Christmas Cheer

Wilmington Juggernauts #0.25

by C.B. Alice

I have to let her go. But I'll stop at nothing to get her back.

In the glittering world of college football, Evan Allore has always been the golden boy, an all-star with a magnetic charm that captivates everyone around him. But there's one person he's been obsessed with since high school—Keira Hughes, the head cheerleader who's always resisted his advances, wary of becoming just another conquest in Evan's glamorous life.

On a fateful Christmas Eve, an encounter in the gym leaves Evan hopeful that this time, he might win Keira's heart for good. Their tryst takes an unexpected turn, however, when Keira mentions that she's moving overseas where she'll finish her last semester before pursuing the opportunity of a lifetime.

Determined to keep her in his life, Evan proposes a daring a week of romance before she leaves. For Keira, it's an opportunity to have an affair to remember now that she's about to start a new life and doesn't need to worry about her reputation on campus. For Evan, meanwhile, it's a time for desperate measures.

Keira is halfway across the world when she discovers the depths Evan has sunk to in order to snare her — and the extremes to which he'll go to keep her.

Christmas Cheer is an enemies-to-lovers college football romance with some dark themes and TWs including b/c tampering, mild stalking, and pregnancy. But mostly Evan's just a golden retriever who's big of heart but dumb of brain.

Genres: Sports, College, Sports Romance, Novella, Enemies To Lovers, Holiday, Christmas

211 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2024

Reviews

[Romantically Inclined Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way better than I thought it'd be & more unhinged. A golden retriever football player with a BC tampering breeder kink. This guy should be locked up but he's in a book so it's cool.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smutty BC tampering novella. I was very impressed with the writing and enjoyed the dialogue.

[Klara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a smutty holiday story. And I mean smutty.

I was hooked from the start and couldn’t wait for Evan and Keira to finally get together. Oh boy, Evan! He seems like a bad boy, but deep down, he’s a golden retriever whose heart belongs only to Keira. Even though it’s an enemies-to-lovers trope, Evan loves Keira from the beginning—she’s the one who doesn’t like him.

The book keeps you wondering what will happen next. That said, I’d estimate half the book is sex, a quarter is Evan planning how to get her pregnant and how to seduce her, and the remaining quarter is normal plot and dialogue.

Now, for the big issue: I didn’t like—and still don’t like—Evan. What he did, tampering with birth control just so they’d end up together in the long run, is beyond problematic. I hate him for that. At the same time, he’s like, “I’ll do anything to make her happy and take care of her” (including getting her pregnant). It’s a mix of ughh and sweet, but mostly ughh.

[Annabelle (annabelles.shelf) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Serena Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evan era demasiado para manejar!





•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.




Christmas Cheer de C. B. Alice

Argumento:

Tengo que dejarla ir. Pero no me detendré ante nada para recuperarla.

En el brillante mundo del fútbol universitario, Evan Allore siempre ha sido el chico de oro, una estrella con un encanto magnético que cautiva a todos los que lo rodean. Pero hay una persona con la que ha estado obsesionado desde la escuela secundaria: Keira Hughes, la animadora principal que siempre se ha resistido a sus insinuaciones, temerosa de convertirse en una conquista más en la glamorosa vida de Evan.

En una fatídica Nochebuena, un encuentro en el gimnasio deja a Evan con la esperanza de que esta vez pueda ganarse el corazón de Keira para siempre. Sin embargo, su cita da un giro inesperado cuando Keira menciona que se mudará al extranjero, donde terminará su último semestre antes de aprovechar la oportunidad de su vida.

Decidido a mantenerla en su vida, Evan propone un plan atrevido: una semana de romance antes de que ella se vaya. Para Keira, es una oportunidad de tener una aventura para recordar ahora que está a punto de comenzar una nueva vida y no necesita preocuparse por su reputación en el campus. Para Evan, mientras tanto, es momento de tomar medidas desesperadas.

