Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms: A Small-Town Christmas Romance

by Claire Kingsley

From USA Today Bestselling author Claire Kingsley, the stand-alone small-town/romcom/romantic suspense/Christmas romance you didn’t know you needed.

Handsome, charismatic, and charming, Jensen Lakes is an enigma in a designer suit. But his playboy reputation is a persona—one of many—that he uses in his unique line of work.
A priceless heirloom goes missing right before the holidays, and Jensen is hired to find it. Tracking down the perpetrator will be simple. He’ll be in and out before Santa hits chimneys.

Natalie Thatcher needs a break. She’s a dedicated sister, aunt, and nurse, but her life is no Christmas carol. Between bills, mounting home repairs, and holiday shopping still to be done, most days she feels like a tangled strand of lights.

Jensen follows his quarry to Tilikum, and the Christmas-clad town throws him for a loop. As does Natalie. He enlists her aid—who better to help him navigate the local quirks than the captivating woman next door? Despite their chemistry and sizzling banter, love isn’t on his Christmas list. Or hers.

But as danger mounts, Jensen finds himself in an unexpected position—falling in love with his partner. And when her life is on the line, he’ll risk everything to keep her safe.
And get her home for Christmas.

Author’s Note: A handsome charmer falls hard for a sassy small-town girl. Adventure, witty banter, Christmas coziness, and a holiday happily ever after that will leave your heart full.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Romantic Suspense, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance

338 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2025

About the author

Claire Kingsley is a USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author of sexy, heartfelt contemporary romance, romantic comedies, and small-town romantic suspense. She writes sassy, quirky heroines, swoony heroes who love their women hard, romantic happily ever afters, and all the big feels.

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Reviews

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will always sign up to spend some time in Tilikum! And holidays are the best times to boot. This Holiday, there's some drama though. A suspected thief is on the loose, a nursing strike is a foot, and a new sexy neighbor has come to stay. So get ready for an adventure.

Jensen & Natalie find themselves teamed up over the holidays to take on thief who is trying to lay low in Tilikum. It was a crazy adventure with a tingle of humor and small town heart. It may seem like they are on a ticking clock, but like many before him, Jensen is going to find himself drawn into the charm of the place and maybe won't find it so easy to leave. And Natalie finds herself really invested in the thrill of the hunt.

This was everything I love about Claire Kingsley and I only wish I could have a bit more. But it was a quick listen and great for the winter months and/or a holiday read. I listened to the audio and it was expertly narrated by Shane East and CJ Bloom.

4 Stars
2 on the spice scale

CW: Kidnapping

*Thank you to the author for an ALC and ARC of this title.*

[Lilyya ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

with the recent events surrounding the robbery of Le Musée du Louvre, this was such an on-brand book to read. the perfect way to get immersed in a story about people trying to dismantle an epic theft.

once again, we return to the emblematic Tilikum through Claire Kingsley’s prose, who never fails to transport me into that small town filled with secrets, suspense, and the perfect dose of romance and steamy scenes that make me crave more of that lovely community.

Jensen is on a quest to find the culprit(s) behind the robbery, but one thing he didn’t expect along the way was Natalie, the nurse, the perfect girl next door, who’s renting him the house he’s staying in during his investigation. between her, her sister, and her niece, Jensen didn’t expect (nor did I) the found-family arc that hit me straight in the chest and I honestly loved every second of it.

this is the perfect holiday romance for anyone craving a soupçon of thrill in the mix.

many thanks to the author and her PA for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐ Comedia, suspense, romance, pueblo pequeño (Tilikum) y Navidad!!

Claire ha juntado todo eso en este libro y además, ha recuperado un personaje de una de mis series favoritas, que es divertido de lo exageradamente creído que lo tiene, aunque evoluciona rápido en un protagonista con madera de novio.

El toque de misterio que tan bien está funcionando con la serie de los Haven, encaja perfectamente en esta historia donde encontramos unas hermanas y una niña encantadora que son muy reales y con las que puedes empatizar.
Que sea Navidad es un plus y los epílogos más.

