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Christmas at Fox Ridge
Settle in with a cup of hot cocoa for this spicy, small-town Christmas novella from Bailey Hannah.
Eira Davies thought a bar napkin sketch of her best friend’s handsome brother was harmless fun—until he caught her in the act. One steamy night later, Lucas McKinney was supposed to be nothing more than a fun memory.
Fast forward six months, and Lucas is desperate to save his struggling ranch. Renting out the spare cabin on his property seems like the perfect solution, until his first guest turns out to be Eira, the woman he hasn’t stopped thinking about. A true believer in fate, Lucas can’t shake the feeling that the universe has delivered her to his doorstep with a big, shiny bow.
As sparks fly and the Christmas lights twinkle, they’ll have to figure out if this holiday surprise is just a festive fling or the real deal worth unwrapping for good.
Eira Davies thought a bar napkin sketch of her best friend’s handsome brother was harmless fun—until he caught her in the act. One steamy night later, Lucas McKinney was supposed to be nothing more than a fun memory.
Fast forward six months, and Lucas is desperate to save his struggling ranch. Renting out the spare cabin on his property seems like the perfect solution, until his first guest turns out to be Eira, the woman he hasn’t stopped thinking about. A true believer in fate, Lucas can’t shake the feeling that the universe has delivered her to his doorstep with a big, shiny bow.
As sparks fly and the Christmas lights twinkle, they’ll have to figure out if this holiday surprise is just a festive fling or the real deal worth unwrapping for good.
189 pages, Paperback
Published January 30, 2026
About the author
Bailey Hannah
15 books2,768 followersBailey Hannah is a Canadian romance author.
She loves to write strong heroines and rugged men who aren’t afraid to love their woman hard.
Born and raised in small town British Columbia, she loves to add rural Canadian flair (dirt roads, rodeos, ketchup chips, and a two-four) to her stories.
She lives with her husband, daughter, two dogs, and chickens. A chronic middle-of-the-night writer, during the day Bailey can be found camping, baking sourdough, or being her daughter’s chauffeur to horseback riding lessons.
She loves to write strong heroines and rugged men who aren’t afraid to love their woman hard.
Born and raised in small town British Columbia, she loves to add rural Canadian flair (dirt roads, rodeos, ketchup chips, and a two-four) to her stories.
She lives with her husband, daughter, two dogs, and chickens. A chronic middle-of-the-night writer, during the day Bailey can be found camping, baking sourdough, or being her daughter’s chauffeur to horseback riding lessons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,365 reviews
December 14, 2025
you guys i am BLUSHING!! hahaha i cannot believe i recommended this book - just an FYI - it is straight spice. which don't get me wrong! i love some spice sprinkled in here and there, but this was a lot, just warning ya in case you're expecting a sweet and wholesome christmas love story lol. i didnt love it, but christmas novellas are really never THAT life changing, right? it's only 180 pages, so i'm not mad about it
November 3, 2024
Well stick a red bow on me and call me doodlebug. This novella was spun gold. Bailey Hannah can do more in 155 pages than most can do 700 anywhere anytime. Literally, how?
How can you possibly create such insanely lovable, hilarious characters with struggles, love, banter, and growth in so few pages?! I’m BLOWN AWAY!
Eira and Lucas are YES! I adore them and want more! Their story is so cute, quick, and fun but you don’t feel instalove or rushed. Like, UGH! So organic and precious!
I want to keep them in my pocket forever! Even Half Pint!
10/10 recommend!
How can you possibly create such insanely lovable, hilarious characters with struggles, love, banter, and growth in so few pages?! I’m BLOWN AWAY!
Eira and Lucas are YES! I adore them and want more! Their story is so cute, quick, and fun but you don’t feel instalove or rushed. Like, UGH! So organic and precious!
I want to keep them in my pocket forever! Even Half Pint!
10/10 recommend!
