The Twelve-Hour Rule

Holiday Rules #2

by Maria Rigou

Fresh off a divorce and buried in work as a New York architect, Sol Acosta just wants to survive one last night of her friends’ bachelorette trip without falling apart.

Ben Kingston didn’t plan on meeting anyone. A corporate consultant with too many frequent flyer miles and too many almost-relationships, he’s in town for a Christmas Eve wedding—alone.

One chance encounter and one impulsive scuba dive leave Sol stranded in paradise. Twelve unexpected hours turn into stolen kisses, late-night confessions, and the possibility of something real.

Can a holiday fling between two people afraid to risk their hearts survive past Christmas?

Genres: Holiday, Romance, Rom Com, Christmas

158 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 13, 2025

Reviews

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.75)

The 12 Hour Rule by Maria Rigou felt like stepping straight into one of my actual vacation fantasies. A single girly goes on a trip, meets a hot guy, and then I can’t say anything else without spoiling it, but just know it hooked me immediately.

I was obsessed with the chemistry between them. The MMC was so tuned in to her needs, emotionally and physically, and I loved how willing he was to show her her worth and take care of her in all the right ways. I was also really proud of her for being open to everything this experience brought into her life. It made the story feel empowering, swoony, and just the right amount of spicy.

Such a fun, fulfilling vacation romance fantasy.

[Kimberlyyyreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute!!

Reminded me that I need to take a holiday vacation at some point in my life 😩

[Beatrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Maria Rigou and Pen Pal pr for the arc.
This is such a good and fast read, I didn't feel much of the holiday spirit since I'm used to cold christmases, but it is still the perfect read for the holidays.
I loved the relationship between Sol and Ben: the chemistry was there; since it's a novella it was a bit of an insta love and the emotional depth was a bit lacking. What I appreciated the most was Sol's decision to let loose and give love a chance again.
Overall it was an entertaining and heartwarming read.

[Cassandra Campion · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ARC review

This novella was so fun and quick! The characters were lovable and down to earth. The FMC and MMC has great banter and amazing chemistry. The spicy scenes felt natural and were very well written. The relationship between the FMC and MMC felt natural, believable, and not at all rushed.

I loved both the vacation setting and the holiday vibes! I particularly liked that the Christmas setting fit so well and added so much to the story without being the center of the plot or taking away from the romance and relationship between the characters.

Thank you Maria Rigou for the opportunity to be a part of the ARC team!

[Aakanksha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fast paced and swoony read! One of the best novellas I've read this year so far.
Sol and Ben were so good and their chemistry was off the charts, the romance, the tension everything was swoony and fun to read.
If you're looking for a short and fun read, pick this one up!!


Thank you so penpalpr and Maria Rigou for the ARC! ❤️

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

"The Twelver-Hour Rule" by Maria Rigou is a breezily paced holiday-in-the-Caribbean romance with two good characters, one festive fling, and a lot of heat. Sol (FMC) is in paradise with a bunch of friends on a bachelorette trip. She is recently divorced and is healing her wounded heart. Ben is a consultant who is in town for a coworker's wedding, where he doesn't know anyone but the groom. Sol and Ben meet at a resort hotel bar one night, and they eventually decide to have one evening of fun together. As is the case with a lot of these stories, one night eventually turns into a scuba trip, and then a second night, and then deeper, shared feelings with the potential for more. Ben and Sol have good banter with one another, and they are both interesting as individuals as well. Ultimately, my issue lies with the fact that I don't know if I believe their relationship could or would stand the test of time beyond their Caribbean liaison. This story is very heavy on the insta-lust/insta-love, and though they do manage to have deeper conversations in their short amount of time together, I would have liked a bit more of....*something.* Something is lacking between them, even during the spicy scenes. It might just be because this is a novella, I'm not sure. Luckily, there is enough Christmas cheer and vacation shenanigans to keep you engaged and interested. It is a fast-paced book that will put you in the mood for a warm holiday season.

Thank you to Maria Rigou and Pen Pal PR for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Lanysha Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️ARC Review ⭐️⭐️

I was so excited to be a part of the ARC team for this book!! It’s Christmas and romance-what’s not to love?!?

This was the sweetest Christmas holiday romance story ever!! It was a short read but packed full with everything you would want out of a holiday romance story.

I think my favorite thing that Maria does when she writes a story is that the romance is there but it just feels so real. It doesn’t strike me as a cheesy rom com (the rom com vibes are still there) but it comes across as realistic and I love that.

🎄❤️☀️Tropes🎄☀️❤️


🎅Age-gap
🎄one night stand (or two or three)
⭐️vacation romance


I absolutely loved the age gap. I thought this was perfect!
The Christmas vibes were there and wonderful! It definitely got me into the Christmas spirit! I love a vacay romance story! I loved how Sol and Ben met. Both somewhere they didn’t really want to be and the “stalker” (not really but when you read you’ll understand) moment was sweet!

I loved these characters and this story!! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it!!

[Caity caitandherkindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

One chance encounter and one impulsive scuba dive leave Sol stranded in paradise. Twelve unexpected hours turn into stolen kisses, late-night confessions, and the possibility of something real. Can a holiday fling between two people afraid to risk their hearts survive past Christmas?

This novella is giving Hallmark After Dark 🔥 A divorcee on a girls trip hooks up with a single guy at a destination wedding and they fall for each other. Not too spicy (a few scenes but not super explicit) and a HEA.

SPICE: 🌶️
STORY: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you PenPalPR for the ARC ❤️

[booksvanereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved every second of this ✨

[Julz · Rating 4 out of 5]

(EDIT:I DIDNT REALIZE THERE WERE OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES 💀)

Review for The Twelve Hour Rule!!
🎅Overall🤿
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
THANK YOU SO MUCH MARIA RIGOU FOR INCLUDING ME IN THE ARC LIST!!💗

Anyways let’s get to the review!
This is the perfect book for starting (or ending the Holiday season). There was a ton of cute banter that I enjoyed and the Holiday Spirit was sprinkled in there too.

The vacation aspect of it was nice but the chapters did feel a bit short in my opinion. I would also like to mention but there is possibly a time jump, like a week after the main events,that did leave me kinda confused…

Besides that, it was a great novella which will hopefully get a few more books in the series!
౨ৎ ˖ ࣪⊹ •💚•⊹₊ ⋆୨ৎ

🏝️Tropes!🗽
⌇ ⋆Strangers To Lovers
⌇ ⋆ Vacation Fling
⌇ ⋆ Failed One Night Stand

౨ৎ ˖ ࣪⊹ •💚•⊹₊ ⋆୨ৎ

🛫Highlights or Notes🍸

꒰🤍꒱THE ENDING WAS SO CUTE 😊
꒰❤️꒱There is a slight age gap but didn’t mind it
꒰🤍꒱Their meet-cute was adorable
꒰❤️꒱Really Fast read…
꒰🤍꒱I could definitely come back to a book like this(like to reread)

౨ৎ ˖ ࣪⊹ •💚•⊹₊ ⋆୨ৎ
🌊Characters💻

Sol 🤿
Sol was character I could compare to the other FMC character by Maria Rigou, they share some characteristics that I noticed through the book. Sol is a character who is just trying to push through life and just trying to fulfill it. She meets the MMC who changes her life in the span of a few days.
Sol could be a great character if she had a full novel and went even further in depth with her character.

Ben 📑
Company Consultant with no life. That’s what could be used to describe Ben, well in the beginning of the novel. He does change as we move through the novel, realizing he needs a life that isn’t just work. Also, One thing I noticed with this MMC by Maria Rigou and the other MMC also by her is that they all work corporate jobs(I might have to read her other books to collect a bit more info on her MMC)
Anyways, he’s REALLY clingy…this can be noticed throughout the novel and especially during those last chapters.
To end off Ben, I guess he was an okay character and really loves Sol…
I hope they have their happily ever after…☺️

౨ৎ ˖ ࣪⊹ •💚•⊹₊ ⋆୨ৎ

Thank you for reading my review!! And take you for the ARC Maria Rigou!!

See you for the next book! 🌝👍

[Talisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful tropical holiday romance! I loved how it centered on a woman in her late 30s because life, love, and the possibility of a family absolutely don’t end after divorce or after 35. Maria really normalizes that second chances can happen at any age, and I adored that the MMC was younger. It felt modern, realistic, and refreshing.

Even though it takes place around Christmas, the Caribbean setting gives it a lighter, breezier vibe that’s not heavy on the holiday stuff, but still cozy and romantic. And the ending? Perfect. It wasn’t some instant “let’s exchange numbers” solution. He put in the work to reconnect once they were back in New York, which made their romance feel even more genuine.

Highly recommend if you want a sweet, hopeful vacation romance with just the right touch of holiday charm.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Newly Devoriced and, goes on a trip with the girls when she can’t make her flight ( woops ) meets and spends a weekend with a hot guy. Sold!

I loved this tropical setting while still having somewhat if a Christmas theme, it’s the perfect read for a little holiday but not to much. Plus give me an age gap where she’s older… SOLD!

[Christy Acc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, slightly spicy Christmas novella. This ARC hit some great tropes - he fell first and golden retriever guy. The chemistry between the two main characters was palpable and it was a quick Christmas read. Thank you for another ARC opportunity!

[Crystal Hoel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic short read. I found Ben and Sol to be very likable characters. A little t he f people can resonate with their separate situations and I found the story refreshing and an easy read. I like that it’s not too Christmas themed so that it could be read at any time of the year.

Thank you to Maria Rigou for the complementary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.

[Nothingleftunread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4⭐️
Spice: Open Door, 🌶️ 🌶️

It's Christmas novella time and I started off this season with a novella by an author I recently discovered, Maria Rigou.

This quick read is a sweet story about a vacation fling turning into so much more. You have a deep in her 30s FMC, Sol and a loveable MMC, Ben who cross paths while staying at the same resort in the DR. Sol is recently divorced and trying to figure out what life is now. Ben is the guy that "shows up" yet is always pushed away for being perceived as too needy.

And back to the novella, Sol may be independent and fulfilled but she is drawn in by Ben's charisma. We get snapshots into how they just make sense yet the realization as well that it's a vacation fling. You can't help but root for them to become more and wonder if they will give in and put aside their insecurities to ask.

While it's a quick read, it's slower pacing and reflective, which I am beginning to associate with Maria's writing. It's small moments where the characters analyze their lives and yearn that we get a deeper emotional exploration.

My favorite part of the novella is when the characters are back in their lives outside of the resort and I won't spoil what happens but the ending is adorable.

If you're looking for a Christmas novella with mature characters and some light spice, definitely add this to your TBR. It is part of a larger novella series by several Indie authors including Ambar Cordova.

Read if you like:
Olivia Dean
He calls her Sunshine (Sol means sun in Spanish)
MMC that shows up
Divorced FMC that is happy but still wants that love story

Thank you to @mariarigouauthor and @penpalpr for this eARC!

[Mayras mini book reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to read this ahead of its release date thanks to Maria Rigou and PenPal PR.

Spice 1.5

I recommend this book to someone wanting a reverse age gap with a consent king.

The perfect novella to kick off the Christmas season. I liked that it shows the “not going home for Christmas because you’re avoiding having to answer questions and being judged” experience . There is the essence of Christmas, Santa hats, music and talking about the holiday but it doesn’t revolve around the holiday.

The age gap is perfect in my opinion. Far apart enough to be like “yes girl get it” but close enough that the two characters would share some common life experiences making it more realistic that they would make a connection beyond the bedroom.

Ben is a consent king all the way. Constant checking in to see if Sol wanted to keep going. Giving her the option to back out. General checking in to see how she is doing.
Sol was in a loveless marriage for too long. Finally out of her head and learned to live a little more spontaneously.
Between Sol being starved for love and attention and Ben’s tendency to be very affectionate and love loudly and strongly they were meant to be.

I really liked that their story continues on after the magic of an all inclusive resort vacation wears off. They were such a cute couple I wouldn’t have minded reading a much longer book based on these two.

[Pages of Miky · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Being single is peaceful until you realize that all you want is someone who is currently looking for you in a crowd.”

First of all, many thanks to Pen Pal PR and Maria Rigou for the opportunity to read this book. I’m very grateful to be part of the ARC team, as it always nice to read Maria’s stories ♥️

In this Christmas novella we meet Sol, a thirty-eight divorcee, who’s trying to put her life back together, not really sure of what she wants. Then, we have Ben, a thirty-three year old man who has a lot of love to give, but feels lonely. They meet a few days before Christmas during their stay in Dominican Republic. It was like a Hallmark movie, but this time the scenery changed to a warmer weather and added some rom-com vibes. What I like the most is that both characters are relatable and are very good at communicating their feelings, always checking in with each other.

Another good thing is that you can read this even if you’re not a big Christmas fan, as the story is not focused on it and more focused on the issues around the characters.

It’s a very quick, fun, sweet and emotional read. As always, Maria’s writing made me want to keep reading.

This is the book for you if you like:
-Strangers to lovers
-Christmas in paradise (not a cold setting)
-Vacation fling
-Failed one night stand
-Latina FMC
-Needy MMC

[Caffs37 · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the festive season approaches, there's no such thing as starting holiday romances too early, and "The Twelve Hour Rule" is the perfect novella to dive into. This fast-paced story centers around Sol Acosta, a New York architect navigating the challenges of a recent divorce amidst her friends' bachelorette trip. Her encounter with Ben Kingston, a corporate consultant living a life of fleeting relationships, offers a refreshing twist.

