Want to blow off some steam with me? Shae Rabin has been breaking her ankles in sky high heels trying to move up in the world of public relations. She rushes to take one for the team— and miss her siblings’ annual fights during a ‘Jewish Christmas’ of movies and Chinese take out. She’s excited to spend her days catching some sun and her nights meeting beautiful strangers. A vendor error upon arrival drops her at Sin’s chef’s table, Miami’s hottest new Michelin Star Restaurant with an even hotter head chef.
Simon Hakimi is a renowned chef, a prolific storyteller, and a workaholic. What starts as a favor to his Uncle Eli turns into a whirlwind two days when a blonde bombshell in a green silk dress walks in the door. After a flirtatious dinner service, and an even saucier dessert, Simon agrees to spend the next two days with the mysterious Blondie who won’t even tell him her name. It’s just two days of playing around the city and in her hotel room, it’s not like it could change the trajectory of their whole lives. Right?
Jordana is a textbook Millennial-Eldest Daughter-Caring Professional with Gifted Kid Burn Out. She's been reading past her bedtime since she learned to read, loves sitcoms, and can't function without coffee. She writes contemporary romantic "traum-com" based on the belief that we can heal through laughter and love stories.
Sigh. This one was pretty predictable right from the start. I didn’t hate it, but I definitely didn’t love it either. Everything just felt a little too safe. More vanilla than anything else.
The so-called “spicy” scenes didn’t do much for me. They felt forced, awkward, and honestly a bit cringey at times. Lines like “Oh baby, mama like…”
Overall, it wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t leave any real impression. Just one of those reads that’s easy to get through..
Arc provided, opinions and the occasional side-eye are my own.
Jordana Blake's "Festive Little Fling" is a flirty, spicy, light, quick-moving holiday novella that I very much enjoyed. From the very first page, I knew I was going to be hooked on this story. I liked the characters, their quick chemistry with one another, the witty banter between them, the zany situations they find themselves in, and all of the wacky side characters they encounter. I laughed a lot while reading this! There are not enough holiday romances that take place in tropical climates, so it is nice to see a story about a warm, sort of sweaty Christmas (which I often experience here in San Diego). I liked watching Shae and Simon, the main characters, commiserate about their lives, their work, and what it's like to be Jewish on Christmas and the Americanized expectations that come with that, even when they are not overly religious. I love how Shae is unapologetically looking for a hook-up and knows exactly what she wants out of her vacation. I love how Simon is attentive and caring to what she wants and needs. Some of their spicy chemistry is a little forced, but that's the nature of insta-love/insta-lust. I enjoyed the ending and how it all wrapped up, too. All in all, this is a great novella!
Thank you to Jordana Blake for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Festive Little Fling was such a fun, flirty, and fast read — the perfect companion for a relaxing beach weekend! From the first page to the last, this story kept me totally engaged. It’s short but mighty, packed with adventure, vacation vibes, sexy locals, and career-driven millennials chasing both passion and purpose.
Jordana Blake has done it again with another hit in her Peacock Springs series. If you’re looking for something light, entertaining, and full of charm, this one’s an absolute must-read!
Thank you Jordana for this wonderful ARC of Festive Little Fling, it was the perfect way to get me through a tough week!
Funny, spicy, and fast-paced story! I couldn’t put this book down. Both main characters are fantastic—especially when there’s a fully tattooed chef involved! The heroine is strong and memorable, making the story even more engaging. The plot moves quickly, perfect for read during the holidays (especially if you’re in Chile, enjoying a comforting “cola de mono”). Thank you for the ARC opportunity! I only wish the book were a little longer—but as the title says, a “little fling” is meant to be short and fast.
Third short book finished in one day, and once again, I LOVED IT! I will definitely be going back to read the first two! The spice was absolutely spicing, and for how short it was, the plot was immaculate and the timeline through to the end was perfect! Thank you Jordana!
ARC copy — story didn’t have much of anything to it besides smut scenes. The Christmas aspect also wasn’t as much as I wanted. Thanks for the opportunity to read it ahead, regardless!