November 21, 2024
3.5
i enjoyed this but i wish it had been JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER. like i know its novella but 30ish more pages would have made all the difference imo
WHERES MY COWBOY HUSBAND💔💔💔
i enjoyed this but i wish it had been JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER. like i know its novella but 30ish more pages would have made all the difference imo
WHERES MY COWBOY HUSBAND💔💔💔
November 18, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up
Eira (h) gets caught drawing a picture of Lucas (H) while waiting for her best friend’s engagement party to start and the two of them ignite some big time chemistry that results in a ONS. Six months later, Lucas feels pressured by his sister (Eira’s best friend) to rent out a cabin on his ranch to help offset costs because the ranch isn’t doing awesome. The best friend/sister also talks Eira into being the first guest over Christmas, without knowing about said ONS, since her parents decided to go on a trip without her. What happens when two people who had a hot night end up within spitting distance of each other on a holiday? A whole lot of smutty times, creative use of Christmas decorations, and some surprising feels.
I liked that the flashbacks of their first time together are interspersed throughout the story. I loved that Lucas is only soft with Eira and that she’s his opposite. He’s a ranch owning farrier and she’s a city girl through and through, who illustrates (including book covers and NSFW character art). Lucas felt destined to be in this place and Eira can't figure out how to work a wood stove lol. Some funny references to Little House on the Prairie btw which completely went over my head since that series put me to sleep, literally. The connection between them sparkled, even with the looming deadline of Eira returning to the city. It seemed fairly simple to me with how they felt about each other, but then sometimes characters are idiots.
Written in first person, dual POV. No om drama, no ow drama (but h does mistake an employee for H’s girlfriend, it’s quickly corrected), and both are experienced (H had been celibate for years before being with the h and both have been celibate since their ONS).
Most of the story focuses on Lucas and Eira with their time on the ranch, shenanigans they get up to (in and out of bed), and the saving of an adorable kitten who has a huge personality. Some more positive interactions with their families on page would have been nice but I did like the best friend/sister the couple times she was in a scene. Lucas is known as a giant grump around town and is pretty disliked, the reasons for which are kinda sad and funny. I adored the scenes where Eira draws him and the holiday activities, like not wearing pants. It should be repeated again that this is smutty, there’s plenty of gettin down on the farm happening despite Lucas being overwhelmed with work.
My biggest issue with the story is that their time coming to an end and the start of long distance between them frustrated me no end. The end of the story and the epilogue (a year later) help make up for it, but they go months with them both being unhappy and in a weird limbo of wanting to see each other but not managing it. The epilogue is precious though and there’s a feeling of fate throughout the book (that Lucas also believes in), where it just feels like these two were meant to be together. Definitely a solid Christmas novella if you’re wanting sweet and spicy but still with a touch of angst.
Eira (h) gets caught drawing a picture of Lucas (H) while waiting for her best friend’s engagement party to start and the two of them ignite some big time chemistry that results in a ONS. Six months later, Lucas feels pressured by his sister (Eira’s best friend) to rent out a cabin on his ranch to help offset costs because the ranch isn’t doing awesome. The best friend/sister also talks Eira into being the first guest over Christmas, without knowing about said ONS, since her parents decided to go on a trip without her. What happens when two people who had a hot night end up within spitting distance of each other on a holiday? A whole lot of smutty times, creative use of Christmas decorations, and some surprising feels.
I liked that the flashbacks of their first time together are interspersed throughout the story. I loved that Lucas is only soft with Eira and that she’s his opposite. He’s a ranch owning farrier and she’s a city girl through and through, who illustrates (including book covers and NSFW character art). Lucas felt destined to be in this place and Eira can't figure out how to work a wood stove lol. Some funny references to Little House on the Prairie btw which completely went over my head since that series put me to sleep, literally. The connection between them sparkled, even with the looming deadline of Eira returning to the city. It seemed fairly simple to me with how they felt about each other, but then sometimes characters are idiots.
Written in first person, dual POV. No om drama, no ow drama (but h does mistake an employee for H’s girlfriend, it’s quickly corrected), and both are experienced (H had been celibate for years before being with the h and both have been celibate since their ONS).
Most of the story focuses on Lucas and Eira with their time on the ranch, shenanigans they get up to (in and out of bed), and the saving of an adorable kitten who has a huge personality. Some more positive interactions with their families on page would have been nice but I did like the best friend/sister the couple times she was in a scene. Lucas is known as a giant grump around town and is pretty disliked, the reasons for which are kinda sad and funny. I adored the scenes where Eira draws him and the holiday activities, like not wearing pants. It should be repeated again that this is smutty, there’s plenty of gettin down on the farm happening despite Lucas being overwhelmed with work.