The novel brilliantly captures the nostalgia of spending Christmas in the Caribbean, it brought warmth and a sense of familiarity for myself having experienced holiday magic in a tropical settings. The chemistry between Sol and Ben is palpable, and their impulsive scuba dive adventure sets the stage for an unforgettable twelve-hour rendezvous filled with stolen kisses and late-night truths.

With just the right amount of spice, the romantic moments are both steamy and heartwarming, making this story an ideal comfort read. The exploration of vulnerability and the fear of opening up following heartache adds depth to the characters, making their connection feel genuine and relatable.

The Twelve Hour Rule is a delightful holiday read, perfect for anyone looking to indulge in a sweet and uplifting romance.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis:
Sol was not looking for love or a relationship post divorce and especially not on her girls trip. Ben also was not looking for anything serious when traveling to his friend’s wedding in the DR. Well…fate has different ideas.

Review:
This was such a fun, easy read. The characters were lovable and the story felt that it could actually happen. Sol was clearly working through her past relationship issues and Ben was able to solve them with ease and reassurance. I am partial to the persistence of the MMC because I personally experienced that with my husband. I could easily fall into another story about these two and would feel like I was having a conversation with some of my best friends. The spice was perfect, natural, and not out of place. It flowed with the storyline and never felt out of place.

I will definitely be checking out the author’s back catalog of novels. I like her easy flow of writing.

Thank you to Maria Rigou and PenPal PR for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All views expressed are entirely my own.

[Yashna · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review:

My rating: 3.5 ⭐️

Sol Acosta, a 38 year old NY architect is freshly divorced and wasn’t supposed to meet anyone. She only wanted to make it through one last night of her friends’ bachelorette trip at the Caribbean, not expecting to find anything other than sun and distraction. When she crosses paths with Ben Kingston, a corporate consultant attending a nearby wedding, sparks fly instantly.

A spontaneous scuba dive leads to an unexpected twist — Sol can’t fly home for twelve hours. One night becomes a blur of conversations, laughter, and stolen moments that make her question if a holiday fling can turn into something lasting.

An easy, breezy romance with heartwarming chemistry. I enjoyed Sol and Ben’s dynamic, though I wished the story had slowed down to explore their connection more deeply. A perfect short escape for anyone who loves tropical settings and fleeting moments that feel timeless.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

[Thank you PenPal PR for the ARC]
The Twelve-Hour Rule is a quick, spicy novella following Sol and Ben who meet on a tropical vacation over the holidays. 🌴🎄

While I appreciated the general idea of the story, I did not find the insta love to be supported with any chemistry, and both the MMC and FMC (both in their 30s!) behaved like much younger characters. Their communication was abysmal, and though both displayed relatable character flaws, these flaws were eventually just thrown to the side? Words and phrases were repetitive to the point of distraction (though I did read an uncorrected proof and perhaps an editor brought that up), even within the same paragraph.

In all, if you’re looking for a quick read to round out your end-of-year reading goal, this one fits the mark (only ~120 pages), but the story does not sell a convincing relationship the way that so many other holiday novellas do so well.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC

I was lucky to receive an ARC copy of the 12 hour rule by Maria Rigou and I absolutely loved it!

This is the second book I have read from this author & just like the no pressure pact this book was amazing’ I loved the vacation setting & setting it around Christmas just added more to the story.
The novella was so good I finished it on one sitting!

Sol is a recent divorced woman not looking for love on this girl trip and neither was Ben who arrives for his friends wedding expecting to spend it mostly alone in the sidelines.

What was so supposed to something that was for 1 night turns into something they neither of them could have expected

I loved how both characters felt so out of place and were able to find something they were not even searching for.

The chemistry between these 2 was so great

If you are looking for a reverse age gap, strangers to lovers this is the book for you

[neus.dreamybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cozy and short holiday's vacation fling romcom with open door spice.

Sol who is 38 and recently divorced is vacationing in a resort with her friends and in their last night she meets Ben, who just arrived to the resort for a wedding on Xmas eve. He doesn't know anyone except the groom so he expects to be alone in this vacation but thanks to some circumstances he continues to meet Sol when she has to delay her return home. Ben is a little bit younger than her and totally a golden retriever MMC who thinks she is out of his league and can't stop talking to her and trying to make her smile.

I loved how Ben worships her and try to make her be herself and stop thinking and pretending. It's a little bit of instalove for him and as it's a short story you can feel that sometimes their relationship is a bit rushed but I just saw him like a puppy who wants to be loved and give lots of love.

This is the first book by Maria I've read and it won't be the last.

