What do you think?
Hexes and Holidays #1
Blood and Bells
Love, 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.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2026
About the author
C.J. Holmes
16 books224 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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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
September 17, 2026
This one literally had me cracking up! Blood and Bells was exactly what I needed. A fun, chaotic paranormal Christmas rom-com filled with vampires, ghouls, rogue elves, holiday disasters, and the quirkiest little supernatural town.
I loved Holly and Nick together. Watching an uptight event planner reluctantly team up with the charming vampire she can’t stand to save Christmas was hilarious, and their banter made the romance so much fun. The entire story was delightfully ridiculous in the best possible way, but it still had plenty of sweetness and heart underneath all the chaos. This was such a fantastic paranormal rom-com, and I loved it!
I loved Holly and Nick together. Watching an uptight event planner reluctantly team up with the charming vampire she can’t stand to save Christmas was hilarious, and their banter made the romance so much fun. The entire story was delightfully ridiculous in the best possible way, but it still had plenty of sweetness and heart underneath all the chaos. This was such a fantastic paranormal rom-com, and I loved it!
August 7, 2026
What a laugh out loud, fun, whimsical and magical yet sweet book this was. I simply adored Holly and Nick together! I think they made the most nonsensical pairing for this book and that's what made this book such a fun escape of a book I didn't know I needed. Thank you to both authors for providing an advanced Reader Copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Holly Frost is busy planning Willow Creek’s biggest event, the Christmas gala. When rogue elves steal this year’s holiday centerpiece, the Christmas tree, Holly finds herself teaming up with Nick Draven, the charming but sometimes exasperating leader of the local vampire coven. Nick wants his fellow vampires to feel at home in Willow Creek, and he’s determined to show Holly and the rest of the town that he can be trusted. As Holly and Nick work together to unravel the mystery behind the holiday chaos, the Christmas gala draws near, and unexpected feelings begin to grow. Now, they have to decide if they can trust each other enough to make this Christmas truly magical.
Blood and Bells feels like a supernatural Hallmark movie, complete with a magical small town, an event planner who sets out to create the biggest event of the year, a handsome but sometimes frustrating main character, and plenty of hot cocoa to go around. This book was hilarious and cozy at the same time. I loved Nick and Holly as they bantered their way into this Christmas mystery, but I also loved the side characters introduced along the way. I am hoping the next book features Ronan and Marcy, as they would make a hilarious team, and I obviously hope that my favorite ghoul, Crinkshaw, makes an appearance.
Fans of cozy paranormal rom coms will love this small-town holiday romance.
Blood and Bells is out September 15th.
Thank you to CJ Holmes and Michael Ashwood for the opportunity to review Blood and Bells. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Blood and Bells feels like a supernatural Hallmark movie, complete with a magical small town, an event planner who sets out to create the biggest event of the year, a handsome but sometimes frustrating main character, and plenty of hot cocoa to go around. This book was hilarious and cozy at the same time. I loved Nick and Holly as they bantered their way into this Christmas mystery, but I also loved the side characters introduced along the way. I am hoping the next book features Ronan and Marcy, as they would make a hilarious team, and I obviously hope that my favorite ghoul, Crinkshaw, makes an appearance.
Fans of cozy paranormal rom coms will love this small-town holiday romance.
Blood and Bells is out September 15th.
Thank you to CJ Holmes and Michael Ashwood for the opportunity to review Blood and Bells. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 9, 2026
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD 😭🎄✨
Having read both authors before, I already knew this was going to be a hit, but somehow it still exceeded my expectations.
This book was cozy, chaotic, romantic, and at times made me feel like I had been dropped directly into a Hallmark Christmas movie… except with vampires, rogue elves, and absolute nonsense.
So Netflix, Hulu, Prime, literally ANY streaming platform… please pick this up because I would watch the adaptation immediately.
The romance was there from the beginning, and NICK??? Excuse me??? If there was ever a fictional man who deserved the green flag award, it is HIM. That man was out here being patient, sweet, protective, understanding… meanwhile Holly was testing My patience at times. 😭
Crinkshaw and Ronan were also absolute MENACES. Every time they showed up, I already knew somebody was about to say something ridiculous. They were genuinely the comic relief of this book and I loved them for it. 😂
And Marcy??? That woman was basically Holly’s last functioning brain cell. She was the voice of reason we desperately needed.
Because there was one scene where Holly was mad at Nick for drinking blood from a rogue elf, and I was sitting there SO confused because, first of all…
Girl. 😭😭😭
He is a VAMPIRE.
But ALSO, he wasn’t even doing it just because he was hungry! Apparently, when vampires drink someone’s blood, they can obtain information from them, so Nick was literally trying to get information out of this rogue elf.
And Holly was still mad at him and I was like…
Was he supposed to politely ask the rogue elf to sit down for an interview over hot cocoa and Christmas cookies??? 🎄😂
Like ma’am, this man is trying to HELP and he is using an actual vampire ability to get information. I genuinely could not understand why this became such a huge issue. Holly, PLEASE work with me here. 😭
Such a perfect palate cleanser and honestly the ideal holiday read if you want something cozy, romantic, festive, and just a little unhinged. 🎄❤️✨
Also I’m not sure if this is suppose to be a series or not but I saw potential for a follow up with Ronan and Marcy 🤭😉
Format: Ebook
Having read both authors before, I already knew this was going to be a hit, but somehow it still exceeded my expectations.
This book was cozy, chaotic, romantic, and at times made me feel like I had been dropped directly into a Hallmark Christmas movie… except with vampires, rogue elves, and absolute nonsense.
So Netflix, Hulu, Prime, literally ANY streaming platform… please pick this up because I would watch the adaptation immediately.
The romance was there from the beginning, and NICK??? Excuse me??? If there was ever a fictional man who deserved the green flag award, it is HIM. That man was out here being patient, sweet, protective, understanding… meanwhile Holly was testing My patience at times. 😭
Crinkshaw and Ronan were also absolute MENACES. Every time they showed up, I already knew somebody was about to say something ridiculous. They were genuinely the comic relief of this book and I loved them for it. 😂
And Marcy??? That woman was basically Holly’s last functioning brain cell. She was the voice of reason we desperately needed.
Because there was one scene where Holly was mad at Nick for drinking blood from a rogue elf, and I was sitting there SO confused because, first of all…
Girl. 😭😭😭
He is a VAMPIRE.
But ALSO, he wasn’t even doing it just because he was hungry! Apparently, when vampires drink someone’s blood, they can obtain information from them, so Nick was literally trying to get information out of this rogue elf.
And Holly was still mad at him and I was like…
Was he supposed to politely ask the rogue elf to sit down for an interview over hot cocoa and Christmas cookies??? 🎄😂
Like ma’am, this man is trying to HELP and he is using an actual vampire ability to get information. I genuinely could not understand why this became such a huge issue. Holly, PLEASE work with me here. 😭
Such a perfect palate cleanser and honestly the ideal holiday read if you want something cozy, romantic, festive, and just a little unhinged. 🎄❤️✨
Also I’m not sure if this is suppose to be a series or not but I saw potential for a follow up with Ronan and Marcy 🤭😉
Format: Ebook
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2026
This was such a cute festive read! I was laughing out loud and kicking my feet the entire time. The banter between Holly and Nick was so good. Though Holly and Nick were reluctant allies who came together to help save the towns Christmas festival. The twist and turns they had to go through were ones I didn’t see coming. If you love banter, mystery, he falls first, reluctant allies, and paranormal romance then I definitely recommend this one! Thank you to Owl City Press for the ARC!
August 8, 2026
I’ll never look at Christmas the same way again! This was a jolly, bell jangling romp through a Christmas wonderland...but with vampires. Take your typical holiday fare (think snowy wonderland, hot cocoa, garland and tinsel) and throw in a coven of vampires, one doomed Christmas tree, rogue elves, and a whole lot of holiday mischief.
Holly and Nick are reluctant allies as they attempt to save the annual town Christmas gala from utter disaster - a doomed Christmas tree, missing decorations, rogue elves running wild, and a plot twist you won’t see coming!
Blood and Bells will have you laughing out loud from beginning to end and trying to decide if you’re Team Nick or Team Holly - trust me, the banter is BANTERING. The holiday vibes are festive, the locals will make you want to move to a small town in the middle of nowhere, you may end up with an overwhelming urge to drink hot cocoa 24/7, and you’ll spend a good amount of time trying to decide if you want to kiss the MMC or stake him.
