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Home for Christmas: A Short Holiday Love Story

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“Dear Santa...”

Jaleel and Eva Gordon haven’t lived in the same house since the summer, and this Christmas, their son’s very short Christmas wish list will change all that.

As a former college phenom turned Bronx Ballers’ shooting guard, Jaleel Gordon hasn’t reached his level of success doing the bare minimum for his struggling team. He’s been grinding and grinding hard, but success doesn’t come easily or without its share of sacrifices. For Jaleel, his biggest sacrifice was his relationship with his soon-to-be ex-wife Eva.

Business owner, Eva Gordon is so through with her soon-to-be ex-husband, Jaleel. She’s no stranger to hard work but even she knows when to work hard and to play harder. After patiently waiting for her husband to tap into that philosophy she’s given up on him altogether. Which is why six months ago, after yet another explosive argument with Jaleel, Eva demanded a divorce... even though her heart is taking a bit longer to catch up to her demand.

This Christmas, Eva and Jaleel’s son isn’t asking Santa for a new bike or video game. On the contrary, what baby boy wants won’t be able to fit underneath the tree at all. His one and only wish this Christmas is to spend the holiday with his separated parents... under one roof. So, Jaleel is coming home for Christmas... but can Eva and Jaleel put aside their differences to make it through the holiday intact and in one piece?

*This is a holiday short story.

45 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 19, 2019

24 people are currently reading
150 people want to read

About the author

Brookelyn Mosley

62 books191 followers
Brookelyn wrote her first short story when she was a sophomore in high school. Back then she discovered how using her experience as a teen living in Brooklyn to create romantic shorts was just as exciting to her as retail shopping and going on dates. After starting her first semester of college two years later, Brookelyn’s creative writing became more of a hobby and something to do to escape the stress of midterms and finals. Now in her 30s as a freelance writer, penning short stories and novellas is her everything. While her experience with writing has evolved for the better, her undying love for creating fiction remains unchanged. Brookelyn's focus is on creating contemporary women's fiction with characters based in urban settings. Her stories chronicles the emotional journeys and erotic experiences of women today through her characters and the scenarios they're thrown into.

The motivation behind her brand of writing has a lot to do with what she discovered storytelling provided for her - an escape. Her goal with her work is to create characters and urban worlds that offer a great escape for fiction readers looking for a break from the daily grind of adulting and who prefer to relax with good books and short stories. When she’s not freelancing, doing yoga, or showing her husband and toddler lots of love, she can be found sitting at her computer desk, with her legs folded, and a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine) at arm’s reach as she types or edits her latest short or novella.

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5 stars
158 (49%)
4 stars
125 (38%)
3 stars
28 (8%)
2 stars
9 (2%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for Rashawnda.
1,391 reviews1,113 followers
November 20, 2024
How it started: 🎶 Bells will be ringin' the sad, sad news. Oh, what a Christmas to have the blues. My baby's gone…..🎶

How it ended: 🎶 Even though I love ya madly, it seems I love you more….. That's what Christmas means to me my love🎶

“My heart will always choose you” 🥺❤️💚

Jaleel LOVES his wife!! I mean that woman makes him smile with his entire face and you can feel it in the way he spoke to and about her. Unfortunately, she ain’t been feeling that love. In fact she is tired of playing second fiddle to his NBA career and has asked for a legal separation pending a divorce. Not one to ever say no to his wife, Jah reluctantly grants her wish and they both have been miserable the last 6 months.

Neither of them could have imagine that their five year old son J.R. would have only one things written on his Christmas list 📝 and that was for the three of them to spend Christmas together under one roof. I can guarantee that Jah’s NBA salary and endorsement deals weren’t ready for a list consisting of something money can’t buy.

My heartbeat was in sync with this story! That’s how cute it was! I’m finding that more and more I’m enjoying second chance romances with established couples. They are already together and going through the challenges that come with relationships. I love reading how they navigate through the highs and lows and this story was beautifully written. This novella left me feeling full to the brim with love and warmth! 🎄🎁
Profile Image for Annette Williams.
1,188 reviews414 followers
December 26, 2020
Home for Christmas was a cute story. Eva and Jaleel are on the brink of divorce because, Jaleel just can't seem to find the balance between work and home. Eva has grown tired of being a single wife and mother and, after countless arguments of Jaleel just not getting it, she asks for a separation. J.R., being the clever 5 year old that he is, tells his parents the only present from them is to spend Christmas together as a family. I can empathize with Eva. It can't be easy being married to an NBA player but, I’m glad Jaleel finally realized that he was sacrificing his marriage and family at the expense of his career. It only took him six months to get it but, when we did and realized Eva was dead serious about divorcing him, he came through with the act right and finally decided to start putting his family first. Home for Christmas was a heartwarming read. This was my first book by Brookelyn Mosley and it will not be the last.
Profile Image for Antoinette (_literaryaura_).
441 reviews88 followers
November 29, 2024
This novella was sugar and spice and everything nice. I absolutely loved this second chance romance. It gave me all the warm and fuzzies! Little J.R. had a master plan and he was rewarded beautifully.
Profile Image for Erin Rae.
362 reviews24 followers
November 22, 2024
Me reading this story 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 if the author can make my heart flutter and make me feel something, they will always get a 5 ⭐️ rating out of me. Ms. Brookelyn Mosley I am a forever fan of your work!!! You have a way of writing romance that I absolutely love.

