In Your Honor, My Christmas Angel

by Cori Zahara

We had the perfect second chance.
Then my girl went missing.

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Dark Romance, Second Chance

377 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 18, 2025

About the author

Just a weirdo, who has imaginary people talking to her...who she then writes books on, starting with the end of their story. Yes, I told you...weird.

Reviews

[Mihaela Popova · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ ARC read. 📚

For the fans of dark themes, second chance romance and having your heart ripped out (like me), it’s an amazing read. The story is built around a couple of Christmases, hence the title, but don’t expect some cutesy, overly romantic stuff.. I mean it’s Cori. 🙈🥹
She almost gave me a heart attack at least two or three times, made me question my sanity and if I’m slipping like the MMC, but that’s precisely why I love her writing. And of course it was heartbreakingly beautiful, like all her other work. 🩷
So if you want to read a different kind of Christmas story with relatable characters, broken hearts, mental health issues and an unhinged Santa Claus, that’s the one for you.

[Stefani Tomova · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read by this author and definitely not my last! It’s the perfect mix of dark romance and emotional wreckage. This is Joules and Kendall’s story, and their tragic past kept me gripped from the start.
Watching Kendall return after ten years and seeing them navigate their shared grief, pain, and distance was heartbreaking yet incredibly rewarding. It’s not your typical cutesy holiday story, but that’s exactly why I loved it. It was beautiful, intense, and left me wanting more. I can't wait to explore the rest of her books! 📖✨

[Dimitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Your Honor My Christmas Angel 🩷
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Cori Zahara for trusting me with this breathtaking ARC!

Everything started to blossom again,a second chance to us,and then she disappeared.

It is one of the few times I really do not not know where to start and what to write.
This book had me crying,laughing,falling in love,being scared & in shock from the plot twists after plot twists that were happening.
Zahara's writing was wonderful and so suitable for the story.She can manage to write fast paced while giving us so many info,moments and scenes at the same time-truly a talent!
Taking you into the story & plot,I want to inform that it is not just a romance nor just a thriller.It is something you have never ever read about again in your entire life.
We follow Joules and Kendall a couple who were together since their teens,with many experiences tying them up together,and most importantly a couple that is read to burn the world in order for them to achieve being together.
That specific flame is really shown,after Kendall's disappearance,in which time J is literally unable to live without his girl and WILL do ANYTHING in order to discover the truth.
Strong feelings accompanied with good narration were the recipe for this 5 star read,& if you want a heartbreaking romance/thriller that will have you holding your breath until the last page In Your Honor,My Christmas Angel is the one for you.
5⭐
Out On Dec,18th 🌸

[Emmy Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

What in the world just happened??? I feel like I got a heart attack and lost a good 10 years of my life because this book was insanely beautiful yet extremely damaging! You have been warned! I feel utterly destroyed right now, because this book will bring you to hell and back. However rest assured that as much of a mindfuckery this book is, there is a HEA. (It just takes them a very very long, very very hard and difficult time to get there). This plot was no doubt a stunner, from start to finish had me completely hooked because our man Joules was never EVER giving up on getting his girl back. There’s a huge second chance trope in the first half of the book and then the author tricks you into thinking it gets better than just him helplessly begging…. That time jump… everything after it was pure angst and terrifyingly sad. The plot twists were actually insane and I had no idea what was real and what was as fake??!? This book was such a masterpiece with plot and also with characters! I loved Joules, he’s got complexity, he’s obsessed with Kendall, and he is grovelling king. He also has mental health issues that play a huge part in this book but also make him sort of an unreliable narrator which I loved. My one little minor thing, is because most of this book focuses on Joules, we don’t know that much about Kendall apart from the fact that she’s sunshiny, loves Christmas, and comes from a rich background. So yes this book is mmc focused but it does make a lot of sense. This book is sure to have you screaming in agony and I give it a 5-5

[Kimmy Sue Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky eARC reader over here!! What’s not to love about a Christmas book filled with torture and death and mental health issues? I loved every second of this! Cori Zahara is the queen of dark romance and writes the most amazingly, imperfect, broken MMC’s that have the perfect amount of yearning for their female counterpart. This story was literal perfection to read this time of year. We had all the elements of the holiday mixed in with the darkness and depravity that makes for a fun reading time.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5/5

✅ Mental health rep
✅ Small town
✅ Second chance

Thank you Cori Zahara and Love Notes PR for providing this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

Wow, my jaw is on the floor. While it is a romance story, it’s also part mystery! I was on the edge of my seat, reading up until all hours of the night to see where this story went. Reader beware: lots of Christmas themed everything.

