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Aster Bay #4.5
Holly Jolly Heresy
Three frozen pizzas, two steamy nights, and a hot priest under the tree.
Caleb West needs a Christmas miracle. After twenty-five years as a priest, he can't escape the one temptation he doesn’t know how to Molly Proulx. His curvy colleague isn’t just beautiful—she’s witty, compassionate, and bold enough to challenge him when it counts. Molly helps him remember why he became a priest in the first place—and makes him question how much longer he can keep his vows.
Molly Proulx is full of “humbug” this Christmas, the only bright spot being stolen moments with Father West. She knows her crush is inappropriate, but she’s beginning to suspect their flirtation isn’t truly one-sided.
When a road trip goes awry, Caleb and Molly get snowed in at an isolated cabin. Somewhere between spiked hot chocolate, lobster nativity scenes, and getting cozy by the fire, Caleb finds himself imagining a life outside the—a life by Molly’s side.
Falling for Molly is against every rule, but Caleb is starting to wonder if she’s not a temptation after—but the answer to his prayers.
Holly Jolly Heresy is an age gap, Christmas romance between a priest and a curvy schoolteacher. A standalone in the Aster Bay series, this forbidden romance has a guaranteed HEA.
Caleb West needs a Christmas miracle. After twenty-five years as a priest, he can't escape the one temptation he doesn’t know how to Molly Proulx. His curvy colleague isn’t just beautiful—she’s witty, compassionate, and bold enough to challenge him when it counts. Molly helps him remember why he became a priest in the first place—and makes him question how much longer he can keep his vows.
Molly Proulx is full of “humbug” this Christmas, the only bright spot being stolen moments with Father West. She knows her crush is inappropriate, but she’s beginning to suspect their flirtation isn’t truly one-sided.
When a road trip goes awry, Caleb and Molly get snowed in at an isolated cabin. Somewhere between spiked hot chocolate, lobster nativity scenes, and getting cozy by the fire, Caleb finds himself imagining a life outside the—a life by Molly’s side.
Falling for Molly is against every rule, but Caleb is starting to wonder if she’s not a temptation after—but the answer to his prayers.
Holly Jolly Heresy is an age gap, Christmas romance between a priest and a curvy schoolteacher. A standalone in the Aster Bay series, this forbidden romance has a guaranteed HEA.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2025
17 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
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November 20, 2025
4 stars.
"Holly Jolly Heresy" by Cara Dion is the kind of forbidden romance I crave! It's like "Fleabag," if it had ended differently! Caleb has been a priest for 25 years, but his desire to remain in the priesthood has been dwindling over the years. He struggles with the negative changes the church has been making, though his faith remains strong. Molly is a teacher at the church who has had an inconvenient crush on Caleb for over a year. There was a moment between the two of them, but because of Caleb's vows, obviously, nothing happened. The two of them wind up snowed in to a small Christmas-obsessed town on their way to pick up some costumes and holiday outfits for the church, and the one place left for them to stay is an isolated cabin meant for a cancelled bachelor party. Enter: vulgar cookie cutters, frozen pizzas, temptation, sin, and confessions. I really enjoyed this story! It's short enough that everything that happens here feels necessary to the plot. There's not a lot of filler here; it just jumps right into the story. I enjoyed both of the characters, and while I did feel the chemistry between them, I think *maybe* the conclusion happens a little bit too fast? They even admit it at one point, so I feel like I'm not off-balance here. I can envision maaaany faith-based people being put off by this story, especially because a lot of them don't want to confront or question their own acceptance and/or ignoring of the awful things the church/es have done in the past that they may want to conveniently sweep under the rug in the name of complacency and ease. I, for one, appreciate the heck out of Caleb's mixed emotions about the church and his faith, and was riveted by this take. Caleb never loses his faith; he just loses his faith in the church. He has not lost his way; Molly helped solidify why he was making the right decision. It's everything an introspective, growing person *should* want to do with their faith to make their bonds with God stronger, in my opinion. The spice between Molly and Caleb is excellent; you can feel the pent-up energy being expelled between the two of them. I did enjoy them together, but I wish there had been a bit more time for relationship character development here and there. Still, I did like this one!
Thank you to Cara Dion and Love Notes PR for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"Holly Jolly Heresy" by Cara Dion is the kind of forbidden romance I crave! It's like "Fleabag," if it had ended differently! Caleb has been a priest for 25 years, but his desire to remain in the priesthood has been dwindling over the years. He struggles with the negative changes the church has been making, though his faith remains strong. Molly is a teacher at the church who has had an inconvenient crush on Caleb for over a year. There was a moment between the two of them, but because of Caleb's vows, obviously, nothing happened. The two of them wind up snowed in to a small Christmas-obsessed town on their way to pick up some costumes and holiday outfits for the church, and the one place left for them to stay is an isolated cabin meant for a cancelled bachelor party. Enter: vulgar cookie cutters, frozen pizzas, temptation, sin, and confessions. I really enjoyed this story! It's short enough that everything that happens here feels necessary to the plot. There's not a lot of filler here; it just jumps right into the story. I enjoyed both of the characters, and while I did feel the chemistry between them, I think *maybe* the conclusion happens a little bit too fast? They even admit it at one point, so I feel like I'm not off-balance here. I can envision maaaany faith-based people being put off by this story, especially because a lot of them don't want to confront or question their own acceptance and/or ignoring of the awful things the church/es have done in the past that they may want to conveniently sweep under the rug in the name of complacency and ease. I, for one, appreciate the heck out of Caleb's mixed emotions about the church and his faith, and was riveted by this take. Caleb never loses his faith; he just loses his faith in the church. He has not lost his way; Molly helped solidify why he was making the right decision. It's everything an introspective, growing person *should* want to do with their faith to make their bonds with God stronger, in my opinion. The spice between Molly and Caleb is excellent; you can feel the pent-up energy being expelled between the two of them. I did enjoy them together, but I wish there had been a bit more time for relationship character development here and there. Still, I did like this one!
Thank you to Cara Dion and Love Notes PR for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
November 25, 2025
Thank you to LoveNotesPR and the author for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating 3.5 ⭐️
This was actually really good! I loved the forbidden romance and the slow burn and it was also sooo romantic and sexy. It's also and age-gap and takes place in a small town so it had almost all my favorite tropes. The writing and plot is so well done and you can read it soo fast.
Read if you love:
• forbidden romance
• age gap
• incredible slow burn
• small town
• priest × coworker
Actual rating 3.5 ⭐️
This was actually really good! I loved the forbidden romance and the slow burn and it was also sooo romantic and sexy. It's also and age-gap and takes place in a small town so it had almost all my favorite tropes. The writing and plot is so well done and you can read it soo fast.
Read if you love:
• forbidden romance
• age gap
• incredible slow burn
• small town
• priest × coworker
November 8, 2025
Thanks to Love Notes PR and Cara Dion for the complimentary ARC of Holly Jolly Heresy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Father Caleb West is struggling. After 25 years as a priest, he’s run into a challenge to his vocation that he cannot overcome through prayer or sheer force of will: English teacher Molly Proulx. In the 18 months Molly has been at his school, Caleb has found himself questioning his role in the Church more and more as he gets to know her. It also doesn’t help that his brother is married to her best friend, so they see each other constantly.