This book has scratched my Christmas itch for now... The books follows Shae who ends up flying out to work over Christmas ( Shae meets a very interesting character on her flight). She soon gets to work but disaster strikes and she is left with an offer she can't refuse and this one offer leads to a Christmas Shae will never forget.The characters work well together and the plot flows well. Over Christmas I prefer lots of short Christmas themed reads and this one ticks the boxes #instalove #dualpov #christmasromance #witty #shortread
This was a cute, quick holiday read. I enjoyed all the characters and the premise of the story. The tension was good and the ending made me happy. Great read for the holidays.
Festive Little Fling by Jordana Blake Holiday Novella. Standalone related to a series. affiliate links
Festive Little Fling by Jordana Blake is a fun, sexy holiday romance about two strangers who don’t celebrate Christmas but end up celebrating together in Miami. While the main characters are Jewish, this isn’t really a Hanukkah romance so much as a Jewish Christmas, aside from a quick nod to a “filthy game of dreidel.” Even though it’s connected to Jordana Blake’s Peacock Springs series, I honestly never would have known if I hadn’t seen it mentioned on Goodreads.
Shae Rabin is more than happy to skip her usual Jewish Christmas of Chinese food and a movie with her family to run an event in Miami for her PR firm. She arrives a few days early, planning to enjoy some sun and downtime, until a vendor mistake sends her stress levels soaring. To smooth things over, she’s gifted a seat at the chef’s table at one of Miami’s hottest new restaurants.
That’s where she meets Simon Hakimi. After a very flirtatious dinner and an even hotter dessert, Shae, known to Simon only as “Blondie,” invites him to spend a non-Christmas Christmas with her. What follows is a whirlwind fling packed with chemistry, heat, and a spontaneous trip to Boca to see a Jewish comedian at a clubhouse, which felt especially familiar since my entire family lives there.
I loved seeing a South Florida holiday setting, and this book was pretty damn spicy. Public sex between strangers, toys, plugs, crawling, and more all make an appearance. If you’re in the mood for a quick, spicy, holiday-adjacent read with Jewish representation, this one delivers. You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy it at all, and honestly, I’m not even entirely sure the MMC was, but the vibe, setting, and heat make it a fun, festive little escape regardless. Rating: 4 Novella Stars, 3.75 Heat Purchase Festive Little Fling by Jordana Blake Kindle | Paperback See the Peacock Springs Series
We’re back in Peacock Springs… or are we? Festive Little Fling is a fun, spicy little novella.
Shae is a focused, hard-working PR girl, off to Miami instead of spending Chrismakkuh back home. Since she doesn’t celebrate Christmas, she finds herself with a couple days free before a work event — time to relax, unwind, and enjoy some well-earned peace and quiet. Let her hair down. Do nothing. Enter: Chef Simon. One random, impulsive decision later, they agree to spend two solid days together and then part ways. And we all know exactly where that kind of plan leads, don’t we?
Christmas stories are usually full of adventure, drama, chaos, and festive fun - and this one had all of that, just not in your typical “Christmas” way.
Shae is very much your career-driven wild girl; Simon is a charming workaholic, to say the least. Jordana brought her usual humor, spark, and banter to this novella, and while it was definitely spicy, it also carried a more serious undertone.
If I’m honest, parts of this chaotic 48-hour whirlwind didn’t feel entirely believable to me. Some of the conversations, comments, and moments happened so quickly that I couldn’t quite imagine them unfolding so soon with a stranger. Not forced, exactly - just slightly less realistic than expected. But then again… who defines how a fling works? If a connection hits, it hits. When you know, you know - it just felt a touch TOO fast at times.
What I love about Jordana’s writing within this series, is her understanding and portrayal of blended cultures. The nod to “Jewish Christmas” traditions was incredibly relatable for me. I’ve spent years trying to explain why some elements of Christmas don’t resonate with me the way they do for others because I didn’t grow up celebrating it - so this really sat with me.