If you’re looking for a cozy, paranormal rom-com that will make you wonder if Christmas can be saved, this is it. Oh, just watch out for the reindeer stampede!
Holly and Nick are reluctant allies as they attempt to save the annual town Christmas gala from utter disaster - a doomed Christmas tree, missing decorations, rogue elves running wild, and a plot twist you won’t see coming!
Blood and Bells will have you laughing out loud from beginning to end and trying to decide if you’re Team Nick or Team Holly - trust me, the banter is BANTERING. The holiday vibes are festive, the locals will make you want to move to a small town in the middle of nowhere, you may end up with an overwhelming urge to drink hot cocoa 24/7, and you’ll spend a good amount of time trying to decide if you want to kiss the MMC or stake him.
If you’re looking for a cozy, paranormal rom-com that will make you wonder if Christmas can be saved, this is it. Oh, just watch out for the reindeer stampede!
September 15, 2026
You know that feeling when you’re watching a show or movie, reading a book and you just want to throttle them and yell “Just kiss already!”? Well that is how Blood and Bells started out for me.
Picture this: A town decorated in Christmas Splendor, looking like a Hallmark store detonated. Everything is perfect, classic Christmas. Huge (and I mean huge) 70-foot (told you) spruce tree in the town center. A dusting of snow on the ground. Carols being sung. Hot Cocoa by the fire. Sounds amazing right? Well too bad rogue elves destroyed it all. Behaving like little cheeky gremlins. This is why we can’t have nice things.
Blood and Bells is hilarious. It’s fun and festive. Magical, offering the whimsy of how Christmas feels as a child. But add vampires, making it a paranormal Hallmark event. Nick and Holly are so completely different, but they are forced (well not really Nick is pining after Holly like a madman) to work together to stop the rogue elves and set things right for the Christmas Gala.
Honorable mentions to Crinkshaw and Ronan. You can always count on them to give us even more comedic relief. Whenever they pop up you can always expect something out of pocket to be said. They absolutely are a perfect pairing for Nick.
“Apologies, Nick. My hearing has likely atrophied along with my battle prowess,” he (Ronan) says. “I think I heard you say a Christmas tree is missing.”
“Correct.”
“Mm-hm. How is this incredibly mundane event exciting?”
“Holly Frost is involved.”
“The event planner? The one who nearly set the town on fire last year?”
“That’s her. And she’s single, in case you were wondering.”
“No one is wondering, Sire,” Crinkshaw interjects.
I adore this hilariously well written Paranormal Holiday Rom-Com. It is such a great way to bridge spooky and Christmas. I myself am looking forward to picking up book 2 in the series, Blood and Beaches, in the Spring to get me ready for Summer.
Thank you CJ and Michael Ashwood for providing me with an advanced copy. It was a hilarious romp in Willow Creek and I can't wait to vacation there again.
Picture this: A town decorated in Christmas Splendor, looking like a Hallmark store detonated. Everything is perfect, classic Christmas. Huge (and I mean huge) 70-foot (told you) spruce tree in the town center. A dusting of snow on the ground. Carols being sung. Hot Cocoa by the fire. Sounds amazing right? Well too bad rogue elves destroyed it all. Behaving like little cheeky gremlins. This is why we can’t have nice things.
Blood and Bells is hilarious. It’s fun and festive. Magical, offering the whimsy of how Christmas feels as a child. But add vampires, making it a paranormal Hallmark event. Nick and Holly are so completely different, but they are forced (well not really Nick is pining after Holly like a madman) to work together to stop the rogue elves and set things right for the Christmas Gala.
Honorable mentions to Crinkshaw and Ronan. You can always count on them to give us even more comedic relief. Whenever they pop up you can always expect something out of pocket to be said. They absolutely are a perfect pairing for Nick.
“Apologies, Nick. My hearing has likely atrophied along with my battle prowess,” he (Ronan) says. “I think I heard you say a Christmas tree is missing.”
“Correct.”
“Mm-hm. How is this incredibly mundane event exciting?”
“Holly Frost is involved.”
“The event planner? The one who nearly set the town on fire last year?”
“That’s her. And she’s single, in case you were wondering.”
“No one is wondering, Sire,” Crinkshaw interjects.
I adore this hilariously well written Paranormal Holiday Rom-Com. It is such a great way to bridge spooky and Christmas. I myself am looking forward to picking up book 2 in the series, Blood and Beaches, in the Spring to get me ready for Summer.
Thank you CJ and Michael Ashwood for providing me with an advanced copy. It was a hilarious romp in Willow Creek and I can't wait to vacation there again.
September 13, 2026
Hilarious holiday hijinks meets heartwarming romance in the first installment of the Hexes and Holidays series by C.J. Holmes and Michael Ashwood.
When Willow Creek's Christmas gala takes a wrong turn into disaster, event planner Holly Frost is left scrambling to pick up the pieces. Unfortunately, with supernatural mischief afoot, she's in way over her head. The only recourse she has is to team up with the "tall, dark, and infuriating" vampire, Nick Draven. Together they must recover the centerpiece of the gala, the Willow Creek Christmas Tree, before it's too late. But as they spend more and more time with each other, the animosity they felt begins to thaw and something warmer and fuzzier begins to grow in its place. Will this unlikely duo be able to save Christmas for the folks of Willow Creek? Or will this holiday be ho ho ho-over before it even gets started?
C.J. Holmes and Michael Ashwood are an unstoppable duo of cozy paranormal romance and holiday mischief and I loved every second of this novel! The banter, the chaos, the pop culture references, every part of this was perfection. Surprising no one, I adored Nick Draven. He can flash me one of his 6 point smiles any day. He's tall, dark, brooding, and delightfully quippy. The banter between Nick and Holly was absolutely A plus. Holly is sweet, stubborn, and absolutely determined to make her mark and escape from her mother's shadow. Once she starts to let go of her fears, she really steps into her own and accomplishes the impossible. I already can't wait to read book 2.
If you're looking for a quick, cozy, paranormal, holiday read, Blood and Bells is for you! Prepare to laugh (or groan) at the humor and embrace the true spirit of the holidays along side the residents of Willow Creek!
Thank you so much to C.J. and Michael for the ARC.
When Willow Creek's Christmas gala takes a wrong turn into disaster, event planner Holly Frost is left scrambling to pick up the pieces. Unfortunately, with supernatural mischief afoot, she's in way over her head. The only recourse she has is to team up with the "tall, dark, and infuriating" vampire, Nick Draven. Together they must recover the centerpiece of the gala, the Willow Creek Christmas Tree, before it's too late. But as they spend more and more time with each other, the animosity they felt begins to thaw and something warmer and fuzzier begins to grow in its place. Will this unlikely duo be able to save Christmas for the folks of Willow Creek? Or will this holiday be ho ho ho-over before it even gets started?
C.J. Holmes and Michael Ashwood are an unstoppable duo of cozy paranormal romance and holiday mischief and I loved every second of this novel! The banter, the chaos, the pop culture references, every part of this was perfection. Surprising no one, I adored Nick Draven. He can flash me one of his 6 point smiles any day. He's tall, dark, brooding, and delightfully quippy. The banter between Nick and Holly was absolutely A plus. Holly is sweet, stubborn, and absolutely determined to make her mark and escape from her mother's shadow. Once she starts to let go of her fears, she really steps into her own and accomplishes the impossible. I already can't wait to read book 2.
If you're looking for a quick, cozy, paranormal, holiday read, Blood and Bells is for you! Prepare to laugh (or groan) at the humor and embrace the true spirit of the holidays along side the residents of Willow Creek!
Thank you so much to C.J. and Michael for the ARC.
September 18, 2026
Give me a chaotic Christmas gala, a missing Christmas tree, supernatural shenanigans, and a tall, dark, broody vampire with a six-point smile and apparently I’m SOLD. Holly and Nick’s banter?! 10/10. The chaos?! Immaculate. The pop-culture references?! I was CACKLING. Add enemies-to-lovers tension, cozy paranormal romance, and holiday hijinks, and you’ve got the perfect festive read. Nick Draven, sir… you had me at tall, dark, and infuriating. This was cozy, hilarious, adorable, and ridiculously fun. I already need book two! If you want a quick holiday paranormal romance that will make you laugh, swoon, and embrace the Christmas chaos absolutely ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Blood and Bells delivered a holly jolly fangtastic time, dressed in all the familiar Christmas trappings I love, with the warmth of a Hallmark Christmas movie hug, but also with a lot more humor and bite. Picture snow-covered streets and decked out Christmas trees. A grumpy Frost Queen party planner and a bloody handsome vampire duo. Rogue elves gone wild, gingerbread dragons, and reindeer stampedes. Blood and Bells is the perfect book to curl up with this holiday season for an instant shot of holiday spirit.
