This Christmas

by Jill Sanders

This Christmas, the only gift she didn’t expect was love.

Ally is done living in fear. For five long years, her powerful ex has dragged her through courts and lies, using his wealth to keep her under his thumb. All she wants is to protect her daughter, Charlotte, and give her a chance at peace. A fresh start in the small town of Pride feels like the perfect escape, until the one man she shouldn’t trust steals her heart.

Joe, a former cop turned private investigator, took the job expecting to uncover dirt on a mother accused of keeping her daughter away from his client. Instead, he finds Ally, a fiercely devoted woman whose kindness shakes his beliefs to the core. Stranded together in a snowstorm, Joe sees the truth behind the lies he was fed…and realizes he’s been working for the real villain. Now, he’ll risk everything to protect Ally and Charlotte from the monster determined to tear them apart.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 9, 2025

About the author

Jill Sanders is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of Sweet Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Western Romance, and Paranormal Romance novels. With 100 books in eleven series, translations into several different languages, and audiobooks there’s plenty to choose from. Look for Jill’s bestselling stories wherever romance books are sold or visit her at jillsanders.com


Jill comes from a large family with six siblings, including an identical twin. She was raised in the Pacific Northwest and later relocated to Colorado for college and a successful IT career before discovering her talent for writing sweet and sexy page-turners. After Colorado, she decided to move south, living in Texas and now making her home along the Emerald Coast of Florida. You will find that the settings of several of her series are inspired by her time spent living in these areas. She has two sons and off-set the testosterone in her house by adopting three furry little ladies that provide her company while she’s locked in her writing cave. She enjoys heading to the beach, hiking, swimming, wine-tasting, and pickleball with her husband, and of course writing. If you have read any of her books, you may also notice that there is a love of food, especially sweets! She has been blamed for a few added pounds by her assistant, editor, and fans… donuts or pie anyone?

https://www.tiktok.com/@jillsandersau...

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous book telling us the story of Ally, Max's sister, and her daughter Charlotte who have escaped from a miserable life with her ex-husband Ted. Ally and Ted have been divorced for five years, but he is intent on still making her life miserable.

Ally is house sitting for Max while he is away working, giving Ally and Charlotte a much needed break, hopefully away from the prying eyes of Ted's spies. However her peace is short lived again when the current PI following her shows up. Ally explains to Joe that all is not what it appears, and after some digging he finds out the truth, which changes his mind and, to his surprise, his life.

Twists and turns in the story keep you hooked. Will Ally ever get her life back and will she and Charlotte get a happy ever after?

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great suspense story with Charlotte stealing the show. Ally is staying at her brother’s house while he’s away, hoping she and Charlotte can finally enjoy some peace. Joe is hired by Ally’s ex to dig up dirt on her, but it doesn’t take long for him to discover that the ex is the one with secrets to hide. Joe quickly becomes captivated by both Charlotte and Ally. Although Ally isn’t sure she can trust any man, Joe makes her want to believe again. Charlotte has even asked Santa for a new daddy—could that be Joe? Determined to protect them from the monster Ally once married, Joe realizes he’s found a place that feels like home. The question is, will Ally and Charlotte be part of it?

[Stephanie Herron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ally is looking for a fresh start away from her vengeful ex-husband so goes to her brother's house with her daughter. Shortly after arriving, she figures out she is being followed by yet another PI hired by her ex. Joe has been doing the job long enough to know when something isn't right so he starts investigating the ex and realizes he's on the wrong side of this fight. He quickly wins over Charlotte but her mom Ally is a harder sell. Her ex does not give up and things take a drastic turn when he shows up. The mystery and suspense are good and add to the romance the characters find.

[Omnia Atef · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ally and Joe really great. The strong independent single mom who fought her abusive ex to keep her daughter save and the PI who worked for the wrong side then righted the wrong who will do whatever it takes to keep both of them save and the cutest smartest kid ever Charlotte loved. This book is a chief's kiss

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A CHRISTMAS VISIT TO PRIDE!!

Very emotionally charged story. Ally and Charlotte lived through hell, but survived and found their new home in Pride. Along with a new love and family and friends, they shared their Christmas with a whole new family. Wonderful characters!!

[Kirstie Ibrahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back to Prides Lighthouse we go. A bit more mystery surrounding the lighthouse and its tunnels. Plenty of suspense and a touch of romance. A great story.

[Sharon]

Purchased in epub format from Barnes and Noble for my Nook.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet small town story of family, love coming from a surprising source, and Christmas happiness.
Plenty of suspense to add some spice.

[Kristal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the Pride series! The story is interesting and well written. Love the characters!

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this look at Ally, Max's sister. We get more information about her past and what happened when she was married. It was so much worse than I thought from the other books.

Joe is the new investigator that Ally's ex hires to spy on her. The more he observes, the more he realizes that his client has another agenda.

I really enjoyed this book and the story.