Love by the Lights

by Riley Long

One holiday competition, one charming neighbor, one spark they never saw coming.

I've always taken Christmas seriously - very seriously. My house is the brightest on the block and I'm the five-time reigning champion of the town's holiday lights competition. I try to outdo myself every year, and at this point, the neighborhood expects great things from me. What I didn't expect, though, was handsome and charming single dad Dakota moving in next door.

When I get trapped on my roof during a day of decorating, Dakota and his daughter Caroline come to my rescue, and the next thing I know, Dakota has his strong, sexy arms wrapped around me to keep me from falling of a ladder. When Caroline convinces Dakota to join the competition, I give them a few tips - in the name of being neighborly and all.

Soon, our rivalry turns into something that feels a lot like Christmas magic, happening right in my own front yard. I've spent years lighting up the street. I never expected the new guy next door to light me up.

74 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 22, 2025

About the author

Riley lives in central Virginia with her husband, son, and very silly dogs.

Reviews

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This was such a sweet and steamy holiday novella! Colin and Dakota were adorable together, but I wished their story was a bit longer.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- holiday novella
- single dad
- neighbors to lovers

[Edga · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming, heart warming Christmas romance that's all about neighbors becoming lovers, and the small town 'rivalry' between them. It’s an ideal comfort read for those who want to avoid heavy drama this Christmastime.

​The story's all about Colin, a Christmas lover who has won his town’s holiday light competition five years in a row. He takes this all very seriously, and has always ensured that his house is the brightest on the street. However, his life changes drastically when Dakota, a handsome and charming single dad, moves in next door.

​The two get off to a dramatic start when Dakota rescues Colin after he gets trapped on his roof whilst decorating. However, there's an immediate spark between the guys, and a friendly rivalry begins when Dakota’s daughter, Caroline, convinces him to enter the light competition.

The book is lighthearted and sugary sweet. There's a smidgeon of rivalry, the story focusing more on the developing Christmas romance between the two men and the love Dakota shares with his daughter. Also, the author does a first class job in her description of the small town setting and the wonderful light displays, she convincingly makes the landscape almost feel like a real character.

This is a quick read that's all about the warm and fuzzy feelings of two people falling in love. There's minimum angst, a straight forward plot, just two sweet guys falling in love, with one another, and Colin taking Caroline under his wing. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"No more Christmas stories" I told myself and a couple showed up this morning. I'm not a Grinch, honest! Anyway this cute shortie drew me in immediately, a newly divorced man starting over along with his cute little daughter and a hot new neighbor, how could I walk away from that! It's short but so very sweet and Christmassy.

[Julia Toth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute festive read. Dakota moves in next to Colin and they strike up a neighborly friendship. I enjoyed the insta-lust/love, but I just wanted a bit more from them, or for the novella to be longer.

This was a fun, and sweet festive read to round out this years Christmas reads.

[Eileen Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes when a book is too short it effects my rating. I would have loved to give this higher but needed a little but more.

Colin and Dakota are new neighbors. Caroline is Dakota's young daughter and she loves Christmas and all the decorating for it. Dakota has moved to a new place and the neighborhood goes all out decorating. Feeling the pressure Dakota ask what Carline wants for decorations and of course she wants a unicorn and a princess. Why would she not want those things???

Colin helps his new neighbors and learns that Dakota is newly divorced and he splits parenting with his ex wife. He also learns that Dakota is bi and that his ex wife knew that as well. Now this is news that Colin likes...

Will Colin help with the unicorn and princess decorations? Will keep Dakota company when Caroline heads to her mom's? Will Carline be okay when she learns her dad is now with a man? Will the two try to make a relationship out of what they have?

I do love short sweet holiday romances, but this was just to short.

[Anne Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, let me say I got this book from gay romance reviews and this is me leaving my honest review.
This book is just cute.
Dakota is newly divorced so a single father who has a custody agreement with his wife one week on one week off. When Dakota is moving in, he notices a guy outside and he introduce himself as Colin. Now Dakota had always known that he was bisexual so isn’t surprised when he takes an interesting Colin. Colin is a lovely guy. He does a lot around The Village and he tells Dakota about the Christmas light competition. When Collin gets stuck on the roof when he sidesteps he’s ladders thankfully Dakota comes to the Rescue and they both agree that may be putting up the house decorations is best done in pairs. As I spend more time together it is obvious that they have an attraction.
This is a quick read. It’s such a cute story. Dakota‘s daughter is just lovely and I think Colin and Dakota make the perfect couple super sweet really enjoyed the fact that I’m reading this at Christmas as well.

