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Better Watch Out
An accidental meet-cute, a case of mistaken identity, and a bucket-list of Christmas activities befitting a Hallmark movie make this holiday romantic adventure the perfect Christmas read.
Leave the candy canes, take the pepper spray! Nothing screams Christmas like a week spent ice skating, visiting Santa, and sharing a kiss or two under the mistletoe. Frannie Frost has crafted the perfect bucket list of romantic activities to surprise her boyfriend in the most magical place at Christmas time-New York City. When he unexpectedly becomes her ex, her plans are derailed leaving her with a choice. Wallow in self-pity at Christmas time or take matters into her own hands. Former NHL defenseman turned personal protection agent, Andrew Bishop, loves his job-when things go as planned-but Frannie Frost is definitely not part of the plan. Still, when her brother, the man who saved Andrew's life last year, asks him to deliver his sister safely to the airport, he can't say no.
The only problem? Frannie isn't leaving. She's determined to make the most of her trip by checking off a bucket list of cliché Christmas activities that would make even Santa's elves jealous. Andrew's content to let her go until he learns that Frannie's been mistaken for his client and thrust into the midst of danger. Better Watch Out is a sweet romantic holiday adventure that gives you all of laughs of a rom-com while adding a touch of suspense. Tropes you're sure to love include the new girl in the city vibe, stranded at Christmas, under the mistletoe, forced proximity, and a touch of enemies to lovers. Enjoy this romantic adventure that's sure to make your holidays merry and bright.
Leave the candy canes, take the pepper spray! Nothing screams Christmas like a week spent ice skating, visiting Santa, and sharing a kiss or two under the mistletoe. Frannie Frost has crafted the perfect bucket list of romantic activities to surprise her boyfriend in the most magical place at Christmas time-New York City. When he unexpectedly becomes her ex, her plans are derailed leaving her with a choice. Wallow in self-pity at Christmas time or take matters into her own hands. Former NHL defenseman turned personal protection agent, Andrew Bishop, loves his job-when things go as planned-but Frannie Frost is definitely not part of the plan. Still, when her brother, the man who saved Andrew's life last year, asks him to deliver his sister safely to the airport, he can't say no.
The only problem? Frannie isn't leaving. She's determined to make the most of her trip by checking off a bucket list of cliché Christmas activities that would make even Santa's elves jealous. Andrew's content to let her go until he learns that Frannie's been mistaken for his client and thrust into the midst of danger. Better Watch Out is a sweet romantic holiday adventure that gives you all of laughs of a rom-com while adding a touch of suspense. Tropes you're sure to love include the new girl in the city vibe, stranded at Christmas, under the mistletoe, forced proximity, and a touch of enemies to lovers. Enjoy this romantic adventure that's sure to make your holidays merry and bright.
286 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2023
55 people are currently reading
674 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Walters
14 books1,207 followersMy world revolves around GIJOE and our three adult (or almost adult) children who keep my life anything but predictable. Our boots hit the ground wherever the Army sends us but home is when we’re all together no matter the zipcode. My passion is writing stories where adventure meets love and share my belief that life rooted in purpose is a story worth telling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
December 24, 2023
Better Watch Out by Natalie Walters - 5 BIG Stars!
Now, here is the Christmas romance book that truly captured my holiday spirit this season! I adored it immensely, especially after spending the month reading other Christmas books that didn't quite resonate with me—until I stumbled upon this gem. Natalie Walters, thank you for delivering an exceptional romantic suspense Christmas story filled with the festive cheer I needed!
We follow Former NHL defenseman turned protection agent, Andrew Bishop and Frannie Frost. Frannie is in New York for a surprise visit to her boyfriend, but things don't work out as planned when her boyfriend breaks up with her for another woman. Left feeling alone in the middle of New York, Frannie is determined to make this trip one to remember by checking off her bucket list of Christmas activities! Frannie's brother asks his friend (Andrew) to deliver his sister Frannie to the airport. Since her brother saved his life last year, he feels like he can't say no. Things get a bit crazy when the woman that Andrew was supposed to be protecting gets mistaken to be Frannie so a bit of mistaken identity and fun bucket list items make for a fun Christmas adventure!
As a Christmas enthusiast, witnessing Frannie partake in these joyous holiday activities was perfect for me. The New York setting added an extra layer of charm, allowing me to vicariously experience the city through the story! What I cherished most about this book was its embodiment of the Christmas spirit. The romance was endearingly sweet, delivering an irresistibly cute story.
Pick this up if you want a fun Christmas adventure with all the good things!
Now, here is the Christmas romance book that truly captured my holiday spirit this season! I adored it immensely, especially after spending the month reading other Christmas books that didn't quite resonate with me—until I stumbled upon this gem. Natalie Walters, thank you for delivering an exceptional romantic suspense Christmas story filled with the festive cheer I needed!
We follow Former NHL defenseman turned protection agent, Andrew Bishop and Frannie Frost. Frannie is in New York for a surprise visit to her boyfriend, but things don't work out as planned when her boyfriend breaks up with her for another woman. Left feeling alone in the middle of New York, Frannie is determined to make this trip one to remember by checking off her bucket list of Christmas activities! Frannie's brother asks his friend (Andrew) to deliver his sister Frannie to the airport. Since her brother saved his life last year, he feels like he can't say no. Things get a bit crazy when the woman that Andrew was supposed to be protecting gets mistaken to be Frannie so a bit of mistaken identity and fun bucket list items make for a fun Christmas adventure!
As a Christmas enthusiast, witnessing Frannie partake in these joyous holiday activities was perfect for me. The New York setting added an extra layer of charm, allowing me to vicariously experience the city through the story! What I cherished most about this book was its embodiment of the Christmas spirit. The romance was endearingly sweet, delivering an irresistibly cute story.
Pick this up if you want a fun Christmas adventure with all the good things!
December 2, 2024
A fun festive Christmas romantic suspense!
I loved the dynamic between the love interests.
There were so many cute moments!
There were a lot of characters to keep straight so I glazed over those. Minimal faith content.
I really enjoyed it and would totally recommend as a great Christmas novella!
I loved the dynamic between the love interests.
There were so many cute moments!
There were a lot of characters to keep straight so I glazed over those. Minimal faith content.
I really enjoyed it and would totally recommend as a great Christmas novella!
December 25, 2023
4 stars
Christmas in NYC... I love it! This was the perfect holiday read. A new to me author, sweet romance, and a bit of suspense thrown in. I enjoyed it so much!
Christmas in NYC... I love it! This was the perfect holiday read. A new to me author, sweet romance, and a bit of suspense thrown in. I enjoyed it so much!
December 22, 2023
About this book:
“Leave the candy canes, take the pepper spray!
Nothing screams Christmas like a week spent ice skating, visiting Santa, and sharing a kiss or two under the mistletoe. Frannie Frost has crafted the perfect bucket list of romantic activities to surprise her boyfriend in the most magical place at Christmas time—New York City. When he unexpectedly becomes her ex, her plans are derailed leaving her with a choice. Wallow in self-pity at Christmas time or take matters into her own hands.
Former NHL defenseman turned personal protection agent, Andrew Bishop, loves his job—when things go as planned—but Frannie Frost is definitely not part of the plan. Still, when her brother, the man who saved Andrew’s life last year, asks him to deliver his sister safely to the airport, he can’t say no.
The only problem? Frannie isn’t leaving. She’s determined to make the most of her trip by checking off a bucket list of cliché Christmas actives that would make even Santa’s elves jealous. Andrew’s content to let her go until he learns that Frannie’s been mistaken for his client and thrust into the midst of danger.”
