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Holiday Hijinx Series #2
The Sleight Before Christmas
From the author of The Plight Before Christmas and The Ravenhood trilogy comes a heartwarming, spicy, holiday-themed romantic dramedy with ALL OF THE FEELS.
My kids are a**holes.
Yeah, I said it. I said the thing no father is supposed to say about their children, and I’ll say it again because I miss my wife.
Serena’s checked out and now resides in ‘yes dear’ robot mode, complete with a new eye twitch. Reason being, the impish elves we spawned are currently sucking the life out of her—daily. Thanks to Gracie and Peyton, my patience is hanging by the last orange bulb on a very thin green wire. Thank God we’re headed to Triple Falls. A week of Ruby’s eggnog and a little change of scenery could be just what the woman I love needs to find her way back to herself—and to me. But the closer we get to packing up, the shorter my fuse becomes . . . and the more I’m starting to get ideas of taking drastic measures.
And by drastic, I mean our little goblins won’t be the only ones making Rudolph’s naughty list. I’ve had enough. I’m not giving in this time. No amount of alligator tears or fake apologies are going to cut it.
Ironically, the more I man up and take charge, the more Serena and I are starting to reminisce about the good old days, which is quickly adding up to some heated nights.
Come hell or high water, this Christmas, our kids are going to learn to appreciate the parents they’ve got because I’m getting my girl back . . . even if the two little hellions we created have to pay to bring her back to me—little f*ckers.
The Sleight Before Christmas is book #2 in The Holiday Hijinx series. While it can be read as a stand-alone, it is highly recommended that you read The Plight Before Christmas first.
*Fair Warning- Both books in Holiday Hijinx are packed with adult shenanigans, laugh-out-loud outrageous content, colorful language, adults behaving badly, as well as hefty doses of spice.
My kids are a**holes.
Yeah, I said it. I said the thing no father is supposed to say about their children, and I’ll say it again because I miss my wife.
Serena’s checked out and now resides in ‘yes dear’ robot mode, complete with a new eye twitch. Reason being, the impish elves we spawned are currently sucking the life out of her—daily. Thanks to Gracie and Peyton, my patience is hanging by the last orange bulb on a very thin green wire. Thank God we’re headed to Triple Falls. A week of Ruby’s eggnog and a little change of scenery could be just what the woman I love needs to find her way back to herself—and to me. But the closer we get to packing up, the shorter my fuse becomes . . . and the more I’m starting to get ideas of taking drastic measures.
And by drastic, I mean our little goblins won’t be the only ones making Rudolph’s naughty list. I’ve had enough. I’m not giving in this time. No amount of alligator tears or fake apologies are going to cut it.
Ironically, the more I man up and take charge, the more Serena and I are starting to reminisce about the good old days, which is quickly adding up to some heated nights.
Come hell or high water, this Christmas, our kids are going to learn to appreciate the parents they’ve got because I’m getting my girl back . . . even if the two little hellions we created have to pay to bring her back to me—little f*ckers.
The Sleight Before Christmas is book #2 in The Holiday Hijinx series. While it can be read as a stand-alone, it is highly recommended that you read The Plight Before Christmas first.
*Fair Warning- Both books in Holiday Hijinx are packed with adult shenanigans, laugh-out-loud outrageous content, colorful language, adults behaving badly, as well as hefty doses of spice.
Audiobook
Published September 9, 2025
1711 people are currently reading
7771 people want to read
About the author
Kate Stewart
50 books25.9k followersNew York Times, USA Today, Amazon Charts, and Internationally bestselling author Kate Stewart, a Texas native, lives in North Carolina with her husband, Nick. Nestled within the Blue Ridge Mountains, Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance, as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense.
The Ravenhood Trilogy, consisting of Flock, Exodus, and The Finish Line, as well as the spinoff series, Ravenhood Legacy, have become NYT, USA Today, and International bestsellers as well as TikTok sensations. The Ravenhood was recently acquired for film adaptation with Kate set to co-write the script, as well as executive produce, which will kickstart her lifelong dream of becoming a filmmaker.
