Love Me By Christmas

by Jaci Burton, Samantha Cook (Narrator)

Listening time 4 hours 7 minutes

A sexy, standalone novel from the New York Times & USA TODAY bestselling author of the Play-by-Play series and Hope series.

Ellie Washington lost her husband in a tragedy five years ago at Christmas. She wouldn’t have made it through her grief if not for her husband’s brother, Nick, who helped her pick up the pieces of her shattered life. And with every year, her feelings for Nick have grown. Now she realizes she might be in love with him, but that’s not fair, because Nick deserves a life that isn’t about his brother’s widow and son.

Sharing his life with Ellie and her son has been the balm that soothed Nick’s soul after losing his brother. Now that friendship has turned into something deeper. Nick doesn’t want to upset the status quo, but someone has to make the first move, and it’s time they figure out if their feelings are real. Nick believes in what they have. He also believes in Christmas miracles, and he thinks they’re both long overdue for one.

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Audiobook, Holiday, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Novella

Audible Audio

First published November 6, 2017

About the author

Jaci Burton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of over 85 books. She lives in Oklahoma and when she isn’t on deadline (which is often), she can usually be found wrestling with her uncooperative garden, wrangling her dogs, watching an unhealthy amount of television, or completely losing track of time reading a great book. She’s a total romantic and longs for the happily ever after in every story, which you’ll find in all her books.. Visit her website at www.jaciburton.com for excerpts, book information and contests.

Reviews

[FMABookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous start to the holiday season, 'Love Me By Christmas' is a passionate and tender friends-to-lovers romance!

*Full Review To Come*

**I was voluntarily provided this free review copy. This did not influence my opinion of the book nor my review.**

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars
90% of this book is Ellie pushing away Nick, pushing other women his way and constantly doing everything she can to show him they shouldn’t be together because he’s her dead husbands brother. Forget the fact that Nick has devoted the last 5 years to Ellie, having her live in his house and helping to raise her son, putting his life on hold and not even dating for 5 years. Ellie was really annoying and ruined the book for me.

[cyd⭐️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

starting new 4-5 hour long audiobooks instead of finishing the old ones 🤝 me

ughhh as much as i love christmas books this one just fell a little bit flat. ⋆⁺₊❅. 3
it had an extremely tragic story (her husband dying), but the writing wasn’t my favorite. and the fact it’s ex brother in law? the kids used to calling him Uncle now he’s going to call him Daddy? 😐

I did like the tension tho, it felt real, idk how to explain it. like they both know they shouldn't but they want to? I don't know.
however it threw me off that it was a dual pov but there was only one narrator? maybe it's just a me thing. 😔🤷‍♀️

--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//--//-

☃꙳·❅°*˖ my final thoughts:
it was a perfectly cute book, just not for me! I liked the characters and I thought the son (Henry) actually acted like a 4 year old boy. and in the end the writing actually got better imo. + the greys anatomy reference?? 🙂‍↕️❤️
so I guess its just their relationship from before her husband passed that's bugging me. 🤷‍♀️

‧₊˚🎄✩ ₊˚🦌⊹♡

(3/5)⭐️🍕

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas is a very difficult time for Ellie Washington. Five years ago her husband died at Christmas leaving her pregnant and alone. Thanks to the help of her husband’s brother, Nick, Ellie made it through for the sake of her child. As time went on, Nick and Ellie grew closer. The only father her son ever knew is Nick, but Ellie fears she is holding Nick back from having a life of his own.

Although devastated by his brother’s death, Nick found comfort with Ellie and her son. They gave his life meaning, but now Nick wants more. Christmas is a hard time for his family, but he intends to be there for Ellie and her son. He is terribly confused when she suddenly pushes him away, especially when he wants to be even closer.

Ellie and Nick’s story is both sad and heartwarming. It’s a chance for two lost souls to be together even after going through the worst tragedy of their lives. Their romance sizzles and your heart goes out to these two.

I never read anything by this author, but I’ve wanted to for a long time. I loved her writing style and how quickly this short story moved along. It’s a lovely romance for the Christmas holiday time of year. I’ll definitely be looking at this author’s backlist.



FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Richelle Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I love the holidays I’m on a never ending quest to read as many holiday reads as I can. I wanted to like this story but certain things didn’t work out in my favor. I found the main character Ellie to be very wishy washy and it was so annoying. I get her reservations but even after her talk with Nick she would still go back and forth and it got to be annoying. I loved how her best friend called her out on her actions as well as Nick. Another issue I had with the story was by the time it got good the story was over. The ending felt very rushed and I was hoping for more between the two characters.

*ARC Review*

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an easy read you guys. I read it from start to finish in one evening. GAH, how I've missed reading Jaci Burton! This was a sweet and poignant romance story. One of the best close-proximity reads I have read in a very long time. You know, a lot of times with close proximity story-lines, the HEA doesn't seem realistic to me, but Jaci did an exceptional job with this one. She also made sure to not brush off some really important life circumstances that were added into the mix.

Right about now you're thinking to yourself ... could this reviewer be any more vague?! LOL Yes, I actually could LOL I just don't want to tell you about the journey of Ellie and Nick any more than the blurb already has or you will miss out of experiencing this outstanding story of family, growth, trust, letting go, taking chances and fate :) with a clean slate in your mind. No details. It's the best way! #TRUST

Copy provided by the publisher for blog tour review

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an awesome story! It was sweet and fun with the perfect mix of emotion added in. By the end, my heart was pretty much exploding with happiness. :-)

This had everything I love rolled up into one impactful story. The story jumps right in with all the important details and introductions and I immediately wanted Nick and Ellie to have their happily ever after. I totally understood their conflict and why they were holding back. Their attraction to the other is really fun and cute, all the longing and looks. It had me smiling big time. It was so sweet watching their shields come down as they let their attraction out. Nick was so kind and caring and Ellie was just so strong with all that had happened in her life. I loved their internal struggle to work through everything. They had a wonderful connection and ease with one another and really like how everything grew so naturally.

I thought the writing was great. There are excellent details and a really nice cast of characters. There was a great build and pace as well. The story moved along at a quick pace but it never felt rushed or like it was missing anything. There was so much emotion and that ending, it was all I could do not to ball my eyes out. It was just a sweet, cathartic moment. Add some sexy times in to round it all out and it was pretty great read.

I love an HEA that leaves my heart feeling full and that’s exactly what happened. Wonderful story full of so much love, strength, and healing. Fantastic read.

Complimentary copy received for honest review.

[shms · Rating 1 out of 5]

My review is not a reflection of the writing, not at all. but the romance. The story of the widow and brother in law finding love was possibly too weighty for a novella format. We got all sorts of short cuts to keep the romance moving, and a set up which was frankly unbelievable. I was also bored and took to skimming some bits.

[Kayla (In Between The pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to send a huge thank you to Sullivan and Partners for sending this beauty out for review. Ya'll are amazing. And I can't thank you enough for how good you take care of us bloggers.
💓💓💓

So before this book, the only Jaci Burton ones I had read had been her sports romances (which I absolutely love FYI)
So of course when the opportunity to read and review this baby came up, I just had to snap it up.
And I mean literally. It made it to my kindle and I for realisies snapped up my kindle and got lost in this amazing book for a few hours until I had to go to work.

Jaci just has this way of writing stories that really pull you in. She writes some incredibly relatable and when it comes down to it, pretty dimensional characters as well.

You can sympathize with them so well. And I always find myself so drawn into their stories.

But it isn't just her ability to write such memorable characters either. It's the story itself too. She wrote such an adorable holiday story. And yes, there were parts that just made me ache for these characters, but I couldn't help but just love how their story progressed. Watching the romance bloom.

This book honestly kinda took me on a ride.
It's such a cute little Christmas book.

I loved the almost hallmark movie type quality the story had. Because let's face it. I am a hallmark Christmas movie addict, so what can I say? haha.

But the story itself was pretty sweet and special. It was a sentimental one. And honestly just a pure good holiday romance.

I'm not sure this classifies as a 2nd chance romance in the traditional sense. Since it isn't the whole 2 people falling out and than finding each other again. But more a being able to move forward from tragedy type thing, with the person you don't think you should be with.
But that's kinda what I consider this one in way.
I liked how sweet the underlining theme was on this one.