My biggest issue with the story is that their time coming to an end and the start of long distance between them frustrated me no end. The end of the story and the epilogue (a year later) help make up for it, but they go months with them both being unhappy and in a weird limbo of wanting to see each other but not managing it. The epilogue is precious though and there’s a feeling of fate throughout the book (that Lucas also believes in), where it just feels like these two were meant to be together. Definitely a solid Christmas novella if you’re wanting sweet and spicy but still with a touch of angst.
June 29, 2026
(⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5) A short but sweet read!
It was fast-paced & a fun, enjoyable (holiday cowboy) read. I love a pathetic, down bad man. It was short, but I thought the pace & plot were good for a novella. It flowed nicely. I totally could’ve read a full book of them both. I love all things Bailey Hannah & I can’t wait to read more.
It was fast-paced & a fun, enjoyable (holiday cowboy) read. I love a pathetic, down bad man. It was short, but I thought the pace & plot were good for a novella. It flowed nicely. I totally could’ve read a full book of them both. I love all things Bailey Hannah & I can’t wait to read more.
December 18, 2024
Okay, this was cute. A little cheesy but cute all the same. And SPICY. Tied up in tinsel beside the Christmas tree. Hot damn! A perfect pre Christmas read 😊
December 3, 2024
4.5 stars
Don't let the cover fool you. This book brought on the spice 🥵. But, it didn't take from the plot. It still had a great storyline, and I would definitely read a full-length story about Eira and Lucas. This was a best friend's brother situation, one of my favorite tropes. Also sprinkle in some grumpy x sunshine! It was written so well. This was my first Bailey Hannah book, and I can't wait to dive into her series 😍.
Don't let the cover fool you. This book brought on the spice 🥵. But, it didn't take from the plot. It still had a great storyline, and I would definitely read a full-length story about Eira and Lucas. This was a best friend's brother situation, one of my favorite tropes. Also sprinkle in some grumpy x sunshine! It was written so well. This was my first Bailey Hannah book, and I can't wait to dive into her series 😍.
November 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you’re looking for a romance packed with a grumpy cowboy, a second chance love story, and all the spice your holiday heart can handle, Christmas at Fox Ridge is absolutely right up your alley.
Honestly, anything Bailey Hannah writes is an automatic read for me, and this novella was no exception. It delivered everything I wanted: small town charm, a couple with real history, and enough heat to warm up any winter night.
It’s the perfect quick read to squeeze into your holiday season, and the fact that it’s available on audio makes it even better. A cozy, spicy Christmas treat that’s easy to devour.
If you’re looking for a romance packed with a grumpy cowboy, a second chance love story, and all the spice your holiday heart can handle, Christmas at Fox Ridge is absolutely right up your alley.
Honestly, anything Bailey Hannah writes is an automatic read for me, and this novella was no exception. It delivered everything I wanted: small town charm, a couple with real history, and enough heat to warm up any winter night.
It’s the perfect quick read to squeeze into your holiday season, and the fact that it’s available on audio makes it even better. A cozy, spicy Christmas treat that’s easy to devour.
October 8, 2026
This was so fun and spicy and had the PERFECT Christmas vibe I wanted!! I thought Eira and Lucas had a lot of chemistry and I really loved their relationship and scenes together! This book is VERY spicy like spiciest book I think I’ve ever read!! But I really enjoyed it and all of the scenes felt natural! This is a novella so it’s short and sweet!! Definitely worth the read if you’re looking for a fun spicy read to get you in the holiday spirit!!
November 17, 2024
5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Another amazing Bailey Hannah read!
I loved this one from the first line, all the way until the end.
The banter between the characters was so amazing, & I really enjoyed that she supported each other's dreams throughout.
The spice was phenomenal and I absolutely love the one night stand trope to more ... so this book was a huge win for me.
You get:
• One Night Stand To More
• Holiday Read
• Best Friend's Brother
• Secret Relationship
• Small Town
• It's Never Been Like This
• Forced Proximity
I highly recommend this spicy holiday read! Available on KU, ebook, and paperback.