Shae and Simon work well together, and their chemistry shines. Honestly, I think their connection would have been even stronger in a full-length novel. The plot flows, but it felt a little rushed - more a limitation of the novella length than the story itself.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, fun, flirty, seasonal, charming read, this one absolutely fits the bill.
Thank you to Jordana for sending me an ecopy to read and review!
Quick easy read. Its got holiday adjacent vibes even though it crosses over Christmas and new years. The FMC is Jewish.
Workaholic FMC is in FL for a work event but decides she wants to enjoy the time away from her family that has its favorite children...hint its not her.
She ends up at the MMCs restaurant as an extra unexpected guest so he has to work around some of the dishes. They flirt and decide to go back to her hotel. They decide to find random things to do around town.
Its cute but nothing spectacular. She ghosts him at the end of the set upon time. He isn't okay with it but knows where the event is so of course he shows up and they continue on.
Story was predictable but the random things were interesting. The spice was okay but pretty basic minus the more adventures locations.
Overall it was cute but I'll probably forget about it.
“It’s hard, fast, and a little wild, just like us. Just like our love story.”
Festive Little Fling is a short read that will bring you back into Jordana’s Peacock Spring universe, except this time they’re in Florida. That said, you don’t need to have read the first two books to read this one, as it is independent, and pretty different. This is a very short read (perfect to smash your reading goals), with insta-lust, so this is a pretty steamy read. It was almost too much for me, as I usually need more plot, but I surprised myself to let being carried away by the characters and their interactions. In the end I had a good time with this spin off, perfect to slip between two heavier reads.
Thank you to the author for the eARC. My opinions are my own.
This book was pure holiday fun! 🎄☀️ Festive Little Fling gave me all the flirty, feel-good vibes I needed. It’s the perfect mix of sunshine, spice, and seasonal swoon.
Shae and Simon had such great chemistry — funny, flirty, and just the right amount of heat to make you blush behind your e-reader. Their banter had me smiling the whole time, and the pacing made it such an easy, fast read.
If you love quick, spicy holiday romances with heart and humor, this one’s a total win. Miami + Christmas + undeniable chemistry? Yes, please!
Shae and Simon are exactly who I needed to kick off my holiday season reads! Festive Little Fling is flirty and fun from page 1 where readers see Shae taking a breather and traveling to Miami for work. Meeting handsome chef Simon who does more than cook, she can't help but spend a whirlwind time with him, no expectations laid on the table. It was a delight to see where they all went and who they ran into!
This was a cute little novella, but it was a bit boring to read at times. This book should've only taken me less than a day to read and instead it took me a couple days because I could not get into it. There's not really a plot, but it's not straight up spice either. There wasn't much to it to be honest. It was very predictable....
2.5 stars. This one was a bit of a miss for me. I didn’t find the story engaging. It was short but took awhile to get through because I could easily put it down. The chemistry between the characters wasn’t there. I just didn’t buy it. The slice wasn’t sexy. It was kinda cringey.
However other people enjoyed it so maybe it just wasn’t for me.
Love this holiday romance! Shae and Simon are both incredible, complex characters who find themselves together for the holidays and make the most of every single minute! He's a chef, she's in PR, and for two days, all they have is each other! Will make you swoon, laugh, and wish you had your own hot chef!
I believe this was exactly what I needed....Blondie and all her glory!!!
Jordana Blake writes amazing stories. Never a boring moment between pearl necklaces and Roosters 🤣.
Festive Little Fling is the perfect quick read to kick off your holiday TBR. In this case, the page number is the only thing short and sweet in this spicy holiday romance ;)
festive Little fling was the perfect holiday treat! A cute, fast-paced read that was just festive and fun, with just the right amount of spice to keep it interesting. You know, the kind of book that's easy to pick up and get right back into, and the spice is always a bonus! it had a feel-good holiday vibe.
This was a fun, quick read and I enjoyed it. Nothing too serious and the insta-lust was done well with their connection and banter. I enjoyed Simon’s fun loving personality and Shae trying, but failing, to remain distant emotionally. The sweet ending was wrapped up well and didn’t take itself too seriously.
