A Beastly Christmas

Cheerful #1

by Alexa Riley

Belle has the worst boss in the world. So when they ask her to drive hours away up a snowy mountain days before Christmas, she can’t refuse. It’s probably for the best because she’s just broken the expensive coffee machine in the breakroom, and she doesn’t want to be around when they find it. When the weather takes a turn for the worst, so does her car, and she winds up in a stranger’s bed. One look at the beastly owner of the cabin, and Belle is rethinking her need to hurry home.

Marley Jacobs is hidden away in the mountains for a reason. His scarred face scares people away, and his grouchy disposition doesn’t help. But when a beautiful woman literally crashes into his life, he’s claiming her for himself. With a possession he didn’t know was possible, he’s going to make sure she’s bound to him in every way imaginable.

Welcome to Cheerful, a town that loves Christmas almost as much as it loves Happily Ever Afters. This is the place to be if you need a hefty dose of holiday cheer, or you’re looking to have your stocking stuffed. Grab your coziest pajamas and hot chocolate because it’s about to get festive.

Genres: Romance, Novella, Holiday, Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Forced Proximity, Smut

97 pages, ebook

Published November 11, 2025

About the author

Alexa Riley is two sassy friends who got together and wrote some dirty books. They are both married moms of two who love football, donuts, and obsessed book heroes.

They specialize in insta-love, over-the-top, sweet, and cheesy love stories that don’t take all year to read. If you want something SAFE, short, and always with a happily ever after, then Alexa Riley is for you!

Feel free to follow us each on twitter @smut_sasshole & @SassNSmut

Reviews

[Soft Nectarine ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Put on your flannel & pour some hot chocolate for this cozy Christmas smut! 🎄❄️🩵🎄

Belle gets snowed in with a scarred recluse who would do anything to make her stay. Sign me up! Honestly, the story had all the marks of a cozy & SMUTTY Christmas novella 🎄 Cheerful Christmas town, flirty cuteness, insta-love realness and a dirty talking mmc.

I thought this had just the right amount of ESCAPISM! Not serious, not too cringy and a quick smutty sprinkle ✨

virgin fmc
size difference
praise
somnophilia
HEA

[Kellyythoralabatalla · Rating 2 out of 5]

insta love, navidad y insta lust, todo lo que AR les gusta escribir (y a mi leer).

[Majo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Insta-love, insta-lust y una protagonista virginal en una especie de retelling de la bella y la bestia en una pueblito sacado de una postal navideña.

[Ciru · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars.

Classic Alexa Riley. Ditzy virgin girl, scarred reclusive author. Holiday hijinks ensues and they end up together.

It didn't reinvent the wheel but it also wasn't bad.

[Noelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5⭐

Me ha parecido una historia bastante surrealista la verdad😬, y todo es taaaaan precipitado.

¿Lo recomiendo? Pues para leer en una tarde cuando te apetezca leer una historia cortita navideña..., eso sí, de navideño tiene solo que transcurre en Nochebuena🙃.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Beastly Christmas follows Belle, who finds herself stranded on a snowy mountain just days before Christmas. When her car breaks down, she turns to Marley Jacobs, a gruff and scarred man living in a remote cabin. What starts as a tense encounter quickly sparks a passionate connection, as the isolation and winter setting bring them together in unexpected ways.

The romance in A Beastly Christmas is intense, fast-paced, and full of heat. Belle and Marley share an undeniable chemistry that ignites from their very first meeting. Their dynamic is charged with tension, playful banter, and tender moments, creating a relationship that feels both fiery and captivating.

The snowy, secluded setting adds a cozy, immersive backdrop, while the holiday atmosphere enhances the intimacy and warmth of their connection. Marley’s protective presence pairs perfectly with Belle’s spirited personality, resulting in a romance that is both engaging and emotionally charged.

A Beastly Christmas is a steamy, festive romance perfect for readers who enjoy alpha heroes, strong romantic tension, and the magic of a holiday setting. It delivers a passionate and entertaining escape for the season.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read once that a character should have flaws as it makes them feel relatable and human.
I've been reading Alexa Riley for a long time, and this year I read less and less because I wasn't enjoying the stories like I used to and I figured out why with this book --
The heroines stopped being relatable. They're overly sweet, bordering on bimbo, and I get a toothache reading about them.

I already purchased the next two in this series, and I'm not looking forward to them.

[Edit · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

* Hero(s) - 2/5
* Heroine(s) - 3/5
* Secondary Characters - 3/5

* Plot/Storyline - 4/5
* Romance/Steam - 3/5
* Drama/Conflict/Angst - 3/5
* Worldbuilding/Atmosphere - 4/5

* Writing Style - 4/5

This review is based on my personal preferences and the rating reflects how much I enjoyed reading this book.

[Bookreviewgirl_xo · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Don’t ever dim your light for anyone else's convenience. It's them that's not enough."

Rating : 3.25/5

Marley + Belle

- Christmas Novella
- Small Town
- Insta Love
- Boss's Assistant's Assistant/ Horror Writer
- Breeding Kink
- Slight Unwanted Attention from OW
- Dual POV [First Person]
- HEA

[Blaxtr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me dio mucho cringe y osea no quería la gran trama por las patinas pero todo fue muy apresurado y las escenas spicy no me convencieron y menos la primera, la pluma de la autora me gusto porque me atrapo hasta que lo termine pero este es un no para mi

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't care what anyone says Alexa Riley makes me smile and laugh and gives me the warm fuzzies at Christmas time. To me this was going back to the old days for them and I enjoyed the hell out of it.

[Kim B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute love at first sight!!

[Miin · Rating 3 out of 5]

11/25/2025

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexa Riley are so back with their sweet books! I love it

[Kai · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Lisbeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

short and silly

[ItsJazmin · Rating 1 out of 5]

si lo hubiese tenido en físico, lo hubiese prendido fuego.
como te vas a llamar marley, que sos el perro de owen wilson????

[Idkilyyy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aburrido

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bella & Marley

[Paula Valadez · Rating 2 out of 5]

😬

[Javiera]

????
Mínimo hubiera esperado un día para que se conocieran un poco mas y luego empezar hacer todo lo que ella quisiera y a tocarla

[Jamies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute Beauty and The Beast coded Christmas insta love story.

[Kyareth14 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Story