-ARC read-

[Julissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, short, and spicy novella that occurs during Christmas. While it’s not overly focused on the holidays, it’s a perfect read for that point in winter when you want to mentally escape to a tropical location. The attraction between the main characters is palpable, though the relationship is very insta-lovey. Because of the novella length, we don’t get a lot of background on the main characters as individuals, but the themes mentioned felt very down-to-earth/real-life problems. Overall, a fun read that kept me engaged and I consumed it in a short sitting.

I can’t wait to read the other stories (by other authors) in the Holiday Rules story collection on KU.

Thanks to Maria Rigou & Pen Pal PR for an advanced reader copy! All opinions are my own.
Pub date for this story: 11/13/25; others in the collection have different dates in Nov/Dec.

[Lou Li Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vacay fling but more - Sol and Ben have an undeniable connection, even from their very first meeting. A bit of sun, sea and sand can loosen up even the saddest souls. Sol is on holiday with her girlfriends to celebrate a bachelorette but still reeling from her own divorce and Ben is there to attend a wedding just to curb his loneliness. They keep bumping into each other and neither can keep their eyes off each other. It gets hot and steamy fast in this little novella and their chemistry is sizzling, and when its time to leave paradise - they are both too scared to ask for more. Ben is all golden retriever vibes and love how Sol finally accepts shes deserving of the kind of love she's always wanted.

I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own

[Chelsea Dwinell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Maria Rigou and the Penpal PR team for the ARC!

This is my second ARC review of a Maria Rigou novel and I am happy to say she has done it again! This is the perfect short, spicy novella for a busy holiday season. I appreciate that Christmas is not a major plot point, but instead feels like a side character that enhances the story.

Did the novella have a bit of insta love? Yes, but in this short of a story there just isn’t time to delve deep, but their love story felt natural. Ben is the perfect MMC with his golden retriever energy, and the banter between him and Sol was chefs kiss. Usually age gap romances feel forced and a bit awkward in my opinion, but this felt fun and realistic.

If you are looking for quick read this holiday season that has a bit of spice, I would wholeheartedly recommend this novella!

[CoolReadHaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this short fast paced Christmas romance! Sol recently finalized her divorce and her friends treat her to a vacation at a resort to celebrate. On her last night in paradise she meets Ben who is there for his friend’s wedding. Little does she know a delay lets her have the most fun she’s had in a while. Ben is a hopeless romantic and Sol is someone who is afraid to get attached again! I love how fast paced the story was and yet I still felt connected to the characters and like I was there experiencing their story. The writing was really well done and I love how real the characters felt. It is full of open door spice so make sure to check before reading. This story was so cute and if you want a cute summery Christmas time romance then you should definitely read this!

[Taneesha Lustig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Twelve-Hour Rule is a sweet, heartwarming novella about Sol, a recently divorced woman spending the holidays trying to find herself again. On a girls getaway, her friends encourage her to loosen up and enjoy the trip, but Sol’s still dealing with the heartache post divorce. That is, until she meets Ben.

Ben is kind, patient, and helps her believe in love again. Their connection develops naturally, with just the right amount of tenderness and patience. The Twelve-Hour Rule is a heartfelt story of healing and hope!

If you’re looking for a quick romance to put you in the Christmas spirit, The Twelve-Hour Rule will not disappoint.

Thank you Maria Rigou for this arc copy! Looking forward to reading the other novellas in this series.

[⋆☃︎✧˖ alondra °❅⋆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 51%
Thank you to Maria Rigou and the Penpal PR team for the ARC!
I wanted to give this book a chance because the plot made me really curious. The first two chapters felt kinda slow but then started picking up after the third, so if you're looking for a fast-paced read, the you might enjoy this!
In my case, however, I was halfway when I realized it wasn't for me. It's not a bad book but I didn't feel any chemistry between the two main characters, even during the steamy scenes.
I do like books that include the theme of finding love again after divorce so if you're also into that, you might enjoy this as well. I also enjoyed, as a Puerto Rican, when characters were speaking Spanish; so that was nice. :)

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up thinking I’d just read a bit at a time and suddenly I was hooked from start to finish. The vibe is so warm and cozy, like a little holiday hug you didn’t know you needed. The chemistry between these two? Perfectly effortless flirty, fun, and full of those “oh wow, I actually like this” moments that make you grin like an idiot.

I loved how natural everything felt no forced drama, just two people slowly letting themselves enjoy each other and the little sparks between them. The emotional bits hit just right too, adding this soft glow that makes the story feel extra special. Honestly, it’s the kind of read that makes you want to curl up, sip something warm, and just soak it all in.