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Hexes and Holidays #1
Blood and Bells
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26Love, laughter, and a little vampire charm…
In the snow-covered town of Willow Creek, Christmas runs like clockwork. Ghouls bake, vampires tend bar, and errant spirits drink cocoa―but this year, the holiday centerpiece has been stolen by rogue elves.
Event planner Holly Frost has no choice but to team up with the one man she truly cannot stand―Nikalus “Nick” Draven, the infuriatingly charming vampire who leads the local coven.
As they race to save the season, Holly starts to see the man behind the fangs, and Nick realizes he might care too much about the determined mortal trying to pull off a last-minute holiday miracle.
With Christmas, the gala, and their budding feelings on the line, Holly and Nick must decide whether they can bridge centuries of distrust and embrace the magic of the season.
Because nothing says Christmas like paranormal romance, small-town charm, and a little vampire mischief.
In the snow-covered town of Willow Creek, Christmas runs like clockwork. Ghouls bake, vampires tend bar, and errant spirits drink cocoa―but this year, the holiday centerpiece has been stolen by rogue elves.
Event planner Holly Frost has no choice but to team up with the one man she truly cannot stand―Nikalus “Nick” Draven, the infuriatingly charming vampire who leads the local coven.
As they race to save the season, Holly starts to see the man behind the fangs, and Nick realizes he might care too much about the determined mortal trying to pull off a last-minute holiday miracle.
With Christmas, the gala, and their budding feelings on the line, Holly and Nick must decide whether they can bridge centuries of distrust and embrace the magic of the season.
Because nothing says Christmas like paranormal romance, small-town charm, and a little vampire mischief.
- GenresChristmas
300 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 15, 2026
About the author
C.J. Holmes
15 books205 followersCJ Holmes lives in England, where it's cold and damp, and it's always raining - which provides her with enough time to write stories about magic, fantasy and romance. She'd like to escape to somewhere warm but that might mean that she spends too much time sunbathing and not enough time writing books.
She lives in a quaint English cottage which would have one of those idyllic gardens if her fingers weren't the opposite of green. Fortunately, her husband and children don't seem to mind that almost everything she tries to grow ends up dead. She enjoys drinking wine and gin, which conveniently coincides with her love of reading and writing, as well as running and watching bad TV shows. You have been warned....
Instagram ➜ @cjholmes_writing
Find me on threads ➜ @cjholmes_writing
She lives in a quaint English cottage which would have one of those idyllic gardens if her fingers weren't the opposite of green. Fortunately, her husband and children don't seem to mind that almost everything she tries to grow ends up dead. She enjoys drinking wine and gin, which conveniently coincides with her love of reading and writing, as well as running and watching bad TV shows. You have been warned....
Instagram ➜ @cjholmes_writing
Find me on threads ➜ @cjholmes_writing
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)
If you’re looking for a cozy Christmas read with a paranormal twist, Blood and Bells is such a fun time.
This book is equal parts funny, chaotic, and heartwarming. It has all the cozy holiday vibes you’d want, sprinkled with vampires, rogue elves, small-town charm, and just enough mayhem to keep things entertaining. It really felt like a recipe for disaster… with the happiest of endings.
Holly and Nick were so much fun to follow, but Nick absolutely stole the show for me. His overly dramatic personality had me laughing throughout the book, and watching these reluctant allies slowly grow closer made the romance all the sweeter.
The only downside? I finished it in the middle of summer, and now all I want to do is decorate for Christmas. (Hopefully without any rogue elves causing chaos.)
If you love cozy paranormal romance, holiday magic, reluctant allies, and plenty of laughs, this one is definitely worth adding to your winter TBR.
If you’re looking for a cozy Christmas read with a paranormal twist, Blood and Bells is such a fun time.
This book is equal parts funny, chaotic, and heartwarming. It has all the cozy holiday vibes you’d want, sprinkled with vampires, rogue elves, small-town charm, and just enough mayhem to keep things entertaining. It really felt like a recipe for disaster… with the happiest of endings.
Holly and Nick were so much fun to follow, but Nick absolutely stole the show for me. His overly dramatic personality had me laughing throughout the book, and watching these reluctant allies slowly grow closer made the romance all the sweeter.
The only downside? I finished it in the middle of summer, and now all I want to do is decorate for Christmas. (Hopefully without any rogue elves causing chaos.)
If you love cozy paranormal romance, holiday magic, reluctant allies, and plenty of laughs, this one is definitely worth adding to your winter TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Christmas is coming with Blood and Bells by C.J. Holmes and Michael Ashwood and you better grab your reindeers.
I loved the whole vibe of this story. We had mythicals and humans brought together in one town, magic melded together at the seams. There were exploding elves, blood bars, and prophesizing severed heads. What more can you ask for in a small town?
Christmas needs saving and Holly and Nick have been pulled by the mysterious villain here and there after the center piece for the Christmas festivities has been stolen. Can both Holly and Nick make peace with each other to do that? The tension between these characters were off the charts. I loved the adventures this little town has, and this book never went the way I was expecting. So many different things, but it didn't feel overwhelming at all.
If you want to be ready for Christmas, you need to read this one.
Thank you C.J. Holmes and Michael Ashwood for the free book.
I loved the whole vibe of this story. We had mythicals and humans brought together in one town, magic melded together at the seams. There were exploding elves, blood bars, and prophesizing severed heads. What more can you ask for in a small town?
Christmas needs saving and Holly and Nick have been pulled by the mysterious villain here and there after the center piece for the Christmas festivities has been stolen. Can both Holly and Nick make peace with each other to do that? The tension between these characters were off the charts. I loved the adventures this little town has, and this book never went the way I was expecting. So many different things, but it didn't feel overwhelming at all.
If you want to be ready for Christmas, you need to read this one.
Thank you C.J. Holmes and Michael Ashwood for the free book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews