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Rebel Without a Claus
Eve Winters lives for Christmas—the twinkling lights, the festive music, the over-the-top holiday magic. So when her parents need help running their Christmas-themed inn, she’s all in. The only problem? Luke Dawson—the town’s broody, flannel-wearing reindeer farmer who hates everything merry and bright. Unfortunately, he’s also the one providing the reindeer for the town’s biggest holiday festival, which means Eve is stuck working with Mr. Bah Humbug himself.
Luke has no patience for Christmas or the chaos that comes with it—especially when it involves Eve, the walking, talking embodiment of holiday cheer. He spent years trying to forget her, but now that she’s moved back to town—with her sharp tongue, city-girl attitude, and an unfortunate talent for getting stuck under mistletoe—forgetting her is impossible.
But between meddling townsfolk, mischievous reindeer, and a snowstorm that leaves them stranded together, Luke is starting to wonder if maybe Christmas—and Eve Winters—aren’t so bad after all.
She’s all sparkle and Christmas spirit. He’s one grinchy cowboy. But when the festive sparks turn into a full-blown holiday inferno, will this rebel without a claus surrender to the season’s greatest surprise—falling head over boots in love?
Packed with sizzling chemistry, witty banter, and laugh-out-loud holiday chaos, Rebel Without a Claus is the perfect Christmas rom-com for fans of grumpy sunshine, small-town meddling, and holiday magic.
Luke has no patience for Christmas or the chaos that comes with it—especially when it involves Eve, the walking, talking embodiment of holiday cheer. He spent years trying to forget her, but now that she’s moved back to town—with her sharp tongue, city-girl attitude, and an unfortunate talent for getting stuck under mistletoe—forgetting her is impossible.
But between meddling townsfolk, mischievous reindeer, and a snowstorm that leaves them stranded together, Luke is starting to wonder if maybe Christmas—and Eve Winters—aren’t so bad after all.
She’s all sparkle and Christmas spirit. He’s one grinchy cowboy. But when the festive sparks turn into a full-blown holiday inferno, will this rebel without a claus surrender to the season’s greatest surprise—falling head over boots in love?
Packed with sizzling chemistry, witty banter, and laugh-out-loud holiday chaos, Rebel Without a Claus is the perfect Christmas rom-com for fans of grumpy sunshine, small-town meddling, and holiday magic.
192 pages, Paperback
Published October 5, 2025
11 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Katana Collins
94 books671 followersKatana Collins is a USA Today bestselling author of over twenty novels, novellas, and comic books in a variety of genres. She is most known for her sensual contemporary romances and her wildly popular comic book— Batman White Knight Presents: Harley Quinn with DC Comics.
When she was younger and stole her mother’s Harlequins to read beneath the covers with a flashlight, she wanted to read about the tough as nails heroine. The perfectly imperfect girl with quirks and attitude and sass. And the anti-heroes who were anything but “Prince Charming.” Forget the knight on a white horse … she wanted the bad boy on a motorcycle.
An avid animal lover, she lives in Portland, Maine with her kind of mean cat, derpy lab-pitt mix, mellow chihuahua, and very not mellow cairn terrier puppy. Oh, yeah… there’s a husband somewhere in that mix, too.
She can usually be found in a coffee shop with her nose buried in a laptop wearing fabulous (albeit sometimes impractical) shoes.
She loves connecting with book lovers like herself, and fellow sassy storytellers, so feel free to drop her an email, visit her on her website. She also loves connecting on Instagram, Facebook or in her reader group, Kat’s Kittens!
When she was younger and stole her mother’s Harlequins to read beneath the covers with a flashlight, she wanted to read about the tough as nails heroine. The perfectly imperfect girl with quirks and attitude and sass. And the anti-heroes who were anything but “Prince Charming.” Forget the knight on a white horse … she wanted the bad boy on a motorcycle.
An avid animal lover, she lives in Portland, Maine with her kind of mean cat, derpy lab-pitt mix, mellow chihuahua, and very not mellow cairn terrier puppy. Oh, yeah… there’s a husband somewhere in that mix, too.
She can usually be found in a coffee shop with her nose buried in a laptop wearing fabulous (albeit sometimes impractical) shoes.
She loves connecting with book lovers like herself, and fellow sassy storytellers, so feel free to drop her an email, visit her on her website. She also loves connecting on Instagram, Facebook or in her reader group, Kat’s Kittens!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
November 30, 2025
Rating
4 💎
1 🌶️
Quick Summary
Eve and Luke’s banter had me hooked from page one, and watching their walls come down was pure magic. Add snowy chapters (wink wink) and festive sparkle, this is the perfect cosy Christmas romance.
Reading Thoughts
📗From the start you can feel straight away threat there is this undercurrent of feelings between Eve and Luke
📗The banter and competitiveness between them was brilliant and kept me engaged the whole book
📗The way Luke has this outward persona for everyone and then you see this other side of him as Eve breaks down his walls.
📗Every book needs snow chapters, these had me swooning (no spoilers)
📗ohh and I think I might want a reindeer now 😝
Words that linger
🍷We’re both covered in hay and exhausted and surrounded by reindeer, and yet—this feels like a moment that matters.
🍷She throws her hands into the air again. “What do you want, Luke?” I sigh. "You, okay? I want you. Are you happy?"
🍷Because Eve likes peppermint mochas. And—dammit—I like Eve.
🍷The man who rebuilt his farm from nothing. The man who dragged me out of my worst days and reminded me I was worth saving. The man who loves so fiercely he’d let me go if it meant I could chase my dream.
Tropes
🦌Second chance
🦌Grumpy v sunshine
🦌Holiday romance
🦌Small town romance
4 💎
1 🌶️
Quick Summary
Eve and Luke’s banter had me hooked from page one, and watching their walls come down was pure magic. Add snowy chapters (wink wink) and festive sparkle, this is the perfect cosy Christmas romance.
Reading Thoughts
📗From the start you can feel straight away threat there is this undercurrent of feelings between Eve and Luke
📗The banter and competitiveness between them was brilliant and kept me engaged the whole book
📗The way Luke has this outward persona for everyone and then you see this other side of him as Eve breaks down his walls.
📗Every book needs snow chapters, these had me swooning (no spoilers)
📗ohh and I think I might want a reindeer now 😝
Words that linger
🍷We’re both covered in hay and exhausted and surrounded by reindeer, and yet—this feels like a moment that matters.
🍷She throws her hands into the air again. “What do you want, Luke?” I sigh. "You, okay? I want you. Are you happy?"
🍷Because Eve likes peppermint mochas. And—dammit—I like Eve.
🍷The man who rebuilt his farm from nothing. The man who dragged me out of my worst days and reminded me I was worth saving. The man who loves so fiercely he’d let me go if it meant I could chase my dream.
Tropes
🦌Second chance
🦌Grumpy v sunshine
🦌Holiday romance
🦌Small town romance
November 27, 2025
✨ Thank you to Katana Collins and Hambright PR for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own. ✨
Katana Collins hooked me with this charming Christmas romance. Eve Winters returns home to help her parents save their Christmas-themed inn after losing her job. To win the town’s big holiday contest, she has no choice but to team up with Luke Dawson—the broody, flannel-wearing reindeer farmer who’s basically the town Grinch.
Eve is the human embodiment of Christmas spirit, while Luke has spent years avoiding anything merry and bright. They secretly pined for each other in high school but never acted on it. Now, a massive snowstorm—and being stranded together—forces all those buried feelings to resurface.
This story delivers cozy small-town vibes, a hint of second chance energy, slow-burn-to-sizzle chemistry, and some of the funniest reindeer moments I’ve ever read. I laughed out loud more than once and would happily read another book featuring Eve and Luke! 🎄❤️🔥
#KatanaCollins #HPRRebelWithoutaClaus #HambrightPR #Bookstagram #holidayromance
Katana Collins hooked me with this charming Christmas romance. Eve Winters returns home to help her parents save their Christmas-themed inn after losing her job. To win the town’s big holiday contest, she has no choice but to team up with Luke Dawson—the broody, flannel-wearing reindeer farmer who’s basically the town Grinch.