Jaleel & Eva gave me all the feels. Their second chance at love will give you hope. COMMUNICATION is key!

Thank god for their son Jaleel Jr. He deserves whatever he wants. He got his parents back together 😊❤️
Profile Image for *Ebony I*.
1,403 reviews159 followers
December 12, 2024
Family First

This was a cute story 🥰

Sweet six year old J.R. had had enough of his parents being apart. After 6 months of the back and forth he decided to pull out the big guns aka Santa Claus and ask for his parents to spend Christmas together. I love that baby boy had a list 📝 of rules that must be followed. He was not playing with them. 

This couple was still very much in love, but unfortunately love isn't always enough. Eva the fmc understood she married a high performing professional athlete. She wanted him to be successful, but she also wanted him to pour into his family as well instead of treating them like an afterthought. Jaleel the mmc wanted to be the best at his sport, but he also wanted to get as many opportunities to give his family the world. Not realizing that all they wanted was him. 

The forced proximity caused them to take some time to get that spark back and to compromise on each other's needs. I would love to read even more about this cute family. 
Profile Image for Dahyana.
693 reviews85 followers
December 22, 2024
Eva x Jaleel

Oh, joy!! Jaleel found his way back to his wifey. Exactly where he's always wanted to be. That man loved his wife so much that he was willing to do anything to make her happy, even if it meant his own happiness, even if it meant giving her a divorce...if that would make her happy...Admirable...
As usual, anytime a kid is involved in my heart is a goner. And Jr stole mine. With his Christmas wish and the magic of Christmas in the air... Everybody got their wish this Christmas
Profile Image for Jahda.
1,050 reviews309 followers
December 3, 2024
Jr promised to save his family this Christmas, and he accomplished exactly that. I believe Jaleel and Eva needed the separation to experience what it's like to be apart. I'm glad they were able to communicate and get another chance at love.
Profile Image for Toya  Davis-Stokley.
2,546 reviews99 followers
December 14, 2024
See... we be sleeping on our babies, cause they be knowing stuff! 😂 Lil JR knew all he needed was time and opportunity for his parents to be in the same space, to make them a family again. Him and his cute little rules. 🤩

Eva still loved Jaleel deeply, but she refused to play second to his career any longer. She understood his hustle, but what about her, and JR? Where was their time? Where was the balance? She had enough and was ready to call it quits.

Jaleel wanted nothing more than to make his wife happy, even at the expense of his own happiness. Did he want to be separated with a pending divorce? Of course not, but if that's what it took to make his wife happy, he would do it for her.

The cute but seemingly impossible Christmas wish of JR's was right on time. That day and night gave Jaleel and Eva the space to "be" with each other again and feel the love that never left. Eva was also able to communicate her feelings in the raw, in a way that could be felt and understood by Jaleel. He finally got it and knew what he had to do to get his family back. Whew... the feels! Enjoyed this.
Profile Image for K. ♡.
165 reviews17 followers
December 10, 2024
Jaleel and Eva were sooo cute and I'm so here for a second chance love story!
Profile Image for sil ♡ the book voyagers.
1,360 reviews3,190 followers
December 3, 2020
Just a good Christmas novella! It’s short but gosh does it have every single thing you want in a romance 😌🤍 Marriage in trouble, second chance romance and set on Christmas? It’s perfect!

Eva and Jaleel are separated. But not divorced yet. Still Eva is ready to sign those papers because she finally is done and done. She thinks Jaleel doesn’t spend time with her and their kid— she understands that he has to train (he’s an NBA player) and do other stuff but even when he is free and back home, he prefers to spend time elsewhere that isn’t with his family. So she is done. But Jaleel wants her back and thinks Christmas is the perfect day to do it.

I love the communication in this book. Because yeah, in second chance romances most of the time miscommunication is the thing that creates their separation. And in this case, it is. So I’m quite very happy how this all turned out. It was a very good book! Highly recommend it. Perfect for a holiday read.
Profile Image for b.andherbooks.
2,353 reviews1,272 followers
December 5, 2020
Couple on the brink of divorce agree to spend one last Christmas together at the behest of their child who wrote a very earnest letter asking Santa for this gift. Sweet and steamy short story. I only wish we had a bit of a glimpse of their future together in an epilogue. He is promising her he will make time for her and the kid and not be a work-a-holic anymore and I wanted the proof. But!!! I do believe in my heart and this was Christmas and magical.
Profile Image for Kat.
929 reviews97 followers
December 15, 2020
Probably closer to 3.75 stars but I did enjoy this. This was cute and christmasy and a super quick read. It's only a bit over 40 pages but it's still a very satisfying story. I liked the fun way the couple interacted and I thought their kids was super well written. I would definitely read more by thid author, especially some slightly longer stuff.
Profile Image for Ryan - Sweet Red Reader .
1,425 reviews95 followers
December 13, 2020
3.5 out of 5. I may or may not have shed a tear. It’s gratifying and inspiring to see a woman set standards, stick to them, and have a man love her enough to meet (and/or) exceed them.
Profile Image for Klara.
225 reviews9 followers
November 26, 2024
This is a short, steamy second-chance romance book. From the start, I was hooked. It’s engaging, funny, interesting, and easy to read. The only thing I don’t like is that it’s too short. I wanted more of the story about Jaleel and Eva—I wanted to see more of their interactions and more of their son, J.R. Oh, I love that kid and his wish that made all of this happen.

Jaleel and Eva are a couple who end up apart because there wasn’t enough communication. Jaleel didn’t realize what he was doing wrong until that Christmas Eve, because Eva didn’t speak up, and he didn’t listen (well, six months of separation definitely makes you listen more to the people you love). I would’ve liked to see more about their past, but in reality, this isn’t a book about that—it’s about that one evening when they finally talk and he finally listens.

The spark and chemistry between them are clear from the start, haha, and oh, the spicy scene… it’s definitely worth reading, haha!
Profile Image for Arlena.
3,480 reviews1 follower
December 27, 2020
Title: Home For Christmas
Author: Brookelyn Mosley
Publisher: 85 Media LLC
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Home For Christmas" by Brookelyn Mosley

My Speculation:

Another good second chance read that will keep you turning the pages. For Eva and Jaleel, who were on their way to divorcing, there will be a stop with what their son JR was asking for ...for Christmas. Will JR get his wish? I liked this sexy love short story that will put a smile on your face as you will see how well everything is unfolding for this family. And in the end, well, this is where I say you will have to pick up "Home For Christmas" to see how well this author brings this story out so well for the reader.
Profile Image for BetweentheCoversLiterary .
1,511 reviews32 followers
December 24, 2019
Truly remarkable

This read was simply amazing and phenomenal. I expect nothing less from this author she always bring the best love stories with romance seeping through the pages. I’m definitely a sucker for a second chance romance and this was perfect. I can empathize with Eva it’s not always an easy task being married to a driven ball player. But I’m glad Jaleel realized that the sacrifices he was making for his career was costing him his family. Such an amazing story and kudos to JR fro bringing the plan together.
Profile Image for Vonetta Evans.
333 reviews13 followers
December 23, 2025
The situation in Jaleel and Eva's marriage felt relatable, not for myself but for many people because he was an athlete and due to his profession was away from home a lot. All Eva wanted from him was some balance, she understood the traveling and endorsements but she wanted him to be able to put his family first sometimes too. They had been together for awhile and she reached her breaking point with him. It was clear the love wasn't lost but she was just tired. Thanks to a Christmas wish from their son JR and the only thing he asked for, they agree to spend Christmas together which helped in bringing them back together.

Although it really was communication and actual listening and being heard that was needed for these two to work things out, it had some of the magic of Christmas air to the story being that it was the Christmas wish that brought Jaleel back to the house in the first place and JR was able to get his wish for his family to be together again.
Profile Image for JazzReads .
1,048 reviews33 followers
December 4, 2024
Cute second chance romance

This book was such a cute second chance romance. This novella is the first book by this author and I will be reading more books by this author.
Profile Image for Robert White.
224 reviews3 followers
December 2, 2020
Love is in the air

I love the story it shows you can have everything and at times still not happy. This was a quick and warm feel loved story love it especially JR.
Profile Image for Donttouchmypoodle✨.
127 reviews2 followers
December 30, 2024
Cute and quick second chance romance story. Didn’t like a comment the best friend side character made though.
Profile Image for Mrs..
5,987 reviews105 followers
December 26, 2022
I love a shortie

The story was a short quick read second chance love story. The story featured a player and his wife and spending time together for the holidays. A chance to get back to loving.
Profile Image for Melanin Book Lover.
269 reviews26 followers
December 4, 2021
Loved this Second Chance Christmas short

Jaleal is a NBA superstar who carries his team on his back and he’s one of the best on the court but his home life has suffered for it. Eva grew tired of her husband not being present in their marriage so she asked for a divorce. Now separated for 6 months all their son wants from Santa is for the three of them to spend Christmas together. Unable to deny their son his only gift request Jaleal and Eva agree to spend Christmas together. Eva isn’t a fan of the agreement but Jaleal sees this as his chance to come back home for good where he belongs.