[Jeanette Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Love by the Lights" would make a perfect Hallmark movie.
Small town ✅
Meet cute (Christmas lights don't hang themselves!) ✅
A silly competition that both brings them together and creates a rivalry ✅✅
An adorable five year old princess ✅❤️
I hope that Riley Long decides to either 1) expand the novella by another 20-30k words, or 2) come back to this town, maybe with a new set of MCs, but definitely a check-in with Colin and Dakota.
Some good, lighthearted fun. Even the low key 'rivalry' between the two men was too sweet. Colin offering decorating tips to rivals. Dakota's relationship with his five year old daughter, Caroline, was affectionate, and I think it made Colin fall even harder.
Pacing was smooth, no angst and little scenery chewing. Good secondaries, loved Robbie. Nice bit of worldbuilding, Port Grandlin came alive under the author's pen.
A quick, sweet read. Perfect for the chaotic holiday season. And just short enough to become an annual read.
I received an advanced copy of this book from GRR and this is my review.

[Katriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read the blurb I was looking forward to a holiday battle with a single dad romance mixed in. And well, that's not really what I got. Which is fine but I was expecting a little more from this story. More emotion, more depth, more flow... It seemed a bit muddled to me. For instance the POV's switched every so often but wasn't marked every time they switched, sometimes mid chapter. And in the beginning in Colin's POV one moment it was one day and he was thinking about his upcoming work week, and then it seemed to flash forward to the end of the week so he could put up the rest of his lights... I think the pacing is just where this fell short for me.

That being said though, I thought the concept was cute and the different holiday activities the characters partake in was fun and festive!

If you enjoy single dad romances with the holidays mixed in this is for you!

[emil · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute festive read🎄

🌶️3/5 (moderate heat)
⭐️3/5

This was a cute and low angsty read that I would recommend if you are looking for something short but sweet for christmas!🥰

I really enjoyed how domesticated this story was. It made Dakota and Colin’s love story feel very realistic and I liked that. I also ADORE the single dad trope, its always so cozy and cute!

”Daddy? […] Why were you kissing Mr. Colin?”

I wish Riley Long would’ve delved deeper into the main characters cause it felt very surface level which caused me to not fully connect with them. Sometimes I felt like the story was ”told” rather than ”shown” and there was some unnecessary details that could’ve been chopped.

Thank you GRR for this arc, this is my honest review! ✨

[Michelle N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love by the Lights is a sweet single-dad holiday novella by Riley Long. This is a great holiday romance that hits so many of the must haves in a holiday romance. Divorced dad Dakota and his young daughter move in next door to Colin. They soon find out that the neighborhood holds a giant holiday light competition every year and Colin is on a five-year winning streak. Despite wanting to keep to himself, Dakota cannot let his daughter down so a friendship begins with Colin over holiday light decorations.
I enjoyed the story and the development of the relationship between Dakota and Colin. I liked how Caroline brought Colin into their family. This was a nice low angst, cozy, holiday romance.

[Elley Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet little bite of Christmas cookie goodness, but it rather suffers from being too short. I feel like there just wasn't time to fully develop Dakota and Colin in so few pages, and they felt rather flat and two-dimensional. The pace of the events also raced along rather abruptly. I feel like if this was a full novel it has the potential to be a lot better. Also, the blurb mentions something about Colin and Dakota's "rivalry" - is the rivalry in the room with us? Because there was not even the slightest hint of any sort of rivalry.

[Molly Otto · Rating 4 out of 5]

a cute and sweet small town single dad romance. After his divorce Dakota moves to a new neighborhood where he meets Colin a man who loves all things Christmas. When Colin needs help he and Dakota spark a quick friendship that leads to more. i appreciates Lina was a major part of this story and how Dakota and Colin handled their new relationship and included her along for their dates when she was staying with Dakota. Overall a fun read just wanted it to be longer to feel the emotions that moved at a warp speed between the two.

