An unexpected pregnancy sends Frankie home just in time for the holidays. Determined to figure out the tangled mess of her life, she finds comfort in her childhood traditions. The last thing she expects is for Alex, her baby daddy an overgrown frat boy, to show up on her parent’s doorstep.
Alex never wanted to grow up, always on the search for the next party, but when he met Frankie he felt a shift in his carefree world. Now he needs to find a way to convince her that he’s done partying and ready to be the man and father to their unborn child that he knows he can be.
There is twelve days until Christmas. And twelve days for him to prove to Frankie that he’s ready to be more than just her baby daddy. He’s ready to make them a family.
Frankie finds out that she is pregnant and the father is her former friend with benefits, Alex. Alex is a party boy, he doesn’t take anything in life seriously, but when Frankie tells him that she is pregnant and he is the father, it gives him a new lease on life. He wants to change his life around, he wants to be there for his child and he wants to be there for the woman who he started to fall for before their friends with benefit agreement ended.
Frankie’s love for Christmas just makes me smile, despite the fact it is a tough time of year for her I love that she is able to move on and be able to celebrate the holiday in memory of her father. Alex, oh I much I love him. I wanted to know more about him from the little introduction we got in Across the Street and there is so much more to him than what meets the eye. I loved how sweet he is to Frankie and how much you can tell he cares about her and for their child together. I mean, the former party boy was now reading parenting blogs nightly and learning everything he could.
Under the Tree is a sweet, Christmas romance. Frankie and Alex had me falling in love with them and wanting to join in on all their crazy Christmas traditions. I hope we get a little more of them in future stories.
"It’s time I finally did something right. I miss you, and I want us to be a family. Me, you and…” His eyes moved down to her stomach." Peanut. "
I think Sandra Marie is going to be on my list of favourite authors.❤
To be Honest I'd my doubts about this one when I read the blurb, what with pregnancy and irresponsible hero. But was I wrong!!! So insanely wrong. I don't think Sandra book can be anything but perfect.😝
The book is full of sugar sweet moments. No excess drama between Frankie and Alex. Alex was Ginni's colleague in Across the Street.
“No, hotdogs,” he said. “Got it.” He took the hotdog off the tray. A teenage boy walked by, and Alex shoved the hotdog at him. “Hungry?” he asked, and the kid looked at him like he was nuts and rightfully so. “My girlfriend’s pregnant, and hotdogs make her sick.”
PS. The bonus at the end of the book of Ashton Mills, the hot billionaire was just the cherry on the cake. 💛
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I know that a lot of us read romance to escape reality and get lost in the fantasy of the perfect man/woman/romance but it’s nice to occasionally read a story that shows how imperfect, average every day people can have a flawed but evolving relationship. Everyone deserves their own perfect love story and this is Alex and Frankie’s.
I really liked the story about Frankie and Alex. It's romantic, christmassy and the characters are very loveable I really like the authors writing style.
Ready or not, Alex & Frankie are going to be parents. Frankie embraces her pregnancy after her shock wears off. Frankie had broken up with Alex because she didn’t think he’d settle down & be serious. He was more of a good time friends with benefits. She realized he had to be told though. However, when she went to tell Alex, his response was “Thank you.” Frankie didn’t give him a chance to recover from his shock before she took off. By the time Alex had recovered & went looking for her, she was nowhere to be found. Can they find a way to create a family for “peanut”?
I really enjoyed these characters more than I thought I would. Both Alex & Frankie had past losses that were still hurting them & coloring their lives. The readers have a front row seat as they find a way to deal with the past & let themselves envision a happy future life. They were each trying to get the other to realize they were, or could be, more than what they thought they were. This was a fun Christmas romance of love & redemption.
I received a free copy through the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
4 stars — This was an adorable Christmas story!! And it fits perfectly with the rest of the stories in this series, though it can be read completely as a standalone. But I do love how all of the characters are interweaving…both past characters, and characters whose books I know are still coming!
Frankie and Alex were both super adorable. I do love a good accidental pregnancy trope, and this one was even better than I was expecting. I will admit, at the very beginning of the story I felt like Alex’s internal reaction to the thoughts of children was almost disgust, he seemed very anti-children. And as the story played out, there was a pretty quick turnaround and it just didn’t feel believable for me. Like his initial reaction was a bit extreme. But the rest of his reactions were smooth sailing, so maybe I was just reading into things.
