Her Hot Santa: A Snowed-In Romance

by E.C. Snow, Hadley Bright

She's running from her past. He's convinced she's his future. One snowstorm will change everything.

Kennedy

My car dies in a blizzard the same week my ex-husband announces his engagement—because of course it does. When a ridiculously hot tow truck driver in a Santa suit rescues me, I figure things can't get weirder. Then Dusty Griffiths looks at me like I hung the moon and declares we're fated, and suddenly I'm snowed in at his aunt's inn with a man who makes me believe in magic again.

Dusty

I've been waiting forty years for the lightning bolt my parents promised would come. The second I see Kennedy's face through that frosted window, I know—she's mine. She thinks I'm insane for believing in instalove and Christmas miracles, but this grumpy, gorgeous New Yorker is about to learn what happens when a small-town guy decides you're his forever.

One night snowed in. One chance at Christmas magic. One love worth believing in.

A spicy holiday instalove novella with a cinnamon roll hero who has a Santa Clause obsession, he falls first interaction, forced proximity, and with enough heat to melt a Maine winter. This is the first book in the Sugarsnap Hill series and can be read as a standalone. NO Cliffhangers. NO Cheating. HEA guaranteed.

Kindle Edition

Published December 23, 2025

Reviews

[Chandra Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Hot Santa by E.C. Snow is a spicy, feel-good holiday romance that leans hard into Christmas magic, fate, and the kind of love that shows up exactly when you need it most.

Kennedy is running—emotionally and literally. Reeling from an ex-husband who made her feel like she was never enough and carrying wounds that have dulled her sparkle, she heads out into a snowstorm hoping distance will quiet the noise of her past. Instead, her car dies, the blizzard rages, and a tow truck driver in a Santa suit walks toward her like something out of a fever dream.

Enter Dusty Griffiths: small-town, cinnamon-roll sweet, ridiculously hot, and a man who believes in fate with his whole chest. One look at Kennedy through that frosted window and he knows—she’s it. She’s his future. While Kennedy is understandably skeptical of instalove and Christmas miracles, Dusty is on a mission to prove that sometimes the universe really does get it right.

Snowed in at his aunt’s inn (who is delightfully fun and a little naughty), forced proximity does the rest. The banter sparkles, the chemistry sizzles, and the heat is more than enough to melt a Maine winter. Beneath the spice, though, is a surprisingly tender story about reclaiming self-worth and learning that love doesn’t diminish you—it restores you.

Dusty is the ultimate “falls first” hero: confident in his feelings, gentle with Kennedy’s scars, and unwavering in his belief that she deserves joy. Watching Kennedy slowly stop running and start believing again is deeply satisfying and heartfelt.

With humor, a touch of angst, strong characters, and guaranteed HEA, Her Hot Santa is a perfect holiday escape. If you love forced proximity, fate-driven instalove, small-town charm, and a hero who looks at the heroine like she’s pure magic, this book belongs on your Christmas naughty list.

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

[FavoriteSaintReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

❄️🎅🏻 ARC Review🎅🏻❄️

𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳? 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘴, 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢, 𝘺𝘦𝘴, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴.
— Kennedy

📖 Her Hot Santa by EC Snow & Hadley Bright
🗓️ Release Date: December 23, 2025

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ / 5

❄️ Holiday Novella
🎅🏻 Insta-Love
❄️ Reverse Grumpy Sunshine
🎅🏻 Snowed In
❄️ He Falls First
🎅🏻 Cinnamon Roll MMC
❄️ Black Cat FMC
🎅🏻 One Bed
❄️ Slow Burn
🎅🏻 Small Town

Kennedy signed her divorce papers three days ago and drove to see her friend (without calling first) who lives in a small, quaint town. When she gets to the town, she crashes her car and is found by a hot tow truck driver, who just happens to be dressed like Santa.

Dusty literally takes one look at Kennedy and KNOWS that she’s his. It’s fate.

I can tell this is the start of a really cute series. I want to be best friends with Kennedy. We can watch true crime docs all day. It’d be so much fun.

Dusty is “love at first sight” goals. Did I have a thing for Santa before this book. Nope. Do I see the appeal now? You betcha!

I’m already looking forward to the rest of the Sugarsnap Hill series. If Dusty’s four brothers don’t get their own books I’m gonna riot. 😝 I’m already looking forward to Carlie’s book.

TLDR: Sweet, small town, insta-live romance with a kick of spice.

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kennedy is running or shall I say driving away from her life, an ex husband who made in feel as she was never enough. Losing her sparkle and dealing with a condition that has made her even less than. Her fight has not completely gone. So she finds herself in a snow storm strand in a broken down car, seeing Santa walk to her, the New Yorker in come to the top.
Dusty is the hot and sexy Santa. He has tow company and is not the kind of man who leaves any one stranded. Dusty has always believed in love and yes fate. The moment this hot mountain sees Kennedy he knows she trouble in so many different ways. One being his woman.
Snow storm, an empty inn, an aunt who is fun and naughty, you know Kennedy is going to find herself on the naughty list.
Dusty is a man on a mission and Kennedy finds herself understanding what love is.
This book has humour, a little angst, great strong characters, banter and full on spice.

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

[Lisa H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad E.C. put this out as a Christmas snack. It was just the fun yet grump sunshine we needed for the holiday season.

Kennedy took the risk of leaving home for a fresh start, and happened to do it in a snowstorm. Kennedy is vibrant, recovering, and not sure what to think of the Hot Santa who rescued her in the storm.

Dusty is the epitome of a man secure in who he is, what he believes, and the length's he's willing to go to prove it. Sugarsnap Hill has it's own heartbeat and you enjoy learning how it works. how they take care of others. I loved Dusty's vibrant Aunt Dedi.

This read has so much depth. It wasn't a simple meet. It had delicious sarcasm, references to us true crime lovers, a new look at those who love Santa, and a relationship that feels patient. It feels strong, and vulnerable at the same time. I enjoyed the romance and heat, but the wit and bite to the two of them makes this story SOO good.

Its got real connection in the read, and a lovely HEA!

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still reeling from her divorce, Kennedy drives through a snowstorm to get to her best friend’s place. Her car breaks down just past the welcome sign. She is rescued by Dusty in all his Santa glory and he knows then at she is his. Love at first sight just like his parents. Kennedy is still hurt by her ex, a man who never really loved her, just wanted a stepford wife. As she and Dusty navigate through a power outage, a fallen tree and big feelings, they decide to try. It is a beautiful to watch as Kennedy becomes herself with Dusty. She finally believes in fate and love at first site as the storm surrounds them.

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

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just loved Dusty, his presence, hotness 😉 and his love for all things related to The Man in Red. I really enjoyed the humour in this, the banter, meddling, Christmas vibes, good characters, the connection and chemistry, and the charm that the story had. I'd want to be on the naughty list if it lead me to Dusty 😉.

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

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is such a great Christmas read. Kennedy is a grumpy, snarky girl who always expects everyone to have a motive. To me, Dusty is a golden retriever guy who falls like a ton of bricks when he meets Kennedy. Just like his dad told him, how the men in their family meet their special woman, this is an excellent read with the best happy ending.

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

[Jenia Tortora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kennedy has just had finalized her divorce and then her ex husband’s engagement is announced. So she packs up and heads to her best friend but things go awry and she ends up rescued by Dusty in more ways than one. I absolutely love his ott feelings and his attempts to take things slow. It’s sweet and full of heat with a hallmark worthy HEA.

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

[Kyareth14 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice Christmas story. Kennedy was running from her pasture, she was sure of what awaited her in her future, she decided to accept the invitation of her friend, but on the way her car was damaged, in the middle of a storm, never imagined that a sexy Santa would come to her rescue, which not only saved her from danger, also offered her a new beginning.

[Jenifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story that could have easily been a hallmark movie script. Santa is hilarious and a total cinnamon roll. She's grumpy and trouble and not willing to fall in love. To bad Santa has other ideas for his naughty woman.

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

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ho, Ho, Hotness!! This is one heck of a page turning quickie that will have you dreaming of a Hot Santa. So, unwrap the magic by reading this amazing well written book. It’s a Hot one if I say so myself.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has given us a wonderful story that pulls us into the lives of Kennedy and Dusty. The fast-paced story keeps us turning the pages with humor, connection, forced proximity, realizations and steam.

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

[Linnette Parris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holiday Happiness

He sees her and when you know you know. She’s a city girl full of doubt and feeling broken. He just has to convince her. Wonderful story with lots of feelings, fun people and a happy ever after!

[Unrulyreadr Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun, sexy holiday love story. Cute story, funny family members and a HEA that is swoon worthy.

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