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A Merry Little Fling
Not yet published
Expected 19 Nov 26On the 2007th year of Christmas the universe gave to
5 fucked up ornaments
4 lifelong besties
3 hungover sunburns
2 merry mishaps
And a Christmas fling in another countryyyy
It’s 2007. Max is going home to Malaysia to spend Christmas with her besties for the first time in years, and after a recent heartbreak she just wants to have fun.
Enter Dennis. Flirty, cute, ginger, only there for a short time, sounds like the perfect gift!
But is it possible to develop deep feelings in only a week? Because when it comes time for him to leave, neither of them wants to let go.
5 fucked up ornaments
4 lifelong besties
3 hungover sunburns
2 merry mishaps
And a Christmas fling in another countryyyy
It’s 2007. Max is going home to Malaysia to spend Christmas with her besties for the first time in years, and after a recent heartbreak she just wants to have fun.
Enter Dennis. Flirty, cute, ginger, only there for a short time, sounds like the perfect gift!
But is it possible to develop deep feelings in only a week? Because when it comes time for him to leave, neither of them wants to let go.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 19, 2026
About the author
Sian Winter
3 books15 followersSian Winter is a simple, probably perimenopausal gal, who loves to read romance in (almost) all of its forms.
Weirdly, she's never had aspirations to be a writer before, merely being happy to read and be a sounding board for her author friend(s). But at the super young age of 42, inspiration hit and here we are!
She's originally from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia but currently lives in the UK with her long suffering (read: lucky) husband and their rescue furbaby.
When she's not writing heartwarmingly humorous romance, she's either reading, vacuuming the endless clusters of fur that seem to vacate her dog on a daily basis, or working her actual day job because them bills don't pay themselves!
Click that FOLLOW button to stay up-to-date on any future releases!
Weirdly, she's never had aspirations to be a writer before, merely being happy to read and be a sounding board for her author friend(s). But at the super young age of 42, inspiration hit and here we are!
She's originally from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia but currently lives in the UK with her long suffering (read: lucky) husband and their rescue furbaby.
When she's not writing heartwarmingly humorous romance, she's either reading, vacuuming the endless clusters of fur that seem to vacate her dog on a daily basis, or working her actual day job because them bills don't pay themselves!
Click that FOLLOW button to stay up-to-date on any future releases!
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 1, 2026
First thank you to the author for the ARC of this story. These are my honest opinions.
I also enjoyed that we started the story, bounced back in time to how they met, and then returned to the original timeline. It was a fun way to write this story. The cultural references were perfection. No notes, Sian Winter always transports me to the locations of her stories.
Another thing Sian Winter does so well, is give her characters nicknames and personalities. Max, the FMC, is also known fondly as MaxiPad by her close friend. 🤣. If that doesn’t tell you the humor is great in these, well, you should just try them anyway. I always find myself chuckling over the jokes in this author’s books.
The not-so-good parts for me included the amount of drinking in this story as well as the insta-love vibes. Alcohol, clubbing, and drinking games happened a lot. Way more than I would have preferred. I’d say the characters were intoxicated, on their way to it, or recovering from it for more than 50 % of this story. As someone who doesn’t drink, that amount of alcohol drinking wasn’t relatable and I didn’t enjoy that aspect much.
Then the Insta love storyline just really isn’t my thing. This is the third book in an interconnected standalone series and I struggled a bit with this one as well as book 1 for similar reasons. I just don’t get the look across a bar and fall in love bit. HOWEVER, I do like this one because the spice is a slower start. So even though we find out the MMC super early on and they both make lovey-eyes at each other, they’re surrounded by family and friends a lot, which makes the spice lead up longer and it made the romance feel a bit more earned.
The line when he calls her “Puffin” 😭. And then he calls her his home. 😭😭😭 Perfection!
Thank you Sian Winter for the ARC. I can wait to read the next one.
I also enjoyed that we started the story, bounced back in time to how they met, and then returned to the original timeline. It was a fun way to write this story. The cultural references were perfection. No notes, Sian Winter always transports me to the locations of her stories.