Shae, a young Jewish FMC, likes to work hard and play hard. She’s spending Christmas in Miami for work and since she doesn’t celebrate she wants to find a hot guy to keep her entertained over the holiday. The perfect guy shows up when she meets Simon, a hot chef with a new restaurant.
This in theory was a fun, spicy, alternative Christmas romance but unfortunately I just didn’t connect with it. I often found myself re-reading sentences as they didn’t seem to flow smoothly for me.
I did enjoy the concept of finding a random guy to hook up with over Christmas so she wasn’t alone and they get up to some fun adventures. It’s different to lot of the Christmas romances I was reading so that was refreshing.
Simon falls first and hard and there’s an age gap for any fans of that trope. I just didn’t seem to connect with the main characters.
At only 136 pages though I do recommend giving it a read if you fancy something a little bit different. It’s a quick spicy read that you may enjoy.
Absolutely wonderful character building in this book by Ms. Blake. I was hooked from page one with these characters and now I’m sad I can’t just go home with them and be their best friend.
I loved this holiday novella set in Miami! It was nice to have a little change of pace from the snow, but it still had that holiday magic feel. Shae & Simon have chemistry for days and their whirlwind romance over the holidays took them to all the hidden gems of the city. Loved the culture that was woven in. Perfectly spicy, swoony & sweet!
Jordana Blake did NOT come to play — she came to deliver a quick, spicy, sun-kissed holiday escape that feels like Miami heat wrapped in Christmas lights. Festive Little Fling is the exact brand of flirty chaos I crave in a novella: fast banter, electric chemistry, accidental vulnerability, and a hero who cooks like he’s seducing you with a whisk.
Their instant connection? Addictive. Their banter? Peak millennial romance energy. Their two-day whirlwind? I inhaled it like the world’s most delicious holiday cookie.
This novella is fun, flirty, and full of that Jordana Blake sparkle… the kind of story you devour in one sitting and immediately want to cast in your head like a 2005 rom-com starring the hottest chef you’ve ever seen.
If you love: ✨ holiday novellas with a tropical twist ✨ chef heroes who know exactly what they’re doing ✨ sunshine-on-sunshine personalities ✨ witty banter + instant chemistry ✨ a book that feels like a weekend getaway
…you NEED this on your weekend TBR.
Short, spicy, and seasonally serotonin-packed. Jordana Blake continues to be one of the reigning queens of romance, and this one? PURE FESTIVE FUN.
Festive Little Fling By Jordana Blake was such a flirty, fun & spicy quick read for the holiday season. I was completely hooked from the first page and did not want to put it down. Shae and Simon were absolutely perfect. Their chemistry was on fire. If you have read Fighting then you will recognize Shae as she is Nessa's sister. This book might be short but it does not hold back, it is packed with adventure and completely flirty vibes. The characters were so well written and total green flags. This book did not disappoint. Jordana has quickly become one of my favorite indie authors. I cannot wait to read what comes next from Jordana!
Tropes/Micro-Tropes: 🌴 non-traditional Christmas novella 🥵 insta-lust 🐓 HOW BIG?! ☀️ sunshine x sunshine ❤️🔥 vacation only 🌅 talking til sunrise ❤️🔥 DP with a toy 🩷 six nine 🧡 swallow for me 🩵 crawl to me
This time, I’m able to see that his tattoo says bon appetite in typewriter font. Giggling, I ask, “A little on the nose isn’t it?” “If you think that’s too obvious, you should see some of the others,” he quips back. “Dare I ask?” I say, raising an eyebrow suspiciously. “I have a butterfly tramp stamp,” he deadpans.
He laughs, and as his sleeves move and his neck turns, I notice there are sprinkles of black ink everywhere. Saliva pools in my mouth, I want to peel his chef’s coat off and examine every fucking speck of it. With my nails and tongue.
“Oh baby,” she whispers reverently after a sip. “Thank you, sweet baby Jesus in the manger.” “Okay, Ricky Bobby, slow down. This is meant to be savored,” I say, slinging my arm over her shoulders. “Does that make you the one he’s in step- brothers with?” she asks, lifting her sunglasses to examine me.