Eve is the human embodiment of Christmas spirit, while Luke has spent years avoiding anything merry and bright. They secretly pined for each other in high school but never acted on it. Now, a massive snowstorm—and being stranded together—forces all those buried feelings to resurface.
This story delivers cozy small-town vibes, a hint of second chance energy, slow-burn-to-sizzle chemistry, and some of the funniest reindeer moments I’ve ever read. I laughed out loud more than once and would happily read another book featuring Eve and Luke! 🎄❤️🔥
#KatanaCollins #HPRRebelWithoutaClaus #HambrightPR #Bookstagram #holidayromance
January 1, 2026
I had so much fun reading this novella by Katana Collins!
I got the biggest Hallmark vibes while reading this and could honestly read this any time of the year! Eve loves Christmas and comes home to find that her parents really want to win this year’s Christmas competition but only because the reward will help them save their Inn. Competition has led to empty rooms and they need funds to help get back on the map.
Enter the grumpy reindeer farmer, Luke, whose heart always beat for Eve…even when she left the small town life to tackle her big city dreams. When she goes to Luke needing his help and his reindeer, he says she can help him run the reindeer farm since she can’t quite pay the per day, per reindeer fee.
Enter the laugh out loud moments and flirty interactions. Blitzen had me cackling because of the candy cane obsession 😄. And the flirty moments turned into some pretty decent spice! I’d give the spice level a 🌶️🌶️/5 which was a perfect amount.
I recommend this holiday novella! Small town vibes are just so bingeable!
Thank you Katana Collins and HambrightPR for the gift of this book in return for my honest review!
TROPES:
💔 Second Chance
☀️ Grumpy Sunshine
🎄 Holiday
🏡 Small Town
💞 Found Family
🚪 Forced Proximity
I got the biggest Hallmark vibes while reading this and could honestly read this any time of the year! Eve loves Christmas and comes home to find that her parents really want to win this year’s Christmas competition but only because the reward will help them save their Inn. Competition has led to empty rooms and they need funds to help get back on the map.
Enter the grumpy reindeer farmer, Luke, whose heart always beat for Eve…even when she left the small town life to tackle her big city dreams. When she goes to Luke needing his help and his reindeer, he says she can help him run the reindeer farm since she can’t quite pay the per day, per reindeer fee.
Enter the laugh out loud moments and flirty interactions. Blitzen had me cackling because of the candy cane obsession 😄. And the flirty moments turned into some pretty decent spice! I’d give the spice level a 🌶️🌶️/5 which was a perfect amount.
I recommend this holiday novella! Small town vibes are just so bingeable!
Thank you Katana Collins and HambrightPR for the gift of this book in return for my honest review!
TROPES:
💔 Second Chance
☀️ Grumpy Sunshine
🎄 Holiday
🏡 Small Town
💞 Found Family
🚪 Forced Proximity
December 24, 2025
***ARC Review***
4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you to the author Katana Collins and Hambright for sending me a digital ARC copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
Rebel Without A Claus was such a fun and cute loving Christmas story! I’m so glad I was able to finish reading this book just in time for Christmas. This book totally gets you in the mood for Christmas, family, and competitive Christmas festivals. I want to visit Holly Ridge because it sounds so magical.
Eve and Luke started out rocky, but you could instantly tell they were going to fall in love. I love a grumpy Christmas grinch. These two made you fall in love with Holly Ridge. The support and love they had for each other was like a fairytale. I can’t give everything away, so you’ll have to read the book for yourself.
I would definitely recommend this as a holiday read. Rebel Without A Claus had me laughing and smiling in all the right places. I hope you get to read and enjoy this book as much as I did!
TROPES ✨
💔 Second Chance ☀️ Grumpy Sunshine 🎄 Holiday 🏡 Small Town 💞 Found Family 🚪 Forced Proximity
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Currently Published
#HPRRebelWithoutaClaus
#KatanaCollins
#HambrightPR
4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you to the author Katana Collins and Hambright for sending me a digital ARC copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
Rebel Without A Claus was such a fun and cute loving Christmas story! I’m so glad I was able to finish reading this book just in time for Christmas. This book totally gets you in the mood for Christmas, family, and competitive Christmas festivals. I want to visit Holly Ridge because it sounds so magical.
Eve and Luke started out rocky, but you could instantly tell they were going to fall in love. I love a grumpy Christmas grinch. These two made you fall in love with Holly Ridge. The support and love they had for each other was like a fairytale. I can’t give everything away, so you’ll have to read the book for yourself.
I would definitely recommend this as a holiday read. Rebel Without A Claus had me laughing and smiling in all the right places. I hope you get to read and enjoy this book as much as I did!
TROPES ✨
💔 Second Chance ☀️ Grumpy Sunshine 🎄 Holiday 🏡 Small Town 💞 Found Family 🚪 Forced Proximity
Add to Goodreads
Order on Amazon
Currently Published
#HPRRebelWithoutaClaus
#KatanaCollins
#HambrightPR
December 19, 2025
I'm going to be honest, I went into this book expecting something fluffy, but it was sooooooo much more than a light holiday read. The chemistry and depth to Eve and Luke's relationship is beautiful to experience. I love their banter and puns. I loved the pacing of the development of their relationship until it erupted into something more. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by Katana Collins!
December 10, 2025
This one was such a sweet, warm ride! From the second Eve Winters shows up to help at her parents Christmas themed inn, the tension with Luke Dawson, the grumpy reindeer farmer who absolutely hates everything merry , was instant. And yes, I said REINDEER FARM. Love it.
The contrast between them hits just right. Their banter, the forced proximity in the small town is so fun.
Cozy, romantic, and full of holiday town charm.
The contrast between them hits just right. Their banter, the forced proximity in the small town is so fun.
Cozy, romantic, and full of holiday town charm.
December 23, 2025
Rebel Without a Claus is such a perfectly festive holiday romance with some spice.
FMC Eve Winters (that name!) is back in town to help her parents get their inn ready and participate in the annual Holly Ridge Christmas festival, full of various contests. This year is more important than ever for her parents to win, so they can use the prize money to stay afloat. Eve is going all in, so wants to have the full set of reindeer for Santa's sleigh. Unfortunately, Luke Dawson is the reindeer farm owner, someone Eve would prefer to avoid, that feeling is mutual for Luke. As Eve helps Luke on the farm to help make up for the cost of the reindeer, a snowed in evening forces them...closer than they expected.
Luke was my favorite character, although grumpy, I still found him to be amusing. Eve was a little annoying at times, but her character did grow on me by the end. I loved her little dog, Cringle, who makes frequent appearances through the story. I do have to admire Eve for sticking with her agreed upon farm work, I am not sure I would be willing to be up and out at a farm before the sun is even up, especially when it is cold outside! But Eve is extremely determined to win the festival for her parents, and she proves that nothing, including a naughty reindeer, is going to keep her from that prize.
I absolutely loved the ending to this story as well, and how Eve and Luke are able to both grow in their careers, but also get what they truly want. It is such a festive and cozy story, with lots of laughs along the way!
Some fav quotes:
"Nothing in the world smells like a Holly Ridge winter-fir trees, chimney smoke, and the faintest hint of peppermint."
"The scent of cinnamon and roasted coffee beans hits me the second I step into The Jolly Bean."
"Because even after all these years, Eve still has me wrapped around her little finger tighter than garland around a banister."
"She's hugging herself like she doesn't realize she's just waltzed into the middle of every fantasy I've buried over the last ten years."
"The room seems to contract around us, exhaling with me as the walls pull in close, witnessing the collision of past restraint and present abandon. How do I articulate the complexity of wanting someone from a distance, of constructing elaborate fantasies around the most innocuous interactions?"
"The first kiss in the barn was sweet and tentative; this one detonates between us like live electricity-hot, sure, head-spinning, the of kiss that steals my breath and hands it back tasting like wildfire."
"Anyone with eyes could see what I saw the first time Luke strode out of his barn in that flannel, snow swirling around him like some kind of grumpy lumberjack deity."
Thank you to Hambright PR and the author for a copy of this book!
FMC Eve Winters (that name!) is back in town to help her parents get their inn ready and participate in the annual Holly Ridge Christmas festival, full of various contests. This year is more important than ever for her parents to win, so they can use the prize money to stay afloat. Eve is going all in, so wants to have the full set of reindeer for Santa's sleigh. Unfortunately, Luke Dawson is the reindeer farm owner, someone Eve would prefer to avoid, that feeling is mutual for Luke. As Eve helps Luke on the farm to help make up for the cost of the reindeer, a snowed in evening forces them...closer than they expected.
Luke was my favorite character, although grumpy, I still found him to be amusing. Eve was a little annoying at times, but her character did grow on me by the end. I loved her little dog, Cringle, who makes frequent appearances through the story. I do have to admire Eve for sticking with her agreed upon farm work, I am not sure I would be willing to be up and out at a farm before the sun is even up, especially when it is cold outside! But Eve is extremely determined to win the festival for her parents, and she proves that nothing, including a naughty reindeer, is going to keep her from that prize.
I absolutely loved the ending to this story as well, and how Eve and Luke are able to both grow in their careers, but also get what they truly want. It is such a festive and cozy story, with lots of laughs along the way!
Some fav quotes:
"Nothing in the world smells like a Holly Ridge winter-fir trees, chimney smoke, and the faintest hint of peppermint."
"The scent of cinnamon and roasted coffee beans hits me the second I step into The Jolly Bean."
"Because even after all these years, Eve still has me wrapped around her little finger tighter than garland around a banister."
"She's hugging herself like she doesn't realize she's just waltzed into the middle of every fantasy I've buried over the last ten years."
"The room seems to contract around us, exhaling with me as the walls pull in close, witnessing the collision of past restraint and present abandon. How do I articulate the complexity of wanting someone from a distance, of constructing elaborate fantasies around the most innocuous interactions?"
"The first kiss in the barn was sweet and tentative; this one detonates between us like live electricity-hot, sure, head-spinning, the of kiss that steals my breath and hands it back tasting like wildfire."
"Anyone with eyes could see what I saw the first time Luke strode out of his barn in that flannel, snow swirling around him like some kind of grumpy lumberjack deity."
Thank you to Hambright PR and the author for a copy of this book!
December 16, 2025
this book has to be the cutest most romcom like Christmas romance I’ve ever read! It’s was adorable, fun and so full of Christmas cheer! I love a good grumpy x sunshine romcom but it hits even better in a Christmas romance where he’s an absolute Christmas hater and she’s all Christmas lights and sparkles! They also had the cutest dynamic, because they both had crushes on each other in high school. The plot was very cute, I love holiday cheer and the Christmas festival competition that made things even more fun! There were also some angsty bits and it hit extra hard because I was so connected to the characters. Usually when a book is shorter I’m not that connected, but this book had me feeling everything they were feeling. That ending though! It was beautiful! Straight out of a hallmark show and the most adorable and perfect way to end the book. And the townspeople were shipping them so hard it was adorable! This book filled me with joyful Christmas spirit and also an extreme awareness that I’m brutally alone this Christmas. If you love Christmas romance. THIS ONE IS A MUST! I give it a 5/5
November 19, 2025
I love this so much!! It’s literally Hollywood/Halmark in a book and it’s such a fun and lighthearted read!!
Eve comes home after losing her job only to find out she needs to help her parents save their inn,
Luke is our grump, who I think is more grumpy because he felt trapped and Eve is the one girl he always wanted but never got because she left to chase her dream.
It was such a fun and sweet read! Especially when Luke keeps jumping in to help save Eve, and when it comes time to figure out if they can have each other and their dreams it’s amazing what chaotic reindeer and a Santa’s slay can do!
💔 Second Chance
☀️ Grumpy Sunshine
🎄 Holiday
🏡 Small Town
💞 Found Family
🚪 Forced Proximity
Big thanks to Hambright PR for the review copy!!
Eve comes home after losing her job only to find out she needs to help her parents save their inn,
Luke is our grump, who I think is more grumpy because he felt trapped and Eve is the one girl he always wanted but never got because she left to chase her dream.
It was such a fun and sweet read! Especially when Luke keeps jumping in to help save Eve, and when it comes time to figure out if they can have each other and their dreams it’s amazing what chaotic reindeer and a Santa’s slay can do!
💔 Second Chance
☀️ Grumpy Sunshine
🎄 Holiday
🏡 Small Town
💞 Found Family
🚪 Forced Proximity
Big thanks to Hambright PR for the review copy!!
December 17, 2025
This was one if the absolute cutest little holiday reads I've ever read!
Did anyone else used to love watching hallmark holiday movies around Christmas every year? It was one of my favorite things to do, even as a kid! (Well as a kid it was the abc family's 25 days if Christmas marathons 🤣). This story is literally the vibes of those movies put into a book!
Eve returns to her home town to try and figure out what she's going to do now that she lost her job, only she ends up on a very festively serious mission to save her parents inn and finds herself making a deal with her big school crush.
I love the nods towards Christmas that are riddled throughout the whole book, it was such a cute and quick read!
Did anyone else used to love watching hallmark holiday movies around Christmas every year? It was one of my favorite things to do, even as a kid! (Well as a kid it was the abc family's 25 days if Christmas marathons 🤣). This story is literally the vibes of those movies put into a book!
Eve returns to her home town to try and figure out what she's going to do now that she lost her job, only she ends up on a very festively serious mission to save her parents inn and finds herself making a deal with her big school crush.
I love the nods towards Christmas that are riddled throughout the whole book, it was such a cute and quick read!
December 2, 2025
I love this grumpy/sunshine sweet and spicy holiday rom-com so much!!! Luke is the ultimate grumpy main character who has a heart of gold for Eve, their hometown, his aunt and his farm. I love that their love seemed destined with them both having teenage crushes on each other and then being reunited years later with a lot of forced proximity which made them even closer more quickly. There are a lot of funny parts in this book and their HEA was perfect and super satisfying too. Thank you to Katana Collins and Hambright PR for the opportunity to read this book. It truly was my pleasure!
October 15, 2025
This author's works are always so easy to read and enjoy! I lost myself in Holly Ridge, and all their Christmas spirit!
Eve's parents have been running the North Star Lodge for a long time, and being back home for the holidays is just what she needs. Her career in the film industry in LA cannot compete with the joy in this small town.
Unfortunately, returning also means facing her old crush, a reindeer farmer named Luke. This has all the small town, Christmas, second chance, grumpy/sunshine, sizzling, steamy energy you can handle, with hilarious situations and angst for days. I enjoyed the journey this couple, and the town took, to achieve the HEA I wanted.
This is a stand-alone, but after this one, I suggest reading more from this author's catalog of engaging and addictive works. Worth your time, IMO.
I received an ARC (thank you) and happily leave my thoughts.
Eve's parents have been running the North Star Lodge for a long time, and being back home for the holidays is just what she needs. Her career in the film industry in LA cannot compete with the joy in this small town.
Unfortunately, returning also means facing her old crush, a reindeer farmer named Luke. This has all the small town, Christmas, second chance, grumpy/sunshine, sizzling, steamy energy you can handle, with hilarious situations and angst for days. I enjoyed the journey this couple, and the town took, to achieve the HEA I wanted.
This is a stand-alone, but after this one, I suggest reading more from this author's catalog of engaging and addictive works. Worth your time, IMO.
I received an ARC (thank you) and happily leave my thoughts.
December 3, 2025
Very cute Christmas Rom-com. I enjoyed this book on Audible. It had some laugh out loud moments with one hot mess reindeer. Sweet ending and, of course, it's a happy one! Tis' the Season!!
December 15, 2025
Awww, what a wonderfully festive read! After reading several grumpy/sunshine romance novels, I was worried this book would be something similar initially but much to my surprise, it ended up slaying them all and taking the cake! This book was a total delight from page one till the end, and I was mesmerized by the Christmas cheers spread all over the small town that was Holly Ridge.
Our beloved female main character, Eve Winters, was such a firecracker herself, being cheerful and full of festive spirits throughout the story, and better yet, her relationship with the grumpiest reindeer farmer, Luke Dawson, was undoubtedly something to look forward to. I loved that they'd had a basic friendship/frenemy background story since high school, and after years of pining after each other, they finally found the well-deserved happily ever after.
What impressed me most about this book was that for a short novel (less than 200 pages), Eve and Luke actually managed to stay well-communicated and made sure they both had each other's best interests in mind when making imperative life decisions and future plans together; that kind of honesty and open-mindedness was truly one-of-a-kind and would be appreciated a lot in contemporary romance stories nowadays so kudos to the author for making this book stand out!
Lastly, please go pick up Rebel Without a Claus!! Eve and Luke will definitely brighten up your holidays and leave you wanting more...or convince you to pet a certain candy cane-loving reindeer! *wink*
***Massive thanks to the author and Hambright PR for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
Our beloved female main character, Eve Winters, was such a firecracker herself, being cheerful and full of festive spirits throughout the story, and better yet, her relationship with the grumpiest reindeer farmer, Luke Dawson, was undoubtedly something to look forward to. I loved that they'd had a basic friendship/frenemy background story since high school, and after years of pining after each other, they finally found the well-deserved happily ever after.
What impressed me most about this book was that for a short novel (less than 200 pages), Eve and Luke actually managed to stay well-communicated and made sure they both had each other's best interests in mind when making imperative life decisions and future plans together; that kind of honesty and open-mindedness was truly one-of-a-kind and would be appreciated a lot in contemporary romance stories nowadays so kudos to the author for making this book stand out!
Lastly, please go pick up Rebel Without a Claus!! Eve and Luke will definitely brighten up your holidays and leave you wanting more...or convince you to pet a certain candy cane-loving reindeer! *wink*
***Massive thanks to the author and Hambright PR for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
November 24, 2025
Katana Collins has absolutely no right making me care this much about a cheesy holiday romance… yet here we are. From the very first chapters, she hooked me with her clever writing, her humor, and the kind of character chemistry that sneaks up on you and hits like a snowball to the face. Eve and Luke’s history is heartbreakingly tangled, a missed choir concert, a devastating loss, and a childhood misunderstanding that held two people apart for decades. It feels like fate pressed pause on a love story they should’ve had, only to finally bring them back into each other’s orbit when they’re actually ready for it.
As their relationship rekindles, Collins builds an emotional foundation that feels both warm and painfully real. I love how she balances the sweetness of second-chance romance with genuine stakes, like Eve’s parents potentially losing the B&B if they don’t win the contest. Every piece of this story is infused with heart, and just when you’re smiling from the holiday charm, she hits you with scenes that are unexpectedly intense, which I felt deep in my chest.
And then Collins throws in the kind of conflict that elevates the entire book from “cute holiday read” to something genuinely meaningful. Just as Eve and Luke start breaking down each other’s walls, she gets the offer for her dream job. She wants to stay, but fears trapping him; he finds out and is terrified she’ll resent him for giving up her dream. This is the kind of emotional tension that feels so authentic, so visceral, it almost hurts. It’s the perfect example of everyday human fear written with remarkable tenderness and clarity.
I never thought I’d say this, but Katana Collins might actually be turning me into a cheesy romance lover. Her storytelling is simply spectacular, heartfelt, clever, beautifully paced, and layered with real human emotion disguised in tinsel and cozy holiday charm. This book was far more than I expected, and I devoured every second of it.
As their relationship rekindles, Collins builds an emotional foundation that feels both warm and painfully real. I love how she balances the sweetness of second-chance romance with genuine stakes, like Eve’s parents potentially losing the B&B if they don’t win the contest. Every piece of this story is infused with heart, and just when you’re smiling from the holiday charm, she hits you with scenes that are unexpectedly intense, which I felt deep in my chest.
And then Collins throws in the kind of conflict that elevates the entire book from “cute holiday read” to something genuinely meaningful. Just as Eve and Luke start breaking down each other’s walls, she gets the offer for her dream job. She wants to stay, but fears trapping him; he finds out and is terrified she’ll resent him for giving up her dream. This is the kind of emotional tension that feels so authentic, so visceral, it almost hurts. It’s the perfect example of everyday human fear written with remarkable tenderness and clarity.
I never thought I’d say this, but Katana Collins might actually be turning me into a cheesy romance lover. Her storytelling is simply spectacular, heartfelt, clever, beautifully paced, and layered with real human emotion disguised in tinsel and cozy holiday charm. This book was far more than I expected, and I devoured every second of it.
November 23, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
Eve & Luke
My first Christmas book and first ever read by Katana. And I absolutely adored this book
from the yappy ankle biter dog Cringle to the candy cane lover Blitzen. This book was like
reading a hallmark movie which I absolutely adore. Eve finally comes home after getting fired
from her job during Christmas. On her way in she stumbles on ice and almost falling she feels
strong arms from Luke the guy she always had a crush on in high school bringing garland and
pine cones. Every year the small town of Holly Ridge has a contest every night from
Christmas karaoke to build your own gingerbread house. And on the last night is the event of decorating
spectacular but as soon as Eve steps inside her home she notices not many guests at the inn. And
discovers her family needs to win to have keep the inn open. Soon she makes a deal with the one
person she can’t stop thinking about the grump Luke.
🌶️🌶️.5
Eve & Luke
My first Christmas book and first ever read by Katana. And I absolutely adored this book
from the yappy ankle biter dog Cringle to the candy cane lover Blitzen. This book was like
reading a hallmark movie which I absolutely adore. Eve finally comes home after getting fired
from her job during Christmas. On her way in she stumbles on ice and almost falling she feels
strong arms from Luke the guy she always had a crush on in high school bringing garland and
pine cones. Every year the small town of Holly Ridge has a contest every night from
Christmas karaoke to build your own gingerbread house. And on the last night is the event of decorating
spectacular but as soon as Eve steps inside her home she notices not many guests at the inn. And
discovers her family needs to win to have keep the inn open. Soon she makes a deal with the one
person she can’t stop thinking about the grump Luke.
December 7, 2025
This book brings all the Hallmark Christmas charm we love. It was such a heartwarming story. The perfect book to curl up with a cup of hot cocoa around the Christmas tree. Luke and Eve’s banter throughout the book will have you smiling like a kid on Christmas morning. This book is grumpy/sunshine done so well!
Eve comes back to her hometown after losing her job. Once she’s home, she learns that her parents are at risk of losing their inn. Therefore, Eve makes it her mission to win the town’s Christmas contest for the prize money to save her parents inn. She enlists the help of her grumpy, high school crush and his reindeer. Sparks fly the more time they spend together, and Eve has to decide if she wants to stay in her hometown or go back to the big city.
Thank you Hambright Pr for the arc for my review.
Eve comes back to her hometown after losing her job. Once she’s home, she learns that her parents are at risk of losing their inn. Therefore, Eve makes it her mission to win the town’s Christmas contest for the prize money to save her parents inn. She enlists the help of her grumpy, high school crush and his reindeer. Sparks fly the more time they spend together, and Eve has to decide if she wants to stay in her hometown or go back to the big city.
Thank you Hambright Pr for the arc for my review.
October 15, 2025
Eve Winters returns home to Holly Ridge just in time for the Christmas festivities after losing her job as a producer in LA. Her parents' inn is in financial straits but winning the town's Christmas contests will help them keep the doors open.