Another thing Sian Winter does so well, is give her characters nicknames and personalities. Max, the FMC, is also known fondly as MaxiPad by her close friend. 🤣. If that doesn’t tell you the humor is great in these, well, you should just try them anyway. I always find myself chuckling over the jokes in this author’s books.
The not-so-good parts for me included the amount of drinking in this story as well as the insta-love vibes. Alcohol, clubbing, and drinking games happened a lot. Way more than I would have preferred. I’d say the characters were intoxicated, on their way to it, or recovering from it for more than 50 % of this story. As someone who doesn’t drink, that amount of alcohol drinking wasn’t relatable and I didn’t enjoy that aspect much.
Then the Insta love storyline just really isn’t my thing. This is the third book in an interconnected standalone series and I struggled a bit with this one as well as book 1 for similar reasons. I just don’t get the look across a bar and fall in love bit. HOWEVER, I do like this one because the spice is a slower start. So even though we find out the MMC super early on and they both make lovey-eyes at each other, they’re surrounded by family and friends a lot, which makes the spice lead up longer and it made the romance feel a bit more earned.
The line when he calls her “Puffin” 😭. And then he calls her his home. 😭😭😭 Perfection!
Thank you Sian Winter for the ARC. I can wait to read the next one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When the forward of a book has me busting a gut laughing, I already know it's setting the tone for a great read!
I love getting to go back in time with the girls and see them in their younger years. Seeing Shari with Kristian was just WOW! They complement each other so well.
And these girls are some dirty little thinkers and I absolutely love it! It proves what I suspected during A Bump In The Road - that these women would be my besties if I met them in real life. Good people!
Chapter 5 had me rolling! There were several lines that had me laughing out loud. Like really enjoyable banter, playful flirtation and all around feel good moments.
I really enjoyed the instant chemistry between Max and Dennis. He's such a good guy, and I loved watching their connection develop. Plus, the book has the perfect amount of spice for a novella.
I loved their group activities - painting the holiday figures was memorable. Again my kind of people.
"Did you know that puffins mate for life?"
Oh my gosh, what a long winter indeed! My giddy heart is so happy with how this ended!
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who's up for an adventure, loves good food, family traditions, hilarious friends, meeting new people, finding new love, and letting fate take the wheel. If that sounds like your kind of read, this one's for you!
I love getting to go back in time with the girls and see them in their younger years. Seeing Shari with Kristian was just WOW! They complement each other so well.
And these girls are some dirty little thinkers and I absolutely love it! It proves what I suspected during A Bump In The Road - that these women would be my besties if I met them in real life. Good people!
Chapter 5 had me rolling! There were several lines that had me laughing out loud. Like really enjoyable banter, playful flirtation and all around feel good moments.
I really enjoyed the instant chemistry between Max and Dennis. He's such a good guy, and I loved watching their connection develop. Plus, the book has the perfect amount of spice for a novella.
I loved their group activities - painting the holiday figures was memorable. Again my kind of people.
"Did you know that puffins mate for life?"
Oh my gosh, what a long winter indeed! My giddy heart is so happy with how this ended!
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who's up for an adventure, loves good food, family traditions, hilarious friends, meeting new people, finding new love, and letting fate take the wheel. If that sounds like your kind of read, this one's for you!
October 22, 2026
This book was giving me ALL the holiday vibes, and quite frankly, I was ready to pack my suitcase and join in!
A Merry Little Fling is a cute, spicy and wonderfully easy read that follows a whirlwind holiday romance in Malaysia. I absolutely loved the atmosphere, and the shenanigans between Max and her friends genuinely made me feel like I was part of the group.
The chemistry between Max and Dennis was believable, and I really enjoyed how the author captured that all-consuming feeling of a holiday fling.
I also appreciated the subtle Malaysian cultural references woven throughout the story, which added a lovely sense of place without interrupting the flow.
My only real criticism is that I wanted a little more substance. Whilst the partying, friendship dynamics and spicy encounters were entertaining, I would have loved more meaningful moments between Max and Dennis outside of the group and bedroom.
Overall, a fun and flirty story that delivered on the holiday vibes.