Series: Mentions & Features characters from “Deadly Deceit”. Review of that book, Here!
Spiritual Content- 'H's are capital when referring to God; Frannie thinks that nothing deepened her faith faster “than her brother’s dangerous career choice”; Frannie & Andrew tour a Catholic historical church (that he typically attends when he can); Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches, church going, & services (including a Mass service); A few mentions of God; A few mentions of those in the Bible (including someone being a good Samaritan & a “rob Peter to pay Paul” plot); A couple mentions of a church’s prison ministry; A mention of the Holy Spirit; A mention of a Christmas hymn; A mention of an empty manger off to the side in a church; A mention of being Blessed;
*Note: Going to see & mentions of Santa Claus; Mentions of superstitions & bad luck (a side character kisses a hockey puck for good luck); A few mentions of the ghosts in ‘A Christmas Carol’; A mention of Father Time.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘gah’, an ‘oh my word’, an ‘oh my jingle-jangle stars’, a ‘sheesh’, two forms of ‘darn’, two ‘idiot’s, and six forms of ‘stupid’; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; An attempted kidnapping, Fighting/Self-defense, Being held hostage, Being threatened/attacked, Being shoved, Almost being runover, Pain, Injuries, (up to semi-detailed); Frannie goes to a bar/grill & is offered wine by another customer (she turns it down); Many mentions of threats, a ransomware attack, blackmail, crimes, criminals/thugs, stalkers, abductions, & muggings; Mentions of terrorism & terrorists (including a mention of 9/11); Mentions of hits, hitmen, the mafia, & organized crime families; Mentions of money laundering & frauds; Mentions of gambling (on hockey games and horse races); Mentions of pain, major injuries, & blood/bleeding (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of alcohol & drinking (including a side character drinking wine after getting her daughter to bed, Vivian from another book by this author); A few mentions of assaults; A few mentions of an almost shooting & bullet aimed for taking someone’s life; A few mentions of identity theft; A few mentions of prisons; A few mentions of kids teasing/bullying others; A couple mentions of the death of a police officer in a sting gone bad; A couple mentions of a dying relative’s bucket list; A mention of a skiing accident & death; A mention of a body bag; A mention of waterboarding; A mention of a robbery; A mention of explosives; A mention of wondering if someone is high on something; A mention of graffiti; A mention of a hazing initiation;
*Note: Frannie is determined to not be her mother who let her husband walk out on their family (this is a big issue for Frannie even though her brother has told her that they were better off without him; She compares her upbringing to another’s seemingly perfect family and thinks that while she’s proud of her mother now, it was hard growing up with other kids teasing her; She vowed that she’d do “whatever it took to make sure a guy never did to her what her father did to her mom”); Frannie’s brother is overprotective and she gets upset with it, wanting to be able to make her own choices; A young girl gets overstimulation in a line (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of movies, TV shows, fictional characters, quotes, & actors/actresses and other celebrities (Apollo 13, The Godfather, The Grinch, Home Alone, The Bodyguard, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Miracle on 34th Street, Die Hard, Polar Express, Eloise at Christmastime, Elf, It Happened on Fifth Avenue, It’s a Wonderful Life, North by Northwest, A Christmas Carol, Criminal Minds, The Office, Law & Order, Chris Pratt, Kevin Costner, Natalie Wood, Bruce Willis, Trudy O’Connor, Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Chris Evans, Cary Grant, Macaulay Culkin, Riggs Atwood, Whitney Houston, Michael Bublé, Celine Dion, Bing Crosby, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Nora Ephron, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Andy Warhol, & Ella Fitzgerald); Mentions of brand names (North Face, Cole Haan, Armani, Henley, Michael Kors, & Colgate); Mentions of Uber & car brands; Mentions of other pop culture references (Vanity Fair, Barbie, Netflix, FaceTime, Instagram, McDonald’s, Macy’s, Nutella, Godiva, Sprite, Coke, Nespresso, & Candy Land); Mentions of hotel chains; Mentions of superheroes (Superman, Batman, & Star-Lord); Mentions of sports teams; Mentions of Hallmark & Lifetime movies.
Sexual Content- Three almost (semi-detailed) kisses, a forehead kiss (up to semi-detailed), a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, a semi-detailed kiss, and a detailed kiss; Staring at lips (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to kiss (up to semi-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Nearness, Electricity, Butterflies, & Smelling (semi-detailed); Imagining & Wanting to touch, embrace, & run fingers through another’s hair (up to semi-detailed); Blushes; Noticing & Staring (including muscles, up to semi-detailed); A ‘hot’, a ‘hunky’, and three forms of ‘sexy’ (including beautiful women being dressed like “sexy reindeer” in a Radio City Rockettes show); Frannie hoped that her boyfriend would invite her to stay in an extra bedroom at his family’s home and when he didn’t, she thinks it’s because of propriety more than anything else; When near Frannie, Andrew gets hots and thinks that he thought he outgrew those teenage emotions; Frannie gets defensive when Andrew asks if her family liked her ex-boyfriend; Many mentions of dates, dating, boyfriends/girlfriends, crushes, break-ups, being dumped, & exes; Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of flirting & swooning; A few mentions of women throwing themselves at hockey players; A few mentions of checking someone out & oogling them; A couple mentions of Frannie going to her hotel room alone (without Andrew; misunderstanding but implied to have been possibly suggestive); A mention of baby daddy drama; A mention of seeing a couple kiss; A mention of a second grader trying to kiss her crush (Frannie); A mention of a pick-up line; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Towards the beginning, Andrew gives Frannie a certain smile to manipulate her feelings to get her to do what he wants (to keep her safe); When Frannie hugs him, Andrew has a thought that would “put him on Santa’s naughty list”; A few mentions of underwear (including a mention of a superstition about wearing the same underwear); A couple mentions of a man teasing another about the Radio City Rockettes being “too much women” for him to handle; A mention of a woman’s dress leaving “nothing to the imagination”; A mention of a woman’s curves (Andrew’s point of view); A mention of a doll for young girls that was “all curves, pouty lips, and in a cringe-inducing outfit” (Frannie is appalled); A mention of a fat man (Santa).
-Francis “Frannie” Frost
-Andrew Bishop
P.O.V. switches between them
268 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
I’m really not a big Christmas book reader or fan, so I do feel like I pushed myself to read this one. It took about halfway through for me to get into this book and enjoy the cheesy Christmas theme, but the ice-skating rink parts were my favorite.
I did really like seeing a couple from a prior book by this author and that their family had grown—but it was by adopting a little girl from Korea. That was probably my favorite part of the book because that’s near to my heart.
Frannie wasn't the smartest character I’ve ever read. Like the other books I’ve read by this author, there’s a lot of physical attraction and noticing the other’s body, including his muscles. There’s also a lot of mentions of brand names, celebrities, and movies that while sometimes added to the realness of the book, also pulled me out of the plot because it was a lot of mentions of all of that.
I wasn’t really a fan of how he was encouraging her that she could handle herself on her own in a big city—contrary to what her law enforcement brother thinks—but he’s keeping a secret from her that she actually is in danger because of someone mistaking her identity with his actual client. He does eventually tell her, but if I was in this book, I would have been an extra in the background holding up a placard that said “tell her the truth!”
I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve read her brother’s story before—even though I don’t remember any of it—but I was definitely on his side with wanting to keep her safe and unaware of everything and that’s really because she was naïve. She gets upset when the truth is revealed and it's all about wanting to have her own life and make her own mistakes, but I don’t think her brother was in the wrong. According to his wife, his love language is to protect the people he loves; which you know fits for me too, so maybe that’s why I related to his thoughts, haha. So, and all honesty, she stressed me out with those elements and her being determined not to be like her mother who “got dumped” (who, in all actuality, raised her and her brother by herself after their dad walked out on them).
