The Twelve Days of Christian

by Caroline Corvin

Three years of wanting her.
Twelve days to win her.
One chance at a Christmas miracle…

A rockstar with a bad boy reputation, Christian Steele is used to being misunderstood. But when Haley Templeton—his best friend's sister and the woman he's secretly loved for years—looks at him with such disappointment, it cuts deep.

Forced to seek refuge in Haley's London home, Christian sees his chance to prove he's more than the lies told about him. Perhaps even show her what she means to him… but that’s a problem when he can’t reveal the full truth about why he’s here rather than competing on a celebrity reality show to save Haley's beloved animal rescue.

Haley Templeton’s perfect Christmas is thrown into chaos when Christian appears on her doorstep. With her vet nurse job and the fate of the Canine Haven Dog Rescue hanging in the balance, she had all her hopes pinned on him. But instead of being in Scotland filming Wild For The Win, Christian's here, hiding out in her spare room while tempting her with every smile and making her wonder if she's misjudged him all along.

As decorations go up and guards come down, Christian and Haley find themselves drawn into a game more dangerous than any reality show. With the rescue's future at stake and their hearts on the line, can they unwrap the truth—and a love that's been hiding in plain sight—in only twelve days?

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Forced Proximity, Holiday, Ebooks, Contemporary, Music

415 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 12, 2024

About the author

Caroline Corvin is a writer of romance fiction. Before publishing her first novel, Caroline had a career in education, from classroom teacher of lively little people, to principal of a large primary school. Mother of fur kids—dogs, cats and vertically challenged horses—she’s sometimes described as animal obsessed. But she’s made room in her life for her other magnificent obsessions: travel, genealogy, history, some stargazing and, of course, books.

Raised under the shadow of a volcano in provincial New Zealand, she now lives on the edge of Auckland, the City of Sails with stunning beaches and good coffee (and surrounded by more volcanoes, fortunately extinct).

Caroline didn’t set out to write romance, but her characters took control the moment she let them loose on the page, reminding her that finding happy ever afters are the reason she’s one of those people who sometimes reads the last page first—just to be safe.

Reviews

[⌜Linaraxx⌟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: The Twelve Days of Christian
Author: Caroline Corvin
4/5⭐️

A cozy Christmas romance with a twist❤️Christian Steele, a rockstar with a bad reputation, shows up on Haley Templeton’s doorstep, throwing her life into chaos- Over twelve days, their journey from awkward roommates to something deeper is filled with laughs, sweet moments, and holiday cheer! Corvin’s writing is fun, with great dialogue and heartwarming scenes, especially for animal lovers!! I hadn’t read anything by Caroline Corvin before, but after “The Twelve Days of Christian”, I definitely will in the future!✨

[Lili · Rating 5 out of 5]

-ARC Review-

In this book, we meet Haley and Christian.
Haley is a very level-headed, sweet, animal & Christmas-loving Loving vet. Christian is an animal lover too, a hot band member, and a misunderstood sweetheart.

Haley’s job is in danger and Christian comes to save the day!! He goes on a reality TV show to try and win money to donate to her job!! Isn’t that so sweet???
Well, he fails, gets kicked off the show, and is now Haley’s roommate until the end of the show. We follow along to not only figure out why Christian gets kicked out and if he can prove to Haley he's not what everyone says he is, but if they can save her job.

Everything is in shambles and the kicker is that they only have twelve days to make any sense out of it!
————————————————————————
I adored every single character. Everyone was so diverse, but fit together perfectly. I’m happy that we get to know and feel for the side characters as well as the main ones.

Even though Haley and Christian are the main characters, I loved Sam. Sam is one of Haley’s incredible best friends.
Don't get me wrong our MFC (Haley) and MMC ( Christian) were remarkable. They had great chemistry, it wasn’t all about getting down and dirty. They got to learn about each other and bond and they're just downright cute together to me. Sam though is a small but fierce woman who had me dying when we first met her.

The plot was amazing and had my attention the entire time. I actually could put myself in the book, and feel for the characters and what they were going through. The pacing to me was perfect and I for one was happy as I don't know what when there wasn't a third-act breakup!

All in all, this was a great read for the holidays and I can't wait for the next book!!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ The Twelve Days of Christian ✨
If you’re looking for a swoony Christmas rockstar romance, this one is perfect! Christian has been head over heels for the sister of his band’s lead singer for three years, but he’s kept his feelings hidden. When a media scandal forces him to lay low, he ends up sharing an apartment with her—and the tension is everything. 🎸🔥

This story has all the feels: unspoken love, forced proximity, and that magical Christmas vibe. Watching Christian’s quiet adoration finally break through is so satisfying. The festive backdrop adds a cozy, heartwarming touch, making it the ultimate holiday read.

If you love rockstar romances with a “boy falls first” twist, this is a must-read. Prepare for all the swoons, sparks, and a love story that will make your heart sing. 🎄❤️

[Rebekah Gunn · Rating 2 out of 5]

First book for book club lol. I struggled, it was just too cringey. I think I need hardcore, dark shit tbh

[Mom_likestoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars I love a rockstar romance and combined with a Christmas storyline, I knew I had to read it! Thank you to @NetGalley and Grenwyvern Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

The Twelve Days of Christian is a sweet holiday romance. Christian is a big, tattooed, misunderstood bad boy Rockstar, but secretly he’s been into his best friend and bandmate’s sister for years. Haley is a very lovable vet nurse who owns two adorable dogs, and has amazing, protective friends. The chemistry between them is palpable from the start. It has elements of insta-love from Christian during flashbacks to their first meetings.

This book is full of favourite tropes and micro tropes.

🎄Best Friend’s Sister
🎄Forced Proximity
🎄Rockstar
🎄It’s always been you
🎄A song just for you
🎄Cute dogs

Christian holds back his feeling for Hailey because he doesn’t want to break his best friend’s trust. Of course, eventually those feelings are revealed and they finally give in to their mutual attraction.

I enjoyed that the plot included fallout with a reality show, which gave a modern, original twist to the Christmas storyline. I loved that Hailey is crazy about Christmas pyjamas, and owns multiple pairs. The best part is that Christian finds them appealing. I thought this was a fun aspect of the story, and made Hailey relatable.

For those looking for a sweet and cozy Christmas romance featuring a Rockstar, you will enjoy this one.

[Iona-Morag · Rating 5 out of 5]

12 Days of Christian is a Christmas romance novel where we find the MMC who has been pining for his bandmate’s younger sister for years. Needing to hide away for 12 days the MMC and FMC are thrown together unexpectedly.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and loved how the author highlights how intrusive the media are and highlighted the consequences involved in their tabloids. The story telling kept me interested and the characters were vibrant and full of life. The story was full of relatable content and I enjoyed the storyline of standing up for what you believe in and knowing there are two sides to every story.

The cover of this book is also beautiful and is what initially drew me in but the author kept me HOOKED! A must read for anyone wanting a Christmas romance sprinkled with friends to lovers and brothers best friend tropes. I can’t wait to read more in the series

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Caroline Corvin and Grenwyvern Publishing for the ARC copy of this book.

Perceived bad-boy rocker, Christian Steele, is trying to win over his long time crush... his best friends sister, Haley. When Christian is stuck living with Haley in her brothers home for 12 days, tensions rise and Haley realizes the media has portrayed Christian to be more of a bad boy than he really is. This story makes you fall in love with Christian's heart and charm, and with Haley's sweet and strong personality. They share so much in common and seeing their bond grow through this book was lovely. We also get some subtle nods to other books/shows/movies (that I personally love) mixed within the pages.

This story takes us on the journey of friendly banter, forbidden love, sexual tension, and unraveling pasts. I enjoyed the way Christian was very cinnamonroll for Haley. The ending had some positive, shocking twists that I couldn't help but smile through. This was a lighthearted, romance that ends with a HEA.

You should read this if you like ❤️:
Forbidden love (brothers best friend/best friends little sister)
Cozy romances
Mushy cinnamon roll MMC
Funny banter
Christmas miracles
Slowish burn

Warnings ⚠️
There is talk about animal cruelty in the past. It is critical to the storyline. But it's only mentioned in detail once.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great Christmas romance! I love romance books with plot, and this book had such a great plot that blended seemlessly with the romance! There are also two dogs as side characters, who are probably the best dog characters I’ve ever read. Throw in a few ACOTAR references, and it’s the perfect book!

Haley is a Christmas-loving romance reader and Christian is in a band with Haley’s brother. He shows up out of the blue to Haley’s brother’s house (where Haley is living too) and has to hide out for 12 days from the media…hello forced proximity!! And then we find out he’s been in love with her for years! The romance developed so naturally between Haley and Christian, and I was rooting for them the whole time. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a new holiday romance book!

[Skyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Twelve Days of Christian follows Haley, a compassionate vet nurse that just wants the animal rescue she works for to survive. Haley is dealing with a lot. The owner of two cute as can be senior pups and coming off an awful relationship that ended in abrupt heartbreak.

Enter Christian, a misunderstood, tattooed, rockstar and also Haley’s older brother’s best friend and band mate. He has been through the wringer with the media and shows up at Haley’s to hide away for 12 days, all while harboring his long time feelings for Haley.

Haley and Christian end up on an adventure to save his reputation and her beloved dog rescue. True feelings are revealed along the way all in time for Christmas.

❄ Best Friend’s Little Sister
❄ Forced Proximity
❄ Broody Tattooed Rockstar
❄ Love at First Sight
❄ Unrequited Love
❄ Friends to Lovers
❄ DOGS!


I really enjoyed this book! I am always a sucker for the misunderstood mmc’s who have been pining for their partner for ages. Plus he’s a tattooed musician! What more could you need? Add in dogs to the mix and you get a perfect book in my eyes. She was such a strong character, but in a calm and composed way. I really enjoyed that about her. And I loved her two best friends, Rachel and Sam! Everyone needs two ride or dies like them.

This story was sweet and I enjoyed that it wasn’t super heavy on Christmas but had just enough to still be considered a Christmas read. I also appreciated that all plot lines were tied up and covered. I can’t wait to read Rachel’s book next!

Thanks Netgalley for the arc 💖

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful, heart warming Christmas story!

This book was filled with so much goodness; handsome rock star, Christmas theme, rescue dogs, reality tv show, best friend’s sister and so much love!

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Christian and Haley, when Christian turns up at her doorstep and has to hide there for twelve days! He was the sweetest and so open and honest. She was also so adorable and kind too!

I loved her awesome friends and how they had her back, they were a lot of fun and had me giggling!

A lovely, warm and fuzzy Christmas story!

Thank you @netgalley @carolinecorvin and #grenwyvernpublishing for sending me this copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5
This is a super cute Christmas romance that will give you the festive feels all year round!

Tropes:
•brothers best friend
•famous rockstar
•slow burn
•he falls first
• tattooed bad boy

Christian Steele finds himself in need of a place to hide out when things go wrong for him on a reality TV show. He ends up heading to his band mate, Ollie’s house while he has to stay in the down low. The problem is, Ollie’s Christmas crazy sister, Haley, also lives there and Ollie has been in love with her for years.
Haley is just waiting for a distraction when Christian arrives at her door, desperate for somewhere to stay. The longer that Haley spends with Christian, the more she realises the media has him all wrong, and under his bad boy persona is someone totally different.

I loved the chemistry between the two, and how respectful Christian was of Haley’s feelings. He always puts her first and is such a sweetheart - who wouldn’t love to come home to a meal cooked by a hot tattooed rockstar?

If you are looking for a cheery, cute romance at any point in the year, then pick this up now!

[SelkieReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never read a musician romance before this but I’ve been friends which some rather famous musicians when living overseas and I’m happy that the characters weren’t one dimensional and that they were family/friend oriented.
All the famous people I’ve known are fiercely protective of those they love and the writer definitely got that characteristic correct!

Brother’s best friend is also a favorite trope!
The romance is sweet and tentative…. Until it ain’t 😘

The side story about loving animals and working with charities is fun.

I will be reading the next stories! In this series!!!!

[velvetshock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank NetGalley for the copy to review.

I can't stop thinking about this book! It's not very often I read Christmas stories but I read the description and knew I would fall in love with Haley and Christian and I did.

Christian has a bad-boy reputation, a "rough around the edges" kinda guy but is secretely a huge softy and Haley is the "untouchable" sister of his best friend and band mate. When things go badly on a reality TV show he agreed to do in order to potentially win money for the charity Haley works for, he needs to lie low and ends up stumbling onto her door step.

Haley is super adorable and I love her kindess and loyalty to all her friends, her job as a vet nurse and the adorable puppies Tully and Malarkey. Even though her job is at risk she is dedicated to helping Christian and holding those who need to take a look at thier actions accountable.

I love how Caroline Corvin did not shy away from the real stuff that effects people's lives especially during Christmas (references to domestic violence and animal abuse, not graphic) while keeping the story light-hearted and enjoyable. I also appreciated how Corvin navigates the intrusive nature that the media exposure and tabloids can affect celebrities and calls out the horrible side of the media and the way we can forget sometimes that celebrities are real people

The no-so-secret ACOTAR references had me giggling!

Tropes: Guy falls first, best friend's sibling, bad boy/good girl, forced proximity, it's always been you

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so perfect 😭😭
He's so perfect it hurts 😭😭
And the brother-sister bond 😭

The PERFECT Christmas-in-November book 💚

It's sweet, funny, spicy, has cute animals, a strong-ass nurse and goddamn those tattoos will be the death of me.

It has a plot that evolves, with character growth, acceptance, NO third-act break-up.

It's so gorgeous, you need to read this, just to give yourself a treat this Christmas 💚

A break from all the darksies, get yourself a fluffy 💚

[Rainy Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really cute Christmas themed story about redemption & love. Christian is such a sweet soul & the tabloids have painted him out to be a bad boy, but Haley sees through it all. I love Caroline Corvin’s writing style. Her description of Haley’s decorations really made me feel like I was in a winter wonderland. Overall I really enjoyed this one. A cozy Christmas read with friends to lovers & brothers best friend tropes & very mild spice. Definitely a must for a Christmas TBR. As always check trigger warnings.

Thank you Caroline Corvin, Net Galley and Grenwyvern Publishing for providing me with an eARC of this book.

[Laura Ratushny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Caroline Corvin, NetGalley, and Victory Editing NetGalley Coop for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Haley Templeton has just settled in for the perfect Christmasy night in, when who should appear at her door? Her brother's best friend and band mate, Christian Steele. But Christian is supposed to be in Scotland, competing in a reality TV show to win money for a dog rescue charity and save Haley's job.

Haley is not too happy to have Christian staying with her while he lays low, but Christian has been waiting for a moment like this. Twelve days hiding out with the girl of his dreams and the perfect opportunity to convince Haley that he isn't who the media makes him out to be.

This was a very sweet and Christmasy book! It gave off Hallmark movie vibes from the very beginning! I really enjoyed the reality show plotline as it added intrigue and drama! The slow burn development of the relationship between Haley and Christian had great tension and sexual energy that culminated in some delicious spice!

The side characters were also very interesting and I would love to read about all their stories also!

[Sasha Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ Rounded up

We love a Rockstar Romance 😻

Long-term pining from the MMC?! YES.
Brother’s band-mate? Yes.
Animal charities? Yes.
Reality TV? In books? Yes. (I hate them in real life 😂)
ACOTAR obsessed MMC? Yes.

I loved that Haley is obsessed with Christmas (girl, same)
The movie references were amazing.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Madi · Rating 5 out of 5]

He falls first and harder?? for his best friend’s sister??? Yes please!
Twelve Days of Christian was a PERFECTLY paced story! Nothing felt too rushed or too slow and I thoroughly enjoyed the quiet familiarity between the MMC and FMC.
I absolutely adored the Christmassy vibes and movie references 🥰 can’t wait for the next one!

[Savannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed reading this book. Mainly because it was incredibly different from an other book that I have read so far. The characters were easily likable. I also liked all the subtle ACOTAR references that were thrown in there. I would have to say my only complaint would have to be that I wanted more Christmas. That Christmas aspect could have been sprinkled in there just a little more but other than that it was a solid read.

🎄Best Friends Brother
🎄Rocker Exterior/Cinnamon Roll inside MMC
🎄He fell First
🎄Forced Proximity

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ACR in exchange for an honest review.

[Kayla Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the idea of this book but it felt like it was missing something. I picked this up and put it down so many times and it took me a really long time to get through it. I felt like the conflicts of this book were mundane and the reactions were over exaggerated. This book wasn’t for me but if you like brothers best friend, holiday, reality tv, rockstar/celebrity tropes then you would like this book!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book. I rounded up to 4, but probably more of a 3.5.

Things I loved:
- References to how healing playing music can be
- The love for animals throughout
- Feeling like I was reading about my senior dog when they would talk about Tully and Mularkey. The bed take overs by them, whining to go out, obsessions with one creature outside, and the dog farts!
- Calling out reality tv for how not real it is.
- Calling out how we assume we know someone based on what we see, or that we think we know celebrities because we know so much about their lives.
- The chemistry between Christian and Haley was overall good.
- Comfortable in sharing household duties, showing how relationships should be.
- References to holiday movies. (Is Haley me with her movie choices?)