For her part, Molly is inconveniently attracted to the hot priest. Not only is he completely off-limits because of his vocation, but he’s also 20 years older and an active participant in an institution she sees as harmful to her students. When Caleb has to take a trip to a nearby town to pick up items for the school’s drama department, Molly volunteers to join him. But when a snowstorm blows in, trapping the two of them for several days, the temptation becomes impossible to ignore.
I want to preface my review by saying I have not read the other books in this series. I haven’t been reading much contemporary romance lately, and I’m definitely struggling with the rom-com genre as a whole. But as a person raised on The Thorn Birds, I was intrigued by the premise and wanted to see how Cara Dion would tackle a forbidden-priest romance. I did feel like I was missing some context since these two seem to be supporting characters in previous books, but I was still able to follow along just fine.
The romance writing in this book was great. It’s clear from the jump that both characters are not only wildly attracted to each other but also interested in building an emotional connection. Caleb has clearly been wrestling with his vocation for a long time, and the book makes it clear this isn’t a new crisis. He became a priest because a strong mentor gave him direction when he was young, but he never had the grounding in faith one would expect from a religious leader. I found his struggle with his place in the world particularly compelling, especially when his connection with Molly deepens. And let it be said: the spice in this book is excellent. Most of the sex scenes are from Caleb’s perspective, which I thought was a great choice since he’s the less experienced partner and the one with the most to lose if things go wrong.
I did find Molly's disdain for the Catholic Church to be a bit odd for someone who teaches at a Catholic school. It seemed odd to me that someone would take a job at a Catholic school when they have such a negative opinion of the institution and when Catholic schools notoriously do not pay well. This was an instance where I felt like I might have been missing context as to why Molly worked there because I hadn't read the rest of the series.
Overall, this was a fun, spicy holiday read. If you’re looking for something to keep you occupied on a cold night this holiday season, Holly Jolly Heresy might be the perfect pick. ★★★★☆
Father Caleb West is struggling. After 25 years as a priest, he’s run into a challenge to his vocation that he cannot overcome through prayer or sheer force of will: English teacher Molly Proulx. In the 18 months Molly has been at his school, Caleb has found himself questioning his role in the Church more and more as he gets to know her. It also doesn’t help that his brother is married to her best friend, so they see each other constantly.
For her part, Molly is inconveniently attracted to the hot priest. Not only is he completely off-limits because of his vocation, but he’s also 20 years older and an active participant in an institution she sees as harmful to her students. When Caleb has to take a trip to a nearby town to pick up items for the school’s drama department, Molly volunteers to join him. But when a snowstorm blows in, trapping the two of them for several days, the temptation becomes impossible to ignore.
I want to preface my review by saying I have not read the other books in this series. I haven’t been reading much contemporary romance lately, and I’m definitely struggling with the rom-com genre as a whole. But as a person raised on The Thorn Birds, I was intrigued by the premise and wanted to see how Cara Dion would tackle a forbidden-priest romance. I did feel like I was missing some context since these two seem to be supporting characters in previous books, but I was still able to follow along just fine.
The romance writing in this book was great. It’s clear from the jump that both characters are not only wildly attracted to each other but also interested in building an emotional connection. Caleb has clearly been wrestling with his vocation for a long time, and the book makes it clear this isn’t a new crisis. He became a priest because a strong mentor gave him direction when he was young, but he never had the grounding in faith one would expect from a religious leader. I found his struggle with his place in the world particularly compelling, especially when his connection with Molly deepens. And let it be said: the spice in this book is excellent. Most of the sex scenes are from Caleb’s perspective, which I thought was a great choice since he’s the less experienced partner and the one with the most to lose if things go wrong.
I did find Molly's disdain for the Catholic Church to be a bit odd for someone who teaches at a Catholic school. It seemed odd to me that someone would take a job at a Catholic school when they have such a negative opinion of the institution and when Catholic schools notoriously do not pay well. This was an instance where I felt like I might have been missing context as to why Molly worked there because I hadn't read the rest of the series.
Overall, this was a fun, spicy holiday read. If you’re looking for something to keep you occupied on a cold night this holiday season, Holly Jolly Heresy might be the perfect pick. ★★★★☆
November 13, 2025
Era mesmo isto o que eu estava a precisar: Uma novella de natal, com um pouco de taboo, smut, age gap e duas personagens adoráveis.
Temos um padre, e uma professora, ambos a trabalharem na mesma escola católica. Temos atração desde o começo e, quando os personagens têm que ficar a passar a noite no mesmo local, é a hora em que a sua força de vontade é posta à prova.
Gostei muito de que o personagem masculino não começou apenas a ter dúvidas em relação a si mesmo por causa da personagem feminina. E gostei de que ela tivesse primeiramente em conta o seu bem estar.
Muito fofo, e agora quero bastante ler os outros livros desta série.
Temos um padre, e uma professora, ambos a trabalharem na mesma escola católica. Temos atração desde o começo e, quando os personagens têm que ficar a passar a noite no mesmo local, é a hora em que a sua força de vontade é posta à prova.
Gostei muito de que o personagem masculino não começou apenas a ter dúvidas em relação a si mesmo por causa da personagem feminina. E gostei de que ela tivesse primeiramente em conta o seu bem estar.
Muito fofo, e agora quero bastante ler os outros livros desta série.
November 24, 2025
This novella is so original, how can you not like it lol. Caleb being a priest for 25 years and finding his faith wavering because of changes has got to be hard all on its own. And it doesn’t help that Molly is a distraction, an attraction, and wanting to be with her. I feel for this guy. But I absolutely loved that they came together. It was meant to be. So you can’t hate.
This was fun with just the right amount of spice. And honestly, I am going to be all over the other books lol. I have not read any others from this author, this was an ARC read for me. But I loved it. And I’m definitely going back for more.
This was fun with just the right amount of spice. And honestly, I am going to be all over the other books lol. I have not read any others from this author, this was an ARC read for me. But I loved it. And I’m definitely going back for more.
November 26, 2025
My first books by this author, my friend sent me a video on TikTok saying that I needed to read it, so of course I did 😂 this was a fun and quick little spicy read! I LOVEEEE a forbidden romance and a priest is my second faveeee. I need to go back and read the other 3 books in this series. I enjoyed the writing and the characters and the banter. PERFECT holiday read! I look forward to more by this author 🥰
December 19, 2025
I had a blast with this but there were a couple things about the ending that weren't my cup of tea, overall, funny, fluffy, and spicy (2.5/5) with a touch of a taboo romance. I really enjoyed the conversations around Catholicism and issues with religious institutions.
December 30, 2025
I needed a quick and sweet escapism I could read in a day. This was SO cute, and surprisingly witty. Enjoyed it more than I thought.