Except it means she'll have to work with reindeer farmer Luke Dawson. They weren’t a couple in high school but each secretly crushed on the other. Then life happened and she left town. Now that she's back, all those old feelings resurface, making for a little extra magic during the holiday season.
This one is so much fun! I love their families, the small Christmas town, and all the holiday festivities. It's a light, easy read with a side of steam, loads of heart, and everything you need to put you in a happy holiday mood.
Except it means she'll have to work with reindeer farmer Luke Dawson. They weren’t a couple in high school but each secretly crushed on the other. Then life happened and she left town. Now that she's back, all those old feelings resurface, making for a little extra magic during the holiday season.
This one is so much fun! I love their families, the small Christmas town, and all the holiday festivities. It's a light, easy read with a side of steam, loads of heart, and everything you need to put you in a happy holiday mood.
November 26, 2025
I’ve never read this author before so I didn’t really go in with any expectations. It ended up being a really cute quick Christmas read! This is a second chance (or whatever you call, we both pined for each other in hs but never got together so first but kinda second chance romance) Eve is full of spunky Christmas cheer and Luke is the grumpy reindeer farmer who avoids Christmas like the plague unless Eve is around drawing him into it. It is just under 200 pages so we’re really relying on their past history/chemistry to pull its weight on how quickly they get together but it has plenty of plot for its shorts length!
November 29, 2025
I am absolutely one of those basic holiday girls who fill up on all the holiday romance movies and books and music beginning the second November hits. This was by far, my favorite holiday themed book in a long time. It was full of those cheesy hallmark vibes but done in the most perfect way to get you in the holiday spirit. Filled with angst, banter, of course a small town crisis or two, a snarky & jealous mean girl, a renegade runaway reindeer, and a snowstorm induced only one bed situation… this absolutely hit every single line on my Holiday Romance wishlist.
@hambrightmarketing @hambright_pr @katanacollins
#HPRRebelWithoutaClaus #KatanaCollins #HambrightPR
@hambrightmarketing @hambright_pr @katanacollins
#HPRRebelWithoutaClaus #KatanaCollins #HambrightPR
December 5, 2025
Starting off December strong with Rebel Without a Claus by Katana Collins, a sweet holiday romance that has you hoping it works out between the FMC and MMC and all the Christmas wishes come true.
This standalone romance is homegrown, cozy, and a great palate cleanser between reads.
Nothing says Christmas season like a reindeer farmer and a spirited Hollywood hopeful trying to save their town!
“Packed with sizzling chemistry, witty banter, and laugh-out-loud holiday chaos, Rebel Without a Claus is the perfect Christmas rom-com for fans of grumpy sunshine, small-town meddling, and holiday magic.”
A fun read! Check it out! Available now.
Thank you Hambright PR for the opportunity to review.
This standalone romance is homegrown, cozy, and a great palate cleanser between reads.
Nothing says Christmas season like a reindeer farmer and a spirited Hollywood hopeful trying to save their town!
“Packed with sizzling chemistry, witty banter, and laugh-out-loud holiday chaos, Rebel Without a Claus is the perfect Christmas rom-com for fans of grumpy sunshine, small-town meddling, and holiday magic.”
A fun read! Check it out! Available now.
Thank you Hambright PR for the opportunity to review.
January 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
If you’re looking for a short and cute holiday romance, this is it. We’ve got enemies to lovers (my fave), small town, second chance romance, grumpy sunshine (another fave), the cutest reindeer, and all the Christmas magic. You’ve got a city girl returning to her small town and trying to make a grumpy reindeer farmer fall back in love with Christmas. Very Hallmark-coded with just a little sprinkle of spice.
Huge thanks to Katana Collins and Hambright PR for giving me this e-copy. All opinions are my own. 💕
If you’re looking for a short and cute holiday romance, this is it. We’ve got enemies to lovers (my fave), small town, second chance romance, grumpy sunshine (another fave), the cutest reindeer, and all the Christmas magic. You’ve got a city girl returning to her small town and trying to make a grumpy reindeer farmer fall back in love with Christmas. Very Hallmark-coded with just a little sprinkle of spice.
Huge thanks to Katana Collins and Hambright PR for giving me this e-copy. All opinions are my own. 💕
November 12, 2025
This was VERY cute. Had me laughing and giggling throughout. Extremely cheesy and the "resolution" to the third act conflict was a little over explained...especially when it was pretty obvious where everything was headed. But aside from that I really enjoyed this.
November 22, 2025
Loved this novella! Such a sweet, funny Christmas theme 🎄🎅🦌
I haven't read other books from this series, but I will definitely have to go back.
Thanks Hambright PR for this ARC!
I haven't read other books from this series, but I will definitely have to go back.
Thanks Hambright PR for this ARC!
December 15, 2025
POTETE LEGGERE LA RECENSIONE IN ITALIANO SCORRENDO IN BASSO.
"Rebel without a Claus" by Katana Collins is a short Christmas romance, perfect for anyone who wants a themed book that doesn't take up too much time.
This is an unpretentious book that actually managed to exceed my expectations.
I'm not usually one to read such short books—I'm a slow-burn lover, and I often complain about overly rushed dynamics—yet this book was an unexpected treat.
I fell in love with Holly Ridge and its atmosphere. I love Christmas, I love winter, and living in a place like that would be like living in a dream for me. Everyone in Holly Ridge is obsessed with Christmas; there are themed shops, the town is full of decorations, and even the adults get to be kids again every year.
I really appreciated Eve: her positivity, her sunny disposition, and her never-give-up attitude. Plus, I saw a lot of myself in her and her Christmas spirit.
Luke, despite his grumpy soul, was also a great character, with a difficult past and a need to start truly enjoying life again. Luke, despite his gruff demeanor, always treated others kindly, and let's not forget he is a REINDEER FARMER. Yes, you heard that right!
The relationship between Eve and Luke actually dates back to their school days. In a town like Holly Ridge, it's inevitable to grow up together, and the two always had a certain connection, at least until the day Luke's life took a bad turn.
I would have loved to read some flashbacks to their school days, but all in all, I still appreciated their reconnection.
Of course, being a very short book, the secondary characters didn't have much space, but I still loved the beautiful bond that unites the residents of Holly Ridge; if you like small-towns, it will be impossible not to fall in love with this book.
The plot is fast-paced, there's a touch of angst that never hurts, and also a hint of spice. The book is funny, sweet, and can be read in a matter of hours.
If, like me, you usually read doorstoppers but need a read that gives you a little cheer and lets you experience some Christmas magic, "Rebel Without a Claus" might be right for you. I will definitely give the author's other novellas a chance.
____
I thank Hambright for sending me an eArc of the book.
RECENSIONE IN ITALIANO:
"Rebel without a Claus" di Katana Collins è un romance natalizio di poche pagine, perfetto per chi ha voglia di un libro a tema che non porti via troppo tempo.
Eve Winters, la nostra protagonista, dopo anni passati a Los Angeles ad inseguire il suo sogno, decide di tornare nella sua città natale, Holly Ridge, un piccolo borgo rinomato per le sue atmosfere suggestive, soprattutto durante il periodo natalizio.
Una volta tornata a casa però, Eve, scopre che i suoi genitori non se la passano bene e che l'unico modo per aiutarli è partecipare alla competizione natalizia che viene organizzata ogni anno a Holly Ridge, e vincerla.
Tra lei e il premio si frappone solo una persona Luke Dawson, un allevatore di renne che odia il Natale e che sembra provare del risentimento nei confronti di Eve. Tutto ciò che dovrà fare la ragazza sarà convincerlo a darle una mano per riuscire a salvare il futuro della sua famiglia.
"Rebel Without a Claus" è un libro di poche pretese, che però è riuscito a superare le mie aspettative.