This was an adorable second chance Christmas short that I truly enjoyed. Jaleal was so passionate about Eva and was willing to give her whatever she wanted but what he really wanted was his wife back. I felt Eva's point of view in my soul, sis was lonely in a whole marriage. Sometimes you gotta walk away and let them miss you for them to get it and Jaleal FINALLY got it. I also understood Jaleal’s point of view he wanted to give his wife and son everything but what they really wanted was him. J.R. was so dang on cute especially when he pulled out his little rules. His little personality had me cracking up.

This was my first Brookelyn Mosley read and it most certainly wont be my last. I have wanted to get into her work for a while now but got distracted with a long TBR. When I saw this short on a Christmas Black Romance Rec I knew this would be a good time to check out some of Brookelyn’s work. After now checking out her writing style I am definitely reading through her catalog at the top of the year because I need more.
Profile Image for Lisa Tetting.
Author 4 books68 followers
January 15, 2020
I enjoyed this short read. A second chance romance always melts my heart. Jaleel and Eva’s story was so endearing. Being an elite professional athlete takes hard work and dedication. Unfortunately, it takes tons of time away from your family, as well. This is the main issue Eva has with her estranged husband. She says she is through with him and wants a divorce.

Their adorable son JR makes his Christmas list and the only thing he wanted was for his parents to spend Christmas together at home as a family. Well, with such a sweet request, his parents couldn’t say no. As soon as they are in the same space, these two can’t take their eyes off of each other.

Things heat up when JR amends his wish to include his parents sleeping in the same room together so he can wake them up together on Christmas morning. The chemistry is too much to ignore and mom and pops can’t stop loving on each other.

The story ends on a happily for now.
Profile Image for Whit.
3,640 reviews51 followers
December 13, 2024

What a heart - tugging and captivating story. I loved this so much!

Little Jaleel Gordon only wants one thing for Christmas: his parents under the same roof. Their 6 month separation has affected him in the most painful way. So toys and games take second place to his wish for his family to come back together!

Jaleel, Sr. is a professional basketball player. He has devoted 90% of his time chasing the wealth that goes along with that, in order to take care of his family. However, more money is not what Eva wants or needs. She wants more family time with Jaleel, Sr. and their son.

Will Jaleel finally understand what it will take to save his marriage?
Profile Image for TellsOfABibliophile.
529 reviews15 followers
December 30, 2023
🎄🎁🍆🌶️❤️

Not being able to find balance between work and home Jaleel and Eva is on the brink of divorce. Eva is tired of being lonely and playing second to her husband career. Their son J.R. only wish for christmas was for to spend it together as a family. Being separated for 6 months the two are now in the same house with eachother that held intimate memories. Both still very much in love and the chemistry A1. Jaleel loved the hell out of his wife and he was not leaving till they agreed on working on them. This was a cute second chance romance. J.R. personality was everything. This little family was cute. First time reading this author and it won’t be my last.
Profile Image for Charmy Reads.
425 reviews15 followers
December 9, 2024
I gave this story a 3.5/5. This was a cute second chance romance that started with a little boy not wanting to spend Christmas at two different houses. His parents have recently separated due to his father's ability to always put work over family. In an effort to make sure his family never wants for anything, Jaleel has made his wife, Eva, feel like she doesn't matter. Their son makes a wish to spend Christmas together as a family and it sparks the couple to realize they don't really want to be without the other.

It's a face paced read. It's definitely good for anyone looking to get in a quick holiday read that doesn't require a lot of time.
Profile Image for Mrs Tee Booktique.
911 reviews13 followers
December 22, 2019
Balance...

Success can often leave us making bad decisions and sacrifices. Focusing on the goal can cause us to unfocus in love. Because we are being successful for the ones we love and they know we love them...Right? Well Jaleel found out that’s wrong. This story makes me wonder did Eva communicate her feelings in a language that Jah could understand? Beautiful story, I’m so proud of JR for his Christmas wish and rules! Love forgives!!!!
Profile Image for Crystal Luckey.
748 reviews31 followers
January 9, 2020
Eva and Jaleel was separated and on their way to a divorce, but all their son wanted was them both together for Christmas and his wish was granted. While together, they realized they still loved each other and discussed how they felt. I loved this story because it showed that love will out way the bad and just communicating and talking about what each other wants, things can change. I'm such a fan of this author and cant wait to read more by here!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews

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