Thank you for the ARC! 💕
A Merry Little Fling is a cute, spicy and wonderfully easy read that follows a whirlwind holiday romance in Malaysia. I absolutely loved the atmosphere, and the shenanigans between Max and her friends genuinely made me feel like I was part of the group.
The chemistry between Max and Dennis was believable, and I really enjoyed how the author captured that all-consuming feeling of a holiday fling.
I also appreciated the subtle Malaysian cultural references woven throughout the story, which added a lovely sense of place without interrupting the flow.
My only real criticism is that I wanted a little more substance. Whilst the partying, friendship dynamics and spicy encounters were entertaining, I would have loved more meaningful moments between Max and Dennis outside of the group and bedroom.
Overall, a fun and flirty story that delivered on the holiday vibes.
Thank you for the ARC! 💕
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this book and getting to meet Max and Dennis on their festive whirlwind holiday romance. The chemistry between the two was there from the beginning and I was rooting for them from the start. The story line moved along quite quickly (as did their relationship) and it was easy enough to keep up with who all the different characters in the book were.
The book followed them from first locking eyes on each other, then bumping into each other on a day out with friends. We followed them getting to know each other and Dennis joining in with Max’s’ group of friends and family over the Christmas period. We saw them both falling in love with each other, yet knowing this was just a holiday romance and they would soon be going their separate ways.
Thank you for this ARC. I loved it and will definitely be reading more from this author.
The book followed them from first locking eyes on each other, then bumping into each other on a day out with friends. We followed them getting to know each other and Dennis joining in with Max’s’ group of friends and family over the Christmas period. We saw them both falling in love with each other, yet knowing this was just a holiday romance and they would soon be going their separate ways.
Thank you for this ARC. I loved it and will definitely be reading more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was definitely A Merry Little Fling!!!
There is nothing quite like a chance encounter halfway across the globe to kick off a romance. I fell in love with the Malaysian setting—the cultural representation was so wonderfully rich.
Knowing their time together had an expiration date had me rooting for the main characters twice as hard. You just know heartbreaks coming, but the payoff? The way everything comes together at the end had me literally screaming and crying. The emotion was so real!
This was my first time diving into a book by Sian Winter, and she completely won me over. I’m already planning my trip through the rest of her backlist!
There is nothing quite like a chance encounter halfway across the globe to kick off a romance. I fell in love with the Malaysian setting—the cultural representation was so wonderfully rich.
Knowing their time together had an expiration date had me rooting for the main characters twice as hard. You just know heartbreaks coming, but the payoff? The way everything comes together at the end had me literally screaming and crying. The emotion was so real!
This was my first time diving into a book by Sian Winter, and she completely won me over. I’m already planning my trip through the rest of her backlist!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2026
This book was super cute. I really enjoyed their love story. I even teared up in the last chapter. Was so beautiful
Review of advance copy received from Author
A MERRY LITTLE FLING by SIAN WINTER ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Merry Little Fling is a novella from the BEST LAID PLANS series
Max returns home to Malaysia for Christmas, looking forward to spending time with family and friends. She’s not expecting to meet handsome, red-headed Dennis on sabbatical and to be instantly attracted to him.
The pair only have a few short days together but they are determined to enjoy every minute of it together….
—————————
This is a cute seasonal read. Set in Kuala Lumpur makes this a bit different to normal seasonal romances and I think it is all the better for it.
Considering the romance is set over just a few days I thought it was paced well. As the relationship develops so there are a couple of open door spicy scenes.
I thought that this story would particularly be suitable for a young adult audience. It’s quite light and there’s no deep suspense, rather it is a sweet introduction to the customs, area and culture of KL.
I read an ebook copy of this book, with around 160 pages, a bright, festive, couples cover and good editing. This book releases on November 19th.
With thanks to Sian Winters for an early copy of this book. All comments are my own honest, unbiased opinion.
🌲 Holiday Fling
🌲 International MCs
🌲 Open Door Spice 🔥🔥
🌲 Young Adult
A Merry Little Fling is a novella from the BEST LAID PLANS series
Max returns home to Malaysia for Christmas, looking forward to spending time with family and friends. She’s not expecting to meet handsome, red-headed Dennis on sabbatical and to be instantly attracted to him.
