Heat for the Holidays: A Small Town Christmas Novella

by Holly Monroe

All they want for Christmas is each other.

Felix, like most Omegas, dreams of finding a pack underneath his Christmas tree, even though he knows it’s impossible when his perfect pack comprises his Alpha boss, Gabriel, and his Beta best friend, Clara.


Clara has loved Felix for a decade, and he’ll never know. She’s resigned herself to living a life of unrequited love and encourages Felix to find happiness with an Alpha.


Gabriel should not be drawn to his employee the way he is. From the moment he met Felix, he has been obsessed, and he can no longer deny it. Before he can share those feelings with the beautiful Omega, he meets his scent match at the company holiday party.


And she’s on Felix’s arm.


He never would have guessed that he’d find his match in Clara, who longs for Felix as much as he does. Except that Clara wants nothing to do with Gabriel and will give up their new connection so Felix can find happiness with the Alpha he pines for.


This Christmas, Felix, Clara, and Gabriel have to decide if they’re willing to take a risk to have the holiday of their dreams.

Genres: Omegaverse, Romance, Christmas, Holiday, Contemporary, Why Choose

186 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2025

About the author

Holly Monroe reluctantly lives in Florida with her husband, two kids, and two rescue pups. She's never met a character she couldn't traumatize, but she always gives them their happily ever afters.

They just have to work for it.

Reviews

[Maria F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Write the date on the calendar folks, Holly Monroe has given us a delicious fluffy holiday romance with no kidnapping, medical experimentation, oppressive government, or evil guardians (I KNOW, I KEPT EXPECTING ONE TO JUST POP OUT AND JUMP SCARE ME!). 😂 This was such a cute holiday romp with a couple of idiots that you just want to hug and make their Christmas dreams come true! The pining was adorable! I loved how sweet this was and could just smile and relax. And I loved their scents. Very cute, very holiday, and very cozy. So FUN!

I didn’t find myself super invested in the characters but still had a ton of fun!

[Lyrik · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too much will they/won't they drama for what I want in a novella.

MMF
Felix - omega
Gabriel - alpha
Clara - beta

[ᴊᴇꜱꜱᴛʜᴇʙᴏᴏᴋᴅᴇᴍᴏɴ ☾ ✧˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬. 𝐈𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭, 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞?”

3 idiots in love 🤣 this book had me screaming the entire time for them to just talk to each other and figure it out. but also hurt my heart to see how much all of them were pining for each other. but i am so glad they figured it all out making it a perfect holiday read.



✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
MMF, AOB, 1st-person multi POV, 28 fmc / 28 mmc / ???
workplace/boss x employee, friends to lovers, scent matches, nesting, bonding/bite marks, heat scene, HEA, epilogue, m-preg in epilogue

[Emi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly KNOWS how to write a novella. All of her novellas, despite the short page count, always feel like a completed story and never leaves me with any questions. I adored this trio. It was funny going from character to character and then being in love with eachother, but not admitting to eachother. The chemistry was really good between them too. I’m a sucker for fated mates. The side characters were hilarious in this. Despite the MC blindness, they paid attention and made sure things got done. The verbal cameos also had me screaming. I was not expecting that. I don’t read much holiday books, but I ate this up. I couldn’t put it down. No complaints. This was the perfect way to start the season.

[Callan Shive · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these little idiots so much. They are honestly my favorite characters and this is my favorite Christmas novella EVER!!!

I’ve never actually read a Christmas/Holiday novella before this one and I just fell in love with everything. I love Felix, Clare and Gabriel so much and Sylvia, my main girl!

The yearning hurts so much but it ended up being so worth it in the end. “It doesn’t have to mean anything” !!! IT MEANS EVERYTHING !!!

Honestly, I’m just in love with idiots in love and would happily like some more please

[spirits.affection · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and spicy like a good mulled holiday wine. A super fun read and it was nice seeing and hearing about our circus group again even if it was in passing, also the cutest husky side kick. Perfect for the holidays and a way to escape the holiday family chaos with three chaotic idiots who are so stubborn and dense they don’t realize they all like each other until their friends finally shove them into each other and meddle just the right about.

[BrittNeedsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly brought us a holly jolly christmas book and it was just what the holidays needed. I don’t read many novellas and I’m not a holiday girlie so I picked this up solely cause I love me a Holly Monroe book. The idiots to lovers trope is one of my favorites so I knew this book had two things going for it in my favor and I was not disappointed at all.

I will say I spent half of the book screaming “KISS YOU IDIOTS” so if that’s your vibe you should read this.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was fine??? there were some cute moments but i only read it three days ago and i mostly forgot it. i get that it was supposed to be an “idiots in love” thing, which is charming and cute for a while but eventually i kinda started to feel like “hmm maybe these people are too stupid to be alive” and then i got a little irritated with it. but in fairness, that might be more of an indicator that this book was never gonna be one of my favorites.

[Arcadia Porter · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF 84%

Still a good book well written. Miscommunication or failure of communication troupe. Not my favorite but she pulls it off having the inner monolgues of the other characters. I just wasn't feeling the spicy vibes so I just ended the book early when it was getting there. Would recommend.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not really a novella fan. Either they are too short and I feel stuff is missing or they are part of series and i feel like it is just a waste. But I really love this author's Omegaverse books so I was more than willing to give e this a shot. This book is adorable. They are adorable. Honestly this is just what I needed, a cute dose of cozy HEA with Christmas vibes.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy read with a couple of classic themes:
* Friends-to-lovers
* Boss/employee
* Hidden scent match

And of course everyone is TOO NICE and TOO SELF-SACRIFICING to say anything! Haha! Basically everyone wants everyone else but no one wants to say anything for fear of rejection or issues with employment. Of course it all works out in the end and they are all adorable!

[A.M. Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute holiday novella

This was such a sweet holiday romance. I cheered when they finally got together. The wait was definitely worth it because it gave just enough time to see how all three would work together as a pack. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a holiday omegaverse.

[Mary Prior · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy holiday read

This book was super cute. A good mix of pining and then cheesy cuteness. I liked that It wasn't over the top Christmas. The characters pine for one another, but not in an obnoxious way (sometimes it can be too much). if you want a short fun, cozy Christmas omegaverse, this is perfect.

[Heather L · Rating 5 out of 5]

More pin(e)ing than a Christmas tree

Idiots to lovers might be my new favorite trope. Even though this was a low stress cozy novel, I still got hyped up screaming “just kiss already!” The book very much read like a Hallmark holiday romance movie, but one that’s only aired on HBO Max. It was the perfect amount of sweet and steamy.

[Julie Simpkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of omegaverse this one is a sweet comfort book for the holidays.

It gives you male omega who wants his bestie and his boss.

It gives female beta who doesn’t think she’s worthy of either an alpha or an omega. Silly girl.

It gives the sweet alpha who gets tongue tied around the people he wants.

Them finding their way to each other is so sweet.

[Jenna Foss · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

super short, super sweet, great christmas read! MMF
alpha/omega/beta
female beta
male omega
🌶️🌶️
good story line, great writing, just do yourself a favor and read this book

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these three idiots. I usually dislike the miscommunication trope, but as a high anxiety girlie, in the case of “I like you but I don’t want to tell you in case it ruins everything” I LIVE for it.
these three are so stupid and cute I just wanted to squeeze them all together!

this is the sweetest holiday omegaverse novella and it may become a yearly reread for me

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute and perfect

I binge read this and am absolutely in love with it. It was so wholesome and sweet with the perfect amount of spice added. These characters were so adorable together. I loved their story. 😍

[Jenella · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a wonderful holiday themed Omegaverse novella, then this is for you! Gabriel, Felix, and Clara are just the best idiots in love and without a little help from some special people they figure it out!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I know I am a greedy Omega, hoping to get an Alpha and a Beta under my Christmas tree from Santa, but I can’t stop myself from putting them on my list.”

Very cute Christmas omegaverse story. Very fluffy and cozy and perfect for the holiday season. Another great one from this author!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful little omegaverse novella. Easy and quick read which still gives Holly’s perfect blend of witty and spice but also a little lighter than most of her other books. She still manages to get you to fall in love with her characters even with less than 200 pages.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy Omegaverse Christmas 🥰

I really enjoyed this novella. It was incredibly charming and perfectly blended the heartwarming moments of a Hallmark Christmas movie with the elements of the Omegaverse.

[Parkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

God I love idiots to lovers books.

This book is a short and sweet holiday romance, perfect for cozying up in front of the fire and reading the evening away!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy little omegaverse Hallmark movie 🥰 The idiots all want one another, but someone external matchmaking to get their act together.

[BumblingBee · Rating 4 out of 5]

sweet

Quick fun little holiday read just in time for the holidays! Love Hollys omega-verse books she never misses with them

[Michaela K · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.25
🌶️ 2

[Cassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfectly Sweet

I LOVED this sweet novella. The idiots to lovers trope was done so well, and I thought it was great to see mentions of the previous books.

[B Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a tender and sensual morsel of Christmas joy! It was a short, sweet, sexy time. Gabriel, Clara, and Felix are precious and it was fun watching them fall into forever.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect holiday Omegaverse story. Short, sweet and steamy with excellent characters and no angst. I absolutely loved this story!

[Kassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 3.5⭐️ Spice 3🌶️