Another amazing Bailey Hannah read!
I loved this one from the first line, all the way until the end.
The banter between the characters was so amazing, & I really enjoyed that she supported each other's dreams throughout.
The spice was phenomenal and I absolutely love the one night stand trope to more ... so this book was a huge win for me.
You get:
• One Night Stand To More
• Holiday Read
• Best Friend's Brother
• Secret Relationship
• Small Town
• It's Never Been Like This
• Forced Proximity
I highly recommend this spicy holiday read! Available on KU, ebook, and paperback.
December 5, 2025
This was cute. It was spicy. Best friend's brother.
That's all I really remember.....
That's all I really remember.....
December 21, 2024
Initially, I was enjoying it but the couple got together wayyyyy too early in the book and the rest was smut + unnecessarily dragged out imo. Idk I just didn't enjoy the second half.
December 7, 2025
3.5⭐ Este Holiday romance cowboy, podría ser una historia de smutty Hallmark, con un ambiente muy navideño y una pareja que me han gustado mucho.
El libro es corto y se aprecian varias partes. Eira y Lucas se conocen y se atraen inmediatamente, sienten un nivel de cercanía que nunca habían sentido. Pasan la noche juntos y no vuelven a verse.
Seis meses después vuelven a encontrarse en el rancho de Lucas y es difícil no retomar donde lo dejaron, aún sabiendo que sólo tienen unos días para estar juntos.
Los diálogos, las bromas y la complicidad entre los dos de la primera parte, son de lo mejor del libro. Después, he empatizado con su sentimiento por tener que separarse, y eso es algo que no suele pasarme, aunque esta parte del libro sea más lenta y cargada de momentos eróticos de puertas abiertas.
Y me gusta el final, no habría querido que se forzara ni que sólo hubiera renuncias por un lado.
El libro es corto y se aprecian varias partes. Eira y Lucas se conocen y se atraen inmediatamente, sienten un nivel de cercanía que nunca habían sentido. Pasan la noche juntos y no vuelven a verse.
Seis meses después vuelven a encontrarse en el rancho de Lucas y es difícil no retomar donde lo dejaron, aún sabiendo que sólo tienen unos días para estar juntos.
Los diálogos, las bromas y la complicidad entre los dos de la primera parte, son de lo mejor del libro. Después, he empatizado con su sentimiento por tener que separarse, y eso es algo que no suele pasarme, aunque esta parte del libro sea más lenta y cargada de momentos eróticos de puertas abiertas.
Y me gusta el final, no habría querido que se forzara ni que sólo hubiera renuncias por un lado.
December 9, 2024
3.5 ⭐️, 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Small town holiday novella with a cowboy 🤠
YEEHAW! this one was funny & not overly Christmas-y.
Bailey Hannah always makes me laugh out loud and I love the world + characters she creates!!!
Small town holiday novella with a cowboy 🤠
YEEHAW! this one was funny & not overly Christmas-y.
Bailey Hannah always makes me laugh out loud and I love the world + characters she creates!!!
November 20, 2024
No cheating
No ow/om drama ( there is a scene where she saw him talking to his employee and thought she was his girlfriend)
No manwhr, no vrgns
He hasn’t been with anyone for five years
Hea
2⭐️
**** spoilers ****************************
They hooked up at chapter one
Next chapter is six month later ( i dont enjoy when there is time jumps )
They reconnect after months and spend few days together until she goes back to work
He promises her he would come visit but she doesn’t force him since he is having financial trouble. But even his sister( her best friend) says he would if he wanted to so i don’t know how i actually feel about that.
Months pass and he still didnt visit, he cancelled on the day they were supposed to meet( i let that go cuz he had a reason) but i was not having that she thought the solution of that problem was to QUIT her job and move to his town after she cried and was hurt that much all to show him they were worth it😐
I just hated that she made the move first, that she went to him first instead of the other way around. i hate it when the fmc sacrifices their career for the mmc, and he didnt even disagree.😒
I didnt enjoy it as much us i thought i would
There is a lot of smut, basically skimming through those scenes. i do prefer less or slow burn thats
No ow/om drama ( there is a scene where she saw him talking to his employee and thought she was his girlfriend)
No manwhr, no vrgns
He hasn’t been with anyone for five years
Hea
2⭐️
**** spoilers ****************************
They hooked up at chapter one
Next chapter is six month later ( i dont enjoy when there is time jumps )
They reconnect after months and spend few days together until she goes back to work
He promises her he would come visit but she doesn’t force him since he is having financial trouble. But even his sister( her best friend) says he would if he wanted to so i don’t know how i actually feel about that.