November 28, 2025
Who doesn’t love a forbidden romance? Add in age gap, forced proximity, a bit of spice and a sexy priest and you are sucked in!
I really enjoyed this book. The internal battle between heart, mind and faith was so good. I enjoyed going on that journey with Caleb and Molly and the little snippets of humour were perfect 👌🏼
I really enjoyed this book. The internal battle between heart, mind and faith was so good. I enjoyed going on that journey with Caleb and Molly and the little snippets of humour were perfect 👌🏼
November 6, 2025
📖✨ ARC Book Review – Holly Jolly Heresy
📘Genre:
Small-town, Christmas, forbidden romance
📗Plot in a nutshell:
Three frozen pizzas, two steamy nights, and a hot priest under the tree.
After 25 years in the priesthood, Father Caleb West is facing a “temptation he doesn’t know how to resist” — his curvy, witty colleague Molly Proulx. Molly’s got humbug-level skepticism about Christmas, but her crush on Caleb is getting harder to ignore. A snowed-in cabin, spiked hot chocolate, lobster nativity scenes… and suddenly the rules don’t seem so rigid.
💙Why I loved it:
The forbidden romance hook is strong (priest + colleague = high stakes).
The setting is cozy and Christmassy — snow-in a cabin, cuddles, hot cocoa… perfect winter vibes.
Molly’s character brings a refreshing boldness and self-acceptance (curvy heroine!) which feels uplifting.
Caleb’s inner conflict gives emotional weight to what could have been just a fun trope-fest.
Despite the trope-heavy premise (age gap, forbidden, small town), it leans into heart and hope and delivers a feel-good vibe.
🧐Some things to know:
This is part of the Aster Bay series - now I want to read all the other ones.
‼️Content warnings:
romance between clergy and layperson, age gap, some commentary around religion.
If you’re looking for subtle and quiet, this might be louder than that — it leans into the “steam” side of holiday romance.
🎄☕️If you love curling up with something warm, fun, steamy and redemptive, and you’re into characters who challenge the rules and your heart, this one’s for you. Bonus: perfect for the holiday season vibe!
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Because it nails the holiday tropes with heart, but the forbidden angle may not be everyone’s cup of cocoa.
Thanks @lovenotes.pr and @caradion.author for letting me be an ARC for this book.
📘Genre:
Small-town, Christmas, forbidden romance
📗Plot in a nutshell:
Three frozen pizzas, two steamy nights, and a hot priest under the tree.
After 25 years in the priesthood, Father Caleb West is facing a “temptation he doesn’t know how to resist” — his curvy, witty colleague Molly Proulx. Molly’s got humbug-level skepticism about Christmas, but her crush on Caleb is getting harder to ignore. A snowed-in cabin, spiked hot chocolate, lobster nativity scenes… and suddenly the rules don’t seem so rigid.
💙Why I loved it:
The forbidden romance hook is strong (priest + colleague = high stakes).
The setting is cozy and Christmassy — snow-in a cabin, cuddles, hot cocoa… perfect winter vibes.
Molly’s character brings a refreshing boldness and self-acceptance (curvy heroine!) which feels uplifting.
Caleb’s inner conflict gives emotional weight to what could have been just a fun trope-fest.
Despite the trope-heavy premise (age gap, forbidden, small town), it leans into heart and hope and delivers a feel-good vibe.
🧐Some things to know:
This is part of the Aster Bay series - now I want to read all the other ones.
‼️Content warnings:
romance between clergy and layperson, age gap, some commentary around religion.
If you’re looking for subtle and quiet, this might be louder than that — it leans into the “steam” side of holiday romance.
🎄☕️If you love curling up with something warm, fun, steamy and redemptive, and you’re into characters who challenge the rules and your heart, this one’s for you. Bonus: perfect for the holiday season vibe!
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Because it nails the holiday tropes with heart, but the forbidden angle may not be everyone’s cup of cocoa.
Thanks @lovenotes.pr and @caradion.author for letting me be an ARC for this book.
November 8, 2025
“How could he ask for forgiveness when he wasn’t even a little bit sorry?”
Oh this book. Pulls at your heartstrings, is romantic, and is sexy.
Father Caleb West is having a crisis. He doesn’t think he is right for the priesthood any longer. After meeting and becoming friends with Molly Proulx, his curvy coworker at the Catholic school they both work at, he can’t help the attraction he feels and she also challenges him on his beliefs and if the school really follows what his religion says to do and what they say is right.
When they are sent to a closed down Catholic school to collect Christmas themed costumes for their own theater collection, they get caught in a snow storm. They are forced to drive to the only inn in town. Cue religious puns).
They can’t deny their attraction any longer. Oo it may be a novella, but the burn is sooo good. When they finally give in, hello sparks! They are really good friends and I think that helps the romance a lot here, even if both question if it should be happening.
I should mention there are also naughty cookie cutters. 😉
Holly Jolly Heresy is a novella in the Aster Bay series by Cara Dion. I suggest reading the series in order, especially the book before this because you get a peek into Caleb and Molly. You can see he’s beginning to question himself. I was SO excited when she said Caleb was getting his own story! (But it could work as a standalone)
CW: Topics include questioning Faith, challenging the morals of Catholicism. If anything said against the church could possibly offend you, this book may not be right for you.
That said, this novella is a solid 5/5 stars. It will be released on November 18th and will be available on KU as well!
Thank you @lovenotes.pr and Cara Dion for a copy of the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Oh this book. Pulls at your heartstrings, is romantic, and is sexy.
Father Caleb West is having a crisis. He doesn’t think he is right for the priesthood any longer. After meeting and becoming friends with Molly Proulx, his curvy coworker at the Catholic school they both work at, he can’t help the attraction he feels and she also challenges him on his beliefs and if the school really follows what his religion says to do and what they say is right.
When they are sent to a closed down Catholic school to collect Christmas themed costumes for their own theater collection, they get caught in a snow storm. They are forced to drive to the only inn in town. Cue religious puns).
They can’t deny their attraction any longer. Oo it may be a novella, but the burn is sooo good. When they finally give in, hello sparks! They are really good friends and I think that helps the romance a lot here, even if both question if it should be happening.
I should mention there are also naughty cookie cutters. 😉
Holly Jolly Heresy is a novella in the Aster Bay series by Cara Dion. I suggest reading the series in order, especially the book before this because you get a peek into Caleb and Molly. You can see he’s beginning to question himself. I was SO excited when she said Caleb was getting his own story! (But it could work as a standalone)
CW: Topics include questioning Faith, challenging the morals of Catholicism. If anything said against the church could possibly offend you, this book may not be right for you.
That said, this novella is a solid 5/5 stars. It will be released on November 18th and will be available on KU as well!
Thank you @lovenotes.pr and Cara Dion for a copy of the ARC. All opinions are my own.
October 29, 2025
❤️ Blurb -
Three frozen pizzas, two steamy nights, and a hot priest under the tree.
