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Happily Ever After All #1
Christmas After All: Happily Ever After All Series, Book 1
As if ruining my life wasn’t enough, now he’s back to ruin my Christmas.
Melissa
The only thing I hate more than Christmas is Tucker James—the guy who wrote a song about me after I turned him down in high school.
He became famous. I became infamous.
With Tucker back in town to play at the annual winter festival, this Christmas is shaping up to be one of the worst. Everyone in Halften loves the country music star who put our town on the map.
Everyone except me.
Tucker
Years ago, I wrote a not-so-flattering song about the girl I had a crush on in high school.
It became my first number-one hit. And made her the laughingstock of our hometown.
Now I’m back in Halften, and it’s pretty clear the only thing Melissa Ellis wants for Christmas is me out of her life.
But in a town this small, it’s going to take a miracle for either of us to make it through this holiday season unscathed.
A sweet enemies-to-lovers holiday romance full of witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and swoony kisses without any explicit content!
Melissa
The only thing I hate more than Christmas is Tucker James—the guy who wrote a song about me after I turned him down in high school.
He became famous. I became infamous.
With Tucker back in town to play at the annual winter festival, this Christmas is shaping up to be one of the worst. Everyone in Halften loves the country music star who put our town on the map.
Everyone except me.
Tucker
Years ago, I wrote a not-so-flattering song about the girl I had a crush on in high school.
It became my first number-one hit. And made her the laughingstock of our hometown.
Now I’m back in Halften, and it’s pretty clear the only thing Melissa Ellis wants for Christmas is me out of her life.
But in a town this small, it’s going to take a miracle for either of us to make it through this holiday season unscathed.
A sweet enemies-to-lovers holiday romance full of witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and swoony kisses without any explicit content!
Audible Audio
Published December 1, 2022
220 people are currently reading
1051 people want to read
About the author
Cece Louise
11 books189 followersCece Louise writes clean novels filled with adventure, romance, and spirit for teens and adults.
Cece is an avid reader who has been making up stories in her head as long as she can remember. Despite all that daydreaming, she graduated summa cum laude with a BBA from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 2012.
When she's not working on her latest story, Cece spends her time having adventures with her husband and two kids, hiking and biking in her home state of WI, and unfortunately, cleaning her house (which she is convinced is secretly inhabited by mischievous, mess-multiplying pixies).
Get "Saving Vengeance" eBook FREE at CeceLouise.com!
Cece is an avid reader who has been making up stories in her head as long as she can remember. Despite all that daydreaming, she graduated summa cum laude with a BBA from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 2012.
When she's not working on her latest story, Cece spends her time having adventures with her husband and two kids, hiking and biking in her home state of WI, and unfortunately, cleaning her house (which she is convinced is secretly inhabited by mischievous, mess-multiplying pixies).
Get "Saving Vengeance" eBook FREE at CeceLouise.com!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
December 7, 2022
This book is written from two different points of view and has a second chance romance feel. This was such a wonderful, inspirational tale about two folks.
The prologue of the story sets the scene and introduces the main characters. Instead of having that scene be a flashback later in the book, I loved that we got to experience it in its whole. I was drawn in right away and it felt like a real beginning. With that kind of a start, I could already tell the story would be endearing. It delivered in spades.
This narrative includes charming small-town folks and a strong supporting cast. I thought it was great how authentic the author kept the characters to be. The characters' reactions were more realistic than what we often see in these romances, but the circumstances and timing of things were on the fortunate side. With the exception of a few tiny things that seemed slightly awkward, the events were handled well enough for everyone to accept them.
The character development is somewhat hampered by the short length, but it's still fun, fluffy, and perfect for this time of year. In preparation for the Christmas season, this book was fantastic to read.
Pick up this book if you're starting to plan your holiday reading list now or just making one. Such a lovely Christmas tale!
Through BookSirens, I received a free copy of this book by the author. All opinions are of my own.
The prologue of the story sets the scene and introduces the main characters. Instead of having that scene be a flashback later in the book, I loved that we got to experience it in its whole. I was drawn in right away and it felt like a real beginning. With that kind of a start, I could already tell the story would be endearing. It delivered in spades.
This narrative includes charming small-town folks and a strong supporting cast. I thought it was great how authentic the author kept the characters to be. The characters' reactions were more realistic than what we often see in these romances, but the circumstances and timing of things were on the fortunate side. With the exception of a few tiny things that seemed slightly awkward, the events were handled well enough for everyone to accept them.
The character development is somewhat hampered by the short length, but it's still fun, fluffy, and perfect for this time of year. In preparation for the Christmas season, this book was fantastic to read.
Pick up this book if you're starting to plan your holiday reading list now or just making one. Such a lovely Christmas tale!
Through BookSirens, I received a free copy of this book by the author. All opinions are of my own.
December 26, 2022
This was a cute sweet romance with a nice small town feel! I would say it felt moderately Christmas-y too, which is what I was looking for. Really enjoyed it! Only complaint was that there were some flashbacks/memories sprinkled in mid chapter that didn't have a clear divider - so it was a little hard to differentiate what was current timeline and what was in the past. Overall liked it a lot though and I plan to snag the second!
October 25, 2022
Christmas After All, the first book in the Christmas Ever After All contemporary romance series, is a sweet and charming enemies-to-lovers romance with a ton of small-town charm and wonderful characters. This is a new genre for Cece Louise, who previously wrote The Forest Tales young adult fantasy series, and she transitioned to contemporary romance so well!
The story begins when Melissa and Tucker are in high school, and Tucker very publicly asks her to the prom by singing to her at a football game. After Melissa rejects and embarrasses him, Tucker writes a song about her, which went viral and propelled him into country singing stardom. Almost ten years pass, and Tucker, now a famous musician, returns to his hometown where he sees Melissa waitressing at a local diner that he intends to buy. Melissa is furious when she sees Tucker back in town. Humiliated by the super popular song about her, Melissa will never forgive Tucker for what he did. However, the more time this pair spends together, the more Melissa’s feelings change.
Melissa and Tucker are both great characters, and I loved their enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance. Melissa was super popular and wealthy in high school, and Tucker was the new, nerdy kid. Now adults, their roles have changed. Tucker is now popular and wealthy (and a hunk), and Melissa struggles financially. Her parents died shortly after she graduated, and she has spent the last years caring for and supporting her younger siblings. It’s an interesting reversal from their childhood, as Melissa put her life on hold and didn’t fulfill her dreams, while Tucker rose to stardom and lived his dream.
It’s clear from the start that there are unresolved feelings between Tucker and Melissa. Tucker is so generous and sweet, and his feelings for Melissa haven’t changed much. He’s been smitten with her since high school, but after all the disasters in their past, he thinks she’ll never give him another chance. I totally understand how Melissa felt. When I was in high school, I broke up with my boyfriend, and he went on the radio and dedicated the song “Cold as Ice” by Foreigner to me. I was mortified! I laugh about it now, but I imagine if I had to see him and hear the song all the time like Melissa does, it would be a different story. It’s interesting to see how Melissa’s feelings begin to change as she and Tucker learn more about each other, their pasts, and more. They have both suffered from tragedies in their lives, and I think as they learn more about what each other went through, the more they can understand and forgive. They have a sweet love story!
The story takes place in a relatively small town, and we meet many unique characters, including Melissa’s siblings, her boss, Tucker’s friends, and Tucker’s fantastic mother. I love small-town romances and the charming people and places that come with them. From Melissa’s work to the Christmas-time events, the story has a festive and wholesome feel.
This is an entertaining start to Louise’s new series, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book. A couple of potential romances were hinted at in this story, and I’m curious to see who will find love next! Special thanks to Cece Louise for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
The story begins when Melissa and Tucker are in high school, and Tucker very publicly asks her to the prom by singing to her at a football game. After Melissa rejects and embarrasses him, Tucker writes a song about her, which went viral and propelled him into country singing stardom. Almost ten years pass, and Tucker, now a famous musician, returns to his hometown where he sees Melissa waitressing at a local diner that he intends to buy. Melissa is furious when she sees Tucker back in town. Humiliated by the super popular song about her, Melissa will never forgive Tucker for what he did. However, the more time this pair spends together, the more Melissa’s feelings change.
Melissa and Tucker are both great characters, and I loved their enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance. Melissa was super popular and wealthy in high school, and Tucker was the new, nerdy kid. Now adults, their roles have changed. Tucker is now popular and wealthy (and a hunk), and Melissa struggles financially. Her parents died shortly after she graduated, and she has spent the last years caring for and supporting her younger siblings. It’s an interesting reversal from their childhood, as Melissa put her life on hold and didn’t fulfill her dreams, while Tucker rose to stardom and lived his dream.
It’s clear from the start that there are unresolved feelings between Tucker and Melissa. Tucker is so generous and sweet, and his feelings for Melissa haven’t changed much. He’s been smitten with her since high school, but after all the disasters in their past, he thinks she’ll never give him another chance. I totally understand how Melissa felt. When I was in high school, I broke up with my boyfriend, and he went on the radio and dedicated the song “Cold as Ice” by Foreigner to me. I was mortified! I laugh about it now, but I imagine if I had to see him and hear the song all the time like Melissa does, it would be a different story. It’s interesting to see how Melissa’s feelings begin to change as she and Tucker learn more about each other, their pasts, and more. They have both suffered from tragedies in their lives, and I think as they learn more about what each other went through, the more they can understand and forgive. They have a sweet love story!
The story takes place in a relatively small town, and we meet many unique characters, including Melissa’s siblings, her boss, Tucker’s friends, and Tucker’s fantastic mother. I love small-town romances and the charming people and places that come with them. From Melissa’s work to the Christmas-time events, the story has a festive and wholesome feel.
This is an entertaining start to Louise’s new series, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book. A couple of potential romances were hinted at in this story, and I’m curious to see who will find love next! Special thanks to Cece Louise for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
January 1, 2023
This was such a cute rom-com! It had me gut clutch laughing and even shedding a few tears along the way. Melissa is hilarious, and I'm there for her kind of energy! Totally going to start using mother-tucker as a swear from now on! Tucker is a great guy, and I'm happy he and Melissa got this opportunity to learn more about each other and finally make a love connection.
January 7, 2026
Christmas After All by Cece Louise is a sweet, small-town enemies-to-lovers holiday romance about Melissa Ellis, a woman who absolutely hates Christmas because of the most humiliating memory from her past, and Tucker James, the now-famous country music star who once put her on blast with a hit song after she rejected him in high school. When Tucker returns to their snowy hometown of Halften to play at the annual winter festival, both of them are forced to confront old wounds, lingering embarrassment, and a surprising chemistry that might just thaw even the iciest of feelings.
Right from the start I felt pulled into Melissa’s world, where holiday lights and sweet-tart small-town charm clashed beautifully with her resentment and vulnerability, especially as she juggles caring for her younger siblings while still trying to make peace with her past.
Seeing Tucker navigate his triumphant return with a mix of genuine remorse and warm nostalgia gave his character layers that surprised me; he isn’t just a glossy superstar, he’s someone wrestling with how his choices affected someone he once truly cared about.
What made this story particularly delightful for me were the witty banter and playful tension between them, the forgiving holiday atmosphere that gently nudges their reunion, and the way their evolving understanding felt honest and heartfelt even when it wasn’t easy or smooth.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I adored how Christmas After All wrapped seasonal spirit, second chances, and genuinely lovable characters into a warm, cozy read that left me smiling. I would have loved a touch more depth in their emotional reconciliation, but the heartfelt growth and small-town magic made this a truly uplifting Christmas romance.
Right from the start I felt pulled into Melissa’s world, where holiday lights and sweet-tart small-town charm clashed beautifully with her resentment and vulnerability, especially as she juggles caring for her younger siblings while still trying to make peace with her past.
Seeing Tucker navigate his triumphant return with a mix of genuine remorse and warm nostalgia gave his character layers that surprised me; he isn’t just a glossy superstar, he’s someone wrestling with how his choices affected someone he once truly cared about.
What made this story particularly delightful for me were the witty banter and playful tension between them, the forgiving holiday atmosphere that gently nudges their reunion, and the way their evolving understanding felt honest and heartfelt even when it wasn’t easy or smooth.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I adored how Christmas After All wrapped seasonal spirit, second chances, and genuinely lovable characters into a warm, cozy read that left me smiling. I would have loved a touch more depth in their emotional reconciliation, but the heartfelt growth and small-town magic made this a truly uplifting Christmas romance.
December 27, 2022
One can only ho-ho-ho for so long and I think I’ve hit my limit on holiday books for 2022. And "Christmas After All" is a great place to end on a high note. I’ve met my Goodreads Challenge and I’m ready to move forward, looking forward to new releases coming in 2023, along with finishing up a few leftovers from 2022. There’s always too many and too little time – and eye strain!
There’s something so appealing about cozying up in front of a warm fire with the lights glowing brightly on the Christmas tree and a holiday romance just waiting to be read. Cece Louise, a new-to-me author, served up a very delightful enemies-to-lovers story proving that the best of intentions and the decisions we make may blow up in our faces, leaving us to deal with the gamut of emotions that follow. Sometimes it may take ten years before it happens.
A fun-to-read and enticing holiday romance that introduces a super sweet hero whose love for his mom and the holidays add some extra adorableness to this story. Tucker and Melissa were wonderful characters – both having major hurdles to overcome and both deserving of a fantastic happy ever after!
NOTE: Melissa’s younger sister, Kelsey, will hopefully find her HEA in “Perfect After All” to be released in April, 2023. Hope to see more of Melissa and Tucker, too!
December 15, 2022
A fun yet believable take on the high school humiliation, enemies to lover, 2nd chance romance trope!
Full review coming soon!
Full review coming soon!
November 17, 2022
3.5 Stars
This was a cute, fun, quick read. I enjoyed getting to know Melissa and Tucker and watching them get their HEA. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
This was a cute, fun, quick read. I enjoyed getting to know Melissa and Tucker and watching them get their HEA. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
June 20, 2023
"A fresh start isn't about forgetting. It's about forgiving. It's remembering the past hurt and choosing to forgive that person and move forward anyway."
Second chance -small-town contemporary romance. They have both suffered from tragedies in their lives, and I think as they learn more about what each other went through, the more they can understand and forgive. There's angst and overcoming past heartbreaks, both romantically and not. This story contains old hurts, hard conversations, and shared feelings. It was such a fun second-chance romance, with some humor, and plenty of chemistry. I loved watching Melissa and Tucker overcome all their previous heartbreak and deal with their individual pasts to get the chance at the love that they deserved finally.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Second chance -small-town contemporary romance. They have both suffered from tragedies in their lives, and I think as they learn more about what each other went through, the more they can understand and forgive. There's angst and overcoming past heartbreaks, both romantically and not. This story contains old hurts, hard conversations, and shared feelings. It was such a fun second-chance romance, with some humor, and plenty of chemistry. I loved watching Melissa and Tucker overcome all their previous heartbreak and deal with their individual pasts to get the chance at the love that they deserved finally.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
December 7, 2022
2 stars | CAWPILE 2.6 | Ages 12+
Initial thoughts:
- These characters had zero juice
- The book was just too short
- There was no chemistry
- The plot execution was terrible
- But the premise was so gooddd
- Wayy too insta-lovey
C 2
A 2
W 3
P 2.5
I 2
L 4
E 3
Initial thoughts:
- These characters had zero juice
- The book was just too short
- There was no chemistry
- The plot execution was terrible
- But the premise was so gooddd
- Wayy too insta-lovey
C 2
A 2
W 3
P 2.5
I 2
L 4
E 3
November 24, 2025
I’m so glad I found this new to me clean rom-com author! And she lives in Wisconsin!! This was a cute read with a lot of layers the characters had to work through. Cheesy? A little bit. Was I smiling the whole time? Yep.
November 25, 2022
Christmas After All is a light Christmas romance novella that makes for fun seasonal reading. The Hallmark-esque enemies-to-lovers story plays out much as you'd expect with a couple misunderstandings, but the journey is an enjoyable one with smooth writing and as well-developed characters as you can create in a novella.
December 31, 2022
An enjoyable, clean RomCom!
This was my first book by Cece Louise. I was very impressed with the story. I could relate to many of the incidents and actually felt the characters' emotions more than once. While the writing may not be quite as polished as some other books that I have read, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I am glad that this is the beginning of a series because I am looking forward to seeing what happens with some of the other characters that were introduced. 😁
This is set as a Christmas book but I could see the events taking place any time of the year. Overall a very pleasant book.
Thanks to the author for gifting me with an advanced copy to read.
Edited to add... The audio is now available for this book and I was gifted a copy of that. I listened to the entire book in one afternoon. I thought the narrators did an excellent job, and I will really enjoyed going back to this story again.
This was my first book by Cece Louise. I was very impressed with the story. I could relate to many of the incidents and actually felt the characters' emotions more than once. While the writing may not be quite as polished as some other books that I have read, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I am glad that this is the beginning of a series because I am looking forward to seeing what happens with some of the other characters that were introduced. 😁
This is set as a Christmas book but I could see the events taking place any time of the year. Overall a very pleasant book.
Thanks to the author for gifting me with an advanced copy to read.
Edited to add... The audio is now available for this book and I was gifted a copy of that. I listened to the entire book in one afternoon. I thought the narrators did an excellent job, and I will really enjoyed going back to this story again.
November 12, 2024
3.5! Sooo fun!
December 4, 2023
Get ready for a charming Midwestern Christmas!
The famous heartthrob country singer returns to his roots for the holidays… and to the hometown princess who rejected him 10 years earlier. The enemies to lovers energy is strong between Tucker & Melissa without being over the top.
And the misunderstandings & heartfelt confessions at the ending?! Ugh, I was tearing up. 🥺 I’m so glad we get Melissa’s siblings stories next!
