Falling For The Christmas Composer: A Sweet Heartwarming Holiday Romance

by Gina Cooper

I only meant to shadow him for an article.

So how did the Christmas composer who should've annoyed me

Become the one breaking open everything I avoid?

I meet Theo Martinez, expecting saccharine cheer. Instead, I get someone who sees right through me and doesn't look away.

He's absolutely off-limits.

He's also hopeful, earnest, emotional in ways I swore I'd never touch again.

Then my editor traps follow him everywhere for the story or lose my column.

Suddenly, I'm in his apartment, watching him turn strangers' heartbreak into something beautiful.

He surprises me with the way he listens. The quiet ache beneath his smile. The moment his hand brushes mine and the world tilts.

I fall for him in the spaces between notes, right before everything breaks.

Because loving him means facing the holiday I've spent my entire adult life running from.

And if I can't?

I might lose the only person who ever made Christmas feel real.


This book deals with grief and loss, including the death of a main character's best friend from cancer (off-page, past-tense). It also includes childhood trauma related to parental divorce and feeling replaced in a parent's new family. While emotionally heavy at times, this is ultimately a hopeful story about healing and choosing love. Guaranteed HEA. Sweet/closed-door romance.

221 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 13, 2025

Reviews

[Cindy Burrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gina Cooper’s books always touch my heart. I love her style of writing and how she draws you in from the very beginning and keeps you wanting to read just one more chapter (We all know how that turns out!). In my opinion, Falling for the Christmas Composer is her best book. You know how you find authors that you love their style of writing and the stories they dream up, Gina is one of those authors you need to find if you haven’t already.
Nora doesn’t celebrate Christmas; she avoids it at all costs. She books a trip to some far away island to rest and enjoy some down time. The reason she avoids Christmas like the plague is due to her parents. When she was twelve, her parents announced their divorce on Christmas Eve. What kind of parents do that? Isn’t that just about the worst thing that can happen to a child on Christmas Eve?!
Her boss, Margot, wants her to spend time with Theo Martinez, a freelance composer. He writes Christmas songs for people, and he doesn’t charge them a dime. “He meets with his clients, learns their stories, and creates personalized songs as gifts.” Margot informs Nora that she’s already reached out to him and he’s expecting an email. When she continues to complain, Margot interrupts her and needs her answer by Monday. “Either you’re doing this piece, or we’re having a very different conversation about your future here at the magazine.”
Reluctantly, Nora searches for his website and reads his bio. “Music has always been my way of connecting with people. Two years ago, after experiencing profound loss, I started writing Christmas songs to honor the people and moments that matter. What began as personal grief work became something more; a way to witness other people’s stories and transform them into something lasting. Each song is custom-written, one-of-a-kind, and given freely. Because some gifts shouldn’t have price tags.” She also clicks on the videos and is surprised that the people seem real and it’s just what Margot is looking for. Nora can’t stop thinking about the video she watched, how the tears looked real and not forced, how sincere she sounded.
As she continues to peruse the information, she comes across about Logan, a high school English teacher that passed away after a courageous battle with lymphoma. “Among those honoring his memory is his best friend of fifteen years, Theo Martinez, who will perform an original composition.”
She decides to email Theo and asks about shadowing his work to help her write an article that explores “the perspective of someone who approaches the holiday differently than I do. I’m interested in understanding your creative process, meeting your clients, and documenting how you create meaning through your music.”
Will Theo be open to the idea of allowing her to shadow him? If he does, will his sincerity and uncanny talent have an influence on Nora? Is it possible for her to be open to seeing Christmas differently after all the years she has escaped from it? Is there more to this story than I am sharing? Yes, of course there is! Trust me when I say you don’t want to miss this wonderfully written story, that in my mind would make a great Hallmark Christmas Story. Yes, it’s that good! Get your copy of Gina Cooper’s Falling for the Christmas Composer today.

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️

I think this may be the most emotional story I have read by Gina Cooper. I started it ready for her sweet and cozy romance writing, but was immediately immersed into the pain our MCs are dealing with and how they help each other move forward in life.