Aunque no lo protagonicen los Bailey o los Haven, no importa, volver a Tilikum siempre es algo especial.

[hey it’s dar · Rating 5 out of 5]

alc review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️.5

Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms— this small town, strangers to lovers, romantic suspense with some holiday flare was the perfect read for blending that spooky time of year to the upcoming snowy, holiday fun. I had a great time with this read!! I love me a foreign MMC, and Shane East did a phenomenal job bringing Jensen Lakes to life!! I am also a longtime fan of CJ Bloom: absolutely perfect for Natalie’s character!!

I loved the story with Jensen’s “ thief hunting” — it was something fun and different, and it brought some originality to this small town story. Natalie just can’t help but be entranced by the gorgeous mystery man staying in her Airbnb. What else is there to do for a Nurse on strike around the holidays, but join up with the man on his mysterious hunt for a rare jewel thief?

Jensen briefly being called away for work, finds himself returning way too soon to Tilikum— and Natalie— when he can’t seem to get her off his mind, and he pulls his head on straight and gets his feelings in tact; and then comes more trouble. Jensen’s work comes back to bite him, and he jumps into action to get his girl back when she disappears during their date out.

Thanks to Claire for an advanced readers copy/advanced listeners copy of this read, in exchange for my honest review.

[freya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mehhhh. Not my fave. I cringed A LOT. I hated Jensen’s personality and I didn’t think he improved much. His character by the end was just annoying and they didn’t really feel like they had a connection. Natalie was kinda mid too, I wasn’t a fan. It had some good moments and honestly wasn’t an awful book, it just moved so fast and for me personally I didn’t really enjoy it. There was a lot of potential with the mystery aspect and I wish it was explored more. I’d say like 2 stars tbh as it wasn’t an awful book and I see why some enjoy it. But not for me tbh. Kinda wattpady actually

[✨️ Jessica's Bookshelf ✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. it was a sweet but spicy Christmas book!

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

Romantic Suspense + Small Town + Billionaire Playboy/Nurse FMC + Art Theft Recovery Business

[Confessions of a Bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always look forward to a Claire Kingsley release and the fact that this one gets to kick off holiday reading/listening season for me was absolute perfection. Five stars simply is not enough!

Ms. Kingsley takes readers back to Tilikum in this romantic suspense holiday beauty. When I first met Jensen I never would have suspected he is this James Bond/under the radar type super spy man. Match him up with Natalie, a nightshift nurse at the hospital. On paper these two are so different one would think they don't make sense but Claire totally makes them work.

I absolutely love these two. Natalie and her plain old routine life she lives with normal struggles like how to pay for massive home repairs and such. Making sure her niece has a good Christmas and looking out for both her sister and niece. Jensen with his British accent for starters, his somewhat posh appearance, along with the properness of his vocabulary. The last thing either of them was expecting is each other. They fit so well together. I never would have suspected Jensen to be the type to fall first and hard!

Ms. Kingsley has a nice balance of suspense with romance in this one all set at Christmas time adding to the warm and fuzzy feelings the holiday season brings.

********AUDIO REVIEW********
C.J. Bloom and Shane East perform in duet style and they sounded so great together. I don't think anyone else could have pulled off the type of persona that Jensen is like Mr. East. When it came to the American male characters he sounded fantastic. Ms. Bloom handled the various female characters exquisitely and is a perfect Natalie.

[Brittany Harville · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was sooo cute! The perfect cozy small town Christmas romance with some witty banter and romantic suspense. Jensens line of work puts him in this small town to find a priceless heirloom where he’s only suppose to be in town for a short time to work a job. Where does he find lodging? The flat above Natalie’s garage. A nurse on strike struggling to make ends meet while living with her sister and niece is not what Jensen had expected to find but sparks fly as he enlists her help in catching the thief. Loved the banter, so so cute.

[Victoria Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

We had romcom vibes, suspense vibes, action/adventure, and of course, some cozy holiday feels too!

