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Sleighbell Springs #7
Sugar, Spice, & Cozy Nights: A September To Remember In Sleighbell Springs
Is love strong enough to survive after death has taken so much?
Evalina, Eva to her friends, knows three things are for certain in this one-hot apple cider always tastes better than hot cocoa, two-there will always be new cookie recipes to discover, and three-she will never ever get over losing Kara. Grief does funny things to people; you lash out, cry buckets of tears, and eat your weight in ice cream. But after all that, what’s next? Well for Eva, it meant leaving, getting out and finding somewhere new to start over. Thankfully, she doesn’t have to do it alone. Eva, along with the remaining members of her poly family, settles on moving to Sleighbell Springs which is located at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains in beautiful Vermont. The picturesque small town with it’s cozy, over the top, tourist trap Christmas vibes seems like the perfect cure for them.
At first, Malachi, Liam, and Hawk are excited by the new adventure and the prospect of seeing their beautiful Eva happy again. But as the years have passed, they are noticing that Eva is gradually getting worse instead of better. Impulsive hugs and kisses are once more being consumed by tears and long lonely hours drowning in alcohol at the local bar. Mal hopes that the upcoming ten year anniversary party for their b&b, Just One Bed, will offer a much needed distraction for Eva and give her something fun to focus on. However, as the mishaps start to pile up and the end of September is fast approaching, it’s starting to feel more like a debilitating migraine than a celebration. Unfortunately, the party chaos is not the only thing that Eva, Mal, Liam, and Hawk are having to navigate.
Strange things are also happening around Just One Bed, the Sugar Plum Bakery, and even in their own home. There are random treats appearing in pretty packages, windows being left open or doors ajar, and objects feeling out of place from the last time they were in a room. Eva is convinced that Kara’s ghost is haunting her. A belief that quickly turns into an obsession and finds her seeking out the counsel of Father Yule from the local church for help. Hawk finds this amusing while Liam just shakes his head sadly, at a loss for how to help. Only Mal seems determined to get through to Eva, proving to her once and for all that there is no ghost, nothing but agonizing grief manifesting itself into hallucinations. Will the men be able to save the girl they love from her own self destruction? And will Eva finally be able to kiss Kara good bye and move on to find her own happiness?
Evalina, Eva to her friends, knows three things are for certain in this one-hot apple cider always tastes better than hot cocoa, two-there will always be new cookie recipes to discover, and three-she will never ever get over losing Kara. Grief does funny things to people; you lash out, cry buckets of tears, and eat your weight in ice cream. But after all that, what’s next? Well for Eva, it meant leaving, getting out and finding somewhere new to start over. Thankfully, she doesn’t have to do it alone. Eva, along with the remaining members of her poly family, settles on moving to Sleighbell Springs which is located at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains in beautiful Vermont. The picturesque small town with it’s cozy, over the top, tourist trap Christmas vibes seems like the perfect cure for them.
At first, Malachi, Liam, and Hawk are excited by the new adventure and the prospect of seeing their beautiful Eva happy again. But as the years have passed, they are noticing that Eva is gradually getting worse instead of better. Impulsive hugs and kisses are once more being consumed by tears and long lonely hours drowning in alcohol at the local bar. Mal hopes that the upcoming ten year anniversary party for their b&b, Just One Bed, will offer a much needed distraction for Eva and give her something fun to focus on. However, as the mishaps start to pile up and the end of September is fast approaching, it’s starting to feel more like a debilitating migraine than a celebration. Unfortunately, the party chaos is not the only thing that Eva, Mal, Liam, and Hawk are having to navigate.
Strange things are also happening around Just One Bed, the Sugar Plum Bakery, and even in their own home. There are random treats appearing in pretty packages, windows being left open or doors ajar, and objects feeling out of place from the last time they were in a room. Eva is convinced that Kara’s ghost is haunting her. A belief that quickly turns into an obsession and finds her seeking out the counsel of Father Yule from the local church for help. Hawk finds this amusing while Liam just shakes his head sadly, at a loss for how to help. Only Mal seems determined to get through to Eva, proving to her once and for all that there is no ghost, nothing but agonizing grief manifesting itself into hallucinations. Will the men be able to save the girl they love from her own self destruction? And will Eva finally be able to kiss Kara good bye and move on to find her own happiness?
177 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 2, 2026
Small town - already established polycule
For starters this cover is freaking adorable. Now also with that this story was not quite as cute as I expected from the title and cover.
The FMC is still struggling with the loss of one of their polycule. She has a drinking problem and is pushing away the rest of her little family.
I appreciated this was an already established relationship that was fracturing. It shows how important communication is to relationships. Their girl has been drowning and they didn't realize.
I love the town and the businesses they run. This is a perpetually festive town which was really cute.
I will say that the end of this story felt very rushed. It went from everything is awful to aww look at this anniversary event and everything is fine.
Ummm.....no. There needed to be more that finalized everything. What decisions are they making? How are they all healing? I needed a few more chapters.
For starters this cover is freaking adorable. Now also with that this story was not quite as cute as I expected from the title and cover.
The FMC is still struggling with the loss of one of their polycule. She has a drinking problem and is pushing away the rest of her little family.
I appreciated this was an already established relationship that was fracturing. It shows how important communication is to relationships. Their girl has been drowning and they didn't realize.
I love the town and the businesses they run. This is a perpetually festive town which was really cute.
I will say that the end of this story felt very rushed. It went from everything is awful to aww look at this anniversary event and everything is fine.
Ummm.....no. There needed to be more that finalized everything. What decisions are they making? How are they all healing? I needed a few more chapters.
September 30, 2026
This was a cute read, but definitely heavier than I expected from the sweet Christmas cover.
I liked that the relationship is already established, so instead of watching everyone fall in love, we get to see what happens when that love is tested by grief and addiction.
It’s a quick read, but it still gives the characters and their relationship enough room to feel like more than just a fun novella.
ARC
I liked that the relationship is already established, so instead of watching everyone fall in love, we get to see what happens when that love is tested by grief and addiction.
It’s a quick read, but it still gives the characters and their relationship enough room to feel like more than just a fun novella.
ARC
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such a cute novella with some dark themes such as addiction. Ilsa writes the power addiction can have on a person so well, my heart hurt for Eva and all she'd gone through and continues to struggle. I loved all the characters, the funny cats and was sad when it ended, I want more of Mal, Liam, Hawk and Eva!
October 1, 2026
This is a quick and sweet contemporary PolyAm that explores the dynamic of a polycule that's been through grief and is trying to hold itself together.
The dynamic between all four MCs is so vastly different from each other, making each one told very interestingly and makes you feel for each member of the group.
The dynamic between all four MCs is so vastly different from each other, making each one told very interestingly and makes you feel for each member of the group.
October 1, 2026
REVIEW OF ADVANCED COPY RECEIVED FROM AUTHOR
Cute quick read of a polycule as they each deal with grief. It felt like it COULD be longer (but maybe I’m just used to longer stories rn) though it wasn’t necessary to complete the story. The MCs are all very well fleshed out and I felt for each of them
Cute quick read of a polycule as they each deal with grief. It felt like it COULD be longer (but maybe I’m just used to longer stories rn) though it wasn’t necessary to complete the story. The MCs are all very well fleshed out and I felt for each of them
Review of advance copy received from Author
A cozy, super spicy, Christmas themed novella with all the feels. A perfect read for the holiday season that is super sweet, has the perfect amount of spice with a bit of overcoming trauma. A good representation of grief and how it can ebb and flow.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Cute Novella that tackles grief, addiction and the road to moving on.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews