A Billionaire for Christmas

by Jo Lyons

A BRAND NEW sizzling, laugh-out-loud romantic adventure filled with festive charm and unexpected twists 🌶️😍❄️ Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Lucy Score, and Sophie Kinsella! 'Hilarious' Jenny Colgan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ When talented chef Molly's best friend and business partner, Ava, passes away, she leaves Molly their beloved restaurant – and a wild, impossible bucket list to complete. But thanks to a legal mix-up, Molly's inheritance is at risk unless she ticks off every outrageous item before the Christmas Eve just twelve days away.

Determined to honour Ava's wishes and desperate to save her dream, Molly searches for a billionaire willing to share Champagne with her in a hot tub – one of the more extravagant challenges on the bucket list. She's in a luxurious ski resort in the French Alps so it might just be doable. But then she meets Levi. A devastatingly handsome billionaire, yes, but infuriatingly resistant to getting involved!

As the snow falls and sparks fly, Molly is entangled in a series of increasingly embarrassing escapades. With time running out, can she pull off the impossible – and maybe even find love along the way?

Hot enough to melt the Alpine snow, this romantic comedy will sweep you off your feet ❄️

Praise for Jo

'I think I have found a new must read author! Jo Lyons has really hit the mark with this laugh out loud romantic comedy.' 5-star reader review

'Hilarious, laugh out loud, brilliantly written. If you want to belly laugh your way through a book then this is the one for you!' 5-star reader review

'Once I started reading I couldn't stop. Practically reading through the night laughing and crying till falling asleep in the early hours of the morning.' 5-star reader review

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Romance

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2025

Reviews

[Cozy Puppy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am incredibly grateful to Jo Lyons, the publisher, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of "A Billionaire for Christmas."

This delightful holiday escape, "A Billionaire for Christmas," is completely unhinged and hilarious in the best possible way! It's a truly light-hearted, breezy, and wonderfully not-serious rom-com. Jo Lyons is a wildly imaginative writer who crafts laugh-out-loud scenes that play vividly like a movie in your head. She masterfully paints a picture with just enough detail to spark your imagination — seriously, some scenes are so belly-laugh inducing, you'll want to take a pause, reread what you just read to make sure you saw it correctly, and then proceed to fail spectacularly at stifling your laughter. Fair warning, don't read this in a quiet place – you won't be able to stop cackling!

Lyons truly shines with her hilariously funny holiday rom-com, from the absolutely wildly imaginative scenarios to her spot-on descriptions of the charming yet wonderfully dysfunctional family dynamic. As a fan of "Girls Just Want to Have Sun," I had a feeling "A Billionaire for Christmas" would be a wild rollercoaster of a story, and yes, Jo Lyons is back with a comedic vengeance and a story filled with unhinged shenanigans.

Her stories are zany, off-the-walls, and unbelievably funny! She creates stories with female main characters that have hilarious internal perspectives, doing their best to get by, but ultimately radiating hope. This book genuinely reminds me of those truly funny and hilarious rom-coms from the nineties and 2000s that just hit all the right comedic notes.

Beyond the humor, I loved the overarching themes, particularly the messages to live life and all it has to offer, to embrace the moment and shine, and to be bold.

This is a must-read if you like laugh-out-loud funny feel-good rom-coms, particularly for the holiday season!

A perfect read for fans of:
- Meghan Quinn (especially "Till Summer Do Us Part")
- Bridget Jones
- Sophie Kinsella

[laurakellylitfit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out August 27th, 2025
A Billionaire for Christmas is the festive rom-com equivalent of spiked cocoa—sweet, a little naughty, and guaranteed to warm you up. Jo Lyons wraps chaos, charm, and a snowstorm of surprises into one hilarious holiday package.

When a grumpy billionaire gets snowed in with a woman who’s allergic to his ego (and possibly his designer cologne), sparks fly faster than Santa’s sleigh. Expect witty banter, unexpected twists, and a cast of side characters who deserve their own spin-offs.

Perfect for fans of Bridget Jones meets Schitt’s Creek, this one’s a sleigh ride of laughs and heart. Don’t wait for December—unwrap it now.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this holiday ARC! Get ready!

[Kate Dash · Rating 3 out of 5]

A festive, zany rom-com that’s equal parts chaotic fun and heartfelt charm.

This book reads like spiked hot cocoa—sweet, a little naughty, and guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. Jo Lyons throws readers into a holiday rollercoaster full of absurd bucket-list challenges, larger-than-life side characters, and an unexpectedly swoony billionaire hero. Molly is quirky and determined, even when her antics get completely out of hand, and Levi is the grumpy billionaire whose resistance only makes their eventual chemistry all the more entertaining.
While some moments veered into over-the-top territory and the romance occasionally felt a bit inconsistent, the humor and holiday setting kept me turning the pages. If you love Bridget Jones-style chaos, witty banter, and a snowy mountain backdrop with plenty of hijinks, this rom-com will keep you entertained from start to finish.

Tropes you’ll find:
✨ Grumpy/Sunshine
✨ Billionaire romance
✨ Forced proximity (snowed-in resort)
✨ Bucket-list shenanigans
✨ Opposites attract

🎄 Thank you so much to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Karen Stevenson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you boldwood books for the arc

I thought it was going to Christmas book but it wasn’t it was more of a winter romance book nothing Christmas about it

I didn’t like the main character annoying and unlikely

The romance wasn’t the greatest and when she called private bits, woman bits during the making love that it was so cringe 😬 and the romance was a bit cringy too

To be honest I did nearly DNF the book was really wasn’t for me

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molly is still grieving her best friend and business partner, though it has been nearly a year. She is reminded of a clause in the will affecting her inheritance of their restaurant, which includes fulfilling the rest of Ava's Bucket List.
There are some choice items on there, including costumes, nakedness, silliness and finding a billionaire!
Luckily enough, Molly is working at a ski resort to top up her income while her inheritance is in probate, and it is the kind of resort where you are likely to find yourself a few billionaires!
And meet one she does. She only goes and gets snowed in with him, along with his family, and misunderstandings and hilarity ensue.
Along with the sexual tension that builds between two people who are attracted to one another, but who cannot show their actual feelings.
I loved all the characters and their own brief stories that accompanied them.
Reading about Molly's attempts to get these bucket list capers ticked off in 12 days made me giggle!
Thank you, Jo Lyons, for a great little read!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC

[VickydpBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book and enjoyed it!! This book is perfect for fans of Lucy score books

Blurb

When talented chef Molly's best friend and business partner, Ava, passes away, she leaves Molly their beloved restaurant – and a wild, impossible bucket list to complete. But thanks to a legal mix-up, Molly's inheritance is at risk unless she ticks off every outrageous item before the Christmas Eve deadline: just twelve days away.

Determined to honour Ava's wishes and desperate to save her dream, Molly searches for a billionaire willing to share Champagne with her in a hot tub – one of the more extravagant challenges on the bucket list. She's in a luxurious ski resort in the French Alps, so it might just be doable. But then she meets Levi. A devastatingly handsome billionaire, yes, but infuriatingly resistant to getting involved!

As the snow falls and sparks fly, Molly is entangled in a series of increasingly embarrassing escapades. With time running out, can she pull off the impossible – and maybe even find love along the way?

Hot enough to melt the Alpine snow, this romantic comedy will sweep you off your feet

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

A Billionaire for Christmas is a quick and funny holiday read, even if it didn’t totally work for me. I struggled to connect with the main characters, and the side characters often came off more selfish than charming. The romantic tension between the leads felt a bit inconsistent, and when they finally got together, I didn’t fully buy into the connection. That said, the story still kept me entertained, even if I found myself frustrated by some of the characters’ choices.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of the arc.

[Fernanda Dzib · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kindly provided with the arc of this book by NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange of an honest review, thank you ✨

4⭐️

This was my first book by the author but surely won’t be last✨ this story was more than a rom-com, it was a story of friendship and grieve, and it was very beauty I how the author was capable of combine those feelings, love and grieve, into this beautiful story, oh and it’s also very swoony and steamy so it is a must read 🙂‍↔️✨

[Emily Abrahams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this from start to finish. I loved the main character and really grew to love all the others. This book has such a good rom com feel, I found myself constantly laughing

[Karen Axnick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow! It took me three tries to finally get into this romcom holiday novel…and I have mixed feelings about it. The promotional synopsis proclaims it is a “…sizzling, laugh-out-loud romantic adventure filled with festive charm and unexpected twists.” My experience was quite different.

Generally, I enjoy storylines that highlight food, chefs, and restaurants. While the protagonist is a superb chef, the premise and subsequent elements of the story are outlandish, not very funny and deal with unresolved grief. The romance aspect is more chemistry than affection and the supporting characters are rude, unlikeable, and elitist. For the first 25 % of the book, the protagonist makes a fool of herself; by the halfway mark, she begins to display some professionalism and self-respect; and by the unrealistic ending all her dreams come true.

Overall, I was disappointed with the novel but kept reading hoping for some redemption. That did occur in a weak and unbelievable transformation of the family dynamics.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Jo Lyons’ A Billionaire for Christmas
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

Jo Lyons’ A Billionaire for Christmas is a snow-drenched, chaos-fueled romantic comedy with a lot of heart, a little spice, and just enough emotional depth to make the festive madness feel earned. It takes a classic holiday rom-com setup and injects it with a sharp, cheeky energy that makes the whole thing sing—or at least belt out “All I Want for Christmas” in a karaoke bar while dressed in a Santa suit.

The premise is just the right level of ridiculous: Molly, a talented chef, has just lost her best friend and business partner, Ava. As if that grief wasn’t enough, Ava leaves her not only their beloved restaurant but also a last wish disguised as a legal ultimatum—a twelve-item Christmas bucket list that must be completed within twelve days, or Molly loses her inheritance. And the items on the list? Think more “bubbly with a billionaire in a hot tub” than “bake cookies and watch Elf.” It’s a fast-paced, fizzy setup that catapults Molly out of her comfort zone and straight into a luxury ski resort in the French Alps, where the only thing colder than the weather is the billionaire she meets there.

Levi is, of course, rich, gorgeous, and emotionally barricaded—rom-com gold. He wants nothing to do with Molly’s antics, but her commitment to honoring Ava’s last wishes—and her complete refusal to back down from even the most embarrassing dares—slowly cracks his icy exterior. What starts as grudging tolerance turns into something warmer, and eventually, something real. Their chemistry builds through shared disasters, forced proximity, and some genuinely hilarious dialogue. This book doesn’t just rely on sexual tension—it leans into emotional vulnerability, too. Levi’s backstory gives his character a bit more weight, and Molly’s grief never feels brushed aside or played for laughs. It lingers beneath every chaotic challenge she faces, and that contrast gives the story some bite.

Still, this is very much a comedy at heart. Lyons’ writing is zippy, peppered with laugh-out-loud moments and clever internal monologue. One minute Molly’s contemplating life and loss, and the next she’s tumbling off a ski lift in a reindeer onesie. It’s a tonal balancing act, and while the romance does feel a little rushed toward the end, the ride is so fun you’re not likely to mind. In fact, one of the book’s biggest strengths is its refusal to take itself too seriously. It knows it’s a rom-com fantasy—and that’s exactly what makes it work. As Molly says during one particularly absurd moment: “Sometimes the only way to heal is to jump into a hot tub with a billionaire and see what bubbles up.” That sums up the tone perfectly—heartfelt, irreverent, and just a little bit steamy.

Molly is an especially enjoyable protagonist. She’s awkward, loyal, impulsive, and deeply sincere. You can feel how hard she’s trying to keep it together, even as she crash-lands into challenge after challenge. Her determination to finish Ava’s list isn’t just about saving the restaurant—it’s about grief, memory, and honoring someone who meant everything to her. That emotional current keeps the story from floating away on a cloud of Christmas fluff. And Levi, once he opens up, becomes more than just a brooding archetype. Their romance may be quick, but it’s not shallow. It grows from shared experiences, not just attraction.

The setting also deserves praise. The French Alps resort is more than just a pretty backdrop—it’s used smartly throughout the story, from ski mishaps to swanky lounges to cozy fireplaces. It adds a touch of fairytale escape, which contrasts nicely with the very real stakes Molly’s facing.

Of course, it’s not a perfect sleigh ride. Some of the bucket list tasks stretch the bounds of believability (even for rom-com logic), and the ending wraps up with a bow that might feel a little too tidy. But this book isn’t aiming for gritty realism—it’s aiming to be a joyride through grief, love, and snow-covered second chances. And in that, it absolutely succeeds.

If you love a holiday rom-com with a wild premise, a strong heroine, a reluctant billionaire love interest, and enough absurdity to keep you giggling long after you’ve finished, A Billionaire for Christmas delivers. It’s festive, funny, and full of heart—exactly the kind of story you want when the snow is falling and the world needs a little sparkle.

[RomanceByTheBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Billionaire for Christmas is a laugh-out-loud rom-com that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

I love a holiday romance that is delightfully bonkers, and this book had this in spades. I read this book in my backyard, and I am pretty sure my neighbours think I must be crazy, because I was cackling pretty much the entire time. Be warned, you have got to love your romances a little crazy (in a good way), filled with embarrassing situations, and a family that is bursting with drama. I love a book where the heroine is up against the wall and racing the clock. Molly finds herself having to complete her late best-friends’ bucket list, or she will lose their restaurant and apartment. The motivator behind completing the bucket list is a will that is worded funny and makes it seem like Molly needs to complete the list in order to inherit, so pretty much for complete romance reasons. I don’t care if the motivator isn’t realistic; it doesn’t need to be. This book sets out to be a fun, laugh-out-loud romance about family and learning to step out of your comfort zone, and it does that.

The items on the bucket list are a hoot and so completely ridiculous. They are meant to encourage anyone doing them to embrace the crazy and be spontaneous because you never know where it might take you. Every time Molly completes an item on the list, chaos and embarrassment are sure to follow. It was great. It makes for a really joyful read. Poor Molly constantly finds herself in an embarrassing situation around Levi, who often takes the craziness in stride. Family plays an important part in this story. Levi’s family comes together for the holiday season and stays at this luxurious cabin, where Molly is to be a personal chef. You have got to like your secondary characters loud, chaotic, and with big personalities. I thought they were great. It was like watching a soap opera unfold in front of my eyes, and I ate up every moment of it. One thing I liked was this message that even though this family has everything they could ever want in terms of material possessions, they were all unhappy and alone. They were missing those things you can’t buy with money. It’s clear that this family needs to sit down in a locked room and work through their problems. I really enjoyed them as a family unit. Their relationships at the beginning of this book are distant and strained, and it was lovely watching as this family started to come back together.

Molly is great as a heroine. She still finds herself grieving, and because of the will, she really hasn’t had that time to grieve the loss of her best friend. Her grief and the pressure from having to complete the bucket list mean that Molly’s emotions are kind of all over the place (understandably). If I were to say what Molly’s growth in this book is, it would be around coming to terms with her grief by opening up about what she is dealing with. Outside of the grief, Molly doesn’t need to grow or change. She is a great character who is actually the most level-headed and centred person in this book. It’s Levi and his family who grow, individually and as a family.

The romance in this book is a slow burn with lots and I mean lots of stops and starts. Levi runs hot and cold throughout 90% of this book. It’s clear that he has feelings for Molly, but one moment he is acting on those feelings and in the next he is so distant with her. We don’t get to see what is going on in Levi’s head, which means it’s hard to figure out what is triggering these withdrawals. There are lots of miscommunications and misunderstandings between these two. It really stems from Levi’s unwillingness to really talk to Molly and Molly being unsure how she can explain the whole bucket list situation. I liked their chemistry, and when these two are bickering, the banter is sharp and witty. I enjoyed spending time with them, and I loved their HEA.

A Billionaire for Christmas is a crazy, holiday romance, and I loved every moment of it.

Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...

[Sapphyria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Billionaire for Christmas is a delightful story that happens to take place near Christmas. This novel features a chef looking to save the restaurant that she built with her late friend and business partner, Ana. Molly inherits everything when Ana passes but there seems to be a catch. Moly must now take up the mantle of this zany bucket list Ana was working through. Christmas Eve is the deadline and with the sheer volume of grief Molly has been enveloped in, while doing two jobs to keep the restaurant open, her time is almost up. Her location at a swanky ski resort may just save her and her livelihood. Then, she locks eyes with a devastatingly handsome man from across the room, embarrasses herself, and much to both of their chagrin, an unfortunate coincidence lands them back together again.

The author wrote a novel that runs the gamut of emotions. The sadness that envelopes Molly is palpable. She's still grieving the loss of her best friend and the author does a great job of writing these emotions delicately. The sheer nature of the bucket list has Molly stressed out. If she can't complete the list in the mandated amount of time, she loses everything. The reader can feel her despair when it looks like she's not going to be able to fulfill the terms of Ana's will.

The insta-attraction with Levi is hot and heavy. Their chemistry shoots off the pages of the book, despite Levi's resistance. I wish there would have been a bit more affection between Molly and Levi. He's pretty mean to Molly in a few passages that cause me to tear up. Sure he's a billionaire who has been used, abused, and taken advantage of, causing his skin to harden. That doesn't give him the right to screw with Molly's very evident feelings.

Don't even get me started on his family. Oh, boy do they ALL need therapy. I love how the author brought everyone together and used Molly as a conduit for change. Her personality draws people in and allows them to feel comfortable (except maybe Val, at first). Unfortunately, they also think they can use her as a scapegoat. Their rudeness and selfishness could have been turn offs but the author develops them throughout the time we spend with them. We get to know a lot about Molly, and once the family gets involved, we learn a lot about Levi and his family.

A Billionaire for Christmas is a great novel. Ther is so much chaos (good and bad) that you can't help but become immersed from the very beginning. I was pulled in and kept entertained throughout. The story features unresolved grief, stepping outside your comfort zone, and finding love where you least expect it.

[Carlina Kinch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to say thank you from the bottom of heart to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book. I truly appreciate it!

I have to start this review off by saying, this book is recommended to fans of Sophie Kinsella and I have for almost 20 years been a completely fan of Sophie Kinsella/ Madeline Wickham and everything she writes. Her works holds an absolute grip on my heart for books. This book is similar to the antics that can occur in her books at least for the first half and the last half of this book, but that's as close as it will get.

You can one hundred percent devour this book in a day, it is a quick, fun read. The beginning is hilarious and the ending exactly what you were after despite the heart breaking emotions that can occur. It's the middle that threw this book down for me, completely. The beginning and the end focus on love and the bucket list, which is a big premise of this book, waiting this late makes complete sense with Molly losing Ava. Once you get to the middle it goes completely out of the window and Ava and the bucket list are very forgotten about.

The focus becomes solely on Levi and I mean heavily second hand embarrassment and honestly very cringy focus on him. This book suffers from Molly's need to hide that she's trying to complete Ava's bucket list, which doesn't at all make sense to hide. In hiding it all she ends up doing is flying off the handle on a man multiple times that she really doesn't know but seems to think she does. And every character apart from Molly seems to be the most absolutely mean, selfish or snobbiest people you will meet until the end and what they're all hiding comes to light. Honestly I could deal with that last one, if this story was changed. This would flow so much better if Molly confessed to what she was doing at the beginning to Levi, had him help with the first challenge. Then less awkwardly continue on to how they met again, and have all of the same events occur but have him help her throughout with the bucket list challenges bringing them close together that way, and then finishing it off, almost the same way. That would have been perfect and so much more fun!

Despite what I've said, though I did enjoyed my time with this book.

Thank you very much again from the bottom of my heart for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book! I really appreciate it.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is no ordinary Billionaire romance...
... This is a Jo Lyons Billionaire romance!

Which makes its infinitely more entertaining, utterly hilarious, and far more addictive than the average book in this sub genre.

This may only be the second book I've read from this author, but it's cemented in my mind the thoughts I had after reading her previous book, that she is definitely one to watch, and auto read, must devour all future books of sort of an author for me.

There is a bucket list that has been set by Molly's now deceased business partner and best friend, and by the time Molly is ready to acknowledge the solicitor letters, she has 12 days to complete the list, filled with wacky and inventive tasks, in order to save the business.

And weirdly there is a fair amount of nudity involved in this list, in addition to being able to get a photo with a billionaire in a hot tub which you would think could be easy given she is working in the French Alps in a resort filled with the rich and famous.

But Levi is not entirely what she suspected, and neither is the Burlesque night at the Cigar Club which leads to so many laugh out loud moments and that is before the book even properly gets going.

We also get to meet Levi's family, and wow they grew on me quite quickly and what a wonderful quirky insane set of people they are.

There is just so much to love about this book, it's stunning setting, hilarious sense of humour and some sizzling chemistry. All set to a backdrop to the run up to Christmas. Oh and did I mention there is a lot of delicious sounding food too!

It's simply wonderful, a jingle bell bop of a book to read, and I totally think that a star is born with Jo Lyon's writing from what I've seen so far.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Happily Ever After Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance

A Billionaire for Christmas is an absolute Rom-Com Christmas gift to us all, and while it does have a touch of sadness about it, for the majority of Molly’s and Levi’s totally unexpected romance, the laughs will just keep rolling in… kind of like a winter blizzard.

Molly’s best friend and business partner has passed away. Ava has left her half of their restaurant to Molly, along with a bucket list that must be completed within a very tight time frame in order for Molly to inherit. Very tight time-line indeed, like twelve days to do some completely outrageous things, to take Molly way out of her comfort zone, and to honor a friendship that is cherished in the most personal ways.

While I believe you’ll want to discover most of what’s on that bucket list for yourself, I will mention that there just might be a billionaire, a hot tub, and some bubbly involved. And where better to find those than a resort in the French Alps, where Molly is currently working until this inheritance is worked out.