I knew the FMC was going to go missing because of the synopsis, but wasn’t sure when that would exactly happen. It was about an equal story line of before she went missing and after she went missing. The story was told primarily from the MMC POV, and as he was battling mental health issues it almost made me second guess how it would be ending. Thankfully, it was a HEA and the writing really added to it. I do wish the author got into more of the motive, but definitely a 5/5!

#InYourHonorMyChristmasAngel #CoriZahara #ARC

[Magdalene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to receive an ARC from the author and I was not let down.

First of all, Cori Zahara has once again had my mind blown! Even 90 percent into the book I was on the edge of my seat!

I love a book that has so many puzzle pieces weaved in. It's like solving a mystery and second guessing yourself at the same time.

🖤 Second Chance Romance
🎄 Christmas themed
🖤 Mental Health Rep

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the best time reading In Your Honor, My Christmas Angel. I was fully invested the entire time and it was honestly so much fun trying to figure out what was going to happen next and who did what. This had so much mystery and suspense to it alongside the romance.

It was really nice to get so much POV of the MMC, Joules and I found myself really liking and empathizing with him. He struggles with his own mental health issues that you will learn about throughout the story and I was rooting for him so hard. Kendall, the FMC, was sweet and I also felt for her and what she had been through in her past. You quickly learn Joules and Kendall's history together and if you are a fan of second chance romance, I think you would enjoy this story. These two have great banter and you can tell they really care for each other. Who doesn't love a man that grovels?

I don't want to give the plot away because you just need to go in blind and enjoy the ride, but just know Cori will keep you on your toes the entire time. Just when I thought I had it figured out, she threw me for a loop. I love that this story had depth and layered characters while also maintaining a fun and exciting element throughout. The plot twists were great and I really enjoyed how the story progressed. Dom deserves his own shoutout because I really liked him.

Overall, this was a really fun, spicy and suspenseful Holiday read that I would recommend to any dark romance reader that is looking for a good Holiday themed romance with a strong mystery component.

Please be sure to check the TW as there are very heavy topics discussed and dealt with throughout this story.

Thank you Cori and Love Notes for the ARC.

[Elifs · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️‍🩹 ᴜɴʀᴇǫᴜɪᴛᴇᴅ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
🖤 ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇꜱ
🥰 ꜱᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ
🎄 ʜᴏʟɪᴅᴀʏ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ


It was a story that was both beautiful and deeply heartbreaking. I would describe it as a truly touching take on second chances. The main characters share not only a complicated past but also mutual losses that shaped who they became. When Kendall returns to the town she once left behind after ten years, old wounds are inevitably reopened. At the same time, we witness Joules finally confronting his mistakes and trying to make amends.

Despite the emotional distance and the pain they both carry, their paths slowly cross again, and coming together is anything but easy. Watching them reconnect, heal, and navigate their shared grief was emotional yet incredibly rewarding. I genuinely enjoyed every moment of reading this story—thank you for such a moving experience.

[Darkbookghoul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished In Your Honor, My Christmas Angel by Cori Zahara and I’m not sure how I’m supposed to recover from this!!!

This book follows the story of Joules and Kendall, meeting again after years apart after losing their unborn child and Joules betraying Kendall, this is their second chance at love. Although this story contains some difficult issues, it really was beautiful and kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, we are thrown a curveball and my mind gets blown.

This is a perfect Christmas read and I can’t recommend this book enough, Cori is such a talented writer and I fell in love with Joules and Kendall and their relationship, I feel lost without them now but the ending was so satisfying! I will be thinking about this book for a long time! Thank you for letting me Arc read for you Cori 🖤

Please make sure you check your triggers before reading as this book does deal with child loss, mental health and some violent themes and more.

[mads ꫂৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

tbh this was such a slog to get thru review to come tho <3

[Chelsea McCarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ARC read. What a heart wrenching story. This kept me on the edge of my seat. My heart was breaking for Joules and Kendall. I could feel Joules heartache throughout the whole thing. It was causing my heart to race and I felt myself begin to panic needing to know what happens next. The amount of strength this couple has is astonishing. The ending was exactly what I needed. I highly recommend this if you are looking for something with some heartbreak, some hope and something that warms your soul at the end of the day.

[Emma_books_xoxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑰𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒓, 𝒎𝒚 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒍 by @corizaharaauthor

This book had my heart racing and my palms sweating and not in a good way, my anxiety was fierce whilst reading this book! I buddie read with the fabulous @lovedarkbooks our voice notes throughout would show you our panic 😂 Cori knows how to pull at your heart strings and keep you on the edge with her books.

Joules and Kendall.. WOW, joules is my absolute favourite! His commitment, devotion and refusal to give up showed how much he loved Kendall. Yes he made a mistake but he spent his life making up for it. He used his actions and his words to prove that he was truly sorry and wanted a life with Kendall. He wasn't about to let the love of his life get away again. Despite his condition joules refused to give up, he battled himself, the town and anyone who said a bad thing about him and his girl. Drowning in his grief and his manic episodes joules couldn't give up on the fantasy of his future with Kendall and nothing and no one was going to stop him from achieving his goal. Kendall was the one for him and even when no one else was on his side he couldn't give up his love for her.

“I know you think I don’t have anything to offer your daughter, but I do love her."

Kendall battled her own demons, her grief for her parents and everything else she lost was just too much for her to deal with and returning to angel manor was not something she wanted to do but life made the decision for her. Bumping in to the boy that broke her heart wasn't on her to do list either but it was bound to happen in a little town. Fighting her feelings and trying to bury the past was harder than she thought but when you find a love that burns as brightly as hers and joules she realised she couldn't give it up.

This story has twists that keep you guessing and you start to question EVERYONE. I couldn't stop my eyes from trying to skip ahead but my brain refused to get on board. Prepare yourself for the emotional rollercoaster that this story will take you on, it's not just a love story, it's full of mystery, secrets, murder and hope.

[Kristen (IG: books.n.snakes) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎄 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 ℍ𝕠𝕟𝕠𝕣, 𝕄𝕪 ℂ𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕞𝕒𝕤 𝔸𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕝 🎄

“𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝, 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙩𝙤𝙤. 𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙨, 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙨.”

📖 𝗜𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿, 𝗠𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹
✍🏼 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗶 𝗭𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮
#️⃣ 𝟯𝟲𝟯 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
🗓️ 𝟭𝟮.𝟭𝟴.𝟮𝟱

“𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙚𝙨. 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙗𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧…𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚, 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩.”

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦
🎅🏼 ʜᴏʟɪᴅᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇᴅ
🎅🏼 ꜱᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
🎅🏼 ᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ ʀᴇᴘ
🎅🏼 ꜱʜᴇ ɢᴏᴇꜱ ᴍɪꜱꜱɪɴɢ
🎅🏼 ʜᴇ ɢᴏᴇꜱ ꜰᴇʀᴀʟ
🎅🏼 ᴅʀᴜɴᴋ ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ’ꜱ
🎅🏼 ᴜɴʀᴇQᴜɪᴛᴇᴅ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
🎅🏼 ꜱɴᴏᴡᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇx
🎅🏼 ꜱᴏᴜʟ ᴍᴀᴛᴇꜱ

📖𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ♾️
𝗙𝗠𝗖: Kendall
𝗠𝗠𝗖: Joulian / Joules


*𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨. 𝘼 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙝, 𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 / 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝.

I. Am. In. Love. With. This. Story.

It will have you guessing for 90% of the read trying to figure out who did what.

And Cori writes men that you just yearn for. From the very first page, your heart is going to fall for Joules.

10 years ago, he made the biggest mistake of his life when he got drunk due to grieving. And Kendall is grieving in her own way as well. This leads to a 10 year separation between them, until a chance encounter at their local coffee shop.

And in that encounter, Joules is determined to not lose her a second time. We then go through a 2 year time hop, and Kendall is now missing. Though, everyone seems to think she just left. Everyone except Joules.