Things I didn’t love as much:
- The conflict resolved too quickly, and didn’t feel real? We knew the worry was the brother to begin with, but he comes home has one argument with Christian and he bolts out with the worst message to Haley? And then later that day Christian comes back and everything is fine. It just felt rushed.
- I feel like most reality tv shows wouldn’t send the cast members home if they were still filming. I think generally they put them up until they are done filming rather than hoping they aren’t seen ever.
- The happy ending was too easy. Like the conflict resolves, and all the other issues are all solved at the in person finale.
- Haley being wo is me about things in her life. Doesn’t want to ask for money or help to go to vet school which genuinely would make a big difference in the field of rescues. I volunteer with rescues and have done medical fostering and they always need more access to caring vets. It’s one thing to live off their privileges for no reason, but to use money to make a difference? That would be better. But also so many who work at rescues don’t have a cushy place to live with their famous brother. It just didn’t track.
- Christian commenting on Jack’s (Haley’s ex) instagram. He did this before he was allowed to be seen or heard from. It was never brought up again. It seemed weird to include and felt like it was meant to be a plot device that was abandoned.
- Christians anger. I’d love to have seen it being addressed. His anger was understandable but the fact it would get physical was a little bit problematic for me.


Overall it was a cute, easy read, and cheery for the holidays.

[The Reawakened Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓.
𝑻𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓.
𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒍𝒆...

There is so much to love about this novel and Caroline Corvin has created the most delicious slow burn. I have literally been thinking about this book for days since I finished reading it.

MMC Christian is a hot, tattooed, bad boy rockstar, who needs to lie low for the next 12 days following his ejection from a reality tv show. No one can know where he is, and he can’t be seen in public until the live finale. Where to go but his best friend and band mate Ollie’s house while Ollie is out of the country.

FMC Haley is Ollie’s sister, and a vet nurse with two adorable senior rescue dogs; who just so happens to be living at Ollie’s house after breaking up with her boyfriend (who had an affair with her friend!!). She’s obsessed with Christmas and is trying to distract herself from their wedding (can you believe they had the gall to invite her?!) by decorating up a storm, and watching her favourite festive flicks.

Cue a knock on the door by Christian, and what ensues is some delicious forced proximity. Christian has secretly been in love with Haley for three years, but he knows she’s off limits. He tries to keep it cool, careful not to f-up his friendship with Ollie. It’s been so long, what’s a few more days going to matter. But we know how these things end…

All of the characters in this book (including the dogs) are so well developed, and every moment of Christian and Haley’s angst, their longing, and their challenges is beautifully written. I’m a major fan of Caroline’s writing now, and I can’t wait for the follow up novels in the series. In the meantime, I’ll be rereading this one over and over.

Now if they can make this into a festive Netflix movie, I’d be one incredibly happy woman.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up

The Twelve Days of Christian is a heartwarming holiday romance that follows Haley, a dedicated and compassionate vet tech who is doing everything she can to keep the animal rescue she works for afloat. Between caring for her two adorable senior dogs recovering from a breakup, Haley is juggling a lot.

Enter Christian—a brooding, tattooed rockstar and Haley’s older brother’s best friend and bandmate. Christian has been through a public media storm, and he needs a place to lay low for a while. Haley's home becomes the perfect hiding spot. What starts as a temporary stay turns into twelve days that will change everything. As Christian stays with her, he’s forced to confront his long-held feelings for Haley, feelings that have been quietly building for years.

As Haley and Christian navigate the chaos of saving his tarnished reputation and her struggling animal rescue, their connection deepens. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and along the way, they discover truths about each other—and themselves—that will change their lives forever. All of this unfolds with the magic of Christmas in the air, just in time for a holiday season neither of them expected.

I really enjoyed this book! I love a misunderstood hero—especially one who’s been secretly pining for years. Plus he's a tattooed, dog-loving, rock-star! The addition of adorable dogs only made the story that much better. As much as Christian is the heartthrob of this story, Haley is just as remarkable. She’s a strong, compassionate character with a calm and composed demeanor, which I really appreciated. I also loved the dynamic with her friends. All of the side characters were great!

The romance in this story is sweet and compelling, with just the right amount of Christmas magic to make it feel festive without overwhelming the plot. It’s the perfect balance.

