Lyra was determined to have a classic, good old-fashioned, traditional Christmas this year complete with snow, gingerbread houses, lights, and wrapped presents. Even if that meant she had to have it completely on her own.
And that was the plan as she drove out of the City and up into the steep hills of Vermont toward some secluded cabins where she could have what was totallynot going to be a depressing head-in-the-oven-Christmas-For-One.
She never quite made it to the cabins. And, along the way, found that while a Christmas alone wasn’t all that great, a Christmas for two, yeah, that was pretty amazing…
* This is a short, sweet, insta-lust, insta-love story with a ton of sweet moments and a lot of steam. Very explicit sexual content.
Jessica Gadziala is a USA Today bestselling author who lives in rural New Jersey with her parrots, dogs, and an ever-growing collection of houseplants. A lifelong dreamer, she’s been writing stories since childhood and published her first book in 2015. When not at her desk, she’s usually feeding backyard birds, rewatching crime dramas, period pieces, and 90s supernatural TV shows, or adding to her towering stacks of unread books.
Unwrapped is by Jessica Gadziala. I recently just found this author. I first saw her book, “Stuffed,” about a month ago and fell head over heels in love with it. So, when I saw that she had a Christmas novella coming out, I was beside myself.
Lyra Matthews (I love the name Lyra) has never really experienced Christmas. She lives in New York and works at front desk reception at a hospital. She always volunteers to work on Christmas. But she is almost thirty years old and this year she is determined to finally give herself the biggest Christmas experience ever. So, she cashes in all her vacation days, packs up the car and heads up to Vermont to Coral Cabins where she will decorate, bake, cook a Christmas feast, and every other cliché Christmas task she can come up with.
What Lyra didn’t plan for was a full on blizzard. The weather forecast was for flurries. It didn’t take long for the roads to be covered in thick snow and ice. She hadn’t seen another car in ages. Except for the one that ran right through the intersection and right into her.
Jack hadn’t expected anyone to be up here on the mountain. So maybe he didn’t completely stop at that intersection. Until his truck ran right into her.
Jack brings Lyra home to his beautiful home in the woods. With the storm piling up the snow, the roads are closed. So, if Lyra wants to experience Christmas, she’s going to have to alter her plans. She’ll have it here,. And Jack will make sure it’s the best Christmas he can give her.
“I could have her for a short while. But that was all there was for us. She would leave. She would go back to her life. All we would have was the memory of that one time, that one Christmas, that one perfect happenstance that led her to me.”
This book was perfect. It was everything a Christmas book should be. Jack was about the most perfect lumberjack mountain man ever! And Lyra. I think she might just be my favorite female heroine. With everything in her past, she could easily be so different than the person she was. This woman decided she wanted Christmas and she attacked every single task associated with it with gusto. And conquered every single one.
You had to know that man plus woman being trapped in a beautiful mountain home during a snow storm at Christmas equals instalove. And I loved every single second of it. These two were perfect. Their time together was perfect. But what happens when the storm is over and the roads are cleared? Will either of them ever be the same?
All I can say is READ THIS! It is hot, sweet, silly, and perfect. What else can you ask for. Oh, and Merry Christmas.
I am not a Holiday person and I haven't been in the Christmas spirit this year, but this book changed all of that. I truly felt so happy while reading and even felt like decorating my house once I finished. Lyra just had such a fun personality that it was infectious and I couldn't help but smile the whole time I was reading about her.
Her and Jack were truly wonderful characters and I loved them together. Their story may have been short but that didn't stop Jessica from adding the perfect amount of hotness into this book. And by that I mean it was ridiculously sexy and I loved every moment of their relationship. Overall, this is definitely a recommended read from me and I hope everyone will give it a chance, even if holiday reads aren't your thing.
