A Baby for Christmas: Love at the Holidays

by Keira Andrews, Curtis Michael Holland (Narrator)

Can a lost single dad and a lonely cowboy find love—and the family of their dreams?

Jake

Becoming a single father definitely wasn't in my plans. It's the toughest challenge of my life, especially with my parents gone, but my little girl means the world to me. I'm driving her home to the Rockies for her first Christmas—and because I took a boneheaded shortcut, we're stranded in the middle of nowhere. With a blizzard closing in. Fast. I'm more scared than I've ever been when a gruff, gorgeous cowboy gallops to our rescue. Why does he look so familiar?

Cam

I was a skinny geek in high school with a hopeless crush on Jake—until he revealed his true colors. He's a backstabbing coward, and I haven't missed him one bit since he moved to the big city. I spend my days with my dog, my horse, and my yaks. I don't do people. Now of all the people in the damn world, he's on my ranch. Stranded with his tiny, helpless baby. I can't abandon them to freeze—even though it means bringing Jake to my cabin to get snowed in. Even though I'll be trapped with the only man I've ever loved.

Even though I only have one bed.

Contains mature themes.

Genres: M M Romance, Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Forced Proximity, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary

Audible Audio

First published November 21, 2024

About the author

Keira aims for the perfect mix of character, plot, and heat in her M/M romances. She writes everything from swashbuckling pirates to heartwarming holiday escapism. Her fave tropes are enemies to lovers, age gaps, forced proximity, and passionate virgins. Although she loves delicious angst along the way, Keira guarantees happy endings!

Reviews

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Toby the dog; the baby, less so. There's an actual baby on the cover, so I knew what I was getting myself into, but I still wasn't quite prepared for the constant farting, pooping, burping, crying.

It's realistic all right, but far from romantic.

Jake is one of those absurdly intense parents who won't swear in front of his infant, even though:

1. a 6-month-old baby is way too young to understand or care, and

2. prohibitions against swearing in front of kids are akin to rules against teaching kids about sex and sexuality. They're an attempt to control the knowledge and behavior of children - and other adults - by insisting they abide by arbitrary mandates invented by religious puritans for whom shame is the ultimate weapon.

Cam resents Jake because of what happened in high school, and honestly, I was not prepared for the intensity of all that.

The story needed a hundred more pages to truly explore the men's rift, Cam's sexuality, the whole thing with Jake's long-term ex-girlfriend/baby mama, and angry/homophobic Hal Jr. (an unnecessary aside imo).

The overall setup is cute and cozy: snowed-in cabin, one bed, reindeer onesie (for Jake, not the baby!), two lonely men coming together, a good-natured horse, and yaks (that Cam treats like pets but raises for slaughter, which I found quite disturbing).

Quick read with a sweet holiday vibe but not my favorite by the brilliant Keira Andrews.

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Baby for Christmas is a MM holiday novella by Keira Andrews. It is part of the Love at the Holidays series but stands alone. Okay, first the gushing. As soon as I saw the cover of this book, I knew I had to read it. I mean, just look at it! Even though you can’t see his whole face, can’t you just feel the love between that daddy and his baby?! I just finished the book a little bit ago and let me tell you, this cover is perfect. I loved it so very much. I didn’t want it to be over.



Jake Gregson is about thirty one years old and is the single dad to six month old Cora. This poor daddy is learning as he goes and he is overwhelmed, exhausted and stressed. He’s trying to do the very best he can which includes moving from Toronto to the little town he grew up in, Lonely Creek. It’s almost Christmas and a huge storm is rolling in when our story begins and we find Jake and Cora in a bit of a bind.

Cam Walsh is a rancher working for an older couple that own a ranch with both yaks and cattle. He loves his job, the owners are good to him. He lives alone in a little cabin with his dog. He’s exhausted when he comes upon the man and baby in need. Little did he know he was in for quite a surprise!



Cam and Jake have history but haven’t seen or spoken since high school, thirteen years ago. Cam never thought he’d see Jake again which was fine with him. But a blizzard is upon them and Jake and his baby daughter need help. Without him, they wouldn’t survive.

