Twelve Days of (Faerie) Christmas

by C.J. Brightley

When Charlotte meets mysterious Ronan, her comfortable life is upended in a confusion of magic, monsters, and birds. Lots of birds. But Ronan's increasingly ridiculous gifts are the least of her concerns - the spell connecting them is ticking like a bomb, and time is running out. This is a clean standalone fantasy adventure-romance novella of about 40,000 words.

Genres: Fantasy, Christmas, Fae, Holiday, Romance, Urban Fantasy

184 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 27, 2018

About the author

C. J. Brightley lives outside Washington, D.C., with her husband and their two young children. When she's not busy writing, she teaches karate, bakes too many desserts, and makes jewelry. She loves to connect with readers!

Follow C. J. Brightley at https://www.facebook.com/CJBrightley and https://www.instagram.com/cjbrightley/

Reviews

[Intisar Khanani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of holiday stories (mostly because my holidays are different), but I've enjoyed everything by CJ Brightley that I've read, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this one. It's a lovely read, engaging and light-hearted, with a few darker moments. Our heroine Charlotte and the long-time Fae captive and jack of all trades, Ronan, are caught in a love curse that involves the literal occurrence of each day of the Twelve Days of Christmas ... which means Charlotte ends up with a whole lot of birds living in her little townhouse. Ha! I enjoyed the humor, the slow build of Charlotte's relationship with Ronan, and even Charlotte's office. I also really enjoyed the glimpses of the Fae we do get, especially Cormac, who is exquisitely beautiful and scary as all get-out (at least to Charlotte), and whom we really don't know if we can trust, at all, right through to the end. A fun read!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a lovely read! I loved Ronan and Charlotte, both individually and as a couple. Charlotte introducing Ronan to all the joys of the modern mortal world was so much fun, as was Ronan's wonder at encountering all of it with her. The twist on the gifts of the Twelve Days of Christmas song was awesome as well (like everyone else, I am amused by the French Hens), and I'm pleased that my prediction on what was going on with the magic was at least half-right. Also, there were so many references to other favorite books of mine! (Including W.R. Gingell's, which someone else told me about, and wanting to find those references was a major factor in my decision to pick this book up.)

I kinda want a spinoff and/or sequel, but this is also wonderful just as a standalone, and I will absolutely be rereading it next Christmas!

[deborah o'carroll (offline during 2026) · Rating 5 out of 5]

(August 2023)
I didn't know I needed a cozy Christmas urban fantasy with a dash of fae in my life, but oh, did I ever, and I LOVE IT SO MUCH!! *hugs book* Also, I had zero intention of reading this right away when I was making a stack last night of Christmas books to read this December, but I started looking at it and the next think I knew I had read half the book and my clock inexplicably read "1:20 a.m." Also, also, I aspire to write fae this well. MOST excellent, indeed. Also, also, ALSO, don't think I didn't notice the Narnia T-shirt and the absolutely blatant references to the heroine reading books that clearly were by W.R. Gingell. And the French hens! I cannot. XD THE WYVERN. Oh, and finally somebody who feels like ordering at a restaurant is mysterious--I FEEL SEEN, RONAN. Also, Cormac. O_O And all the vividness of the modern setting and the snow and just. I LOVE IT. I DO.

[Tricia Mingerink · Rating 5 out of 5]

After seeing a friend's review saying how much they loved this book, I immediately went out and bought it. It turned out to be the perfect Christmas Eve read. It's set in our world, but with fae elements bleeding into it in such a fun take on the 12 Days of Christmas. Ronan is SUCH a sweetheart cinnamon roll who must be protected at all costs. His wonder at all things human was just so adorable and heart-aching at the same time. If you are looking for a cozy Christmas + fae read, then you'll love this book!

[Julia Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, cozy, Christmas rom-com about a faerie and and ordinary girl and thr 12 days of Christmas. This was enjoyable with a HEA. I did enjoy the story although all the talking in circles about what was happening and the fact that she just accepted everything so easily seemed far-fetched. 3 stars.