There was not a single moment in this story where I was bored, there were no unnecessary fillers and you are literally left guessing the whole book of who did what. This had elements of thriller, love and loss. I truly loved this book.

Thank you Cori & Love Notes for this ARC

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗘
📖 ᴘʜʏꜱɪᴄᴀʟ
🎧 ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ
📱 ᴇʀᴇᴀᴅ ✔️

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗘
📖 ᴘʜʏꜱɪᴄᴀʟ
🎧 ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ
📱 ᴇʀᴇᴀᴅ ✔️

[Nikki B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Your Honor, My Christmas Angel is a holiday themed, second chance romance with dark themes.
I had a hard time rating this one because, if I'm being really honest, I almost gave up I almost DNF'ed because even at 50% of the story, nothing serious happened yet. Up until that point, the story was just about Joules and Kendall and how their young love relationship was torn from them due to a tragic accident that happened. Joules had a hard time coping and coped in the wrong ways causing them to break up. But they're lucky enough to get a second chance at putting the past behind them and rebuilding their future. There's a lot of flash backs to what took place to cause them to separate to begin with and present moments. I had to keep going back and rereading the blurb to make sure that I wasn't wrong... this wasn't just some soppy love story.. something else is supposed to happen. And then it does. It changed the whole trajectory of the story for me.
Kendall goes missing. The town folk believe she just walked away from Joules, but Joules knows in his heart that she would never and refuses to stop looking for her. His mental health takes a huge toll on him though and this comes into play later in the story when his mental health is used against him to make it seem like he is an unreliable narrator. People try to convince him that she either walked away, or is dead, and he needs to move forward. But he can't let it go. Is he actually crazy? Was he just imagining her this whole time? Is she did? Does he get justice? I won't give it away, but the twist was shocking.
I'm really glad I stuck with this story because I didn't see the twist coming and I would have been really sad to have missed out on it. I will be checking out more of Cori Zahara's work now, keeping in mind that sometimes sticking with the story can be really rewarding.

[Giana Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when you finally get a second chance with the woman you once loved with all your heart, and she suddenly goes missing?

Joules finally gets the second chance he always wanted when his ex, Kendall, returns to town after 10 years away. It takes a lot of groveling and forgiveness but they finally get that second chance together they always wanted. Right before Christmas, Kendall suddenly goes missing. Even though they have footage, everyone believes she up and left him again because the pain of the reasoning behind initial separation was too much for her to bare. Kendall doesn’t think this though and he won’t stop until she’s found, dead or alive.

This book was perfectly paced and had me feeling every emotion possible while reading. You felt both Joules and Kendall’s pain from their time away from each other and the decision to finally get back to gather. You feel Joules’ pain when he’s in this endless search for Kendall.

This was a dual-POV, suspenseful second chance romance with dark themes. There was representation of grief, mental health, and perseverance.

My heart was ripped to shreds and put back together multiple times. There wasn’t a part of the book that didn’t keep me engaged and want to keep reading. I’m legit typing this at 5AM because I needed to know what happened that bad.

If you’re someone who loves romance and a good thrillers this book is for you. Perfect for someone who enjoyed Does it Hurt.

* Second chance romance
* Suspense
* Mental health representation
* Holiday romance
* Dark themes
* Unrequited love

TW: Mention of pregnancy loss, mental health struggles, off-page suicide attempts.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Hotline by calling or texting 988.

[Awilda Abreu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some Christmas stories are about light.
This one is about love, loss, mental illness, and hope, wrapped in snow, silence, and second chances that don’t come easily.

In Your Honor, My Christmas Angel is a deeply emotional and dark romance that follows Joules and Kendall—two souls who loved each other too young and were torn apart by a tragedy that changed everything. Ten years later, fate brings them back together in December, when the past still aches and the wounds were never fully healed.

The author approaches heavy themes—grief, guilt, trauma, and mental health—with raw sensitivity and care. Joules is not a perfect hero; he is fragile, vulnerable, painfully human. His love is devotion, but it is also fear. Kendall carries a quiet grief that shaped her into someone strong on the outside and broken within. Together, they show what happens when love isn’t enough… yet still refuses to disappear.

The winter setting, the snowstorms, the isolation, and the forced closeness create a constant emotional tension that goes far beyond romance. There are tender moments, but also darkness, confusion, and relapses that are never romanticized. This story doesn’t promise that love fixes everything—it offers something far more honest: that loving someone means staying, even when everything feels lost.

This is not a light or traditional holiday romance. It is a story about survival, about losing yourself and choosing to keep going. About believing that even after the harshest winter, a miracle may still exist.

If you’re looking for a dark, emotional, character-driven Christmas romance, this book deserves to be read with an open heart.

[Lovedarkbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joules and Kendall have reconnected after years apart following a tragedy and a devastating mistake that Joules made.
Their second chance is not an easy path. Both have wounds that have never fully healed and mental health that dominates their everyday struggles.

But they try and things are looking great, until Kendall leaves for the mall on christmas eve, only to vanish.
Everyone believes that shes left, as she can’t fully forgive Joules. But he believes otherwise and nothing will change his mind. Losing her for the second time, truly breaks joules but he won't give up. Noone will convince him that she just up and left. And he will not stop until he discovers the answers behind her disappearance.

This was such a mystery. When i thought i knew what was happening, Cori slammed a wall up and had me recalculating everything - until i settled on a decision and was right! 🤭

this isn't your sweet, fluffy christmas story and being my second book of Cori's, i was prepared to have my heart twisted.
Cori has this talent for taking really sensitive topics and expressing them in a beautiful light, that you can't help but admire the quality of her writing.

I loved Joules, so much. Yes, he made a mistake but I couldn't not forgive him, he's such a beautiful soul with determined love, and devotion to Kendall.
Quick note on Dom, Joules' best friend - everyone should have a friend like Dom.

Please note this book covers sensitive topics that may be triggering for some readers but a beautiful story heavily surrounding mental health rep, grief and self guilt.

i highly recommend this as its firmly situated in 2025 top reads for me.

[D.3.b.0.r.a.h · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this story completely blind, and I honestly couldn’t have made a better choice. From the very first page, I was pulled in so deeply that the world around me faded away.

Joules and Kendall’s story is raw, emotional, and beautifully devastating. Their past hangs over every chapter, slowly unraveling piece by piece, making their connection feel even more intense and painfully real. You don’t just witness their loss and heartbreak. you feel every ounce of it.

Kendall carries her own heavy burden of grief and trauma. Being forced back into a place filled with memories — and into the path of the man who once broke her heart — pushes her to face pain she’s tried desperately to bury. Her inner struggle felt deeply human, and her quiet strength was incredibly powerful.

But Joules’ perspective completely shattered me. His fight against grief, his own mind, and the judgment of those around him is relentless, yet his determination never wavers. His love for Kendall is fierce, consuming, and unwavering. He fights for her, for what they once were, and for a future he refuses to let go of, even when everything seems stacked against him.

What truly sets this story apart is its tension and unpredictability. Just when you think you understand where the story is headed, it shifts completely, leaving you questioning everything and everyone. The suspense builds steadily, keeping you on edge and unable to put the book down.

The emotional depth, character development, and carefully crafted twists make this an unforgettable read.

This book consumed me, broke me, and put me back together in the most unexpected way. Joules and Kendall will stay with me for a long, long time. 🖤✨

[Lauren Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

6⭐️/5 honestly!

Where do you even start? Joules and Kendall’s story is one of all consuming love and intense heartbreak. It destroyed me and then placed me back together. Their love story is one that I’ll member for years to come.

**slight spoilers ahead**

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Joules grew up with a painful and neglectful childhood. Kendall on the other hand grew up with a loving, caring, and wealthy family. When Joules and Kendall met their connection was immediate. Although young, they fought everyday to be together until some devastating events tore them apart.
10 years later, they reconnected and fell right back into the swing of things. You could feel their love for each other seeping from the pages.
Then, another tragedy struck. Kendall vanished without a trace, did she leave Joules because she couldn’t get over the past - or did she truly go missing as Joules so desperately believes?
Joules very openly struggles with his mental health, including suicidal thoughts, but fights to overcome and find the truth of what happened with Kendall.

This book has heavy topics and many triggers, so please throughly consider your mental health before reading!