Non sono solita, infatti, leggere libri così corti, sono un'amante dello slow burn, e mi lamento spesso delle dinamiche troppo affrettate, eppure questo libro è stato una coccola inaspettata.
Mi sono innamorata di Holly Ridge e delle sue atmosfere. Amo il Natale, amo l'inverno e vivere in un posto del genere per me sarebbe come vivere in un sogno. Ad Holly Ridge tutti sono ossessionati dal Natale, ci sono negozi a tema, il paese è ricco di decorazioni, e anche gli adulti, ogni anno, tornano ad essere un po' bambini.
Ho apprezzato tantissimo Eve, la sua positività, il suo essere così solare e la sua voglia di non arrendersi mai e poi mi sono rivista molto in lei e nel suo spirito natalizio.
Anche Luke, nonostante il suo animo grumpy, è stato un bel personaggio, con una storia difficile alle spalle, ed il suo bisogno di ricominciare a godersi davvero la vita. Luke che malgrado il suo atteggiamento brusco, ha sempre trattato gli altri con gentilezza, e non dimentichiamoci che si tratta di un ALLEVATORE DI RENNE. Eh sì, avete capito bene!
Il rapporto tra Eve e Luke risale in realtà ai tempi della scuola. In una paese come Holly Ridge, infatti, è inevitabile crescere insieme, ed i due hanno sempre avuto una certa affinità, almeno fino al giorno in cui la vita di Luke non ha preso una brutta piega.
Mi sarebbe piaciuto molto leggere qualche flashback dei tempi della scuola, ma tutto sommato ho comunque apprezzato il loro riavvicinamento (anche se non mi sarebbe dispiaciuto avere a disposizione qualche capitolo in più).
Ovviamente, essendo un libro molto corto, i personaggi secondari non hanno avuto molto spazio, ma ho comunque amato il bellissimo legame che unisce gli abitanti di Holly Ridge, se vi piacciono gli small town sarà impossibile non innamorarsi di questo libro.
La trama è incalzante, c'è un tocco di angst che non guasta mai e anche un pizzico di spicy, il libro è divertente, dolce, e si legge in una manciata di ore.
Se come me solitamente leggete mattonazzi, ma avete bisogno di una lettura che vi regali un po' di spensieratezza e vi faccia vivere un po' di magia del Natale, "Rebel Without a Claus" potrebbe fare al caso vostro, io sicuramente darò una possibilità anche alle altre novelle scritte dall'autrice.
_____
Ringrazio Hambright per avermi mandato un eArc del libro.
"Rebel without a Claus" by Katana Collins is a short Christmas romance, perfect for anyone who wants a themed book that doesn't take up too much time.
This is an unpretentious book that actually managed to exceed my expectations.
I'm not usually one to read such short books—I'm a slow-burn lover, and I often complain about overly rushed dynamics—yet this book was an unexpected treat.
I fell in love with Holly Ridge and its atmosphere. I love Christmas, I love winter, and living in a place like that would be like living in a dream for me. Everyone in Holly Ridge is obsessed with Christmas; there are themed shops, the town is full of decorations, and even the adults get to be kids again every year.
I really appreciated Eve: her positivity, her sunny disposition, and her never-give-up attitude. Plus, I saw a lot of myself in her and her Christmas spirit.
Luke, despite his grumpy soul, was also a great character, with a difficult past and a need to start truly enjoying life again. Luke, despite his gruff demeanor, always treated others kindly, and let's not forget he is a REINDEER FARMER. Yes, you heard that right!
The relationship between Eve and Luke actually dates back to their school days. In a town like Holly Ridge, it's inevitable to grow up together, and the two always had a certain connection, at least until the day Luke's life took a bad turn.
I would have loved to read some flashbacks to their school days, but all in all, I still appreciated their reconnection.
Of course, being a very short book, the secondary characters didn't have much space, but I still loved the beautiful bond that unites the residents of Holly Ridge; if you like small-towns, it will be impossible not to fall in love with this book.
The plot is fast-paced, there's a touch of angst that never hurts, and also a hint of spice. The book is funny, sweet, and can be read in a matter of hours.
If, like me, you usually read doorstoppers but need a read that gives you a little cheer and lets you experience some Christmas magic, "Rebel Without a Claus" might be right for you. I will definitely give the author's other novellas a chance.
____
I thank Hambright for sending me an eArc of the book.
RECENSIONE IN ITALIANO:
"Rebel without a Claus" di Katana Collins è un romance natalizio di poche pagine, perfetto per chi ha voglia di un libro a tema che non porti via troppo tempo.
Eve Winters, la nostra protagonista, dopo anni passati a Los Angeles ad inseguire il suo sogno, decide di tornare nella sua città natale, Holly Ridge, un piccolo borgo rinomato per le sue atmosfere suggestive, soprattutto durante il periodo natalizio.
Una volta tornata a casa però, Eve, scopre che i suoi genitori non se la passano bene e che l'unico modo per aiutarli è partecipare alla competizione natalizia che viene organizzata ogni anno a Holly Ridge, e vincerla.
Tra lei e il premio si frappone solo una persona Luke Dawson, un allevatore di renne che odia il Natale e che sembra provare del risentimento nei confronti di Eve. Tutto ciò che dovrà fare la ragazza sarà convincerlo a darle una mano per riuscire a salvare il futuro della sua famiglia.
"Rebel Without a Claus" è un libro di poche pretese, che però è riuscito a superare le mie aspettative.
Non sono solita, infatti, leggere libri così corti, sono un'amante dello slow burn, e mi lamento spesso delle dinamiche troppo affrettate, eppure questo libro è stato una coccola inaspettata.
Mi sono innamorata di Holly Ridge e delle sue atmosfere. Amo il Natale, amo l'inverno e vivere in un posto del genere per me sarebbe come vivere in un sogno. Ad Holly Ridge tutti sono ossessionati dal Natale, ci sono negozi a tema, il paese è ricco di decorazioni, e anche gli adulti, ogni anno, tornano ad essere un po' bambini.
Ho apprezzato tantissimo Eve, la sua positività, il suo essere così solare e la sua voglia di non arrendersi mai e poi mi sono rivista molto in lei e nel suo spirito natalizio.
Anche Luke, nonostante il suo animo grumpy, è stato un bel personaggio, con una storia difficile alle spalle, ed il suo bisogno di ricominciare a godersi davvero la vita. Luke che malgrado il suo atteggiamento brusco, ha sempre trattato gli altri con gentilezza, e non dimentichiamoci che si tratta di un ALLEVATORE DI RENNE. Eh sì, avete capito bene!
Il rapporto tra Eve e Luke risale in realtà ai tempi della scuola. In una paese come Holly Ridge, infatti, è inevitabile crescere insieme, ed i due hanno sempre avuto una certa affinità, almeno fino al giorno in cui la vita di Luke non ha preso una brutta piega.
Mi sarebbe piaciuto molto leggere qualche flashback dei tempi della scuola, ma tutto sommato ho comunque apprezzato il loro riavvicinamento (anche se non mi sarebbe dispiaciuto avere a disposizione qualche capitolo in più).
Ovviamente, essendo un libro molto corto, i personaggi secondari non hanno avuto molto spazio, ma ho comunque amato il bellissimo legame che unisce gli abitanti di Holly Ridge, se vi piacciono gli small town sarà impossibile non innamorarsi di questo libro.
La trama è incalzante, c'è un tocco di angst che non guasta mai e anche un pizzico di spicy, il libro è divertente, dolce, e si legge in una manciata di ore.
Se come me solitamente leggete mattonazzi, ma avete bisogno di una lettura che vi regali un po' di spensieratezza e vi faccia vivere un po' di magia del Natale, "Rebel Without a Claus" potrebbe fare al caso vostro, io sicuramente darò una possibilità anche alle altre novelle scritte dall'autrice.
_____
Ringrazio Hambright per avermi mandato un eArc del libro.
December 29, 2025
Rebel Without a Claus was the perfect holiday read for me! I read this in one sitting and was completely consumed by Eve and Luke's story.
Tropes you can expect:
🎄grinchy reindeer farmer vs. sunshine
🦌second chance
🎅🏻small town romance
🎄found family
🦌forced proximity
🎅🏻holiday romance
This was my first read by Katana Collins- it was fun, sweet and engaging with an extremely smooth flow. Legit, this was every single Hallmark cozy vibe you could ask for with the best ending full of holiday magic.
Eve Winters is back home (with her dog Cringle😍) in her small town of Holly Ridge after losing her job in LA. She loves her home, especially during the Christmas season. Her family owns and runs the North Star Lodge, which is usually completely booked during the Christmas season, especially right around the time of the Holly Ridge Christmas festival. This year, the Inn looks a little different and Eve learns that her parents desperately need to win this year's festival monetary prize in order to keep the doors open- a large hotel chain has opened nearby and business at the North Star hasn't been the same since. She's on a mission and is determined to help her parents and the Inn.
Luke Dawson , the town grinch and broody reindeer farmer, who wants nothing to do with Christmas, has been trying to put Eve out of his mind since she left for LA. Now, she's back and he realizes there's no chance he will be avoiding her, especially when she needs his reindeer as part of her plan to make the Inn's attractions even bigger and better!
For a grumpy grinch, Luke is the most loveable guy. You can feel immediate chemistry between he and Eve and the interactions between them will no doubt make you smile. For me, this book included just the right amount of spice-🌶️🌶️ It wasn't overdone but the pages where you get the deets, are pretty spicy!
I will be honest; some of my favorite parts of this book included Blitzen (🦌) and his obsession with candy canes-seriously, laughing out loud while reading.
This is very festive read BUT you could really read it any time of the year and enjoy it just as much! Thank you Hambright PR and Katana Collins for this gifted reading copy- all opinions are my own!
Tropes you can expect:
🎄grinchy reindeer farmer vs. sunshine
🦌second chance
🎅🏻small town romance
🎄found family
🦌forced proximity
🎅🏻holiday romance
This was my first read by Katana Collins- it was fun, sweet and engaging with an extremely smooth flow. Legit, this was every single Hallmark cozy vibe you could ask for with the best ending full of holiday magic.
Eve Winters is back home (with her dog Cringle😍) in her small town of Holly Ridge after losing her job in LA. She loves her home, especially during the Christmas season. Her family owns and runs the North Star Lodge, which is usually completely booked during the Christmas season, especially right around the time of the Holly Ridge Christmas festival. This year, the Inn looks a little different and Eve learns that her parents desperately need to win this year's festival monetary prize in order to keep the doors open- a large hotel chain has opened nearby and business at the North Star hasn't been the same since. She's on a mission and is determined to help her parents and the Inn.
Luke Dawson , the town grinch and broody reindeer farmer, who wants nothing to do with Christmas, has been trying to put Eve out of his mind since she left for LA. Now, she's back and he realizes there's no chance he will be avoiding her, especially when she needs his reindeer as part of her plan to make the Inn's attractions even bigger and better!
For a grumpy grinch, Luke is the most loveable guy. You can feel immediate chemistry between he and Eve and the interactions between them will no doubt make you smile. For me, this book included just the right amount of spice-🌶️🌶️ It wasn't overdone but the pages where you get the deets, are pretty spicy!
I will be honest; some of my favorite parts of this book included Blitzen (🦌) and his obsession with candy canes-seriously, laughing out loud while reading.
This is very festive read BUT you could really read it any time of the year and enjoy it just as much! Thank you Hambright PR and Katana Collins for this gifted reading copy- all opinions are my own!
January 8, 2026
REBEL WITHOUT A CLAUSE by KATANA COLLINS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Eve Winters returns home to Holly Ridge to help her parents prepare their Christmas themed Inn for the holiday festival. To top off their display, Eve needs to hire some reindeer. The only problem? the towns grumpy but gorgeous (and her childhood crush), reindeer farmer Luke Dawson.
Luke Dawson has good reason to hate all things Christmas and the last thing he needs brightening up his days is effervescent beauty Eve. He’s spent forever getting over her after she left Holly Ridge for the bright lights and he’s more than happy being the town misery guts.
When Luke realises that the holiday festival means more to Eve than just Christmas cheer he determines to do everything in his power to help her win. As the pair spend more time together and the town conspires to throw them together sparks fly……
—————————————
This was my first read by Katana Collins and it was delightful. Full of all things Christmas, this read is sure to raise your spirits and leave you feeling like a mug of hot chocolate- warm, comforted and happy.
The two main characters are great, perfect opposites. Eve is determined to join in with everything, determined to be the life and soul of the party and Luke is her antithesis, closed off, grumpy, a real Christmas scrooge.
There is an interesting storyline involving all things festive and the antics of the locals not to mention the reindeer are hilarious at times.
Eve and Luke bounce off each other, and I loved Luke’s slow transformation as the pair spend more time together. There is one , gentle open door scene but on the whole it’s just a mild, sweet love affair.
Who says you can only read seasonal, feel good romances at christmas? If you want a lighthearted, romantic read, something to give you a lift, at any time of the year then dive in!
I read an ebook copy of this story, with just under 200 pages and with an eye catching cover this is a delicious slice of happy!
With thanks to Katana Collins and Hambright PR for a chance to read this book. All comments are my own, unbiased, honest opinion.
🎄 Cinnamon Roll hero
🎄 Seasonal Romance
🎄 🔥🔥
🎄 Forced Proximity
🎄 Second Chance
Eve Winters returns home to Holly Ridge to help her parents prepare their Christmas themed Inn for the holiday festival. To top off their display, Eve needs to hire some reindeer. The only problem? the towns grumpy but gorgeous (and her childhood crush), reindeer farmer Luke Dawson.
Luke Dawson has good reason to hate all things Christmas and the last thing he needs brightening up his days is effervescent beauty Eve. He’s spent forever getting over her after she left Holly Ridge for the bright lights and he’s more than happy being the town misery guts.
When Luke realises that the holiday festival means more to Eve than just Christmas cheer he determines to do everything in his power to help her win. As the pair spend more time together and the town conspires to throw them together sparks fly……
—————————————
This was my first read by Katana Collins and it was delightful. Full of all things Christmas, this read is sure to raise your spirits and leave you feeling like a mug of hot chocolate- warm, comforted and happy.
The two main characters are great, perfect opposites. Eve is determined to join in with everything, determined to be the life and soul of the party and Luke is her antithesis, closed off, grumpy, a real Christmas scrooge.
There is an interesting storyline involving all things festive and the antics of the locals not to mention the reindeer are hilarious at times.
Eve and Luke bounce off each other, and I loved Luke’s slow transformation as the pair spend more time together. There is one , gentle open door scene but on the whole it’s just a mild, sweet love affair.
Who says you can only read seasonal, feel good romances at christmas? If you want a lighthearted, romantic read, something to give you a lift, at any time of the year then dive in!
I read an ebook copy of this story, with just under 200 pages and with an eye catching cover this is a delicious slice of happy!
With thanks to Katana Collins and Hambright PR for a chance to read this book. All comments are my own, unbiased, honest opinion.
🎄 Cinnamon Roll hero
🎄 Seasonal Romance
🎄 🔥🔥
🎄 Forced Proximity
🎄 Second Chance
November 21, 2025
Eve Winters returns home to Holly Ridge for the holidays! Only to find out her parents might lose their beloved Christmas themed inn. Determined to save it, she throws herself into helping with the town’s holiday festival.. which unfortunately means working with Luke Dawson, the reindeer farmer who hates everything merry and bright. She’s all sparkle & cheer, he’s the town grinch. When old feelings resurface, Luke starts wondering if maybe Christmas & Eve aren’t so terrible after all.
Eve is pure Christmas sunshine, bringing warmth and sparkle into everything! She’s bubbly, determined, and just the right amount of chaotic in the cutest way. She’s instantly lovable because she genuinely tries to make things better for everyone around her. Sharp, witty, and quietly resilient, she has the kind of heart that could soften even the grinchiest cowboy.
Luke is the definition of a grumpy cowboy, y’all! Broody, stubborn & hiding a heart he refuses to let anyone see. His dislike for Christmas comes from real hurt and history, which makes his slow thaw feel well worth it! He’s great with animals, hopeless with holiday cheer, and completely undone by Eve despite all his efforts. Watching him fight his growing feelings is both funny and heartwarming!
Every moment between them crackles with tension from accidental touches to being snowed in together, all under twinkling Christmas lights. The yearning was everything! They both want each other but fear the risk of getting hurt again, which makes their push & pull so satisfying to read.
This was such a cute, fun, quick read! It was east to fall in love with Holly Ridge & its people! Also Blitzen definitely stole the show, being so chaotic & stealing all the candy canes!! I definitely had a good few laugh out loud moments while reading this! I absolutely loved this & it’s got me ready for the holiday season!
Eve is pure Christmas sunshine, bringing warmth and sparkle into everything! She’s bubbly, determined, and just the right amount of chaotic in the cutest way. She’s instantly lovable because she genuinely tries to make things better for everyone around her. Sharp, witty, and quietly resilient, she has the kind of heart that could soften even the grinchiest cowboy.
Luke is the definition of a grumpy cowboy, y’all! Broody, stubborn & hiding a heart he refuses to let anyone see. His dislike for Christmas comes from real hurt and history, which makes his slow thaw feel well worth it! He’s great with animals, hopeless with holiday cheer, and completely undone by Eve despite all his efforts. Watching him fight his growing feelings is both funny and heartwarming!
Every moment between them crackles with tension from accidental touches to being snowed in together, all under twinkling Christmas lights. The yearning was everything! They both want each other but fear the risk of getting hurt again, which makes their push & pull so satisfying to read.
This was such a cute, fun, quick read! It was east to fall in love with Holly Ridge & its people! Also Blitzen definitely stole the show, being so chaotic & stealing all the candy canes!! I definitely had a good few laugh out loud moments while reading this! I absolutely loved this & it’s got me ready for the holiday season!
December 17, 2025
Thank you so much Hambright PR for sending me this ARC!
Rebel Without a Claus is a standalone Romantic Comedy book set during Christmas and it was so good, I loved Eve and Luke’s story!
After returning home for Christmas, Eve finds out her family’s inn is in financial trouble and the only hope to save it is to win the annual Christmas competition in their small town. The last thing she expects is that to win she might be forced to work with Luke, a local grinch and her high school crush who now can’t stand her and the feeling is mutual, but with the Christmas magic and so much time spent together they realize their feelings for each other aren’t buried as deeply as they thought.
This book was such a fun and quick read and I enjoyed it from the first page, there was a lot Christmas chaos, fun competition, hilarious characters and beautiful romance with some great banter, I read the whole book in one sitting and loved this story. Eve and Luke definitely aren’t each other’s fans after what happened in the past but despite their annoying each other I could feel the tension between them from their first meeting and I loved seeing them slowly come to terms with their feelings for each other and their banter and teasing each other was so fun to read. They were the definition of grumpy and sunshine but fit together so well and I just loved them together and was rooting for them to finally give in to the attraction between them and it was beautiful to see when they finally did. I also loved Blitzen, that reindeer stole the show everytime she appeared and I was laughing out loud at her antics.
Rebel Without a Claus is an amazing rom-com and everything I love in Christmas books, I enjoyed it a lot and definitely recommend it to everyone and now is a perfect time to read it.
Rebel Without a Claus is a standalone Romantic Comedy book set during Christmas and it was so good, I loved Eve and Luke’s story!
After returning home for Christmas, Eve finds out her family’s inn is in financial trouble and the only hope to save it is to win the annual Christmas competition in their small town. The last thing she expects is that to win she might be forced to work with Luke, a local grinch and her high school crush who now can’t stand her and the feeling is mutual, but with the Christmas magic and so much time spent together they realize their feelings for each other aren’t buried as deeply as they thought.
This book was such a fun and quick read and I enjoyed it from the first page, there was a lot Christmas chaos, fun competition, hilarious characters and beautiful romance with some great banter, I read the whole book in one sitting and loved this story. Eve and Luke definitely aren’t each other’s fans after what happened in the past but despite their annoying each other I could feel the tension between them from their first meeting and I loved seeing them slowly come to terms with their feelings for each other and their banter and teasing each other was so fun to read. They were the definition of grumpy and sunshine but fit together so well and I just loved them together and was rooting for them to finally give in to the attraction between them and it was beautiful to see when they finally did. I also loved Blitzen, that reindeer stole the show everytime she appeared and I was laughing out loud at her antics.
Rebel Without a Claus is an amazing rom-com and everything I love in Christmas books, I enjoyed it a lot and definitely recommend it to everyone and now is a perfect time to read it.
October 9, 2025
"Rebel Without a Claus" is a fun holiday read that captures the magic and mayhem of Christmas in a small town. With its witty banter, charismatic characters, and festive charm, Katana Collins writes a tale that’s both heartwarming and hilarious.
The story follows Eve Winters, the epitome of Christmas cheer, as she returns to her hometown to help her parents run their Christmas themed inn. Her enthusiasm for the holiday season is all encompassing, filled with twinkling lights and joyful music.
However…. her blissful Christmas spirit clashes with that of Luke Dawson, the town’s grumpy reindeer farmer who loathes everything merry.
This classic enemies-to-lovers trope is spot on, with Eve’s sparkling personality providing a sharp contrast to Luke’s broody one!
As the plot unfolds, the author has fun developing their relationship. Luke’s initial disdain for Christmas gradually softens as he spends more time with Eve, especially when they find themselves stranded together due to a snowstorm, laugh out loud moments, especially with the fun antics of mischievous reindeer and well meaning, meddling townsfolk. The setting of the town’s holiday festival adds festive chaos, creating the perfect backdrop for their blossoming romance.
The chemistry between Eve and Luke is brimming with sizzling tension that kept me turning the pages. The trademark ‘grumpy sunshine’ dynamic is done well, creating moments that had me smiling. Eve’s determination to melt Luke’s icy exterior is entertaining. 😂
It’s perfect for fans of small town romances, holiday magic, and those who appreciate a dose of grumpy/sunshine in their books 😉
So whether you're cozied up by the fire or looking for a festive escape, this book is sure to ignite your holiday spirit!
🦋
*copy supplied for review
The story follows Eve Winters, the epitome of Christmas cheer, as she returns to her hometown to help her parents run their Christmas themed inn. Her enthusiasm for the holiday season is all encompassing, filled with twinkling lights and joyful music.
However…. her blissful Christmas spirit clashes with that of Luke Dawson, the town’s grumpy reindeer farmer who loathes everything merry.
This classic enemies-to-lovers trope is spot on, with Eve’s sparkling personality providing a sharp contrast to Luke’s broody one!
As the plot unfolds, the author has fun developing their relationship. Luke’s initial disdain for Christmas gradually softens as he spends more time with Eve, especially when they find themselves stranded together due to a snowstorm, laugh out loud moments, especially with the fun antics of mischievous reindeer and well meaning, meddling townsfolk. The setting of the town’s holiday festival adds festive chaos, creating the perfect backdrop for their blossoming romance.
The chemistry between Eve and Luke is brimming with sizzling tension that kept me turning the pages. The trademark ‘grumpy sunshine’ dynamic is done well, creating moments that had me smiling. Eve’s determination to melt Luke’s icy exterior is entertaining. 😂
It’s perfect for fans of small town romances, holiday magic, and those who appreciate a dose of grumpy/sunshine in their books 😉
So whether you're cozied up by the fire or looking for a festive escape, this book is sure to ignite your holiday spirit!
🦋
*copy supplied for review
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