The pair only have a few short days together but they are determined to enjoy every minute of it together….
—————————
This is a cute seasonal read. Set in Kuala Lumpur makes this a bit different to normal seasonal romances and I think it is all the better for it.
Considering the romance is set over just a few days I thought it was paced well. As the relationship develops so there are a couple of open door spicy scenes.
I thought that this story would particularly be suitable for a young adult audience. It’s quite light and there’s no deep suspense, rather it is a sweet introduction to the customs, area and culture of KL.
I read an ebook copy of this book, with around 160 pages, a bright, festive, couples cover and good editing. This book releases on November 19th.
With thanks to Sian Winters for an early copy of this book. All comments are my own honest, unbiased opinion.
🌲 Holiday Fling
🌲 International MCs
🌲 Open Door Spice 🔥🔥
🌲 Young Adult
Review of advance copy received from Author
I’m not usually a Christmas romance girl, so I went into A Merry Little Fling a little skeptical, and I came out of it pleasantly surprised. This is a short, sweet prequel that sets up a series, and it does exactly what a prequel should: it made me care about these characters and want more of their world.
The travel setting gives the whole book such a fun, whirlwind energy. The chemistry is there from the start, and I loved how easy these two are together. The banter is genuinely funny, the friend group adds a lot of charm, and there were a few moments that had me laughing out loud. Underneath all the fun, there’s just enough emotional weight to keep you invested in where things are headed.
It’s on the spicier side, so know that going in. The heat fits the vibe of a vacation romance.
Overall, it’s a cozy, flirty, quick read that’s perfect if you want something warm this holiday season. It didn’t completely convert me into a Christmas romance reader, but it came close, and I’m definitely curious about the rest of the series.
The travel setting gives the whole book such a fun, whirlwind energy. The chemistry is there from the start, and I loved how easy these two are together. The banter is genuinely funny, the friend group adds a lot of charm, and there were a few moments that had me laughing out loud. Underneath all the fun, there’s just enough emotional weight to keep you invested in where things are headed.
It’s on the spicier side, so know that going in. The heat fits the vibe of a vacation romance.
Overall, it’s a cozy, flirty, quick read that’s perfect if you want something warm this holiday season. It didn’t completely convert me into a Christmas romance reader, but it came close, and I’m definitely curious about the rest of the series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What an absolutely gorgeous little prequel!
Very lucky to be gifted an early read of A Merry Little Fling and it was such a fun way to jump back into the world of A Bump in the Road and spend more time with these characters…but in a completely different setting. And Christmas in Malaysia?! Such a unique backdrop for a festive story and I LOVED it.
Super cute characters, plenty of fun, a holiday love story… or is it?? 👀 And all the warmth, humour and heart that made me love this world in the first place.
There’s something so lovely about getting to know characters you already love from a different angle, and this just made me want more and more from their world.
Cute, festive, funny and ridiculously easy to devour. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
And now I’m back to waiting for the next one…
Waiting.
Waiting.
STILL WAITING, SIAN. 😂❤️
What an absolutely gorgeous little prequel!
Very lucky to be gifted an early read of A Merry Little Fling and it was such a fun way to jump back into the world of A Bump in the Road and spend more time with these characters…but in a completely different setting. And Christmas in Malaysia?! Such a unique backdrop for a festive story and I LOVED it.
Super cute characters, plenty of fun, a holiday love story… or is it?? 👀 And all the warmth, humour and heart that made me love this world in the first place.
There’s something so lovely about getting to know characters you already love from a different angle, and this just made me want more and more from their world.
Cute, festive, funny and ridiculously easy to devour. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
And now I’m back to waiting for the next one…
Waiting.
Waiting.
