Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
When Sienna can’t stay in her dorms over Christmas, she has no choice other than to tag along with her estranged mother. She’s not sure where her mother’s newest wealthy date lives, but she doesn’t care. All Sienna is concerned with is how much money she’ll make watching his twin boys, and that she won’t have to sleep on a couch over the holidays.
She isn’t ready for her mother to stop the car in front of a mansion bigger than Sienna’s ever imagined, or that the twin boys she thought she’d be babysitting would end up being two, grown, intense, deviously handsome men.
When the three of them are left alone on Christmas Eve with a snowstorm raging outside, they decide to play a game to waste some time. Sienna knows men like them, and she’s ready for them to push her limits just for a laugh, but she’s unaware of their ulterior motives.
She made the mistake of walking into the shark’s den, but she’s not the weak link they thought she’d be. They’re starting to see her for the tempting snake she is, hidden behind her cynicism, sharp tongue, and baggy clothes.
It’s a Christmas that none of them are expecting.
-Author’s note- Some holiday stories warm your heart, but this series is aimed a little lower. The Merry F*cking Christmas series entails stories of the darker, kinkier side of Christmas. If you’re looking for a heavy plot with elaborate character development, I could recommend a few of my other books, but the purpose of this series is solely to get your heart beating and keep you warm on a cold winter’s night.
-Warning-This is a MFM dark romance thriller. It contains mature and graphic content that is not suitable for people under 18. Possibly triggering content includes explicit sexual scenes, dubcon, physical assaults, gun use, praise/degradation kink, double penetration, slight somnophilia, and primal scenes.

156 pages, Kindle Edition

19 people are currently reading
243 people want to read

About the author

Shelby Manuel

10 books93 followers
Reader & Writer of twisted love stories and haunted hearts.
May all villains be obsessed, and all heroines be spoiled.
HEAs...eventually.

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
83 (29%)
4 stars
98 (35%)
3 stars
79 (28%)
2 stars
13 (4%)
1 star
6 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Do.
81 reviews
December 28, 2024
Just yess. And that dedication 🥵
Profile Image for Summer.
384 reviews
December 13, 2023
A very steamy, dark, crime organization romance that happens to take place at Christmas. Sienna has always struggled no thanks to her mother. Always on the move, left alone too much, and manipulated by the one person who was suppose to take care of her really messed with Sienna. So when her mom calls to ask a favor of hers she is reluctant. All her mom wants her to do is watch her new boyfriend’s twin sons. Sienna is in quite a shock when the twins are sexy broody adult men who have a dangerous look in their eyes. The brothers convince Sienna to play a game of truth or dare to get to know each other but things get pretty intense. I enjoyed Siennas character and the fact that she finally got the freedom she so badly wanted and deserved. She learned a lot about herself and finally found her happiness. The twins were a blast of course! They are unhinged, intense, broody, dangerous, and sexy. Despite their initial mistrust in Sienna they are drawn to her. The fact that they can’t persuade or buy her affection makes them treasure her so much. I loved how these twin brothers were very competitive with each other and were hesitant to share in the beginning. This is set right before and during Christmas so it has a holiday vibe but is definitely not a Hallmark holiday story. If you like reading books with spanking, chasing, brothers sharing, dark dangerous MMC’s, light somno, and a twisted happily ever after then give this novella a read.
Profile Image for Selena Murillo.
26 reviews
December 18, 2023
Here we go again 🥵

I can’t get enough with this series. While I may have wanted book two to be more of Saint & Maya, getting an all new couple (MFM) was a Christmas treat I didn’t know I needed.

Seriously though….this book brought me on a ride. I was figuring out this mystery, scared, again….I swear, the author's ability to make me genuinely nervous is damned addicting. I NEED a horror book from her asap ASAP


Okay, back to the review…this mfm was perfectly quick and spicy. I didn’t ever feel rushed or that something was glossed over. The three of them fit together in all the right places, and I mean somehow believable. I don't mind if books like this just go off the rails with reality, but I genuinely believed their love.
And I adored…ADORED the jealousy
I hated Cain and then became completely obsessed, and Axel was my man from the second Sienna walked through those doors.