Holly and Nick had me laughing out loud with their witty banter, and the romance between them bloomed into such a sweet delight. Also, the festive shenanigans and snow ball fights entertained me for hours; it felt like I was reading a fun horror version of Candyland.
Special shoutout to the Hemoglow Bar. Nick can pour me a festive drink anytime!
What else can I possibly say to convince you to read this one? It's the paranormal Christmas romcom of my dreams. Happy Bloodmas!
Thank you to the authors for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. It was such a treat to read, and I can't wait for the next one in the series!
Holly and Nick had me laughing out loud with their witty banter, and the romance between them bloomed into such a sweet delight. Also, the festive shenanigans and snow ball fights entertained me for hours; it felt like I was reading a fun horror version of Candyland.
Special shoutout to the Hemoglow Bar. Nick can pour me a festive drink anytime!
What else can I possibly say to convince you to read this one? It's the paranormal Christmas romcom of my dreams. Happy Bloodmas!
Thank you to the authors for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. It was such a treat to read, and I can't wait for the next one in the series!
September 15, 2026
This book was honestly SO cute! It was like a fantasy, dark romcom, small town, found family, holiday romance all wrapped up in one book! The characters, Holly and Nick, don’t care fie each other but are forced to work together by the mayor to save the threat to their town Christmas celebration. We have vampires, various forms of elves, humans, ghouls, Cupid, stampeding reindeer, boiling vats of caramel and one adorable and hilarious small town. Parts of it felt Grinch-esque, which made me love it even more. I wouldn’t hesitate to pick this up and neither should you! Go read it. Now! 💜
August 30, 2026
This was cute, funny, festive and if you like banter this one has plenty of it! Like not just the main characters but the side ones too have witty comments too. I enjoyed it a lot! There was a few times I thought it was repetitive towards the end & one other thing but I don’t want to spoil it so won’t mention it, but overall I really liked this!
September 15, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyed Blood & Bells by Holmes and Ashwood.
This might be my first paranormal with rogue elves, vampires and sprites all out in the open with humans. The banter and bickering between the FMC and MMC was fantastic. Crinkshaw was a great additional character and Ronan … oh my gosh, he made me laugh out loud.
Thank you to the authors for the advance copy of this book.
This might be my first paranormal with rogue elves, vampires and sprites all out in the open with humans. The banter and bickering between the FMC and MMC was fantastic. Crinkshaw was a great additional character and Ronan … oh my gosh, he made me laugh out loud.
Thank you to the authors for the advance copy of this book.
August 10, 2026
Hallmark Christmas meets spooky Halloween. Loved it. It was a romantic comedy. . So much Christmas chaos . Nick Draven seems to float thru eternity finding moments to savor in the little things. Holly frost is an organization queen who gets a wrench thrown in her party planning. The Villian of this story will surprise you. I laughed so many times at the puns. Very fun festive story and I can’t wait for more from Willow Creek!
Also one should really know the difference between spruce and pine ;)
Spice level- O - no spice but honestly it wasn’t needed. It’s a cute little spooky Christmas chaos rom com.
Also one should really know the difference between spruce and pine ;)
Spice level- O - no spice but honestly it wasn’t needed. It’s a cute little spooky Christmas chaos rom com.
September 20, 2026
Spooky and Holiday romance tied into one. Absolutely sold! This was a great fun paranormal holiday read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love Christmas and I love vampires so this should have been a winner but no. I DNFed at 54% because I just didn't care about the characters or the story.
The pacing was all over the place. There was little to no character development leaving me not caring what happened to them. The simile abuse was rampant with every other paragraph having 'like'. The puns got old really quickly and the book was so full of fluff and unnecessary words that it could have been half as long and probably would have then been excellent.
I'm obviously in the minority though as many others have seemingly really enjoyed this but hey just my opinion 😁
The pacing was all over the place. There was little to no character development leaving me not caring what happened to them. The simile abuse was rampant with every other paragraph having 'like'. The puns got old really quickly and the book was so full of fluff and unnecessary words that it could have been half as long and probably would have then been excellent.
I'm obviously in the minority though as many others have seemingly really enjoyed this but hey just my opinion 😁
Review of advance copy received from Author
So I'm new to C.J's writing but not to Michael Ashwood's, but let me just say... I've been won over!!!! Blood and Bells is for the readers who love the unconventional Christmas mood with a dash of Halloween spirit, and I am here for it, and being a Christmas girly through and through, I was really excited to not see a Hallmark, cozy -wozy gushy Christmas, which I do love, but I like a change of pace. Highly recommend for the holiday seasons!!
September 15, 2026
ARC Review: Blood and Bells by C.J. Holmes & Michael Ashwood
Released today — September 15, 2026!
I had the privilege of reading Blood and Bells as an ARC, and I have to say, this was such a cozy, fun, and chaotic Christmas read! 🎄
The story takes place in Willow Creek, a town where humans and supernatural beings live side by side. We have vampires, a cupid who happens to be the mayor, elves, a ghoul, magical portals, and plenty of other fun characters thrown into the mix. Needless to say, Christmas in Willow Creek is anything but ordinary!
Our main character, Holly Frost, is a human Christmas event planner who is under a LOT of pressure. Willow Creek is known for its incredible Christmas gala, and Holly feels like she has some big shoes to fill following in her mom's footsteps.
Then, just when she needs everything to go perfectly, the town's Christmas tree goes missing.
“We’re one carol away from a catastrophe, and it’s going to take more than a Christmas miracle to fix this one.”
Because apparently, planning a Christmas gala wasn't stressful enough.
Rogue elves are causing trouble, Christmas is quickly turning into chaos, and Holly finds herself teaming up with Nick Draven, a vampire, to figure out what happened and hopefully save Christmas.
And yes… there are snowball fights with rogue elves.
“You see that Frost? Classic rogue elf behavior. Aggression, lack of self control, and an unhealthy attachment to destruction.”
“Rogue elves though? It’s like fighting children. Nasty, stupid, sharp-toothed children. They smell”
Holly & Nick
I really enjoyed these two! They slowly start getting to know each other, their feelings begin to change, and of course, all of that comes with really fun banter along the way. Their back-and-forth was one of my favorite parts of the book. They definitely had me smiling more than once.
“But all I've managed to do is make a mess of everything. And now a literal vampire wants to help, which is either fate being kind or fate being bored.”
I liked Holly because even when everything is falling apart around her, she keeps trying to hold everything together. She’s dealing with the pressure of living up to her mom’s legacy while suddenly finding herself in the middle of supernatural christmas chaos.
And Nick…
“I am the Last Breath of the Night. Mortals cower in my presence. I do not sulk.”
This vampire is afraid of cars and drives the most unexpected car for a vampire. I am sorry, but that was absolutely hilarious to me. A vampire driving around in such a mundane car just made me love Nick even more.
“What kind of cars do vampires drive? A hearse seems too on the nose. A stagecoach of some kind? Or, I know, some deathly sleek sports car?”
-Holly Frost
There are so many little things about Nick that made him such an entertaining character, and I really enjoyed getting to know him throughout the story.
“I do brooding. Smirking. Ominous lurking in shadowed doorways. But apparently, Holly Frost has single-handedly started to dismantle my carefully cultivated persona, and it remains unclear how I feel about that.”
Crinkshaw
“He’s the five hundred year old ghoul who happens to be the coven’s steward. He’s also an exceptional cook.”
I absolutely loved Crinkshaw.
He's a ghoul who is basically full of doom and gloom… while also absolutely loving Christmas.
And I mean loving Christmas.
You might expect the mansion that they live in to be dark and depressing, but it's completely decked out for the holidays. I loved that contrast. He may have a very undead personality, but when it comes to Christmas, he's all in.
I also loved that they have their own version of Christmas-Bloodmas.
His kitchen is his safe space, and he has kitchen rules:
Be Kind.
Ask before borrowing spices.
Label your blood bags and your biscotti.
Basically, that's his version of a “Live, Laugh, Love” sign.
And then there's his baking…He makes these amazing “bloody” gingerbread men cookies, and honestly, I need a chapter dedicated entirely to his recipes. Seriously.
I also absolutely loved his quick responses.
“I won’t be lectured on taste by someone who believes solid black represents the height of fashion.”
Ronan
Then there's Ronan, who is also part of the coven. He's a Celtic warrior who carries around his favorite axe, Sally.
“I’m not sure why we’re even bothering to sneak around. Battle is the way to solve this. Whoever’s behind this will have to face Sally.”
Ronan has this big teddy-bear personality, but don't let that fool you.
When those rogue elves show up, Ronan is ready for battle!
I really enjoyed watching him fight because he can go from calm and friendly to absolutely fierce when it's time to protect everyone.
“I came for battle, and you talk to me of spruce?”
Marcy
And we can't forget Marcy, Holly's best friend.
Marcy knows Holly well, and when Holly has problems, especially when those problems involve Nick, she seems to know exactly what Holly needs.
Sometimes that means advice.
Sometimes it means a cup of cocoa.
Honestly, both sound like pretty good solutions to me.
“I’m just saying, if Nick Draven asked me to volunteer, I'd consider it. Those cheekbones? That jawline? He could ask me to alphabetize his blood fridge and I'd probably swoon.”
-Marcy
When Christmas Goes Off the Rails
One of my favorite things about Blood and Bells was the balance between the Christmas coziness and all the supernatural chaos.
And speaking of gingerbread…
There is a completely separate gingerbread situation later in the book. At one point, they end up fighting an army of gingerbread men.
Yes. An army.
At this point, I just had to laugh because this book really said, Let's take Christmas chaos and turn it all the way up.
I won't say anything more because it's one of those moments that's much more fun to discover for yourself, but let's just say Willow Creek has some very unconventional Christmas problems.
And yes, hot cocoa is absolutely a must while reading this one.
“The best purpose I've found in life is to savor it. Like warm cocoa with the people you love. If you find better, send me a postcard.”
-Nick Draven
I'm not going to spoil who is behind all the Christmas chaos, but I will say this: the mastermind will be revealed!
So if you're trying to figure out who's responsible for all the holiday madness, you'll have to read the book to find out.
“This is less The Fairytale of New York and more Deck the Halls with casualties.”
And honestly, that quote tells you pretty much everything you need to know about the kind of Christmas we're dealing with in Willow Creek.
Blood and Bells was such a cozy and entertaining Christmas read! I loved the mix of paranormal romance, mystery, humor, quirky characters, and just the right amount of holiday mayhem. It had that warm, festive feeling that made it such a fun book to settle into for the season.
And the best part?
This is only Book One!
After finishing this story, I’m definitely curious to see what’s next for Willow Creek and its residents. There are plenty of questions I’m hoping to see answered, and I’m already looking forward to discovering where Book Two takes us.
If you’re looking for a cozy paranormal romance to add a little supernatural fun to your holiday TBR, definitely check out this book!
Blood and Bells is available now, released September 15, 2026, on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kindle.
My ASL version of Blood and Bells review will be coming soon.
Released today — September 15, 2026!
I had the privilege of reading Blood and Bells as an ARC, and I have to say, this was such a cozy, fun, and chaotic Christmas read! 🎄
The story takes place in Willow Creek, a town where humans and supernatural beings live side by side. We have vampires, a cupid who happens to be the mayor, elves, a ghoul, magical portals, and plenty of other fun characters thrown into the mix. Needless to say, Christmas in Willow Creek is anything but ordinary!
Our main character, Holly Frost, is a human Christmas event planner who is under a LOT of pressure. Willow Creek is known for its incredible Christmas gala, and Holly feels like she has some big shoes to fill following in her mom's footsteps.
Then, just when she needs everything to go perfectly, the town's Christmas tree goes missing.
“We’re one carol away from a catastrophe, and it’s going to take more than a Christmas miracle to fix this one.”
Because apparently, planning a Christmas gala wasn't stressful enough.
Rogue elves are causing trouble, Christmas is quickly turning into chaos, and Holly finds herself teaming up with Nick Draven, a vampire, to figure out what happened and hopefully save Christmas.
And yes… there are snowball fights with rogue elves.
“You see that Frost? Classic rogue elf behavior. Aggression, lack of self control, and an unhealthy attachment to destruction.”
“Rogue elves though? It’s like fighting children. Nasty, stupid, sharp-toothed children. They smell”
Holly & Nick
I really enjoyed these two! They slowly start getting to know each other, their feelings begin to change, and of course, all of that comes with really fun banter along the way. Their back-and-forth was one of my favorite parts of the book. They definitely had me smiling more than once.
“But all I've managed to do is make a mess of everything. And now a literal vampire wants to help, which is either fate being kind or fate being bored.”
I liked Holly because even when everything is falling apart around her, she keeps trying to hold everything together. She’s dealing with the pressure of living up to her mom’s legacy while suddenly finding herself in the middle of supernatural christmas chaos.
And Nick…
“I am the Last Breath of the Night. Mortals cower in my presence. I do not sulk.”
This vampire is afraid of cars and drives the most unexpected car for a vampire. I am sorry, but that was absolutely hilarious to me. A vampire driving around in such a mundane car just made me love Nick even more.
“What kind of cars do vampires drive? A hearse seems too on the nose. A stagecoach of some kind? Or, I know, some deathly sleek sports car?”
-Holly Frost
There are so many little things about Nick that made him such an entertaining character, and I really enjoyed getting to know him throughout the story.
“I do brooding. Smirking. Ominous lurking in shadowed doorways. But apparently, Holly Frost has single-handedly started to dismantle my carefully cultivated persona, and it remains unclear how I feel about that.”
Crinkshaw
“He’s the five hundred year old ghoul who happens to be the coven’s steward. He’s also an exceptional cook.”
I absolutely loved Crinkshaw.
He's a ghoul who is basically full of doom and gloom… while also absolutely loving Christmas.
And I mean loving Christmas.
You might expect the mansion that they live in to be dark and depressing, but it's completely decked out for the holidays. I loved that contrast. He may have a very undead personality, but when it comes to Christmas, he's all in.
I also loved that they have their own version of Christmas-Bloodmas.
His kitchen is his safe space, and he has kitchen rules:
Be Kind.
Ask before borrowing spices.
Label your blood bags and your biscotti.
Basically, that's his version of a “Live, Laugh, Love” sign.
And then there's his baking…He makes these amazing “bloody” gingerbread men cookies, and honestly, I need a chapter dedicated entirely to his recipes. Seriously.
I also absolutely loved his quick responses.
“I won’t be lectured on taste by someone who believes solid black represents the height of fashion.”
Ronan
Then there's Ronan, who is also part of the coven. He's a Celtic warrior who carries around his favorite axe, Sally.
“I’m not sure why we’re even bothering to sneak around. Battle is the way to solve this. Whoever’s behind this will have to face Sally.”
Ronan has this big teddy-bear personality, but don't let that fool you.
When those rogue elves show up, Ronan is ready for battle!
I really enjoyed watching him fight because he can go from calm and friendly to absolutely fierce when it's time to protect everyone.
“I came for battle, and you talk to me of spruce?”
Marcy
And we can't forget Marcy, Holly's best friend.
Marcy knows Holly well, and when Holly has problems, especially when those problems involve Nick, she seems to know exactly what Holly needs.
Sometimes that means advice.
Sometimes it means a cup of cocoa.
Honestly, both sound like pretty good solutions to me.
“I’m just saying, if Nick Draven asked me to volunteer, I'd consider it. Those cheekbones? That jawline? He could ask me to alphabetize his blood fridge and I'd probably swoon.”
-Marcy
When Christmas Goes Off the Rails
One of my favorite things about Blood and Bells was the balance between the Christmas coziness and all the supernatural chaos.
And speaking of gingerbread…
There is a completely separate gingerbread situation later in the book. At one point, they end up fighting an army of gingerbread men.
Yes. An army.
At this point, I just had to laugh because this book really said, Let's take Christmas chaos and turn it all the way up.
I won't say anything more because it's one of those moments that's much more fun to discover for yourself, but let's just say Willow Creek has some very unconventional Christmas problems.
And yes, hot cocoa is absolutely a must while reading this one.
“The best purpose I've found in life is to savor it. Like warm cocoa with the people you love. If you find better, send me a postcard.”
-Nick Draven
I'm not going to spoil who is behind all the Christmas chaos, but I will say this: the mastermind will be revealed!
So if you're trying to figure out who's responsible for all the holiday madness, you'll have to read the book to find out.
“This is less The Fairytale of New York and more Deck the Halls with casualties.”
And honestly, that quote tells you pretty much everything you need to know about the kind of Christmas we're dealing with in Willow Creek.
Blood and Bells was such a cozy and entertaining Christmas read! I loved the mix of paranormal romance, mystery, humor, quirky characters, and just the right amount of holiday mayhem. It had that warm, festive feeling that made it such a fun book to settle into for the season.
And the best part?
This is only Book One!
After finishing this story, I’m definitely curious to see what’s next for Willow Creek and its residents. There are plenty of questions I’m hoping to see answered, and I’m already looking forward to discovering where Book Two takes us.
If you’re looking for a cozy paranormal romance to add a little supernatural fun to your holiday TBR, definitely check out this book!
Blood and Bells is available now, released September 15, 2026, on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kindle.
My ASL version of Blood and Bells review will be coming soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Christmas paranormal rom-com for readers who enjoy -
❄️ Closed door romance
❄️ Human x vampire reluctant allies
❄️ Small town festive chaos
❄️ Laugh out loud banter, wit and sarcasm
❄️ Romance wrapped in a giant bow with a little danger lurking underneath
⭑ Publication Date: 15th September 2026
⭑ Available In: eBook & Paperback
⭑ Series: Book 1, Hexes and Holidays
⭑ Always remember to check content and trigger warnings before reading.
~ plot ~
Winter Creek’s Christmas gala is a huge deal and event planner Holly Frost (whose clipboard is basically a 5th limb) has everything under control. That is, until the town’s centerpiece is stolen by rogue elves. Even worse? She’s forced to team up with the arrogant, infuriatingly handsome head of the local vampire coven, Nick Draven.
A human, a vampire, evil elves, a gingerbread army, a mystery figure set on ruining Christmas and a sleigh full of small town chaos… what could possibly go wrong!?
~ review ~
Move over Summer-ween, it’s officially Hallow-mas! Blood and Bells is a chaotic, whimsical, laugh out loud paranormal rom-com that’s overflowing with festive cheer. I’m talking Christmas lights, a snowy setting, elves, gingerbread men, reindeers, Santa and enough hot cocoa to sink a battle ship. Add to that an infuriatingly charming Vampire MMC and you officially have the best of both worlds! It’s cosy but chaotic, magical and mysterious and if like me you’re a real life Cindy Lou Who, you should definitely be adding this book to your TBR.
Although Blood and Bells has been put together by 2 authors, you can’t tell which parts have been written by CJ Holmes and which parts have been written by Michael Ashwood. There’s no clash or differentiation in the writing styles and everything flows naturally and smoothly. It’s immersive, vivid, engaging from start to end and in all, a really fun time!
~ characters ~
Holly is someone I can’t quite make my mind up on. I like her but she also really frustrated me. While I appreciate her independent, stubborn nature and the desire to prove herself, I just found myself struggling to connect to her on an emotional level. However, her overall journey was extremely satisfying and I was happy to see the change in her by the end of the book.
I really enjoyed Nick’s character and journey. He may have been a vampire but there were certainly times where he felt more human than Holly. He’d just been existing for the last 800 years and although his favourite past time was irritating her, I loved how she finally reminded him what living actually felt like.
The banter, wit and sarcasm the pair shared was brilliant and there were more than few laugh out loud moments. I definitely could’ve done with more romance though. The festive chaos and puns got a little repetitive and I would’ve welcomed some more softer moments showing their growing connection instead. However overall, Nick and Holly were a very unexpected, unlikely perfect match!
~ final thoughts ~
This was a fun, creative, festive read and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for book 2 of the Hexes and Holidays series. It gave me The Grinch, Krampus and The Nightmare Before Christmas vibes and Winter Creek also reminded me of Stars Hollow. Think Hallmark but darker, more chaotic and paranormal! The mystery was fun to follow and without giving anything away, it’s safe so say the villain is rather unexpected!
Thank you to CJ Holmes and Michael Ashwood for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion and I’m sharing it voluntarily❣️
❄️ Closed door romance
❄️ Human x vampire reluctant allies
❄️ Small town festive chaos
❄️ Laugh out loud banter, wit and sarcasm
❄️ Romance wrapped in a giant bow with a little danger lurking underneath
⭑ Publication Date: 15th September 2026
⭑ Available In: eBook & Paperback
⭑ Series: Book 1, Hexes and Holidays
⭑ Always remember to check content and trigger warnings before reading.
~ plot ~
Winter Creek’s Christmas gala is a huge deal and event planner Holly Frost (whose clipboard is basically a 5th limb) has everything under control. That is, until the town’s centerpiece is stolen by rogue elves. Even worse? She’s forced to team up with the arrogant, infuriatingly handsome head of the local vampire coven, Nick Draven.
A human, a vampire, evil elves, a gingerbread army, a mystery figure set on ruining Christmas and a sleigh full of small town chaos… what could possibly go wrong!?
~ review ~
Move over Summer-ween, it’s officially Hallow-mas! Blood and Bells is a chaotic, whimsical, laugh out loud paranormal rom-com that’s overflowing with festive cheer. I’m talking Christmas lights, a snowy setting, elves, gingerbread men, reindeers, Santa and enough hot cocoa to sink a battle ship. Add to that an infuriatingly charming Vampire MMC and you officially have the best of both worlds! It’s cosy but chaotic, magical and mysterious and if like me you’re a real life Cindy Lou Who, you should definitely be adding this book to your TBR.
Although Blood and Bells has been put together by 2 authors, you can’t tell which parts have been written by CJ Holmes and which parts have been written by Michael Ashwood. There’s no clash or differentiation in the writing styles and everything flows naturally and smoothly. It’s immersive, vivid, engaging from start to end and in all, a really fun time!
~ characters ~
Holly is someone I can’t quite make my mind up on. I like her but she also really frustrated me. While I appreciate her independent, stubborn nature and the desire to prove herself, I just found myself struggling to connect to her on an emotional level. However, her overall journey was extremely satisfying and I was happy to see the change in her by the end of the book.
I really enjoyed Nick’s character and journey. He may have been a vampire but there were certainly times where he felt more human than Holly. He’d just been existing for the last 800 years and although his favourite past time was irritating her, I loved how she finally reminded him what living actually felt like.
The banter, wit and sarcasm the pair shared was brilliant and there were more than few laugh out loud moments. I definitely could’ve done with more romance though. The festive chaos and puns got a little repetitive and I would’ve welcomed some more softer moments showing their growing connection instead. However overall, Nick and Holly were a very unexpected, unlikely perfect match!
~ final thoughts ~
This was a fun, creative, festive read and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for book 2 of the Hexes and Holidays series. It gave me The Grinch, Krampus and The Nightmare Before Christmas vibes and Winter Creek also reminded me of Stars Hollow. Think Hallmark but darker, more chaotic and paranormal! The mystery was fun to follow and without giving anything away, it’s safe so say the villain is rather unexpected!
Thank you to CJ Holmes and Michael Ashwood for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion and I’m sharing it voluntarily❣️
September 23, 2026
If a Hallmark movie and “How the Grinch stole Christmas” had a baby, and that baby adopted a puppy but the puppy was vampires… this book would happen.
I honestly did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did for one reason: we are thrown into this world and into the relationship between Holly and Nick right from the start. Don’t misunderstand me, they are not friends but we are not given any time to really get to know them that well, we just meet them in that specific moment. Same with the town, the magic of it, the setting in general… we’re slapped in the face with it.
And you know what? I was so freaking wrong because I loved it bloody much (pun intended). This is one of these books where the authors don’t spend much time diving into the technicalities of the world. This is one of these books where you sit back, grab your hot cocoa and enjoy the absolutely crazy ride this book is.
The plot is basically: Holly is a cynical event planner, Nick is a laid back vamp painfully aware of his handsomeness, he likes her, she finds him infuriating but they have to cooperate to find who is trying to steal Christmas and ruin the Christmas gala Holly is trying to set up. Chaos ensues, local community comes together, Marry Christmas/Bloodmas!
This book feels is filled to the brim with Christmas aesthetic (to the point where it feels like someone overdosed with it), magical elements, teamwork, sarcastic jokes and sexual innuendos. It’s a book that made me giggle, snort a laugh a bunch of times and open my eyes wide in disbelief of ridiculousness of the plot. I had so much fun reading this, you would not BELIEVE! And I want MORE, which tells you all about the entertaining factor of “Blood and bells”. I loved all the characters and I hope we get to learn more about them in the next book/books in the series.