My only complaint honestly, was my issues with Ellie. It's no secret I'm never the fondest of female characters. It's rare I like one. And sadly Ellie didn't do it for me. I just didn't like her wishy washyness for a majority of the book. I found myself wanting to reach into the book and strangle her. Tell her to get it together haha. But at the same time I could understand where she was coming from too. And as I said, the characters are all pretty dimensional, so that's really just one part of who she is through the book.

And we can't forget that adorable little boy and the one hunky man that redeemed my little issues (that are purely mine. And not anything against the story plot itself. I'm weird like that)

They added that nice buffer and almost tenderness I needed to kinda understand why Ellie was the way she was. Even if it drove me crazy.
And Nick, he's just one of those characters you fall in insta-love with. He's so kind and caring. And oh man...The total sweetheart package. And the way he is with his nephew. A girl can't help but adore that haha.

I give LOVE ME BY CHRISTMAS
⭐⭐⭐⭐4 STARS⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Kimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

✮ ✮ ✮Love Me By Christmas ✮ ✮ ✮

✮ ✮ By:Jaci Burton✮ ✮

5 Totally Loved Stars!

Love Me by Christmas was the second book by Jaci Burton that I’ve read.  After reading this book I’ve gone back and moved the rest of the Play-by-Play series books up on my TBR list.  

Love Me by Christmas was one of those books that while reading you can totally see this book being a movie on the Hallmark Countdown to Christmas.  I just didn’t want this book to end.

Elle lost her husband in a fire right before Christmas almost 5 years ago, while pregnant.  Since her husband, John’s death she has not been into Christmas but has just been going through the motions for her 4 year old son Henry.  

Five years ago, one Christmas had signed what she thought was the end of her life.

Over the last 5 years Elle and Henry have been living with John’s brother Nick.  During these 5 years Nick and Elle have been helping each other coping with John’s death and raising Henry.  However over the last couple of years something between Elle and Nick has shifted from healing each other into something more.  

Are the feeling’s that Elle and Nick now feel real or are these just from helping each other heal?

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellie Washington has come to terms with her husbands death and devoted her time raising her son. Fortunately she had the help of her husbands brother, Nick. However, Ellie is beginning to develop feelings for Nick that are far from from sisterly and she does not know what to do about it.

Nick doesn't know what to make of Ellie's behavior lately, when it is revealed why Ellie has been different towards Nick they begin to explore what they have. The problem is Ellie believes she is holding Nick back and is willing to let him go for his shot at happiness, will Nick feel the same?

Festive story, I felt for Ellie but wish she didn't get in her head so much. Liked Nick, he is a great hero who you want more of with every page. If you are looking for a holiday read, this is one to pick up.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

If life is that kind of easy, love can heal everything, no more troubles then.

Anyway, having something positive n show u life wasn’t that bad is good four soul, especially when you r in your hard time, drowning, with so much pressure, like rocks on your chest.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a sweet holiday read, Love Me By Christmas is perfect. Nick and Ellie's story had me hooked from the beginning and has just the right blend of emotions. I only wish it had been longer. It's definitely one to pick up!

[Erica Paré · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great romance holiday type novel! Ellie is living with her brother in law after her husband died. She has a little boy that Nick helps to raise along with her. From the start you can tell that the relationship they have is almost like husband and wife raising a family together. Nick does everything for his nephew and Ellie. When they both start to realize that they have feelings for each other, things change.

My favorite character in this book is Nick. He just seems like such and a good loving and caring guy. Like we have so many kids out there that there fathers arent even around and here we have Nick, who loves his nephew like hes his own. Makes my heart flutter haha

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was 3.5 stars for me. I loved the hero, but the heroine, not so much. Due to this, I wasn’t as invested as I should have been in their budding relationship.

Ellie Washington lost her husband 5 years ago tragically, near Christmas time. She was pregnant with their son at the time, and had no other family. Her husband’s brother, Nick, moved her into his house, and they grieved together, and took care of each other during their time of mourning. Then, when her son Henry was born, Nick helped her out immensely. He’s always been there to pitch in with Henry’s care, and whenever Ellie needs anything. She’s started to have new feelings for NIck, but she’s afraid that she’s trapped him in a life he didn’t choose, with herself and her son. So, she’s determined to set Nick free, even if part of her feels like she’s losing her own future happiness to do it.

