The Christmas List

Strawberry Hollow #3

by Maren Moore

From bestselling author of The Mistletoe Bet, Maren Moore comes a brand new second chance, single dad, holiday novella full of Christmas sugar and spice.



I love Christmas.
So much so that in my smalltown I’m known as The Queen of Christmas.
And no one knows holiday festivities quite like Strawberry Hollow.


Only this Christmas season delivers an unexpected twist in the form of Wyatt Owens.
The handsome single father of my new student…
Who just so happens to also be my first love.

The one who broke my heart all those years ago.

I haven’t seen Wyatt since he left our hometown behind, but a piece of my heart has always been his.
And all those old feelings come rushing back the moment we see each other again.
Only now the boy I once loved is a charming, delicious and intoxicating man.

One I’m not sure I can resist.

Especially when neither of us can deny his daughter Lucy’s holiday wish- for the three of us to compete together as a team in Strawberry Hollow’s Annual Christmas List tradition.

At first, he’s determined to win every festive challenge on the list but the more things we check off, the more it seems like he wants to win me instead.
Soon things are heating up between us, and suddenly I find myself at risk of falling… for my ex.

But I’m not sure I could survive the heartbreak of losing him again.
Is this just a holiday fling…
Or is this the second chance I’ve always secretly hoped for?

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Second Chance, Romance, Novella, Holiday Romance, Small Town Romance

153 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2024

Reviews

[naz · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝓢𝓱𝓮’𝓼 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓲𝓯𝓾𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓘 𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓮𝓮𝓷𝓪𝓰𝓮 𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓸𝓯 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓪 𝓭𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓻𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽’𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓻𝓮𝓹𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝓪 𝓫𝓮𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓲𝓯𝓾𝓵 𝔀𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓫𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝓬𝓱𝓮."

Christmas novellas are MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE 🎄✨ is it because of my undying love for Hallmark movies? Probably. But there’s just something about a fast-paced happily-ever-after wrapped in all the holiday vibes that makes my heart so happy ❤️

The Christmas List follows Josie, aka the ✨Queen of Christmas✨ who this holiday season is turning up to be different in Strawberry Hollow because she discovers her new student, Lucy, is none other than Wyatt Owen's daughter. And who is Wyatt, you ask? Oh, just her ex.. the one who broke her heart years ago and is now back in town. (the drama, the perfection, i’m here for it😏)

This novella is packed with all the tropes we love - small town, single dad, forced proximity(because DUH they have to complete a Christmas list with Lucy to win a competition), second chance romance, and that sweet, sweet way Wyatt falls hard for Josie all over again.

“𝓐𝓵𝓵 𝓘 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓱𝓮𝓻. 𝓣𝓻𝓾𝓵𝔂, 𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔂𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓪𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽, 𝓘’𝓿𝓮 𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓭 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓱𝓮𝓻.”

I absolutely LOVED their “you look amazing” dialogue—it was everything 😍. And when he basically tells her, “I want you back”? Ugh, my heart! 💓 This book may have been short, but so cute!

This story had me smiling & kicking my feet up the whole way through BUT THE SPICE🔥! let's just say it was as steamy as my holiday themed coffee and both were DELICIOUS.(wow im so lame)

OH and now I need a rug in front of my fireplace ASAP.. iykyk

“𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓵𝔂 𝓽𝓸𝓸 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓲𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓫𝓮𝓭, 𝓙𝓸𝓼𝓲𝓮,” He teases, the tone of his voice playful as he eyes me perched on the mattress. My brow lifts.. “𝓨𝓮𝓪𝓱?” I reach for the hem of my sweater and tug it over my head, tossing it to the floor.“𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽… 𝓷𝓸𝔀?” Wyatt prowls forward, a deliciously hungry look on his handsome face. “𝓝𝓸𝔀, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓮, 𝓱𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂.”

things I liked sm ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
🎄 short chapters
🎄 dual pov
🎄 the way Josie isn't shy to say what's on her mind
🎄 the symbol behind the ornaments
🎄 the longing

Thank you Maren Moore for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion

⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅: maren moore always makes Christmas novellas like those hallmark movies but smutty and im here for it

[Lorena ♡ (semi-ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so cute 🥹 and soft 🥹 and sweet 🥹 and hot 🥹 and with no angst 🥹 and just so precious 😭🫂

↪ ★★★★½ stars

[⋆˙sanyae˙⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

.⋆˚⁀➷ 3★
i don't usually enjoy reading about children but the little girl in this was adorable. and i loved the christmas vibes. i feel like there was something missing from their romance but other than that this was really cute.

⋆⭒˚.⋆ ⌞pre~read⌝⋆.˚⭒⋆
holiday romance + a hot single dad? say less 🏃🏽‍♀️

♡ i rented from kindle unlimited ♡

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite Christmas novellas from Maren yet! This was so sweet and I loved how Josie and Wyatt realized their lives had connected again after figuring out she was his daughter's teacher. They were together when they were younger, but their lives went separate ways. Now, they're back and participating in the town's Christmas challenge together. The Christmas vibes were perfect and I loved their dynamic with his daughter! This is the perfect, quick read to read during the holiday season!

[Jeicy Rivas · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Rating!
Got his as an ARC - thank you Valentine PR and Maren Moore!

This is definitely the book to get you in the Christmas spirit! Wyatt, Wyatt, Wyatt, the man that you are.. The groveling, the tension from the very beginning? Also, single dad/daughters teacher/second chance? Need I say more? This was amazing. I loved it and only complaint I have is that I wish it were a full length novel instead of a novella but it did it's thing! Maren Moore definitely knows how to write a short and smutty book to get us in the jolly spirit!

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried so hard to like this book, but I was honest I couldn't. Wyatt and Josie were cute, but they took 8 years to finally get back together? They made sure they didn't look into eachothers lives. Until Wyatts' daughter was in Josie class. They didn't know he came back into town. She didn't know he had a child.

🙄 I'm still mad that Wyatt said she was the one his everything he broke it off because he didn't think they could do long distance?!? So he was dating and screwing ppls those 8 years. And what did Josie do? I didn't see anything about her dating or having fun?? She was more heartbroken and still forgave him.

Really?! And his sorry was lame. And her forgiving him was super fast. I would let him grovel. Or push him away.

No ow/om drama, no cheating, slight secondary character, no manwhore or virgins

Recommend-eh skip
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶

Slowinsta
Seperation 8 years
No condom
Praise kink
Single parent
Hea
Epilogue

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

This series is so cute and spicy and the perfect bite sized dose of holiday fun and charm! I love that the author calls these books Hallmark after dark because that is the absolute perfect description for the vibe. This has all the small town feels and adorable Christmassy happenings but behind closed doors things get hot. If you want a one sitting read to get you in a holiday mood try this one!

[Afton Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

So so cute, a wonderful conclusion to this cute series!

[all.the.smut.things · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥

I love returning to Strawberry Hollow year after year, and Wyatt and Josie might be my favorite couple yet! And that’s saying something because I have loved them all.

This is a quick holiday read with all the cheer and feels but a heaping dose of really good spice! All the sexy Hallmark vibes and I am here for it.

🎄 Small Town Novella
🎄 Single Dad
🎄 Second Chance
🎄 It’s Always Been you
🎄 Christmas Competition

Wyatt and Josie are adorable. These two were each other’s first loves but it just wasn’t their time. Now Wyatt is back I. strawberry Hollow, Josie is his daughter’s teacher, and the feelings have never gone away!

Add in that Wyatt’s daughter Lucy and Josie both LOVE Christmas and you have a cute Christmas competition the girls want to win, while Wyatt just wants to win HIS girl back.

It’s spicy, it’s swoony, as normal you know I fall for the entire family, and it’s the perfect quick read to warm you up on a cold night.

Maren can do absolutely NO WRONG in my eyes and this is just another example of that!

[Stacey's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Kindergarten teacher && Queen of Christmas, Josie, has a new student in class - Lucy. Little does Josie know, Lucy's dad was her childhood first love who has newly moved back to Strawberry Hollow. After 8 years apart, will the grumpy, single dad with the biggest heart win back the love he so badly wants?

What a great second chance, Christmas romance! The tensionnnn between Josie && Wyatt was so good && don't even get me started on the fireplace scene 🥵 Little Lucy was the cutest, sassiest girl 🤭 I loved this book so much!! I truly can't believe the series is now complete. Please go read these sweet Christmas stories, packed with all the Holiday Cheer 🎄❄️

[Kerri Topping · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ A perfect short and sweet Christmas novella. For Josie, Wyatt is the one who got away and her first and only love. When he shows back up in town with a 6 year old daughter, Josie agrees to compete in the town Christmas competition with them. As they completed a series of festive tasks, old feelings arise. In a story that’s only just over 100 pages, a second chance romance just makes sense because the history between the characters takes away the typical insta love.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so so so cute 😭❤️ I love this small town! I LOVE WYATT & LUCY & JOSIE!

When Josie’s (lowkey) favorite student goes to introduce her to her dad, she wasn’t expecting it to be her first love & the one that got away!! But what’s better than a little Christmas competition to bring the two love birds back into the swing of things?!

Definitely gave me the Christmas spirit & BOY WAS IT ALSO YUMMMYYYYYYY

[Koisty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Chocchip Pancake Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level:🌶️🌶️/5

If you love a Christmas Romance or are the type of person who will voraciously devour every Hallmark Christmas movie...you will love this... because its a Hallmark Movie in book form...

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Josie loves Christmas... people in the town of Strawberry Hollow even call her the Queen of Christmas because her personality is the physical embodiment of the holiday and what it represents. She is also a primary school teacher and has the most adorable students in her class. One day, her newest student Lucy (who Josie has formed a sweet connection with) wants to introduce her to her dad. However, it turns out her dad is Wyatt Owens, the boy (AND NOW MAN) who 8 years ago broke her heart when he broke up with her and left town. Now he is back and he wants to try a second chance with Josie. Josie is apprehensive but when Lucy needs a third person to compete in the town's Christmas List competition to win a float ride with Santa...Josie cannot say no to help; meaning she and Wyatt will be spending a lot of time together.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
This was sweet, low angst and literally sings about the joy of Christmas. I enjoyed the plot and the vibes and the Christmas Romance gold because this story is heartwarming, cute, sweet, and adorable.

Josie is kind-hearted and generous and so big on family and Wyatt is just a gooey cinnamon roll. Their reconnection was cute and it was sweet. BUT One thing that bothered me, and it’s the reason I don’t typically enjoy second-chance romances, is that I need a valid reason for the breakup. In this case, their breakup felt pretty weak. Wyatt essentially left and abandoned her. I couldn’t help but think that, if he truly cared about her, long distance was an option they could have explored. Instead, he just walked away and never looked back. When they do reminisce, I expected more grovelling from him to make up for such a flimsy reason for leaving, but that never happened. They jumped back into love so quickly that it felt almost insta-lovey.

I understand that this is a Christmas novella, and the pace is supposed to be fast, with sweet and cosy vibes, but I wanted more redevelopment of their relationship. It felt like they just slipped back into love without working through the hurt or addressing what went wrong.

The only reason I’m willing to give it a pass is because this is a novella. There’s not always enough time for deeper character development. Honestly, if this had been a full-length novel, I think it would have worked better for me.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Small Town Romance
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Second Chance
▶ Single Dad
▶ Christmas Romance

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Under Table Touching
▷ "Hold on to the..."
▷ "Sit on my face..."
▷ "Fuck It"
▷ Throws her over his shoulder
▷ "More"

Overall this was Christmas vibes, it was a quick read, and it made me happy, so can I really complain?

Thank you to ValentinePR and Maren Moore for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own

[winnie ₊ ⊹ · Rating 3 out of 5]

”i want another chance at having your heart. i want to make up for all the time that we lost, and this time, i want to do it right. i’m here, and i’m not going anywhere without you. never again.” ₊ ⊹

my thoughts ┊a very short ‘n’ sweet holiday romance!

loved the concept of this, and i thought it was decently done for how long (or rather, short) it is! the characters were cute, the romance was spicy, and i loved the setting!

[Jenny Lovez Bookz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super sweet & short. A perfect holiday read. If Hallmark had rated R movies, this would be it

[Emily | sipsandshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit in the Strawberry Hollow series and each one just keeps getting better! The Christmas vibes of this novella were on point and it had the perfect mix of sugar and spice ;) I absolutely loved Josie, Wyatt, and Lucy. Can be read as a standalone! Thank you to Maren & Valentine PR for the ARC 🫶🏼

Tropes: holiday, small town, single dad, second chance, forced proximity
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Emma (thecaffeinatedbookaholic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

brb moving to Strawberry Hollow ASAP. Can I join the Rowdy Reindeers for the Christmas List competition next year? This was such a fun, sweet read that I absolutely devoured! I loved getting to be back in Strawberry Hollow. Wyatt & Josie are everything!! I absolutely melted over Wyatt as a dad to the cutest little girl. I was living for all the Christmas festivities on the list—I mean seriously, how can I join something like that?! I loved Josie and how much she adores Wyatt’s daughter and Christmas. I loved how Wyatt & Josie are clearly meant to be—they have such a familiarity between them that, even with the pain, you can tell it’s always been the two of them. I really enjoyed every second of this one, and it was absolutely the perfect spicy Christmas novella!

[ARC from Maren in exchange for an honest review]

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a short, sweet, and spicy read! This was such a quick and fun Christmas read and it hit all the high points! Josie and Wyatt’s chemistry was delicious, the childhood friends to lovers to strangers to lovers again was *chef’s kiss*. Wyatt’s daughter Lucy was such a joy to read and I loved how the relationship between Wyatt and Josie and Josie and Lucy were so easy and loving and GAH it was just so good!

.
.
.
.
Thank you to Valentine PR for the arc opportunity!