As I said, Frankie was pretty adorable. She was sassy and spunky, seemed fairly confident in herself and I kind of loved that when Alex didn’t want a relationship as well, she didn’t settle for scraps…I mean, that all happens before our story starts, but I liked that inner strength. I wasn’t anticipating the grief she was struggling with, and I truly empathized with her. I also loved that she had her own growing up to do with her Mom and Bob, and that she *did* gain new perspectives throughout the story. My favourite part was the excitement she had for Christmas and her traditions…and how with the help of Alex, she got the spirit back.
And then there’s Alex. He made my heart happy. His sense of humour was hilarious, if a little juvenile at times. But I loved the way he sort of balanced out Frankie. I truly did believe that he was worth the risk, and that there was a lot more to him than met the eye. He tugged at my heart, and his struggles with his past and with his brother Chris really did help to explain where his carefree attitude came from. While I loved Alex’s turnaround, I occasionally had a hard time believing that it would last (particularly wrt his work ethic and punctuality)…that part felt a little Hallmark Christmas movie convenient. But still, he made me both laugh and tear up, which was more than I was expecting from him.
I loved seeing the two of them connect with one another in more than a lust way. You could truly feel their caring for one another, and they really seemed to have good friendship chemistry as well. I really appreciated how she gave Alex a chance, or at least tried to. And I loved the way he truly cared for Frankie, and was desperate to get her back and prove his worth. I loved all the little adventures they had, and how they brought a sense of fun to each day, and each tradition, old and new.
I will admit that the ending felt a bit rushed…or some things happened too quickly, the pacing felt off. But otherwise this was exactly what I was looking for from this story!
Under the Tree #3 - The fun and romance continue with this entertaining, clean romance. Ooops, she's pregnant and he's immature. The characters are fun, interesting and do a realistic job in trying to make things work. Good storylines that keep the reader glued to the pages until the end. The supporting characters add their touches to the story. Well written with just a touch of minor editing needed. I contacted the author to review her books. 4*
After the Night #1 - This is my first read by this author and I had fun reading it. Don't care too much about this age group (twenties), but Sandra did a delightful job telling this story about two "ugly ducklings" that haven't turned into swans yet, or two nerds actually that are perfect for each other. After having a cute meet at the company's Halloween party, she tries to find out who he is as he tries to tell her it was him. The supporting cast add to the fun of the story. There's even a mystery to boot. Well written, funny and full of goofs, clumsy actions and misunderstanding. Needs minor editing. 4*
Across the Street #2 - Perfect addition to After the Night. Another well written, sweet romance between Cassie's best friend Steven and wallflower Ginny. They both need each other and have three weeks to make things work. Adding to the interesting characters are three sweet furballs of love that enhance this lovely, clean story even more. The storylines keeps the reader lost in the pages as love and confidence grow steady for this couple. I contacted the author to review her books. 5*
Frankie and Alex began as friends with benefits but when Frankie wanted more, Alex didn't so she moved on, until she realized that she was pregnant and needed to tell him. When Frankie arrived at Alex's door to tell him he was going to be a father, his shock was immediate. Without even thinking, he spouted off a thank you and she left before he could recover. Once the shock wears off, Alex realizes he needs to see Frankie and figure out what the next step will be because he grew up without a father and doesn't want his child to do the same. After Frankie tells Alex and he just stood there in shock, she flees to her childhood home for the holidays. She begins to deal with the pain of going home and the fact that her life is changing in a huge way. Can Alex make up for his frat-boy style life and be the man that Frankie knows that he can be? Over the holidays, these two are going to have one heck of a time trying to figure out their future.
This story made me laugh out loud at various points. To see Alex struggling with maturing into the man that he can be but wouldn't allow himself to be was written wonderfully. I love how the book made him make mistakes and how he managed to correct the mistakes. Frankie and Alex still have a ways to go in the relationship shift that they see but I can definitely see them making it.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Frankie was a fabulous heroine - she knew she fell for a guy but life didn't look like it was going to work out for her. She ran to her childhood home and was ready to pull her life together and figure out how to make everything work. She wasn't expecting Alex to track her down - after all, he's just a big kid who will never grow up right? Alex - wow. I was impressed by him. After meeting Ginny's coworker in the last book I was certainly curious how he was going to be as the hero but he showed me. His pattern of behavior was connected to the way he grew up and it affected his outlook on everything. He finally woke up and realized that the best thing that had ever happened to him - Frankie - was gone and gone for good if he didn't do something about it. Watching these two realize that they were an imperfectly perfect fit together and that the rest would work out was great. Frankie's realization that there was a lot more to Alex than she gave him credit for made her fall even more in love with him. Alex realized that he was in love with this woman and no longer scared at the idea of "growing up." This was a great addition to the series and I can't wait to see what's next!
