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Virtue Shifters #12

Owl Be Home for Christmas

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Whoo-ooo says you can’t go home?

Owl shifter and romcom-film-star Kayla Walsh never intended to come home to Virtue, but it’s the perfect small town for a romantic comedy film setting—and the moment she arrives, a full-on ‘meet cute’ crashes into her!

Former ball player Jordan Rhodes is back in Virtue trying to find his feet again—but the last thing he expects to do is knock Kayla off hers. Once high school acquaintances, Jordan and Kayla now find that sparks fly...but Jordan knows there’s no way that a woman like Kayla could ever be really interested in a washed-up athlete.

And Kayla has always assumed everybody who grew up in Virtue knows it’s a haven for shifters. Except, as fate would have it, Jordan doesn’t know, and Kayla isn’t sure she should burden him with her secrets when she’s leaving town again so soon. But when things on set go sour, Kayla has to rely on Jordan—and on Virtue’s secret weapon, nine year old Noah Brannigan, who is always there for the town when it needs him.

Return to the charming small town of Virtue, New York with the sweet, funny Owl Be Home for Christmas, a standalone romantic comedy with a guaranteed HEA that’s sure to fly straight into reader hearts!

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 7, 2025

108 people are currently reading
16 people want to read

About the author

Zoe Chant

332 books1,509 followers
Zoe Chant loves writing paranormal romance. Over a cup of tea (or something stronger) she whips up sexy tales of hunky heroes and adventurous heroines to tantalize and satisfy her readers. Sizzling hot romance, no cliffhangers!

While series should ideally be read in order, all of Zoe’s books are standalones and can be read in any order. This includes books within series.

To get a free book for subscribing to her mailing list, please follow this link: https://www.zoechant.com/join-my-mail...

Zoe's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/32545...


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5 stars
173 (66%)
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58 (22%)
3 stars
30 (11%)
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
1,291 reviews10 followers
December 7, 2025
Very cute and laugh out loud in spots!

Kayla is back in her hometown of Virtue to make a Christmas romcom movie, when she gets her own meet cute moment! Jordan is dog sitting, when the dog gets away from him and knocks Kayla over when she is acting out her movie meet cute! The whole story reads as a wonderful romantic comedy movie and is a delight! This was so much fun! I think I will be rereading this one over and over! Kayla and Jordan had gone to school together, and now she recognizes him as her mate. But apparently, he never knew about shifters, so she has to find a way to explain about them and fated mates!

The pace is fast and the tone is hopeful with a character centered storyline that has no steam. The characters are vibrant and endearing! I loved this story and probably should reread the whole series in chronological order sometime. Thankfully, Zoe/ Murphy lists that right up front! This is #12. Enjoy this cute, sweet and sometimes outrageously funny shifter romance!
Profile Image for Taldragon.
1,002 reviews10 followers
December 13, 2025
Whoo-ooo says you can’t go home?

Owl shifter and romcom-film-star Kayla Walsh never intended to come home to Virtue, but it’s the perfect small town for a romantic comedy film setting—and the moment she arrives, a full-on ‘meet cute’ crashes into her!

Former ball player Jordan Rhodes is back in Virtue trying to find his feet again—but the last thing he expects to do is knock Kayla off hers. Once high school acquaintances, Jordan and Kayla now find that sparks fly...but Jordan knows there’s no way that a woman like Kayla could ever be really interested in a washed-up athlete.

And Kayla has always assumed everybody who grew up in Virtue knows it’s a haven for shifters. Except, as fate would have it, Jordan doesn’t know, and Kayla isn’t sure she should burden him with her secrets when she’s leaving town again so soon. But when things on set go sour, Kayla has to rely on Jordan—and on Virtue’s secret weapon, nine year old Noah Brannigan, who is always there for the town when it needs him.
Profile Image for Starfire.
1,382 reviews32 followers
November 15, 2025
This was a really lovely addition to the Virtue Shifters books - just the right blend of sweet, spicy, humour, and 'safe-warm-hug-of-a-story' for what I was in the mood for.

In particular, I loved Kayla's (our FMC's) food-and-murder-driven owl, and Jordan - who might be the Virtue Shifters series's biggest golden retriever MMC yet.

Plus, shoutout to the casual queerness in our FMC's co-star, even if it does border on disaster bisexuality at times, it never feels like it's played for laughs: Andy just simply is what he is.

I love these books so much - I'm super grateful to Ms Murphy (aka 'Irish Zoe') for the advance reader copy that she provided me as a Patreon patron.

Profile Image for BeeFaith.
188 reviews27 followers
December 10, 2025
🎄 Shifter romance with Hallmark holiday vibes 🎄

This is the perfect novella for readers who enjoy Hallmark holiday movies and shifter romances. Owl be Home for Christmas is sweet and cozy and can easily be read in one sitting. It's great for a day when you're running holiday errands and want to get some reading time in.