The perfect way to start Christmas reads! I instantly added this to my TBR because I have enjoyed Jessica's shorties in the past and I got so excited when she announced another holiday-themed one! I really enjoyed her Thanksgiving short (Stuffed: A Thanksgiving Romance) but this one was even better for me!
Unwrapped was sexy AF, emotional and funny! Who complains about that? Let me add that it has a super-hot lumberjack (named Jack! lol) in the mix who is the perfect man for Lyra! They were so sweet and amazing together and I loved that beautiful epilogue!
So yeah, I am rating this with my especial 6 STARS rating because I loved everything about it! Want a romantic shortie to get in the mood for Christmas? Be sure to check this one out!
I already know that it won't be my last because I enjoyed the characters, the fun, hot, and beautiful moments of connection between them, and the wonderful sense of humor within this Christmas themed tale.
I really liked Jack and Lyra and did a lot of chuckling throughout my reading of this book.
So, if I liked it so much, why didn't I give it a higher rating?
The ending.
Prepare ye for spoilers within:
That being said, I thought the epilogue was sweet and there was so much I liked about this book despite the aspects where it just, unfortunately, didn't work for me.
This author has definite talent and I like the way she writes and brings her scenes to life.
As I stated above, I plan to read more from her in future.
This short story was so good. I m a huge fan of this author and I m luvin these holiday novella. They are hot sexy and full of action. The characters in this book were really good u have Lyra who asnt had a great life growing up. Lyra is now tryin to make better she as never had a good Christmas her memories r really not good so she plans on making better. Meeting Jack mite just make it better.
Jack is a lumberjack and OMG he's HOT like really HOT the whole beard hard muscles and red plaid shirt is just to sexy. Him and Lyra don't meet under great circumstances but Jack makes it al better and helps Lyra make great Christmas memories. There's get very hot between quick. They have both had bad Christmas so they both wanted to make this one together great. But al good things have to come to end.
This had a brilliant story and had a great flow. I really enjoyed it. The characters were very likable. There wasn't much that I didn't like about this book. I never really read holiday themed books but this really did such me in. I highly recommend it xxx.
3.5 Lyra is a orphan and never had a Christmas like she always wanted. The ones like she sees in movies. So she gathers all the things that will make a perfect Christmas and heads to the mountains. Jack who lives on the mountain hits her car during a snowstorm and totals it. So in order to make it up to her he invites her to stay at his home. When Lyra realizes that she won't be able to get to her cabin she asks Jack if she can make her perfect Christmas at his home even though he is not a big fan a Christmas. When he agrees, she sets out to make her dream come true and Jack who wants her to have it helps make her have the best Christmas ever. Only thing is what happens after Christmas is over and they go back to their own lives.
I love the first part of this book. It was sweet, sexy and funny without trying hard to be humorous(this is the type of book where the humor comes from a natural place). The problem for me came at the end. I hated how them getting together went. It took so long and I hated how the hero and heroine went about everything after Christmas. They didn't even try to talk to one another and so to me it brought down what would have been a sweeter and better story in my opinion. I hate long separations in books and I hated how the reconcilation went about. It made what could have been a 5 star sweet story go down for me. So while it was still a really good sweet book the second part after Christmas took it down.