[Amanda babcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one this is the first book I’ve read from her and it felt like a hallmark movie with some extra spice added to it I can’t wait to read more from her

[R.R.R · Rating 3 out of 5]

𖤐⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ 3.25 stars ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆𖤐

That was so damn cute christmassy read 🥹🥹

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, fun, quick, and steamy! Everything you could want in a Christmas novella!!

[kaleii · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am nothing if not a hater so here is my problems with this book:

1. This book is called "The Christmas List" which is about a competition where a group is givien a list of christmas activites/challenges that need to be completed. The list was mentioned a handful of times. For this book to literally be named after the list there was not enough of it. This whole plot point needed to be fleshed out way more.

2. I get that Josie felt not animosity towards Wyatt but like damn girl have some standards, he could have groveled just a little bit.

3. As much as I loved Lucy for being like idk somewhere between the ages of 5-8 she seemed a little too grown for her age. She was spilling advice and it was just not needed and off putting. I usually love kids in romance books and I did like Lucy but I don't know my feelings towards her are indifference.

[casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and fun Christmas romance novella that’s absolutely perfect for the holidays ❤️

– single dad
– second chance
– small town
– forced proximity

Maren knew what she was doing when she created the world of Strawberry Hollow! The Christmas vibes are immaculate and simply just reading about everything going on in this town always puts me in a cheerful mood — especially with there being love in every corner 🤭

I adored Josie & Wyatt and watching their second chance unfold. It’s clear that they never stopped thinking about each other, and it made me happy seeing them finally get their HEA 🥹 I also just loveddd both of their relationships with Wyatt’s daughter! Lucy was such a sweet and hilarious kid, and she truly added so much light and joy to Josie & Wyatt’s story 🫶

Overall, I had a great time reading this like I do with everything Maren writes! If you’re looking for something quick, adorable, and very festively spirited, this novella is definitely for you 😌

Thank you so much to Maren Moore & her team for an ARC of this novella! 🎁

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

the perfect cute and quick read for the holiday season!! <3

[Courtney | romancereadswithcourt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Christmas List by Maren Moore
4.5 ⭐️ 2 🌶️

Back in Strawberry Hollow for more Christmas magic 😍🎄

This was absolutely adorable, and so wholesome! Second chance romance is BIG for me so I was immediately invested from chapter 1.

Sweet, kind Josie has definitely taking a liking to her new student in class. And when she meets the little girls dad, to find out it’s the one and only man she’s ever loved???? SAY LESS!

The fact that he’s also still pining for her is just extra icing on the cake at this point. We get classic strawberry hollow Christmas with a friendly town-wide christmas competition and of course, Josie and Wyatt are on the same team!

This was a quick, sweet read with a bit of spice and lots of holiday cheer!

Tropes: holiday novella • second chance • single dad • forced proximity • small town

[Marrissa Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite Strawberry Hollow book! Second chance is the best in my opinion, and I loved getting Josie’s story. It was the perfect amount of holiday spirit, sweet and spicy romance, and small town charm. Josie is a kindergarten teacher, and Lucy is a new student in her class, who also ends up being the daughter of Josie’s ex, Wyatt, who she hasn’t seen in 8 years. This was the perfect holiday novella, complete with a fun and festive competition. Lucy was the cutest, and Wyatt was the best dad. And I loved the development of the relationship between Lucy and Josie 🥰

This can be read as a standalone but I definitely recommend checking out the first two as well!

Read if you like ⇣
🎄Holiday romance
🤍Small town
🎅🏼Second chance
🤍Single dad
🎄Forced proximity
🤍Christmas competition
🎅🏼Dual POV
🤍Spice

Thank you so much @valentine_pr_ & @authormarenmoore for the eARC!

[Kirsten | Bookish.kir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maren Moore delivers again…not that I am even surprised. I am such a fan of her writing style so it’s honesty very unlikely I won’t enjoy a book by her. I was so happy to see we were heading back to Strawberry Hollow this holiday season. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the relationship between Josie and Lucy and their bonding over their love of Christmas, and Wyatt is just the sweetest. Highly recommend.

[corie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did read part of this on a plane, which I did deeply regret

[Katharina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute holiday romance. Buddy read this with my bestie Sanyae! 🤍

[ApoorvaReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute novella😩♥️

[emsbooklife · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Josie’s mine. She always has been. And if I have anything to do with it, she always will be.”

ARC REVIEW

a novella should NEVER make me cry, yet this one did.
this was the cutest Christmas book ever!!!! like are you kidding me?? Lucy and Josie’s relationship was just adorable 🥹

now my man Wyatt😮‍💨 the mouth on that man was something else, he was just perfectly sweet and spicy.

second chance / small town / single dad