STILL WAITING, SIAN. 😂❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a story for those that like their Christmas treats a little spicy, I can assure you this one contains red hot cinnamon. I knew that going in, but what I wasn't expecting was a heartfelt tale of instant connection, found family, fierce friendships, fabulous characters and laugh outloud banter. A story that has you fanning yourself, yet also having your heart strings tugged. With perfect pace, and a fast read (it's a novella) I devoured this little gem of a book. The major win for me was the hot climate Christmas representation. Half the world has Christmas in Summer, yet we are still drenched in Winter traditions. This representation of Christmas was so much more authentic for me.... and also I loved learning more about the celebrations in Malaysia. I'm so glad I got to read this one, it was a little piece of joy, and I'm super keen to read Sian's other novels now.
November 3, 2026
Give me friendship, romance, a little heartbreak, and some unexpected chemistry!
I really enjoyed this one! The friendships and romantic storyline made for a fun, entertaining read, and I found myself rooting for the characters.
My one little hang-up? The romance moved a little quicker than I would have liked. I’m more of a slow-burn girlie who loves watching the chemistry build, the tension grow, and the relationship develop along the way. I just wanted a little more of that!
BUT… I still had a great time reading this one! It was sweet, entertaining, and an enjoyable romance.
My verdict: Not quite my ideal slow-burn romance, but still a solid four-star read! ❤️
📚 ARC Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy (ARC) of this book. This review reflects my own honest thoughts and opinions.
I really enjoyed this one! The friendships and romantic storyline made for a fun, entertaining read, and I found myself rooting for the characters.
My one little hang-up? The romance moved a little quicker than I would have liked. I’m more of a slow-burn girlie who loves watching the chemistry build, the tension grow, and the relationship develop along the way. I just wanted a little more of that!
BUT… I still had a great time reading this one! It was sweet, entertaining, and an enjoyable romance.
My verdict: Not quite my ideal slow-burn romance, but still a solid four-star read! ❤️
📚 ARC Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy (ARC) of this book. This review reflects my own honest thoughts and opinions.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sian WinterThis was a spicy holiday romance story that took place in Malaysia. This is the first book I read in this series, but it won’t be the last!
Max returns home with some friends for the holidays. While there, she meets Dennis who is on vacation with a few friends. Max and Dennis have a whirlwind romance and agree not to keep in touch once their “fling” ends after the holidays.
The problem is that they never expected to fall in love in just a few short weeks. However, like all good things, their time must come to an end. Will fate bring them back together again? You must read it to find out!
Max returns home with some friends for the holidays. While there, she meets Dennis who is on vacation with a few friends. Max and Dennis have a whirlwind romance and agree not to keep in touch once their “fling” ends after the holidays.
The problem is that they never expected to fall in love in just a few short weeks. However, like all good things, their time must come to an end. Will fate bring them back together again? You must read it to find out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank Sian for allowing me to review this book.
A Merry Little Fling is a novella from the Best Laid Plan series. It follows Max and Dennis. Max goes home for the holidays and meets Dennis. Max is from Malaysia and Dennis is on a sabbatical in Malaysia for a bit and planning to tour multiple countries.
They end up falling for each. Max lives in England and intends on returning and Dennis plans on finishing his sabbatical. I'm not a person that enjoys an instant love story. However, the way this book was written it pulled me in. I loved the banter between Max, her friends and Dennis. I loved the found family aspect.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will read the rest in the series.
A Merry Little Fling is a novella from the Best Laid Plan series. It follows Max and Dennis. Max goes home for the holidays and meets Dennis. Max is from Malaysia and Dennis is on a sabbatical in Malaysia for a bit and planning to tour multiple countries.
They end up falling for each. Max lives in England and intends on returning and Dennis plans on finishing his sabbatical. I'm not a person that enjoys an instant love story. However, the way this book was written it pulled me in. I loved the banter between Max, her friends and Dennis. I loved the found family aspect.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will read the rest in the series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this one!
It didn't have a 'traditional' Christmassy
vibe, but that's because it's set at Christmas in a hot climate.
I loved how fast-paced the story was
and this was helped by the dual POV. The story was really descriptive, meaning that I really felt like I could visualise where the characters were. The mix of English and Malay also helped - supported by the glossary! There is definitely a whole heap of spice in there and a hilarious group of close friends to keep things interesting.
Overall a fun read! Would recommend!