Amongst Kate’s other bestselling works, The Bittersweet Symphony Duet, specifically Drive, was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for best contemporary romance of 2017. Stewart’s works have been featured in USA Today, BuzzFeed, The New York Daily News, Huffington Post, Glamour Magazine, and translated into over twenty languages.
More info: https://geni.us/katestewartbooks
The Ravenhood Trilogy, consisting of Flock, Exodus, and The Finish Line, as well as the spinoff series, Ravenhood Legacy, have become NYT, USA Today, and International bestsellers as well as TikTok sensations. The Ravenhood was recently acquired for film adaptation with Kate set to co-write the script, as well as executive produce, which will kickstart her lifelong dream of becoming a filmmaker.
Amongst Kate’s other bestselling works, The Bittersweet Symphony Duet, specifically Drive, was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for best contemporary romance of 2017. Stewart’s works have been featured in USA Today, BuzzFeed, The New York Daily News, Huffington Post, Glamour Magazine, and translated into over twenty languages.
More info: https://geni.us/katestewartbooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,504 reviews
December 15, 2025
5 stars
I haven’t had so much fun reading a book in quite some time… The Slight Before Christmas had me not only laughing out loud but cackling. It also hit me in the feels. It was the perfect, well-rounded read for me!
If you’ve read ‘The Plight Before Christmas’ you’ve met Thatch and Serena. They’ve been together for a long time, and I can relate as someone who’s been married 18 years and with the same person for over 21 years. Life sometimes gets in the way, and you have to take a real look at your relationship and what’s important. Thatch and Serena do just that. And on top of that, they have to get their kids in line…
Oh, the Peyton and Gracie scenes. These two kids… I just couldn’t with those two for the first part of the book. They were wilding out in the worst way, and Daddy Thatch had to get them into shape. With the help of the whole Collins clan. Will Rudolph grace their family's Christmas? Or are the kids too far on the naughty list for him to come? You’ll have to read and find out…
One of my favorite parts of this book was getting Serena and Thatch’s backstory. Especially seeing Thatch’s and where he came from. It was a big-picture moment, and everything made sense. That last chapter… had me in tears, I was so moved. I don’t know how this book did it, but I laughed to tears, then later teared up because of my emotions.
Honestly, this book is just everything: the banter, the writing, the family dynamic, the romance, and the relatable characters! Kate, once again, crafts the perfect holiday read that I know I’ll be re-reading every Christmas season for years to come!
I haven’t had so much fun reading a book in quite some time… The Slight Before Christmas had me not only laughing out loud but cackling. It also hit me in the feels. It was the perfect, well-rounded read for me!
If you’ve read ‘The Plight Before Christmas’ you’ve met Thatch and Serena. They’ve been together for a long time, and I can relate as someone who’s been married 18 years and with the same person for over 21 years. Life sometimes gets in the way, and you have to take a real look at your relationship and what’s important. Thatch and Serena do just that. And on top of that, they have to get their kids in line…
Oh, the Peyton and Gracie scenes. These two kids… I just couldn’t with those two for the first part of the book. They were wilding out in the worst way, and Daddy Thatch had to get them into shape. With the help of the whole Collins clan. Will Rudolph grace their family's Christmas? Or are the kids too far on the naughty list for him to come? You’ll have to read and find out…
One of my favorite parts of this book was getting Serena and Thatch’s backstory. Especially seeing Thatch’s and where he came from. It was a big-picture moment, and everything made sense. That last chapter… had me in tears, I was so moved. I don’t know how this book did it, but I laughed to tears, then later teared up because of my emotions.
Honestly, this book is just everything: the banter, the writing, the family dynamic, the romance, and the relatable characters! Kate, once again, crafts the perfect holiday read that I know I’ll be re-reading every Christmas season for years to come!
December 22, 2025
jesus for christ this was awful
December 20, 2024
I don’t typically like to leave bad or negative reviews but the rage I feel after finishing this book I just can’t.
I was so excited to read this after the surprise release. I absolutely loved the plight before Christmas it was amazing. I loved the dynamic and how realistic things were with this family.