Sometimes Christmas romances can start to feel the same, but Claire Kingsley absolutely nailed it with this one.

Jensen is a thief hunter! His latest assignment is to track down a stolen heirloom and steal it back. The only problem? He sticks out like a sore thumb in small-town Tillikum. Dressed in designer suits and armed with charm, he’s used to winning people over easily… until he meets his match.

Natalie is an overworked nurse trying to make ends meet while living with her sister and niece. Her new tenant in the garage apartment? Way too sexy and way too dangerous for her to get involved with. But when Jensen asks for her help recovering the precious necklace, sparks (and trouble) start to fly.

This story wasn’t screaming Christmas, but it had just enough festive warmth to make it feel cozy. The romance was so good fun, steamy, and full of heart.

Honestly, I don’t think Claire Kingsley can write a bad book. Even though this one crosses a few genres, it works beautifully. I loved every bit of it!
4.5⭐️

Tropes:
✨ Romantic Suspense
✨ Partner in Crime
✨ Fake Dating
✨ Small Town
✨ Touch Her & 💀

[Jane Gakere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a comfort read . The setting was very Christmas themed and the suspense added to the enjoyment
I didn’t expect to love this as much

[Ilona (Inkmates Read) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book but this snowstorm was full of CORNflakes 😂 (yes I know that was bad and I don’t care, I couldn’t help it!).

[Just A Girl With Spirit · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Who hurt you?” Always my undoing. This was such a delight with some mystery suspense themes.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow - i devoured this?! i loved it so much, like shut up. wow

[Catalina · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 🌟

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

me ha encantado este libro!
Jensen, un ex ladrón que se dedica a recuperar reliquias invaluables, tiene un nuevo trabajo que lo lleva a un pequeño pueblo llamado Tillikum, donde hay ardillas por todos lados, y personajes entrañables, decide quedarse en un departamento de Natalie, una enfermera que actualmente no tiene trabajo porque está en huelga, vive con su hermana y su sobrina, tienen un primer encuentro interesante jajaja y sienten una atracción instantánea y aunque ella lo rechaza, comienzan a pasar tiempo juntos porque le pide que le ayude a pasar desapercibido y de paso que le ayude a encontrar al ladrón y recuperar la joya, empiezan un plan para encontrar al susodicho ladrón, y de paso comienzan a pasar mucho tiempo juntos y a realizar algo al respecto de la atracción que sienten.

No sé si es porque extrañaba Tillikum, porque es navideño o qué pero me lo he disfrutado demasiado, Natalie es lindisima LA AMO y Jensen un amooor, fue divertido, sexy y misterioso, aunque debo decir que el final con el tema del robo y eso fue muy WTF, tipo matan a 2 hombres y ellos tranquilamente se van a su casa a pasar navidad 😅 jajajjaa sin embargo en Tillikum ya nada me sorprende! amé

[Sharon Markov · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way I wanted to end the year! Cheesy but good! Loved the epilogue and the bonus epilogue- talk about closure and super closure lol

[brazenandbookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was my first Claire Kingsley book and definitely won’t be my last! I absolutely loved this. It was such a fun little Christmas novella with a dash of romantic suspense. I loved Natalie and Jensen as main characters, and the side characters were still developed well enough that I felt connected to them too. Overall a super fun reading experience!

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

TBH hallmark would have a field day with this one which should tell you all you need to know about how corny it was

[Cokiereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book set in Tilikum is a fun time. Claire has created this cute town where I feel at home, with the squirrels and the towns people.

This one is new for us, because we get to see a new side of Tilikum, one who's not a Bailey or a Haven. Natalie Thatcher is a nurse. One who now has some free time on her hands. What better way to use it than to help the new stranger in town. Someone who's living close by. Aka, in her house.

Jensen Lakes is pretty much used to getting what he wants. And that second he saw Natalie? Definitely off his feet. And man, I love the playboy (kinda) getting put in his place. He's kinda in new territory. He's not being pursued. He's doing the pursuing. And dudes not used to it.