I don’t want to say much more because you need to experience it on your own. Cam and Jake have a journey in front of them. Not a physical one but an important one. Of truths, understanding and forgiveness. They were just kids when they saw each other last. They are grown men now with responsibilities and futures to plan for. Their journey was a beautiful one. I was mesmerized by this story from the first page to the final page. Some books just hit you like that and this one definitely did. Not even considering that I love romances with babies. This was a beautiful, sweet, swoony, Christmas romance that made me so happy.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[~Nicole~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok for a Christmas book,I guess but it’s sooo cliché. Same forced proximity trope recycled in every romance book.

[Keira Andrews]

Meet Jake and Cam: a single father and the cowboy who hates him. :D

I loved writing this book! The snowed-in trope feels like a warm, snuggly blanket, and I'm a sucker for a single dad. Jake's also an orphan. (Of course he is!) I hope you love reading Jake, Cam, and Cora's story. <3

I’m sure you’ve seen other authors you love opening stores on their websites and selling direct to readers, and I’m thrilled to be launching my own online shop!

Pre-order and save 30% with the code PREORDER30 before November 14: https://www.keiraandrews.com/shop/

[Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jake and his six month old daughter Cora get stuck in their car in a snowstorm. Cowboy Cam finds them and gives them shelter in his tiny cabin where they spend the Christmas holidays. 

Jake and Cam have a dark history together from their time in high school, but that doesn't stop them from going at it like bunnies in between feeding Cora and changing diapers. 

I'm not a big fan of romance stories involving babies. They're not yet characters that can contribute to a story and oftentimes the reasons why a single gay or bi man ends up with a baby as a single parent seem incredibly far-fetched. Jake's girlfriend had an affair with her boss and left Jake eventually, but at a time when she was pregnant with Jake's baby? And the new guy didn't want another baby so Jake ended up as a single parent while the mom stole away with her new boyfriend who did not accept her with a child?! W.T.F.

This was an okay romance but definitely not one of my favorites. 

[Vanessa GLP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes to not making one more decision 🙌

[Bree | breesoleilreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Keira Andrews book and I loved it so much! It was a super sweet and quick read but Cam and Jake and their history felt so well developed with so few pages. I usually don’t gravitate towards single dad stories but I loved baby Cora and how Keira Andrews didn’t shy away from how difficult it must be to care for a newborn as a single parent. The writing, the environment, the story, and all the characters (especially that lil doggo Toby and the yak and the horse 😂) were all so well done. I can’t wait to read more from Keira Andrews bc I loved this 🥹

[Lily Loves &#x1f4da; · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt so rushed, like a huge chunk of story was missing. I usually love shorter stories but only if they feel fully developed. This wasn’t and it was so disappointing.

KA rarely releases anything anymore and then it’s this underdeveloped story???? And the reason for why Cam resented Jake was HUGE! The baby was cute but so much time on her! Plus I love KA because she usually writes such amazing sex scenes and these were flat!!!!

This story had so much potential if it was slower paced and full length, which these characters deserved and as readers we deserve it too.

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A single dad stuck in the middle a snow storm and the cowboy who has spent the majority of his life hating him for what he did in high school, of course I ate this up!

- cowboy
- single dad
- snowed in
- forced proximity
- hurt x comfort, sorta
- second chance, ish

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time)]

Thank you for the gift, Snow Jingles !

[Renae Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a reformed bully romance, and sprinkling in a Christmas theme is perfect. Jake and Cam definitely have their work cut out for them as their reintroduction to one another is extremely frosty, but over time Cam realizes Jake is not the bully he used to be and now is a struggling single father.

These circumstances allow for Cam's surly demeanor to quickly thaw, creating a beautiful slow-burn romance that I could not get enough of. These two have amazing chemistry and watching them dance around their growing attraction was also a great aspect of this story as well.

Overall I loved this story and found it very moving with Cam and Jake's slowing falling for one another.