If you love Christmas Hallmark movies this book is definitely for you. I do enjoy a Hallmark movie but in my romance books I want a little more than a cheesy love story which is what you get here. There was no real conflict, angst, very little emotion beside blissfully happy Christmas.
Setting the stage, boy and girl are causally sleeping together. (Boy has made it clear he doesn't want/do serious relationships). Girl gets knocked up, boy says the wrong thing and girl bolts home for Christmas to find her mother isn't there but on a cruise. Boy at that point comes to realize he really, like really likes this girl and is going to do whatever he can to win her back and be the best darn father ever to his little Peanut.
You get the gist right there. It's cute, it's Christmas themed as the couple spend their time doing Christmasy things. Like drink hot chocolate and sit on Santa's knee. Don't forget wear ugly Christmas sweaters and how they are both going to be amazing parents because they are just so good with kids. It's all very nice. They are just two awesome people that are going to have an awesome kid and life is perfect. That's what we all want, right?
Under the Tree is a perfect read for a fun festive feel and it captures the feeling of Christmas beautifully; the snow, Santa, Christmas bakes and a sweet love story.
Frankie finds herself unexpectedly expecting and the father of her child is her ex friend with benefits, who she feels is in no way ready for being responsible for another human being given that he struggles to get to work on time. Alex is committed to living his life to the fullest and he has a compelling enough reason to do so, but Frankie’s baby bombshell throws him for a loop, but only for a moment. Thereafter, he is ready to prove that he’s the man for her and ready to be the father their baby needs.
The couple share some very sweet and cute moments in the lead up to Christmas and the growth in their characters and relationship is wonderful to read. There are some laugh out loud moments and there are times you might reach for the tissue box. On the whole, an enjoyable read, setting the perfect tone for getting into the festive spirit.
Frankie always wanted a serious relationship and love. She can't resist Alex and her feelings for him, but he's too immature and unwilling to settle down. He still acts like a child, refusing to grow up and he's too busy partying. When she finds out she's pregnant, she finds refuge in her childhood home. Her baby is her priority and she can't trust a man who can't commit to a relationship. Alex prefers a carefree lifestyle and doesn't want to have responsibilities. But he realises that Frankie is the best thing that happened to him and he really wants to be there for her and their baby. He has twelve days till Christmas Eve to prove to her that he can be the man she needs! Will she fall under his spell? A perfect read for the holidays! Alex and Frankie have been hurt, but an unexpected pregnancy will bring them together and help them realise that they deserve to be happy! A romantic story that will make you believe in Christmas magic!
My first book by Sandra Marie exceeded expectations and I’ve already started another by her. I thought this book was well written although some simple editing would be helpful (typos, missing words, etc). The basic story felt credible - h discovers she’s pregnant after breaking up with her immature, irresponsible bf. He uses the news to reevaluate his life and steps up to change his ways and heal old hurts holding him back. This plot really works well throughout the book up until the end. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but near the end, the H acts in a very inexplicable way that just didn’t add up in the story. It caused one last bump in their relationship and some angst until he explained. Frankly, it was a pretty stupid plot twist and it ruined what would otherwise have been a very cute holiday story for me. I was still able to give this book an overall 4 stars.
I loved Under the Tree. It is my favorite book in the Romance for all Seasons series at the moment. It is a perfect read to curl up with hot chocolate and read while the snow falls. This book will get in in the holiday spirit. I laughed out loud and get a little misty eyed too while reading this. Alex is hilarious big kid at heart. But once you find out his back story you understand why and you love him even more. Frankie is a doll. I loved her snark with Alex. They just seem right together. Watching Alex mend things with Frankie is an amazing thing. But really watching them both heal each other is wonderful. This is such an amazing read. I can't wait for more in this series. Sandra Marie will make you love Christmas even more after reading this.
I feel like the book could be a stand alone, but it's so much better to read the first two and then this. Alex from the mailroom in Across the Street is back! He's still interested in Frankie, but she's sure he's too immature to deal with the fact that she's just discovered she's pregnant. Frankie heads home, and Alex decides to spend 12 days leading up to Christmas to prove he can be an adult. I loved watching them open up to each other about scars from their pasts and figure out how to navigate the unexpected baby. There were also lots of sweet winter and Christmas activities they did. This might be my favorite of the series so far. Definitely looking forward to the rest. I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Twelve days, that is how long Frankie gives Alex, an overgrown frat boy who really just coasting through life, to prove that there is actual substance to him. Except, of course, there is more behind the man than he lets be seen.