But they become a team. One thats really trying to learn the ropes. Because there's a thief in Tilikum. And Jensen is going to find them. Which is such a cool job. I'm not sure I've ever read such a guy before. He was the theif now he's on the other side.

I loved the build up between the two of them. Natalie is letting her hair down (metaphorically speaking) and getting involved in the thick of it.

So, besides being a small town romance there's some mystery too. Claire has been building her mystery collection. And I am loving it. Its mystery for those who prefer romance!

[Amity Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC/ALC Review

What a perfect holiday romance with added suspense!!& I Absolutely loved Jensen and Natalie!

Jensen is on a mission to find a stolen necklace & ends up in the town Tilikum. He runs into Natalie a Smalltown girl, and boy does he fall fast!!

This was the perfect mixture of a fun & cozy Christmas read with the danger and chaos of a great suspense! Natalie was a feisty and sassy FMC who was perfect to join Jensen’s mission. Plus, we love to see a morally gray MMC with all the touch her and ☠️ vibes!!

Truly a perfect Christmas romantic suspense!!

Thank you Claire Kingsley for this early reading opportunity.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually love Claire's romantic suspense books, and I was so excited for one during Christmas! This one, though, was more of a heist/international espionage angle that didn't feel suspense-y enough for me. The hero shows up in the small town looking for a thief and falls for the woman who is helping raise her sister's daughter. The romance was okay, but felt just a bit too insta-love for my taste. Overall not a new favorite from this author!

[Brittany Orosz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Kymmie Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms takes us back to my favorite small town of Tilikum, WA. But there
are some new characters that readers familiar with Ms. Kingsley’s works may not expect to find
there. Some of these new characters are good guys. Some, not so much.

Let’s start with one of the good ones, Jensen Lakes. CK readers will know him as Nora’s half-
brother in the Dirty Martini Running Club series. And he is just as charming and mysterious in
his own book as he was in that series. He is in town trying to catch a thief who stole some
valuable jewels.

His (eventual) lady is Natalie Thatcher, a nurse living with her single-mom sister in their family
home in Tilikum. Jensen ends up being her neighbor while he is in town. Natalie is an older
sister through and through, always feeling like she needs to be responsible for everyone. So it
is a bit of a surprise for her when she agrees to help Jensen find his jewel thief.

They’ve both made a pinky promise to a special little girl to be home in time for Christmas,
though, so they’d better catch the thief quickly!

We also see several familiar characters, locations, and animals from both the Bailey Brothers
and Haven series. The other new characters? Well, they might be bad guys, I can’t tell you
about them here!

As far as spice goes, if you’re familiar with Ms. Kingsley’s other Christmas book, How the
Grump Saved Christmas, I’d say the spice level is similar to that, maybe a little spicier.

As a long-time fan of Ms. Kingsley, I was so happy to get to read Jensen’s book. He intrigued a
lot of us when he first appeared in the Dirty Martini books, but real life got in the way of his
story until now. And it was definitely worth the wait!

You do not need to have read any of the previous Tilikum-based books, or the Dirty Martini
books, to enjoy this story. It stands completely on its own. But if you have, I think you’ll get
extra enjoyment from the references and encounters. And if you haven’t, it is a great
introduction to a well-loved small town.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire Kingsley you have done it again!
I flew through this! Even when I put it down for a few hours, I was constantly thinking about it.

Natalie Thatcher is a nurse who is currently on an unexpected 'vacation' as the hospital is on strike, and she and her sister live together with her niece and are trying to make ends meet. They rent out a room in the garage apartment, and little did any of them know the kind of danger they were getting involved in by doing so.

Jensen Lakes is a thief hunter, which is such an interesting character dynamic to dive into and I loved every second of it. He is in Tillikum to find a stolen necklace and help return it to its owner.

Reading this book right after the recent robbery of the Le Musée du Louvre made the storyline even more intriguing to me, and really did make you want to know more, especially because of the current events.
I loved the suspense in this story, and the behind the scenes of Jensen's job, as well as their attendance to the Gala, which was probably my favorite part of the book because the TENSION and how protective he was of Natalie.

Sometimes when you think of a "holiday romance" you might think it's going to be all garland and mistletoe, but I promise you right now, this is the sweet spot of holiday romances! It had just enough holiday to help remind you that it takes place during the festivities, but not too much that you feel like you get more Christmas than plot.

I absolutely adored the found family in this story. The snowball fight that Jensen had with Annabel was one of my favorite scenes, it had me smiling and kicking my feet the whole time.

I've never read a Claire Kinglsey book that I haven't completely devoured in one or two sittings, and this one was no exception!
I hope in the future we get Natalie's sisters book, I loved the single mom / single dad romance that was getting set up towards the end of the book!

All in all, if you're looking for a cozy read, that will also make your heart race, and your feet kick, you've found it with Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms, and I can't wait for the next masterpiece that Claire puts out!

A huge thank you to Claire Kinglsey & her wonderful team for the eARC in exchange for an honest review ❤️

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

First holiday romance of the year and this was such an enjoyable read! It had the perfect collection of small town charm, swoony moments, witty banter and added suspense to keep you on your toes. The perfect easy, quick read for your Christmas tbr!

Jensen is chasing a thief which lands him in the small town of Tilikum. The quirky, squirrel infested town we’ve come to love in Claire’s recent books. That’s where he meets Natalie, who he enlists to help him. While solving the mystery together, sparks fly, his priorities shift and he gets more than he ever thought he wanted this Christmas.

I loved the way they came together, with Jensen falling hard and fast for our girl Natalie. She starts out resisting his charm but he’s determined and she could only deny the chemistry between them for so long. The addition of

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: Christmas standalone romance, small town, romantic suspense, snowed in, partners in (stopping) crime, no third act breakup

[Apryl (inmybookishgirlera) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute story with cozy holiday feels! You have romance suspense, romcom vibes, and some adventure. I loved her writing, it kept me engaged and wanting more!

Jensen is a gorgeous, sophisticated thief hunter and his assignment is to find a stolen heirloom necklace. Natalie is a nurse on strike trying to make ends meet. She also has an apartment for rent above her garage. Jensen is her new tenant while he’s in town tracking down this stolen necklace. Jensen asks for her help and sparks fly!

This story was so unique and different from other Christmas books I’ve read. This was my first book by Claire Kingsley and I will be reading all her books now! 4.5⭐️

Def recommend adding to your holiday tbr!

🎄romance suspense
🎄romcom vibes
🎄fake dating
🎄he falls first

[Bronwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was happy with this story. The two MCs worked well together and I really liked Natalie and her family. It took me a bit to warm up to Jensen, but he turned out to be perfect for Natalie. The sex scenes were tasteful and I could feel the characters’ connection. The ending felt a bit rushed and wrapped up a little to conveniently. I was left wanting more.

Someday I’ll look into other books this author has written. Right now I have a full list to read.

*there’s a “bonus epilogue” that can be downloaded. It was meh. It ended at 31% and the rest was the first chapter of a different book. What I don’t understand is that it was the same thing that was at the end of THIS book. Why do that?? 🙄 Disappointed.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the Christmas romantic suspense that you didn't know you needed!! I love every time I get to go back to Tilikum and this was no exception.

Jensen finds himself in Tilikum to find a priceless heirloom that has been stolen. He enlists the help of Natalie, a local nurse, and together they team up to see if they can figure out who stole it. There was something about Natalie that drew Jensen in immediately and that is very unlike him. The two have undeniable chemistry and I loved seeing Jensen fall hard and fast. The adventure these two go on is so fun and I was instantly hooked. This is a perfect novella to read this holiday season!

🎧Audio:🎧
This was a duet narration by Shane East & CJ Bloom. These two were perfection! Shane, esp with that accent, was perfect as the charming Jensen Lakes. CJ brought Natalie's entire personality to life and I especially love the way she narrates kids voices. The audio was great!

Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms releases on November 6. Thank you so much to Claire Kingsley for this ARC/ALC.