Also, Sienna…hot. I don't usually think that of the fmc while I’m reading. I’m more of a, "put myself in the fmc's shoes." But I loved Sienna. I want her to make me a pine cone design 🥺

If you’re reading this review, read all these books. I don’t have social media or I would never shut up about this author
Profile Image for Kodi B..
158 reviews5 followers
January 5, 2024
Loved this quick read with loads of spice and tons of triggers!!
You follow Sienna, a girl who doesn't know what she's getting into when she agrees to babysit over Christmas. Her mom who you become to despise for her stealing gold digging ways along with treating Sienna more like trash then her own daughter, is off on another one of her escapades. Only when they arrive she's stunned to realize who she's supposed to be babysitting aren't children at all but two handsome men.
In come Cillian and Axel, twin brothers whose dad and family are feared for good reason. Left alone in their estately mansion what are they to do to pass the time but play a game of truth or dare that evolves into a game of hide and seek. 50k on the line, let's play!!! What will unfold over the course of Christmas will invade your thoughts and keep you on the edge of your seat. With loads of spice, flirty tension, and loads to keep you entertained, this instant Spicy Christmas classic, will be one I read again!!
Tropes/ what to expect...
Multiple pov, spice, dark romance, morally grey MMCS, good girl, bad girl, why choose, MFM, neglect, BDSM, violence, blood, edging, hint of somno, praise, primal, knife play, and rope play!!!
Profile Image for Lea-Mai Carter.
142 reviews2 followers
November 5, 2025
3.75*

I definitley enjoyed this more than the previous book and liked that not only was it a compete different plot but also different characters. The tension between the brothers and Sienna’s banter like comments between them made for a good dynamic.

I would’ve like to get more of a story with her mom Pam, when Edward decided to bring her back. It seemed out of character that they would just let her go after she was spying on them for the Vegas gang. I think instead of the last chapter being another sex scene, it would’ve been better to include something showing them another year later and how Sienna is involved in the team now, ending with them playing hide and seek again.

Profile Image for RoseReads.
201 reviews
November 21, 2025
Actually downloaded this one because it was recommended in Goodreads... This was exceptionally spicy! In the "author's note" it says that this is a low plot high spice read and I 100% agree with that statement. Not alot happens in this book which was perfectly find by me. It's about twins who become obsessed with their father's date for the evening's daughter. What starts off as a unique "interrogation" ends up being a spicy encounter with two unhinged twins! What's not to love.

So... if you are looking for low plot and high spice... this one hits the mark!!!

Story = ⭐️⭐️.75
Spice = 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Ashley Arca.
246 reviews
November 20, 2023
Christmas Dare is a dark romance novella that was so much fun to read. It is MFM with the to MMC's being brothers. It has mafia vibes with a bit of bullying and primal play. This novella is ALL sm|_|t and a quick read. I truly enjoyed the two MMC's Axel & Cillian. Their possessive need to make the FMC , Sienna, happy & 'free' was so good.
Sienna's mom is a witch of a human, with ulterior motives for being with all the men she's been with , including the twin's dad.
Together, Sienna & the twins conquer her constant need to please her mother and finally take a stand aainst her.
Profile Image for leena.reader.
453 reviews29 followers
July 28, 2023
Rating: 3 ⭐️

I was kindly given this book as an arc by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author for the opportunity.

This was funnnnn I love a twin sandwich in fiction ughhhh

A one night of wilderness between two brothers. They think you’re a spy and try to get the truth out of you through… interesting techniques 👀

Almost wished we had one more night before the end to really solidly their instant bond. And maybe one more scene wouldn’t have hurt y’knowwww
Profile Image for AstroBear_Reads .
13 reviews1 follower
November 26, 2023
Christmas Dare by Shelby Manuel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

▪️MFM
▪️Twins
▪️Bully, but make 'em grovel too
▪️Primal and Hide-n-Seek
▪️Rope Play, Toy Play
▪️DP
▪️Standalone Holiday Novella

Christmas Dare is the second installment of the Merry F***ing Christmas Novella standalones series, and much like the first, I am blown away by this author's ability to paint such a detailed and immersive picture in such a short, spicy book. Looking for tons of spice, little plot? Look no further. This sweet yet dark, holiday novella is packed with spice (including group play and DP, ropes, toys, etc.) with just enough plot to make the story make sense.

I'm not generally a big fan of bully romances, but this one is so well done (like many of this author's uses of tropes!) There was some groveling, some reassurances, and in general, a faster resolution than many bully romances.

And seriously, the spice?! So well done. This author is so talented when it comes to writing spice. She provides such lengthy and detailed descriptions, that it's so easy to get lost in the moment and immerse yourself in the experience.