3.5 stars!! Very cute Christmas story that was slightly ruined for me by the h having to go to the H in the end for them to get their HEA. He should've chased her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Omg this Christmas novella was short and so sweet. I loved every minute of it, it went by so fast but so worth the price to get a taste of this lumberjack and festive romance. Thankyou for such a awesome read🎁🎁
I read this author's Thanksgiving novella, "Stuffed"- which I loved. I just had to read her Christmas novella. There's quite the meet-cute. It could have gone terribly wrong. This is a (insta) love story (novella), so of course it wound up being a cozy, little snowed in holiday, steamy, sexy good time. The back woods of Vermont a couple of days before Christmas. Lyra, the heroine had never had a real Christmas celebration. She explains why in the very beginning of the book. Jack is a husky burly he-man that suddenly meets Lyra on her way to her Christmas for one. This is 1st person alternating Lyra & Jack. There does seem to be more Lyra's POV. Jack's character isn't developed as much as Lyra. I liked the immediate mutual attraction. Which was good -since SNOW. Lots of SNOW. Jack was all alpha and taking care of Lyra. Lyra brought her Christmas spirit that she was determined to display. Jack's way of speaking reminded me a lot of KA's heroes. Clipped sentences and if I could hear him, he would be kinda gravely and monotone. There's a lot of steam... in the middle of a snow storm! There was only one supporting character- Felix. Oddly, I didn't mind his distraction. I did mind the few months separation near the end. AND Jack, uh hem, I wanted to light a fire under YOU. What the hell?! Apathy? Where's your alpha-ness? I loved Lyra's development. Way to go girl. The very ending was really good & the epilogue was into the future and tied up very well. The was a fairly complete story in this novella. 4 stars.
Sex under the tree? Yes, please It's gotta be a good Christmas book for me to read it off-season, but this was sexy, sweet, low-angst, and festive without being vomit inducing. Thanks to JG for a great read!
Jack the lumberjack will plow his way into melting your heart and other things in this sexy, snowy, holiday love story of two people who hadn't had the Christmas spirit in a long time. One had never experienced it and the other didn't feel like ever celebrating it after a tragedy from childhood. This was a very heartwarming story about two souls connecting and giving the other a Christmas experience they will never forget.
So I guess if Santa doesn't send me one I'll just have to go out driving in the mountains during a snow storm and hope I run into my lumberjack ! Loved this sweet and sexy holiday story of 2 people finding love in an unexpected way!
This is one of my favorite authors and again the book didn't disappoint. The way the characters are done make me feel like I am watching a movie in my head. The plot is one that pulls me in and makes me feel like I am watching it happen.
This was such a pleasant surprise! I really enjoyed reading this and the writing was great. Honestly I wasn't expecting much from the bad cover, but I will definitely read more from this author. Fast, cute read!!
A quick, spicy, insta love read about Lyra (who's never had Christmas) & Jack (who hasn't had Christmas in 10 yrs) meeting during a car wreck & spending the Christmas vacation at Jack's house. Lyra goes all out for the Christmases she hasn't had & Jack gets to receive the joy of having Christmas again. Quick and fun
3.25-3.5 stars. This was a pretty good read, but it did have something that bothered me. This was Lyra and Jack's story. Lyra gets in a car accident on her way up to a cabin in Vermont to celebrate Christmas for her first time ever (and she will be by herself). Her car is hit by Jack, who is a loner/Lumberjack type that lives along in his own cabin. Lyra gets snowed in with Jack. As they spend a few days together and celebrate all the great things about the Christmas season, they find they like each other. They do have chemistry and are sweet together, but I do not think it was insta-love or even insta-lust. It was more like insta-like. But after they are no longer snowed in, Lyra leaves and goes back home. I was expecting more. They do eventually find their way back together, but it takes a whole year! I just wasn't buying that they fell in love and then neither of them tried to contact the other for a whole year. It didn't fit with the insta-love that the author was trying to push, IMO. It was Lyra who came to Jack and I don't think he would have ever gone to her. So I wasn't buying that they were in love. Still a sweet, but frustrating at times, quick read though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Unwrapped is a wonderful, feel good short story about two lonely people who meet and celebrate their best Christmas ever.
Lyra and Jack are both really good characters. Lyra has this upbeat personality and is kind and sweet. Jack is this hot lumberjack who's all masculine and sexy. They're perfect together and you can't help but hope their chance meeting is fate stepping in to bring them together.
I would love to see Lyra and Jack again as well as their friend Felix. He needs his happy ending too.