I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
Dedication: for everyone who has been envious of Christmas, why don’t we make our own magic this year?
Shae (FMC): PR Manager • Pierced Party Girl • Wild Child • Sassy Sunshine • Works Hard / Plays Harder • Simon (MMC): Head Chef • Tattooed Sunshine • Michelin Star & James Beard Winner • Short King 👑 • Gold Chain Wearer •
Tropes: 🍽️ Strangers to Lovers 🌴 Sunshine x Sunshine 🍽️ Insta-Lust 🌴 Vacation Only 🍽️ Miami Holiday Heat Setting 🌴 Non-Traditional Holiday Romance 🍽️ Nicknames 🌴 Delicious Food 🍽️ Novella
Rating: ✈️✈️✈️.🌇(3.5⭐️) Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (dirty talk, praise, 👅, ♋️, 🍑 play, crawl, toys as teammates, public play) T/W: 🍃🌱 use (on page)
Festive, flirty, and just the right amount of chaotic—Festive Little Fling delivers all the sun-kissed sparkle of a holiday escape with a touch of spice. Two days, one sizzling connection, and a whole lot of late night adventures later, their holiday fling feels less like a detour and more like destiny.
Quick, steamy, and soaked in tropical holiday vibes, this novella is equal parts fun and frenzied. Jordana Blake nails the “Jewish Christmas” charm and Miami glitz, even if the story moves so fast it sometimes trips over its own dialogue. Still, Simon’s swoony charm, Saul the Miami Santa, and all that delicious food make it impossible not to smile. Perfect for readers who want their holiday romance with palm trees instead of pines, Festive Little Fling is a spicy escape that’ll warm you right up.
I received an ARC copy and wanted to leave an honest review.
Welcome back to Peacock Springs….oh, no, wait! Welcome to Miami?! Jordana Blake takes us on a wonderful, mini vacation to Miami for a Festive Little Fling. Where palm trees glow bright, the surf and sand call to you, and encounters with strangers are a possibility around every corner.
Shae is busting her heels every day to prove herself as a PR. She is driven, determined, and ok, a workaholic. When a work opportunity allows her to show her dedication and get out of spending the holidays with her family, she jumps at the opportunity. She heads out a few days early to let her down and enjoy some much needed recharging.
Simon is immediately taken by the gorgeous woman in green that walks into his family’s restaurant, where he is a chef. He is ecstatic when his flirting is returned and she seems to want the same thing he does. When he and Shae agree to spend the next two days together, without exchanging much information, it is a whirlwind of romance.
I wouldn’t mind getting a full length story about these two, especially after that ending! A short and easy read that will leave you smiling. Undeniable chemistry, found family, and a love that is meant to be; these are a few of my favorite things.
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect: 🌴Insta-Love 🎄Strangers to Lovers 🌴Holiday Magic 🎄Santa Antics 🌴Christmas Novella
🌴A Florida Christmas 🎁Sunshine X Sunshine 🌴48 Hour of Holiday Fling Adventures 🎁Insta-Lust 🌴Is it Hot in Here? 🎁Flirty/Fun Banter
Listen—I’ve read a lot of Christmas romances this season, and no matter how good they are, they can start to blur together after a while. (I love saving a tree farm as much as the next reader, but maybe we save… I don’t know… an ice cream shop for once? I digress.)
Festive Little Fling was a quick, fun breath of fresh air thanks to its more subtle approach to Christmas. With both Shae and Simon not really celebrating the holiday, the story takes on a slightly different vibe while still keeping that low-key festive undertone.
And Simon? I loved, loved, LOVED him. He may officially be my new favorite MMC when it comes to insta-lust moments.
“Cartoon Simon has fully melted into a rain of squares. He’s dead. I’m dead. The angel is talking to me.”
😆😆😆
At just 136 pages, this is the perfect December afternoon read. Grab a boozy hot cocoa (blast the A/C if you’re in Florida 🌴), and enjoy a quick, flirty escape with sunshine, spice, and just the right amount of holiday vibes.