Side note: This story is perfect for fans of Wyatt & Grace from One More Song by Annah Conwell! 🤭
The famous heartthrob country singer returns to his roots for the holidays… and to the hometown princess who rejected him 10 years earlier. The enemies to lovers energy is strong between Tucker & Melissa without being over the top.
And the misunderstandings & heartfelt confessions at the ending?! Ugh, I was tearing up. 🥺 I’m so glad we get Melissa’s siblings stories next!
Side note: This story is perfect for fans of Wyatt & Grace from One More Song by Annah Conwell! 🤭
January 10, 2023
I just finished this & it was ADORABLE & heartbreaking!!!
The end though- my face hurts from severe smiling!
As of today November 8, 2022 this is now available on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited in paperback form & ebook form!!!
The end though- my face hurts from severe smiling!
As of today November 8, 2022 this is now available on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited in paperback form & ebook form!!!
December 30, 2022
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Christmas After All by Cece Louise is a sweet romantic comedy that features enemies to friends to lovers situation, and I'm all here for it!
Can Melissa tolerate seeing Tucker around town again?
Melissa Ellis
Melissa Ellis was in her junior year when sweet Tucker asked her to prom with him for his last year at the school. Sadly, things didn't go as planned, and Melissa turned him down while saying awful things. Melissa knows she made a mistake when he became famous after a song he wrote became a hit. Ten years later, Melissa is still in their small town and waitressing. Melissa has changed from the brat she was in high school to now at twenty-seven. She has matured a lot, and she grew up a lot faster than most young adults do. I was rooting for Melissa to realize the mistake she had made.
Tucker James
Tucker James made it big after he wrote a song that he probably never should have about Melissa and her then-boyfriend. He is such a charming man. Tucker has had it rough in life, but you wouldn't know it with the way he acts and carries himself around. When reading his parts, you can tell how much he cares for Melissa and her safety. Tucker is a great guy who hasn't met the one for him yet. Will he get Melissa to see him in a new light besides enemies?
I have to say that Tucker and Melissa are an adorable couple, and I can't wait to see more.
Five Stars
My rating for Christmas After All by Cece Louise is five stars, and I totally recommend it. Ms. Louise is great at writing for both of her series. I love them both, and I am invested in both. Ms. Louise made me fall in love with Melissa and Tucker and the other characters she introduced in this story. I can't wait to see where else this series leads us.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Christmas After All by Cece Louise.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Can Melissa tolerate seeing Tucker around town again?
Melissa Ellis
Melissa Ellis was in her junior year when sweet Tucker asked her to prom with him for his last year at the school. Sadly, things didn't go as planned, and Melissa turned him down while saying awful things. Melissa knows she made a mistake when he became famous after a song he wrote became a hit. Ten years later, Melissa is still in their small town and waitressing. Melissa has changed from the brat she was in high school to now at twenty-seven. She has matured a lot, and she grew up a lot faster than most young adults do. I was rooting for Melissa to realize the mistake she had made.
Tucker James
Tucker James made it big after he wrote a song that he probably never should have about Melissa and her then-boyfriend. He is such a charming man. Tucker has had it rough in life, but you wouldn't know it with the way he acts and carries himself around. When reading his parts, you can tell how much he cares for Melissa and her safety. Tucker is a great guy who hasn't met the one for him yet. Will he get Melissa to see him in a new light besides enemies?
I have to say that Tucker and Melissa are an adorable couple, and I can't wait to see more.
Five Stars
My rating for Christmas After All by Cece Louise is five stars, and I totally recommend it. Ms. Louise is great at writing for both of her series. I love them both, and I am invested in both. Ms. Louise made me fall in love with Melissa and Tucker and the other characters she introduced in this story. I can't wait to see where else this series leads us.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Christmas After All by Cece Louise.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
November 5, 2022
This was such a perfect Christmas season book. A little drama, lots of romance. It’s a sweet story and I really loved it.
I was able to read this as an advanced copy through Book Sirens, and was really excited to review it, because I think so many people will love it.
Things I loved!
DUAL POV: I LOVE me a book with dual points of view. Give me the mutual pining amidst the misunderstanding. Give me the vibe of each character’s voice. I love it. Always a win.
Characters: These characters weren’t annoying. Sometimes romance books have annoying characters. 🤷🏻♀️ Weirdly picky or dumb about silly things… but Melissa is a really neat character. I loved how she overcame adversity, she loved her siblings so well and selflessly… and she grew through it. And when the time comes, she communicates well, she continues to grow and move on. I just loved her.