[Belinda Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, no angst holiday romance

This was absolutely adorable.
Dakota and his cute little princess, Caroline, rescue Colin from a potential roof disaster.
The spark os mutual attraction fans into blazing chemistry between them.
I really enjoyed this sweet romance and watching them fall in love with a wonderfully accepting community backing them.
I just wish it was longer.

[Bene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super sweet Christmas romance, easy to read, both main characters are sweet and cute, and ether relationship easy and straightforward. What prevented me to give a higher rating is that.... maybe a bit too sweet, too instalove and too superficial, I missed more connection, more chemistry. I was expecting a bit more after reading the blurb, even taking into account the novella format.

I got an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Vols77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect sweet holiday novella that reminds us love comes when we are not looking. Colin is the reigning holiday decorating champion and he expects to continue his strength. He gets stuck on the roof and his neighbor (Dakota) and daughter (Caroline) have to rescue him. Of course he soon enters the decorating competition and the fun starts. A short sweet spicy holiday romance that will fill your heart but also leave you wanting more from this duo.

[CatOnABlueBackground · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, short romance between a single father and his new neighbor.

Colin's decorating his house for the Christmas lights competition, when his ladder slips. Fortunately his new neighbor's daughter, Caroline, notices. She gets her dad (Dakota) to help, and their interest in each other sparks. There's lots of spice for such a short story. It's no angst, and an enjoyable Christmas read.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a short, sweet Christmas novella. Dakota moves into the neighborhood with his daughter and finds his neighbor Colin absorbed with a house lighting contest. Dakota and his daughter make an entry of their own. It's a gradual shift to desire. No rush, no angst, no worries. I received a copy of this through GRR and this is my voluntary opinion.

[Thurman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colin and Dakota were a good couple. It was a good book, but it was too short. We don't really get to know the couple or their families.
If you want a quick fluffy, no angst book, this might be for you
I received a free copy of this book via GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
angst 0/5
heat 2/5
story 2.5/5
POV dual
breakup no

[Traci S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the book; here is my honest opinion:
This was nice enough, but not a whole lot to it really. I could have done with less princess stuff and more development of the relationship and the two main characters. Collin and Dakota are not very dimensional, and seemed pretty similar chapter to chapter, except one had a kid.

[TUKricker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narrative: 📕📘📗
Angst: Low
Spice: 🌶🌶
Humor:
Heart: 💧💧💧
Romance: ❤️❤️❤️
Burn Time: Quick

Its a sweet holiday love story, includes a newly single dad and a neighbor along with a merriment of christmas lights and small town joy. Its short and reads quick but also a bit forced in the timeline.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This sounded like a great idea and the idea was super sweet, although unfortunately the execution was a bit lacking. I didn't love the writing and the romance moved super fast, although I suppose that's common with such tiny books. It was sweet and I liked the festive dates.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an adorably cozy Christmas-y read! It was so sweet and definitely a lovely palate cleanser after some recent dark romance reads! Dakota and Colin are adorable dorks, and I’m so happy they found each other!

*Single Dad
*Found Family
*Cozy vibes
*Sweet spice

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and short Christmas love story. Dakota moves in next door to Colin with his daughter. They go from neighbours to friends to lovers pretty quick.

No angst, mild stream, warm vibes.

Thank you, Gay Romance Reviews, for the chance to review this.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute holiday book. I liked the characters in the story a lot. I would have liked more in the book. It felt like the book was rushed so we missed some stuff. I think this has the potential to be an amazing book just wish it was longwr

[Tammy Trueheart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun cute meet book fun for the holidays. I loved the banter from the MCs daughter her young age brought a cuteness. The fall in love was cute and quick and the joy of the lights they put together was sweet. Good thing there were no dragons for our little princess..

Arc read from GRR

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love by the Lights by Riley Long is a wonderful novella to pick up if you want something sweet and christmassy. New neighbors Dakota and Colin have immediate chemistry. Great read if you want a low angst, holiday novella.


I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sammy Standing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wholesome short holiday romance, I absolutely adored everything about this story and devoured this in one sitting. I would highly recommend if you are looking for your next holiday read.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute holiday Romcom, like Hallmark in a book.

[Lisa Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet no-angst holiday novella. I liked Dakota and Colin, and I wish the book was longer do we could get more of them.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.

[Adoraboy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet and steamy holiday novella. I loved it!!!!