Keira está al otro lado del mundo cuando descubre las profundidades a las que se ha hundido Evan para atraparla y los extremos a los que llegará para retenerla.



Mi humilde opinión:

Un romance universitario de enemigos a amantes con embarazo sorpresa.

Lo primero que tengo para decir es que Evan fue el primer héroe en romances deportivos que leí que encontré era DEMASIADO TODO! Obsesivo, acosador, manipulador, posesivo, imbécil, tonto, divertido, carismático, tierno y más. Hay tantas cosas equivocadas que hizo a lo largo de la historia pero otras tantas que me hacían quererlo o reír sin yo querer! Porque al igual que Keira era imposible olvidar o perdonar sus acciones por más que las hiciera por amor. Pero como dijo ella, si no lo amara sería un final diferente. Así que amas o odias al héroe de esta historia y yo tengo sentimientos encontrados con él.

Si bien el romance es dulce y con mucha erótica es también oscuro con temas que pasan los límites en una relación. Es medio navideño, no tiene la temática marcada, amo cuando hay embarazo y dentro de todo tiene un HEA. Para mí sorprendentemente fue una lectura entretenida.

[elle♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75⭐

Alguien de le una orden de restricción a este individuo 🗣️🗣️🗣️

Por nada del mundo estaría con alguien que le hace hoyos a los condones y te da un laxante en vez de plan B, completamente absurdo que la protagonista se quedará con el después de lo que hizo.

Incluso no le creo nada de que están enamorados, por lo menos no ella.

La autora no exagero cuando dijo que el MMC era un TONTO porque enserio que lo era, como esos personajes de películas gringas de el típico guapo pero tonto, eso era el.

Este libro tiene el trope del enemies to lovers, pero de eso no tiene NADA, porque literal en el primer capítulo ya se están besando y teniendo sexo y en el segundo capítulo ya quedan para ser novios, a lo mejor tenían un poco de rivalidad pero tampoco se vio mucho eso, la verdad que no había ningún tipo de tema entre ellos, simplemente la prota rechazando al MMC durante años cuando el la invita a salir y pues este se lo tomó personal.

Ay aparte cuando decía que estaba con otras personas porque con ella no podía, se me hizo de muy mal gusto, literal dijo que es bueno que haya sido un promiscuo porque quiere decir que ya tiene práctica y puede hacer sentir mejor a la protagonista.

Alto ahí jochis ✋🏼

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book to add to the stack that shouldn't work but do. I've never read a birth control tampering romance before, but somehow instead of being criminal, this felt charming? What is even happening?

Evan is a true himbo who uses methods he knows are wrong to accomplish what he believes to be right, him and Kiera together forever. And it's written in such a way that both Kiera and I were totally pissed at him for what he did, and we also both came around and forgave him anyway. Books are wild.

Anyway, this is sweet and hot and silly and perfectly captures the desperation of feeling the person you love slipping through your fingers and doing anything possible to keep them. So if you can handle the premise, give this one a try.

[Catheryn]

DNF at 32%

I wanted an OTT MMC. But what I got was a character that has always had his eye on her but then slept with everyone else. I didn't believe that he was obsessed with her or that he really liked her. Same with her, I didn't believe that she really liked him. Apart from just lust, I didn't believe that there was any other emotion between them.

[Maggie VanHassel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I needed a shower after reading this it made me feel so gross. Nothing like I tampered with your meds to make it feel romantic. Or you say no but I know what you want more. 🤢🤮I would never recommend and wish I could unread.

[Sarah 🌺 Books in Their Natural Habitat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me

All I’m gonna say is Evan is problematic in my eyes.
There were a lot of things he said and did that were just screaming red flags and concerning.

[Cayla Pilcher · Rating 1 out of 5]

So yeah I did not know what this was about going into it. I now know what trope I fucking despise.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish Evan had to suffer more from the choices he made, he was let off to easily. The romance was cute in the end, not the biggest fan of the BC tampering trope though.