[Liya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable holiday story. Single dad and a lonely farmer, forced proximity, a chance to make up for the past mistakes. Cam and Jake had a good chemistry, and Cam taking care of Cora and Jake was super sweet. The relationships progressed too fast, especially considering their past, but it's to be expected from the snowed in together Christmas novella.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving all my Christmas reads so far, and this has been a beautiful romance to read with a single dad stranded among mountains and a cowboy who rescues him.
Jake gets lost in the middle of a snow storm while heading into his former home. Cam is a lonely cowboy who used to have a crush on Jake until the latter did something awful at school and Cam got blamed for it. Cam hasn't forgotten or forgiven him though, but then they meet and Cam feels he has to help the other guy as he's got a little girl with him.
Jake was a single dad struggling to start over. His life took a turn with the baby but he's determined to get a new life rolling. Cam was this grumpy cowboy who held a grudge against Jake, but who couldn't look the other way when he came across a man with a baby in need of help.
It was lovely to see Cam's feelings change towards Jake, when the single dad apologised Cam was done for. Jake and Came felt the attraction to each other from the moment they met and it led to something beautiful.
This was such a cute and sweet novella set at Christmas in the middle of nowhere with great MCs. I enjoyed every single page, it was easy to read and I didn't feel like it was too short. It was packed with lots of feelings and emotions, surrounded by the Christmas spirit. I absolutely loved it and recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy a lovely short holiday story.

[Catarina Águas · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review

This was so cute, I loved it.
Cam was having a hard time moving on from the past but Jake showed him that he wasn't that person. He was so gruff but as the hours and then days passed, he started to fall in love with Jake and his daughter.
Jake was a fantastic father, everything he did, it was with her in mind. He didn't want to overwhelm Cam with everything but Cam welcomed it all
They both didn't meant to fall for the other but it was inevitable

[Aldi]

This is about the twelfth or thirteenth holiday book from Keira Andrews and I’m gonna have to up my grinchery this year and say that’s too many, lol. I’m not rating this because when I go in for a book whose very title is basically a warning (hey you! Yes you, long-standing KA fan! This book contains a baby and Christmas! Back off now!), I’m basically doing it to myself.

Anyway, this is fine, and I’m sure people who love babies and single dads and Christmas and kidplot will be chuffed to bits. I was barely engaged. It’s short so by necessity the relationship is quite insta, but even so the switch from awkward co-existence in a snowed-in cabin (with some frankly unconvincing high school backstory) to “and now we’re fucking, and also I want you and your 6-month-old to move in with me after 3 days” was a little dizzying, and the smut was pretty perfunctory.

Now taking bets with myself as to whether this year I’ll manage to stay away from other holiday books that I already know will leave me lukewarm!

[Lady Macbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This story has a lot of tropes I love: single dad, snowed in, forced proximity and second chance with a pinch of hurt/comfort.

Back in high school, Jack and Cam knew each other but they were never friends and something happened between the that made Cam hate Jack. After over a decade, Cam rescues Jack and his little daughter Cora and offers them refuge since a very bad storm is coming. They don't know how to act around each other, Cam is still angry, Jack is very full of regret and it's difficult to forgive and let go of the past. But they're also very attracted to one another and sweet little Cora will inevitably steal Cam's heart.

I loved how the author described Jack's feelings about being a single father with no support system: frustration, sense of inadequacy, fear of not being enough for his own daughter.
I also adored Cam's protectiveness, how he wanted to keep Cora safe and how he hold Jack into his arms to let him finally rest, without worries.

What prevented me from giving five full stars
I would have loved more time with them as a family.

Heartwarming Christmas story. Definitely recommended.

I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute but nothing really stood out for me

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a single-dad romance, and this is a perfect example! Plenty of baby snuggling and vulnerability. Add in a cowboy who finds a man and his daughter in a car trapped in snow, then only one bed, and it's just the best kind of Christmas book. I finished reading with such a wide smile. Recommended.

[Ben Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[meep · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

A Baby for Christmas is a stand-alone book written by Keira Andrews.

Jake is a single father. He knows nothing about taking care of a baby. But he loves and wants what’s best for his daughter, so he moves her home to live in the basement of his old, now Airbnb, family home. What he thinks is a shortcut ends up in him having to be saved by Cam. Cam who was a skinny geek in high school and now lives on a ranch taking care of yaks. Cam holds an understandably big grudge against Jake, who destroyed his chance of going to college after getting him arrested. He saves Jake anyway because of the baby. Cam soon learns Jake is not the person he thought he was and gets attached to both him and his daughter. Jake also finally gets his chance to apologize and falls in love with Cam.