***true spoiler***
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*stop reading if you haven’t read the book*
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now that it’s just us who have read the book - omg, the whole “it’s in your head” thing that was towards the end of the book, when Joules is fighting with the old man. I JUST ABOUT DIED. I thought Cori was really going to do that. I was hurting so bad for Joules if that was really the truth. How did you feel about it?

#arc #honestreview

[bluevioletbb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Cori and @lovenotes.pr for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was a sweet, haunting, and completely wild ride from start to finish. Joules and Kendall’s story is the kind that burrows under your skin—the kind where love isn’t neat or easy, but fierce, desperate, and unforgettable.

What really stood out to me was the emotional weight. The town believes Joules is clinging to a ghost, to a life that was never meant to last—but the story makes it painfully clear they’re wrong. The love he and Kendall shared was real, earned, and deeply felt. Their second chance, full of cozy dates and quiet hope, made the loss that followed even more devastating. You feel every lonely day, every unanswered question, and every moment of doubt right alongside him.

The mystery surrounding Kendall’s disappearance kept me hooked, but it’s the emotional drive behind it that makes this story so powerful. Joules’ refusal to let go doesn’t come from obsession—it comes from love, from knowing something wasn’t right, and from being the only one willing to keep searching when everyone else gave up.

The book thoughtfully touches on heavy themes like depression, psychotic breaks, death, and suicide without losing its heart. The desperation of both main characters is palpable, and it makes their connection feel raw and real. This is very much a “do anything for love” kind of story, and it delivers on every emotional level.

Powerful, heartbreaking, and beautifully written. I’m so glad I picked this up, and I’m absolutely looking forward to more books from Cori. 💙

[Pilar · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚠️Check triggering warnings ⚠️

Una pareja que se querían desde que eran jóvenes, pero que tras unos sucesos traumáticos se separaron y después de muchos años se reencontraron y lo volvieron a intentar porque a pesar de todo su pasado, se seguían queriendo y habían cambiado mucho desde su juventud.

Joulian tiene una enfermedad mental y aunque creció con muchos problemas en su infancia, hizo lo que estaba en su mano por mejorar y crearse un futuro mejor. No vais a poder no amarlo. 🩶🩶

Kendall no sabe enfrentar sus problemas porque son muy dolorosos para ella y su única forma de seguir adelantes es evitándolos. Joules le hizo mucho daño, y creó muchas inseguridades, pero ya no es el de antes y cada día se esfuerza por complacerla y volver a construir un futuro juntos.

Cuando de repente, Kendall desaparece. Lo que hace que Joules no lo aguante y no quiera seguir adelante sin ella, y se dispare todos sus problemas mentales. Él es el único que piensa que le ha pasado algo, cuando todos los demás le dicen que le ha abandonado. Pero no descansará hasta saber lo que le ha pasado al amor de su vida.

Es un recorrido doloroso donde le ves intentar seguir adelantes y encontrarla, no sabes que es real o no, y vas descubriendo muchos sucesos pasados de la familia de Kendall.

El final me encantó porque por fin obtuvo su justicia por sus propias manos y pudieron continuar con su vida soñada desde que eran jóvenes.

[sue_zees_bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Your Honor, My Christmas Angel
by Cori Zahara

“Don’t be afraid to fall. I will catch you.”~Joules 🥹

4.5⭐️

Such a beautiful and heartbreaking second chance Christmas 🎄 themed , slightly dark romance! ♥️🤍
This story is filled with family secrets, tragedy, hope , hot chocolate ☕️ , nutcrackers, and it will pull at your heart strings and have you rooting for a HEA for “Joules & Kendall “ 🥰

Joules & Kendall are two broken but beautiful souls, they go through so much in the early years of their relationship ( including child loss) , mental health issues, infidelity and just trying to navigate a love affair that is definitely meant to be! Even when the odds against them!

It’s definitely a roller coaster of emotions throughout this story!
And a bunch of twists and turns and it will have you guessing to the very end!

And Joules ‘s mental health struggles had me in tears, this poor fella just wanted love and acceptance and the only person who could tame his demons is Kendall! So glad it worked out for them! 🙂

So if your looking for a Christmas romance with a slightly dark edge and mystery that will keep you guessing … then I would recommend this heartbreaking but hopeful love story! ♥️🤍♥️🤍


Thank you Love Notes PR and Cori Zahara for the arc… these opinions are my own and I’m leaving them voluntarily.

