Shamrock Kisses

High Five Novella #3

by Serena Pier

Am I going to get lucky? Maybe if the hunky nerd I met yesterday takes me up on my invite to attend High Five's St. Paddy's Day party …

Rachel Wagner, who’s sworn off dating apps, is the last single one in her friend group. Focused on running her thriving cleaning business in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, the thirty-one-year-old is caught off guard when she stumbles upon a bearded nerd while cleaning her biggest client’s lake house.

Patrick Nowak, a reclusive cat-loving hacker, prefers code to conversation and planned to spend the St. Patrick’s Day weekend out of Chicago enjoying a digital detox at his friend's lake house. But when Rachel, a confident brunette who seems way out of his league, invites him to a local bar's St. Paddy's party, his anxiety just might prevent him from taking her up on the offer.

In a game of attraction and vulnerability, neither of them is prepared for just how much their lives can change in a day.

(This is Book #3 in an interconnected series. It is encouraged, but not essential, to read Santa's Coming and Cupid's Shot before reading Shamrock Kisses.)

Romance Tropes: Instant Connection, Strangers to Lovers, Small Town, Holiday Romance, Younger Man, Nerdy Guy Gets the Girl

Genres: Novella, Romance, Holiday, Audiobook, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Spicy

120 pages, Paperback

Published January 9, 2025

About the author

Serena Pier is a recovering girl boss, mom, and wife. After being called a brat for as long as she can remember, she decided to lean into it—writing sassy, strong, complex female characters who fully embrace the sexy side of the word. Her books are influenced by her endless fascination with power dynamics and how they play out in relationships, workplaces, and everyday life. Most of her stories are set in and around Chicago, paying tribute to her Midwestern roots and love of all things dairy. When she isn’t in front of a screen, Serena can be found pontooning with her family, enjoying a glass of wine with friends, and driving as fast as she can on the track. Literary Agent - Amanda Wooden, SBR Media

Reviews

[Lex B · Rating 1 out of 5]

Repeated use of “rawr” and “kitten” wanted to kms tbh

[Grace Btrs (semi ia - mostly overwhelmed) · Rating 4 out of 5]

St Nicolas season is done. Gearing up for St Patrick's season. ☘️

Super light, super easy to go through, and super fun.
Serena wrote these books to showcase dating in your 30s and everything in this series is a testament to that.
I just love the feel-good vibes these books give me.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own and unbiased.

[veerali · Rating 3 out of 5]

— ( ☘️ ) arc review ⊹

shamrock kisses is the third installment in the high five novella series, featuring the intriguing story of rachel and patrick. patrick, a dedicated nerd, opts for a st. patrick's day escape from chicago, seeking a digital detox at his friend brandon's lakeside retreat. meanwhile, rachel, the last single member of her friend group, is a confident entrepreneur whose cleaning business is thriving, currently working at her largest client's home. when patrick, completely enchanted by rachel—who seems far beyond his reach—is inivited to a st. paddy's celebration, she is caught off guard by his nerdy charm. will this encounter lead to a fleeting romance, or could it blossom into something deeper?

౨ৎ ⋮ I’m imagining our life together, imagining what it would be like to do this every night. To have her by my side, to keep learning everything there is to know about her.

this was my first experience reading a book by serena pier, and i have to say, i wasn't blown away, but I wasn't let down either. the novella has a charming and lighthearted vibe. i'm definitely a fan of nerdy characters, and this story delivered on that front. given that it's a novella, i didn't anticipate too much depth, but i did wish the characters had a bit more chemistry.


⤿ reverse age gap
⤿ strangers to lovers
⤿ insta love
⤿ small town
⤿ holiday romance
⤿ nerdy guy gets the girl

thank you author and grey's promotion for providing me an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

[Paloma FC (in my reading era) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐️⭐️
3 / 5 🌶️
Spicy chapters: 17, 18, 23

First person, dual POV 🫶🏻

Patrick (MMC's) and Rachel (FMC)

This is one of the best novellas I've ever read/listened to. Considering that it's a short story, it doesn't feel rushed, and the plot was coherent and realistic.

I must admit that a story with a shy & nerdy MMC is my cryptonite, bonus points if he has a dirty mouth and is naughty behind closed doors.

So yes, this novella deserves 5 stars 🌟 imo, and I wish that I could read more about the MC's and what happens to them next. In other words, I didn't want this story to end.


Happy reading! 📚

[Maggie Maeve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this audio and loved the narrators. It’s about a 2 hour audio book, and it was so much fun. This is a sweet and spicy St. Patrick’s Day themed novella and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love this series from Serena Pier.

[Apryl (inmybookishgirlera) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this might be my favorite of the series! Super fast paced, fun spicy novella. Love this series. I loved Rachel she’s my fav female character in this series. I loved that Patrick was nerdy and that anxiety/depression was represented esp by the MMC. I hated the nickname he gave her tho gave me the ick. 4⭐️ def recommend reading these!