Months pass and he still didnt visit, he cancelled on the day they were supposed to meet( i let that go cuz he had a reason) but i was not having that she thought the solution of that problem was to QUIT her job and move to his town after she cried and was hurt that much all to show him they were worth it😐
I just hated that she made the move first, that she went to him first instead of the other way around. i hate it when the fmc sacrifices their career for the mmc, and he didnt even disagree.😒
I didnt enjoy it as much us i thought i would
There is a lot of smut, basically skimming through those scenes. i do prefer less or slow burn thats
December 15, 2025
I tried not to be a hater but it gave me the ick so many times
November 4, 2026
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 3.5 stars
for a novella i really enjoyed this! i usually have a hard time rooting for the characters in a short story but these two made sense! very glad to be reading new authors during this challenge!!
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
reading for a winter reading challenge with a ton of fav authors!!! always down for a second chance romance and this looks like the perfect cozy, short read for all the christmas feels!!! my first bailey hannah, i'm dying to read her cowboy series soon!
for a novella i really enjoyed this! i usually have a hard time rooting for the characters in a short story but these two made sense! very glad to be reading new authors during this challenge!!
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
reading for a winter reading challenge with a ton of fav authors!!! always down for a second chance romance and this looks like the perfect cozy, short read for all the christmas feels!!! my first bailey hannah, i'm dying to read her cowboy series soon!
December 25, 2025
Perfect little spicy christmas novella 🎄
November 3, 2024
Christmas at Fox Ridge by Bailey Hannah
Available NOW!
This is the cutest holiday novella (think Hallmark vibes) with just the right amount of spice!
This novella will make you laugh and pull on your heartstrings. Who doesn’t love a grumpy cowboy who literally becomes a puddle around the FMC? 🫠 The chemistry between the characters is SO GOOD, the holiday vibes are adorable & add in that their meet cutes are strictly by fate, so dang cute! You will fall in love with Eira & Lucas, oh and we can’t forget about Half- Pint (IYKYK).
Read if you enjoy:
♥️Best friends brother
❄️One night stand
🎄Reluctant cat daddy
♥️Grumpy with everyone but her
❄️Small town/cowboy
🎄Hallmark with spice
Thank you so much Bailey for the opportunity to read this as an ARC for my honest opinion & review!
*edit is mine/photos are not
#christmasatfoxridge #baileyhannah #baileyhannabauthor #christmasnovella #christmasromance #christmasbook #bestfriendsbrother #hallmarkwithspice #onenightstand #smalltownromance #cowboyromance #bookrelease #bookreview #releasedayreview #releaseday
Available NOW!
This is the cutest holiday novella (think Hallmark vibes) with just the right amount of spice!
This novella will make you laugh and pull on your heartstrings. Who doesn’t love a grumpy cowboy who literally becomes a puddle around the FMC? 🫠 The chemistry between the characters is SO GOOD, the holiday vibes are adorable & add in that their meet cutes are strictly by fate, so dang cute! You will fall in love with Eira & Lucas, oh and we can’t forget about Half- Pint (IYKYK).
Read if you enjoy:
♥️Best friends brother
❄️One night stand
🎄Reluctant cat daddy
♥️Grumpy with everyone but her
❄️Small town/cowboy
🎄Hallmark with spice
Thank you so much Bailey for the opportunity to read this as an ARC for my honest opinion & review!
*edit is mine/photos are not
#christmasatfoxridge #baileyhannah #baileyhannabauthor #christmasnovella #christmasromance #christmasbook #bestfriendsbrother #hallmarkwithspice #onenightstand #smalltownromance #cowboyromance #bookrelease #bookreview #releasedayreview #releaseday
October 29, 2026
Eira gets caught sketching her best friend’s brother’s ass, sleeps with him, disappears back to the city for six months, and then accidentally rents a Christmas cabin ON HIS RANCH. Christmas at Fox Ridge really said maybe fate is real, and maybe fate is just your best friend making a booking without realizing you have already seen her brother naked.