[Michelle Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Your Honour, My Christmas Angel by Cori Zahara

Was I late for work because I needed to know whether Joules and Kendal would be okay? Yes.
Do I regret it? Absolutely not.

Cori’s words are perfect from start to finish, and I am so honoured to have ARC read yet another one of her books.

This story was incredible from beginning to end, pulling me in right from the first page. The Christmas references were brilliant, the second chance romance was beautifully done, and the obsession and love between Joules and Kendal were absolute perfection.

What stood out most for me was how thoughtfully and compassionately the medical conditions were written. Cori has such a gift for shining a light on these experiences—making them feel seen, respected, and special, while spreading awareness in the right way. It never feels forced, only meaningful.

Kendal was the perfect character, and Joules… Joules was simply incredible. I honestly have no words other than I want to read this story again and again. Without a doubt, this will be my Christmas book of choice every year. I don’t think I’ll ever see a nutcracker again without thinking of them both.

Cori, thank you for taking us on such a wonderful journey through their lives. I felt like I truly knew them, like they were friends, and I’m so happy Joules got his Christmas angel.

[Lisa Conant · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

🎄Holiday Romance
❤️‍🔥She Goes Missing, He Goes Feral
💞Second Chance
❤️‍🩹Chronic Illness Rep (asthma and eczema)
💗Mental Health Rep

*Check Triggers*

Another stellar read that truly unravels the complexity of human love and the lengths we'll go to find them again. Joules and Kendall have had a soul bonding love but have also had tragedy test those bonds, nearly breaking them. Their spirits have been bruised in different ways, in particular with mental health for sweet Joules.

I just melt with emotion when Cori writes these vulnerable, wounded, but also very string hearted and passion mmc's! Joules struggles with so much, questioning reality at times and we along with him.

For a while Kendall's pain overcomes her and she's not sure she can let the boy and now man, back in her life again, but they are true soul mates and they're sweet and beautiful together.

I loved how she is curious and caring about his condition. And he finds beauty in every part of her. Later there will be elements of mystery as his Kendall disappears with trace and we see how this nearly destroys him, but then his fire ignites and he will not rest till he finds and and gets retribution.

Buckle up for all the rollercoaster of human feelings that will clutch at your heart, make it skip a beat, and pump fiercely!

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joules and Kendall

Tropes:
* Dark romance
* Second chance
* Mental health rep
* Forced proximity
* Holiday romance
* Cheating (historical by MMC)
* Long separation
* She goes missing/he goes feral

Oh my lord… this is devastating. And beautiful. And absolutely heartbreaking.

If you’re observant, there are hints, but you are guessing the entire way through. It’s unusual to have a story in mostly the MMC’s POV, but it was gorgeous.
Jules completely stuffed up. he made so many poor decisions, and then his mental struggles… WOW. A 10-year-separation before a chance meeting, and they work their way back together.

Then.

A two-year jump, and the story changes. Joules is broken, no one believes him, and they seem to think that she just walked away.
His struggles, his breakdowns and the abandonment by everyone was devastating and horrifying. I’m glad that Dominic, at least, was by his side.

This is a book that hooks you. It’s different. You will go through so many highs and lows, through so many twists and turns.
This is not a traditional romance. It’s messy, it’s complicated. Hope will get you through, belief is necessary for survival, and maybe miracles only occur when you make sure they happen.

I’m so glad that I picked up this as an advance copy. It’s a new author to me, and this one has certainly won me over.

[Emma Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥️ 𝐈𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥

"ᴀᴍ ɪ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢ?"

"𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶."

“𝙻𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍.. 𝙺𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢'𝚛𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚑𝚢. 𝙺𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎."

ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛ
🪽 ʜᴇ's ᴀ ʀᴇғᴏʀᴍᴇᴅ ʙᴀᴅ ʙᴏʏ ʙᴜᴛ ɢᴇᴛs sᴛᴀʙʙʏ ғᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ
❄️ ʜᴏʟɪᴅᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇ
🪽 sɴᴏᴡᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇx ɪɴ ᴀ ᴄᴏʟᴅ ᴏʟᴅ ʜᴏᴜsᴇ
❄️ ᴍғ (ɴᴏ sʜᴀʀɪɴɢ)
🪽 ᴅʀᴜɴᴋ ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜs
❄️ sʜᴇ ɢᴏᴇs ᴍɪssɪɴɢ. ʜᴇ ɢᴏᴇs ғᴇʀᴀʟ.
🪽 sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ
❄️ ʜᴇ ᴛʜɪɴᴋs ʜᴇ ʜᴀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴜɴʀᴇǫᴜɪᴛᴇᴅ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ɢᴏɪɴɢ 🪽 ᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ ʀᴇᴘ

"𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒓, 𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒍. 𝑴𝒚 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒍."

"ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ sᴀʏs ᴛʜᴇʏ'ᴅ ᴅɪᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ. ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɪʟʟ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇᴍ?"

In Your Honor, My Christmas Angel… im speechless. this book is EVERYTHING. I related to certain topics in this book which made it even more special to me. There is nothing Cori writes that is less than amazing. I highly recommend this book. it was more than just your average holiday romance. In Your Honor, My Christmas Angel has a little bit everything, holiday, thriller, emotional, romance, mental health rep, stabby for her and only her, with a jaw dropping ending. ohmygawddd. 🪽♥️


"𝗜 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝘀."

"𝘿𝙤 𝙞𝙩, 𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙚𝙧."

[Okayish Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes:
Soul Mates
Unrequited Love
Second Chances
Holiday Romance
Snowed in with Ex
Mental Health Rep.

Also, please read the trigger warnings: death of baby, suicidal ideations/mental health topics are heavily mentioned in this.

First off, thank you so much Cori and Love Notes for an early copy of In Your Honor, My Christmas Angel. Here is my honest review.

I am so happy to see so many reviewers have enjoyed this book. Unfortunately I don't think this book was for me.

I felt like their first scene together, when the FMC is back in town, I felt like I was just kind of thrown in and couldn't really figure out what was going on except that she was back in town. And then right when I think they're about to get their happy ending, I'm thrown into this other half of the book where it just kind of felt like it could have been a part two? or maybe another book?

Some of the dialogue tags and actions were a bit off to me that distracted me from reading.

Although some of the topics were heavy, I think it gave a good picture of why they broke up and some of the things they had to work out when trying to get back together.

All in all, this may not have been the right book for me, but I would say read it because you may love it!

[Daisy Magnolia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was already bracing myself before I even started, because Cori’s books always do something to my heart 💔

Turns out I was right—this book hit me with everything. I was already breaking and swooning without even realizing it 💘🥺

When her world started collapsing, Kendall did the only thing she knew how to do—she ran. Away from the grief, the memories… but some feelings refuse to be left behind 💔

And Joules... he proved that time doesn't always erase what the heart chooses to hold onto, that some feelings linger for years, quietly surviving distance, time, or the weight of what once was, even when the past has a way of resurfacing 💖✨️

In the midst of everything, as they stumble back toward each other, something happens that shakes everything, and Joules knows he has to find answers - And THIS is where my brain officially exploded 😵‍💫 All my trust is gone. I questioned literally everything 😅 Everyone is on my watch list now—no exceptions. I even reread a few chapters thinking I missed something 😂

A 6☆ read. Sometimes loving someone means holding them as they are—even when it hurts ❤️‍🩹

[Leah Fairhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Your Honor, My Christmas Angel is far from your typical Christmas romance read. It’s a gripping, thought-provoking journey between Joules and Kendall that frequently challenges your perceptions—leaving you questioning everything in the best way possible.

​Spanning several years and successive holiday seasons, the story follows the complex second-chance romance of Joules and Kendall. Their relationship is fractured by the devastating loss of their son and Joules’ subsequent infidelity, but the story offers much more than just a romance; it’s backed up with an addictive element of mystery and suspense.

​Cori masterfully navigates heavy themes, including grief, child loss, mental health struggles, and suicidal thoughts/attempts.

Despite the darkness, the plot keeps you completely hooked. A special mention must go to Dom, whose unwavering support as Joules' friend is beautiful to see.

​If you’re searching for a dark holiday read that keeps you guessing until the very end, this is it. Just be sure to consult the trigger warnings before diving in.

Thank you to Cori Zahara and Love Notes PR for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.