[Leticia🌻 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

Cute novella set in the small town of Lake Geneva. This novella follows the story of Rachel (who is friends with Emily and Sarah) and Patrick and it's set around St. Patrick's Day. Patrick is a shy guy who works as a hacker in Chicago, who decided to accompany his friend Brandon for a weekend in Lake Geneva. Once he arrives in Lake Geneva, he meets Rachel, who runs a cleaning business.

Overall the story felt very short; there were some aspects in the relationship that moved way too quick to the point that makes the story unrealistic. So far, this is the novella with the least amount of spice. However, I will still be reading the remaining novellas in the series.

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.75/5)

If you’re in the mood for a quick, spicy St. Patrick’s Day read, Shamrock Kisses delivers exactly that! This novella is short, steamy, and fun, making it perfect for a festive, low-commitment romance. I really enjoyed the dynamic within the friend group, and it made me want to go back and check out the first two novellas in the series. Since each book is centered around a holiday, I love the idea of revisiting the group in different seasonal settings. While the story is enjoyable and the spice is top-tier, I would have loved just a little more development to fully connect with the characters. Still, it’s a great pick if you’re looking for something fast and fiery!

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

Bought in Kindle - 103 Pages
Small Town
St.Paddy Day Romance
Insta Love
Mid Spice

Ok, I'm actually really enjoying these little novellas when they come out seasonally. They are so cute and with a hint of spice and a nice little HEA too.
Rachel invites Patrick to 'High Five' the bar that seems to be lucky for all her gal pals. There's an instant connection, lots of flirting and by the end of the day they are both talking about making things permanent and travelling together. So cute!

[Pandora · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick and easy holiday read, with a cute little romance.
I like the two characters but I did struggle to see any chemistry between them, it seemed a little forced.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️

The next novella in the High Five series, each revolving around a different holiday. This one takes place over St Patrick’s Day weekend. Patrick meets Rachel as he steps into the lake house he and his friend are staying at for the weekend. Rachel owns the cleaning company that cleans the house. There is instant attraction. She tells him where he can find her later - High Five bar. He ditches his friend (who assures him he’s totally cool with it) and meets up with her at the bar. More connection. And, well, it’s a short story, so I’m sure you can assume what happens! I honestly volunteered for an ALC because one of my fave narrators, Greyson Owens, was the MMC, Patrick.

Thanks the the author and Blush Audiobook Promotions for the ALC. 🍀

[‹betts› ⚜ — (catching up with revs) · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5⭐ / 2🌶️
[📱+🎧] ebook + audio
audiobook 🎧 — duet, Grayson Owens & Savannah Thomas

— vibezz
🍀cleaning company owner fmc
💰 cybersecurity chief mmc
🍀 weekend getaway
💰 insta-love

mini blurb — ✍🏻
While on a little getaway on his friend's lake house, Patrick stumbles upon Rachel, she invites him at the local pub's party and they hit it off from there.

//

Well, this one was not my thing.
I did not enjoyed so much the story, the characters did not captivated me in the least, honestly I found everything a bit bland.
But again, this is just my personal opinion.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute read, on one hand not as spicy as the first 2 but still steamy. I really liked the ordering chinese food scene and thought it was a fun game. I enjoyed the the little bit you get from the MMC's job and background. I liked seeing the previous MMC's being a little protective over the FMC. Really loving how lucky these pop up events at the bar are for this friend group. Super curious who the other novella's are about since all 3 friends are now taken. Looking forward to Easter!

-Strangers to Lovers
-Small Town
-Instant connection
-Nerdy MMC
-Small Age Gap (27MMC / 31FMC)

[Hayley Gallant · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5 (rounded up)

Yes! I loved this book so so so much.

I am such a huge fan of a switch up dynamic. You got the younger, nerdy MMC and the older, dominant FMC.

I was hooked right from the start with these two. And once the spice kicked in? I devoured it all as quick as I could.

You get:
• Contemporary Romance
• Spicy
• Novella
• Small Town
• Hacker MMC
• Insta Love
• Reverse Age Gap

I highly recommend this one! Available on KU, ebook, paperback, and audiobook.

[Amity Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and easy little holiday read. Cute &
Fun! I’ve really enjoyed the characters in this series & loved all the st Patrick’s day vibes!

[Rosariosbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and spicy read! These are the perfect holiday novellas! Highly recommend.

[Ciearra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so first. My star rating is actually a 4.5 only because it took a little bit for the beginning to grip me into the story. No spoilers because this is an ARC read but can I just say WOW! I was so sad when I saw “the end”. Everything about this book was so good, the banter was bantering! I’d definitely recommend reading this book to all my romance readers. A little spicy but also a good plot and background on the characters! Loved it!

[What.Nikki.Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

reverse age gap
strangers to lovers
insta love
small town
holiday romance

This is the third book in Serena's holiday series. I LOVED the Christmas and Valentine's Day one but unfortunately this one didn't work for me. I didn't feel the chemistry between these two and things felt a bit forced.

I look forward to the Easter one coming soon though!

Thanks for this ARC greys promotion

[Kristina L. | bookinandcookintx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shamrock Kisses is a light, sweet, and fun little novella that hits the spot when you want something low‑drama and feel‑good. It has that breezy holiday weekend charm! It is quick to sink into, easy to enjoy, and over before it ever has the chance to drag. I liked the characters, the playful energy, the spice, and the overall warm vibe.

I listened to this one on audio, and the duet narration was fantastic. Both narrators brought the characters to life, making the story feel even more engaging. Honestly, the performance elevated the whole experience and made the novella even more fun. A cute, upbeat read/listen if you’re in the mood for something short, sweet, with a little St. Paddy's Day charm!

[Sophie Tee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this couple! I think I may actually like Rachel and Patrick more than Emily and Nicholas… I loved their connection and chemistry. Patrick really is a little nerdy but a freak behind closed doors. The shower scene was spicy 🥵 I thoroughly enjoyed this book in the series and only wished for more to their story! Where do they go from here? What happens next? I want to hear about their travels and if/when they make things official. I love how the three women in this series are in their thirties and representing dating in your thirties.

Can’t wait to read the next book “Run, Little Bunny”. Just in time for Easter coming up 🥰

[Libbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5✨

By far the weakest of this holiday themed romance novellas so far. This time a guy called Patrick finding someone on none-other than St. Patrick's Day.

I'm not one to kink shame, in fact this book has one I enjoy that isn't seen often in contemporary romance. However, the frequent use of certain dialogue and language really turned me off from this book.

Hoping the rest of the series go better

[Amanda Hopwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading this as an advanced reader copy for my honest review ,
I loved this!! All of these cute spicy holiday novellas are so fun!!
I love that Patrick meets his soulmate on St. Patrick’s day! and the fact that he is nerdy is a plus!! Highly recommend

[January · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shamrock Kisses by Serena Pier (2025)
High Five #3
110-page Kindle Ebook story pages 9-102

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Short Stories, Novella, Holiday > St. Patrick's Day

Rating as a movie: XX for strong sexual content

Featuring: Series Reading Order, Content Warning - Alcohol Consumption, Anxiety, Discussions of Past Depression and Mental Health Struggles, Profanity, Sexually Explicit Content; Link to Audiobook, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; Bar Scene, Dual POVs, Days & Dates, Bar Owner, March, Text Graphics, Girlfriends Group, Chicago, Illinois; Minnesotaian MC, Hot Husky Nerd, Tricenarian, Vicenarian, Hacker, Chapter 1 Preview and Link for Run, Little Bunny, Author's Links

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🍸🍀

My thoughts: So when Rachel said she was in her "husky era" in Book 2 she was serious. Patrick is a husky hacker and I absolutely loved him but this story wasn't as exciting as Book 1 for some reason. It was more humorous than Book 2, and although I only have to wait a little over a week, I read the preview for Book 4. I think it's going to be fun, although I never thought Easter and spicy would be in the same sentence.

Recommend to others: Absolutely, this series has been fun.

High Five
1. Santa's Coming (2024)
2. Cupid's Shot (2024)
3. Shamrock Kisses (2025)
4. Run, Little Bunny (2025)
5. Falling for Red (2025)
6. Sharing Shadow Secrets (2025)

Songs for the soundtrack: "Almost Ecstasy" by Wind Walkers, "Sic Transit Gloria ... Glory Fades" by Brand New, "Wicked Ones" by Dorothy

Memorable Quotes: Looking at myself in the mirror, I hope he comes by. He’s probably from Chicago and not looking for something serious. That’s my type, after all, emotionally unavailable pricks … with huge d*cks. One night wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen. I would like to know more about the guy besides being very attracted to him, but I want more from guys than that. I’m thirty-one and want something deep, like what my friends have going on.

“Let’s get a few things straight,” I announce, leaning forward at our unofficially official table at High Five. “I am not, under any circumstances, going to f**k a leprechaun.” The girls burst into laughter, nearly spitting out their drinks. “Who’s asking you to?” Emily gasps, still laughing, her drink sloshing dangerously close to the table’s edge. “You got Santa,” I remind her, smirking. “Sarah got Cupid. And next up is a leprechaun, which is a firm no from me.” “What if he has a pot of gold?” Emily teases, raising an eyebrow. “Or can grant three wishes,” Sarah adds, her chuckle joining Emily’s. I shake my head, deadpan. “Not even if he could give me a billion wishes and a private island.”