This novella also features duel POV and the characters were a riot! The banter and internal monologs were both well done, funny, and engaging.

This can be read as a standalone, or alongside the others in the series.
Profile Image for Stefanie.
875 reviews3 followers
December 19, 2023
Another amazing novella from this very talented author. Man, these twins know how to bring a woman to her knees. I also really enjoyed the growth of Sienna, even with this only being 150+ pages. Axel and Cillian are twins and both want her and have a little bit of a fight for her, but she wants them both so they will have to figure out how to deal with that. Will they? You must grab this spicy, dark novella to find out.
Profile Image for Katnip.
179 reviews
November 21, 2023
This book will warm you up this Christmas. It’s dark with plenty of spice. Definitely will get the clitterflies going! Shelby does the hunter/prey schmink so well! Sigh.

I didn’t want to put this book down. It was written so well. The characters were fantastic. Morally grey and possessive! The schminks were hot! The perfect short and spicy novella!
Profile Image for Brandy Wine.
232 reviews7 followers
December 12, 2024
so good

Shelby has me in a hold! I can’t get enough of her primal novellas. Each one keeps me on my toes and I love it.

2 brothers that are part of an organization thinking she’s a spy for another organization. Come to find out it was just her mom that was the spy. HEA here and I can’t be more pleased.
Profile Image for Lori.
191 reviews14 followers
January 1, 2025
The dedication is 🔥🔥 and it just continues to get spicier the further into the book you go. Sienna thought she was going to spend Christmas Eve babysitting two young rich spoiled brats… turns out they showed her how much of a brat she can be, in the most blush inducing moments! Her “mother” is complete trash, but read the book & see what happens to her in the end.
Profile Image for Mrs A.
1,386 reviews29 followers
September 9, 2023
This is not your typical holiday romance! This is an easy to read guilty pleasure. The trigger warnings are a giveaway and May either deter you or tick everything in your shopping list! Certainly did the latter for me. Loved this- will keep you warmed up during the cold months
Profile Image for Michelle Grimison.
1,072 reviews6 followers
December 11, 2023
Psycho twins share…? Organized crime family, a game of truth or dare that’s a little more dangerous thank usual.
Calculating sociopath that’s a rigger?! Fucking sign me up! Cinnamon roll psychopath that would kill his brother for her?! Also yes!

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Shibari, knife/blood play, primal play
Profile Image for Kimberly Rahr.
Author 6 books28 followers
December 18, 2023
I loved every dark and delicious second of this book. It’s a shorter read, but it is definitely spicy. I couldn’t put it down and I was ok with getting lost in the pages. I would love to read more of these characters.
180 reviews
December 27, 2023
The perfect short, smexy, read for the holidays! It is dark romance so heed those tw's. It is more spice than substance and I ate it up. Shelby Manuel is a queen when it comes to a well done sexy novella.
Profile Image for Brittany Hayley Fraser.
143 reviews4 followers
November 11, 2023
Just Finished the Christmas Guest. A Novella from The Merry F**ing Christmas series. I did like this one more then the 1st. It didn’t have drama but lots of spice. It’s a great quick read.
Profile Image for Emily.
574 reviews8 followers
December 20, 2023
The smut in this one was even better than the first! I love that it still had some plot even though it was mainly smut. I think I’m going to have to save the last one for Christmas Eve
Profile Image for Kaitlyn.
351 reviews5 followers
December 23, 2023
Stefan, Elena, and Damon vibes for sure minus the vampire plot.
Profile Image for kay.
115 reviews
December 23, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
this was a fun spicy christmas novella!! i loved the truth and dare plot!!
Profile Image for Pandora.
63 reviews
December 26, 2023
Very Spicy

Loved it! Just wish this was fleshed out into a full novel. Yeah I know that she warned us ahead of time. Can I help it if I wanted more?
Profile Image for Brittany  Trynor.
550 reviews53 followers
December 28, 2023
This was my favorite Christmas series this year to read it definitely spicy and has trigger and quick read. This one tho I mean 💋 it mmf they are twin brothers in mafiaish must read!!
Profile Image for Danielle Lawson.
352 reviews1 follower
November 12, 2024
Not my cup of tea

This was a good quick read but just not my cup of tea. I want to say it wasn't the writing for me it was just not a story I was really into
Profile Image for McKenzie Harrison.
247 reviews
December 17, 2024
StoryGraph, fable, Bookmory 3/5
Decent smut book! Besides that.. didn’t have much going on, but that’s okay!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.