[J.M. Stengl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful Christmas fantasy story, based on the song!
Charlotte meets mystery-man Ronan--he rescues her, she rescues him, and then confusion and chaos ensue! The love curse they get tangled up in involves the twelves "gifts" from the classic song, and the way they tie into the story is pretty hilarious at times! My favorite? The three French hens.
With snippet of classic Fae magic, some creepy creatures, a touch of mystery, and plenty of sweet romance, this book is a truly fun holiday read!
I recommend it to all lovers of fantasy and romance!

[Suzannah Rowntree]

Short, sweet, and funny!

[Christy Matheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lately, I've needed books which are emotionally engaging, but aren't too dark or detail oriented or depressing because... real world. However, also because real world, if there isn't actually a compelling plot, I just kind of...forget to ever come back to them.

This hit the spot. From the very opening scene, I had an emotional sense of what the two main characters were like, and they behaved so consistently that all the small details contributed to character development, with the author never needing to stop and tell us about them. I was completely invested in their budding romance, even though there were no obvious, bold romantic scenes.

I completely understood the very real-world scene with its fantasy elements, although there was almost no world-building, and certainly not in separate paragraphs. I could see not only the encounters with the surprising Fae, but also the slushy streets, the gray frigid water of the harbor, the stuffy law office, and all the little specifics that make a book feel real.

Most of all, I was completely entranced and curious where the plot was going. I HAD to keep reading, because how on earth was she going to tie the other twelve days of Christmas and wrap up the plot in time? Doesn't something more have to happen on day 10? When are they going to admit they like each other? What is that guy in the background doing? I very much expected the ending to be different, and loved that it surprised me.

A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Two small points (positive):
-the author had the CORRECT twelve days of Christmas. The first day is Christmas, not the last day, like has somehow seeped into popular culture via the shopping culture.
-I really liked that the main character was religious, but it never had an influence on the plot, either as a positive (find all happy endings through Christ!) or negative (she learns that everything was false). She just was Christian and she likes spinach-cranberry salads. Good.

[Glenna Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

smart and sparkling story.

Worth reading. I enjoyed reading this story, it kept me wondering what was going to happen and I had to restrain myself from take a peak at the ending.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice story but fell flat for me. There wasn't enough character building of Charlotte & Ronan. Why was Ronan stolen? Why was he trapped by the King? Why were the birds considered protectors? Why would an educated woman who worked at a law firm except magic so easily? Why would the lawyer? Too many questions, not enough building.

[Leigh Brooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now if your anything like me, whenever I hear the song Twelve Days of Christmas I always muddle up the words, especially when getting to the higher numbers. Well after reading this utterly delightful, fun and fluffy story based on the song I'll never forget the words again. It was the Christmas tale with a twist that I didn't know I needed but have totally fallen in love with, and now the words are forever engraved on my heart. Thank you Melinda Cater ❤️

After dealing with her boss who has been in a particularly bad mood, Charlotte has had a terrible day. But when her car runs out of gas 4 miles away from the nearest service station, her bad day has officially got worse. On her trek to get help, she meets the mysterious and cryptic Ronan and her journey into magic, monsters and lots of birds begin.

I was utterly enchanted by Charlotte who's compassionate and kind nature shone through from the moment she met Ronan, from worrying about him getting cold when he offers her his coat to making sure he has somewhere to stay when he's injured just made me fall in love with her. And her handling of each new 'gift' with an easy charm and grace, left me with the biggest smile on my face.

And Ronan the completely charming slightly stubborn, funny, mysterious stranger she meets is totally adorable and swoon worthy and he stole my heart right from the first.

Both of these characters had me believing in magic, wonder and true love. And that ending well all I will say is, it's magical.