[Werechasingourtales · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

The Twelve Days of Christian is a classic, heartwarming holiday romance

🎄 Forced Proximity

🎶 Brother's Best Friend

🎄 Christmas Movies

🎶 Famous Musician x Veterinary Nurse

🎄 Friends-to-lovers

🎶 Second Chance

I've got to say - this is my first Christmas romance book. I felt maybe it was a bit early to start reading Christmassy books but this book has absolutely got me into the holiday mood! The Twelve Days of Christian ticks so many book-lover boxes. It has something for everyone - Christmas, rescue dogs, boybands, reality TV, strong women, second chance romance, and a dash of spice...

Caroline Corvin's writing is so beautiful, making it so easy to fall in love with Christian and Haley. Christian and Haley's story is so relatable to anyone who has ever quietly pined for someone else - someone just out of reach and off-limits. Christian handles himself so respectfully and with such restraint. They have great chemistry - it feels sort of like a slow-burn because it technically spans over three years but you've got to consider how much they grow and develop over the twelve days they have to spend together. There are so many really charming moments between them and it feels so natural.

This book was so refreshing with its views of reality TV and social media - really reinforcing the message that you shouldn't believe everything you see at face value. I loved all the references to classic Christmas movies, but also the subtle (and not so subtle) nods to other romance books (including but not limited to a romantasy book I hold very close to my heart!).

My only wish was to hear the song(s) Christian wrote about Haley! These were mentioned multiple times and so much emphasis was put onto them that I was sure we'd be allowed a little insight - I was so disappointed to get to the end without even a snippet of them!

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian and Haley effortlessly pulled me into their story and made me laugh, sigh, and smile. A handsome tattooed rockstar, with a years long crush on his best friend’s sister? Yes please! Add in a sweet and warm-hearted heroine who loves Christmas and is dedicated to her work with animals, and readers have two wonderful main characters that are impossible not to love. After leaving a reality competition show and losing a chance to raise money to save the animal rescue close to Haley’s heart, Christian shows up on her doorstep, telling Haley that her brother Ollie, with whom she shares the house, said he could stay there for the next twelve days.

Twelve days to show her the real guy behind the public persona with the bad reputation thanks to fabricated or exaggerated stories put out by the media. Twelve to come up with a plan to fight back against the producers of reality show. Twelve days to really get to know Haley, to feed his obsession and to exercise his control, to not touch her the way he desperately wants and to honour the unspoken rule to stay away from his best friend’s sister. Twelve days changes everything between them.

I loved so many things about this book. First is the connection and the growing love between Haley and Christian. Next is Haley’s obsession with all things Christmas including a plethora of decorations and Christmas themed clothing, even matching outfits for the dogs. I also loved that she adopted senior dogs that others had passed by due to their health problems. Oh, and Haley’s friend, the feisty and fierce Sam who made me laugh out loud. This book is heartwarming, entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

[Darcy DecantingBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haley absolutely loves Christmas and the holiday season. She has a few extra worries this year, the animal rescue where she works desperately needs funding or it could close. But her brother’s best friend and rock star Christian is competing on a reality TV show to raise the money, and he’s a shoo-in to win. Until he shows up on her doorstep, bounced from the competition and needing to stay out of the public for 12 days.

Christian’s wanted Haley since the first time he saw her. And he knows she’s off-limits. And his reputation is anything but stellar—undeserved, but Haley doesn’t know that. So here’s his chance. Trapped with her for 12 days, he can show her who he really is and hope they can find a future together.

I adored this book from the start! The depth of feelings, the pining, the growth of the two MCs, the way they quickly grow into friendship, then more. Even though it takes place over only a few weeks, it feels like a bit of a slow burn as feelings develop and strengthen. There were so many beautiful moments between them, so many things that left my heart warm and happy.

And the dogs! If you’re a dog lover, you’ll find the sweetest rescue pups and want to rush out and adopt your own. Plus, the side characters played the perfect roles, adding a lot to the story but nowhere near overshadowing Haley and Christian. Hopefully they get their own love stories in the future!

HIGHLY recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

[The Book Phantom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fall in love with Caroline Corvin’s writing every single time. There’s something about her stories that feels like they were written with a hand on your shoulder—gentle, steady, and quietly knowing. The Twelve Days of Christian was no exception. I picked it up expecting festive romance and a broody rockstar, but what I found was something softer. Something that lingered.

