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Christmas Falls: Season 2 #3
12 Dates of Christmas
Leo Fenner needs a Christmas miracle …
Charmed by the small town, and weary the big city dating scene, Leo moved to Christmas Falls in hopes of finding love like his college friend, Hayden.
Nick Morgan had the love of his life and lost her, but is determined to help others find their happily ever after with his matchmaking service.
His website needs work though, and Leo is just the man for the job.
The web developer signs up for Nick’s matchmaking service to get a feel for what the process is like, all while secretly hoping it’ll bring him the love of his dreams.
But as Nick and Leo work together, the sparks between them are impossible to ignore.
Too bad there’s a few little problems.
For one, Nick’s never fallen for a man before. And, oh yeah—those dates he’s planning for Leo? They’re supposed to be with other guys …
Christmas Season 2 revisits a small town that thrives on enough holiday charm to rival any Hallmark movie. It's a multi-author M/M romance series.
Charmed by the small town, and weary the big city dating scene, Leo moved to Christmas Falls in hopes of finding love like his college friend, Hayden.
Nick Morgan had the love of his life and lost her, but is determined to help others find their happily ever after with his matchmaking service.
His website needs work though, and Leo is just the man for the job.
The web developer signs up for Nick’s matchmaking service to get a feel for what the process is like, all while secretly hoping it’ll bring him the love of his dreams.
But as Nick and Leo work together, the sparks between them are impossible to ignore.
Too bad there’s a few little problems.
For one, Nick’s never fallen for a man before. And, oh yeah—those dates he’s planning for Leo? They’re supposed to be with other guys …
Christmas Season 2 revisits a small town that thrives on enough holiday charm to rival any Hallmark movie. It's a multi-author M/M romance series.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2024
115 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Brigham Vaughn
82 books766 followersBrigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time writer. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
November 6, 2024
This definitely got me in a festive mood and now I want to put up all my decorations!
Leo had me crying when he felt like no one wanted him and that he was somehow unlovable. I wanted to give him the biggest hug 🥹 but I'm also a tough love kinda person, like his BFF Hayden, and there were times where I was shouting at Leo for being so hung up 😂
Nick was definitely stupid at times, but it actually felt realistic with the way he was figuring out if he was ready to move on after experiencing the loss of his wife.
I also really appreciated the fact that the characters acknowledge they've just eaten loads so anal sex is off the table!! I genuinely don't recall seeing this mentioned in a book before, usually characters seem to have magical digestive systems, so this was cool to see.
The disaster dates were really funny to read, but the slow wooing by Nick was just adorable and really showed how well Nick knew Leo, which was so sweet.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Neon Rainbow, and this is my honest review
Leo had me crying when he felt like no one wanted him and that he was somehow unlovable. I wanted to give him the biggest hug 🥹 but I'm also a tough love kinda person, like his BFF Hayden, and there were times where I was shouting at Leo for being so hung up 😂
Nick was definitely stupid at times, but it actually felt realistic with the way he was figuring out if he was ready to move on after experiencing the loss of his wife.
I also really appreciated the fact that the characters acknowledge they've just eaten loads so anal sex is off the table!! I genuinely don't recall seeing this mentioned in a book before, usually characters seem to have magical digestive systems, so this was cool to see.
The disaster dates were really funny to read, but the slow wooing by Nick was just adorable and really showed how well Nick knew Leo, which was so sweet.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Neon Rainbow, and this is my honest review
June 19, 2025
Leo Fenner needs a Christmas miracle …Charmed by the small town, and weary of the big city dating scene, Leo moved to Christmas Falls in hopes of finding love.
Doesn't everyone read Christmas stories in June? By now you all must know that I'm just a wee bit odd:)
Leo Fenner has followed his friend, Hayden, to tiny, Christmas Falls in the hopes that he will also find the love of his life. Leo was a small-town Wisconsin dairy farm- boy who moved to Chicago after college to work for a tech company designing web interfaces. He’s now a freelancer, and is mostly works-from home, so it’s understandable that he would/could leave his tiny apartment behind for Christmas Falls, and the connections that he seeks.
One of Leo’s clients is Nick Morgan, who is a widower who hopes to establish an online matchmaking service. He even offers to set Leo up on some dates, just to test that the algorithms and everything is just right. Leo agrees to this, even though he’s more than skeptical...as well as strangely attracted to Nick.
Nick is bisexual, but his late wife was the only person of either sex, that he ever dated...and he still grieves for her despite that there have been years since her sudden death. Nick hasn’t connected with anyone since and is floored by how attractive he finds Leo. Leo is almost ten years younger than Nick...surely, Nick wants a younger partner? All the dates Nick sets up for Leo are complete disasters. The men are terrible matches, in temperament as well as libido. Leo is enjoying the friendships he makes as he escapes his would-be suitors, and the after-dates recap sessions he’s has with Nick. Their late-night talks build an intimacy that only cements Nick’s attraction, and soon he’s struggling to hold back his irritation when Leo finds one "good man" after another, to date.
Nick and Leo do finally get on the same page and experience some dates that builds their rapport beyond just the physical. They get on so easily, despite the age difference, and they find that building strong connections is important to both of them.
I really enjoyed returning to Christmas Falls... as well as both Leo and Nick, who are so sweet together. Also learning a little about Nick’s late wife and how much in love they had been really added a different, yet solid dimension to the story. Nick's determination to find happiness for himself was both affirming and reasonable. Leo’s kindness was supportive and came to Nick at exactly the right time.
Overall...we have been given a sweet age-gap holiday romance story, (even if I did read it in the middle of June), with a very happy ending. This book is part of a multi-author series that each book is connected, some only briefly, but all the books can be easily read as standalones.
Doesn't everyone read Christmas stories in June? By now you all must know that I'm just a wee bit odd:)
Leo Fenner has followed his friend, Hayden, to tiny, Christmas Falls in the hopes that he will also find the love of his life. Leo was a small-town Wisconsin dairy farm- boy who moved to Chicago after college to work for a tech company designing web interfaces. He’s now a freelancer, and is mostly works-from home, so it’s understandable that he would/could leave his tiny apartment behind for Christmas Falls, and the connections that he seeks.
One of Leo’s clients is Nick Morgan, who is a widower who hopes to establish an online matchmaking service. He even offers to set Leo up on some dates, just to test that the algorithms and everything is just right. Leo agrees to this, even though he’s more than skeptical...as well as strangely attracted to Nick.
Nick is bisexual, but his late wife was the only person of either sex, that he ever dated...and he still grieves for her despite that there have been years since her sudden death. Nick hasn’t connected with anyone since and is floored by how attractive he finds Leo. Leo is almost ten years younger than Nick...surely, Nick wants a younger partner? All the dates Nick sets up for Leo are complete disasters. The men are terrible matches, in temperament as well as libido. Leo is enjoying the friendships he makes as he escapes his would-be suitors, and the after-dates recap sessions he’s has with Nick. Their late-night talks build an intimacy that only cements Nick’s attraction, and soon he’s struggling to hold back his irritation when Leo finds one "good man" after another, to date.
Nick and Leo do finally get on the same page and experience some dates that builds their rapport beyond just the physical. They get on so easily, despite the age difference, and they find that building strong connections is important to both of them.
I really enjoyed returning to Christmas Falls... as well as both Leo and Nick, who are so sweet together. Also learning a little about Nick’s late wife and how much in love they had been really added a different, yet solid dimension to the story. Nick's determination to find happiness for himself was both affirming and reasonable. Leo’s kindness was supportive and came to Nick at exactly the right time.
Overall...we have been given a sweet age-gap holiday romance story, (even if I did read it in the middle of June), with a very happy ending. This book is part of a multi-author series that each book is connected, some only briefly, but all the books can be easily read as standalones.
December 17, 2025
I was excited to read about Leo, whom we met in Vaughn's previous book for the first Christmas Falls series. Setting him up with a guy thirteen years older? My jam! Unfortunately, this book didn't have a lot of juice.