Caleb West needs a Christmas miracle. After twenty-five years as a priest, he can't escape the one temptation he doesn’t know how to Molly Proulx. His curvy colleague isn’t just beautiful—she’s witty, compassionate, and bold enough to challenge him when it counts. Molly helps him remember why he became a priest in the first place—and makes him question how much longer he can keep his vows.
Molly Proulx is full of “humbug” this Christmas, the only bright spot being stolen moments with Father West. She knows her crush is inappropriate, but she’s beginning to suspect their flirtation isn’t truly one-sided.
When a road trip goes awry, Caleb and Molly get snowed in at an isolated cabin. Somewhere between spiked hot chocolate, lobster nativity scenes, and getting cozy by the fire, Caleb finds himself imagining a life outside the—a life by Molly’s side.
Falling for Molly is against every rule, but Caleb is starting to wonder if she’s not a temptation after—but the answer to his prayers.
Holly Jolly Heresy is an age gap, Christmas romance between a priest and a curvy schoolteacher. A standalone in the Aster Bay series, this forbidden romance has a guaranteed HEA.
💓 Review -
This was such a cute and cosy read. I couldn't put it down and I read it in one sitting. I loved everything about this book. It was well written, had a good cast of characters and the pacing was just right. I loved Caleb and Molly's chemistry and I wanted them to have the happy ending that they deserved. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Love Notes PR and the author Caravan Dion for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Three frozen pizzas, two steamy nights, and a hot priest under the tree.
Caleb West needs a Christmas miracle. After twenty-five years as a priest, he can't escape the one temptation he doesn’t know how to Molly Proulx. His curvy colleague isn’t just beautiful—she’s witty, compassionate, and bold enough to challenge him when it counts. Molly helps him remember why he became a priest in the first place—and makes him question how much longer he can keep his vows.
Molly Proulx is full of “humbug” this Christmas, the only bright spot being stolen moments with Father West. She knows her crush is inappropriate, but she’s beginning to suspect their flirtation isn’t truly one-sided.
When a road trip goes awry, Caleb and Molly get snowed in at an isolated cabin. Somewhere between spiked hot chocolate, lobster nativity scenes, and getting cozy by the fire, Caleb finds himself imagining a life outside the—a life by Molly’s side.
Falling for Molly is against every rule, but Caleb is starting to wonder if she’s not a temptation after—but the answer to his prayers.
Holly Jolly Heresy is an age gap, Christmas romance between a priest and a curvy schoolteacher. A standalone in the Aster Bay series, this forbidden romance has a guaranteed HEA.
💓 Review -
This was such a cute and cosy read. I couldn't put it down and I read it in one sitting. I loved everything about this book. It was well written, had a good cast of characters and the pacing was just right. I loved Caleb and Molly's chemistry and I wanted them to have the happy ending that they deserved. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Love Notes PR and the author Caravan Dion for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2025
3.5✨
⭑ Publication date: 18th November
⭑ Format: Paperback, eBook & Kindleunlimited
⭑ Genre: Romance - Christmas, Forbidden, Spicy
⭑ Tropes: Age gap (20 years), Christmas novella, Curvy heroine, Dual POV, Guaranteed HEA, Open door spice, Priest MMC, Snowed in, Small town, Teacher FMC
📚Book 4.5 - a standalone in the ‘Aster Bay’ series.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ S U M M A R Y ✧
Holly Jolly Heresy is an age gap forbidden holiday romance centred around Priest Caleb, Schoolteacher Molly, a spicy snowed in scenario & a crisis of faith. It has both emotional depth & surface level tension with a delicious mutual attraction & witty banter.
This is definitely a book that will warm you up on a cold Winter night! Don’t waste time making a hot chocolate or reaching for a blanket. Just settle down, get stuck in & you’ll be all good 👀❤️🔥
Being totally honest, if you’re looking for cozy, wholesome Christmas romance, I wouldn’t necessarily reach for this book. However, if you’re wanting something a little different that delivers festive feels with a spicy side, I’d definitely suggest giving this book a go ☑️
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ O P I N I O N ✧
Whilst I enjoyed the snowed in/forced proximity factor & happy ending, this wasn’t really my cup of tea.
Some of the talk, attitudes & opinions surrounding faith & religion didn’t really align with my own. HOWEVER, I still fully appreciate that this was a well written, short & snappy holiday novella with a unique plot, good humour & interesting characters. I’m definitely still looking forward to exploring more of Cara’s work!
[It’s important to remember that there are so many different views, beliefs & opinions & every single one is just as valid as the other♥️]
~
📣 A huge thank you to Love Notes PR & Cara Dion for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily.
⭑ Publication date: 18th November
⭑ Format: Paperback, eBook & Kindleunlimited
⭑ Genre: Romance - Christmas, Forbidden, Spicy
⭑ Tropes: Age gap (20 years), Christmas novella, Curvy heroine, Dual POV, Guaranteed HEA, Open door spice, Priest MMC, Snowed in, Small town, Teacher FMC
📚Book 4.5 - a standalone in the ‘Aster Bay’ series.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ S U M M A R Y ✧
Holly Jolly Heresy is an age gap forbidden holiday romance centred around Priest Caleb, Schoolteacher Molly, a spicy snowed in scenario & a crisis of faith. It has both emotional depth & surface level tension with a delicious mutual attraction & witty banter.
This is definitely a book that will warm you up on a cold Winter night! Don’t waste time making a hot chocolate or reaching for a blanket. Just settle down, get stuck in & you’ll be all good 👀❤️🔥
Being totally honest, if you’re looking for cozy, wholesome Christmas romance, I wouldn’t necessarily reach for this book. However, if you’re wanting something a little different that delivers festive feels with a spicy side, I’d definitely suggest giving this book a go ☑️
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ O P I N I O N ✧
Whilst I enjoyed the snowed in/forced proximity factor & happy ending, this wasn’t really my cup of tea.
Some of the talk, attitudes & opinions surrounding faith & religion didn’t really align with my own. HOWEVER, I still fully appreciate that this was a well written, short & snappy holiday novella with a unique plot, good humour & interesting characters. I’m definitely still looking forward to exploring more of Cara’s work!
[It’s important to remember that there are so many different views, beliefs & opinions & every single one is just as valid as the other♥️]
~
📣 A huge thank you to Love Notes PR & Cara Dion for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily.
November 19, 2025
ONE SENTENCE-ISH SUMMARY: Father Caleb is struggling with his convictions. After 20 years as a priest, he isn’t so sure his beliefs line up with what he is supposed to be preaching (or living). And it doesn’t help that he’s feeling things for high school teacher Molly that priests aren’t supposed to feel…
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNINGS:
⚠️ Mentions of the Catholic Church
⚠️ Gaslighting
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
READ IF YOU LIKE:
✨ Christmas novellas
✨ Found family
✨ Strong but soft MMC
✨ Questioning your own beliefs
WOULD I RECOMMEND: Yes! This book is part of a series, but could be read as a standalone; however, I’d recommend reading at least one other book in the series first or you really will miss a lot of the context and backstory. I came into this series about 3/4 of the way through, and I know enough to get all the jokes. What I loved about this story is how Molly allowed Caleb to question his morals, life choices, future plans/dreams while desperately wanting to be part of those future plans…but still would not let Caleb off the hook when it came to the ugly truths about the Catholic Church. And, as always, Cara Dion’s spice is spicing. I would argue that this one is a little spicier, actually, but due to how much spicy fun was part of the plot, rather than because of the quantity of 🌶️ scenes. I don’t like it when the spice BECOMES the plot, and this book is a great example of how to keep the storyline focused (even when you might need a breather LOL).