This one was so over the top toxic and they were so incredibly selfish.
Terrible parents allowing their kids to be shitty ungrateful brats but then inflicting psychological abuse on their children to punish them. So much so that their four year old has ptsd.
Add the child abuse of allowing their four year old to figure out everything on his own. Letting him believe that his parents don’t love him, don’t like him and don’t want him around. No clothes, no bath, you pack and bring in your own luggage, he’s freaking four and inflicting more neglect trauma on him.
The daughter who has spent her whole childhood being allowed to do whatever she wants and being spoiled. Then equally emotionally and psychologically abused by the adults in her life because one day they decide to flip the switch.
I could get behind children getting out of hand but the way they went about this and correcting that behavior was completely unacceptable.
Flash backs on their relationship that started with r@pe. How many times does he need to say no while she’s forcing herself on him?
This had the potential to be an incredible book, show these kids how amazing they have it, spend Christmas teaching them about how fortunate they are. Instead it is a story these kids will disclose to their therapist for years to come.
I was so excited to read this after the surprise release. I absolutely loved the plight before Christmas it was amazing. I loved the dynamic and how realistic things were with this family.
This one was so over the top toxic and they were so incredibly selfish.
Terrible parents allowing their kids to be shitty ungrateful brats but then inflicting psychological abuse on their children to punish them. So much so that their four year old has ptsd.
Add the child abuse of allowing their four year old to figure out everything on his own. Letting him believe that his parents don’t love him, don’t like him and don’t want him around. No clothes, no bath, you pack and bring in your own luggage, he’s freaking four and inflicting more neglect trauma on him.
The daughter who has spent her whole childhood being allowed to do whatever she wants and being spoiled. Then equally emotionally and psychologically abused by the adults in her life because one day they decide to flip the switch.
I could get behind children getting out of hand but the way they went about this and correcting that behavior was completely unacceptable.
Flash backs on their relationship that started with r@pe. How many times does he need to say no while she’s forcing herself on him?
This had the potential to be an incredible book, show these kids how amazing they have it, spend Christmas teaching them about how fortunate they are. Instead it is a story these kids will disclose to their therapist for years to come.
December 25, 2024
100 percent enjoyment ⭐️
December 21, 2024
After a bunch of Christmas books that have left me down this Christmas season, this book gave me those Christmas feels. Only a couple of other books have done that this season so far.
Full rtc
Full rtc
January 2, 2026
* ☘︎ :･ﾟTOP 5 AUDIO 2025 :･ﾟ☘︎ *
re-read on audio October 2025
God, the epilogue, the day Thatch meets the Collins family for the first time will forever break me. I’m the best and worst way. 😭😭❤️
As soon as it was announced I knew JF Harding would be PERFECT for Thatch. ♡ FML, he made this even better (and hotter!) than it already was. Ugh, the dedication after 22 years of marriage.
⇢ thoughts on the audio only two chapters in:
NOOOHOOOOO, who the fuck gave Ava Erickson this role???? This was supposed to be perfect!!!! 😭😭😭 (JF Harding is perfect for Thatch, tho) I was so excited for this. I mean, I knew that Ava Erickson's voice is too light and high to probably hit the right note with Serena's character imo but GIRLLLL!! can't you at least tryyyy to put a bit of bite into it where it is appropriate?? We are dealing with a checked-out wife and a pre-teen daughter here and this is everything you got??????
4.75***** stars
Oh. Em. Gee. Thatch a filthy-mouthed bad boy? Who would’ve thought. Not me, that’s for damn sure. Had to pull an all-nighter to get to the bottom of this. And I thought I fell hard for Eli in the first book but God, Thatch is so fucking perfect. *drool
I usually stay away from books that are way to relatable to my own daily life because I’m here for the escapism and not to relive it in my precious me-time too. Just like Serena.
Two years ago I met Serena and Thatch in “The Plight Before Christmas” and even as side characters I was captivated by them and their marriage on the rocks. I loved them from the start. And now three Christmases later they are hanging by an even thinner thread than before. Only for different reasons this time.