And Holly and Nick? I wasn’t rooting for them that much at the start but I have to admit, as the time went by, I learned to love them. The strength of this book is not the romance, it’s everything around it. It’s the community, the banter, the friends who are not afraid to call our MCs on their bullcrap. Nick and Holly relationship develops gradually as they learn how to be friends first, and figure out what trust means to them. I really love the way these two were written and although I connected more with Nick and I don’t think me and Holly would be friends in real life, I think they worked well together. I’d love to see more of them in the next book.
To conclude, did this book have any flaws? Yes, it did. Did they impacted my enjoyment of this book? Not in the slightest! I had a blast reading this and I have to unfortunately admit that this book made me crave Christmas. And we’re only in September for eggnog’s sake! 😂
Massive thank you to the authors for writing this, and the publisher and NetGalley for giving me this arc💕
I honestly did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did for one reason: we are thrown into this world and into the relationship between Holly and Nick right from the start. Don’t misunderstand me, they are not friends but we are not given any time to really get to know them that well, we just meet them in that specific moment. Same with the town, the magic of it, the setting in general… we’re slapped in the face with it.
And you know what? I was so freaking wrong because I loved it bloody much (pun intended). This is one of these books where the authors don’t spend much time diving into the technicalities of the world. This is one of these books where you sit back, grab your hot cocoa and enjoy the absolutely crazy ride this book is.
The plot is basically: Holly is a cynical event planner, Nick is a laid back vamp painfully aware of his handsomeness, he likes her, she finds him infuriating but they have to cooperate to find who is trying to steal Christmas and ruin the Christmas gala Holly is trying to set up. Chaos ensues, local community comes together, Marry Christmas/Bloodmas!
This book feels is filled to the brim with Christmas aesthetic (to the point where it feels like someone overdosed with it), magical elements, teamwork, sarcastic jokes and sexual innuendos. It’s a book that made me giggle, snort a laugh a bunch of times and open my eyes wide in disbelief of ridiculousness of the plot. I had so much fun reading this, you would not BELIEVE! And I want MORE, which tells you all about the entertaining factor of “Blood and bells”. I loved all the characters and I hope we get to learn more about them in the next book/books in the series.
And Holly and Nick? I wasn’t rooting for them that much at the start but I have to admit, as the time went by, I learned to love them. The strength of this book is not the romance, it’s everything around it. It’s the community, the banter, the friends who are not afraid to call our MCs on their bullcrap. Nick and Holly relationship develops gradually as they learn how to be friends first, and figure out what trust means to them. I really love the way these two were written and although I connected more with Nick and I don’t think me and Holly would be friends in real life, I think they worked well together. I’d love to see more of them in the next book.
To conclude, did this book have any flaws? Yes, it did. Did they impacted my enjoyment of this book? Not in the slightest! I had a blast reading this and I have to unfortunately admit that this book made me crave Christmas. And we’re only in September for eggnog’s sake! 😂
Massive thank you to the authors for writing this, and the publisher and NetGalley for giving me this arc💕
August 24, 2026
I went in to Blood and Bells not really knowing what to expect and questioning my judgement as I generally loathe a Hallmark movie vibe. This book was an absolutely hallmark movie worthy tale with a beautifully sinister twist. Throw in vampires, rogue elves, witty banter, and absolute holiday chaos and it turns out a recipe for an absolute hot cocoa coated win!
I loved everything about this story from the impeccable writing, flawless scene development, and characters that were absolutely enthralling. Holly and Nick had me hook, line, and … candy caned…. From the very beginning. Their chemistry, banter, trolling, and sarcasm were absolutely spot on! “Kidnapping. peril. emotional Clarity.”
🧛♂️🤦♀️ unlikely duo trying to save Christmas ? ✅
🧝 Rogue elves ✅ Grievous Gingerbread ✅
☃️Menacing marshmallow snowman ✅
And somewhere almost all the chaos C. J. Holmes and Michael Ashwood deliver a story with true holiday sparkle and heart 🖤. Holly’s journey grew from saving Christmas and living up to her Mother’s standards into finding pieces of herself along the way and baking up her own rhythm. Nick had his own incredible journey along the way learning things about the man behind the fangs that he never thought possible after living for centuries.
I laughed out loud, I swooned, I gasped, I hoped, and by the ending my little black heart was being all weird and I had a full on misty eye situation.
Cozy, romantic, hilarious, heartfelt, and wonderfully paranormal, Blood and Bells was everything I wanted it to be and more. To say I hope this isn’t the last we hear from Nick and Holly would be an egregious understatement.
Five very enthusiastic stars. 🧛♂️🎄🔔❄️
Releasing September 15, 2026 and available for pre-order now!
Thank you so much to C. J. Holmes, Michael Ashwood, and publisher for providing me with this ARC! ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
I loved everything about this story from the impeccable writing, flawless scene development, and characters that were absolutely enthralling. Holly and Nick had me hook, line, and … candy caned…. From the very beginning. Their chemistry, banter, trolling, and sarcasm were absolutely spot on! “Kidnapping. peril. emotional Clarity.”
🧛♂️🤦♀️ unlikely duo trying to save Christmas ? ✅
🧝 Rogue elves ✅ Grievous Gingerbread ✅
☃️Menacing marshmallow snowman ✅
And somewhere almost all the chaos C. J. Holmes and Michael Ashwood deliver a story with true holiday sparkle and heart 🖤. Holly’s journey grew from saving Christmas and living up to her Mother’s standards into finding pieces of herself along the way and baking up her own rhythm. Nick had his own incredible journey along the way learning things about the man behind the fangs that he never thought possible after living for centuries.
I laughed out loud, I swooned, I gasped, I hoped, and by the ending my little black heart was being all weird and I had a full on misty eye situation.
Cozy, romantic, hilarious, heartfelt, and wonderfully paranormal, Blood and Bells was everything I wanted it to be and more. To say I hope this isn’t the last we hear from Nick and Holly would be an egregious understatement.
Five very enthusiastic stars. 🧛♂️🎄🔔❄️
Releasing September 15, 2026 and available for pre-order now!
Thank you so much to C. J. Holmes, Michael Ashwood, and publisher for providing me with this ARC! ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2026
The last few years i have absolutely been obsessed and indulged in all the hallmark types movies during Christmas. But never books.This was absolutely so freaking cute. Literally a hallmark movie in my head! That i would soo watch! Nick and Holly on a quest to save Christmas in willow creek where vampires co-exist with the humans.. He's a vampire, shes an event planner and rogue elves steal the tree centerpice of the town. What could possibly go wrong? A lot! It was magical and romantic and hilarious. With enough danger to be suspenseful and a really surprising take on Christmas and santa and vampires all rolled into it. Holly and nick trying to deny that they like eachother all while working together to save Christmas.. Ronan and Crinkshaw were fantastic characters! I would read more adventures with those two in it anytime 🤣 I laughed out loud so much reading this. Twinkling lights, ridiculously clever Christmas puns and a town that comes together with hot chocolate as a lifeline. And SOOO SO much tinsel and glitter! This one was without spice so if you are someone that doesn't want the spice thisnis absolutely perfect. Really it was not necessary i was thoroughly invested in waiting for that kiss!! And it was magical indeed. 😊 the whole thing was whimsical, cheerful and sweetly wholesome! I had such a good time reading this. It had me in a great mood and put a smile on my face all day! I cant wait for Blood and Beaches! I will for sure be picking that up!
September 14, 2026
“Humans always get the lore wrong. It’s all “vampires are dark and brooding and vicious,” and “elves are cute and cuddly and would gift you presents everyday of the year if they could.” It’s a long way from the truth, and I’m going to have to set a few records straight before this Christmas Carol is finished.”
This was a seriously hilarious fantasy rom-com. In Willow-Creek everyone loves Christmas from the Cupid Mayor to the neighborhood vampire coven. Which is why
It is so important to event planner, Holly Frost, that everything goes perfectly for the Christmas Gala!! But of course, it immediately goes wrong when chaotic rogue elves steal the most important piece of the show, the town Christmas Tree!! It’s up to Holly and the leader of the local vampire coven, Nick, to find the tree before Christmas. This partnership is either the best or the worst thing to happen to Holly and Nick.