Thank you so much to @caradion.author and @lovenotes.pr for this ARC!
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNINGS:
⚠️ Mentions of the Catholic Church
⚠️ Gaslighting
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
READ IF YOU LIKE:
✨ Christmas novellas
✨ Found family
✨ Strong but soft MMC
✨ Questioning your own beliefs
WOULD I RECOMMEND: Yes! This book is part of a series, but could be read as a standalone; however, I’d recommend reading at least one other book in the series first or you really will miss a lot of the context and backstory. I came into this series about 3/4 of the way through, and I know enough to get all the jokes. What I loved about this story is how Molly allowed Caleb to question his morals, life choices, future plans/dreams while desperately wanting to be part of those future plans…but still would not let Caleb off the hook when it came to the ugly truths about the Catholic Church. And, as always, Cara Dion’s spice is spicing. I would argue that this one is a little spicier, actually, but due to how much spicy fun was part of the plot, rather than because of the quantity of 🌶️ scenes. I don’t like it when the spice BECOMES the plot, and this book is a great example of how to keep the storyline focused (even when you might need a breather LOL).
Thank you so much to @caradion.author and @lovenotes.pr for this ARC!
October 30, 2025
📖 : Holly Jolly Heresy
✨ Release on 18th November in KU & Amazon
⭐ - 5
🌶️ - 3.5
This book is about Caleb who’s a priest and work in St. Anthony High School and Molly who’s his colleague work as a teacher in the same school. The moment Caleb saw Molly he felt something. With time going his feelings got stronger for her. But he thought that’s wrong. He shouldn’t want it but again can’t help himself from falling for her. He didn’t know that Molly also have a crush on him and that she feel the same for him. Then suddenly a miracle happened and they both got stuck in a snowy place and had to share a place together. Everything changed from there for both of them. Slowly they started to give into their desire for each other and be one. I loved the part where his brother Gavin talked with him and make him understand that his love for Molly is normal and he can have that. There’s nothing wrong with it. Also loved the part where everyone supported both of them. They definitely have their beautiful hea. And the ending make me blush 🙈.
I just loved this book. Like it’s an easy and quick short read for me. From starting to end it showed that no matter what your religion is or what you have faith in, you CAN love anyone you want. And that you can have a normal life like others and there’s nothing wrong with it. This is the perfect book for Christmas read 😊. I’ve enjoyed every bit of it.
✨ Release on 18th November in KU & Amazon
⭐ - 5
🌶️ - 3.5
This book is about Caleb who’s a priest and work in St. Anthony High School and Molly who’s his colleague work as a teacher in the same school. The moment Caleb saw Molly he felt something. With time going his feelings got stronger for her. But he thought that’s wrong. He shouldn’t want it but again can’t help himself from falling for her. He didn’t know that Molly also have a crush on him and that she feel the same for him. Then suddenly a miracle happened and they both got stuck in a snowy place and had to share a place together. Everything changed from there for both of them. Slowly they started to give into their desire for each other and be one. I loved the part where his brother Gavin talked with him and make him understand that his love for Molly is normal and he can have that. There’s nothing wrong with it. Also loved the part where everyone supported both of them. They definitely have their beautiful hea. And the ending make me blush 🙈.
I just loved this book. Like it’s an easy and quick short read for me. From starting to end it showed that no matter what your religion is or what you have faith in, you CAN love anyone you want. And that you can have a normal life like others and there’s nothing wrong with it. This is the perfect book for Christmas read 😊. I’ve enjoyed every bit of it.
November 5, 2025
Such a wonderful steamy, snowed-in holiday romance with a twist of forbidden temptation!!
Cara Dion delivers a sizzling Christmas novella in Holly Jolly Heresy, where the holiday spirit collides with a crisis of faith. Father Caleb West, a priest with 25 years of service, finds himself irresistibly drawn to Molly Proulx, his curvy, witty, and emotionally grounded colleague. Their chemistry is undeniable, and when a snowstorm traps them in a cabin, sparks fly and temptations are tested!!
What made this story stand out to me was its bold premise, it’s centered on a priest grappling with desire and devotion during one of the most spiritual times of the year. Dion handles the tension with sensitivity and heat, never shying away from the emotional stakes, or failures of the Church. Molly is a standout heroine because she is funny, fierce, and refreshingly honest. Her inclusive, inquisitive attitude toward the Church was the perfect catalyst for deep conversations and moral arguments. It aides to highlight Caleb’s internal struggle, and their banter adds levity to the heavier themes.
This novella delivers heart, heat, and holiday magic. The grand gestures in the end were incredibly sweet and very fitting. Caleb and Molly’s love story defied many obstacles and gave this glimmer of hope - reminding you that what is meant to be will be, paths can change, and you just have to take a leap of faith to find out.
This is perfect for fans of small-town, holiday romances with a taboo twist. Holly Jolly Heresy is a festive escape that’s equal parts naughty and nice!!
A huge thank you to Cara Dion & LoveNotes PR for the early copy!
Cara Dion delivers a sizzling Christmas novella in Holly Jolly Heresy, where the holiday spirit collides with a crisis of faith. Father Caleb West, a priest with 25 years of service, finds himself irresistibly drawn to Molly Proulx, his curvy, witty, and emotionally grounded colleague. Their chemistry is undeniable, and when a snowstorm traps them in a cabin, sparks fly and temptations are tested!!
What made this story stand out to me was its bold premise, it’s centered on a priest grappling with desire and devotion during one of the most spiritual times of the year. Dion handles the tension with sensitivity and heat, never shying away from the emotional stakes, or failures of the Church. Molly is a standout heroine because she is funny, fierce, and refreshingly honest. Her inclusive, inquisitive attitude toward the Church was the perfect catalyst for deep conversations and moral arguments. It aides to highlight Caleb’s internal struggle, and their banter adds levity to the heavier themes.
This novella delivers heart, heat, and holiday magic. The grand gestures in the end were incredibly sweet and very fitting. Caleb and Molly’s love story defied many obstacles and gave this glimmer of hope - reminding you that what is meant to be will be, paths can change, and you just have to take a leap of faith to find out.
This is perfect for fans of small-town, holiday romances with a taboo twist. Holly Jolly Heresy is a festive escape that’s equal parts naughty and nice!!
A huge thank you to Cara Dion & LoveNotes PR for the early copy!
November 20, 2025
4.5
.
This was the perfect cosy sit by the fire Christmas novella I could ask for. It has everything spice, small town romance, hot priest that our loveable molly gets snowed in with 😜.