And Tucker was so sweet. A kind guy, famous and doesn’t pretend not to be, but down to earth. He understands Melissa’s hand ups and really just wants her to be happy. 🥰
And Tucker’s mom? She was so motherly and sweet. The fostering, the baking, seeing the best in people. I loved her.
Melissa’s siblings! Please tell me Kelsey and Rob’s story will be told someday! I will read the heck out of that.
And that EPILOGUE!! 🥰🎄🥰🎄
Finally, the tropes!! Enemies to lovers. 👏👏👏 classic. Love it. And forced proximity!! Anonymous grand gestures!? Oof. Swoony and so so sweet. Love it!!
If you’re starting your holiday reading list early, or just making the list now, definitely pick this one up. It’s such a sweet christmasy story!! 🥰🎄
I was able to read this as an advanced copy through Book Sirens, and was really excited to review it, because I think so many people will love it.
Things I loved!
DUAL POV: I LOVE me a book with dual points of view. Give me the mutual pining amidst the misunderstanding. Give me the vibe of each character’s voice. I love it. Always a win.
Characters: These characters weren’t annoying. Sometimes romance books have annoying characters. 🤷🏻♀️ Weirdly picky or dumb about silly things… but Melissa is a really neat character. I loved how she overcame adversity, she loved her siblings so well and selflessly… and she grew through it. And when the time comes, she communicates well, she continues to grow and move on. I just loved her.
And Tucker was so sweet. A kind guy, famous and doesn’t pretend not to be, but down to earth. He understands Melissa’s hand ups and really just wants her to be happy. 🥰
And Tucker’s mom? She was so motherly and sweet. The fostering, the baking, seeing the best in people. I loved her.
Melissa’s siblings! Please tell me Kelsey and Rob’s story will be told someday! I will read the heck out of that.
And that EPILOGUE!! 🥰🎄🥰🎄
Finally, the tropes!! Enemies to lovers. 👏👏👏 classic. Love it. And forced proximity!! Anonymous grand gestures!? Oof. Swoony and so so sweet. Love it!!
If you’re starting your holiday reading list early, or just making the list now, definitely pick this one up. It’s such a sweet christmasy story!! 🥰🎄
November 17, 2022
(4.5 stars) - (Don't!) Say Anything...
... cuz grand gestures in high school only work if you're John Cusack 😉
What a fun yet believable take on the high school humiliation 2nd chance romance trope!
As a high school junior, Melissa ends up publicly humiliating Tucker in a sweet but naive & cringe incident he instigates because, at the time, all she can see is how he is publicly humiliating her. Later he gets back at her with a song that unexpectedly goes viral.
They both have hurt, anger & regrets but they can only hope that people will forget with time & allow them to move beyond it.
Ten years later, Tucker comes home for Christmas & finds that Melissa is still hurt & angry with him. It doesn't help that where his life has taken a turn for the better & he's a huge success, hers has done the opposite.
I particularly enjoyed how the author kept the characters real. The events & timing of things were on the providential side, but the characters' responses were more true to life than what we typically get from these romances. And excepting a few minor points that felt just a little clunky, the events were smoothly done enough to completely take them in stride.
The story was a bit on the short side at 18 chapters & would have benefitted from a little more time spent developing the relationship, but it was still very satisfying, so I enthusiastically recommend this bit of Christmas cheer! Book 2 looks promising as well, so I'll be following...
*Romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic
... cuz grand gestures in high school only work if you're John Cusack 😉
What a fun yet believable take on the high school humiliation 2nd chance romance trope!
As a high school junior, Melissa ends up publicly humiliating Tucker in a sweet but naive & cringe incident he instigates because, at the time, all she can see is how he is publicly humiliating her. Later he gets back at her with a song that unexpectedly goes viral.
They both have hurt, anger & regrets but they can only hope that people will forget with time & allow them to move beyond it.
Ten years later, Tucker comes home for Christmas & finds that Melissa is still hurt & angry with him. It doesn't help that where his life has taken a turn for the better & he's a huge success, hers has done the opposite.
I particularly enjoyed how the author kept the characters real. The events & timing of things were on the providential side, but the characters' responses were more true to life than what we typically get from these romances. And excepting a few minor points that felt just a little clunky, the events were smoothly done enough to completely take them in stride.
The story was a bit on the short side at 18 chapters & would have benefitted from a little more time spent developing the relationship, but it was still very satisfying, so I enthusiastically recommend this bit of Christmas cheer! Book 2 looks promising as well, so I'll be following...
*Romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic
October 17, 2022
This was such a sweet, uplifting book about two people. One fell hopelessly in love with the girl he met in high school and wrote a song and sang it to her. However, she rejected him and later he wrote another song about her which made him a star but further humiliated her. His love towards her was expressed later in a selfless act which she never knew until some 9 years later. It took Melissa that long to get to know who Tucker really was and through ups and downs finally came to love him as much as he had always loved her!
This is a wonderful story and the happily ever after we all want for ourselves! Sometimes it takes years to achieve but to reach that point we need to let the past go and look at the person in front of us and not see what we once saw. Some people change and some don’t but the steadiness of one partner can bring the other around as it happened here!
I wholeheartedly recommend you get this book and read it and get all your friends to read it! It’s truly wonderful and you will need some kleenex handy just saying! For the Christian season is truly about
forgiveness and starting over!
Cece is a wonderfully talented writer who if you haven’t read her Forest Tales series yet, you really need to! They are stories that will also touch your heart and make you look for the best in other people regardless of their social standing or whether or not they are royalty or commoners!
I can honestly guarantee that you are going to love Cece’s books! They are sooo very very good!! She is one of my favorite authors and I am sure she will be yours as well when you read this book!!
This is a wonderful story and the happily ever after we all want for ourselves! Sometimes it takes years to achieve but to reach that point we need to let the past go and look at the person in front of us and not see what we once saw. Some people change and some don’t but the steadiness of one partner can bring the other around as it happened here!
I wholeheartedly recommend you get this book and read it and get all your friends to read it! It’s truly wonderful and you will need some kleenex handy just saying! For the Christian season is truly about
forgiveness and starting over!
Cece is a wonderfully talented writer who if you haven’t read her Forest Tales series yet, you really need to! They are stories that will also touch your heart and make you look for the best in other people regardless of their social standing or whether or not they are royalty or commoners!
I can honestly guarantee that you are going to love Cece’s books! They are sooo very very good!! She is one of my favorite authors and I am sure she will be yours as well when you read this book!!
November 5, 2022
This book has dual POV and is enemies to lovers with a second chance romance vibe.
I thought this book was such a sweet quick read. I loved the second chance romance vibe and the enemies to lovers. The romance was great and it quickly built up after they reunited and decided that they could move past the past.
I love how kind Tucker is. The many things that he does for Melissa are just so sweet – even though she is not very nice to him at all in the beginning.
I like Melissa’s growth from her high school days to the present. She learned to value what matters most. I also love how she is able to forgive and move forward, even when it’s hard.
Things I loved:
Melissa’s Daydreams
Decorating the Christmas Tree
Sleigh Ride
This is the first book in the Happily Ever After All series. It can be read as a stand alone.
I look forward to reading the other books in this series!
I was given a copy from the Author for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I thought this book was such a sweet quick read. I loved the second chance romance vibe and the enemies to lovers. The romance was great and it quickly built up after they reunited and decided that they could move past the past.
I love how kind Tucker is. The many things that he does for Melissa are just so sweet – even though she is not very nice to him at all in the beginning.
I like Melissa’s growth from her high school days to the present. She learned to value what matters most. I also love how she is able to forgive and move forward, even when it’s hard.
Things I loved:
Melissa’s Daydreams
Decorating the Christmas Tree
Sleigh Ride
This is the first book in the Happily Ever After All series. It can be read as a stand alone.
I look forward to reading the other books in this series!
I was given a copy from the Author for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 8, 2022
A fun and quick read! Perfect if you're used to modern rom-coms and in the mood for something simple and sweet. I love the second chances and forgiveness explored here. Certainly made me laugh out loud while reading!
Would have appreciated more depth to the characters and relationships, and more varied prose and distinctive elements. But I tend to be picky that way. xD
Content: PG-13 for some language (not frequent). And there are some kissing (not very descriptive, so quite clean overall).
Thank you to the author/publisher for giving me a free ARC of this book. I am under no obligation to write a review or ensure my review is positive in exchange, nor am I compensated in any way. All opinions in this review are my own.
Thank you for reading! Please like this review if you’ve found it helpful, and feel free to leave a comment with any questions/comments!
Would have appreciated more depth to the characters and relationships, and more varied prose and distinctive elements. But I tend to be picky that way. xD
Content: PG-13 for some language (not frequent). And there are some kissing (not very descriptive, so quite clean overall).
Thank you to the author/publisher for giving me a free ARC of this book. I am under no obligation to write a review or ensure my review is positive in exchange, nor am I compensated in any way. All opinions in this review are my own.
Thank you for reading! Please like this review if you’ve found it helpful, and feel free to leave a comment with any questions/comments!
December 18, 2022
I got this audiobook via a promo code and this is my voluntary review.
Everyone kinda wonders from time to time about that girl stuck in the crowd looking at the Skater Boi who could have been... well Melissa wouldn't. She has all the sympathy in the world for other Revenge Song survivors like her. She turned down Tucker James in High School and the jerk made it into his first number-one hit 'After All.'
That would have been humiliating enough except life didn't just throw a curve ball in her direction, it tossed a grenade. Melissa lost her parents just after graduation and became sole guardian of her younger siblings, trapping her in the first job she could find to support them. Fast forward shes now 27 and still just trying to get by while Tucker James is a rockstar... the hometown hero whose come back to buy the Hotel where she works. Seeing Melissa again has Tucker desperate to make amends, he didnt mean to make her the laughing stock of a town she couldnt escape... but as they reconcile, the holiday magic begins to do its thing.
Narration by Andy Garcia-Ruse and Neal Arango was brilliant.
Everyone kinda wonders from time to time about that girl stuck in the crowd looking at the Skater Boi who could have been... well Melissa wouldn't. She has all the sympathy in the world for other Revenge Song survivors like her. She turned down Tucker James in High School and the jerk made it into his first number-one hit 'After All.'
That would have been humiliating enough except life didn't just throw a curve ball in her direction, it tossed a grenade. Melissa lost her parents just after graduation and became sole guardian of her younger siblings, trapping her in the first job she could find to support them. Fast forward shes now 27 and still just trying to get by while Tucker James is a rockstar... the hometown hero whose come back to buy the Hotel where she works. Seeing Melissa again has Tucker desperate to make amends, he didnt mean to make her the laughing stock of a town she couldnt escape... but as they reconcile, the holiday magic begins to do its thing.
Narration by Andy Garcia-Ruse and Neal Arango was brilliant.
October 27, 2022
Arc from author for honest review.
I love Wisconsin so this was a fun setting for me to read about. A country singer from this small town comes back for the Christmas festival.
I love the characters and quite often miscommunication is the angst and it comes off immature but this storyline shows us that Melissa is a woman of depth of character and pride went out the door when country singers #1 hit was about her and in an embarrassing way.
Great story....
I love Wisconsin so this was a fun setting for me to read about. A country singer from this small town comes back for the Christmas festival.
I love the characters and quite often miscommunication is the angst and it comes off immature but this storyline shows us that Melissa is a woman of depth of character and pride went out the door when country singers #1 hit was about her and in an embarrassing way.
Great story....
December 14, 2022
Audiobook
The male Narrator sounded like his voice hadn't yet changed, too young. High School.
Melissa and Tucker
Both were nice people.
Second Chance- kinda.
Small Town vibe.
It was fine.
I don't care for the poor girl waitress, rich guy thing. I really don't like that power dynamic.
Why can't the guy be the waiter?
Why can't they both be waiters?
I wouldn't read it again because of that.
The male Narrator sounded like his voice hadn't yet changed, too young. High School.
Melissa and Tucker
Both were nice people.
Second Chance- kinda.
Small Town vibe.
It was fine.
I don't care for the poor girl waitress, rich guy thing. I really don't like that power dynamic.
Why can't the guy be the waiter?
Why can't they both be waiters?
I wouldn't read it again because of that.
December 7, 2023
I enjoyed the writing style of this book but I was really not a fan of the content. Used-to-be popular, rich girls with popular snotty boyfriends. Nerdy boys turned country music stars. Make-out sessions and tons of kissing after said former rich girl has an enemies-to-lovers moment...or two. I don't know. It could have been cute with a different setting and different character backgrounds. It was just a miss for me.
January 2, 2023
Short, rather sweet, and pretty relaxing.
I didn't feel like delving into the things I felt was a bit problematic so I actively pushed those things to the side and decided to just enjoy the simple romance for what it was.
As such, it was OK. Not a Christmas book that will stand out in my memory though.
I didn't feel like delving into the things I felt was a bit problematic so I actively pushed those things to the side and decided to just enjoy the simple romance for what it was.
As such, it was OK. Not a Christmas book that will stand out in my memory though.
November 5, 2022
This was such a fun quick read. I love second chance stories and this was such a sweet one. Both MCs have gone through trauma and I liked seeing glimpses of the reality of dealing with that throughout the book.
If you’re looking for a sweet Christmas read, this would be a great one to pick up. I’m looking forward to the other books in this series.
If you’re looking for a sweet Christmas read, this would be a great one to pick up. I’m looking forward to the other books in this series.
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