I’ll admit that often a snort-giggle escaped me while reading A Billionaire for Christmas. I had such fun here, just the right way to start off the Christmas Romance reading season. If you love a well-written, emotional, fun, and funny romance that will hit you hard in all the feels possible, then you’re going to love A Billionaire for Christmas by Jo Lyons. Give yourself an early present with this one.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did not live up to the description of being a sizzling, laugh-out-loud romantic adventure filled with festive charm and unexpected twists. I actually forced myself to continue reading after the first few chapters where Molly acts like a completely incompetent idiot. Levi is a billionaire who is unattractively rude and dismissive towards Molly for the majority of the book.

Molly is a fantastic chef who seemingly is skilled at fixing generators and life saving skills, but she can’t seem to function around Levi without making a fool of herself. Levi’s family are incredibly rude and elitist, and generally unpleasant. Molly is also still very much grieving the death of her best friend and business partner, and dealing with the stress of her business, livelihood and home all being at risk if she doesn’t complete some outrageous bucket list tasks her friend had remaining on her list.

The romance between Molly and Levi is pure chemistry and attraction because he doesn’t stop treating her poorly until the very end when suddenly they are both in love.

I kept reading hoping it would improve and I would finally experience what others have mentioned in their reviews of this book, but that never happened.

This is completely my opinion which is vastly different from the majority of people who have left reviews. My opinion shouldn’t discourage you from giving this book a chance, but it is a caution on what you may experience compared to the blurb’s description.

I received a free ARC from the author; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review. I very much appreciate the opportunity to read this book.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the goofy and unlikely premise, that the protagonist must finish her deceased business partner/bestie’s bucket list before she can claim her inheritance, which included their restaurant. Never mind that she should have owned it to begin with. The bucket list was full of the sexier and more outlandish tasks that the deceased didn’t accomplish. It seemed unlikely that the conservative protagonist could complete it by the Christmas Eve deadline. Especially the item about being naked in a hot tub with a billionaire overlooking the Alps.

The beginning was fun. Her assets are frozen and reserves are running out. Since she procrastinated about the will for a year, she is forced to work at a fancy resort in addition to running her restaurant. She winds up at the men’s cigar lounge on burlesque night. That gave her the opportunity to find the billionaire. The plot proceeded to be light and fun, and the lies and withholding of information on both sides began, along with the attraction.

One of my pet peeves in romances is how the women withhold important information that could improve a relationship. This scenario went on way too long. And the man was dismissive, as was most of his family. There was lots of deception amongst his family as well. It worked out satisfyingly in the end, after a big crisis, but for me it wasn’t worth the journey.

But the end…no spoilers but both she and he (supposedly a lawyer) missed a crucial detail. Really? Are people so stupid? That plot point might have easily been eliminated.

2 stars, just okay, disappointing after an intriguing start. Shout out to Karen Cass for the excellent audiobook narration.

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Billionaire for Christmas by Jo Lyons

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

When talented chef Molly's best friend and business partner, Ava, passes away, she leaves Molly their beloved restaurant – and a wild, impossible bucket list to complete. But thanks to a legal mix-up, Molly's inheritance is at risk unless she ticks off every outrageous item before the Christmas Eve just twelve days away.

Determined to honour Ava's wishes and desperate to save her dream, Molly searches for a billionaire willing to share Champagne with her in a hot tub – one of the more extravagant challenges on the bucket list. She's in a luxurious ski resort in the French Alps so it might just be doable. But then she meets Levi. A devastatingly handsome billionaire, yes, but infuriatingly resistant to getting involved!

As the snow falls and sparks fly, Molly is entangled in a series of increasingly embarrassing escapades. With time running out, can she pull off the impossible – and maybe even find love along the way?

My Opinion

A Billionaire for Christmas is an entertaining, festive novel. Molly’s attempt to complete Ava’s bucket list made for a hilarious read. Jo Lyons has created some lovely characters. A fast-paced novel that I would highly recommend.

Rating 4/5

[Haxxunne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s all in the name…
—
I don’t know about you but I I quite like my books to have unique titles, so when you find out that this is one of only nine books of the EXACT same title on Goodreads, wouldn’t you have tried a little harder to come up with something original? Clearly, all of these books (and all in the romance genre) have a billionaire, a protagonist who’s the exact opposite and a Christmas setting, so what sets this book apart from the other eight impostors?

Molly has inherited her shared alpine restaurant from her friend Ava, whose will stipulates that Molly has to attempt Ava’s bucket list by midnight on New Year’s Eve in order to keep the restaurant. Throw in a hostile takeover, a grumpy billionaire, a family of entitled rich folks, forced proximity in a luxury chalet, and you have a remake of Chalet Girl (2011) with the food related shenanigans of almost any Hallmark movie where a restaurant/cafe/hotel is on the line.