Eira is an illustrator who does monster-romance covers and NSFW art, which honestly tracks with a woman who sees Lucas McKinney at an engagement party and decides his body deserves documentation. Lucas is a grumpy rancher and farrier whose ranch is struggling financially, so his sister Holly convinces him to rent out the spare cabin. Holly then sends Eira there as the first guest. Holly does not know about the one-night stand. Holly is out here doing matchmaking by accident.
The best part is that Lucas has absolutely not forgotten Eira. At all. This man sees her again and immediately starts acting like the universe personally arranged the reservation. Eira is still trying to behave like this is a normal holiday stay, meanwhile he is standing there with six months of unresolved feelings and the general energy of somebody who has already decided coincidence is not a serious explanation.
Also, Eira is very much a city person and this cabin expects her to understand things like wood heat. She does not. So naturally she has to go back up to Lucas’s house because she is freezing and needs him to light the stove. There is something extremely Christmas-romance about being forced to seek assistance from the hot man you previously slept with because pioneer-era heating has defeated you.
Then Half-Pint shows up. Tiny rescue kitten. Huge personality. Lucas insists he is not emotionally involved, which would be more believable if he did not immediately start behaving like every grumpy man who has ever been chosen by a small animal. Between Eira and that kitten, his entire reputation is being dismantled in real time.
And yes, this is VERY spicy. There are cozy holiday activities, Christmas lights, skating, tree hunting, ranch chores, and all the soft little seasonal things you expect. There is also enough sex that at a certain point I was like, are we still decorating for Christmas or have the decorations themselves become involved? This book is not pretending to be a wholesome snow-globe romance. It knows exactly why these two got snowed in near each other.
I liked them together because the attraction is obvious, but they also genuinely enjoy each other. Eira draws him. Lucas supports her work. He is soft with her in a way he is not with everybody else. She sees through his grumpy routine immediately. They have this very specific “we absolutely meant for this to be casual and then unfortunately started liking each other as people” problem.
The only place I got a little impatient was once the obvious question arrived: what happens when Christmas ends? Eira has a city life. Lucas has a ranch he cannot exactly fold up and move. Both of them are miserable about the distance, and there were moments when I wanted to shake them because cars, phones, and roads do in fact exist. The emotional crisis felt slightly bigger than the transportation problem.
Christmas at Fox Ridge gets 3 stars from me. It is cute, very hot, easy to fly through, and Lucas being completely gone for Eira while pretending he is still a normal grumpy cowboy was fun. I wanted a little more story around all the spice and a little less logistical despair about visiting each other, but for a short holiday novella, it absolutely understood the assignment.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Turning “I Rented a Cabin for Christmas” Into “I Accidentally Booked My Best Friend’s Brother, His Ranch, and Several Very Questionable Uses for Tinsel”
Huge thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC. You gave me a grumpy cowboy, a city-girl illustrator, a financial crisis, a malfunctioning wood stove, a rescued kitten, and enough holiday spice to make every Christmas light in Fox Ridge feel underdressed. Truly festive behavior.
Eira is an illustrator who does monster-romance covers and NSFW art, which honestly tracks with a woman who sees Lucas McKinney at an engagement party and decides his body deserves documentation. Lucas is a grumpy rancher and farrier whose ranch is struggling financially, so his sister Holly convinces him to rent out the spare cabin. Holly then sends Eira there as the first guest. Holly does not know about the one-night stand. Holly is out here doing matchmaking by accident.
The best part is that Lucas has absolutely not forgotten Eira. At all. This man sees her again and immediately starts acting like the universe personally arranged the reservation. Eira is still trying to behave like this is a normal holiday stay, meanwhile he is standing there with six months of unresolved feelings and the general energy of somebody who has already decided coincidence is not a serious explanation.
Also, Eira is very much a city person and this cabin expects her to understand things like wood heat. She does not. So naturally she has to go back up to Lucas’s house because she is freezing and needs him to light the stove. There is something extremely Christmas-romance about being forced to seek assistance from the hot man you previously slept with because pioneer-era heating has defeated you.
Then Half-Pint shows up. Tiny rescue kitten. Huge personality. Lucas insists he is not emotionally involved, which would be more believable if he did not immediately start behaving like every grumpy man who has ever been chosen by a small animal. Between Eira and that kitten, his entire reputation is being dismantled in real time.
And yes, this is VERY spicy. There are cozy holiday activities, Christmas lights, skating, tree hunting, ranch chores, and all the soft little seasonal things you expect. There is also enough sex that at a certain point I was like, are we still decorating for Christmas or have the decorations themselves become involved? This book is not pretending to be a wholesome snow-globe romance. It knows exactly why these two got snowed in near each other.
I liked them together because the attraction is obvious, but they also genuinely enjoy each other. Eira draws him. Lucas supports her work. He is soft with her in a way he is not with everybody else. She sees through his grumpy routine immediately. They have this very specific “we absolutely meant for this to be casual and then unfortunately started liking each other as people” problem.
The only place I got a little impatient was once the obvious question arrived: what happens when Christmas ends? Eira has a city life. Lucas has a ranch he cannot exactly fold up and move. Both of them are miserable about the distance, and there were moments when I wanted to shake them because cars, phones, and roads do in fact exist. The emotional crisis felt slightly bigger than the transportation problem.
Christmas at Fox Ridge gets 3 stars from me. It is cute, very hot, easy to fly through, and Lucas being completely gone for Eira while pretending he is still a normal grumpy cowboy was fun. I wanted a little more story around all the spice and a little less logistical despair about visiting each other, but for a short holiday novella, it absolutely understood the assignment.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Turning “I Rented a Cabin for Christmas” Into “I Accidentally Booked My Best Friend’s Brother, His Ranch, and Several Very Questionable Uses for Tinsel”
Huge thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC. You gave me a grumpy cowboy, a city-girl illustrator, a financial crisis, a malfunctioning wood stove, a rescued kitten, and enough holiday spice to make every Christmas light in Fox Ridge feel underdressed. Truly festive behavior.
November 10, 2024
ARC REVIEW
5/5⭐️
3/5🌶️
This was phenomenal!!! Bailey Hannah never misses. She managed to fit such an amazing story in less than 200 pages. This book had top tier banter and spice! Lucas and Eira had such good chemistry! I loved the nicknames he would call her 🥹
Definitely one of my fave books I’ve ever read for the holiday season! So so cute, so hot. I’m obsessed with the personality of this fmc she was sooo fun!
If you’re looking for a quick holiday read, def check this one out! Cannot wait for what Bailey writes next 👏🏼
5/5⭐️
3/5🌶️
This was phenomenal!!! Bailey Hannah never misses. She managed to fit such an amazing story in less than 200 pages. This book had top tier banter and spice! Lucas and Eira had such good chemistry! I loved the nicknames he would call her 🥹
Definitely one of my fave books I’ve ever read for the holiday season! So so cute, so hot. I’m obsessed with the personality of this fmc she was sooo fun!
If you’re looking for a quick holiday read, def check this one out! Cannot wait for what Bailey writes next 👏🏼
November 3, 2024
This is the perfect Christmas novella!!
Bailey Hannah writes such filthy mouthed cowboys that you just wish were real😍
I'm going to be visiting Fox Ridge frequently this holiday season!
Bailey Hannah writes such filthy mouthed cowboys that you just wish were real😍
I'm going to be visiting Fox Ridge frequently this holiday season!
November 29, 2024
Never thought a Novella could have it all 😭💕✨ I didn’t expect this short Christmas romance book to be filled with so much joy and wholesome funny moments. But also a sprinkle of heartbreak and lots of very good spice 🤭 (swipe for the art) I swear I was innocently flipping through the pages and then BOOM.
Eira the city girl and Lucas the lonely cowboy are such a perfect match, it warms my heart! After their one night stand they went separate ways. Months later Eira’s friend Holly (Luca’s sister) begs Eira to rent his little cabin for Christmas because Lucas is so desperately trying to save his ranch.
Once Eira leaves the big city to heads to the small town, things start to change. She starts to change. Eira realises that her connection with Lucas wasn’t just physical and so she spends the entirety of Christmas with this lonely cowboy.
The lowkey found family trope and bonding in this book was so adorable. I enjoyed this whole Novella and read it in one sitting. It was definitely the perfect start for the Christmas season and I HIGHLY recommend this book if you’re looking for a short-fun-spicy-kinda-sad-but-mostly-wholesome read 📖💕
Eira the city girl and Lucas the lonely cowboy are such a perfect match, it warms my heart! After their one night stand they went separate ways. Months later Eira’s friend Holly (Luca’s sister) begs Eira to rent his little cabin for Christmas because Lucas is so desperately trying to save his ranch.
Once Eira leaves the big city to heads to the small town, things start to change. She starts to change. Eira realises that her connection with Lucas wasn’t just physical and so she spends the entirety of Christmas with this lonely cowboy.
The lowkey found family trope and bonding in this book was so adorable. I enjoyed this whole Novella and read it in one sitting. It was definitely the perfect start for the Christmas season and I HIGHLY recommend this book if you’re looking for a short-fun-spicy-kinda-sad-but-mostly-wholesome read 📖💕
November 21, 2024
3/5 stars - I prefer some plot with my smut. Liked the main characters though.
December 5, 2024
Really good book to get into a bit of a Christmas mood 🎄 The relationship was so dreamy and I love myself a good forced proximity 🤭 I think this had a tad too much (very angsty 🥲) drama at the end for a short novella but this is only the second one the author has written, so keep that in mind 🫶🏻 There's still a perfect HEA!
Read
October 19, 2024𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐱 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞
This novella is special to me because it’s the first ARC I was selected for 🥹 I loved Bailey Hannah’s first two books so when I saw the ARC application for this book, I knew I just had to try! It’s the first Christmas themed book/novella I’ve read, and it was very cute. In just 200 pgs, Bailey Hannah still managed to give the two main characters, Lucas and Eira, such depth. I don’t rate novellas, but Christmas at Fox Ridge was so, so good. It officially released November 14th, so make sure to mark your calendars!!
𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:
“You make me pick between you and work, I’ll be flat broke and homeless real quick.”
“Is that a cat in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?” Lucas’s breath blows hot behind my ear, making my cheeks warm.
He gave me the one thing I never knew I needed: a perfect Christmas at Fox Ridge.
This novella is special to me because it’s the first ARC I was selected for 🥹 I loved Bailey Hannah’s first two books so when I saw the ARC application for this book, I knew I just had to try! It’s the first Christmas themed book/novella I’ve read, and it was very cute. In just 200 pgs, Bailey Hannah still managed to give the two main characters, Lucas and Eira, such depth. I don’t rate novellas, but Christmas at Fox Ridge was so, so good. It officially released November 14th, so make sure to mark your calendars!!
𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:
“You make me pick between you and work, I’ll be flat broke and homeless real quick.”
“Is that a cat in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?” Lucas’s breath blows hot behind my ear, making my cheeks warm.
He gave me the one thing I never knew I needed: a perfect Christmas at Fox Ridge.
November 23, 2024
Let me just say this was the most fun, quick and super spicy holiday novella and I have 70 highlights!
If you need a holiday read involving a one night stand with a best friend’s brother… that catches back up to them 6 months later when she rents out his cabin and has unclear instructions on how to work the wood stove… and he wants to keep her warm.
Pick up this grump, small town farrier that’s straight out of hallmark if it allowed a little tinsel bondage 🫠🥵🎄
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you need a holiday read involving a one night stand with a best friend’s brother… that catches back up to them 6 months later when she rents out his cabin and has unclear instructions on how to work the wood stove… and he wants to keep her warm.
Pick up this grump, small town farrier that’s straight out of hallmark if it allowed a little tinsel bondage 🫠🥵🎄
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 29, 2025
DNF at 30% when it became clear that this was just gonna be spice
November 21, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ I loved this and all its spice! 🔥🔥
January 15, 2025
✯✯✯.25
This is so sweet and hot and cute
This is so sweet and hot and cute
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