[Michaela | bumblebeeslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shamrock Kisses, High Five novella #3

This is a fun Novella that takes place over St. Patrick's day weekend. MMC Patrick is staying the weekend at his friends house in Lake Geneva, to escape the hustle and bustle of his busy job in Chicago. Upon arriving to the lake house, they encounter the cleaning crew, and FMC Rachel invites Patrick down to High Five for the St. Patrick's day festivities. As Patrick and Rachel hang out together, they soon find themselves looking for something more than just a hook-up.

This is a perfect festive read for March, with lots of shamrock tattoos. Patrick, though a shy character, gets along so well with Rachel he lets his guard down and they get to know each other faster than either expected. I love the cold plunge dare that Rachel gives Patrick, it sure sounds freezing though!! But they find a fun way to warm up after.

This entire short story is super cozy. Rachel and Patrick even have a super cozy cuddling session, where Rachel learns some interesting facts about Patrick's past, which only make him more attractive to her. The story has the perfect ending, with the future totally opened up for the two characters.

Some fav quotes:
""Let's get a few things straight...I am not, under any circumstances, going to f***a leprechaun.""

""You're the prettiest girl I've ever kissed..."Well...you look like the mood board of my dream man.""

"Patrick is a nerd in the streets and f***ing nasty in the sheets, right?! Like casually using the word degradation. Vanilla people don't throw that word around."

""Why am I turned on by you almost being a felon?""

""I'll be your good boy...spoiling you, always. But I'll also be the guy who pins you against a wall and has my way with you.""

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Shamrock Kisses" follows the story of Patrick and Rachel.

Patrick is a nerd and hacker who now works at the company he originally hacked into. Rachel is a house cleaner for the family of Patrick's friend, Brandon. The two meet when Patrick decides he doesn’t want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the city, so he and Brandon head to Brandon's family's lake house, which is more like a mansion. Upon arriving at the lake house, they find that "the help" is still there, cleaning. Rachel, who manages the cleaning service, apologizes for running behind but invites Patrick and Brandon to join her at High Five, the local dive bar, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day before she leaves.

However, Brandon is sober and decides not to go, encouraging Patrick to attend without him. At the bar, Patrick and Rachel have a great time hanging out and playing beer pong. Just as they're enjoying each other's company, Patrick receives an emergency call from the CEO, which he must attend to. Rachel chooses to accompany him as he deals with the situation.

While Patrick is preoccupied, Brandon talks to Rachel and hints that there is more to "Patch" than she might realize, suggesting she should Google him.

What does Rachel discover? How does their relationship develop? Read "Shamrock Kisses" to find out more.

[Marissa Pekurny · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a cute novella, rachel and patrick were so cute and their story was so sweet. i loved that the girls and guys from the last two books were brought up too and enjoyed the whole storyline of this series. patrick was such a shy nerdy boy and i loved it. rachel was determined to be happy and im so glad the story ended how it did. definitely recommend this series! it’s so adorable and i loved every minute of it!

[Bookish with Stas · Rating 4 out of 5]

☘️☘️☘️ARC review ☘️☘️☘️

3.5 ⭐️

This was again a super fun and easy read!

I loved how confident Rachel was, and Patrick was such a sweetheart.

However I did like the other books more. This one was still fun, but I liked the tension and chemistry in the others a bit more.

Anyway where can I find a friend group like Sarah, Emily and Rachel???? I love their friendship so much

Oh and the phone-call scene???? HOT 🥵

[Meagan Grauel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was suggested reading on a smutty St. Patrick’s Day list and was rated 3/5 peppers on a spice scale. This is a cute book about the meet cute and subsequent day the new couple spend together getting to know one another. There is no other substance to the book and it’s pretty short; only about 100 pages. The pepper rating was huge overshot and I personally would give this 1/5 peppers. The MMC goes down on the FMC twice and the FMC blows the MMC once. It’s really nothing to write home about spice wise.
Since I picked this book to read a smutty holiday novella, I would say it’s just okay, since it’s not what I would consider smutty in the least.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading the High Five Novella series by Serena Pier and every book she put out, I have been obsessed with. Each book is holiday themed. You definitely want to read them in order. Also love that the stories are based in Lake Geneva, WI.

Today is the release of Shamrock Kisses and it’s St. Patrick’s ☘️ themed. This story follows Patrick and Rachel. It’s a quick and spicy romance read. So many banters (which I love). Highly recommend it. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series.

[Amanda_X · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute St Paddy’s Day edition to the high five novella series. Unfortunately I think this is my least favorite of the three so far but I would still recommend it. I really enjoyed the first part of the book. I loved the banter between the 2 main characters. But when it came to the spicy scenes I feel like the characters seemed to lack chemistry and it felt kind of forced/awkward.