I was cracking up while reading this. Literally haven’t laughed this hard since I started Dungeon Crawler Carl! 😂 Between tiny mischievous rogue elves and talking heads wearing Santa hats I was like what is happening. This was like How My Neighbor Stole Christmas meets Dungeon Crawler Carl. The setting was like small town holiday with fantasy creatures mixed in and the dynamic between Nick and Holly was great! Thank you CJ Holmes, Michael Ashwood, and NetGalley for this read!!
This was a seriously hilarious fantasy rom-com. In Willow-Creek everyone loves Christmas from the Cupid Mayor to the neighborhood vampire coven. Which is why
It is so important to event planner, Holly Frost, that everything goes perfectly for the Christmas Gala!! But of course, it immediately goes wrong when chaotic rogue elves steal the most important piece of the show, the town Christmas Tree!! It’s up to Holly and the leader of the local vampire coven, Nick, to find the tree before Christmas. This partnership is either the best or the worst thing to happen to Holly and Nick.
I was cracking up while reading this. Literally haven’t laughed this hard since I started Dungeon Crawler Carl! 😂 Between tiny mischievous rogue elves and talking heads wearing Santa hats I was like what is happening. This was like How My Neighbor Stole Christmas meets Dungeon Crawler Carl. The setting was like small town holiday with fantasy creatures mixed in and the dynamic between Nick and Holly was great! Thank you CJ Holmes, Michael Ashwood, and NetGalley for this read!!
September 26, 2026
4.5-5*
Wow, this was such a fun adventure, this book is packed FULL of Christmas vibes and that's one of the things a loved about it and how it deserves my rare high rating!
The MMC, sexy vampire Nick, I absolutely feel in love with although the MFC, feisty Holly Frost, wasn't as easily pursuaded! She calls him Mr Tall, dark and infuriating but they must team up to investigate why in their special town of Willow Creek their traditional giant centrepiece, 70 foot Christmas tree has gone missing. When rouge elves are to blame they set up in a quest to stop them. Warning ⚠️ rouge elves are harmed in this book 🧑🎄 but it is satisfying as they are evil 😈. There is also a deranged Santa with apocalyptic tendencies! Gingerbread Dragons, a real gingerbread house, peppermint mochas, gingerbread lattes, the list goes on. With both writers who write in the fantasy genre, I did feel I'd describe this as a Christmas fantasy adventure with a sprinkling of romance. I loved the main characters and the banter between them, the supporting characters and poor 1500yr old Crinkshaw an ancient ghoul and steward.
I highly recommend this book to prep you for Christmas, enermies to lovers and war with Christmas characters turned evil!
I received an advance reader copy and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
Wow, this was such a fun adventure, this book is packed FULL of Christmas vibes and that's one of the things a loved about it and how it deserves my rare high rating!
The MMC, sexy vampire Nick, I absolutely feel in love with although the MFC, feisty Holly Frost, wasn't as easily pursuaded! She calls him Mr Tall, dark and infuriating but they must team up to investigate why in their special town of Willow Creek their traditional giant centrepiece, 70 foot Christmas tree has gone missing. When rouge elves are to blame they set up in a quest to stop them. Warning ⚠️ rouge elves are harmed in this book 🧑🎄 but it is satisfying as they are evil 😈. There is also a deranged Santa with apocalyptic tendencies! Gingerbread Dragons, a real gingerbread house, peppermint mochas, gingerbread lattes, the list goes on. With both writers who write in the fantasy genre, I did feel I'd describe this as a Christmas fantasy adventure with a sprinkling of romance. I loved the main characters and the banter between them, the supporting characters and poor 1500yr old Crinkshaw an ancient ghoul and steward.
I highly recommend this book to prep you for Christmas, enermies to lovers and war with Christmas characters turned evil!
I received an advance reader copy and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
September 15, 2026
ARC Review.. Thank you to CJ Holmes and Michael Ashwood for the advanced copy!!
OK, I had SO much fun with this book!! Blood and Bells was everything I expected and yet so much more!! I knew I was getting a paranormal Christmas Romance; what I was not expecting was a new arrogant cinnamon roll book boyfriend with fangs, side aches and absolutely zero regrets!!
Holly and Nick as our two main characters had great banter (which is always what I’m there for), great tension and a true enemies to lovers story line. You truly never knew what was going to be said next…. You know seasonings beatings and all that lmao! 🤣🤣
Not only did we have great main characters but the supporting characters were fabulous as well!! Marcy, Ronan and Crinkshaw?! I loved them! They brought so much personality to the story and made the whole crew even more entertaining. Throw in rogue elves, supernatural hi-jinx, and a stolen Christmas tree, and somehow you get this completely bonkers combination that I could not put down. Also I was walking around in 90-100 degree weather craving a hot chocolate of all things!!
This was funny, festive, chaotic and just ridiculously fun! Christmas has officially been upgraded with the supernatural and just in time for spooky season!!
OK, I had SO much fun with this book!! Blood and Bells was everything I expected and yet so much more!! I knew I was getting a paranormal Christmas Romance; what I was not expecting was a new arrogant cinnamon roll book boyfriend with fangs, side aches and absolutely zero regrets!!
Holly and Nick as our two main characters had great banter (which is always what I’m there for), great tension and a true enemies to lovers story line. You truly never knew what was going to be said next…. You know seasonings beatings and all that lmao! 🤣🤣
Not only did we have great main characters but the supporting characters were fabulous as well!! Marcy, Ronan and Crinkshaw?! I loved them! They brought so much personality to the story and made the whole crew even more entertaining. Throw in rogue elves, supernatural hi-jinx, and a stolen Christmas tree, and somehow you get this completely bonkers combination that I could not put down. Also I was walking around in 90-100 degree weather craving a hot chocolate of all things!!
This was funny, festive, chaotic and just ridiculously fun! Christmas has officially been upgraded with the supernatural and just in time for spooky season!!
September 15, 2026
If your ideal holiday season includes vampires, romance, magical creatures, and gingerbread violence… this one is for you.
Blood and Bells is such a whimsical, wildly fun paranormal rom-com that I literally had no idea what was going to come flying at these characters next.
Our MMC is a vampire, our FMC is a human event planner, and somehow these two end up teaming up to save the town and the gala she’s been working so hard to pull off. Sounds manageable, right?
Wrong.
Enter rogue elves, reindeer stampedes, feral snowmen, homicidal gingerbread men, and basically every other creature you could possibly imagine.
What I loved most was how unique and fun this story felt. It’s cozy without being boring, romantic without taking itself too seriously, and packed with enough holiday mayhem to keep things moving. The banter, the unlikely team-up, the paranormal elements, and the sheer what
is happening now? energy made this such an easy, entertaining read.
This is definitely one of those books you pick up when you want something light, festive, and completely different from your usual read. No overthinking required….just settle in, grab your favorite fall drink, and enjoy the chaos.
Blood and Bells is such a whimsical, wildly fun paranormal rom-com that I literally had no idea what was going to come flying at these characters next.
Our MMC is a vampire, our FMC is a human event planner, and somehow these two end up teaming up to save the town and the gala she’s been working so hard to pull off. Sounds manageable, right?
Wrong.
Enter rogue elves, reindeer stampedes, feral snowmen, homicidal gingerbread men, and basically every other creature you could possibly imagine.
What I loved most was how unique and fun this story felt. It’s cozy without being boring, romantic without taking itself too seriously, and packed with enough holiday mayhem to keep things moving. The banter, the unlikely team-up, the paranormal elements, and the sheer what
is happening now? energy made this such an easy, entertaining read.
This is definitely one of those books you pick up when you want something light, festive, and completely different from your usual read. No overthinking required….just settle in, grab your favorite fall drink, and enjoy the chaos.
September 22, 2026
Holly Frost lives in Willow Creek and as an event planner she has been tasked in arranging the Winter Wonderland Gala. The crowning glory of the gala is the giant Christmas tree that is positioned in the town square, except it’s been stolen! With broken ornaments and what appears to be elf foot prints everywhere Holly reluctantly has to team up with Niklaus Draven, the annoyingly handsome local vampire, to figure out what’s going on.
Nick (as Holly calls him) is the leader of the local vampire coven that has made Willow Creek their home. The residents have accepted them so with rogue elves causing mayhem and mischief it’s in Nick’s best interests to sort this problem out quickly for Holly so the town doesn’t blame the coven and turn on them. Nick knows the elves are not doing this by themselves so needs to work out who they are working for and when a stampede of reindeer crashes into the town destroying even more decorations he needs to do it quickly.
The spirit of Christmas is being sucked from a Christmas loving town. Can Holly and Nick work together to save the Winter Wonderland Gala before it’s too late.