Nick Washington loved his brother, and he grieved his death. But, the last couple of years he’s started to feel a lot more toward his brother’s widow than a normal brother-in-law’s affection. He also loves Henry as if he were his own son. He’s decided that he can’t live without Ellie, and wants to be honest about his feelings, but he’s very unsure where she stands, and he doesn’t want to push her away. They’ve been in a very comfortable existence for the last 5 years, so what happens when he rocks the boat?

Ellie and Nick started as family, and then became true friends, and confidantes, over the last 5 years. They’ve both been comfortable with their arrangement, and didn’t want to cause any waves. They’ve both developed strong feelings for each other, but have not wanted to say anything for fear of everything changing. However, once Ellie realizes Nick’s feelings, instead of being happy, it makes her feel guilty. She’s worried that she’s trapped Nick with herself and her son, and she’s convinced she needs to set him free. How can he know what he feels for her is real when he hasn’t dated any other women in 5 years?

I loved Nick. He was an amazing hero, and he was such a good, sweet, sexy man. Ellie, however, was a different story. I had a hard time connecting with her, and I felt some of her decisions were not only misguided, but flat out dumb. She made some unilateral decisions that hurt both herself, and Nick, and would have eventually hurt her son as well. She thought she was doing the “right thing”, but really, she was just scared. I get that she lost her husband tragically, and anyone would be afraid to move on romantically after that, especially with her dead husband’s brother, and all the drama that could entail. But, mostly, she just made me mad. I wanted to smack her around and tell her how stupid she was being. Her best friend Fran was a great side character, and she was able to say exactly how I was feeling when she and Ellie were discussing Ellie’s issues, and I felt so vindicated.

I typically love Jaci Burton’s books, but unfortunately this one was just OK for me. This was mostly due to my issues with the heroine. I just had a hard time relating to her, and that didn’t grow much better throughout the story. I was glad with the book’s outcome, but getting there was not easy breezy for me. I still look forward to what’s next from this author, as always, especially with her Play-By-Play sports series!

ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Megan from Alpha Book Club

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute. I saw it on my library audiobook app and decided to give it a try. It was super short and didn't take me long to listen to at all. It wasn't the best NA book i've read but it was cute.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a feel good, then again, it must for it to be a Christmas story :)

Ellie loved her husband so much, his tragic death nearly crushed her, the only balm to her soul, her unborn child. That’s when Nick, her brother in law, stepped up and took care of her and her son. They have both been living with him and grew to be a tight knit family of sorts.

Now, though, five years later, Ellie finds that she’s having feelings for Nick, and those feelings grow with every day passing. In her mind, though, she realizes Nick hasn’t been on a date throughout the time she’s been living with him and feels like she’s holding him back from living his life. Add to that feeling like she’s betraying her dead husband, and you have yourself one lustful yet tortured young woman. She is determined to find him a girlfriend.

Now that he’s had years to recover from losing his brother and caring for his widow, Nick is pretty sure his friendship and “brotherly affection” to her has grown and he is in love with Ellie, but feels like if he acts on it, he’ll ruin everything. When he discovers Ellie is fixing him up with her friends from work, he sabotages the set-ups with ridiculous and mischievous little tricks.

Can you imagine how fun them realizing they need to be together is? Adorable story is adorable, and just perfect to kick off the holiday season.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kobo+ Christmas Romance 2024. Tropes: Christmas Romance, Husband's brother, Widow, Single Parent and Child.
MC's h. Elle Washington, widow with son, husband died 5 years ago. H Nick Washington, brother to deceased, he has been there to support Elle and her son these past 5 years.
This is a book I started a couple of years ago and DNF.
Comments: I finished this book finally. It was sweet and heartwarming. The F MC had a lot of guilt about moving one after her hubby died. The brother of her husband and she fell in lover gradually over 5 years. Her son already thought of his Uncle like a father and they conveniently lived in his house already. With her mother in law's advice and her best girlfriend she finally put the past behind her and took the courage to ask her brother in law to marry her. Cute HEA! I rated this with 4 stars.
******************************************************************************

[Suzi (Obsessive Reading Disorder) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great, feel good holiday story! Ellie has been grieving her husband for 5 years. Pregnant when he died, her brother-in-law took her in and helped her while also trying to get through his own grief. They are best friends. It just took the magic of the season to help Ellie realize she could move on and find love again. Of course, her adorable little boy makes this read even more magical. Nick helps her to find happiness again. Loved the family support and acceptance.

Great read for the season!

*Complimentary copy provided for an honest review.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love holiday stories because they tend to put into perspective what’s most important in life, offering insights into the wonders of love, faith, and devotion and illustrating the miracles that can happen as long as people are willing to task a risk and grab hold of what life is offering them.

In Love Me By Christmas, Jaci Burton gives readers Ellie and Nick’s story – one that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking due to the circumstances that brought them together. For the past five years, since losing her husband, Ellie hasn’t truly been living, partly because she doesn’t know how to move on after such a devastating loss and partly because the guilt she feels about perhaps finding love again, with her deceased husband’s brother, forces her to keep Nick at arm’s length regardless of how alive she feels with him by her side.

Burton truly captures Ellie’s conflicted feelings throughout the novella. Is it frustrating to witness her hot/cold demeanor when it comes to Nick and what she wants/needs from him? Absolutely, but it’s the reality of her situation. Grief and now guilt dictate Ellie’s words and actions and until she’s truly ready to let her husband go, she’ll never be able to move on with Nick because no matter how much her heart wants her to, illogically, in her mind, it seems wrong to feel what she does for Nick due to their forced connection and no one can change her mind but herself.

Nick has to be one of the most patient and loving heroes I’ve read about in quite some time. Opening his home and his heart to his brother’s widow when he was dealing with his own grief is above and beyond what any family member should do, but there was no other action to be taken from his perspective because Ellie is family and Nick is all about his family.

There were a number of times in the story where Nick could have given up on building a life with Ellie as a man and a woman in love, but no matter how frustrated or hurt Ellie’s actions made him, he still ONLY ever saw her by his side, so the payoff of his faith in her and them allowed Ellie to have the strength and the courage to follow her heart instead of her head.

Love Me By Christmas definitely got me in the holiday spirit and it also made me smile and swoon because Nick, Ellie, and Henry have been a perfect little family from the start, even if it took them a bit more time for John’s Christmas Miracle to play out.

4 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something comforting about reading a Jaci Burton holiday story.  It's one of the things I look forward to around this time of year.  She always manages to embody everything I want to see in a holiday read.  LOVE ME BY CHRISTMAS is a standalone holiday novella about a widow who has been struggling to find her footing while raising her child.  A child she was only pregnant with when her husband passed away.  And through all those changes she's had the incredible support of her brother in law.  Now, years later, she's still living with him and maybe she's realizing she should either move out or act on the attraction that's been slowly simmering lately between them.

I am normally not the biggest fan of the setup here because your husbands' brother can be a little creepy.  But Jaci tackled this in such a great way!  I'm not sure if it's the time that's passed or how their attraction developed, but this just had me rooting for them to just get together already from the start.  And she also addressed the concern of not wanting to immediately crossing a line because of that same thing.  I think this was done very realistically.  By the same token, I got a little annoyed at times with Ellie's decisions and way of thinking.  I guess that can be both a good and a bad thing?

If you want a sweet romance with of the holiday spirit of family and togetherness that's found in holiday reads, then look no further.  This is a short story so you'll breeze through it and it definitely put a smile on my face.

*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever had a moment where you are so excited to finally read a book from a particular author? It had been so long since I read something by Jaci Burton, I actually convinced myself that she's a new-to-me author. Turns out I read books one and two in her Wild Riders series many, many moons ago. From what I remember I loved those books... Not sure why I didn't finish the series. Let's not even talk about her Play by Play series. I think those will be one of my goals for next year.

In Burton's new standalone, Love Me By Christmas, readers meet Nick and Ellie. Thrown together by her husband's tragic death, it is understandable that they've grown quite close in the last five years. Nick stepped in to fill his brother's shoes when it came to talking care of Ellie and her son, giving them a home and being a strong father figure. Of course they try to deny the attraction and sexual tension that had developed over time until it finally ignites.

I adored Love Me By Christmas. It was a sweet and heartwarming romance with just a touch of sizzle to heat up a chilly November night. The characters were so lovable it hurt to watch them deny the attraction. Knowing everything Nick gave up to take care of Ellie and her son... Can we clone him? And Ellie to want to put Nick's happiness in front of her own takes a special person, especially knowing that it could very well break her heart in the process. Sigh... I stayed up past my bedtime so I could finish Love Me By Christmas. I could not put it down. Such a sweet novella.

I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jessica *The Lovely Books* · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a book by Jaci Burton. I found Love Me by Christmas sweet, thoughtful, and the perfect holiday read. Five years after her husband passed away, Ellie is going through the motions. She has a beautiful little boy, Henry, whom never met his father. But he does have his uncle and the man that Ellie is trying extra hard not to notice.

If she would open her eyes, she would also see that the so called uncle, Nick, is trying his damndest not to notice Ellie either. How soon is too soon to start dating again? Will it be looked down upon if the one you want to be with is the brother of your dead husband? While that may seem off-putting to some, it’s not. Burton wrote in such a beautiful way and it was a joy to see two people brought together by grief, fight their feelings, and ultimately fall in love.

I found Ellie a bit annoying at times. Especially when she was trying to set Nick up on dates. She may have been doing them for a good reason, but it annoyed me. I mean what would she do if he actually fell in love with another woman? Would she secretly pine over him as the years went on. I think that the two falling in love is perfect. It’s not as if she’s cheating on her husband or bringing ill will to his memory. If anything he would want the best for his wife. And Nick is the best.

Overall, this is a short, slow burn romance read. It tells the story of grief and the power of healing and how love can heal even the most broken hearts.

*Thank you to Sullivan and Partners for providing a copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[books are love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received in exchange for a honest review.

Ellie and Nick are great together. Nick is kind, sweet and patient. He takes Ellie in when his brother dies and is always there for her. They grow to rely on one another and be there for each other.

Over time you can see that Nick had his feelings change but he was afraid to act on them. So did Ellie’s only she didn’t want to act on them because of the confusion it caused in her and how it could hurt the family.

Nick was great with Ellie’s son. He was so caring and loving. Ellie and her son calmed Nick and made his world complete. finally he was going to gain courage after 5 years and make his move on Ellie. When he does, what do we get?

We get a Hallmark movie romance for sure. Nick doesn’t crowd or push Ellie but show her his love. And she does get scared and overwhelmed but in the end does make the right choice. A choice that by christmas gives us smiles and happiness.

This is a quick and fast paced read. The feelings and attraction are palpable between Nick and Ellie and the love for the boy is undeniable. There are sexy moments and tender intimate moments but no matter what there was love and understanding. Support and respect as well.

Nick and Ellie give us a entertaining Hallmark movie like romance full of fun, joyful moments, anxiety and confusion of feelings, a adorable little boy to fall in love with and two main characters you can’t help but like and smile at.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this author's Play by Play series so when I was feeling the need to read a little something to start easing me into the holiday spirit, I grabbed Love Me by Christmas.

Five years ago, Ellie lost her husband to an accidental fire in their home. Pregnant and with no family to turn to, Ellie accepted her brother-in-law Nick's offer to move in with him until she was through the grieving process and felt in a better place to determine what her future should hold. Neither of them expected Nick to become her biggest supporter and her rock as he helped her negotiate an emotional roller coaster through doctor's appointments, Henry's birth, changing diapers and midnight feedings and eventually day care. Now 5 years later, they have formed their own new version of a family even as they have both been living in limbo to an extent.  In the beginning she was all about just surviving the day and being the best mom possible to baby Henry, but in the last few years she has started to notice Nick as a man rather than just her brother-in-law and she isn't sure what to do with that.