Theo has learned how to help others with their grief and loss. He listens to their stories and composes original pieces of music to honor their stories. While he is doing this for others, he isn’t really dealing with his own grief and loss though. When Nora is assigned to write a story on him, she is determined to not let him see through her. Yep, that didn’t last long. Theo and Nora see each other unlike anyone has seen them before.

This story really touches on the healing journey people in grief begin and how that healing isn’t linear. I commend Gina for taking this story to a deeper layer than most holiday romances do. She writes about grief with grace and empathy. She never puts anything in the story that tells people they have to get over their grief, which I appreciated. It is ok to never fully heal from the grief, but know that it does get easier and easier to live with. Living your life doesn’t dishonor the things you are grieving either.

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🎼Christmas Cynic x Holiday Composer
💚Forced Proximity
🎼Creative Collaboration
💚Healing through Love
🎼Opposites Attract
💚Emotional Chemistry
🎼Closed Door Romance

[Karen "Kay" · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, though it’s a very emotional story. As Theo, our composer and MMC. While dealing with his own grief he listens to stories of others dealing with grief and other emotional issues over the Christmas holiday he writes personalized songs for them to honor their stories, and all free of charge. Nora, MFC has her own issues with the holiday, and her boss assigns her to shadow Theo this year as he writes his songs. Will this help Nora to heal? Gina Coopers stories always touch my heart, and this one truly draws you in.
I received an ARC of this book via BookSprout and I am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Mary Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Nora is pushed by her editor Margo to shadow composer Theo who writes music for the lonely and unhappy at Christmas there is only one place this is going.
It goes to the heart of the angst with grief stricken Theo and Logan then segways to Nora who's emotionally unavailable following her parents divorce.
It weaves in and out of there lives showing how love and loss affected both in different ways.
You can’t always control feelings two closed off people pushed together to do an article about Christmas, togetherness, and love. Great story it doesn't disappoint.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angee Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet Christmas romance between a composer and a writer. She is shadowing him for an article. She goes into the assignment thinking the composer would annoy her, but he wasn’t. There are some heavy situations in this book that are handled beautifully. The characters were well developed and complimented each other perfectly. He saw her. He listened to her. She wasn’t used to that. It was a very heartwarming story, and I think a lot of people can identify with it.

[Rhonda Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the end of the 2nd chapter I wanted to find a secret place and devour the story in a day. Because of life, I read it in chunks and savored every word. The author’s creative telling of this story honored the pain of loss that each character carried and offered glimpses of unhealthy and healthy ways to deal with grief. All gently woven between the pages of an inspired story. Now I can read it again.

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora is a journalist tasked with writing an article that just might save her career. Theo is a grieving musician who creates beautiful song for clients at Christmas, not only to honor his friend, but to help them heal. This has to be the most heartfelt, soul searching book I have read all year. Absolutely loved it. You will need your tissues for this one. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by booksprout.

[Book Addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

No pun intended but it certainly hits all the right notes! The plot is beautiful with Theo’s music depicted as heartfelt, the chemistry is a slow-burn sweet romance, and the festive backdrop makes it sparkle bright. Predictable? Sure. But if you’re looking for a warm, comforting read to curl up with by the tree, this one delivers. I imagine if I bumped into Theo I'd swoon!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel]

This enthralling story drew me into Theo and Nora who has to shadow him for a story or lose her column and in doing so faces feelings she long held dormant. He is a man that can see through her and make her feel again but will Nora be able to face her past and put it behind for a chance to have happiness again.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kandiemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gina Cooper has brought us another great read. Wonderfully written, great characters and the storyline is beautiful. From the first page I knew I was going to love this book. Highly recommend reading. Look forward to reading more from Cooper.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tami Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can be read as a standalone.
Opposites attract
She avoids all things Christmas until she has to do a story about him.
He writes Christmas songs that are personalized.
Healing
Releasing anger
Learning to live.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.