*Please note, I was provided with an ARC version of this book by the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review*
Well, Billie has done it again! A sweet, spicy, seasonal novella that somehow fills the reader with festive cheer, caters to our desires to be told we've been good girls for Santa this year and presents underlying dark themes and the gift of slow, painful vengeance? Seriously, what's not to love about this book?!
I don't know what it is about Billie's MMCs, but despite them all having very different character traits, looks and likes, it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to choose a favourite. So Mischa already had a high bar to clear. We might have met him briefly in the previous book, 'Sweet Silver Belle', but there is nothing that can truly prepare you for this absolute lumbersnack of a man bursting through the bedroom door. His dangerous and dominant air is intoxicating, but equally his golden retriever, world's best Uncle (*cough* Daddy *cough*) energy makes him a complete dream.
Likewise, our FMC Bebe is so relatable, whether or not you have similar experiences. She might take a little longer to get under your skin than Mischa, but when she does it's because she proves herself to be smart, capable and sassy, and yet still 'normal' and down to earth despite the madness surrounding her. Her warring thoughts throughout the book are familiar to me, both as a bookish girlie and as a bigger woman - that line between being comfortable and confident with who you are and the endless, relentless negative stream of consciousness that, because you don't look, act or present a certain way, you're somehow not worthy of time, attention or love. The author has managed to create such a well rounded character in Bebe; you can't help but share in her quiet pain and sadness while also revelling in her moments of child-like joy and celebrate her taking back her power.
Now, I will say that insta-love is not one of my 'go to' tropes; I much prefer the yearning and anticipation of a slow burn and tend to find that love at first sight feels more contrived and unrealistic. But all of that went out the window with Santa Bebe. Despite their differences, the characters compliment each other and fit from the first page, and their push-pull is far from the conflict of a slow burn - no, this feels more like they're hashing everything out to build a solid foundation from minute one. It never feels forced; the feelings might come on strong, but the mutual attraction is almost a separate entity to the deeper development of their relationship. Ultimately, I believed in this couple and their story.
The plot is tight, concise and clear, but there is still room for the story to breathe, stretch its legs and throw in a few curveballs, even within the novella format. Its pacing is perfect; the story skips along with nothing weighing it down, but there is depth and consideration enough to make it something you want to focus on. It may not be overly complex, but it has moments that steal your breath, moments that hit damn hard and moments that make you think. This book definitely has a heart and soul all its own. I honestly wouldn't change a thing.
Santa Bebe can absolutely be read as a standalone, but the additional rewards you reap by reading the previous book in the series, 'Sweet Silver Belle', add a whole extra layer of *chef's kiss* perfection to this. There are elements included in here that read like an extended epilogue for SSB, and seeing those characters revelling in their HEA is beautiful. Likewise, now you know a little more about Mischa, when going back and reading SSB you suddenly find yourself paying more attention to this peripheral character and fleshing him out more inside your own mind. And I can definitely recommend it!
So, to sum up, I'll be adding Mischa to the rotation of book boyfriends, wishing I could befriend Bebe and generally raving about this book and this wonderful author to anyone and everyone that will listen. 🩷