The story goes a bit like this: Ellie likes Nick- a lot. Nick likes Ellie- a lot. Both are scared to make a move. Ellie is afraid Nick doesn't feel the same way about her, and she is scared what everyone would think if she makes her feelings known- particularly Nick's parents. She gets the wonderful idea to try setting him up with a few of the ladies she works with, but once he realizes what she is doing, he shuts them down in various amusing ways despite his anger that she is trying to push him to someone else. That anger serves as the kick in the seat of the pants he needed to open up to her about his feelings, and he can only hope he isn't making a mistake or pushing her to face her feelings too soon.

For a novella, Love Me by Christmas packs in some pretty big emotional turmoil with some heat and some adorable moments courtesy of Henry. If you are a Jaci Burton newbie, this novella is a great place to dip your toe into the water to get a taste of her writing style while enjoying a complete standalone story.

[A Book Lover's Emporium Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read Jaci Burton’s Wild Riders series a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it, so when I saw she was publishing a Christmas book, I just had to read it! I was not disappointed. Love Me By Christmas is a sweet holiday stand-alone novella. It’s the perfect light read in front of a fireplace or a twinkling Christmas tree.

I got hooked into the story almost immediately. The plot was fast paced and held my attention easily. I read it in one sitting. I just had to know if they would finally get together as lovers or stay just friends!

Nick is strong and compassionate. I love the way he cared for Ellie and Henry. Ellie is sweet and a little lost at first. Both begin to develop feelings for the other but are hesitant to express those feelings, since they are in-laws and friends. Both characters were well developed and likable. I would have liked to feel their chemistry a bit more, but nevertheless they were clearly meant to be together.

This was my first book by Jaci Burton in a long time. I am definitely going to have to look up more of her books, as I really love her style of writing! If you enjoy holiday books or second chance romances, you need this novella!

[Sue "DavinciKittie" Brown-Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This friends-to-lovers romance is sweet and sensual, with characters that will grab your heart and pull you right into the story. Nick is so adorable. In a manly way, of course. ;-) And Ellie is so worried that she’s taking advantage of Nick that she tries to pawn him off on other women (which was a little irritating but made for some fun Nick moments). They already live together—he’s the brother of her late husband—and they’re essentially already a family unit with her son.

This is a cute holiday romance. Readers who enjoy warm family dynamics, close friend circles, and engaging little kids (not the annoying kind that can ruin a story) will love Ellie and Nick’s story. Sweet, sexy, and dealing with the pain of losing a loved one, Love Me By Christmas is the perfect uplifting holiday romance to heal a broken heart.

[Rhiannon St. Clair · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I received an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review***

This was a short and sweet read that takes place during the holiday season.

Love Me By Christmas is a classic love story about two people who are enamored with one another, but can't bring themselves to say anything. Burton brings us Ellie, who lost her husband five years earlier, and Nick, her husband's brother. After her husband's sudden death, Nick steps in and helps Ellie through the anguish and with raising her baby. Nick is an amazing man, with a heart of gold, and he'd do just about anything for Ellie.

I enjoyed the sweetness of this story and the way that Burton crafted a delectable romance in such a short span of time. This flowed well and it was the perfect length for a romantic novella. I loved Nick and how dedicated he was to Ellie and Henry. He's the true definition of a gentleman, and everything he does is centered around these two people.

I want to go back and read any previous books that had these characters in them now, because I want to know more about the heartache that Ellie suffered in the past, and see how she and Nick were brought together. I haven't read any of Burton's other books, but I'm intrigued now, and I want to spend some more time with these characters. I could tell that the development was there with them, even though I haven't read anything about them before. 

There was one thing that made this a four star read for me, and that was the lack of a jumping-off-the-page spark between Ellie and Nick. These two have had so much time to fall for one another, and they're both so head over heels for one another, I guess I just expected there to be a bit more chemistry than there was. That being said, I still loved the story, and as I mentioned before, I want to spend more time with these three, so this wasn't something that ruined the book or anything like that for me. 

It's nice to kick off the holiday season with some sweet reads. I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for something a little sweet, fun, and quick to read. 

Four stars to this novel! 

[Michal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf 27.4%


This brother in law's theme...

*shuddering*

I'm sorry, I just can't. Too creepy.

[Charley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great love story