Christian Steele isn’t your typical holiday hero. He’s messy, misunderstood, and carrying more than he lets on. But the way he shows up—literally and emotionally—felt like a soft unraveling. And Haley Templeton? She’s all grit and grace. She rescues dogs, holds her world together with stubborn hope, and doesn’t ask for help even when she needs it. I saw pieces of myself in her—the quiet strength, the fear of being truly seen, the ache of holding too much.

Their story unfolds slowly, like snow falling on a quiet street. There’s tension, yes. But also softness. Shared laughter. The kind of closeness that sneaks up on you when you’re not looking. And while the romance is central, it’s the emotional honesty that stayed with me—the way two people learn to trust again, to rewrite the stories others have written about them, and to choose love not with fireworks, but with quiet certainty.

This book reminded me that love doesn’t always arrive loudly. Sometimes it shows up with a warm drink, a shared blanket, and a dog curled between you. Sometimes it’s twelve days. Sometimes it’s twelve years. But when it’s real—it waits. And when it’s ready—it speaks softly, but it says everything.

[Kristy Chown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the NetGalley arc!

I read this book at night before going to bed for a few weeks and it was the perfect cozy read to get me comfortable and entertained before bed. I had been reading a number of ARCs recently and this was one of the ones that gripped me most of all. I found the main characters to be highly believable with just enough detail and backstory to help the reader get to know them. You felt for Haley, a caring and hard-working girl who wants to become a vet tech and help all the animals she can, who loves her rescue dogs, and is upset that Christian risked any chance of her rescue shelter being saved. You also get to really know Christian - who on the outside has been made to be this riotous, notorious badboy, but who actually has a heart so big... Caring about Haley, caring for his first dog, saving his family farm, driving to the vet when one of Haley's dogs was sick...
I could picture in my head the fall out that happens from media and reality tv shows, when the audience is only fed one side of things and we often don't know so much of what happens behind the scenes. I loved the gradual progress of Haley helping Christian set the record straight/ things right after he was kicked off the show, coupled with the burning desire between the FMC and MMC. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a believable, but touching, romance with character. Everything in the book is so well-developed that I never wanted to put it down.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I read a holiday book during summer? Yep I did. It was such a cozy read, you get the Christmas holiday romance, a lot of heartfelt moments, learning to let go of prejudice, standing up for your principles, and love for dogs. Let’s not forget song lyrics!

It didnt just focus on the Christmas holiday but also on a very important topic that’s not discussed enough.
I loved the animal rescue aspect. I am a dog lover and I always enjoy books that include pups. I’ve seen firsthand what animal rescue groups do and face everyday. It’s a difficult task and one that has no rest.

Haley, our Christmas queen, was so sweet, despite the initial conflict that had left her disappointed, she tried to understand Christian. She grew throughout the book and learnt to see her own worth. Christian our tortured rockstar and his longing for his best friend’s sister. He was so passionate about his music, his friendship to Ollie, and of course Haley.

In this book we had Tully and Mularkey, Haley’s rescue dogs, giving us cuteness and funny moments. And of course, great supporting characters and the friendships that were formed. I loved how Haley and Christian romance developed in 12 days but they were a match that had been long coming. They learnt from each other and helped each other.

I am so lucky to be part of the street team for this book. I can’t wait to read the second book and get into Rachel’s story!

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

T he Twelve Days of Christian navigates the intricacies of relationships with a unique twist. Set against the backdrop of the Christmas holiday season, the book uses the structure of the "Twelve Days of Christmas" to tell its story. I rounded up from 3.5 stars because I did enjoy the story.

The MMC, Christian, finds himself in an unexpected vacation while he hides away with his best friend/bandmate Ollie's sister, who he secretly harbors feelings for.
The FMC, Haley, has to "hide" Christian from the public, while he is expected to be on a reality show, but is booted for mysterious reasons. Caroline Corwin blends humor and heartache, advancing the story while also advancing the budding relationship between Haley and Christian.

What stands out the most is the emotional depth of the main characters. The narrative is both engaging and thought-provoking. Without giving too much away, the story blends a minor mystery of the manipulation of reality TV and how two people with interesting pasts are able to find love.
The story is mostly heartwarming and definitely cozy for the upcoming holiday season.

My only issue with the story is the way the story goes back and forth between the building of the relationship and the "investigation" behind why Christian is hiding out when he should be filming the show