I laughed so much throughout this book and it absolutely brightened up my day.
So if you want a cozy christmas read with meddling french hens, magical creatures and a love story to melt your heart, this book is for you. I highly recommend it and promise you won't be disappointed 😁

[Phi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun, cute story!! Very perfect for the holiday season if you want a light, quick, holiday-themed read to get in the holiday spirit. The story doesn't shy away from putting an awesome fantasy spin on a traditional Christmas song, and I love how everything was incorporated.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this. So cute. Faerie 12 days of Christmas was a great idea. All the characters were great, including the birds 😁

[Topsues · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad I read this book, at first I thought “Christmas is over” but I love that time of year, so I decided to grab some belated magic, as C.J.Brightley is becoming one of my favourite authors...Forget the time of year, as once you start reading this book, you are transported into another world, full of mystery, intrigue, fae, suspense, fantasy, magic and so much more, all running alongside a lovely romance, that it becomes a book to enjoy in any season... The author weaves their exceptional, unrestrained imagination into a storyline that has you changing you mind about the characters from one scene to the next. I loved the creative way lyrics was interwoven within the story, the way it made me laugh, the realism was authentic and credible. I don’t like leaving spoilers, so to sum up:- This book will engage you from the beginning, until the last word, even though it is a stand alone book, it still leaves you wanting more. It will lift your spirits, keep you enthralled, keep you in suspense, make you cry and make you smile.... Perfect !!!!!

[Jan Niblock · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is WOW! I started this book and finished it in a basically a day. I was so engrossed with Charlotte and Ronan’s story that I could not put it down. I loved how the lyrics of the song were woven into the story. I was kept on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen at the end. I thought that Ronan was a good guy but not completely sure. I wondered if Cormac was a good guy or not, he came across as both good and bad. The birds added a nice touch to the story and there were times when I just laughed out loud. So happy that I didn’t have to wait until Christmas to get to read this story. It is a great story to read at any time. I would love to see a sequel to this story and see how Ronan and Charlotte continue in their engagement. But I would especially what to see what happens with the birds .

[Jolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful fantasy romance

This story was delightful in so many ways, some of which I can not share without giving spoilers, so for the full delight be sure to read the story yourself.

I really enjoyed the interaction between Charlotte and Ronan. There were interesting supporting characters and quite an amazing amount of adventure/suspense (not sure which to call it - the characters are in danger but they are not seeking it out) for a fairly short story. The way the Twelve Days of Christmas poem was woven into the story was quite intriguing.

Sex - one sweet kiss
Language - no profanity or swearing
Violence - one character gets hurt by monsters a couple times
Religion - characters pray, attend church

[Sherry Cammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic! A friend suggested it, and I’m so happy she did.
The story begins with Charlotte meeting Rowan in a very strange unexpected accident.
The chemistry between Rowan and Charlotte heats up pretty quickly, but neither was ready to accept it. Charlotte didn’t understand she was under the influence of a Fae magical spell.
This take of The Twelve Days of Christmas created such a magical cozy feeling. And everyday something new appeared for Charlotte. On the first day of Christmas my true sent to me a partridge in a pear tree, and just like that Charlotte receives gifts for the remaining 11 days. This book made me feel warm all over. It’s such a delightful read. I definitely recommend adding this book to your list of holiday reads.

[Hauntedcupcake · Rating 2 out of 5]

Süsse cozy Christmas-RomCom. Aber einfach nicht ganz meins.
Die Prota akzeptiert alles als gegeben und hinterfragt nichts. Man könnte nun sagen, 'gut, das Buch hat nur 174 Seiten, was erwartest du da?', aber honestly? Sehr viel von diesen 174 Seiten beinhaltet essen gehen oder kochen, arbeiten gehen oder über Arbeit reden und beten vor dem Essen oder zur Kirche gehen (der Punkt hat mir so gar nicht zugesagt...) Man hätte also alles das ordentlich kürzen können und dafür die Protagonistin ein bisschen mehr ausarbeiten, den Plot erwas mehr vertiefen können.
Trotzdem war es süss. Ronan ist ein Schätzchen, die Idee mit den Twelve Days of Christmas (das Lied, ihr kennt es?) ist super und witzig umgesetzt. Nur hätte man halt einfach viel mehr draus machen können.
2.5 Sterne

