Beauty and the Grump

by Winter Travers

Claus is my brother's best friend.
He's also a grump.

Having been jilted at the alter two weeks before Christmas, Claus is the last person I expected to see standing at my door with a dozen egg rolls and a bottle of wine in his hand to help heal my shattered heart.

Add in the crooked Santa hat on his head, and my heart does a little flip.
Claus has always been my brother's unattainable best friend. Never in a million years would I think he would look at me with anything other than pity.
Until now.

Genres: Romance

68 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 14, 2023

About the author

Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Winter Travers is a devoted wife, mother, and aunt turned author who was born and raised in Wisconsin.
After a brief stint in South Carolina following her heart to chase the man who is now her hubby, they retreated back up North to the changing seasons, and to the place they now call home.
Winter spends her days writing happily ever afters, and her nights being a karate mom hauling her son to practices and tournaments. She also has an addiction to anything MC related, puppies, and baking.

Reviews

[T Nelson]

HFN
Standalone
Brother's Best Friend
Mistletoe Love series

Trigger / Content Warnings
Death of parent
Addiction
Cheating (on not by)

Stevie (mfc)
Claus (31, mmc)
Jane (bff of mfc, married to Tony)
Tony (brother of mfc, bff of mmc)
Paul (cheating ex of mfc)


Stevie was supposed to marry Paul and be on her honeymoon. She was left at the alter, and her best friend (married to her brother) took her Hawaii honeymoon. That friend sends her deliveries. One delivery shows up in the hands of her brother's best friend, on her porch. She's in a state of shock. Claus had only been there once, and that was to help her move in. He knows more about Paul than she does, though. Everyone knows he left her at the alter, but Claus knows why. He had FOUR other women, stringing all of them along. Claus almost let her marry the wrong man. Now, he's determined to make her his. If she will let him...


After learning the truth about Paul, her first stop should have been STD/STI testing. Other than that, the book progressed like I expected. Jane's reaction was not expected, but was a nice twist. You only get 55 pages of the 68. The rest is a list of other books and the first chapter of a couple others.

[Marie]

Who's the Grump?

Who's the Grump?
Initially it is Stevie that is the grump, she has the perfect reason, but it takes Claus turning up in a Santa hat and being cheerful to shock her out of her downward spiral and into the Christmas spirit.
They have always wanted each other but neither has been brave enough to make the move...until now! Claus puts his heart on the line and in the process steals yours, he is almost timid and unsure as he offers Stevie everything he has. He really struggles with self worth, yet he is one of the best men out there, fortunately Stevie also knows his worth and happily takes his offered heart to love and care for.
A fantastic feel-good read on Kindle Unlimited.

[Aurrora James]

Cute Christmas story

This is my first read of this s author’s books and I enjoyed the story for the most part. The characters were very likable and I loved how Stevie wallowed in the beginning wondering when she should get some cats. Claus was sweet and not a grump at all. Actually, Stevie was kind of grumpy in the beginning. My main issue was the repetition in the story. Both characters tipped their heads to the side like a dozen times in this short read, until I wondered if someone’s head would just roll off their shoulders eventually. It was said so often that it was taking me out of the story.

[Angi]

Winter Travers always has the most intriguing characters. In this book. Stevie was about to be married, it was right before Christmas and she was ditched at the alter. Going back to her packed apartment as she was supposed to be moving in with her new husband wallowing in self pity she is surprised to find her brother’s best friend Claus standing at her door. Claus steps right into Stevie’s life and is just full of surprises from the time she opens the front door. This is not the grump she knew growing up. Little did she know how much her life was going to change. This is a great holiday love story.

[Bill Jakobsen]

A good love story

I enjoyed the love story between Claus and Stevie. The grew up together, she's also her brothers best friend. Claus had a really bad life growing up, that's why he was always at her house. Stevie was at the church, going to marry Paul who was a no show. Wedding never happened. Claus started visiting her daily, loving her but felt he wasn't good enough for her. I enjoyed how he treated her, her funny neighbor, and her family. Read to see how they fall in love. Written by Cindy :)

[Jenn Allen]

Oh my goodness! I loved Stevie and Claus so much! This may be a quick read but it's packed full of story! This is a brother's best friend, sweet, spicy read with characters I loved immediately. Claus doesn't feel worthy for her, and she's dealing with feelings after a not so pleasant break up. Settle in for a great read and I'll be digging into other books in this collection!