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly nothing much to say besides kinda mid

[Devon (tips_and_tropes) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so hear me out. If you, like me, occasionally treat content warnings like a shopping list, this may be exactly the smutty little palate cleanser you’re craving to wrap up your 2024 reading goal. It’s a decadent little holiday treat with splashes of obsessed man, b/c tampering, OTT possessive behavior, and long term pining.
Is Evan Adler Prince Charming? Not by a long shot, but princes are boring in comparison to the man who will do and sacrifice whatever it takes to ensure his future with you. Why is it that the kind of behavior that would lead to a restraining order in real life, really works for me in an MMC? This man is a completely unhinged golden retriever, and an unstoppable force when it comes to making a life with Kiera. Is there such a combo as a cinnamon roll stalker? This. Man.
I really like that Kiera is a strong woman with a plan for her life that she’s not willing to give up so easily. Standing up to this determined steamroller of a hot AF college football player is not for the faint of heart. She’s guarded when it comes to letting him in especially given his manwh0re history.
Watching these two figure it out with all the spice, humor, and banter was a real Christmas treat!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (4/5)

What to expect…
✧. M/F
✧. college setting
✧. soon to be professional athlete MMC
✧. cheerleader FMC
✧. enemies to lovers
✧. pining MMC
✧. MMC falls first
✧. baby trapping
✧. protective MMC
✧. possessive MMC
✧. golden retriever/himbo MMC

Kinks
✧. breeding
✧. unprotected sex
✧. piercings
✧. tattoos
✧. shower sex
✧. birth control tampering
✧. asphyxiation

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5⭐️
3.5/5🌶
Oh my god, Evan Allore would be quite a red flag if he were real! But he also has this golden retriever energy that's kind of endearing at times, especially towards the end of the novella. (But tampering with birth control is just plain wrong, I get having a breeding kink, but it still made me uncomfortable)

The writing was a bit off, though. It felt a little disjointed at times, and it felt like we jumped in halfway through a story. As readers, we are introduced to them having a very casual hookup, neither of them wanting kids just yet and then *suddenly* Evan is picturing Keira pregnant... only it's not quite so sudden because it becomes quite clear that Evan has had his eyes on Keira for a while, and we do see the softer side of him, with comments like
“You were always special. Always. You hated to talk in class but had all these big thoughts you couldn’t stop once they were forced out of you. You could have gotten everything you wanted on looks alone, but you busted your ass in school to get salutatorian. You volunteered at the animal shelter... You shied away from the light, but the light followed you everywhere... You are amazing, Hughes.”
Like this guy has paid attention to her over the years, Thad- one of his housemates instantly knows Keira is at the house as soon as Evan says, "She's important" so it doesn't make sense to not really have much information on their history together.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my most favorite parts aside from free books on stuff your kindle days is all of the new authors I discover. I initially went into this book with no real expectations, but found myself quickly sucked into the story line. Our MMC is completely obsessed with Keira and is determined to make sure she stays his any way he can. I love an unhinged MMC, but that airplane diarrhea was so uncool, he’s lucky she forgave him. I’m not generally a huge fan of BC tampering trope, but I couldn’t help but love the desperation there. Can’t wait to read the other books in the series and hope we get to see more on Evan and Keira.

[Ramona Mead · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because a friend enjoyed it. Without her suggestion, I never would have tried this trope. And I liked it, but it made me uncomfortable and I wish Evan would have had to suffer from his choices before everything worked out. He truly loved Keira, which is the only thing that justifies his obsession with her. He knows what he does is wrong but he does it anyway becuase it's the only way to get what he wants, which is to be with Keira permanently. It's a sexy book and has some decent humor, but I'm not sure I would read the birth control tampering trope again.

[Ade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, especially Evan’s possessiveness and over the top personality.
It was short, sweet and straightforward. There was no dilly dally. Everything was as it should be.
I didn’t like how the story ended abruptly. I would have loved to see how these two are getting on.
If you love over the top MMC and are into some certain kinks, then you will enjoy this.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, light, fluffy read with questionable actions on the part of the main character. I found myself laughing far more than I anticipated.