[Kaylee Roman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay a lot to unpack with this one. The overall story was a cute concept but…the writing and characters were just done SO poorly. The main character was way too accepting of everything going on. “Oh, a magical monster just tried to kill us? Okay, but will I still get to work on time?” Or “I’m placed under a magical curse by a fae? Oh wait hold on! The brownies are gonna burn.”
Like girl WHAT. She never asked questions about the magical stuff going on. She didn’t accept it either she just moved on like it wasn’t weird or anything?! I don’t know, she just seemed way too unbothered and that…bothered me 😂 the main guy was sweet but he was also a really bland character at the same time.

[Courtz Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really loved the concept , it was cute and surprisingly a sweet story for couple hours reading. But if more time had gone into it this could’ve been an incredible book. The storyline was just abit rushed. The ankle story line was obsessive and sadly quite alot of grammar errors and one missing word entirely. But it was sweet and I’m glad Ronan and Charlotte were alright in the end.

But perhaps Charlotte was just a little too accepting as I personally wouldn’t have been ok if a man rocked up at my house with birds and monsters. I wouldn’t just go it’s ok and cook dinner hahah.

[Ari's library · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐

I do not want to be too harsh on this book but I have to say that it was not my cup of tea. I was honestly expecting an awkward fae gentleman courting a young lady in the worst way possible because he heard of a popular christmas song in the human world...That was not the case at all. Here I would say we have a typical christmas romcom with some faerie shenanigans, think "Kate and Leopold" with a bit of faerie magic. There is nothing wrong with that ! But just like with "Kate and Leopold", I was really bored with this story.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a good, short read. An intermingling of the fae world with the human, a 12 days of Xmas-themed spell that's interfering with the gifts and life of a human woman, and a rapidly approaching deadline that could mean something awful for both those involved.... Fantastically imaginative, very inventive in incorporating the various themed 'gifts', and a great read for anyone who likes stories with a fairytale-style twist. Highly recommended.

[Gordon]

Sweet and cheery and choc full of people eating sweet food, this is a sort of Christmas overload for the senses. Perhaps a bit gentle for my taste and second half didn't really manage to create enough tension or danger or even a shadow of a doubt that the relationship would not happen for me to be much invested. The French Hens were mildly amusing though.

[Rebekah Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story and easy read but a bit predictable. There were a lot of typos, which was distracting. The writing seemed a bit jumpy at times, to the point I had to make sure I hadn’t skipped a page. Typically, those issues would be enough to deserve a much lower rating. However, I found myself looking forward to reading more, so it would be unfair to rate it lower.

[Thomas C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly captivating, entrancing

WHAT a wonderful love story. Pure. Powerful. Dangerous. Victorious! This is an author of whom I shall enjoy reading more of their work. I sure would have enjoyed an Epilogue on this one.

[Grace T]

I don't fully click with Brightley's writing style, but I knew that going in and this was a fun, quick, Christmasy read so it hit the spot! Bonus points for being set in a city near where I grew up :D

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this twist on the twelve days of Christmas song. I don’t really like short stories but the characters worked well I just would have preferred a little more depth . It works well as what it is and I loved the references to books by W R Gingell

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful

This whole tale is delightful. I love the mystery as the familiar gifts of the 12 days of Christmas appear. The creativity in the gifts had me chuckling. The ending is endearing. Truly a lovely and clean story.

[Amanda Stover · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow this was boring. The plot was so far in the back ground that I just didn’t even care. I only finish because it’s only 174. But I’m thinking under 100 would have been better. Oh in case you want to know NO smut what so ever. Which is fine but this one was just too much for me.

[Cj Newton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe I wasn't in the right mindset for this one 🤷🏼‍♀️ but I just couldn't get into it.
I'm not sure where the plot was and there wasn't enough depth to the characters or story for me to get invested.
Super cute cover though.