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Rebecca]

So cute!!!!! Stevie just had the worst experience of her life! She gifted her best friend and brother her trip that was not useful anymore and stayed home to put herself back together. Her brother’s best friend had other ideas. Claus has now figured out what he wants, and he wants Stevie. He will stop at nothing to get her to fall for him.

[Kylee]

This novella was just the story I was looking for to put a smile on my face. This brothers best friend romance had a little sunshine with a side of grump. Claus and Stevie were captivating and so entertaining to watch as Claus tries to show Stevie just what she has always meant to him. A story that packs a punch in such a short amount of time.

[Carrie]

Stevie & Claus

Quick, fun, steamy at the end! I loved these two together & it was a perfect little Christmas bite!

Tho, to be fair, I didn't really think Claus was all that grumpy. 🤣

😍😍😍

[Lynne Garlick]

What a lovely, sweet festive read.

I love this author and I loved this sweet, festive read, with a whole lot of hotness!
This was just what I needed! Claus and Stevie stope my heart and put a big smile on my face!

[Lily]

could have been better

I was excited for this one but it was a bit of a let down for me unfortunately. Only one steamy scene that was over before I knew it, though I did like the characters. Wish we could have had another chapter or two with some tension and such.

[Gucci 35]

Beauty and the Grump

Beauty and the Gump is one of Travers, Christma stories. Its set before Christmas, Stevie the female lead is lost, heartbroken but when she answers her door for Claus she get a Christmas Surprise. Loved the story. Happy Reading!!.

[Kai]

3.5
It was a good short story. She moved on to the H super fast after being left at the alter. He felt something for her years ago but didn't feel like he was good enough so never went for it, now that she is single he's making his move
I needed an epilogue and a view of their future

[Lara]

Heart Broken

Stevie is heartbroken when she's jilted at the altar shortly before Christmas. All her holiday plans are spoiled. Then Claus surprises her by showing up holding her food. What's he doing here? Why now when her world has imploded?

[MissyLynne]

Brother's best friend romance. She's ditched by her fiance at the alter. Her brother's best friend checks up on her. Didn't feel like he was good enough for her at first due to his family situation at a child.

[Noemi]

Stevie is left at the altar

Stevie is left at the altar and is surprised to find her brother's bf at her door. Claus has just realized that he had to step up and be the man she needs.

I enjoyed this read 📚!

[Moriah]

Loved

Loved Stevie and Claus. This brother's best friend story was both sweet and sexy. It only takes her being left at the alter to realize that her story wasn't meant to go that way.

[Patti Gunkel]

This may be a short story, but it has a lot of chemistry in it. From the moment you start reading you can feel it.

[Teresa Lara]

Loved stevie and Claus friends to lovers intense emotional broken heartstopping insta love story
All the feels

[Mel Allen]

Another absolutely brilliant story from the wonderful Winter Travers. This book is romantic and makes you swoon. Claus and Stevie a story I can read again and again.

[Simone]

3.75 stars

[Debbie Earley]

Claus & Stevie

This is such a great holiday read. I loved Claus and Stevie's story. I couldn't keep the smile off my face as these two find their forever.

[Lea & Sandra]

Stevie and Claus

Cute story, girl left at altar but man who has loved her for a long time finally has the nerve to state his intentions.

[Carol Roll]

Cute

A short and cute little romantic story. Good characters and storyline. This was a very enjoyable short Christmas time romance.

[Robin is it summer yet]

Super cute fast Christmas read.

[Jess ☾]

“i would go the ends of the earth and back for her.” this novella was so adorable and cute. i had so much fun reading it.

[Liz]

A fun, quick brother's best friend romance.

[Jude]

Enjoyed

[Udvita]

1.5⭐️