So there’s a bucket list, a restaurant, a billionaire, Christmas… what more do you need? Well, a Christmas romance novel published in August has a hell of a long road to make it to the Christmas charts, but I admire the chutzpah, if not the by-the-numbers grumpy/grumpy romance. Far too many coincidences, super obvious beats alongside sudden swerves (of course the billionaire knows how to fly a helicopter).

[Anna Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simba gives this book 3 paws.

A special thanks to the publisher Boldwood books and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

A book for those who love Christmas, romantic comedy, and food! Chef Molly, is currently in over her head trying to save her beloved restaurant nestled in the French Alps. A year ago, Molly and her best friend Ava were running small restaurant together that Ava's aunt had left her. When tragedy strikes, and Ava succumbs to cancer Molly is set to inherit her half of the business wirh the cavest that she attempts to finish Ava's bucket list. With funds tied up, working two jobs, and grieving the loss of her best friend, Molly misunderstands and thinks she has to mark off everything in her outrageous bucket list.

Enter Levi: wealthy, handsome, brooding, and distant. He would be perfect for one item on the bucket list. Upon their disastrous first meeting and Molly's attempt ar getting him to comply wirh the outrageous item (getting naked in a hot tub together) without telling him why leads these characters on a merry misadventure. Throw in Levi's dysfunctional, over the top family, and many other surprises reader will be turning pages as fast as they can read them to see what happens.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this funny, spicy rom-com from Jo Lyons, readers follow chef Molly as she copes with her best friend and business partner Ava’s death, the restaurant, and the world’s hardest bucket list. With only twelve days until the Christmas Eve deadline, Molly must complete the list to keep her inheritance, but running into billionaire Levi at a ski resort in the French Alps might give her the chance to succeed, if he wasn’t so irritating. The forced proximity with Levi at the resort will give her the chance to complete the list and create embarrassing situations for both of them, but Molly will have to keep on if she wants her happy ending. Charming, entertaining, and spicy, readers will love the tropeyness of the book and the chemistry between Molly and Levi on every page. The characters are the absolute stars of the book, and their banter and attraction to each other really pull readers into the story. The wintery setting adds a level of coziness that readers will really enjoy, and the romance elements progress really well over the course of the novel. Funny, entertaining, and romantic, romance readers will love this holiday romance novel from Jo Lyons this holiday season.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly is grieving the loss of her best friend, her partner in business and in crime but she can’t take time off. She’s got a mammoth task to complete without considering keeping her own finances afloat.

As Molly tries to honour her last friend’s wishes and also save the business she’d worked so hard to build, she falls in lust. a gorgeous stranger who the stars are destined to bring together in the most comical but excruciating situations for poor Molly. Each made me chuckle more and more but I felt that cringe factor for Molly. Life wasn’t cutting her any breaks in the run up to Christmas at all.

The bucket list Ava left Molly was just brilliant and Mollys attempts to complete each one was hilarious. I smirked, I giggled I chuckled out loud (I also got odd looks from the family!)

A Billionaire For Christmas was also like working my way through an Indian menu. It’s started of mild, fun before the heat started to turn before I hit the full on 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ It’s a glorious festive fun and will-they-won’t-they read.

The weather may have gone sub zero since my last encounter with Lyons’ writing but the heat was definitely turned up on this humorous rom-com and not just in the hot tub!! 🔥🔥🔥

[*BookarazziBookNook* Kristin B · Rating 1 out of 5]

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 8/27/25

𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁: ebook

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: Molly is tasked to complete a bucket list for her late coworker in order to get her trust money to save their business.

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
🏔️ low stakes
❄️ snowy mountains
🏔️ holiday read

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:

This book swore up and down it would be laugh-out-loud funny, but I didn’t even crack a smile. Instead of clever comedy, it threw me headfirst into the most absurd party scene imaginable, like the author said, “what’s the wildest thing I can toss at readers in chapter one?”
The dialogue tried too hard to be funny.
Outrageous can be fun, sure—but here it felt more like a fever dream…er, nightmare than a story. With zero connection to the characters, I was just left blinking at the chaos, wondering if I’d accidentally skipped a few chapters.

Molly’s grand plan? Seduce Levi into a hot tub instead of, you know, just asking him to participate in her task. Groundbreaking. It was giving sitcom rerun energy without the laughs, and I couldn’t take another round of eye-rolls. DNF at 20%, no regrets.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴:1/5 ⭐️

*Thank you @NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Pam Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly finds herself in a situation that offers up so many laugh out
loud moments in this festive story. Although in her life, she is bereft and sad after the death of her close friend and business partner, she nevertheless has a driven side to her character that drives her on. She is determined to save her company and to do so, she has to fulfil her friends unfinished bucket list. A talented and admired chef, Molly has a self deprecating air which makes her immensely likeable.

The setting of the Alps gives the story a festive covering of glitz and glamour, which workaholic Molly overlooks at times. Once she meets Levi, the chemistry is undeniable and their paths seem to cross despite Molly's better wishes. His family are a varied bunch, each with their own quirks and back story, who add humour to the story but who each have a vulnerability which Molly recognises. This is a fun festive read which is right on cue if you are looking for snow, sparkle and romance.

In short: Christmas sparkle and fun

[☆Laura☆]

Molly es inmadura, nada profesional y durante todo el libro me dio pena su obsesión con Levi. El tipo apenas hace algo y ella ya interpreta que lo hace para llamar su atención… y termina quitándose la ropa. Su único pensamiento era tener sexo con él.

La historia está narrada desde el punto de vista de Molly, así que ni siquiera tengo claro cuando le empezo a gustar ella a Levi.

No entiendo cómo no la despidieron con todo lo que hizo. Al principio, por ejemplo, se ofende cuando Levi le pide que le prepare unos huevos, porque le estaba dando órdenes… pero para eso la contrataron: para cocinar.

Levi tampoco es un santo: se la pasa enviando señales contradictorias y aunque la trate mal, Molly solo piensa en acostarse con él. Él es un idiota y ella no tiene dignidad.

La historia mejora cuando entra en escena la familia, ya que Molly no tiene tanto tiempo para estar pensando en él.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

[Allyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute romance by this author, this time a Christmas one. This was an enjoyable read, funny and entertaining, definitely had some great laugh out loud moments. I always enjoy this authors books.

Molly's best friend and business partner, Ava, has died and left her the business but there are some stipulations, in the form of a bucket list. Molly has to complete the list to get the business in her name, so she is working at a local resort trying to earn a living whilel she figures out how to complete the crazy list. While at he resort she meets handsome grumpy billionaire Levi and sparks fly immediately, but he thinks she is a guest not worker. The couple then ends of stormed in together, unwillingly they must now spend the days leading up to christmas together.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house, Boldwood Books, and the author, Jo Lyons, for an opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in ereturn for a review based upon my honest opinion.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book kicked off with tons of potential and delivered on the laugh-out-loud comedy it promised—at first. Molly and Levi meet on the night Molly discovers she has just ten days to complete her late friend’s bucket list before losing the restaurant they built together. The chemistry between them? Hot from start to finish.

But as the book unfolds, things get a little muddled. The author introduces Levi’s family and a whole web of personal drama, which made it harder to keep track of the characters and plot. Somewhere along the way, the lighthearted humor that hooked me in the beginning starts to fade. Levi doesn't appear as much as the other characters, and I find it hard to see how Molly and Levi really spend a lot of time together.

Still, if you’re into steamy romance with a unique premise, it might be worth the read. Just be prepared for a shift in tone halfway through.

[linds❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this ridiculous, hilarious, whirlwind romance. This truly felt like the definition of rom-com. It literally had me laughing out loud, squealing with delight, and eating it up like candy. I read this book in August and was worried it might be too holiday-esque but it wasn't. It was the perfect, lighthearted romance I needed. Somehow Jo Lyons took this unhinged bucket list concept (from riding camels in costumes to being naked in a hot tub with a billionaire) and made it believable. While the main characters were engaging, I did struggle with the side characters being so selfish and downright rude, but I'm glad I stuck with it because it all wrapped up nicely with a Christmas bow in the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster, I’m not sure how else to put it! It opens with Molly mourning the loss of her best friend, so I expected a heavy, emotional read. But as the story unfolded, it became surprisingly light-hearted, packed with witty banter and laugh-out-loud moments.

Levi’s siblings were my absolute favorite, especially his sister, she completely stole the spotlight! She gave me major Alexis-from-Schitt’s Creek vibes… just with a bit more of a drinking problem.

There are a few steamy scenes (and quite a few "almost" ones), so if you're looking for something a bit spicier than a typical Portia MacIntosh book, this one hits the mark!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.