Hot Cocoa and Hellfire

by B. Grimm

The Hearth café has been managerless since theirs died under mysterious circumstances leaving Simone to take charge and keep things a float while the owner hides in the shadows. Simone has always been a good girl. She's run the monster café with a smile even when she’s bone-tired and hiding how lonely she feels. The holidays? Just another reason to keep busy and distracted.

But when Krampus himself descends on the Hearth to handpick a new manager for his café, Simone’s sugar-sweet routine is shattered.

He’s all dark horns, darker humor, and filthy promises wrapped in velvet and sin. And he sees through her so-called cheer like glass and straight to the ache underneath.

Now he’s shadowing her every move.

Teasing her. Testing her.

And promising punishments that make her knees shake and her thighs clench.

She’s not supposed to want him.
He’s not supposed to want her.
But the Naughty List has never been so tempting…

And Krampus always gets what he wants.

223 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication December 16, 2025

Reviews

[April Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a delightful dive into the life of a sweet, overworked employee who unexpectedly finds herself running the show—and becoming a manager by default! The world-building was solid, with clever mentions of accounts and the detailed inner workings of her life. The author did a fantastic job developing Simone, the FMC, giving her plenty of compelling backstory and plot spice that made her journey engaging. However, my "neurospicy brain" got a bit hung up on a few key points, and I thought I'd share them in case others felt the same:

The Krampus Question: Given his significant role, why had he never shown up before? Did he simply not know about the situation or was there another reason? It felt like a significant detail that was left for the reader to figure out.

The Immortal Impact: While the romance was enjoyable, the story didn't really touch on the logistics of his immortality and the very real, lifetime-defining impact that would have on Simone's future. With so many other details present, this felt noticeably absent.
On a different note, while this is part of a larger series (and I assume the same world!), it stands well on its own and doesn't require reading the first book to enjoy.


Overall Impression: I genuinely enjoyed this unique holiday-themed romance and absolutely recommend picking it up! Just be prepared that your brain might have a few nagging questions by the time you reach the final page.


(Disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book and am under no obligation to leave this review.)

[Dayna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wickedly hot Christmas romance that melts snow, souls, and maybe your dignity

Hot Cocoa and Hellfire by B. Grimm is the kind of holiday romance that doesn’t just warm you up — it sets you on fire. This book is pure, unhinged Christmas spice, the sort of story that makes you blush, fan yourself, and question every festive decoration in your house because it suddenly feels suggestive.

The chemistry? Explosive.
The tension? Deliciously dangerous.
The spice? Blisteringly hot, sinful, and absolutely shameless in the best way.

B. Grimm delivers a devilish love interest who is equal parts charm, chaos, and molten temptation — the kind of character who could burn down the North Pole and still have you thanking him. And the heroine? She holds her own beautifully, matching heat with heat, spark with spark, and giving us a dynamic that feels as addictive as it is scorching.

The plot moves fast, balancing festive magic with wicked fun, and the banter is sharp enough to carve into gingerbread. Every scene feels like a dare — and every payoff is worth it.

If you love holiday reads that ditch the wholesome vibes in favor of claws, fire, and unapologetic steam, Hot Cocoa and Hellfire is an absolute must. It’s messy, spicy, devilishly entertaining, and exactly the kind of Christmas chaos monster-romance fans crave.

⚠️ Content Warnings:
• Explicit sexual content (very spicy scenes)
• Supernatural/monster romance elements
• Demonic themes, hellfire imagery
• Light violence and fantasy peril
• Power-imbalance dynamics (consensual)
• Strong language
• Holiday-themed kink elements

✨ Tropes:
• ❤️‍🔥 Grumpy x Sunshine
• 😈 Demon Love Interest
• 🔥 Forced Proximity (with heat… LOTS of heat)
• 🎄 Holiday Romance with a Dark Twist
• 😏 Spicy Bargain / Deal with the Devil
• 🫶 Protective, Possessive Male
• 💫 Magic + Mayhem
• 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ High-Steam Hijinks

[nati ⋆˚꩜｡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

𓄳 𖥔˙̣ Review: 5 ⭐️

Hot Cocoa & Hellfire by B. Grimm is a cozy-meets-chaotic monster romance that leans fully into its contrast: warmth, sweetness, and holiday comfort colliding with something dangerous and infernal. The story thrives on atmosphere, pairing a snug, cocoa-scented setting with a feral, supernatural love interest whose presence brings heat in more ways than one. Grimm’s tone is playful and unapologetically indulgent, making it clear from the start that this is a book meant to be felt rather than deeply analyzed.

The romance is the heart of the story, driven by strong physical chemistry and a “touch-her-and-die” energy that monster-romance fans tend to love. Character development takes a back seat to vibes and intimacy, but that feels intentional rather than lacking. The pacing is quick, the dialogue flirty, and the spice plentiful, with the supernatural elements acting more as flavor than heavy world-building. It’s a story that knows its audience and delivers exactly what it promises.

Overall, Hot Cocoa & Hellfire is a fun, steamy seasonal read best enjoyed with low expectations for plot complexity and high expectations for heat. It’s perfect for readers who want a short escape, a festive backdrop, and a monster romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you’re in the mood for something cozy, spicy, and delightfully unhinged, this book fits the bill.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I'm really thankful for the opportunity.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars
3/5 spice

I felt this story down to my core!! Simone is super relatable - having to constantly take care of others or being so busy it is hard to see the love and joy that is already around you. Having overworked at the local cafe for months without thanks or gratitude, suddenly the mysterious owner, Krampus, comes into find a replacement for her job. Instead of fighting, she accepts her fate and attempts to make it business as usual. But Krampus has his sights set on this self-sacrificing human and means to punish her for punishing herself. This surprisingly sweet and super spicy tale will help you be more mindful and taking the time to love yourself as well as the others around you.

There were at times they really drive that message home over and over again that got a bit too repetitive for me but honestly, as someone who goes above and beyond without thinking of basic self-care, I need those constantly reminders. These habits are ingrained and hard to unlearn so I hope that reading this book is the first step towards you taking care of yourself this holiday season. Hopefully you have a kinky Krampus dominant to own you and take care of you too!

[Heather Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Pull up a seat and have some hot chocolate or coffee at The Hearth, a cozy little café that feels like home, where everyone is welcome. Meet Simone, a waitress who unexpectedly took over the role as manager after the last one died. After a few months, the owner, Krampus, decides to look into his investment during the holidays and pick a new manager. Once Krampus arrives it turns Simone’s world upside down with not only punishments, but rewards as well.

This story is a great holiday treat! I liked how Krampus could see through the walls Simone built over the years. There was a good amount of spice between Simone and Krampus. Not to mention unique worldbuilding. I loved the message about found family and the side characters too, I hope we get to see some of them in future installments.

Overall, I recommend this book to any one who loves the holidays, cozy romance, found family trope, and monster romance.

[Feeme Fatale · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a fun Christmas story involving a little , magic, witty banter and a found family look no further than this cute story. Simone is an underpaid ,over worked, under appreciated unofficial manager. The manager died she had to step up run the coffee shop by herself while the mystery owner is absent. When Krampus does show up- the sparks between them fly and she tries so hard to resist but something about him is everything she didn’t know she needed. And Daddyyyyy Krampus is gonna give it to her nice and naughty . The spice was great the story well written and I can’t wait for other characters story.
*i received this story as an advanced reader copy.*