With the way the author writes this story, with so much wit and banter, you can only laugh at the ridiculousness that is the life of parents. All too relatable in its at times life-sucking awfulness you don’t know, like Thatch and Serena, whether to explode in a tirade or to just simply give up and leave the carnage behind.
And when Thatch and Serena team up against their children, having the backs of the rest of the Collins Family, it also brings them to walk down memory lane to their beginnings more than twenty years ago, showing us and bringing back a Thatch & Serena we haven’t seen before. And hell, it was glorious.
And like in book one there is ultimately a part that broke my heart and had me tearing up. But damn, so worth it.
I’m impressed with Kate Steward for bringing once again a story with non-stop hilarious and laugh-out-loud moments while simultaneously striking up a serious tone for the serious topics without really dragging it down to sad level.
I only wished this book would’ve been a tad longer to explain a thing or two more about Thatch’s past that had me getting a bit lost and left me with some questions. Otherwise this was total perfection for me.
I can’t wait to revisit this story, hopefully then on audio.
***************
Holiday Hijinx Series
Book 1 - The Plight Before Christmas - 5.0 stars
Book 2 - The Sleight Before Christmas - 4.75 stars
re-read on audio October 2025
God, the epilogue, the day Thatch meets the Collins family for the first time will forever break me. I’m the best and worst way. 😭😭❤️
As soon as it was announced I knew JF Harding would be PERFECT for Thatch. ♡ FML, he made this even better (and hotter!) than it already was. Ugh, the dedication after 22 years of marriage.
“You know what you have to offer me?” I snap, and he stops, keeping his back to me. “You. And that would be all I needed. Anything I want, I can work for and obtain my fucking self. All I want from you, Thatcher O’Neal, is you.”
⇢ thoughts on the audio only two chapters in:
NOOOHOOOOO, who the fuck gave Ava Erickson this role???? This was supposed to be perfect!!!! 😭😭😭 (JF Harding is perfect for Thatch, tho) I was so excited for this. I mean, I knew that Ava Erickson's voice is too light and high to probably hit the right note with Serena's character imo but GIRLLLL!! can't you at least tryyyy to put a bit of bite into it where it is appropriate?? We are dealing with a checked-out wife and a pre-teen daughter here and this is everything you got??????
4.75***** stars
Oh. Em. Gee. Thatch a filthy-mouthed bad boy? Who would’ve thought. Not me, that’s for damn sure. Had to pull an all-nighter to get to the bottom of this. And I thought I fell hard for Eli in the first book but God, Thatch is so fucking perfect. *drool
“If you tell me one more time that you’re mine, I’ll stay. I’ll wait until you graduate, and I’ll fucking ring your finger, Serena,” he whispers. “I will earn you, and I’ll fucking take you from the guy who deserves you. I’ll steal you right now from the man who deserves your hand, your heart, your body, your future. I’ll steal your fucking future because I want you that fucking much.”
“God, baby,” he cups my face […] “You’re really mine?”
“Been yours since we locked eyes, Thatcher O’Neal.”
I usually stay away from books that are way to relatable to my own daily life because I’m here for the escapism and not to relive it in my precious me-time too. Just like Serena.
She’s been reading a lot of books lately. Come to think of it, that’s all she’s done in recent months. From the covers, most of them starring half-naked hockey players.
Two years ago I met Serena and Thatch in “The Plight Before Christmas” and even as side characters I was captivated by them and their marriage on the rocks. I loved them from the start. And now three Christmases later they are hanging by an even thinner thread than before. Only for different reasons this time.
With the way the author writes this story, with so much wit and banter, you can only laugh at the ridiculousness that is the life of parents. All too relatable in its at times life-sucking awfulness you don’t know, like Thatch and Serena, whether to explode in a tirade or to just simply give up and leave the carnage behind.
And when Thatch and Serena team up against their children, having the backs of the rest of the Collins Family, it also brings them to walk down memory lane to their beginnings more than twenty years ago, showing us and bringing back a Thatch & Serena we haven’t seen before. And hell, it was glorious.
And like in book one there is ultimately a part that broke my heart and had me tearing up. But damn, so worth it.
I’m impressed with Kate Steward for bringing once again a story with non-stop hilarious and laugh-out-loud moments while simultaneously striking up a serious tone for the serious topics without really dragging it down to sad level.
I only wished this book would’ve been a tad longer to explain a thing or two more about Thatch’s past that had me getting a bit lost and left me with some questions. Otherwise this was total perfection for me.
I can’t wait to revisit this story, hopefully then on audio.
***************
Holiday Hijinx Series
Book 1 - The Plight Before Christmas - 5.0 stars
Book 2 - The Sleight Before Christmas - 4.75 stars
Read
January 21, 2025i should’ve paid more attention to the blurb. this is very different than kate’s usual writing. i only made it 16% in and i am not a parent, but i can already tell that i am not going to agree with the way they’re treating their 4 year old. calling it quits.
December 24, 2024
gracie and peyton can be used in contraceptive ads.. they fr pissed me off and they're not even my kids
December 20, 2024
Such a good surprise…
Ok, we’re going into this one all vibes.
📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Sleight Before Christmas by Kate Stewart
📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Holiday Hijinx character series. Book 2.
📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle. 🆓 on KU.
📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Holiday romance
📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Then-and-now, found family
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Thatch and Serena have been married for over 20 years - not all sunshine and rainbows but never giving up on one another. But one Christmas with their kids driving them to the brink of insanity poses the hardest obstacle yet.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Clearly this was a “drop everything and read this book” sort of moment for me. Everyone who knows me knows I love The Plight Before Christmas, so seeing this surprise release had my eyes perking up.
About 40% in, I wasn’t sure exactly where it was going, if I’m being honest. And I wasn’t sure it was a romance - at least not in the traditional sense. But by the end, I can confidently say I haven’t read anything like this book.
Thatch, Serena, their kids… it was all just so relatable and real. It felt sometimes like looking in a mirror. Serena and Thatch’s very grown up troubles felt like my own. I guarantee this will resonate with anyone who has been married for a bit, and anyone who has kids for sure.
I wasn’t sure I needed more of this couple. But I loved getting to know them. And in the end, I wanted to hug both of them - and left with a really powerful thought of falling in love with your partner over and over.
If you need something to kick up your holiday mood - but that go way beyond the season and into real-life territory - these two books will do it for sure.
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶
Ok, we’re going into this one all vibes.
📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Sleight Before Christmas by Kate Stewart
📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Holiday Hijinx character series. Book 2.
📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle. 🆓 on KU.
📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Holiday romance
📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Then-and-now, found family
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Thatch and Serena have been married for over 20 years - not all sunshine and rainbows but never giving up on one another. But one Christmas with their kids driving them to the brink of insanity poses the hardest obstacle yet.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Clearly this was a “drop everything and read this book” sort of moment for me. Everyone who knows me knows I love The Plight Before Christmas, so seeing this surprise release had my eyes perking up.
About 40% in, I wasn’t sure exactly where it was going, if I’m being honest. And I wasn’t sure it was a romance - at least not in the traditional sense. But by the end, I can confidently say I haven’t read anything like this book.
Thatch, Serena, their kids… it was all just so relatable and real. It felt sometimes like looking in a mirror. Serena and Thatch’s very grown up troubles felt like my own. I guarantee this will resonate with anyone who has been married for a bit, and anyone who has kids for sure.
I wasn’t sure I needed more of this couple. But I loved getting to know them. And in the end, I wanted to hug both of them - and left with a really powerful thought of falling in love with your partner over and over.
If you need something to kick up your holiday mood - but that go way beyond the season and into real-life territory - these two books will do it for sure.
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶
December 29, 2025
3.5-4⭐️ loved the marriage revamp and the lesson they taught their bratty brat kids. At a certain point though, the spice overshadowed the story and became too much. I think I would have preferred it in print so the spice wasn’t as intense as it can come across on audio (and would be less cringy, not that the narrators were bad).
December 15, 2025
DNF, DNF, nearly IMMEDIATE DNF.
the rage i fucking feel??? the CHILD NEGLECT?! this was *literal* child abuse. what's with all the 5 stars??? oh my god. call CPS. call the police. call someone.
the rage i fucking feel??? the CHILD NEGLECT?! this was *literal* child abuse. what's with all the 5 stars??? oh my god. call CPS. call the police. call someone.
December 22, 2024
not for me
I loved the plight before Christmas it's my favorite holiday novel ever, I was super excited for this surprise drop, so excited I bypassed my entire tbr but I gotta say.... I hated this book.
As a parent to two children most would consider difficult due to their high needs autism I could not remotely imagine trying to parent the way our lead characters do. I get their breaking point and drastic measures but refusing to help a four year old or eat with him or be nice to him is so gross.
The intimate scenes did not feel consensual and apparently that was part of their thing but it wasn't for me.
I finished this book but I don't feel good about it.
I loved the plight before Christmas it's my favorite holiday novel ever, I was super excited for this surprise drop, so excited I bypassed my entire tbr but I gotta say.... I hated this book.
As a parent to two children most would consider difficult due to their high needs autism I could not remotely imagine trying to parent the way our lead characters do. I get their breaking point and drastic measures but refusing to help a four year old or eat with him or be nice to him is so gross.
The intimate scenes did not feel consensual and apparently that was part of their thing but it wasn't for me.
I finished this book but I don't feel good about it.
December 30, 2025
I feel very conflicted about my rating for this book - I really enjoyed one aspect of it, but the other conflict of this story made me feel really icky.
I loved the second chance romance feel to serena and thatch’s marriage, as they try to revive and rekindle their “spark.” I thought it was really cute how we got flashbacks to their pasts and how they met, and it explains a lot about their personalities, especially thatch.
but the traumatization of their kids? not so much of a fan, especially around christmas time where so many core memories are made for kids. I understand that this isn’t reality and that the author herself states that none of this would be ok in real life, but even reading about it just took away from the joyful moments I want to feel while reading a holiday book! I understand taking away kids’ christmas presents, especially with how these children were acting, but to drag it out as much as they did felt really wrong and just plain mean to do to them. it went beyond taking away presents to withholding crucial things (like food??) and recruiting family members to treat them poorly as well. I’m sorry but that is just not the vibe I want for a christmas book!!
honestly this should’ve stayed a standalone book or toned down on the future trauma these kids will have 😵💫
I loved the second chance romance feel to serena and thatch’s marriage, as they try to revive and rekindle their “spark.” I thought it was really cute how we got flashbacks to their pasts and how they met, and it explains a lot about their personalities, especially thatch.
but the traumatization of their kids? not so much of a fan, especially around christmas time where so many core memories are made for kids. I understand that this isn’t reality and that the author herself states that none of this would be ok in real life, but even reading about it just took away from the joyful moments I want to feel while reading a holiday book! I understand taking away kids’ christmas presents, especially with how these children were acting, but to drag it out as much as they did felt really wrong and just plain mean to do to them. it went beyond taking away presents to withholding crucial things (like food??) and recruiting family members to treat them poorly as well. I’m sorry but that is just not the vibe I want for a christmas book!!
honestly this should’ve stayed a standalone book or toned down on the future trauma these kids will have 😵💫
December 24, 2024
3.5-4 ⭐'s
This one was hard to read because of the parent-child dynamic. Parenting is wonderful but also hard and while it was comforting reading about a couple going through similar things, it was anxiety ridden about all the trouble the kids got into.
I have to hand it to Thatcher and Serena...they decided to fix what they had a part in creating. Some of the scenes with him and Peyton were heartbreaking, however, I loved him and Serena reconnecting.
I also loved how all the family came together!
This one was hard to read because of the parent-child dynamic. Parenting is wonderful but also hard and while it was comforting reading about a couple going through similar things, it was anxiety ridden about all the trouble the kids got into.
I have to hand it to Thatcher and Serena...they decided to fix what they had a part in creating. Some of the scenes with him and Peyton were heartbreaking, however, I loved him and Serena reconnecting.
I also loved how all the family came together!
December 25, 2024
Beautiful Holiday Book!
Sweet, sexy, sad, heartbreaking, funny.
I LOVED IT!
Read the first book first please!!! → The Plight Before Christmas
Sweet, sexy, sad, heartbreaking, funny.
I LOVED IT!
Read the first book first please!!! → The Plight Before Christmas
December 28, 2024
Every day i wake up and thank God for being childfree. This book embodies my absolute worst nightmare of a life. Gracie and Peyton are ending up in boarding school until they turn 18 if it were up to me.
January 10, 2025
❄️holiday romcom
❄️marriage in crisis
❄️kids a**holes
❄️flashbacks
I was giggling all the book, but the epilogue made me drop some tears.
It's a hilarious romcom about a couple struggling marital problems and trying to survive with their devilish kids.
Oh my dawd, Peyton stole my heart, I love this kiddo❤️ Scenes with him are the best.
Except the humour, we also get to know Serena and Thatch's backstory. I'm glad they found their way back to each other.
❄️marriage in crisis
❄️kids a**holes
❄️flashbacks
I was giggling all the book, but the epilogue made me drop some tears.
It's a hilarious romcom about a couple struggling marital problems and trying to survive with their devilish kids.
Oh my dawd, Peyton stole my heart, I love this kiddo❤️ Scenes with him are the best.
“No, this is my cwub, and we don’t have mean daddies in our cwub.”
“Excuse me?"
“Yes, you are excusetd, Thatcher,”
He pushes at my stomach, full-on kicking me out and shutting the door slowly as he does this, spewing his verdict. “No mean daddies allowded.”
Except the humour, we also get to know Serena and Thatch's backstory. I'm glad they found their way back to each other.
"We’ve changed probably half a dozen times in our marriage, and I’ve fallen in love with every single version of you."
December 31, 2025
i don’t really have much to say except that sweet baby peyton has my whole heart
December 28, 2024
I was so intrigued by Serena and Thatch in the Plight Before Christmas, and extremely excited when I found out they got their own book. It did not disappoint!! Learning about their past, how they overcame problems in their relationship, parenting their two little heathens, the character growth, was all perfection. It’s relatable, and there was angst, tons of humor, and incredible chemistry and passion. Getting more of this family was the best!!
And the Pledge 🤣🤣 iykyk!
And the Pledge 🤣🤣 iykyk!
December 18, 2025
I enjoyed this story. It was a fun, lighthearted set during the holidays.
The parents vs the kids.
Audiobook source: Audible
Narrator: Ava Erickson & J.F. Harding
Length: 7H 34M
The parents vs the kids.
Audiobook source: Audible
Narrator: Ava Erickson & J.F. Harding
Length: 7H 34M
December 20, 2025
Re-read 2025: still five stars!
Did not expect to ugly cry while reading this! I loved Serena and Thatch’s story so much!
Did not expect to ugly cry while reading this! I loved Serena and Thatch’s story so much!
December 28, 2024
Oh no what happened here?!?! Not good stuff!!! Too many issues to list but if I never read the word brat again it will be too soon, I’ll say that.
December 20, 2025
While not quite as laugh-out-loud funny as The Plight Before Christmas, Kate Stewart’s follow-up holiday romance is very enjoyable. The Sleight Before Christmas has a lot of humor, but it’s balanced out by the relatable stress of parenthood (the kids are horrible!) and the waning desire of long-time married couples. While I didn’t care for the flashbacks, I did love the close family bonds.
I listened to the audiobook while wrapping presents, and it certainly put me in the Christmas mood. J.F. Harding is one of my favorite male narrators.
I listened to the audiobook while wrapping presents, and it certainly put me in the Christmas mood. J.F. Harding is one of my favorite male narrators.
November 17, 2025
Serena and Thatcher are on a slippery slope of losing their marriage and control of their chicken when Thatcher decides take matters into his own hands and try to right the ship.
This book is part of a series and although I liked Whitney and Eli’s story in book 1 better, this was still an enjoyable read. For me, the “girls night out” scene is what gives this book four stars - laugh out loud funny is an understatement!
I laughed through so much of this book, but it did have a serious side and the scenes with the kids getting into trouble were extremely relatable. I could have done without the word Brat and Handyman … over and over and over.
This book is part of a series and although I liked Whitney and Eli’s story in book 1 better, this was still an enjoyable read. For me, the “girls night out” scene is what gives this book four stars - laugh out loud funny is an understatement!
I laughed through so much of this book, but it did have a serious side and the scenes with the kids getting into trouble were extremely relatable. I could have done without the word Brat and Handyman … over and over and over.
December 8, 2025
2 ⭐️ I don’t really have an issue with either of them but they needed therapy I fear… 2 stars for the rest of the family though
December 25, 2025
Turns out I am capable of DNF. This was not it.
December 19, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
I loved the first book in this series and was really excited for this one, but it felt very different in tone. The heavy focus on the misbehaving kids just didn’t work for me as it felt pretty unbelievable and took me out of the story. I much preferred the marital side of the plot, and with the flashbacks and dual POVs, that part honestly could have stood on its own. Given that, the kid-focused storyline felt unnecessary and way too prominent in my opinion. Overall, this read more like a contemporary romance with just a tiny hint of Christmas, and I think I was expecting something different based on book one.
*Available in Kindle Unlimited at the time of this review.
I loved the first book in this series and was really excited for this one, but it felt very different in tone. The heavy focus on the misbehaving kids just didn’t work for me as it felt pretty unbelievable and took me out of the story. I much preferred the marital side of the plot, and with the flashbacks and dual POVs, that part honestly could have stood on its own. Given that, the kid-focused storyline felt unnecessary and way too prominent in my opinion. Overall, this read more like a contemporary romance with just a tiny hint of Christmas, and I think I was expecting something different based on book one.
*Available in Kindle Unlimited at the time of this review.
December 29, 2024
Haven’t started yet, but everything KS is 5⭐️s honestly. The best Christmas surprise!!!
UPDATE:
The entire 20 chapters of this book are hilarious, relatable, endearing, perfection. The EPILOGUE DESTROYED ME.
THAT is how you write a back story. I love every single one of these characters so much but our mains Serena and Thatch are the most relatable married couple/parents. As always, a solid 5⭐️ read from Queen Kate.
UPDATE:
The entire 20 chapters of this book are hilarious, relatable, endearing, perfection. The EPILOGUE DESTROYED ME.
THAT is how you write a back story. I love every single one of these characters so much but our mains Serena and Thatch are the most relatable married couple/parents. As always, a solid 5⭐️ read from Queen Kate.
December 23, 2024
I enjoyed The Plight Before Christmas slightly more than this, but this is different. Plight Before is a fluffier, more rom-com romance of two single people getting together, Slight Before is a romance between two people who have been in the trenches for a while and fighting to find themselves in the chaos. I *live* for a good story about married couples who are fighting for each other and rediscovering the love they have today for the version their partner has grown into. Thatch and Serena are busy parents and business owners with two hellion kids. They take extreme measures to finally put a stop to their kids bad behaviors over the holidays, and lean heavily on each other, reminding themselves why they fell in love. I loved the backstory of Thatch and Serena, as well as their present day rekindling. I also will never turn down a Triple Falls cabin Christmas with the Collins family. ❤️
December 20, 2024
4.5 Hilarious Stars
Full review to come, but this one was the perfect holiday laugh I needed! Kate Stewart signature hilarity and sexy times mixed well in this one.
This is a standalone from the first book, but it’s the same family and may give away traditions and secrets from the first book. ❤️
~Bee
Grab it: https://amzn.to/4fo6KBn
Full review to come, but this one was the perfect holiday laugh I needed! Kate Stewart signature hilarity and sexy times mixed well in this one.
This is a standalone from the first book, but it’s the same family and may give away traditions and secrets from the first book. ❤️
~Bee
Grab it: https://amzn.to/4fo6KBn
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