This book did fall into one of my pet peeves; it’s labeled as “enemies to lovers” but Keira and Evan are never really enemies. It’s more of a dislike and unrequited childhood crush story. I think we would have needed more development to really see these characters as enemies.

There was a plethora of spicy scenes, though they were mostly short. They were moderately descriptive with some kink, including breeding.

I did thoroughly enjoy the novella. I do think this could have been fleshed out a bit more, but then we’d be looking at more of novel territory so I understand why some things weren’t explored more.

[Kotori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Redflags abound but not really enemies

enemies to lovers is a stretch. more like rivals to lovers.
Still, author constructs a story well and writes well.
Personally found the man-ho ways of the mmc announced a little ott, but if the fmc can overlook them, i guess so.
This ship would not fly irl but in a romcom we can not judge. ok we judge but also secretly love it.

[Ample · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first chapter of this seemed promising but unfortunately I didn't like the writing.

It felt really choppy and the scene changes abrupt I was getting whiplash at what was happening. This is supposedly an enemies to lovers but the transition from enemies was so sudden, it left me confused.

I didn't care about any of the characters and I really wasn't seeing any chemistry.

DNF 27%

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and Sexy

It's also psychotic, possessive and stalkerish. Evan is insane, but in all the good ways. I love this story, because he truly has a good heart. He knows what he wants and goes after it. The spice is steamy and hot. Enjoy.

[Ashley - The Tattered Page]

HOOK: “The one time I wrote that, it's a plan b and he raids his roommates' bathrooms until he finds something similar, but it's an extra strength laxative that she takes right before getting on a plane, and the only thing that saves her from absolute death by 💩 is a teammate with IBS 😅”

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25*
I found the characters fun and loveable but I feel like the way their relationship started was rushed. This is supposed to be enemies to lovers, but they were never really enemies, it was more like a rivalry if that makes sense.

[Shyanne Blankenship · Rating 2 out of 5]

Personally I love a good bc tampering book😌 but this was not it

This book was torture to get through. And why would you give the mmc a blue fucking mohawk😭

Only reason this gets 2 stars instead of 1 is because evan was so funny sometimes, a fucking dumbass but a funny one

[Liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

⋆｡°✩ Spoiler Free Reviews ⋆｡°✩

Couldn’t decide how I felt about this one at first but the ending WAS hilarious!

Tropes for this one; college romance, enemies to lovers, insta lust, one night stand, golden retriever X black cat.
Smut was 2.5/5 on the spice scale and its a HEA apparently.

Listen.. if you’re after a dark romance, this ain’t it. If you’re after a story that is full of Christmas joy, this ain’t it.

I’ll be real, I love BC tampering in a story and I’m a sucker for a dark tomance. But this story was tryna do too much all at once. And describing the MMC as a ‘golden retriever’? No. That is a manchild who needs to grow tf up and learn boundaries. Some scenes I was genuinely wondering whether the FMC was consenting, CNC, or actually flat out NOT consenting.. and most of the scenes probably AREN’T consent in any way. Dubious or any other variation.

I read it cause it said Christmas, its Christmas time, I like sports romances and golden retriever men and a nice dash of E2L and BC tampering but wtf.. this story read like a hostage situation combined with Stockholm Syndrome and giving into the ‘good guy’ so you don’t get murdered. Idk, I wasn’t a fan but the ending WAS funny so I’ll give it points there.

[Alonna Irizarry · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF’d at 28%

Sports/ college/ enemies to lovers/ reformed playboy

Trigger warning: birth control tampering

I don’t want to read about all of the other people the MMC has slept with. It felt like every other thought he had was about some other woman and it made this story too obnoxious to continue.


#DNF

[Isabella Infuso · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oof. The small portion that I was able to get through wasn't good. I do not recommend this.