This one was ok, I have been meaning to read this author but I have been waiting for updated version of Reign. So when I saw this I had to read it. I didn't really feel the connection between hero and heroine. I didn't like the 11 month separation for no good reason and I didn't like not knowing what or who they did while separated. The hurdle that kept them apart for 11 months, was an 8 hour drive. So this will not be a book I read again. I will still give Reign a shot once it's rereleased.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Couldn't be better. I loved every...single...word! This is a 10 star story. Perfect in its simple, heartfelt and charged story, with just the write length to read in a short night before bed. Sweeeet dreams!
4⭐️ I loved this! This is my go to Author for Holiday reads and the only complaint I have about them is that they’re to short and sometimes needs better editing. I read a lot of Christmas books hoping to get in the mood for Christmas and most of them suck, but I’m never disappointed in her books. They’re fun, sexy and have lots of yummy chemistry.
Aww, Jessica!! You made me miss Christmas time so badly, even if it's a few weeks away! This book contained all the Holiday spirit one can get! ♡
Being alone and always working on holidays, Lyra decides that this year will be different. She surely deserves it. With her car full of Christmas shoppings she drives toward Coral Cabins where she plans on doing the real deal. A decorated tree, cooking, presents - everything you can think of. But on the way there, thanks to the bad weather, her car gets hit by a truck. A truck drived by a lumberjack named Jack.
Jack who most definitely doesn't have a torture room to kill her in. Instead he takes her to his place (the most beautiful home she had seen) and takes care of her head wound and having nowhere to go with the snow piling up, he lets her stay there until she would be able to drive again. Giving into her pleas to have a real holiday they build a snow man, chop a tree, cook the turkey, decorate the house - Jack finds himself really liking her there. With her little singing, the energy she puts into whatever she's doing and her beauty she manages to capture the attention and heart of a man who was alone for too long now.
Loved the book and the characters! The story was short and sweet and perfect for a quiet night! Thank you, Jessica!
"So i drove out of the City. I drove North. I drove through a snowstorm. I drove up a mountain.
And i drove right up to a house that held my heart captive inside."
DISCLAIMER TO MY FELLOW GOODREADER This review is my personal opinion and may contain: spoilers, quotes, rants and swearing.
29 year old Lyra Matthews was brought up in the system after her alcoholic parents died when she was 10. She never celebrated a traditional Christmas. After years is working non-stop including every holiday, Lyra decides to take a tip to Vermont to have her very first Christmas. She never anticipated she would not make it to the cabin she rented. Or the snow storm that stranded her. Or the act of fate disguised as a truck barreling into her stalled car. Or the bearded Lumberjack that changed everything.
"In that moment, she was mine. And something about that sure felt right."
Dear Santa - All I want for Christmas is for Jessica to keep pouring her mind, body and soul into her books. She writes them and I read them. We have a simple relationship. Whether I'm naughty or nice, this is all I want.
Lyra has never experienced a real Christmas. So she is determined to celebrate it this year...all alone, but with all the fanfare that she thinks or has seen, that a perfect Christmas should have 🤷🏻♀️ She takes all the vacation days she has left, buys as many decorations and groceries as she can take with and makes her way to Vermont, where she rented a cabin. What she didn't expected is icy roads, a snow storm and a maniac who rans into her car with his truck.
After the accident and with the storm in full force, Jack has no choice but to take Lyra home with him. A beautiful secluded cabin in the mountains.
You want to know what happened then? Then you have to read this amazing short holiday story. I love it to pieces ❤❤❤
This was the sweetest little holiday read! Unwrapped had the right amount of highs, a few lows and a perfect ending. There were also some good laughs thanks to the quirky, sweet Lyra. I definitely recommend reading this book, it was full of warmth, cheer, and everything that makes Christmas and love wonderful!
Love, love, love!!!!! One of the best Christmas books I've read in all time. Jessica did it again with a wonderful novella that touched my heart. A hot lumberjack named Jack ummmm yes please. I love that we got a great epilogue and the story was so complete. Everyone should read!