This is the first book I've read in the Virtue Shifters series, and I wasn't lost at all. I'm looking forward to reading more, especially since most of them are under 200 pages.
1,992 reviews16 followers
December 16, 2025
Kayla is returning to her hometown Virtue as an actress, shooting a Christmas rom-com. As a shifter she tries to avoid making it known that she grew up in Virtue to protect the local shifter community. But her plans go almost immediately down the drain when an old highschool mate recognises her. And she recognises him as her mate.
The storyline almost exactly follows the script of the movie she is shooting, and she literally becomes the chlichè small town heroine, with all the same twists and turns in reality as there are in her movie.
Fun to read, fairly entertaining, but really clichè.
130 reviews2 followers
December 8, 2025
Love the Virtue series!

This is another wonderful story by Zoe Chant, et al. It is a RomCom, feel good, happily ever after story that the Chant Writers all have and we fans look for.

I loved Kayla/Kyrie. She is strong without being a bitch. I am very interested in finding out what Jordan ends up doing and if they get a puppy!

Definitely a must read of a holiday story. Thanks!
Profile Image for Lynda Tatad.
460 reviews3 followers
December 8, 2025
cute and sweet

The Virtue Shifters stories are my favorite comfort paranormal stories, especially when Noah is involved, even as a cameo. This story features a rom com actress, Kayla, filming a movie in her hometown, though she’s told no one where she’s from. The “meet cute” scene they were filming was interrupted by a dog knocking in to her, and his dog sitter Jonah comes to apologize, and their eyes meet…
23 reviews3 followers
December 9, 2025
Owl remember this one for a while

It’s always a joy to revisit Virtue and learn a little more about the town, the people and the neighborhoods!
A real-life romcom in the middle of filming a romcom makes reading this book like opening a small set of Russian nesting dolls.
As always, Zoe Chant/ Murphy Lawless’ characters make you love them from the start and root for the inevitable happy ending.
Thank you for showing us a bit more about Virtue!
360 reviews
December 7, 2025
All of the Virtue Shifters books have been wonderful, and Owl Be Home for Christmas is no exception. I loved it, and I can't wait to read it again. It's an easy, relaxed, and pleasant HEA, but then that's the point. We all need books that make us feel happy, but also provide us with well-written stories that engage our minds, and that's exactly what this book is. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Ruth.
159 reviews4 followers
December 8, 2025
Bringing back the old

What an amusing feel good story. I'm always blown away by what this author writes and how they make me feel as in reading the story. Bringing in characters from earlier stories lets me remember how I also enjoyed them.
1,501 reviews10 followers
December 18, 2025
This was a fun, super sweet Rom-Com meets reality Christmas book. Still not sure what Jordan's going to do ... but reading the Directorial Debut - Kayla & Jordan One Year Later ... next to find out :)
1,889 reviews5 followers
December 29, 2025
lovely

Two people that went to school together but did not feel spark then, reconnect as mature adults and bam. Fated mate hood moment.
Enjoyed the story and meeting of some of other characters from previous books.
465 reviews2 followers
January 17, 2026
cute

Cute, fast, low angst with a happy ending. This is my first time reading about a female shifter finding her fated mate who is human, it’s usually the female that is human. I liked it
Profile Image for Larisa.
802 reviews
December 8, 2025
These are such Fun.
Read them in order, or dive in wherever you want, they'll work perfectly to make you laugh out loud
95 reviews
December 8, 2025
Funny story

I love Virtue.
I love seeing Noah. I cannot wait for his story
Barney is adorable.
great story
Very enjoyable reading
148 reviews1 follower
December 13, 2025
Lovely

I have read quite a few of Zoe's books but so far I like this one best. The romance and gentleness of the male lead is enchanting.
Profile Image for Kathy Brickert.
3,480 reviews17 followers
December 16, 2025
Sweet!

Love these shifter stories that seem more real than just a character! And I love a good HEA ending. Definitely worth reading and seeing more about Virtue!
89 reviews
December 20, 2025
Good read.

Enjoyed Jordan and Kayla's journey to their HEA. Their rom-com story was delightful.

Good storyline and characters.

Nice read to whittle away the day.
22 reviews1 follower
December 25, 2025
Zoe does Hallmark!

I already love the Virtue Shifters books and this is another delightful romp! If you're a fan of Hallmark movies, you're gonna love this one a little extra!
Profile Image for Amy.
139 reviews
January 5, 2026
I enjoyed it. Not quite as much as Outfoxing Fate, but it was sweet. I also seem to like the unusual shifters a lot. None are as funny as the otter, but it’s still fun and unique.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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