.
Quick rundown of the plot..
After 25 years of priesthood, father Caleb west is facing his biggest challenge yet. His curvy colleague molly Proulx who he’s been crushing on for the last 18 months.
Molly has her own secret that she herself has been crushing on father west too and it’s getting harder for her to ignore. Fast forward to a road trip that leads them to be snowed in at a cabin where there is only frozen pizza to eat and a alcohol fulled hot chocolate and let’s just say the rules father west has been following don’t seem to matter so much… 🥵
.
I loved both molly and Caleb, it was refreshing to have a female main character who was curvy I could relate to her. Caleb seemed like her would be the perfect boyfriend and can’t we take a minute for his brother as their banter was great. If I haven’t convinced you enough to read this book then just know the spice was spicing and you’ll be wishing you were snowed in at that cabin.
.
This was my first book by Cara Dion and I wasn’t disappointed her writing was great and drew me straight into the sorry. I haven’t read the other books in the aster bay series but I definitely will now.
.
Thank you to love notes.pr & Cara Dion for giving me the opportunity to read this one. 💌💘
.
This was the perfect cosy sit by the fire Christmas novella I could ask for. It has everything spice, small town romance, hot priest that our loveable molly gets snowed in with 😜.
.
Quick rundown of the plot..
After 25 years of priesthood, father Caleb west is facing his biggest challenge yet. His curvy colleague molly Proulx who he’s been crushing on for the last 18 months.
Molly has her own secret that she herself has been crushing on father west too and it’s getting harder for her to ignore. Fast forward to a road trip that leads them to be snowed in at a cabin where there is only frozen pizza to eat and a alcohol fulled hot chocolate and let’s just say the rules father west has been following don’t seem to matter so much… 🥵
.
I loved both molly and Caleb, it was refreshing to have a female main character who was curvy I could relate to her. Caleb seemed like her would be the perfect boyfriend and can’t we take a minute for his brother as their banter was great. If I haven’t convinced you enough to read this book then just know the spice was spicing and you’ll be wishing you were snowed in at that cabin.
.
This was my first book by Cara Dion and I wasn’t disappointed her writing was great and drew me straight into the sorry. I haven’t read the other books in the aster bay series but I definitely will now.
.
Thank you to love notes.pr & Cara Dion for giving me the opportunity to read this one. 💌💘
November 10, 2025
Thank you Cara Dion for the ARC copy! All opinions provided are genuine.
THIS FREAKING BOOK! OMG. Every time Cara releases a new book, I think I can't possibly like this couple as much as the ones already introduced and then BAM, I fall head over heels in love with them. Caleb and Molly are adorable, funny, sexy, and clever. Whether they're discussing important topics or having a bit of fun, they captivated me from the first page they were together.
I'll be honest, I love a good snowed-in romance, especially with holiday vibes. This hit the spot! This little novella packs a punch, and leaves you wanting more of these two.
This book is not just fun. Cara Dion typically has something important to say through her books, and this one is no different! I appreciated the thought she put into the frank, honest discussions in this story.
I have long been a Noah stan from Cara Dion's book Undeniable, but Caleb might just be gunning for that first place position! His thoughtfulness and his willingness to learn and grow... chefs kiss.
Please run, don't walk, to pick up this book! You won't regret it!
THIS FREAKING BOOK! OMG. Every time Cara releases a new book, I think I can't possibly like this couple as much as the ones already introduced and then BAM, I fall head over heels in love with them. Caleb and Molly are adorable, funny, sexy, and clever. Whether they're discussing important topics or having a bit of fun, they captivated me from the first page they were together.
I'll be honest, I love a good snowed-in romance, especially with holiday vibes. This hit the spot! This little novella packs a punch, and leaves you wanting more of these two.
This book is not just fun. Cara Dion typically has something important to say through her books, and this one is no different! I appreciated the thought she put into the frank, honest discussions in this story.
I have long been a Noah stan from Cara Dion's book Undeniable, but Caleb might just be gunning for that first place position! His thoughtfulness and his willingness to learn and grow... chefs kiss.
Please run, don't walk, to pick up this book! You won't regret it!
November 18, 2025
📕BOOK REVIEW📕
This is book 4(.5) in the Asta Bay series and it can be read as a standalone.
Cara has done it again. I don’t how she does it, but she writes an age gap WELL!!! And boy oh boy are you in for such a treat. Am I feral for a priest? Yes. Am I feral for a priest named Caleb, who is obsessed with a teacher 20 years younger than who he is, and who is willing to break his vows for? YES. The answer is always yes.
I loved Molly. I think what I really enjoyed about her character was how real she was about education and religion against young people. She empowered Caleb to see the damage his higher powers were inflicting on them, and I loved that she addressed this.
I also adored how she was like all in and didn’t try to make him feel bad about wanting her. She was a tease and I was feral.
This is a small packed treat, full of random and quite possibly creepy Christmas feels 🤣 the location made me chuckle.
Caleb was as hot as I hoping. The teasers literally lived up to my expectations and I am thankful that I have been lucky enough to have ARC read the series so far. I cannot wait for the next book.
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
This is book 4(.5) in the Asta Bay series and it can be read as a standalone.
Cara has done it again. I don’t how she does it, but she writes an age gap WELL!!! And boy oh boy are you in for such a treat. Am I feral for a priest? Yes. Am I feral for a priest named Caleb, who is obsessed with a teacher 20 years younger than who he is, and who is willing to break his vows for? YES. The answer is always yes.
I loved Molly. I think what I really enjoyed about her character was how real she was about education and religion against young people. She empowered Caleb to see the damage his higher powers were inflicting on them, and I loved that she addressed this.
I also adored how she was like all in and didn’t try to make him feel bad about wanting her. She was a tease and I was feral.
This is a small packed treat, full of random and quite possibly creepy Christmas feels 🤣 the location made me chuckle.
Caleb was as hot as I hoping. The teasers literally lived up to my expectations and I am thankful that I have been lucky enough to have ARC read the series so far. I cannot wait for the next book.
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
November 25, 2025
Bless me Father, because I enjoyed the crap out of this perfectly sinful holiday tale! "Holly Jolly Heresy" by Cara Dion is the kind of (truly) forbidden romance I didn’t realize I craved! Think delicious “Fleabag” vibes, but with a better ending. This story was the perfect length to tell the story without any unnecessary hijinks or filler. It could have been a TAD longer so that the ending didn’t feel rushed, but I’d rather it be a touch too short than a touch too long. I do think some readers with really strong ties to the church would not like this story…..but I think most of those people would have been clued-in to the fact that it wasn’t a story they would like by the synopsis. I truly appreciated Caleb’s mixed feelings about the church while staying true to his personal faith. I actually related to both Caleb and Molly --- him with his questioning of the church and his faith, her with the inconvenient crush. Thank you, Cara, for the excellent spice between Caleb and Molly!!
- Age Gap
- Priest x schoolteacher
- Forced proximity (Snowed in)
- Open door/spicy
- Truly Forbidden romance
- HEA
Thank you Love Notes PR and Cara Dion for the chance to read this ARC.
- Age Gap
- Priest x schoolteacher
- Forced proximity (Snowed in)
- Open door/spicy
- Truly Forbidden romance
- HEA
Thank you Love Notes PR and Cara Dion for the chance to read this ARC.
November 12, 2025
Thank you @lovenotes.pr and @caradion.author for giving me an ARC of this book! I enjoyed reading it!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
What to expect:
🎄 Christmas
🕰️ Age Gap
✝️ Priest Romance
🤭 Forbidden Romance
❄️ Snowed In
🥰 Curvy Heroine
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Molly Proulx is a Catholic school. She has feelings for Caleb, but is afraid for him to give everything up for her, fearing he will come to regret it.
Caleb West has been a priest for 25 years, and he finds it very hard to resist his feelings for the curvy school teacher.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I enjoyed this short, Christmasy Romance a lot. I loved the chemistry between Caleb and Molly.
I found it funny how they ended up snowed-in in a town up in Maine. (I live in Maine, can confirm snow is crazy up here sometimes!)
Overall, I was definitely rooting for Caleb and Molly. I couldn't put this down. If I had any complaints it would just be I want more of them!
Also, quick side note, I did not know this was part of a series and I'm super excited to check it out!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
What to expect:
🎄 Christmas
🕰️ Age Gap
✝️ Priest Romance
🤭 Forbidden Romance
❄️ Snowed In
🥰 Curvy Heroine
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Molly Proulx is a Catholic school. She has feelings for Caleb, but is afraid for him to give everything up for her, fearing he will come to regret it.
Caleb West has been a priest for 25 years, and he finds it very hard to resist his feelings for the curvy school teacher.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I enjoyed this short, Christmasy Romance a lot. I loved the chemistry between Caleb and Molly.
I found it funny how they ended up snowed-in in a town up in Maine. (I live in Maine, can confirm snow is crazy up here sometimes!)
Overall, I was definitely rooting for Caleb and Molly. I couldn't put this down. If I had any complaints it would just be I want more of them!
Also, quick side note, I did not know this was part of a series and I'm super excited to check it out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2025
“… he thanked God for the gift of her taste on his tongue.”
The 5th installment to the Aster Bay series; and if I’m good at reading between the lines, readers of the previous books would have seen this story coming from a mile away. I am excited to have been included for an ARC read for this book. I’m in love with holiday romances, and this one did not disappoint.
Caleb & Molly have been pining for each other for over a year, and everyone around them can see it. On a road trip to collect some donated costumes for their Cathloic HS drama department, they get stuck in a snow storm for a few days. With multiple beds available to them, they still only choose one 😋 Love the journey that they take together on page, and the one that will live on in my mind.
A 🌶️🌶️/5 spice holiday read with an EXTRA SPICY and NAUGHTY Epilogue. (Made me blush!)
🎄 Christmas
🕰️ Age Gap
✝️ Priest Romance
🤭 Forbidden Romance
❄️ Snowed In
🥰 Curvy Heroine
#PriestRomance #holidayromance #SnowedIn #CaraDion #LoveNotesPR
The 5th installment to the Aster Bay series; and if I’m good at reading between the lines, readers of the previous books would have seen this story coming from a mile away. I am excited to have been included for an ARC read for this book. I’m in love with holiday romances, and this one did not disappoint.
Caleb & Molly have been pining for each other for over a year, and everyone around them can see it. On a road trip to collect some donated costumes for their Cathloic HS drama department, they get stuck in a snow storm for a few days. With multiple beds available to them, they still only choose one 😋 Love the journey that they take together on page, and the one that will live on in my mind.
A 🌶️🌶️/5 spice holiday read with an EXTRA SPICY and NAUGHTY Epilogue. (Made me blush!)
🎄 Christmas
🕰️ Age Gap
✝️ Priest Romance
🤭 Forbidden Romance
❄️ Snowed In
🥰 Curvy Heroine
#PriestRomance #holidayromance #SnowedIn #CaraDion #LoveNotesPR
November 16, 2025
Thank you Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read this ARC for an honest review! 💝
—
I unfortunately did not like this book ):
Maybe this was a mistake of my own but I thought this was going to be a completely different storyline! As a Christian myself, I just did not respond well to the behaviors and attitudes of these two characters as they did not align with the bible (and this is my point that I thought this was not going to be the storyline of the book.)
So my rating is low but yet i question if it’s my fault or if this book then should be marketed a bit different. If the blurb included the authors note in the beginning being: “For all those who have church hurt” i would not read the book in all honesty.
So this was a quick read to knock out nonetheless. It is written well I will say that but I just did not like the characters, their attitudes and behaviors, or the romance.
—
I unfortunately did not like this book ):
Maybe this was a mistake of my own but I thought this was going to be a completely different storyline! As a Christian myself, I just did not respond well to the behaviors and attitudes of these two characters as they did not align with the bible (and this is my point that I thought this was not going to be the storyline of the book.)
So my rating is low but yet i question if it’s my fault or if this book then should be marketed a bit different. If the blurb included the authors note in the beginning being: “For all those who have church hurt” i would not read the book in all honesty.
So this was a quick read to knock out nonetheless. It is written well I will say that but I just did not like the characters, their attitudes and behaviors, or the romance.
November 25, 2025
This book was an absolute delight from start to finish! Father Caleb West is at a crossroads. Once certain of his calling to priesthood he now finds himself questioning whether he truly belongs. His doubts only deepen after he befriends Molly Proulx his confident and curvy coworker at the Catholic school where they both teach. Molly not only sparks an undeniable attraction in Caleb but also challenges his beliefs. This pushes him to reconsider whether the school and even his faith live up to their ideals.When a sudden snowstorm traps them together Caleb and Molly can no longer ignore the chemistry thats between them. Forced to confront their feelings they must each decide what they truly want and what they’re willing to risk for love. This a heartfelt amd spicy book. This book drew me in with its engaging writing style and well crafted characters. The plot kept me hooked and the author did a wonderful job at world building. I highly recommend this book!
November 25, 2025
Arc Review
Firstly I would like to thank Love Notes Pr & Cara Dion for the opportunity to read this early. This book had many of my favorite tropes.
this follows Father Caleb West fighting his forbidden feelings for Molly Proulx who is a curvy schoolteacher., this also has age gap. Their attraction towards another was told perfectly, the yearning they both had towards one another, the roadtrip that leads them to being snowed in, their cute moments, Christmas moments, pent up energy was well executed. It also had the right amount of spice.
This was a fun, steamy, yearning, age gap, forbidden quick read that makes a great fast read when you just want to have something quick to read, but do know that if you are religious, some parts might not sit well with you, I didn’t mind them because it is the reality for many. I don’t think Caleb lost his way, but I know everyone has their own opinion.
Rating 4✨
Spice 2🌶️
Firstly I would like to thank Love Notes Pr & Cara Dion for the opportunity to read this early. This book had many of my favorite tropes.
this follows Father Caleb West fighting his forbidden feelings for Molly Proulx who is a curvy schoolteacher., this also has age gap. Their attraction towards another was told perfectly, the yearning they both had towards one another, the roadtrip that leads them to being snowed in, their cute moments, Christmas moments, pent up energy was well executed. It also had the right amount of spice.
This was a fun, steamy, yearning, age gap, forbidden quick read that makes a great fast read when you just want to have something quick to read, but do know that if you are religious, some parts might not sit well with you, I didn’t mind them because it is the reality for many. I don’t think Caleb lost his way, but I know everyone has their own opinion.
Rating 4✨
Spice 2🌶️
October 28, 2025
Thank you to LoveNotesPR for the ARC 🫶
I enjoyed this spicy novella! I havent read any others by this author but I definitely would now after reading Holly Jolly Heresy. I would have liked a prologue to show the previous tension felt between the pair. A 'moment' is spoken about during the book that happened in the past, I would have liked to have read a bit more on that scene.
🎄 Priest x curvy schoolteacher
🎄 Age gap
🎄 Open door spice
🎄 Snowed in
🎄 HEA
Father West, Caleb, has been questioning his role for a while now. Amongst other things, but mainly down to the beautiful, curvy schoolteacher Molly that he can not stop thinking about. After a festive trip ends in heavy snow fall, the pair spend that time exploring opinions and feelings.
Festive, cosy read with some spice mixed in. Easy read, I finished this in one sitting in just a few short hours.
I enjoyed this spicy novella! I havent read any others by this author but I definitely would now after reading Holly Jolly Heresy. I would have liked a prologue to show the previous tension felt between the pair. A 'moment' is spoken about during the book that happened in the past, I would have liked to have read a bit more on that scene.
🎄 Priest x curvy schoolteacher
🎄 Age gap
🎄 Open door spice
🎄 Snowed in
🎄 HEA
Father West, Caleb, has been questioning his role for a while now. Amongst other things, but mainly down to the beautiful, curvy schoolteacher Molly that he can not stop thinking about. After a festive trip ends in heavy snow fall, the pair spend that time exploring opinions and feelings.
Festive, cosy read with some spice mixed in. Easy read, I finished this in one sitting in just a few short hours.
November 18, 2025
Holly Jolly Heresy is exactly the kind of cozy-but-spicy Christmas novella I love this time of year. The setup — a priest questioning his vocation, a curvy schoolteacher who challenges him in every way, and a snowstorm that traps them together — creates the perfect mix of tension and warmth.
I found this story well written and surprisingly captivating for such a short length. Caleb’s internal struggle felt genuine, and the connection between him and Molly formed quickly but believably. The snowed-in setting added just the right amount of holiday magic, and the spice? Let’s just say it definitely brings the heat to a cold winter night.
If you enjoy forbidden romance with Christmas charm, a touch of angst, and a satisfying HEA, this is a fun, festive pick to add to your December reading list.
I found this story well written and surprisingly captivating for such a short length. Caleb’s internal struggle felt genuine, and the connection between him and Molly formed quickly but believably. The snowed-in setting added just the right amount of holiday magic, and the spice? Let’s just say it definitely brings the heat to a cold winter night.
If you enjoy forbidden romance with Christmas charm, a touch of angst, and a satisfying HEA, this is a fun, festive pick to add to your December reading list.
November 25, 2025
E-ARC from Love Notes PR
This one might of been my first true forbidden romances and age gap. I can honestly say I really liked it. I also loved the wintery setting and that it takes place in and around Christmas time. Being snowed in for a couple days at a cabin.
I was a bit concerned with the main male character being a priest but I really enjoy the conversations between Molly and Caleb. Not just about what they were doing and the consequences but about the churches short comings in protecting and helping people. That the churches need to evolve and not everything in life is black and white. I loved the way they both paid attention to each others little tells and the conversations that came from it.
The spice wasn't over the top either which I liked. The one scene in the church oh boy that was something, but it felt right lol
This one might of been my first true forbidden romances and age gap. I can honestly say I really liked it. I also loved the wintery setting and that it takes place in and around Christmas time. Being snowed in for a couple days at a cabin.
I was a bit concerned with the main male character being a priest but I really enjoy the conversations between Molly and Caleb. Not just about what they were doing and the consequences but about the churches short comings in protecting and helping people. That the churches need to evolve and not everything in life is black and white. I loved the way they both paid attention to each others little tells and the conversations that came from it.
The spice wasn't over the top either which I liked. The one scene in the church oh boy that was something, but it felt right lol
December 3, 2025
4.5* - Rounded up to 5...
A bit reminiscent of Priest, Caleb and Molly's story was a great read! I loved both of their characters, and you could see their friendship/connection right from the start...
Caleb and Molly both have complications in their lives, and as they're approaching "ground zero" for change, they find themselves snowed in together, and temptation overrides all else. They are electric together! I loved how they came together, and how they understood each other. And yet, their complications make things so difficult to see a way through. However - true love wins in the end! And I absolutely adore their HEA...
There are some topics that may be triggering for some readers, so please check content/trigger warnings.
I received a free copy of this book through Love Notes PR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A bit reminiscent of Priest, Caleb and Molly's story was a great read! I loved both of their characters, and you could see their friendship/connection right from the start...
Caleb and Molly both have complications in their lives, and as they're approaching "ground zero" for change, they find themselves snowed in together, and temptation overrides all else. They are electric together! I loved how they came together, and how they understood each other. And yet, their complications make things so difficult to see a way through. However - true love wins in the end! And I absolutely adore their HEA...
There are some topics that may be triggering for some readers, so please check content/trigger warnings.
I received a free copy of this book through Love Notes PR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 9, 2025
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Sizzling and so forbidden. This was a Spicy festive Novella,part of the Aster Bay Series.
This is told in 3rd person POV.
Caleb became a priest 25 years ago because he wanted to make a change and help the needy. Never had he wanted for anything more until his Colleague Molly started working at the Catholic School. His feelings for her have grown so much, he is debating if he can have best of both worlds.
Molly is caring, confident, plus size and 20 years younger than Caleb. She too has been falling for the forbidden priest, but she could never ask him to quit for her and regret it.
One hot weekend being snowed in together is all they need to know the answer. This was a very steamy weekend, melting the snow. Now they need to face the world and reality. Can they have the love they both deserve?
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Sizzling and so forbidden. This was a Spicy festive Novella,part of the Aster Bay Series.
This is told in 3rd person POV.
Caleb became a priest 25 years ago because he wanted to make a change and help the needy. Never had he wanted for anything more until his Colleague Molly started working at the Catholic School. His feelings for her have grown so much, he is debating if he can have best of both worlds.
Molly is caring, confident, plus size and 20 years younger than Caleb. She too has been falling for the forbidden priest, but she could never ask him to quit for her and regret it.
One hot weekend being snowed in together is all they need to know the answer. This was a very steamy weekend, melting the snow. Now they need to face the world and reality. Can they have the love they both deserve?
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