probably could have fleshed it out into a longer story. However, it was still an enjoyable quick read, and perfect for when you just need a fast "Lisa" fix.
Profile Image for Nenya.
504 reviews18 followers
June 6, 2016
short and sweet (again). but if the genders were reversed, and i would rate this 1 star, never to read again. however, that's not the case, and i guess i can let go of the i might even rate this 3 stars. or maybe not.
Profile Image for Karen Fontaine.
206 reviews
November 4, 2016
The Christmas Angel
by Lisa Marie Rice

What if the one thing you want for Christmas is the one thing that disappears?
Nicole Caron is stationed in Amman for the holidays, when she swept off her feet in a whirlwind romance with Italian dignitary, Alessandro della Torre.

But then Alessandro disappears without a trace...

This was a short beautiful written story!!! Lisa Marie Rice never disappoints!!
238 reviews14 followers
December 13, 2015
The Christmas Angel is a great novella. My own gripe is that it is way too short. 2 chapters cannot really be considered a book in my point of view. However, if you are looking for a quick and interesting read, The Christmas Angel will satisfy your craving. Nicole and Alessandro has explosive chemistry and it was interesting to read what Lisa could come out with with just 2 chapters.
Profile Image for Netanella.
4,726 reviews38 followers
April 8, 2011
Here's a perfect example of the saying, "You can't judge a book by its cover." What a perfectly horrible cover for an awesome short story that's surprisingly sweet and touching and everything I enjoy about Lisa Marie Rice as an author. And I'll definitey put the word "butterfly" to new use!
Profile Image for Maria Morelli.
Author 4 books13 followers
December 18, 2016
No, proprio no.
Completamente no.
Il linguaggio erotico mi ha lasciata piuttosto raccapricciata tra peni e farfalline, il linguaggio dei dialoghi è, al contrario, sullo svenevole. Senso della misura dove sei?
Il lieto fine arriva all'improvviso ed è gestito piuttosto male.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for MountainKat.
2,334 reviews107 followers
December 14, 2011
*3+ Stars*

Short, sweet, steamy and utterly unbelievable. I liked it anyway!

Finished 12.13.11, date removed so it doesn't count towards the reading challenge.
Profile Image for Darcy.
14.4k reviews543 followers
May 19, 2013
This quick little short was super sweet, although I wasn't sure it was going to end that way at one point.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.