While I did understand why Jake did what he did, I think Cam forgave him a little too quickly, but they do make an adorable couple. It’s obvious how taken Cam is with Jake’s daughter, and they fall into a relationship pretty quickly and move in together super fast. I really did enjoy Toby, though. He is Cam's dog. He was very loyal.

This was a great book. Who doesn’t love an enemies-to-lovers book? Since they had feelings for each other back in high school, it’s basically instalove, which, while I don’t care for, ended up working really well for this book. This will be a book I read every holiday season.

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement. ***

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful Christmas gift from one of my favorite authors. Seeing their name on a new book was a great feeling! I took my time reading this thoughtful second chance story. I loved all of it. Cam and Jake and Cora and Toby are excellent characters. There are so many feels within the snowed in cabin setting, my favorite trope!
I loved when Cam didn’t want the storm to end so Jake and little Cora could stay with him. He appreciated the relationship bubble as much as I did.
The author’s always excellent word choices and clear writing and passionate sex scenes made this book a holiday treat and gave it a spot on my Best Reads shelf.
Merry Christmas to the author. 🎄

[Axalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cam et Jake avec un culomètre à 🍑🍆

Un père célibataire perdu et un cow-boy solitaire peuvent-ils trouver l’amour… et la famille de leurs rêves ?

› Un cowboy éleveur de yaks et un père célibataire ? Je suis convaincue.
› J'ai cru jusqu'à la fin que c'était une romance bully to lovers mais en faite non.
› Il n'y a rien de mieux qu'être coincé dans un chalet pour faire table rase du passé, repartir sur de bonnes bases et plus si affinités.
› Que de l'amour, rien de l'amour (ET UN BÉBÉ !!!!!!)

Bref, une romance de Noël dont j'avais besoin dans la vie finalement 😌

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cam & Jake
Rating: 3.6⭐

- Single Dad
- Lonely Cowboy
- Holiday Romance
- Snowed In
- Only One Bed
- Size Difference
- Second Chance at First Time
- New Beginnings
- One Sided Hate to Love

This is cute holiday read where two lonely men unexpectedly meet up again years after a falling out in high school. Cam is understandably still angry with Jake but he won't let the man and his baby freeze to death on the side of the road. Cam brings them into his cabin to stay until the snow storm passes. These two have some air to clear and an attraction to each other they can't seem to fight. It is very instalove like, but they at least knew each other for years when they were younger so it didn't feel as rushed as it would if they were strangers.

I understand why Jake was a kind of crazy when it came to caring for his daughter and questioning himself as a parent, but he did run me up a wall a few times. Slightly over the top, but not enough for me to chuck it. I did like how Cam just went all gooey and soft for the little girl while watching over them during the storm.

Content Warnings:
- Graphic sexual content between consenting adults
- Explicit language
- Mentions of parental abandonment by baby's mother
- Mentions of cheating ex
- Homophobia from bosses son
- Mentions of baby's time in NICU

Verse: No
HEA: Yes
POV: Dual
Breakup: No
Cheating: No
OM/OW Drama: No
Ages: Early 30's

[The Word Nerd Reviews Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Baby for Christmas by Keira Andrews is a heartwarming holiday romance that brings together a single father and a reclusive cowboy in a cozy, snowed-in setting. The story follows Jake, a new single dad who finds himself stranded in a blizzard with his baby daughter, Cora, rescued by Cam who Jake bitterly betrayed in high school.

The novel beautifully explores themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the magic of the holiday season. Jake and Cam's forced proximity in Cam's cabin allows them to confront their past misunderstandings and develop a deeper connection. The dynamic between the characters is engaging, with Jake's vulnerability as a single father and Cam's gruff exterior hiding a caring heart.
Jake and Cam’s relationship transitions from resentment to understanding as they confront their past and start to build a new connection. Jake’s love for his daughter and his genuine remorse for the past help to soften Cam’s heart, and the forced proximity of being snowed in together allows them to open up and discover a new bond.

Keira Andrews is known for her engaging and heartfelt writing style. She excels at creating relatable and well-developed characters, making readers feel deeply connected to their journeys. Her stories often blend emotional depth with lighthearted moments, ensuring a balanced and enjoyable reading experience.

A Keira Andrews book is always a fantastic read, but A Baby for Christmas just has that extra emotional snuggliness that’s needed at this time of year. Keira's writing shines through in the way she portrays the evolving relationship between Cam and Jake. The narrative is both tender and steamy, capturing the complexities of their past and the hope for their future.

A book guaranteed to leave you with a very happy smile. Highly recommended!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am on a roll when it comes to holiday romance novellas. 🙌

A Baby For Christmas by Keira Andrews literally checks all of my boxes for what I love in a holiday romance! A single father , a sweet baby, a lonely cowboy, a faithful canine, bisexuality rep, demi rep, delicious steam and combine that with a snowed in situation in a small cabin with only one bed and a hate to love set up for the MCs and you have perfection. It also helps that Keira Andrews always writes fantastic characters with fantastic chemistry!



Favorite Quotes:
Jake Gregson was a selfish POS. He wasn’t supposed to coo and hum and smile adoringly.

Jake closed his eyes, then opened them. “I just want someone to tell me what to do. I don’t know what I want. Except you. I know I want you. Please.” “You want me to tell you what to do?” He nodded eagerly and licked his lips.

What even was time? Kissing him felt so right. How was that possible?

Was it possible to fall in love in three days? Because the tenderness I felt for Cora was unlike anything I’d ever known. Not to mention what I felt for her daddy. The teenage crush I’d had on Jake felt feather-light and insignificant

“Peaceful doesn’t have to mean quiet. It would be a new kind of peace.” Lungs tight, I asked, “What do you think?” Jake’s lips tugged up into a small, perfect smile. “Tell me what to do.”

[emil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I have discovered a new favorite trope — single dad

⭐️ 5/5
🌶️ 2,5/5 (moderately low spice but its also a short book and it didn’t need more)

This book was so sweet and wholesome. I absolutely adored Cam and Jake (and Cora ofc)🥹💞 It was a low-angst second chance romance between an anxious single dad and a stoic cowboy. I didn’t think I would enjoy a second-chance romance but I ate this uppppp😍🥰

I don’t have kids, but the anxious and indecisive Jake was so relateable to me! Him loving Cora so much and wanting to be the best dad ever for her but also having unrealistic expectations for himself that Cam helped Jake deal with was just so heartwarming🥹🫶✨

And the way Jake wanted Cam to be in control in bed was so hot😮‍💨😮‍💨 I loved the size difference

The fact that it was snowing when I read this was just perfect 🤌✨…

Even though this was basically a novella, it didn’t feel insta-lovey and unrealistic to me like short romances tend to be. There was the perfect amount of spice for a book this short. I need to read more of Keira Andrew’s books!

Curtis Micheal Holland did an amazing job narrating this novel🫶

Loooooved the epilogue💘💘

[Christy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Family For Christmas

Cam and Jake knew each other in high school. There was an incident senior year that Cam was accused of but was actually Jake's doing. Jake later confessed but no one told Cam this even though all knew was Jake. He was the baseball star and protected. Jake left for college and Cam got a job at his dad's boss place with the ranch. Now he's helping run it got house that's been built almost finished however besides Toby his dog, Bonnie hos horse and the Yaks he don't have a partner. Not really into anyone just scratches the itch when comes.

Things change three days before Christmas when he's out checking on the heard before blizzard hits. He finds a man with a baby with broke down car. Turns out to be Jake who he would leave if not for Cora. He takes them in because he can't leave them with storm coming. It is tense for first day but they work things out finally talk about what happened.

Cam and Jake fall for each other while in close quarters. Cam also falls for Cora. I loved how he got Jake pulled from his panic at one point. The two of them with Cora made me so happy. The sex was hot too. The moment Jake was going leave and Cam asked him stay was perfect. Cam even gave them a Christmas snowed in together was special.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Leonie Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake and Cam have a not very pleasant past. There are things that Cam never knew that came to light while they were snowed in which made all the difference to him accepting his attraction to Jake. The characters were great and the story flowed really well and wasn't too predictable as I was expecting. I really enjoyed it and am glad I read it! I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reunions can be fun. Jake is stranded with his daughter when Cam comes to the rescue. Cam, doesn't have good memories of his time in school. He grew into his man body and rocks it. They are stranded in Cam's cabin during the storm and have a chance to get to know each other, again. Nice slow pace over a week that decides the rest of their lives. Nicely done. Cam and Jake are good guys and let the storm work for them. Sweet cover art! Well done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.