Bellini's Christmas Burlesque Show

by Cathy Lamb

Mrs. Claus recommends this quirky Christmas love story, complete with a hilarious burlesque show, a lively Montana bar named Lady Whiskey’s, and two people who need a little holiday magic in their lives.

Bellini O’Donnell’s mother, Whiskey, has had her uterus stolen.

By a doctor, of course, but Whiskey needs Bellini to come home for Christmas to help her recover. “Pack the cats in suitcases,” Whiskey insists, “grab your notebooks and drawing paper, steel your loins, and come home to Montana!”

Bellini doesn’t want to “steel her loins.” She doesn’t want to return to Kalulell, especially over Christmas. She doesn’t want to run her mother’s raucous bar. She doesn’t want to organize the annual holiday pageant ingloriously named, “Lady Whiskey’s T and A Christmas Burlesque Show.” She doesn’t want to set eyes on Logan.

No, Bellini, who lives in a pink and white cottage in Oregon, is a children’s book author and illustrator, an introvert with four cats, and a Scrabble and chess enthusiast who wants to stay home. She likes being a “house hermit.”

But she also wants to help her beloved, charismatic mother, so she has no choice. Bellini packs up her four screeching cats and flies home, telling herself she can avoid the love of her life, Logan Hamilton. Who knew they would meet in kindergarten painting Christmas trees and adding a red puff ball to Rudolph’s nose and that would lead to the best love story ever…until it ended.

Bellini never told Logan why she broke up with him after high school. She didn’t tell him about the threats. She didn’t tell him what he would lose if they stayed together. She honestly believed she was making the best decision for him, no matter that the secrets broke her heart.

As soon as Bellini is back in snowy Christmas-loving Kalulell, she sees Logan, who apparently has never forgotten her, either. Protective, romantic, charming, he is the same as Irresistible. Even Mrs. Claus’s heart would be atwitter.

But their reality has not changed, and Bellini knows they still can’t be together unless a Christmas miracle is around the corner…

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2025

Reviews

[Rosemary Dreyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Cathy Lamb’s writing. This book is another fun romp with an outrageous mother, an angst-filled, loyal daughter, and a hunk of a kind architect who is still in love with his high school sweetheart. What I loved: the characters; the large robust family; the fun-filled holiday events; the T&A show, from the concept to the acts to the rehearsals to the show; the uplifting ending; the funny references to some of her other books. What I didn’t like: there is a format to her books and this one was really obvious and heavy handed; the “secret” was a let down when it was finally revealed; the angst was over the top and distracting. Overall, a lighthearted, sweet holiday novel.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about two people who have loved each other since kindergarten. Circumstances have kept them apart. Bellini returns home to take care of her mother's bar after her uterus was "stolen." Add organizing the T (tinsel) and A (all I want for Christmas is Santa) Burlesque Show, hilarity follows. I loved the references to other characters in Lamb's other books.

[diane c tice · Rating 5 out of 5]

a real Christmas gift

Enjoyed every bit of this tender and funny story of a small town and the residents. I know you will love it.