Honestly, it somewhat won me over by the end, but the romance content and attraction was just too much for my taste and she drove me batty. I can see why I have different friends who like it, but it wasn’t really my thing.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“Leave the candy canes, take the pepper spray!
Nothing screams Christmas like a week spent ice skating, visiting Santa, and sharing a kiss or two under the mistletoe. Frannie Frost has crafted the perfect bucket list of romantic activities to surprise her boyfriend in the most magical place at Christmas time—New York City. When he unexpectedly becomes her ex, her plans are derailed leaving her with a choice. Wallow in self-pity at Christmas time or take matters into her own hands.
Former NHL defenseman turned personal protection agent, Andrew Bishop, loves his job—when things go as planned—but Frannie Frost is definitely not part of the plan. Still, when her brother, the man who saved Andrew’s life last year, asks him to deliver his sister safely to the airport, he can’t say no.
The only problem? Frannie isn’t leaving. She’s determined to make the most of her trip by checking off a bucket list of cliché Christmas actives that would make even Santa’s elves jealous. Andrew’s content to let her go until he learns that Frannie’s been mistaken for his client and thrust into the midst of danger.”
Series: Mentions & Features characters from “Deadly Deceit”. Review of that book, Here!
Spiritual Content- 'H's are capital when referring to God; Frannie thinks that nothing deepened her faith faster “than her brother’s dangerous career choice”; Frannie & Andrew tour a Catholic historical church (that he typically attends when he can); Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches, church going, & services (including a Mass service); A few mentions of God; A few mentions of those in the Bible (including someone being a good Samaritan & a “rob Peter to pay Paul” plot); A couple mentions of a church’s prison ministry; A mention of the Holy Spirit; A mention of a Christmas hymn; A mention of an empty manger off to the side in a church; A mention of being Blessed;
*Note: Going to see & mentions of Santa Claus; Mentions of superstitions & bad luck (a side character kisses a hockey puck for good luck); A few mentions of the ghosts in ‘A Christmas Carol’; A mention of Father Time.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘gah’, an ‘oh my word’, an ‘oh my jingle-jangle stars’, a ‘sheesh’, two forms of ‘darn’, two ‘idiot’s, and six forms of ‘stupid’; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; An attempted kidnapping, Fighting/Self-defense, Being held hostage, Being threatened/attacked, Being shoved, Almost being runover, Pain, Injuries, (up to semi-detailed); Frannie goes to a bar/grill & is offered wine by another customer (she turns it down); Many mentions of threats, a ransomware attack, blackmail, crimes, criminals/thugs, stalkers, abductions, & muggings; Mentions of terrorism & terrorists (including a mention of 9/11); Mentions of hits, hitmen, the mafia, & organized crime families; Mentions of money laundering & frauds; Mentions of gambling (on hockey games and horse races); Mentions of pain, major injuries, & blood/bleeding (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of alcohol & drinking (including a side character drinking wine after getting her daughter to bed, Vivian from another book by this author); A few mentions of assaults; A few mentions of an almost shooting & bullet aimed for taking someone’s life; A few mentions of identity theft; A few mentions of prisons; A few mentions of kids teasing/bullying others; A couple mentions of the death of a police officer in a sting gone bad; A couple mentions of a dying relative’s bucket list; A mention of a skiing accident & death; A mention of a body bag; A mention of waterboarding; A mention of a robbery; A mention of explosives; A mention of wondering if someone is high on something; A mention of graffiti; A mention of a hazing initiation;
*Note: Frannie is determined to not be her mother who let her husband walk out on their family (this is a big issue for Frannie even though her brother has told her that they were better off without him; She compares her upbringing to another’s seemingly perfect family and thinks that while she’s proud of her mother now, it was hard growing up with other kids teasing her; She vowed that she’d do “whatever it took to make sure a guy never did to her what her father did to her mom”); Frannie’s brother is overprotective and she gets upset with it, wanting to be able to make her own choices; A young girl gets overstimulation in a line (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of movies, TV shows, fictional characters, quotes, & actors/actresses and other celebrities (Apollo 13, The Godfather, The Grinch, Home Alone, The Bodyguard, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Miracle on 34th Street, Die Hard, Polar Express, Eloise at Christmastime, Elf, It Happened on Fifth Avenue, It’s a Wonderful Life, North by Northwest, A Christmas Carol, Criminal Minds, The Office, Law & Order, Chris Pratt, Kevin Costner, Natalie Wood, Bruce Willis, Trudy O’Connor, Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Chris Evans, Cary Grant, Macaulay Culkin, Riggs Atwood, Whitney Houston, Michael Bublé, Celine Dion, Bing Crosby, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Nora Ephron, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Andy Warhol, & Ella Fitzgerald); Mentions of brand names (North Face, Cole Haan, Armani, Henley, Michael Kors, & Colgate); Mentions of Uber & car brands; Mentions of other pop culture references (Vanity Fair, Barbie, Netflix, FaceTime, Instagram, McDonald’s, Macy’s, Nutella, Godiva, Sprite, Coke, Nespresso, & Candy Land); Mentions of hotel chains; Mentions of superheroes (Superman, Batman, & Star-Lord); Mentions of sports teams; Mentions of Hallmark & Lifetime movies.
Sexual Content- Three almost (semi-detailed) kisses, a forehead kiss (up to semi-detailed), a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, a semi-detailed kiss, and a detailed kiss; Staring at lips (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to kiss (up to semi-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Nearness, Electricity, Butterflies, & Smelling (semi-detailed); Imagining & Wanting to touch, embrace, & run fingers through another’s hair (up to semi-detailed); Blushes; Noticing & Staring (including muscles, up to semi-detailed); A ‘hot’, a ‘hunky’, and three forms of ‘sexy’ (including beautiful women being dressed like “sexy reindeer” in a Radio City Rockettes show); Frannie hoped that her boyfriend would invite her to stay in an extra bedroom at his family’s home and when he didn’t, she thinks it’s because of propriety more than anything else; When near Frannie, Andrew gets hots and thinks that he thought he outgrew those teenage emotions; Frannie gets defensive when Andrew asks if her family liked her ex-boyfriend; Many mentions of dates, dating, boyfriends/girlfriends, crushes, break-ups, being dumped, & exes; Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of flirting & swooning; A few mentions of women throwing themselves at hockey players; A few mentions of checking someone out & oogling them; A couple mentions of Frannie going to her hotel room alone (without Andrew; misunderstanding but implied to have been possibly suggestive); A mention of baby daddy drama; A mention of seeing a couple kiss; A mention of a second grader trying to kiss her crush (Frannie); A mention of a pick-up line; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Towards the beginning, Andrew gives Frannie a certain smile to manipulate her feelings to get her to do what he wants (to keep her safe); When Frannie hugs him, Andrew has a thought that would “put him on Santa’s naughty list”; A few mentions of underwear (including a mention of a superstition about wearing the same underwear); A couple mentions of a man teasing another about the Radio City Rockettes being “too much women” for him to handle; A mention of a woman’s dress leaving “nothing to the imagination”; A mention of a woman’s curves (Andrew’s point of view); A mention of a doll for young girls that was “all curves, pouty lips, and in a cringe-inducing outfit” (Frannie is appalled); A mention of a fat man (Santa).
-Francis “Frannie” Frost
-Andrew Bishop
P.O.V. switches between them
268 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
I’m really not a big Christmas book reader or fan, so I do feel like I pushed myself to read this one. It took about halfway through for me to get into this book and enjoy the cheesy Christmas theme, but the ice-skating rink parts were my favorite.
I did really like seeing a couple from a prior book by this author and that their family had grown—but it was by adopting a little girl from Korea. That was probably my favorite part of the book because that’s near to my heart.
Frannie wasn't the smartest character I’ve ever read. Like the other books I’ve read by this author, there’s a lot of physical attraction and noticing the other’s body, including his muscles. There’s also a lot of mentions of brand names, celebrities, and movies that while sometimes added to the realness of the book, also pulled me out of the plot because it was a lot of mentions of all of that.
I wasn’t really a fan of how he was encouraging her that she could handle herself on her own in a big city—contrary to what her law enforcement brother thinks—but he’s keeping a secret from her that she actually is in danger because of someone mistaking her identity with his actual client. He does eventually tell her, but if I was in this book, I would have been an extra in the background holding up a placard that said “tell her the truth!”
I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve read her brother’s story before—even though I don’t remember any of it—but I was definitely on his side with wanting to keep her safe and unaware of everything and that’s really because she was naïve. She gets upset when the truth is revealed and it's all about wanting to have her own life and make her own mistakes, but I don’t think her brother was in the wrong. According to his wife, his love language is to protect the people he loves; which you know fits for me too, so maybe that’s why I related to his thoughts, haha. So, and all honesty, she stressed me out with those elements and her being determined not to be like her mother who “got dumped” (who, in all actuality, raised her and her brother by herself after their dad walked out on them).
Honestly, it somewhat won me over by the end, but the romance content and attraction was just too much for my taste and she drove me batty. I can see why I have different friends who like it, but it wasn’t really my thing.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
October 25, 2023
What a fun Christmas novel! And set in New York City. Loved all the details about iconic things to do in New York City at Christmastime.
Favorite scene...pepper spray at the hotel
Favorite word…Chicklet
Favorite "character"...Ryan...the over protective brother. Who gives their sister crime statistics about the city she is planning to visit? Such a riot.
This novel delivers the Christmas spirit through humor, setting and story line. Recommended!
My gratitude to the author for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Favorite scene...pepper spray at the hotel
Favorite word…Chicklet
Favorite "character"...Ryan...the over protective brother. Who gives their sister crime statistics about the city she is planning to visit? Such a riot.
This novel delivers the Christmas spirit through humor, setting and story line. Recommended!
My gratitude to the author for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
November 3, 2023
This is the best holiday romantic adventure! The meet-cute is funny and unique, Frannie's bucket list is spot on for NYC in December, and you'll get all the Hallmark Channel Christmas movie feels with a smidge of Hallmark Movies and Mysteries tossed in for fun! (If you enjoy getting to know Frannie Frost, you can meet her younger self in Deadly Deceit - but it's not necessary to read that before this)
January 11, 2024
6⭐
What a perfect Christmas read! I loved the characters, the setting of Christmas in NYC and the romance and action made the story so great. I couldn't put it down, I loved it so much!
What a perfect Christmas read! I loved the characters, the setting of Christmas in NYC and the romance and action made the story so great. I couldn't put it down, I loved it so much!
October 17, 2023
‘Bells! Literal jingle bells rang out as if the city of New York was saying, “Welcome to your holiday dreams, Francis Frost, where romance sparkles brighter than the lights in Times Square.”’
Is there anything better than Christmas in New York City?
Franny Frost doesn’t think so, but when her plans don’t go as planned she’s left scrambling.
Enter her Brother’s friend who also saved his life and sparks start flying!!
Romantic suspense is such a favorite genre of mine…add in Christmas scenes and I’m in literary heaven!!
‘Leave the candy canes, take the pepper spray!’
Seriously, can romantic suspense get any better?!?!
I discovered Natalie Walters last year and am such a huge fan!
This book has a case of mistaken identity, forced proximity, spy/undercover agent/bodyguard vibes, Christmas galore, small town girl in a big city, swoony romance and a little bit of running for your life!!
This book is so much fun and should absolutely be added to your holiday reading list!! Highly recommend!
Thanks to the author for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content: mistaken identity, bodyguard forced proximity, small town girl in the big city, Christmas bucket list, great romance and kisses only.
Is there anything better than Christmas in New York City?
Franny Frost doesn’t think so, but when her plans don’t go as planned she’s left scrambling.
Enter her Brother’s friend who also saved his life and sparks start flying!!
Romantic suspense is such a favorite genre of mine…add in Christmas scenes and I’m in literary heaven!!
‘Leave the candy canes, take the pepper spray!’
Seriously, can romantic suspense get any better?!?!
I discovered Natalie Walters last year and am such a huge fan!
This book has a case of mistaken identity, forced proximity, spy/undercover agent/bodyguard vibes, Christmas galore, small town girl in a big city, swoony romance and a little bit of running for your life!!
This book is so much fun and should absolutely be added to your holiday reading list!! Highly recommend!
Thanks to the author for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content: mistaken identity, bodyguard forced proximity, small town girl in the big city, Christmas bucket list, great romance and kisses only.
October 1, 2023
I could not put this book down and finished it the same day I started reading it!! The interaction between Frannie and Andrew was so much fun! I loved how she has the bucket list and continues to want to follow through it. The added mystery/suspense was a great bonus to the book! I can't wait to read the next one.
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
January 11, 2024
A perfect blend of Christmas magic, crackling chemistry, and page turning suspense!
I really enjoyed seeing Frannie get out of her shell! While Ryan was a bit of her problem, keeping her wings clipped, she also let fear hold her back too. So seeing her experience life and realize what SHE wanted for the future was sweet.
Andrew was *chefs kiss* We’re all about the protective, NHL player turned bodyguard, who is sweet and thoughtful! Sign me up for that every time! I loved that he was always kind, even before he feel for Frannie. But once he did he was so supportive of her plans & dreams.
I thought the story was a great length! It had such a beautiful blend of Christmas magic and the true meaning of Christmas! (Seriously the church volunteer scene was so touching to me)
It balanced the romance and the suspense well and I was invested in the whole thing.
I really enjoyed the story and I think it’s a perfect read all year round, but extra special around the Christmas season! Add it to your list!
4/5 stars
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*
I really enjoyed seeing Frannie get out of her shell! While Ryan was a bit of her problem, keeping her wings clipped, she also let fear hold her back too. So seeing her experience life and realize what SHE wanted for the future was sweet.
Andrew was *chefs kiss* We’re all about the protective, NHL player turned bodyguard, who is sweet and thoughtful! Sign me up for that every time! I loved that he was always kind, even before he feel for Frannie. But once he did he was so supportive of her plans & dreams.
I thought the story was a great length! It had such a beautiful blend of Christmas magic and the true meaning of Christmas! (Seriously the church volunteer scene was so touching to me)
It balanced the romance and the suspense well and I was invested in the whole thing.
I really enjoyed the story and I think it’s a perfect read all year round, but extra special around the Christmas season! Add it to your list!
4/5 stars
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*
January 23, 2024
Super cute Christmas read, very atmospheric with the setting of NYC at Christmastime! A unique combination of a Christmas story, contemporary romance, and suspense (although the suspense part is on the lighter side).
I loved how Frannie was enthusiastic and appreciative of all things Christmas. I loved reading about her joy in her experiences and completing items off her bucket list. There was also a scene where she dressed vintage for a train ride, which was so fun and definitely something I would do too! My favorite scenes were at the ice rink!
There were some pop culture references that I didn't care for, particularly the ones to Die Hard and the Godfather. Andrew also kept information from Frannie (albeit at the request of her brother) that I was slightly irked at, because lying even by omission never ends well. Also, maybe it was just me, but I had a little hard time following the connections and reasonings of the bad guys.
I would recommend this as a fun Christmas story and could see myself rereading it in future December's.
Faith rating: 1/3 light, everyday faith
I loved how Frannie was enthusiastic and appreciative of all things Christmas. I loved reading about her joy in her experiences and completing items off her bucket list. There was also a scene where she dressed vintage for a train ride, which was so fun and definitely something I would do too! My favorite scenes were at the ice rink!
There were some pop culture references that I didn't care for, particularly the ones to Die Hard and the Godfather. Andrew also kept information from Frannie (albeit at the request of her brother) that I was slightly irked at, because lying even by omission never ends well. Also, maybe it was just me, but I had a little hard time following the connections and reasonings of the bad guys.
I would recommend this as a fun Christmas story and could see myself rereading it in future December's.
Faith rating: 1/3 light, everyday faith
December 1, 2025
Oh my jingle jangle FIVE STARS!!! 🤩
Who knew twinkle lights and death threats could make for such a magical combination? Natalie Walters, that's who!
"Better Watch Out" is the romantic suspense Christmas read I never knew I needed. Set in New York City, this faith-filled novel features a variety of unique holiday activities from bumper tubing to visiting Santa at Macy's on 34th Street.
Bodyguard Andrew and writing tutor Frannie were such endearing characters, and their opposites attract romance was satisfyingly sigh-worthy. I loved Frannie's enthusiasm and southern sass, and I deeply appreciated Andrew's integrity. The way he endeavored to guard Frannie's heart as well as her life was refreshing and utterly swoony!
If you fancy a festive tale of peppermint and pepper spray, Better Watch Out is sure to be your cup of tea!
Who knew twinkle lights and death threats could make for such a magical combination? Natalie Walters, that's who!
"Better Watch Out" is the romantic suspense Christmas read I never knew I needed. Set in New York City, this faith-filled novel features a variety of unique holiday activities from bumper tubing to visiting Santa at Macy's on 34th Street.
Bodyguard Andrew and writing tutor Frannie were such endearing characters, and their opposites attract romance was satisfyingly sigh-worthy. I loved Frannie's enthusiasm and southern sass, and I deeply appreciated Andrew's integrity. The way he endeavored to guard Frannie's heart as well as her life was refreshing and utterly swoony!
If you fancy a festive tale of peppermint and pepper spray, Better Watch Out is sure to be your cup of tea!
September 7, 2023
What an absolutely charming holiday romantic adventure! This story was adorable, entertaining, and gave me Christmas feels while keeping me on my toes with some suspenseful moments! Andrew was charming and definitely a dashing gentleman, all the while keeping Frannie safe from threats that were ever present! Frannie, was relatable, funny and truly a sweetheart and it was so much fun to experience New York at Christmas time through her eyes. The sights, the food, the atmosphere are all so vivid! Natalie Walters has done an excellent job capturing the heart of the city during the Holidays. I’m ready to book a flight and have a cinnamon Nutella churro with a slice of Geno’s pepperoni pizza. Frannie and Andrew are adorable together and I loved that we get to see Frannie coming into her own and taking charge of her life! Readers of both romance and suspense will love this Holiday adventure through the streets of New York as these characters skirt danger and catch feels!
October 17, 2023
This was such a fun Christmas novel! Fans of the author's will recognize the main female character as she was a side character in Deadly Deceit. The main characters from that book are also side characters in this book. However, if you haven't read that one, you won't be lost with this one. The story stands on its own. There are some spoilers for that book in this one though, so be mindful of that. This book follows Frannie Frost, who wants to surprise her boyfriend at Christmastime and makes a trip to see him in New York. Things don't go as she hoped and when her brother Ryan gets involved by calling in a favor, a case of mistaken identity puts Frannie in danger. When other circumstances prevent her from leaving the city, she finds she has the time to indulge in some of her bucket list items and the hunk her brother sent to help her get home safely is available to help.
This book had so many fun elements to it. I just loved the backdrop of New York City at Christmastime. And Frannie's bucket list of items to do while there was spot on what I would want to do if I was there at Christmas-time. I appreciated the author's notes at the end about the reality of those options. The characters were fabulous! I loved Frannie in Deadly Deceit and her character was fleshed out much better here. Andrew was a wonderful hero for her and I enjoyed their banter and their sizzle. The story line was fun, but also complex and unique. I enjoyed all of the suspenseful elements that gave this story a bit of an adventuresome feel to it. And the romance in this one was a lot of fun as well. I'm not one who enjoys the gushy romances, but this one was just a lot of fun. There were several laugh-out-loud moments as well as some "awwww" moments. And I appreciated how the characters came to recognize their insecurities and grow through them. The faith thread in this story was a bit subtle, but was present in the underlying themes. This is a good clean read for both Christian and non-Christian readers, though. If you enjoy fun contemporary romance stories that have a bit of suspense and happen at Christmas, this one I can't recommend enough. Special thanks to the author for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
This book had so many fun elements to it. I just loved the backdrop of New York City at Christmastime. And Frannie's bucket list of items to do while there was spot on what I would want to do if I was there at Christmas-time. I appreciated the author's notes at the end about the reality of those options. The characters were fabulous! I loved Frannie in Deadly Deceit and her character was fleshed out much better here. Andrew was a wonderful hero for her and I enjoyed their banter and their sizzle. The story line was fun, but also complex and unique. I enjoyed all of the suspenseful elements that gave this story a bit of an adventuresome feel to it. And the romance in this one was a lot of fun as well. I'm not one who enjoys the gushy romances, but this one was just a lot of fun. There were several laugh-out-loud moments as well as some "awwww" moments. And I appreciated how the characters came to recognize their insecurities and grow through them. The faith thread in this story was a bit subtle, but was present in the underlying themes. This is a good clean read for both Christian and non-Christian readers, though. If you enjoy fun contemporary romance stories that have a bit of suspense and happen at Christmas, this one I can't recommend enough. Special thanks to the author for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
December 20, 2023
Such a cute book! Loved it! Loved everything about this story! It has romance, humor, danger, and a bunch of movie references. It definitely reminded me of a hallmark movie but much better. So many Christmas moments. I loved the two main characters Fannie and Andrew. When Andrew has to protect Fannie, after being mistaken for his client and now she is danger, he doesn't expect to fall in love and neither does she. Very Clean Christmas Romance and I just love it. Definitely recommend!
October 23, 2023
Y'all! This book is so cute. It has a Hallmark feel to it, and yet it has more. There is witty dialogue, fun mishaps, and suspense. I really enjoyed it. In fact, I want to take a trip to New York at Christmas time and do all the fun things the characters did! But, without someone trying to kidnap me.
*I received a copy of the book by the author, and this is my honest opinion.
*I received a copy of the book by the author, and this is my honest opinion.
October 18, 2023
I know it's not Christmas yet, but this book is so romantic and of course it would not be a Natalie Walters book if there wasn't some light suspense to it. I know that the character of Frannie Frost was introduced a while back in Walter's book Deadly Deceit but you don't have to read that one to follow this one at all. It is truly a book on its own.
Here we follow Frannie as she travels to New York City during Christmas time with a bucket list on hand as she wants to surprise her boyfriend and saves all her money to be able to make this trip happen but lo and behold things don't go as planned. Her brother Ryan of course gets involved and calls in a favor to his friend Andrew to make sure she goes to the airport unscathed. Since I don't want to give it away but lets just say that a case of mistaken identity sets the ball rolling into a downward spiral but most of it for the good!
Seriously if you haven't been to New York City during Christmas time you are missing out. You have to at least once in your lifetime. I was placed right back as Frannie and Andrew visit all these places she has on her bucket list and I wanted to return. Frannie and Andrew are perfect with each other and I loved how their characters developed throughout the story. They both had some insecurities but they seemed to uplift each other in the sweetest of ways.
Natalie does such a great job at keeping you engaged in her stories. The banter between the characters is on point and despite this being a lighter suspense than what she typically writes it was ever present and I was all for it. I would definitely consider this a clean read with great swoony moments!
Overall I really enjoyed this book but I know there are characters... like a certain ex-secret service agent that I would like to know the backstory to so I am really hoping this is the beginning of an amazing series from Ms. Walters!! You need to go grab this one and add it to your TBR stat!
I received a digital copy of this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Here we follow Frannie as she travels to New York City during Christmas time with a bucket list on hand as she wants to surprise her boyfriend and saves all her money to be able to make this trip happen but lo and behold things don't go as planned. Her brother Ryan of course gets involved and calls in a favor to his friend Andrew to make sure she goes to the airport unscathed. Since I don't want to give it away but lets just say that a case of mistaken identity sets the ball rolling into a downward spiral but most of it for the good!
Seriously if you haven't been to New York City during Christmas time you are missing out. You have to at least once in your lifetime. I was placed right back as Frannie and Andrew visit all these places she has on her bucket list and I wanted to return. Frannie and Andrew are perfect with each other and I loved how their characters developed throughout the story. They both had some insecurities but they seemed to uplift each other in the sweetest of ways.
Natalie does such a great job at keeping you engaged in her stories. The banter between the characters is on point and despite this being a lighter suspense than what she typically writes it was ever present and I was all for it. I would definitely consider this a clean read with great swoony moments!
Overall I really enjoyed this book but I know there are characters... like a certain ex-secret service agent that I would like to know the backstory to so I am really hoping this is the beginning of an amazing series from Ms. Walters!! You need to go grab this one and add it to your TBR stat!
I received a digital copy of this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
October 8, 2023
Andrew Better Watch Out
He Better Not Cry
He Better Not Pout
I'm Telling Him Why
Frannie Frost Is Coming To Town
Are you ready for this Romantic Suspense that's full of Christmas cheer and a bucket list of fun NYC activities, all while avoiding the bad guys and trying to outwit them?
I had so much fun reading this one! My heart went out to Frannie as she thought her holiday was going to be full of much more cheer than it initially started out with. But she is one tough cookie, strong and resilient. And it's a good thing her brother has some connections and a friend who fits Frannie into his busy schedule, because she does still need a little help!
I might have had a big ol' open mouth in shock before the giggles erupted when Frannie and Andrew first meet! Oh my heavens! It was pretty funny and one I don't recall happening in other meet cutes I've read about. Andrew you're a rock star and one lucky guy being able to meet Frannie!
I loved this cute story so much. The bucket list items that Frannie planned to do and stuck with her plan even when finding her initial plan backfiring. And having Andrew experience it all with her was such a great bonus! Their banter and conversations and chemistry kept me turning the pages. And let's not forget the mishaps and suspenseful moments that occurred as well. I love a good whodunnit suspense that's also lighthearted and sprinkled with a sweet romance.
There's a bonus scene that you can get at the end of the book and it had me giggling. Seriously, Andrew is a good sport!
I loved that Frannie embraced life and allowed for new opportunities and experiences to happen. She was a fun character that had me cheering for her to find happiness! And it was truly magical experiencing these activities with her and Andrew. Makes me excited for Christmas time to come...maybe not the cold, but the magic of the season! Snuggle in with your hot cocoa and candy canes, comfy blanket and a roaring fire and you're all set to enjoy this charming suspenseful read!
Content: Clean. Some mild moments of peril but nothing overly graphic. Some kisses but nothing further.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own!!!
Happy Reading!!!
He Better Not Cry
He Better Not Pout
I'm Telling Him Why
Frannie Frost Is Coming To Town
Are you ready for this Romantic Suspense that's full of Christmas cheer and a bucket list of fun NYC activities, all while avoiding the bad guys and trying to outwit them?
I had so much fun reading this one! My heart went out to Frannie as she thought her holiday was going to be full of much more cheer than it initially started out with. But she is one tough cookie, strong and resilient. And it's a good thing her brother has some connections and a friend who fits Frannie into his busy schedule, because she does still need a little help!
I might have had a big ol' open mouth in shock before the giggles erupted when Frannie and Andrew first meet! Oh my heavens! It was pretty funny and one I don't recall happening in other meet cutes I've read about. Andrew you're a rock star and one lucky guy being able to meet Frannie!
I loved this cute story so much. The bucket list items that Frannie planned to do and stuck with her plan even when finding her initial plan backfiring. And having Andrew experience it all with her was such a great bonus! Their banter and conversations and chemistry kept me turning the pages. And let's not forget the mishaps and suspenseful moments that occurred as well. I love a good whodunnit suspense that's also lighthearted and sprinkled with a sweet romance.
There's a bonus scene that you can get at the end of the book and it had me giggling. Seriously, Andrew is a good sport!
I loved that Frannie embraced life and allowed for new opportunities and experiences to happen. She was a fun character that had me cheering for her to find happiness! And it was truly magical experiencing these activities with her and Andrew. Makes me excited for Christmas time to come...maybe not the cold, but the magic of the season! Snuggle in with your hot cocoa and candy canes, comfy blanket and a roaring fire and you're all set to enjoy this charming suspenseful read!
Content: Clean. Some mild moments of peril but nothing overly graphic. Some kisses but nothing further.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own!!!
Happy Reading!!!
October 17, 2023
I just finished reading "Better Watch Out," and I have to say it sparkles and shines like the first beautiful snowfall of the Christmas season! This book was the perfect holiday read leaving me with a satisfying reading experience!
Frannie’s determination to embrace her Christmas trip to New York City after her relationship takes an unexpected turn immediately drew me in. Her heartwarming and relatable bucket list left an impression.
Andrew, a former NHL defenseman turned personal protection agent, injected excitement into the story. The accidental meet-cute and mistaken identity brought delightful and unexpected twists, blending sweet romance, humor, and suspense -- keeping me totally engaged.
What I particularly loved about this book is how it combines the magic of the Christmas season with a touch of adventure and suspense. The talented author, Natalie Walters, skillfully weaves a narrative filled with heartwarming moments and laugh-out-loud humor.
The tropes used in the story, such as the new girl in the city, being stranded at Christmas, forced proximity, and enemies to lovers, add depth to the plot and make it even more engaging. It's like a Hallmark movie come to life in the pages of a book -- but better!
In summary, "Better Watch Out" is the type of Christmas read that wraps you in a cozy, festive embrace, leaving you with a heart full of holiday cheer. Whether you adore romantic escapades or simply crave a heartwarming Christmas tale, this book is a surefire way to infuse your holidays with warmth and brightness. I wholeheartedly recommend it!
I received an eARC of this book by the author (and I also preordered it), I am not obligated to write a positive review or paid to do so. These words are my honest assessment of this novel.
Frannie’s determination to embrace her Christmas trip to New York City after her relationship takes an unexpected turn immediately drew me in. Her heartwarming and relatable bucket list left an impression.
Andrew, a former NHL defenseman turned personal protection agent, injected excitement into the story. The accidental meet-cute and mistaken identity brought delightful and unexpected twists, blending sweet romance, humor, and suspense -- keeping me totally engaged.
What I particularly loved about this book is how it combines the magic of the Christmas season with a touch of adventure and suspense. The talented author, Natalie Walters, skillfully weaves a narrative filled with heartwarming moments and laugh-out-loud humor.
The tropes used in the story, such as the new girl in the city, being stranded at Christmas, forced proximity, and enemies to lovers, add depth to the plot and make it even more engaging. It's like a Hallmark movie come to life in the pages of a book -- but better!
In summary, "Better Watch Out" is the type of Christmas read that wraps you in a cozy, festive embrace, leaving you with a heart full of holiday cheer. Whether you adore romantic escapades or simply crave a heartwarming Christmas tale, this book is a surefire way to infuse your holidays with warmth and brightness. I wholeheartedly recommend it!
I received an eARC of this book by the author (and I also preordered it), I am not obligated to write a positive review or paid to do so. These words are my honest assessment of this novel.
October 17, 2023
Are you looking for a Christmas fiction book with a mix of suspense and swoonworthy romance? Look no farther! Better Watch Out by Natalie Walters is the perfect mix of the two.
Francis, aka Frannie, headed to New York for what she hopes is a romantic weekend with her boyfriend who has been away for a year. Sadly, when she gets to New York City, instead of a romantic proposal as she hopes, she gets dumped.
Armed with a bucket list of things she hoped to do with her Ex, Frannie decides to skip the pity party and enjoy her time in the big city. However, her big brother thinks she needs to be watched over since she is a naive small-town girl. Frannie's big brother asks his buddy, Andrew, to protectively escort Frannie to the airport. Then the shenanigans began as Frannie armed with pepper spray takes aim at Andrew.
I enjoyed this novella from start to finish. It is a page turner with a mix of action and romance. I liked seeing Frannie and Andrew's developing relationship. And I enjoyed the action and adventure throughout the book. Walters is one of my very favorite writers and one of the few that I know I can read and enjoy all of her books. This one was no exception. I heartily enjoyed Better Watch Out.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
Francis, aka Frannie, headed to New York for what she hopes is a romantic weekend with her boyfriend who has been away for a year. Sadly, when she gets to New York City, instead of a romantic proposal as she hopes, she gets dumped.
Armed with a bucket list of things she hoped to do with her Ex, Frannie decides to skip the pity party and enjoy her time in the big city. However, her big brother thinks she needs to be watched over since she is a naive small-town girl. Frannie's big brother asks his buddy, Andrew, to protectively escort Frannie to the airport. Then the shenanigans began as Frannie armed with pepper spray takes aim at Andrew.
I enjoyed this novella from start to finish. It is a page turner with a mix of action and romance. I liked seeing Frannie and Andrew's developing relationship. And I enjoyed the action and adventure throughout the book. Walters is one of my very favorite writers and one of the few that I know I can read and enjoy all of her books. This one was no exception. I heartily enjoyed Better Watch Out.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
October 17, 2023
Oh, this was such a fun Christmas novel! It had less suspense and action than the author’s previous books but had as much romance and witty banter. There were hilarious moments in the story that made me cry tears of mirth and swoony scenes that stole my breath. All the holiday tourist attractions that Frannie and Andrew visited were the proverbial icing on the cake. I live close to NYC but have only done a couple of the things on Frannie’s bucket list; after reading about the Christmas magic at these places, I definitely need to experience them.
Frannie was a lovable, bubbly, compassionate sweetheart and Andrew was a tender yet formidable protector. I loved their easy camaraderie and how they complemented each other. Fans of the author’s previous Harbored Secrets series will appreciate Ryan and Vivian’s roles in the story.
If you love Christmas novels, you will definitely love this one. It’s full of fun, magic, romance, and all things Christmas-y. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of the author and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
Frannie was a lovable, bubbly, compassionate sweetheart and Andrew was a tender yet formidable protector. I loved their easy camaraderie and how they complemented each other. Fans of the author’s previous Harbored Secrets series will appreciate Ryan and Vivian’s roles in the story.
If you love Christmas novels, you will definitely love this one. It’s full of fun, magic, romance, and all things Christmas-y. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of the author and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
December 4, 2025
This book was so much fun! I loved the mystery element, and the developing relationship between Frannie and Andrew was adorable. The setting of New York at Christmas time was perfection and I loved seeing things like Serendipity mentioned. The audiobook is excellent. The narrator does a great job with the story. This is one of my favorite stories from Natalie and I love all her stories!
I received an Audiobook ARC from the author and also owned my own copy of the earlier released ebook. I was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
I received an Audiobook ARC from the author and also owned my own copy of the earlier released ebook. I was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
December 4, 2023
I really liked this! It's surprising because I normally don't like contemporary romance. I loved the setting if Christmas in NYC, and the characters were adorable.
December 28, 2023
Story Enjoyment Rating: 10/10 Christian Faith Rating: 2/3
Better Watch Out by Natalie Walters is a Christian contemporary romance with a side-order of suspense. It follows Frannie, who has travelled to New York just before Christmas to surprise her long distance boyfriend. When she arrives, she discovers he is no longer interested in her and she is left in New York alone with a bucket list of Christmas activities.
Her brother, who is extremely security conscious, arranges for his friend to drive Frannie to the airport. The guy who takes her is also supposed to be protecting a millionaire and his daughter and somehow Frannie mistakenly becomes a target.
This book is a sweet, fun romance with an undertone of danger. It was upbeat and fun, with two original characters. The setting really got me in the Christmas mood. The suspense elements gave a good balance to the cute romance and sweet Christmas activities they took part in.
The romance had lots of chemistry and I loved the ending.
I think it was well worth reading at Christmas time.
It was obvious that the characters were Christian and faith played a role in parts of the book, though it was not the dominant theme for the plot.
I believe two of the side characters have featured in one of Natalie Walters’ previous books.
Better Watch Out by Natalie Walters is a Christian contemporary romance with a side-order of suspense. It follows Frannie, who has travelled to New York just before Christmas to surprise her long distance boyfriend. When she arrives, she discovers he is no longer interested in her and she is left in New York alone with a bucket list of Christmas activities.
Her brother, who is extremely security conscious, arranges for his friend to drive Frannie to the airport. The guy who takes her is also supposed to be protecting a millionaire and his daughter and somehow Frannie mistakenly becomes a target.
This book is a sweet, fun romance with an undertone of danger. It was upbeat and fun, with two original characters. The setting really got me in the Christmas mood. The suspense elements gave a good balance to the cute romance and sweet Christmas activities they took part in.
The romance had lots of chemistry and I loved the ending.
I think it was well worth reading at Christmas time.
It was obvious that the characters were Christian and faith played a role in parts of the book, though it was not the dominant theme for the plot.
I believe two of the side characters have featured in one of Natalie Walters’ previous books.
November 23, 2023
This contemporary, romantic, comedy with a touch of mystery was a delightful read. Francis Frost aka Frannie is on her way to New York City from Georgia to meet her boyfriend who has been in London for a year and work on her bucket list of New York City things to do since she has never been there. But when Calivin meets her at her hotel, he only has one thing to say. He's engaged to someone else. This sets up the beginning of Frannie's determination to complete her bucket list whether her brother thinks it's safe or not. This book will guarantee that you're laughing one minute, following a possible romance the next, and keep you reading until the very last page.
November 15, 2024
This was a fun read. I loved the NYC setting, the Christmas activities, and the banter. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
October 10, 2023
Armed with a bucket list of things to do with her fiance in New York City, Frannie Frost is devastated to find out that Calvin did not give her a ring but has found someone else. Her overprotective FBI brother, Ryan, enlists his friend Andrew to act as a companion while she plays tourist in the city she has longed to visit. A case of mistaken identity puts Frannie in jeopardy and Andrew tries to protect her while not letting her know about the threat.
Tense and dangerous but full of wit, an underlying faith thread and a cute bucket list fulfillment with a different romantic partner than expected.
Try this if you like the alphabet agencies and private protection teams. Just the thing to put you in the mood for a romantic Christmas story.
* I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
Tense and dangerous but full of wit, an underlying faith thread and a cute bucket list fulfillment with a different romantic partner than expected.
Try this if you like the alphabet agencies and private protection teams. Just the thing to put you in the mood for a romantic Christmas story.
* I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
October 20, 2023
She does it again! Fantastic suspense and I can't wait to get to know more Defensemen!
I happened to be in New York City when I started this story, so that was perfect! We meet Frannie who is ready to become engaged to her boyfriend in NYC! What could be better and more romantic at Christmas time? Except... things don't go quite as planned as Frannie hoped.
Attempting to get to family in D.C. things go haywire. Thank goodness Frannie's brother, Ryan, has his friend Andrew on the scene. Their meet-cute is more of a painful and hilarious meeting. You can't help but feel so bad for Frannie. Things are just not going her way. The humor in this story will have you busting a gut, so be prepared if you're reading in public like I was on the train! I was not prepared.
Because of a mistaken identity, getting to the airport isn't smooth sailing. Frannie is a bit of a spit fire who is rather innocent in her way of thinking. I mean, she's a small town girl with Ryan for her brother, which makes quite the mix. Andrew is an ex-hockey player who is now a bodyguard. Unfortunately, some people think he's protecting the wrong person, so a mistaken identity goes wrong in so many ways. That mistaken identity propels the story forward and adds the suspense element!
While I loved both of the main characters, I have to say, the author knows how to create strong male characters who draw the reader to them. Their strong sense of protection, while trying their best to allow the woman in their life to have their own strength just makes them all that more appealing! I always appreciate that the women she writes have their own strengths, but come around to realizing they can't do it all themselves. THANK GOODNESS because along with that always comes the sweet romance.
And let's talk about that romance! It was nice that, while the timing is short that Andrew and Frannie know each other, you can see how easily they were able to build feelings for each other. It was very sweet and I completely had heart eyes for the both of them by the end of the book!
I was a bit confused connecting all of the dots as to why the bad guys were going after Valentina Malone, who Frannie was mistaken for, but aside from that, the entire story was romantically suspenseful!
*I received the ebook ARC for review. This is my personal opinion.
I happened to be in New York City when I started this story, so that was perfect! We meet Frannie who is ready to become engaged to her boyfriend in NYC! What could be better and more romantic at Christmas time? Except... things don't go quite as planned as Frannie hoped.
Attempting to get to family in D.C. things go haywire. Thank goodness Frannie's brother, Ryan, has his friend Andrew on the scene. Their meet-cute is more of a painful and hilarious meeting. You can't help but feel so bad for Frannie. Things are just not going her way. The humor in this story will have you busting a gut, so be prepared if you're reading in public like I was on the train! I was not prepared.
Because of a mistaken identity, getting to the airport isn't smooth sailing. Frannie is a bit of a spit fire who is rather innocent in her way of thinking. I mean, she's a small town girl with Ryan for her brother, which makes quite the mix. Andrew is an ex-hockey player who is now a bodyguard. Unfortunately, some people think he's protecting the wrong person, so a mistaken identity goes wrong in so many ways. That mistaken identity propels the story forward and adds the suspense element!
While I loved both of the main characters, I have to say, the author knows how to create strong male characters who draw the reader to them. Their strong sense of protection, while trying their best to allow the woman in their life to have their own strength just makes them all that more appealing! I always appreciate that the women she writes have their own strengths, but come around to realizing they can't do it all themselves. THANK GOODNESS because along with that always comes the sweet romance.
And let's talk about that romance! It was nice that, while the timing is short that Andrew and Frannie know each other, you can see how easily they were able to build feelings for each other. It was very sweet and I completely had heart eyes for the both of them by the end of the book!
I was a bit confused connecting all of the dots as to why the bad guys were going after Valentina Malone, who Frannie was mistaken for, but aside from that, the entire story was romantically suspenseful!
*I received the ebook ARC for review. This is my personal opinion.
October 3, 2023
If you are looking for a delightful holiday read, Better Watch Out is it!
This was such a fun read! I love a holiday romance, and this had everything that I love about them... a great setting (New York at Christmastime), all the traditions and holiday activities, so many holiday references, laugh out loud moments and of course, a sweet romance story. On top of all the holiday goodness, we get a good dose of action and suspense as well... and I absolutely loved everything about it. I've read several other holiday suspense reads that are still very much high in suspense and the weightiness that can come with that, but just happen to take place during the holidays... but this one definitely felt different to me. The humor, romance and holiday cheer were so perfectly balanced with those suspenseful moments to keep it feeling more like the lighter holiday reads that I adore with just the right amount of suspense mixed in.
Frannie and Andrew were such fantastic characters, and I couldn't help but love them together. If you love holiday romances and suspense, this is definitely one to add to your TBR this holiday season!
**I received an ARC for consideration. All opinions are my own.
This was such a fun read! I love a holiday romance, and this had everything that I love about them... a great setting (New York at Christmastime), all the traditions and holiday activities, so many holiday references, laugh out loud moments and of course, a sweet romance story. On top of all the holiday goodness, we get a good dose of action and suspense as well... and I absolutely loved everything about it. I've read several other holiday suspense reads that are still very much high in suspense and the weightiness that can come with that, but just happen to take place during the holidays... but this one definitely felt different to me. The humor, romance and holiday cheer were so perfectly balanced with those suspenseful moments to keep it feeling more like the lighter holiday reads that I adore with just the right amount of suspense mixed in.
Frannie and Andrew were such fantastic characters, and I couldn't help but love them together. If you love holiday romances and suspense, this is definitely one to add to your TBR this holiday season!
**I received an ARC for consideration. All opinions are my own.
January 7, 2025
Better Watch Out by: Natalie Walters
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was my first romantic suspense and I was quite nervous but @meganbookshelf assured me it was not too scary.
📖 Frannie Frost books her dream trip to NYC at Christmas only to become a target in need of protection.
❤️Things I enjoyed ❤️
It's a Cinderella story in New York and Prince Charming gets an upgrade!
The fun activities in the story reminded me of You Make it Feel Like Christmas by @tonishiloh
This story was well written with great pacing.
My only frustration was the amount of almost kisses. 🤣
This is a perfect winter story to read by a warm or virtual fire. 🔥
TW: attempted assault
?What's your favorite winter activity?
#nataliewalters
#romantic suspense
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was my first romantic suspense and I was quite nervous but @meganbookshelf assured me it was not too scary.
📖 Frannie Frost books her dream trip to NYC at Christmas only to become a target in need of protection.
❤️Things I enjoyed ❤️
It's a Cinderella story in New York and Prince Charming gets an upgrade!
The fun activities in the story reminded me of You Make it Feel Like Christmas by @tonishiloh
This story was well written with great pacing.
My only frustration was the amount of almost kisses. 🤣
This is a perfect winter story to read by a warm or virtual fire. 🔥
TW: attempted assault
?What's your favorite winter activity?
#nataliewalters
#romantic suspense
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