I was hoping Leo would be a bit more like a bro-y dude, but he's overly romantic and jokey and came across like a wet rag to me. Nick wasn't much better. Aside from the ethical quandary involved with having sex with a client, he didn't have a lot going for him. Yes, his character was rather well realized, but I think Vaughn's style of writing doesn't project a lot of sexiness most of the time. Neither Nick nor Leo were all that sexy or appealing to me, and got very bored with the whole "twelve dates" scenario after a bit. That's a lot. The overall plot was very cliched, I thought, but then this is a series of books about a town that's very Christmas focused so par for the course, I suppose.
I do commend the author for Nick actually being bisexual. None of this "never having a clue he liked guys until he met the *ONE* guy that got him aroused" like in so many books that deal with bisexual characters. His devotion to his deceased wife was great, and I did love how he cherished her memory but was moving on with his life once he met Leo.
I did find the writing to be like most of Vaughn's books, in that it's chock full of repetitive phrases and prose that are plain and almost YA-ish. Her word of choice in this book is "winced", which the characters were doing a lot of. (See my highlights for many of them.) I don't get excited reading her book, which is a shame, because her plots are usually not that bad (except for this one).
I was hoping Leo would be a bit more like a bro-y dude, but he's overly romantic and jokey and came across like a wet rag to me. Nick wasn't much better. Aside from the ethical quandary involved with having sex with a client, he didn't have a lot going for him. Yes, his character was rather well realized, but I think Vaughn's style of writing doesn't project a lot of sexiness most of the time. Neither Nick nor Leo were all that sexy or appealing to me, and got very bored with the whole "twelve dates" scenario after a bit. That's a lot. The overall plot was very cliched, I thought, but then this is a series of books about a town that's very Christmas focused so par for the course, I suppose.
I do commend the author for Nick actually being bisexual. None of this "never having a clue he liked guys until he met the *ONE* guy that got him aroused" like in so many books that deal with bisexual characters. His devotion to his deceased wife was great, and I did love how he cherished her memory but was moving on with his life once he met Leo.
I did find the writing to be like most of Vaughn's books, in that it's chock full of repetitive phrases and prose that are plain and almost YA-ish. Her word of choice in this book is "winced", which the characters were doing a lot of. (See my highlights for many of them.) I don't get excited reading her book, which is a shame, because her plots are usually not that bad (except for this one).
November 25, 2024
Apparently I didn't have the same tune as everyone else about this story.
It was good in the beginning. But it's getting old when Nick is still pinning after his late wife and insulted Leo after their first sex.
Leo deserves a better man, in my opinion.
I liked Leo, he's sweet and has an amazing personality.
But I can't say the same thing about Nick.
It's a bummer, that Nick can't fulfill my expectations about a man that deserves Leo.
It was good in the beginning. But it's getting old when Nick is still pinning after his late wife and insulted Leo after their first sex.
Leo deserves a better man, in my opinion.
I liked Leo, he's sweet and has an amazing personality.
But I can't say the same thing about Nick.
It's a bummer, that Nick can't fulfill my expectations about a man that deserves Leo.
Read
December 16, 2024I'm sorry, I hate to say this but I just got bored. Too many details, zero interest for me. No rating.
D.N.F.18%
D.N.F.18%
December 24, 2024
3.5 stars
Sweet story between Hayden's friend, Leo, and a widower, Nick. I really appreciated that Nick's deceased wife was painted in a positive good way. And I liked that Leo was written as someone who was hopelessly romantic. I thought their relationship worked well, even if Nick chickened out at first because he wasn't sure if he was ready to move on.
Great friends and family characters surrounding them too.
Not big fans of the steamy sex scenes. But again, that's on me.
Sweet story between Hayden's friend, Leo, and a widower, Nick. I really appreciated that Nick's deceased wife was painted in a positive good way. And I liked that Leo was written as someone who was hopelessly romantic. I thought their relationship worked well, even if Nick chickened out at first because he wasn't sure if he was ready to move on.
Great friends and family characters surrounding them too.
Not big fans of the steamy sex scenes. But again, that's on me.
November 26, 2025
Voto: 4.5
RECENSIONE A CURA DI ELYXYZ
Abbiamo già conosciuto Leo nel volume dedicato al suo migliore amico scontroso e a un certo pasticciere, così come abbiamo già incontrato Nick nel volume dedicato al suo ex cognato, ma finalmente scopriamo questa coppia insieme e devo dire che è fra le mie preferite dell’intera saga.
Leo si è trasferito a Christmas Falls perché stanco della vita di città, e delle relazioni superficiali che intratteneva, con la speranza di trovare qui al paesello il vero amore, come il suo migliore amico Hayden, che un po’ invidia perché vorrebbe un Joel tutto suo da amare, ma i primi appuntamenti sono disastrosi anche qui e Leo inizia a chiedersi se il problema non sia lui.
Nick, come sappiamo dai precedenti volumi, è un vedovo ancora in lutto che ha fondato un’agenzia di incontri per onorare la memoria dell’adorata moglie, fervente sostenitrice dell’amore e della felicità di coppia, tanto da esser stata una talentuosa scrittrice di romanzi rosa.
Continua sul nostro blog!
RECENSIONE A CURA DI ELYXYZ
Abbiamo già conosciuto Leo nel volume dedicato al suo migliore amico scontroso e a un certo pasticciere, così come abbiamo già incontrato Nick nel volume dedicato al suo ex cognato, ma finalmente scopriamo questa coppia insieme e devo dire che è fra le mie preferite dell’intera saga.
Leo si è trasferito a Christmas Falls perché stanco della vita di città, e delle relazioni superficiali che intratteneva, con la speranza di trovare qui al paesello il vero amore, come il suo migliore amico Hayden, che un po’ invidia perché vorrebbe un Joel tutto suo da amare, ma i primi appuntamenti sono disastrosi anche qui e Leo inizia a chiedersi se il problema non sia lui.
Nick, come sappiamo dai precedenti volumi, è un vedovo ancora in lutto che ha fondato un’agenzia di incontri per onorare la memoria dell’adorata moglie, fervente sostenitrice dell’amore e della felicità di coppia, tanto da esser stata una talentuosa scrittrice di romanzi rosa.
Continua sul nostro blog!
December 2, 2024
I love the Christmas Falls books and although I haven't read all the books in the second series, Brigham books are always a must for me. And this was such a heartwarming story. Leo is desperate to find love and settle down and decides to move to Christmas Falls after he sees his best friend find love.
Nick has already experienced love and loss. He runs a matching service and hires Leo to design his website. Leo is attracted to Nick but thinks he's straight. Nick offers to set Leo up on dates. Leo goes on quite a few awkward dates and somewhere along the line Nick develops feelings for Leo. They go on the dates Leo has always dreamt of. This was such a lovely Christmas story.
Nick has already experienced love and loss. He runs a matching service and hires Leo to design his website. Leo is attracted to Nick but thinks he's straight. Nick offers to set Leo up on dates. Leo goes on quite a few awkward dates and somewhere along the line Nick develops feelings for Leo. They go on the dates Leo has always dreamt of. This was such a lovely Christmas story.
November 30, 2024
Nick & Leo
Rating: 3.7 ⭐
- Matchmaker/Web Developer
- Age Gap (13yrs)
- Small Town Romance
- Christmas Town
- Second Chance (Widower)
- Unexpected Love
- Some Date Disasters
This was a sweet Christmas read about a widower getting a second chance at love and a man new to town finally finding his person.
Nick offers his matchmaking services to Leo as a thank you for helping with his company's website. Leo is instantly smitten with Nick but he believes the man is straight since he was married to a woman and still grieving her. Leo has some crazy horrible and some mediocre dates throughout this book, all while pining for Nick. Nick has always been Bi, but he fell in love with his late wife early on and had only ever been with her. Nick is attracted to Leo, but doesn't really think about how much he wants the man until he's presented with the possibility of losing his chance.
Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
- Graphic sexual content between consenting adults
- Discussion of a past death of a spouse and grief
I received a free copy of this book via Neon Rainbow and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Verse: No
HEA: Yes
POV: Dual
Breakup: No, but they are apart for a few days before they become a couple.
Cheating: No, but Leo does go on several dates in the book with Nick's matchmaking service.
OM/OW Drama: No
Ages: 38 & 25
Rating: 3.7 ⭐
- Matchmaker/Web Developer
- Age Gap (13yrs)
- Small Town Romance
- Christmas Town
- Second Chance (Widower)
- Unexpected Love
- Some Date Disasters
This was a sweet Christmas read about a widower getting a second chance at love and a man new to town finally finding his person.
Nick offers his matchmaking services to Leo as a thank you for helping with his company's website. Leo is instantly smitten with Nick but he believes the man is straight since he was married to a woman and still grieving her. Leo has some crazy horrible and some mediocre dates throughout this book, all while pining for Nick. Nick has always been Bi, but he fell in love with his late wife early on and had only ever been with her. Nick is attracted to Leo, but doesn't really think about how much he wants the man until he's presented with the possibility of losing his chance.
Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
- Graphic sexual content between consenting adults
- Discussion of a past death of a spouse and grief
I received a free copy of this book via Neon Rainbow and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Verse: No
HEA: Yes
POV: Dual
Breakup: No, but they are apart for a few days before they become a couple.
Cheating: No, but Leo does go on several dates in the book with Nick's matchmaking service.
OM/OW Drama: No
Ages: 38 & 25
dnfs
November 26, 2024Dnf @47%. Xmas is cancelled. I think Leo would’ve had better luck on Grindr. Good thing Nick offered them bad matchmaking services for free.
November 19, 2024
The 12 Dates of Christmas by Brigham Vaughn is part of the new Christmas Falls multi author series. Nick lost his wife three years ago. He is determined to find love for everyone else, but he knows that love is not in the cards for him again. Leo recently moved to Christmas Falls after his friend Hayden fell in love with baker Joel. He wants to find the forever kind of love. While working to set up Nick’s website, Nick offers to set Leo up on dates to help him find love. He soon realizes that he has feelings for Leo and that scares him. I adored Leo. He was such a sweet person who was looking for someone to share his life with. I liked Nick, but I did have a major problem with how he treated Leo at times especially after they were intimate with each other. Leo deserved to be wooed and I was glad that Nick put in the effort, but it made me nervous how quickly he switched gears. In the end, it was a very sweet story and I really enjoyed it.
I received an ARC from Neon Rainbow Readers for my honest review
I received an ARC from Neon Rainbow Readers for my honest review
November 30, 2024
Christmas Falls: Season 2 is a multi-author collaborative series, and all the books can be read as a complete standalone.
The 12 Dates of Christmas is a low-angst, cozy, feel-good holiday romance set in Christmas Falls. It’s about second chances, unexpected love, and a little matchmaking magic mixed with humour and feel-good vibes.
The story focuses on Nick and Leo. Nick is a widowed matchmaker who has spent the past three years helping others find love, convinced his own chance at happiness is over. On the other hand, Leo is a new resident of Christmas Falls, a hopeless romantic who’s looking for a fresh start and maybe his own happily-ever-after. When Nick offers to set Leo up on a series of dates as a thank-you for helping build his matchmaking website, things take an interesting turn. The dates are hilariously bad, but that journey ultimately leads them to each other.
Nick and Leo are a sweet pair, and I loved how their personalities complemented each other. The slight age gap between them actually added to their relationship, which I don’t feel like it happens often in books. So it was lovely to see how Nick’s life experience and reserved nature contrast with Leo’s youthful optimism and openness. Leo sometimes feels a bit naive, but his sincerity and longing to be loved make him easy to root for. That said, Nick is written with depth, and the difficult time he has to move on from his late wife’s memory gives real emotional impact to the story.
Even though Nick's actions hurt Leo, I like that the author didn’t shy away from it. It shows the complex reality of falling in love again after losing the person that was the love of your life. It showed how messy, unpredictable and vulnerable that process can be. And how sometimes you need to take a step back to sort yourself out so you can move forward. And that made it even more satisfying to watch Nick's gradual realisation that he’s falling for Leo. It was tender and realistic, and heartwarming to watch him put effort into wooing Leo once he decides to take that step.
The town of Christmas Falls itself feels like a character, and its small-town charm and holiday obsession is a perfect backdrop for all the romance. It’s also fun to see characters from other books pop in and out of the story without feeling out of place. I like how it all ties together so well, giving the series a sense of community which makes it even more enjoyable.
I received a copy of this book from Neon Rainbow Reviews, and this is my unbiased review.
The 12 Dates of Christmas is a low-angst, cozy, feel-good holiday romance set in Christmas Falls. It’s about second chances, unexpected love, and a little matchmaking magic mixed with humour and feel-good vibes.
The story focuses on Nick and Leo. Nick is a widowed matchmaker who has spent the past three years helping others find love, convinced his own chance at happiness is over. On the other hand, Leo is a new resident of Christmas Falls, a hopeless romantic who’s looking for a fresh start and maybe his own happily-ever-after. When Nick offers to set Leo up on a series of dates as a thank-you for helping build his matchmaking website, things take an interesting turn. The dates are hilariously bad, but that journey ultimately leads them to each other.
Nick and Leo are a sweet pair, and I loved how their personalities complemented each other. The slight age gap between them actually added to their relationship, which I don’t feel like it happens often in books. So it was lovely to see how Nick’s life experience and reserved nature contrast with Leo’s youthful optimism and openness. Leo sometimes feels a bit naive, but his sincerity and longing to be loved make him easy to root for. That said, Nick is written with depth, and the difficult time he has to move on from his late wife’s memory gives real emotional impact to the story.
Even though Nick's actions hurt Leo, I like that the author didn’t shy away from it. It shows the complex reality of falling in love again after losing the person that was the love of your life. It showed how messy, unpredictable and vulnerable that process can be. And how sometimes you need to take a step back to sort yourself out so you can move forward. And that made it even more satisfying to watch Nick's gradual realisation that he’s falling for Leo. It was tender and realistic, and heartwarming to watch him put effort into wooing Leo once he decides to take that step.
The town of Christmas Falls itself feels like a character, and its small-town charm and holiday obsession is a perfect backdrop for all the romance. It’s also fun to see characters from other books pop in and out of the story without feeling out of place. I like how it all ties together so well, giving the series a sense of community which makes it even more enjoyable.
I received a copy of this book from Neon Rainbow Reviews, and this is my unbiased review.
November 27, 2024
"How does literally everyone in this fucking town get their goddamn meet-cute and happily ever after like they’re living in some freaking Hallmark cozy holiday rom-com when I’m fucking living in some depressing indie piece about the futility of hope.”
After witnessing his friend find love in Christmas Falls, Leo decides to move to town to try and get his shot at finding love. Lucky for him, one of the first people he meets is Nick, who runs a matchmaking service and offers to find Leo a match as a thank-you for the work Leo did on Nick’s website. With each failed date, though, Leo realizes the only guy he wants to date is Nick. Even though Nick turns out to be bi, he’s been grieving the unexpected loss of his beloved wife a few years ago and isn’t sure he’s ready to give his heart away again. But sometimes love finds you when you least expect it.
So this was the first book I’ve read in either season of the Christmas Falls series but as the series name suggests, this town is chock full of holiday cheer! I loved how festive this book was, it was overflowing with Christmas magic. And there was no shortage of romance either! Leo was a hopeless romantic and it was adorable. My heart went out to the guy who seemed so unlucky when it came to finding the guy for him. The dates Nick set him up on were sometimes disastrous but he was always such a good sport about it.
Nick was also a sweetheart. He realized he was crushing on Leo but he was also so mixed up over the loss of his wife and didn’t always make the best choices. But when he finally decided pursuing Leo was the path he wanted to take, I loved seeing him work to woo Leo. Their dates were Christmasy and romantic and Leo was so cute with his excitement over finally finding someone willing to sweep him off his feet. Nick and Leo were very sweet, I enjoyed seeing them find their HEA and I’ll definitely be checking out some of the other books in the Christmas Falls series!
“For the first time in years, I’m really happy and excited about the future again. And that’s because of you, Leo.”
December 10, 2024
While the idea of this book is cute and it's quite enjoyable, I couldn't really get invested.
12 Date of Christmas is another sweet holiday romance set in the holiday-obsessed town of Christmas Falls. It's about Nick, a man who lost his wife, the love of his life a few years ago, and Leo, a young man ready for love and a relationship.
Leo sets up Nick,s website for his matchmaking service, and Nick offers to find Leo love through the service when he moves to town. It's a sweet idea, except both of them already have their eyes on the other, so it doesn't actually go to plan.
In Leo's case, the thing I couldn't get behind is the obsessive need to find love and be in a relationship. I get it. Most people crave that connection, but in my opinion, if you force it, it's not gonna happen. Otherwise, he is a sweet guy with a big heart and a lot of bravery signing up for a blind date service like Nick's. He seriously pines for Nick, which sabotages his dates a little bit.
Nick's story is hearttouching. I love stories where an MC has a second chance at love after a loss. I was not always sure he was ready to move on because he was seriously hung up on her sometimes. However, he does show a willingness to move on after some confusion and deliberation. It is nice to see him thinking it through before jumping into anything.
There were times when I thought Leo should just leave Nick because he was rude and insecure, and Leo deserved better. But they worked it out, so that's that.
Overall, the story gives all the holiday vibes thanks to town and all the cheery holiday activities. When it comes to the romance, I'm not sure it hit the mark for me. Plus, I really don't like the formatting (big space between every paragraph). It disturbed the flow of reading.
12 Date of Christmas is another sweet holiday romance set in the holiday-obsessed town of Christmas Falls. It's about Nick, a man who lost his wife, the love of his life a few years ago, and Leo, a young man ready for love and a relationship.
Leo sets up Nick,s website for his matchmaking service, and Nick offers to find Leo love through the service when he moves to town. It's a sweet idea, except both of them already have their eyes on the other, so it doesn't actually go to plan.
In Leo's case, the thing I couldn't get behind is the obsessive need to find love and be in a relationship. I get it. Most people crave that connection, but in my opinion, if you force it, it's not gonna happen. Otherwise, he is a sweet guy with a big heart and a lot of bravery signing up for a blind date service like Nick's. He seriously pines for Nick, which sabotages his dates a little bit.
Nick's story is hearttouching. I love stories where an MC has a second chance at love after a loss. I was not always sure he was ready to move on because he was seriously hung up on her sometimes. However, he does show a willingness to move on after some confusion and deliberation. It is nice to see him thinking it through before jumping into anything.
There were times when I thought Leo should just leave Nick because he was rude and insecure, and Leo deserved better. But they worked it out, so that's that.
Overall, the story gives all the holiday vibes thanks to town and all the cheery holiday activities. When it comes to the romance, I'm not sure it hit the mark for me. Plus, I really don't like the formatting (big space between every paragraph). It disturbed the flow of reading.
December 11, 2024
12 Dates of Christmas is a heartwarming holiday romance. The story follows Leo Fenner, a web developer who moves to Christmas Falls in hopes of finding love, inspired by his friend Hayden's success. Leo ends up working with Nick Morgan, a widower who runs a matchmaking service. Despite Nick's initial intention to set Leo up with other men, the two find themselves increasingly drawn to each other.
The novel beautifully explores themes of grief, healing, and new beginnings. Nick's journey from mourning his late wife to opening his heart to Leo is particularly touching. The age gap between Nick and Leo adds an interesting dynamic, but their connection feels genuine and deep.
The setting of Christmas Falls, with its festive charm, adds a magical touch to the story. The book is part of a multi-author series, but it stands well on its own, offering a satisfying and sweet holiday romance with a happy ending.
The novel beautifully explores themes of grief, healing, and new beginnings. Nick's journey from mourning his late wife to opening his heart to Leo is particularly touching. The age gap between Nick and Leo adds an interesting dynamic, but their connection feels genuine and deep.
The setting of Christmas Falls, with its festive charm, adds a magical touch to the story. The book is part of a multi-author series, but it stands well on its own, offering a satisfying and sweet holiday romance with a happy ending.
November 24, 2024
The Christmas Falls matchmaker meets his match while working together to launch his new website.
Leo Fenner and Nick Morgan have been working together to launch a website for Nick’s matchmaker service that he started to honor his late wife and to help people find love like they did. Leo’s new to Christmas Falls and is desperate to find the love of his life despite a lot of bad dating luck in Chicago. So, as a thank you for his work on the website, Nick encourages Leo to sign up for his service and sets him up on dates. However, the dates are a major bust, though they bring Leo and Nick closer together than they ever expected. The dates with other people turn into dates between the two of them.
Nick isn’t sure he’s completely ready to date again and ends up waffling on Leo multiple times, making him feel terrible along the way and then going over-the-top to make it up to him when he finally figures it out. I think the idea of these two together turned out better than the actual execution - seeing Leo go along with Nick’s poor treatment really put a bad taste in my mouth. Once they work things out, it gets better, but it wasn’t enough for me to forget. The Christmas Falls cast of characters and atmosphere saved this one for me; it ended up being a little sickly sweet and wrapped up incredibly conveniently. It was an easy read and always fun to return to Christmas Falls, but this one wasn’t one of my favorites.
Leo Fenner and Nick Morgan have been working together to launch a website for Nick’s matchmaker service that he started to honor his late wife and to help people find love like they did. Leo’s new to Christmas Falls and is desperate to find the love of his life despite a lot of bad dating luck in Chicago. So, as a thank you for his work on the website, Nick encourages Leo to sign up for his service and sets him up on dates. However, the dates are a major bust, though they bring Leo and Nick closer together than they ever expected. The dates with other people turn into dates between the two of them.
Nick isn’t sure he’s completely ready to date again and ends up waffling on Leo multiple times, making him feel terrible along the way and then going over-the-top to make it up to him when he finally figures it out. I think the idea of these two together turned out better than the actual execution - seeing Leo go along with Nick’s poor treatment really put a bad taste in my mouth. Once they work things out, it gets better, but it wasn’t enough for me to forget. The Christmas Falls cast of characters and atmosphere saved this one for me; it ended up being a little sickly sweet and wrapped up incredibly conveniently. It was an easy read and always fun to return to Christmas Falls, but this one wasn’t one of my favorites.
December 4, 2024
Matchmaker Nick pops up all over the other books in this series (which I absolutely read completely out of order, thank you very much LOL), so it was awesome to finally get inside his head and get to know who he is. I love Leo - but then, his insecurities speak (loudly!) to my own, and I just want to hug him. Nick, meanwhile - I get that he's going through some very big things, grieving the loss of a spouse and navigating loving again after that loss - but he also treats Leo really horribly a few times, and I sort of want to punch his face. This book gets 3 stars for Nick, but 5 for Leo, to average out to a 4 star rating.
I feel like this book had the most scenes of all of them so far where it was reading a scene from another book from a different POV - like Leo's date with Jett, and Nick's interaction with Ford in the bookshop.
This is the third book in the Christmas falls series, and can be read as a standalone.
I feel like this book had the most scenes of all of them so far where it was reading a scene from another book from a different POV - like Leo's date with Jett, and Nick's interaction with Ford in the bookshop.
This is the third book in the Christmas falls series, and can be read as a standalone.
December 18, 2024
Sooooo...a widower, with zero experience or background, decides to turn from making bank loans to matchmaker. Yup. That's generally how these things go.
Then it's just, OMG is this love? Is it not? OMG I think it's love. Then everyone loves each other's families and...🥱🥱🥱
This is just the dumbest timeline I've been assigned to.
Then it's just, OMG is this love? Is it not? OMG I think it's love. Then everyone loves each other's families and...🥱🥱🥱
This is just the dumbest timeline I've been assigned to.
November 27, 2024
Christmas Falls is living up to the hype as the place to fall in love this holiday season! I adored this holiday romance which pairs a matchmaking widower with a young techie ready to find his Prince Charming. As it turns out, he’s in just the right place.
Going in, I expected this story to be a holiday version of 50 First Dates, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Instead, it’s an age gap romance where one guy unexpectedly finds a second chance at love while helping another find his Mr. Right. The chemistry between Nick and Leo is clear from the start, and it’s fun watching their feelings grow and change as Leo kisses frog after frog in search of his prince before realizing he's known him all along.
The age gap between them isn’t huge, but it’s enough that they each bring very different life experiences to their relationship. At times Leo seemed so young, but I enjoy how his youthfulness is used to inspire Nick to reclaim some of his own. What could have created a glaring difference between them instead draws them closer together.
I enjoy Brigham Vaughn’s work, and this book is no exception — her stories have a way of inviting you in that’s engaging and captivating. She makes you care about her characters, and I was definitely invested in Nick and Leo’s happily ever after.
This series is among my favorite multi-author interconnected universes. The Christmas-obsessed small town setting has its own charm, but I really appreciate the consistency across books and how seamlessly they fit together. Characters flow in and out of their own stories onto the pages of others, and they always feel the same. Their appearances and interactions are genuine and true to who they are, and I greatly appreciate the craft and skill it takes for that to happen.
*I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book*
Going in, I expected this story to be a holiday version of 50 First Dates, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Instead, it’s an age gap romance where one guy unexpectedly finds a second chance at love while helping another find his Mr. Right. The chemistry between Nick and Leo is clear from the start, and it’s fun watching their feelings grow and change as Leo kisses frog after frog in search of his prince before realizing he's known him all along.
The age gap between them isn’t huge, but it’s enough that they each bring very different life experiences to their relationship. At times Leo seemed so young, but I enjoy how his youthfulness is used to inspire Nick to reclaim some of his own. What could have created a glaring difference between them instead draws them closer together.
I enjoy Brigham Vaughn’s work, and this book is no exception — her stories have a way of inviting you in that’s engaging and captivating. She makes you care about her characters, and I was definitely invested in Nick and Leo’s happily ever after.
This series is among my favorite multi-author interconnected universes. The Christmas-obsessed small town setting has its own charm, but I really appreciate the consistency across books and how seamlessly they fit together. Characters flow in and out of their own stories onto the pages of others, and they always feel the same. Their appearances and interactions are genuine and true to who they are, and I greatly appreciate the craft and skill it takes for that to happen.
*I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book*
November 23, 2024
This was an easy and cozy read with just a bit of angst. Not much of a plot or anything, mostly just christmas vibes. I liked it
November 6, 2024
Leo hasn’t had luck when it comes to love. But he is hoping that by moving to Christmas Falls he will finally find love! He has heard the stories and even his best friend had his own happy ending. Leo is ready for it to be his turn. For a while he has been helping Nick put together his website for his matchmaking service. And as an extra treat, Nick has offered to help Leo. But all Leo seems to find are terrible dates. And he also can’t help but start crushing on Nick. Probably not the best combo when finding love. For Nick, he lost his wife three years ago and hasn’t really gotten over it. He loves his matchmaking business because he wants others to find the love of their lives despite losing his own. And for the first time in a very long time, he is starting to get feelings. But is he really ready to open himself up to Leo? These two definitely deserved their happy ending! And it is well worth the wait. Nick has a lot to overcome and Leo knows he is worth the wait if he can give them a chance. I loved watching these two slowly fall in love and be ready to take a chance on one another. It was truly such a sweet story! Another great addition to Christmas Falls. Can’t wait for more!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2024
A perfect match between Nick and Leo! One is a matchmaker who, despite losing the love of his life a few years ago, still believes in the power of love and wants to help others finding it. The other is an hopelessly romantic web developer who’s new in town and actively searching for his happily ever after. Both are attracted to the other, but neither thinks it’s possible for different reasons. After a slew of bad dates set by Nick for Leo (with others), Nick, even though he’s scared, applies his matchmaking skills to his and Leo’s own dates. And they really are great dates set in the cozy town of Christmas Falls. This story is a perfect match to the rest of the series!
Thanks to Neon Rainbow ARC Review, I received an advanced reviewer copy (ARC) for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thanks to Neon Rainbow ARC Review, I received an advanced reviewer copy (ARC) for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 5, 2025
Holiday Cheer Meter: 3/5
(Where 1 is as Christmassy as 'Die Hard' and 5 is more like 'Elf')
3rd person, past tense, dual POV
Leopold 'Leo' Hausch Fenner (25), web developer
Nicholas 'Nick' Theodore Morgan (38), matchmaker
I quite enjoyed this one, I haven't read all of season 1 or the rest of this season or the author's backlist so I was missing out on the context of the background characters and mentions.
Leo's desperation in finding love was a little concerning, at least he was willing to have some standards when it came to the potential dates Nick set him up on. Nick's background and why he got into matchmaking was so sweet, though you have to suspend some disbelief as to his actual qualifications. It actually would have been almost funny if all his dates were notoriously bad but he was so beloved by the town that people just fed his little romantic soul. As it was the dates he set up for Leo were equal parts hilarious and horrifying.
I liked the slower burn of this one as Nick comes to terms with dating after the death of his wife three years prior. The arc was realistic, but that didn't keep me from being a little mad that Nick was so wishy washy and poor Leo was left feeling inadequate and unloveable. I could have done without the second guessing after sharing an evening of intimacy. The hot and cold went on a little longer that I would have liked.
I loved the post-date debriefs and the fact that they continued after Leo and Nick start dating, it was a sweet touch.
I LOVED the Christmas gift Nick got for Leo, I'm a sucker for someone putting time and effort into an endeavour.
I was given an ARC and voluntarily wrote an honest review.
(Where 1 is as Christmassy as 'Die Hard' and 5 is more like 'Elf')
3rd person, past tense, dual POV
Leopold 'Leo' Hausch Fenner (25), web developer
Nicholas 'Nick' Theodore Morgan (38), matchmaker
I quite enjoyed this one, I haven't read all of season 1 or the rest of this season or the author's backlist so I was missing out on the context of the background characters and mentions.
Leo's desperation in finding love was a little concerning, at least he was willing to have some standards when it came to the potential dates Nick set him up on. Nick's background and why he got into matchmaking was so sweet, though you have to suspend some disbelief as to his actual qualifications. It actually would have been almost funny if all his dates were notoriously bad but he was so beloved by the town that people just fed his little romantic soul. As it was the dates he set up for Leo were equal parts hilarious and horrifying.
I liked the slower burn of this one as Nick comes to terms with dating after the death of his wife three years prior. The arc was realistic, but that didn't keep me from being a little mad that Nick was so wishy washy and poor Leo was left feeling inadequate and unloveable. I could have done without the second guessing after sharing an evening of intimacy. The hot and cold went on a little longer that I would have liked.
I loved the post-date debriefs and the fact that they continued after Leo and Nick start dating, it was a sweet touch.
I LOVED the Christmas gift Nick got for Leo, I'm a sucker for someone putting time and effort into an endeavour.
I was given an ARC and voluntarily wrote an honest review.
August 11, 2025
audio update;
james Edward Jones was brought back again to narrate Bringhams second season of Christmas Falls. He did a beautiful job in showing the emotions of these men. You never lost track of who was speaking with is a huge win in my world for audios. a great addition to any audio library.
I love this season of Christmas Falls so much! This year, the stories fell less Hallmark and more real! Yes, they still have the Hallmark vibes of the town along with great meet cutes, yet this year, the authors seem to have made a conscious effort to add real-life emotions into their stories as well.
Leo moves to Christmas Falls to be closer to his best friend Hayden (mc from Scrooge You) and in hopes of finding his one true love. When he helps set up Nick's matchmaking site, he agrees to give it a shot as well. With a series of horrible dates, you can't help but laugh at how wrong Nick is getting this. When Nick messes up and hurts Leo, he takes, wooing him back to the next level. He shows how much he really does care for Leo, and he deeply regrets his poor decisions. Thankful this wasn't an easy sorry but a heartfelt one. These two just work so well together when they do get it right.
james Edward Jones was brought back again to narrate Bringhams second season of Christmas Falls. He did a beautiful job in showing the emotions of these men. You never lost track of who was speaking with is a huge win in my world for audios. a great addition to any audio library.
I love this season of Christmas Falls so much! This year, the stories fell less Hallmark and more real! Yes, they still have the Hallmark vibes of the town along with great meet cutes, yet this year, the authors seem to have made a conscious effort to add real-life emotions into their stories as well.
Leo moves to Christmas Falls to be closer to his best friend Hayden (mc from Scrooge You) and in hopes of finding his one true love. When he helps set up Nick's matchmaking site, he agrees to give it a shot as well. With a series of horrible dates, you can't help but laugh at how wrong Nick is getting this. When Nick messes up and hurts Leo, he takes, wooing him back to the next level. He shows how much he really does care for Leo, and he deeply regrets his poor decisions. Thankful this wasn't an easy sorry but a heartfelt one. These two just work so well together when they do get it right.
November 19, 2024
12 Dates of Christmas is part of the Christmas Falls Season 2 series by various authors. This is the story of a supposedly straight man who had lost his wife and was having a hard time with it and the man who was able to help him find love again. Leo Fenner had recently moved to Christmas Fall, Illinois, from Chicago because he really wanted to find love and wasn’t having any success there. His friend, Hayden, lived in Christmas Falls and he fell in love with the town when he came to visit him. He was a web developer and could work from anywhere. He had helped with the Christmas Festival website and saw how people had fallen in love and was hopeful he could too. Nicholas Morgan had been happily married for 15 years when his wife suddenly died. He was grief stricken for a long time and after sorting through her things he got the idea to start a matchmaking service so others could find a love like theirs. He hired Leo to update his website and now that he was in Christmas Falls they could meet in person and when they did their was a small spark of attraction, especially for Leo who always crushed on unavailable guys since Nick was straight. In order to test out the changes they made Leo agreed to fill out the forms and be matched. Unfortunately the first 5 dates were quite horrible and on the 3rd one Nick was in the crowd to check up on him. When his date didn’t show up they enjoyed the Parade of Lights together and learned even more about each other. On another one Leo helped his date get the man he really wanted. Then Leo thinks he should take a break from dating because nothing seemed to be going right. Except Nick tells him he’s bi and that he wants him and Leo wants him too. They kiss and go to Leo’s apartment and have a hot love scene, made even more so because it was Nick’s first time with a man. But he ends up leaving in the morning because he is confused about his feelings and needs time to think. After Leo talks to his friends he decides to take a break from dating because it seems like Nick has ghosted him. Nick talks to his sister and comes to the realization that he does want to be with Leo but he needs to find a way to romance him to make up for him leaving, which he does with 5 epic dates to different places and activities around Christmas Falls. This time they go slowly and when they finally get around to another hot love scene they know they love each other. Christmas comes with times with family and friends and the knowledge that they are going to be together forever. I really enjoyed this book. Leo was so optimistic, even after having all those bad dates, and he always knew that he wanted Nick and that was maybe why they didn’t go so well. Nick had a lot to think about especially with all the grief he had over his wife and had to learn to trust himself that he was ready to move on and find love again. He also had to make up his behavior to Leo and he did this in all the wonderful dates they planned. Their friends and family played a big part in the story often giving them advice and helping them get to where they wanted to be. I was also happy to see Nick make up with his wife’s brother as they had been estranged after her death and now they are going to try to be in each other’s lives. (Their story is in The Snuggle is Real by D. J. Jamison in this series.) I highly recommend this book, especially if you like stories about one man struggling to move on, another who has trouble finding love, and how they find it together at Christmas.
September 2, 2025
4.5 stars!
This review and much more can be found at Love Bytes Reviews
I absolutely loved this story when I first read it in November just *chef's kiss*! It has everything you could want in a holiday romance and honestly, who couldn't use a dose of good cheer right about now. I feel like this would make an excellent Hallmark Christmas movie (hint, hint - why are they NOT looking for more/better MM romances!). In this case we have a widower who isn't sure he's ready to move forward in this life with someone new. He's been grieving his wife for a while and despite support from his sister and friends, he's still dealing with some bumps in this day to day life. Then we have an adorable new guy in town who works closely with said widower on the website for his newish matchmaking service. Nick really does want other people to have the kind of love he found with his wife. Leo, the web developer, has been unlucky in love and now that he's moved to a new town, he tries his hand with the matchmaker. Unfortunately he goes on some pretty awful dates before he goes home with the matchmaker.
Then one night, they end up together. But the Nick is afraid. He knows he's screwed up. Leo is sad because he really likes the Nick, but he feels like he's setting himself up for heartbreak since the Nick doesn't seem to know what or who he wants. For his part the Nick realizes he screwed up but it takes him a while to get his act together. And let the wooing begin!
So so so cute these two. Leo is such a sweetheart. I love his friendship with Hayden and how he fit into Christmas Falls after leaving Chicago. I loved getting to see Hayden and Joel again too :) The other couples are around as well. Nick's sister Heather is the best! I loved all of the small town feel of this book and the happy and cheery Christmas vibe that this series brings. There is a lovely balance of humor and romance and serious reflection in this book that in my mind makes it more realistic. I loved that Leo didn't just roll over when Nick came back with hat in hand so to speak. I loved that Nick really put in the work to convince Leo that he wasn't going to go hot/cold on him again. Truthfully I just love everything about this book and tis series. There are cute pets! There are fun and creative Holiday themed activities, places and events. Small town Illinois never looked so good!
I particularly loved how the audio version of this book put me right into the story. I loved hearing Nick and Leo and their faltering steps to being together. The family dynamics of trying to find the way with other family members who are missing Nick's wife too were really important here. All the voice choices were perfect and I thought the right emotional pitch made the story that much more enjoyable. I'm a fan of this author/narrator duo and this is another wonderful offering. I highly recommend this feel good story of moving forward with new love and happy holidays!
This review and much more can be found at Love Bytes Reviews
I absolutely loved this story when I first read it in November just *chef's kiss*! It has everything you could want in a holiday romance and honestly, who couldn't use a dose of good cheer right about now. I feel like this would make an excellent Hallmark Christmas movie (hint, hint - why are they NOT looking for more/better MM romances!). In this case we have a widower who isn't sure he's ready to move forward in this life with someone new. He's been grieving his wife for a while and despite support from his sister and friends, he's still dealing with some bumps in this day to day life. Then we have an adorable new guy in town who works closely with said widower on the website for his newish matchmaking service. Nick really does want other people to have the kind of love he found with his wife. Leo, the web developer, has been unlucky in love and now that he's moved to a new town, he tries his hand with the matchmaker. Unfortunately he goes on some pretty awful dates before he goes home with the matchmaker.
Then one night, they end up together. But the Nick is afraid. He knows he's screwed up. Leo is sad because he really likes the Nick, but he feels like he's setting himself up for heartbreak since the Nick doesn't seem to know what or who he wants. For his part the Nick realizes he screwed up but it takes him a while to get his act together. And let the wooing begin!
So so so cute these two. Leo is such a sweetheart. I love his friendship with Hayden and how he fit into Christmas Falls after leaving Chicago. I loved getting to see Hayden and Joel again too :) The other couples are around as well. Nick's sister Heather is the best! I loved all of the small town feel of this book and the happy and cheery Christmas vibe that this series brings. There is a lovely balance of humor and romance and serious reflection in this book that in my mind makes it more realistic. I loved that Leo didn't just roll over when Nick came back with hat in hand so to speak. I loved that Nick really put in the work to convince Leo that he wasn't going to go hot/cold on him again. Truthfully I just love everything about this book and tis series. There are cute pets! There are fun and creative Holiday themed activities, places and events. Small town Illinois never looked so good!
I particularly loved how the audio version of this book put me right into the story. I loved hearing Nick and Leo and their faltering steps to being together. The family dynamics of trying to find the way with other family members who are missing Nick's wife too were really important here. All the voice choices were perfect and I thought the right emotional pitch made the story that much more enjoyable. I'm a fan of this author/narrator duo and this is another wonderful offering. I highly recommend this feel good story of moving forward with new love and happy holidays!
December 11, 2024
wonderful heartwarming story
Rating: 4.5🌈
Brigham Vaughn brings us another terrific heartwarming holiday romance with 12 Dates of Christmas, a novel in the multi-author series, Christmas Falls: Season 2.
One of the best holiday series, now in its second season, the setting is a town dedicated exclusively to Christmas, 12 months of the year, Christmas Falls. Complete with a charming map of the town, outlying areas (few as they are), and the Christmas shops with the holiday punny names that we’ve become so familiar through so many stories and characters.
Widower Nick Morgan, who’s been mentioned in previous books, is Christmas Falls matchmaker. He wants everyone to experience the love and joy he had in his marriage with his wife before she died, so he’s made it his mission to help others find their match.
But to take that business online he needs a better website. And someone who has the ability to create one. That’s website developer Leo Fenner (best friend to Hayden ) who has recently relocated to Christmas Falls having fallen under its charms and wanting a change.
These are two completely sweet people that Vaughn has created for the story and watching each of them grow together, working with each other, and through a couple of different struggles is low key lovely and heartwarming.
The reader, if they are following along in the series, may recognize some scenes from other stories but now from their perspectives. A element I really enjoy.
And the aspect of Nick’s story, from realizing that he has already been bisexual to the journey of acceptance that’s it’s time to move forward past grief to a new chapter and relationship is believable. Even his missteps and fear all feels true to heart.
As does the gentle reminders and ways Leo both protects himself yet leaves the path open for them both.
Did I want a little more of them at the end? Certainly but 12 Dates of Christmas (Christmas Falls: Season 2 #3) by Brigham Vaughn is a holiday heartwarmer. Christmas Falls lights up my holiday reading and this is just one more reason why.
Another win!
Cover art by Morningstar Ashley Designs
And check out all the books in the Christmas Falls series, both 1 and 2.
Christmas Falls, Season 2:
The Snuggle is Real by DJ Jamison Flake It til You Make It by Beth Bolden ❤️
12 Dates of Christmas by Brigham Vaughn
Here Comes Santa Paws by Lee Blair
Under the Mistle-Foe by Rye Cox Christmas Beau by Amy Aislin
❤️No Business Like Snow Business by J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry
Frost Impressions by Kelly Fox
Promise Yule Be Mine by Rhys Everly Mingle All The Way by Hayden Hall
Christmas Falls, Season 1:
Grinch Kisses by DJ Jamison Snowbody Loves You by Jacki James Get Frosted by Amy Aislin
Silent Knight by Beth Bolden
Under the Mistle-Tome by Sammi Cee
Clausing a Scene by Casey Cox
No Elf-ing Way by Hayden Hall
Ready, Set, Glow! by Rye Cox
Scrooge You! By Brigham Vaughn
Rating: 4.5🌈
Brigham Vaughn brings us another terrific heartwarming holiday romance with 12 Dates of Christmas, a novel in the multi-author series, Christmas Falls: Season 2.
One of the best holiday series, now in its second season, the setting is a town dedicated exclusively to Christmas, 12 months of the year, Christmas Falls. Complete with a charming map of the town, outlying areas (few as they are), and the Christmas shops with the holiday punny names that we’ve become so familiar through so many stories and characters.
Widower Nick Morgan, who’s been mentioned in previous books, is Christmas Falls matchmaker. He wants everyone to experience the love and joy he had in his marriage with his wife before she died, so he’s made it his mission to help others find their match.
But to take that business online he needs a better website. And someone who has the ability to create one. That’s website developer Leo Fenner (best friend to Hayden ) who has recently relocated to Christmas Falls having fallen under its charms and wanting a change.
These are two completely sweet people that Vaughn has created for the story and watching each of them grow together, working with each other, and through a couple of different struggles is low key lovely and heartwarming.
The reader, if they are following along in the series, may recognize some scenes from other stories but now from their perspectives. A element I really enjoy.
And the aspect of Nick’s story, from realizing that he has already been bisexual to the journey of acceptance that’s it’s time to move forward past grief to a new chapter and relationship is believable. Even his missteps and fear all feels true to heart.
As does the gentle reminders and ways Leo both protects himself yet leaves the path open for them both.
Did I want a little more of them at the end? Certainly but 12 Dates of Christmas (Christmas Falls: Season 2 #3) by Brigham Vaughn is a holiday heartwarmer. Christmas Falls lights up my holiday reading and this is just one more reason why.
Another win!
Cover art by Morningstar Ashley Designs
And check out all the books in the Christmas Falls series, both 1 and 2.
Christmas Falls, Season 2:
The Snuggle is Real by DJ Jamison Flake It til You Make It by Beth Bolden ❤️
12 Dates of Christmas by Brigham Vaughn
Here Comes Santa Paws by Lee Blair
Under the Mistle-Foe by Rye Cox Christmas Beau by Amy Aislin
❤️No Business Like Snow Business by J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry
Frost Impressions by Kelly Fox
Promise Yule Be Mine by Rhys Everly Mingle All The Way by Hayden Hall
Christmas Falls, Season 1:
Grinch Kisses by DJ Jamison Snowbody Loves You by Jacki James Get Frosted by Amy Aislin
Silent Knight by Beth Bolden
Under the Mistle-Tome by Sammi Cee
Clausing a Scene by Casey Cox
No Elf-ing Way by Hayden Hall
Ready, Set, Glow! by Rye Cox
Scrooge You! By Brigham Vaughn
November 20, 2024
Another story in the Christmas Falls series and I was so there for it!
The blurb really sums it all up perfectly so you don't need me to repeat it.
Oh this was such a good and fitting addiction that is beautiful interconnected into the Christmas Falls series.
I've read quite a few of Brigham's books and loved a lot of them. I find her writingstyle very pleasant and can immerse myself into her stories.
So I was delighted when I saw she wrote about our widowed town matchmaker Nick, a character I was curious about since his appearance in DJ's 'The Snuggle I Real'.
And I was not disappointed!
Brigham portrayed both MCs wonderful and I think quite realistic. They felt real, like people I could know in RL.
Nick and Leo first meet as some kind of colleagues. That there is attraction between them
is immediately clear to see for the reader but until those two manage to acknowledge that to each other...that needs a bit of time. Especially with Leo thinking Nick is straight.
It was fun to read about Nick who is normally so good at his job. So it's quite puzzling when he manages to butch up the matchmaking spectacular with the newest Christmas Falls resident, Leo.
Leo is an absolute sweetheart who had a lot of bad luck regarding relationships.
So Nick to the 'rescue'. With Nick's website and service Leo will try to finally find his HEA.
The ensuing dates are horrible for Leo but for the reader a lot of fun. I often was laughing out loud or at least giggling.
I adored the way those two are getting to know each other better. The late night phone calls after Leo's dates to talk about the disasters they were, are just wonderful and you can practically feel how their relationship builds.
There may be some sad themes and moments because of Nick's loss in the past but it all doesn't drag down the story at a whole. Nevertheless I wanted to simply hug him
That Nick didn't immediately jump at his new attraction to a man (even if he knew he was bi) sounded realistic and fit the story.
All in all I was well entertained and enjoyed this new part about Christmas Falls and its residents. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting even if that meant losing sleep.
Simply a wonderful read!
The blurb really sums it all up perfectly so you don't need me to repeat it.
Oh this was such a good and fitting addiction that is beautiful interconnected into the Christmas Falls series.
I've read quite a few of Brigham's books and loved a lot of them. I find her writingstyle very pleasant and can immerse myself into her stories.
So I was delighted when I saw she wrote about our widowed town matchmaker Nick, a character I was curious about since his appearance in DJ's 'The Snuggle I Real'.
And I was not disappointed!
Brigham portrayed both MCs wonderful and I think quite realistic. They felt real, like people I could know in RL.
Nick and Leo first meet as some kind of colleagues. That there is attraction between them
is immediately clear to see for the reader but until those two manage to acknowledge that to each other...that needs a bit of time. Especially with Leo thinking Nick is straight.
It was fun to read about Nick who is normally so good at his job. So it's quite puzzling when he manages to butch up the matchmaking spectacular with the newest Christmas Falls resident, Leo.
Leo is an absolute sweetheart who had a lot of bad luck regarding relationships.
So Nick to the 'rescue'. With Nick's website and service Leo will try to finally find his HEA.
The ensuing dates are horrible for Leo but for the reader a lot of fun. I often was laughing out loud or at least giggling.
I adored the way those two are getting to know each other better. The late night phone calls after Leo's dates to talk about the disasters they were, are just wonderful and you can practically feel how their relationship builds.
There may be some sad themes and moments because of Nick's loss in the past but it all doesn't drag down the story at a whole. Nevertheless I wanted to simply hug him
That Nick didn't immediately jump at his new attraction to a man (even if he knew he was bi) sounded realistic and fit the story.
All in all I was well entertained and enjoyed this new part about Christmas Falls and its residents. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting even if that meant losing sleep.
Simply a wonderful read!
November 29, 2024
Brigham Vaughn has again produced a wonderfully romantic adventure set in the equally wonderful Christmas Falls universe as she did in the first Christmas Falls set.
In this love story, Nick Morgan still grieves the passing of his wife Nicole and works to bring romance to others through his matchmaker service. He's already had a great appearance in the first two books in this the second series of Christmas Falls, and in this one, he benefits from his own work, albeit, not immediately, and not intentionally.
His grief won't let him see the full potential of a life with Leo Fenner, a Midwesterner whose caring and 'aw shucks' vibe puts Nick as a possible target for Leo. They meet as a result of another friends recommendation for improving Nick's matchmaker website. Leo fills out the questionnaire on the website, and Nick goes to work to arrange dates. Don't think the title of 12 dates will force you to suffer from 11 before love is found. The first dates are bad, and in several, Nick is there to pick up the pieces.
It is through those few bad dates with other men, and the intervention of the friends of Nick and Leo, that the two are meant to be. Nick, who had been very reluctant to let him move past his grief and see his potential future, suffers after an encounter with Leo that might have been too soon, and too casual. Each man agreeing they wanted something more than casual.
Of course, they end up together, and the journey is nice and not as horrifying as some drawn out stories. Nick had vowed to woo Leo after the self-realization encounter that Leo and Nick agree, they should be together.
The magic of Christmas Falls is portrayed in how so many characters make appearances in this book. Nick's wife's brother Ford enlists Nick to help Ford find his forever love, and Joel McAthur and Hayden Bradley play an important role in fostering Leo and providing a welcome to Christmas Falls for Leo.
This is a great read, and relatively low angst. I was dreading reading about 12 different dates, but instead, I became vested in this pairing and the 'wooing' that Nick had vowed to undertake to get Leo. It is a great story.
In this love story, Nick Morgan still grieves the passing of his wife Nicole and works to bring romance to others through his matchmaker service. He's already had a great appearance in the first two books in this the second series of Christmas Falls, and in this one, he benefits from his own work, albeit, not immediately, and not intentionally.
His grief won't let him see the full potential of a life with Leo Fenner, a Midwesterner whose caring and 'aw shucks' vibe puts Nick as a possible target for Leo. They meet as a result of another friends recommendation for improving Nick's matchmaker website. Leo fills out the questionnaire on the website, and Nick goes to work to arrange dates. Don't think the title of 12 dates will force you to suffer from 11 before love is found. The first dates are bad, and in several, Nick is there to pick up the pieces.
It is through those few bad dates with other men, and the intervention of the friends of Nick and Leo, that the two are meant to be. Nick, who had been very reluctant to let him move past his grief and see his potential future, suffers after an encounter with Leo that might have been too soon, and too casual. Each man agreeing they wanted something more than casual.
Of course, they end up together, and the journey is nice and not as horrifying as some drawn out stories. Nick had vowed to woo Leo after the self-realization encounter that Leo and Nick agree, they should be together.
The magic of Christmas Falls is portrayed in how so many characters make appearances in this book. Nick's wife's brother Ford enlists Nick to help Ford find his forever love, and Joel McAthur and Hayden Bradley play an important role in fostering Leo and providing a welcome to Christmas Falls for Leo.
This is a great read, and relatively low angst. I was dreading reading about 12 different dates, but instead, I became vested in this pairing and the 'wooing' that Nick had vowed to undertake to get Leo. It is a great story.
January 5, 2025
12 Dates of Christmas is Brigham Vaughn's contribution to the Christmas Falls: Season 2 multi-author collaboration. Note that although this series is a spin-off of the Christmas Falls multi-author series, every single book in each series can be read as a complete standalone. Here's what you can expect from Leo and Nick:
🎄 MM holiday-themed romance
🎄 Third person dual point of view
🎄 Guaranteed happily ever after
🎄 Matchmaker finding love after loss
🎄 Bisexual representation
🎄 Unlucky in love web developer
🎄 Small town Christmas
🎄 Age gap
As always, please take care of yourself while reading. This book contains discussions of the past death of a spouse and grief.
As with the other Christmas Falls books, this was a lovely, easy holiday read! If you read Vaughn's Scrooge You! last season, you might remember Hayden's friend Leo. He gets his own happily ever after! He wants it so bad, you can't help but root for him. The other main character, Nick, has a slightly more complicated series. After losing his wife a few years prior, he wants to keep her legacy alive by opening a matchmaking service in the small town of Christmas Falls. Love after loss can be a very difficult thing to write about and I think some readers enjoy it while others don't. I thought Vaughn did an incredible job here. Nick's love for his wife shone through the book in a way that honoured her memory and gave him room to love again. Although it made falling fully for Leo challenging, I like the way it was addressed.
Overall, Nick and Leo were just so sweet. There was a good dose of humour (and at times, horror) as Leo went on a series of failed dates. I think it was a great balance to the heaviness of Nick finding love after loss. This was another lovely holiday themed read, and was still fairly low angst given the heavy subject matter. Definitely recommend when you're in the mood for a holiday themed romance in a Hallmark Christmas movie worthy small town!
🎄 MM holiday-themed romance
🎄 Third person dual point of view
🎄 Guaranteed happily ever after
🎄 Matchmaker finding love after loss
🎄 Bisexual representation
🎄 Unlucky in love web developer
🎄 Small town Christmas
🎄 Age gap
As always, please take care of yourself while reading. This book contains discussions of the past death of a spouse and grief.
As with the other Christmas Falls books, this was a lovely, easy holiday read! If you read Vaughn's Scrooge You! last season, you might remember Hayden's friend Leo. He gets his own happily ever after! He wants it so bad, you can't help but root for him. The other main character, Nick, has a slightly more complicated series. After losing his wife a few years prior, he wants to keep her legacy alive by opening a matchmaking service in the small town of Christmas Falls. Love after loss can be a very difficult thing to write about and I think some readers enjoy it while others don't. I thought Vaughn did an incredible job here. Nick's love for his wife shone through the book in a way that honoured her memory and gave him room to love again. Although it made falling fully for Leo challenging, I like the way it was addressed.
Overall, Nick and Leo were just so sweet. There was a good dose of humour (and at times, horror) as Leo went on a series of failed dates. I think it was a great balance to the heaviness of Nick finding love after loss. This was another lovely holiday themed read, and was still fairly low angst given the heavy subject matter. Definitely recommend when you're in the mood for a holiday themed romance in a Hallmark Christmas movie worthy small town!
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