This is everything my millennial, Buffy the Vampire Slayer loving heart could want in a Vampire romance! Take everything you have ever been taught about Christmas and flip it on its head. Even though it’s written in duel POV by 2 authors there is no confusion in storyline or character development. They have clearly worked well together to make 1 seamless story.
Gifted
Nick (as Holly calls him) is the leader of the local vampire coven that has made Willow Creek their home. The residents have accepted them so with rogue elves causing mayhem and mischief it’s in Nick’s best interests to sort this problem out quickly for Holly so the town doesn’t blame the coven and turn on them. Nick knows the elves are not doing this by themselves so needs to work out who they are working for and when a stampede of reindeer crashes into the town destroying even more decorations he needs to do it quickly.
The spirit of Christmas is being sucked from a Christmas loving town. Can Holly and Nick work together to save the Winter Wonderland Gala before it’s too late.
This is everything my millennial, Buffy the Vampire Slayer loving heart could want in a Vampire romance! Take everything you have ever been taught about Christmas and flip it on its head. Even though it’s written in duel POV by 2 authors there is no confusion in storyline or character development. They have clearly worked well together to make 1 seamless story.
Gifted
Review of advance copy received from Author
I finished reading my ARC copy of 'Blood and Bells'. This is a festive paranormal romance written by C.J. Holmes and Michael Ashwood.
"There's no time to panic. I just need to find a solution. A replacement tree. Extra decorations maybe a miracle or two."
I've read a lot of CJ's books and I loved them all so far, though Blood and Bells is a bit of a different genre. It was surprising when she told the Shadow Court she was doing a collaboration with another author. So she wrote together with someone else ánd in a different genre, and you know what? I'm excited about the result.
"Rogue elves. Nasty little creatures. They're like feral cats with opposable thumbs and better teamwork. They smell worse though."
This story is about Holly Frost and Nick Draven. Holly is human, an advent planner and very much a perfectionist. Nick is a vampire and the head of his coven. Nick, other than Holly, relies solely on his charm.
When Christmas is on the brink of being canceled, Holly and Nick don't have any other choice than working together. Will they be able to safe Christmas?
"I am the Lord of Tomorrow, the Arrow of Vengeance, the Feast That Rises Before Dawn. I am the Last Breath of the Night. Mortals cower in my presence. I do not sulk."
There's one thing I can tell you.. Blood and Bells has definitely gotten me ready for the festive and cozy days ahead and it didn't even have to try. Also.. a hot and broody vampire? Not so festive, but still a very good addition to all the holiday cheer.
Add fantasy elements, tension and actual magic, and you get a recipe thats perfect for the coming months.
"Reindeer. Stampede. Christmas chaos. You know, normal middle-of-the-week stuff in the run-up to the gala."
The main characters are complete opposites that don't like each other and don't want to like each other, but well.. opposites attract.
Oh and I love them for it, cause wel ✨ magic ✨. But that's not it, they fight and keep their heads up through all the misfortunes. Even when an unexpected villain appears towards the end, they fight.
Wrapping u a lovely, cozy and fantastical story full of action and mystery.
"There's no time to panic. I just need to find a solution. A replacement tree. Extra decorations maybe a miracle or two."
I've read a lot of CJ's books and I loved them all so far, though Blood and Bells is a bit of a different genre. It was surprising when she told the Shadow Court she was doing a collaboration with another author. So she wrote together with someone else ánd in a different genre, and you know what? I'm excited about the result.
"Rogue elves. Nasty little creatures. They're like feral cats with opposable thumbs and better teamwork. They smell worse though."
This story is about Holly Frost and Nick Draven. Holly is human, an advent planner and very much a perfectionist. Nick is a vampire and the head of his coven. Nick, other than Holly, relies solely on his charm.
When Christmas is on the brink of being canceled, Holly and Nick don't have any other choice than working together. Will they be able to safe Christmas?
"I am the Lord of Tomorrow, the Arrow of Vengeance, the Feast That Rises Before Dawn. I am the Last Breath of the Night. Mortals cower in my presence. I do not sulk."
There's one thing I can tell you.. Blood and Bells has definitely gotten me ready for the festive and cozy days ahead and it didn't even have to try. Also.. a hot and broody vampire? Not so festive, but still a very good addition to all the holiday cheer.
Add fantasy elements, tension and actual magic, and you get a recipe thats perfect for the coming months.
"Reindeer. Stampede. Christmas chaos. You know, normal middle-of-the-week stuff in the run-up to the gala."
The main characters are complete opposites that don't like each other and don't want to like each other, but well.. opposites attract.
Oh and I love them for it, cause wel ✨ magic ✨. But that's not it, they fight and keep their heads up through all the misfortunes. Even when an unexpected villain appears towards the end, they fight.
Wrapping u a lovely, cozy and fantastical story full of action and mystery.
September 8, 2026
Merry Bloodmas!
Thank you to CJ Holmes and Michael Ashwood along with City Owl Press for allowing me to read this ARC!
First off, vampires and Christmas are two of my favorite things. I love a dark, brooding vampire with a Christmas themed name. And Holly is just cute with her over planning and needing to prove herself. They’re such a perfect combo for each other!
The whole time I was reading about Crinkshaw, Walton Goggins as the ghoul in Fallout was all I could picture. And I’m not sad about that one!
This was such a fun adventure of trying to basically steal back Christmas from the rouge elves. And the army of gingerbread men? LOVE! The battle felt like Candyland on a bad trip! It was so great!
Reindeer stampedes! Santa is REAL! But is he as jolly as everyone thinks? The amount of snowball fights that happen in this book warms my heart ironically!
This book is so great! I’m ready to move to Willow Creek! If you want a story about a small town coming together to save Christmas from an unsuspecting bad guy, this is for you!
Cannot wait for book 2!
4 Stars!
Thank you to CJ Holmes and Michael Ashwood along with City Owl Press for allowing me to read this ARC!
First off, vampires and Christmas are two of my favorite things. I love a dark, brooding vampire with a Christmas themed name. And Holly is just cute with her over planning and needing to prove herself. They’re such a perfect combo for each other!
The whole time I was reading about Crinkshaw, Walton Goggins as the ghoul in Fallout was all I could picture. And I’m not sad about that one!
This was such a fun adventure of trying to basically steal back Christmas from the rouge elves. And the army of gingerbread men? LOVE! The battle felt like Candyland on a bad trip! It was so great!
Reindeer stampedes! Santa is REAL! But is he as jolly as everyone thinks? The amount of snowball fights that happen in this book warms my heart ironically!
This book is so great! I’m ready to move to Willow Creek! If you want a story about a small town coming together to save Christmas from an unsuspecting bad guy, this is for you!
Cannot wait for book 2!
4 Stars!
September 13, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Christmas in a small town… what could possibly go wrong?
Apparently quite a lot when you add a bunch of vampires, rogue elves, a doomed Christmas tree and some rather questionable reindeer into the mix!
I absolutely loved Holly, especially her trusty clipboard! She was such a fun character to follow, and the banter throughout the book was brilliant. There were several moments that genuinely had me laughing out loud.
Underneath all the supernatural chaos, Blood & Bells still managed to give me those lovely cozy Christmas vibes I wanted. The small-town setting, festive atmosphere and paranormal elements worked so well together, and just when I thought I knew where everything was heading… along came a great plot twist.
Funny, festive, slightly chaotic and full of supernatural trouble — exactly the kind of Christmas story I didn’t know I needed.
And one final piece of advice: watch out for the reindeer. 🦌😂
Thank you so much to C.J. Holmes and Michael Ashwood for sending me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Christmas in a small town… what could possibly go wrong?
Apparently quite a lot when you add a bunch of vampires, rogue elves, a doomed Christmas tree and some rather questionable reindeer into the mix!
I absolutely loved Holly, especially her trusty clipboard! She was such a fun character to follow, and the banter throughout the book was brilliant. There were several moments that genuinely had me laughing out loud.
Underneath all the supernatural chaos, Blood & Bells still managed to give me those lovely cozy Christmas vibes I wanted. The small-town setting, festive atmosphere and paranormal elements worked so well together, and just when I thought I knew where everything was heading… along came a great plot twist.
Funny, festive, slightly chaotic and full of supernatural trouble — exactly the kind of Christmas story I didn’t know I needed.
And one final piece of advice: watch out for the reindeer. 🦌😂
Thank you so much to C.J. Holmes and Michael Ashwood for sending me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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