If you could take one of those Hallmark Christmas movies that leave you with the warm fuzzies and wrap it into book form, then Under the Tree is it. With a heroine and hero that share more in common than they realize and a list of fun winter/holiday traditions, you feel the magic of the season, and might just even end up inspired to start some new traditions yourself (Christmas light scavenger hint anyone?!). This is the perfect book to curl up next to the fire with while sitting next to the Christmas tree.
This was such a cute and festive read. A typical cheesy American story that grabs your attention at the beginning and keeps you turning the pages. I loved the character development for Alex. At the beginning of the story he was a typical bad boy, but by the end he was such a devoted family man and his actions towards Frankie, really made me smile. Frankie was such a strong independent woman and after everything she had been through, she definitely deserved a happy ending. Both characters had troubled pasts and had overcome so much and these subjects were written about so well. This was definitely a feel good Christmas read that is worth picking up.
Frankie can’t believe she is pregnant! Not only pregnant, but unmarried! Her ex-boyfriend, Alex, was the ultimate all play and not responsible at all. When Alex realizes Frankie is pregnant, he is going to be there not only for her but for their baby AKA Peanut. Alex works to prove to Frankie he will become the responsible person she needs him to be. I loved the way Alex realized immediately how important Frankie and Peanut were and was willing to do anything to become a true family. One of the sweetest romances I’ve read in a long time!
I enjoyed returning to characters from the past in this third book in the series. I also enjoyed learning about Alex and his story since he was a charismatic and lazy character in the last book. It was interesting to see him try to prove to himself and Frankie that he was worth the risk. I also liked how his character grew and had depth in the story. So glad Frankie and her mom have a chance to heal their hearts and enjoy Christmas once again. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
Frankie and Alex were friends with benefits. Then she lost her heart to him. Then she found out she was pregnant. She knew Alex is not forever material. He is still carefree and footloose. When he finds out he is going to be a father he changes. He suddenly realizes he does not want his child growing up without a father. Nor does he picture his life without Frankie by his side. He's in love with her. Now, all he has to do is convince her that he can be the person she needs and wants. Love, love, loved this book!
Sandra Marie is joining Cassie Mae and Kelly Oram as one of my favorite authors. I love the fun and quirky storylines along with the relatable characters. This one is just as wonderful as the first two in the series. I adored Alex and his determination to become a better man for Frankie. I really really loved the storyline of the unexpected pregnancy. I haven't really read any that I can think of with that plot and it was really refreshing. I am enjoying this series as each holiday comes up and I'm really looking forward to the next book, Going Down!
Frankie and Alec meet after each has suffered a significant loss. It takes them time to realize how much they mean to each other. Alec feels he is not good enough to be in a successful relationship. He's always been the party guy. Since losing her father, Frankie has been depressed and unable to feel a good relationship is going to be a part of her life. They each learn what they have to offer as they fall in love.
Cute and fluffy. The female main character discovers she is pregnant. The father is a friend who is fun but immature. The male main character has a major reality check when he finds out he’s going to be a father. The two of them work on their relationship and communication over a Christmas holiday. Happy ending. Minimal violence. No sex but a bunch of references. Swearing. Themes of grief and loss and family drama.
Under the Tree had everything I love about Christmas. The traditions, the romance and the movies!!!! Sandra Marie brought my Christmas memories to life. I love that Alex and Frankie aren’t perfect and that their past is something they both struggle with. I enjoyed their flirtiness and their banter. The way they are brought together and must decide where to go from here just made the joy of Christmas shine. I loved everything about this story. I will be adding this to my Christmas shelf and reading this year after year.
Under the Tree is a fun, heart-warming story of Frankie's unexpected pregnancy and Alex's growth from enjoying his carefree existence to accepting his responsibilities. The characters are presented so normally that I felt like I knew them. Alex's care for Frankie is unexpectedly wonderful. This is a perfect Christmas time story. I could not put it down.
This was such a sweet, romantic with a touch of humor holiday story. I throughly enjoyed reading this. I love a good holiday story and this was a great way to start the reading theme season for me. A must read for a loving book boyfriend who steps up just in time !
Humorous loved the tree scene strong story well written will go For more books. Not drawn out moves beautifully never a dull time. Started right off very well liked it so much...
Seemed really short, but was really cute. A Hallmark feel to it, very PG-13 rated. Boy is immature and free spirited, finds out his friends with benefits friend is pregnant with his baby, and he steps up to prove to her he can be a good dad.
This was an okay read, if you like to believe that someone with little to no drive in life can change their tune overnight. Maybe I just like drama, but I felt everything was a little too perfect and too easy.