* This book was provided to me as an advance reader copy (ARC). All thoughts and opinions within this review are my own. *
It didn't have a 'traditional' Christmassy
vibe, but that's because it's set at Christmas in a hot climate.
I loved how fast-paced the story was
and this was helped by the dual POV. The story was really descriptive, meaning that I really felt like I could visualise where the characters were. The mix of English and Malay also helped - supported by the glossary! There is definitely a whole heap of spice in there and a hilarious group of close friends to keep things interesting.
Overall a fun read! Would recommend!
* This book was provided to me as an advance reader copy (ARC). All thoughts and opinions within this review are my own. *
Review of advance copy received from Author
Max and her friends go to Malaysia to celebrate Christmas with their families. On her first day there, Max meets Dennis who is traveling the world trying to figure out what he wants from life. They decide to have a fling while they are in the same place, at the end of which Dennis will resume his traveling. They didn't expect feelings to be involved.
I loved this story so much. Their chemistry, the friendships they had and the found family they nourish. No secrets, no cliffhangers, just a group of friends making the best of what life has to offer. And the puffin? 🩷 What more can be said about the puffin? Thank you for this amazing story.
I loved this story so much. Their chemistry, the friendships they had and the found family they nourish. No secrets, no cliffhangers, just a group of friends making the best of what life has to offer. And the puffin? 🩷 What more can be said about the puffin? Thank you for this amazing story.
October 20, 2026
This was my first introduction to the Best Laid Plans series, and what an intro it was! I absolutely loved Max and Dennis. Love at first sight, lots of spice, and a tropical Christmas romance? What’s not to love?!
This was a fun, quick read with great chemistry, plenty of spice, and a holiday fling that had me smiling. I’m a sucker for holiday romance, and this one did not disappoint!
Need a fun, spicy holiday read? Add this one to your TBR! ❤️📚 I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of the Best Laid Plans series!
This was a fun, quick read with great chemistry, plenty of spice, and a holiday fling that had me smiling. I’m a sucker for holiday romance, and this one did not disappoint!
Need a fun, spicy holiday read? Add this one to your TBR! ❤️📚 I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of the Best Laid Plans series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A little Christmas magic, a little flirting, and just enough spice!
First off thank you for the ARC!!
This book had all the right feels to get me into the holiday spirit! It was fun, flirty, and full of those Christmas vibes we love, with just enough spice to keep things interesting. 😉🔥
The main characters felt relatable, making it easy to connect with them and get caught up in their story. It was the perfect mix of romance, holiday gathering, and a little heat! ❤️
The verdict! A cute, holiday novella to start off the holiday season reading.
First off thank you for the ARC!!
This book had all the right feels to get me into the holiday spirit! It was fun, flirty, and full of those Christmas vibes we love, with just enough spice to keep things interesting. 😉🔥
The main characters felt relatable, making it easy to connect with them and get caught up in their story. It was the perfect mix of romance, holiday gathering, and a little heat! ❤️
The verdict! A cute, holiday novella to start off the holiday season reading.
November 7, 2026
Well.. thanks to Sian for letting me be an Arc reader for this.
I did enjoy the story of Max & Dennis - the location, the partying and cool vibes were all descriptive and really set the scene. It had good humour throughout.
The romance built up nicely and then POW the spice 😉
It was obviously quite a quick read, and at times it did feel rushed but was packed with goodness! Overall, it was a great little spicy festive read! 🫶🏻
I did enjoy the story of Max & Dennis - the location, the partying and cool vibes were all descriptive and really set the scene. It had good humour throughout.
The romance built up nicely and then POW the spice 😉
It was obviously quite a quick read, and at times it did feel rushed but was packed with goodness! Overall, it was a great little spicy festive read! 🫶🏻
October 27, 2026
ARC Review
Loved the sweet and spicy nature of this novella! The yearning and short timeframe tee up plenty of mischief. This is probably a me thing, but the frequent use of “honey” felt off.
Loved the sweet and spicy nature of this novella! The yearning and short timeframe tee up plenty of mischief. This is probably a me thing, but the frequent use of “honey” felt off.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews