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I'll Be Home for Christmas
For the first time as a standalone ebook, enjoy this beautiful holiday romance by USA TODAY bestselling author Beverly Jenkins!
Three years ago, Broadway star Dina Caldwell and celebrity chef Morgan Caldwell were passionately in love. Now America’s onetime favorite couple are about to be reunited in Morgan’s Detroit hometown for the holidays. Is this the season for forgiving and forgetting? With sizzling kisses under the mistletoe, Morgan vows to make this a Christmas Dina will never forget!
Originally published in 2011
Three years ago, Broadway star Dina Caldwell and celebrity chef Morgan Caldwell were passionately in love. Now America’s onetime favorite couple are about to be reunited in Morgan’s Detroit hometown for the holidays. Is this the season for forgiving and forgetting? With sizzling kisses under the mistletoe, Morgan vows to make this a Christmas Dina will never forget!
Originally published in 2011
100 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2019
86 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Beverly Jenkins
70 books4,831 followersBeverly Jenkins is the recipient of the 2017 Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the 2016 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for historical romance.
She has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in Literature, was featured both in the documentary “Love Between the Covers” and on CBS Sunday Morning.
Since the publication of Night Song in 1994, she has been leading the charge for inclusive romance, and has been a constant darling of reviewers, fans, and her peers alike, garnering accolades for her work from the likes of The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and NPR. Her critically acclaimed Blessings series has been optioned for film by John Legend’s and Mike Jackson’s production company Get Lifted, and Hollywood and Broadway powerhouse Deborah Martin Chase.
To read more about Beverly and sign up for her newsletter, visit her at www.BeverlyJenkins.net.
She has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in Literature, was featured both in the documentary “Love Between the Covers” and on CBS Sunday Morning.
Since the publication of Night Song in 1994, she has been leading the charge for inclusive romance, and has been a constant darling of reviewers, fans, and her peers alike, garnering accolades for her work from the likes of The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and NPR. Her critically acclaimed Blessings series has been optioned for film by John Legend’s and Mike Jackson’s production company Get Lifted, and Hollywood and Broadway powerhouse Deborah Martin Chase.
To read more about Beverly and sign up for her newsletter, visit her at www.BeverlyJenkins.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 2, 2020
4.5 stars
November 28, 2020
A Sweet and Spicy Story.
As far as I know, I'll Be Home for Christmas is the first book I've read by Beverly Jenkins and I enjoyed reading it. It's a great second chance story as well as being a "boy next door" one (which I love because I married the boy next door 😊).
Dina and Morgan broke up a few years ago because Morgan cheated on her (they weren't married yet). He's grown up a lot since then and he now realizes that he ruined the best thing that had ever happened to him. The couple is reunited when they both come home at Thanksgiving for Morgan's sister's wedding.
It's not a long story but it didn't feel short, if that makes sense. When I started reading it, I didn't know that it takes place primarily around Thanksgiving – unlike what the title would have you believe – so my timing for reading it was perfect (the day after Thanksgiving). My only reason for not giving this 5 stars is that it ended a bit too abruptly for me. There was a lot of great story, sexy time and some drama, leading up to the end but when it came it just felt too fast
I'm looking forward to seeing Ms. Jenkins during the virtual Coastal Magic Convention in February 2021.
As far as I know, I'll Be Home for Christmas is the first book I've read by Beverly Jenkins and I enjoyed reading it. It's a great second chance story as well as being a "boy next door" one (which I love because I married the boy next door 😊).
Dina and Morgan broke up a few years ago because Morgan cheated on her (they weren't married yet). He's grown up a lot since then and he now realizes that he ruined the best thing that had ever happened to him. The couple is reunited when they both come home at Thanksgiving for Morgan's sister's wedding.
It's not a long story but it didn't feel short, if that makes sense. When I started reading it, I didn't know that it takes place primarily around Thanksgiving – unlike what the title would have you believe – so my timing for reading it was perfect (the day after Thanksgiving). My only reason for not giving this 5 stars is that it ended a bit too abruptly for me. There was a lot of great story, sexy time and some drama, leading up to the end but when it came it just felt too fast
I'm looking forward to seeing Ms. Jenkins during the virtual Coastal Magic Convention in February 2021.
December 9, 2020
This is the story of Morgan and Dina. They were engaged at one point and were the “it” couple. He’s a famous chef, she’s a tiny winning Broadway star, but their relationship crashed and burned when he cheated on her repeatedly. Now they’re both going back home for his sisters wedding and he wants her back. I thought this book was meh at best. It’s only like 120 pages and the reconciliation happens seemingly without a blink. I think for me to love second chance romance we need to have a dual timeline where we see some of their relationship before. Combined with my general dislike for novellas and instalove, I think this just wasn’t for me.
September 12, 2024
Loved this sweet story of forgiveness! Three years ago Celebrity Chef Morgan and Broadway Star, Dina Caldwell ended their engagement when the tabloids reported, to the world, all of the women Morgan was caught cheating with. Dina was devastated.
Now they're both back home for his sister's wedding and Morgan wants a second chance. The question is does he deserve one and what should Dina require in order to forgive him?
Now they're both back home for his sister's wedding and Morgan wants a second chance. The question is does he deserve one and what should Dina require in order to forgive him?
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July 31, 2020I'll say that the blurb isnt correct but the story is still amazing .I enjoyed the second chance Morgan got with Dina . I loved that he had to work for his second second chance. .Ms. Beverly has the best Contemporary Romance!
December 12, 2021
I want to start by saying I love Beverly Jenkins historical fiction romance novels.
This book, in my opinion, pales in comparison to the quality of those novels. This book is less than 100 pages, so I know she needed to get to the point quickly, but it felt uneven. I think Christmas was mentioned once in this book. Christmas day wasn't even covered, which is weird because Christmas is in the title of the book!? I was expecting a book version of a Lifetime or Hallmark movie, but what I actually got was a story with alot of build-up with a hasty ending.
I will go back to reading her historical fictions now ...
This book, in my opinion, pales in comparison to the quality of those novels. This book is less than 100 pages, so I know she needed to get to the point quickly, but it felt uneven. I think Christmas was mentioned once in this book. Christmas day wasn't even covered, which is weird because Christmas is in the title of the book!? I was expecting a book version of a Lifetime or Hallmark movie, but what I actually got was a story with alot of build-up with a hasty ending.
I will go back to reading her historical fictions now ...
November 17, 2019
Gotta love a second chance romance! I needed something a little sweet but not sappy to get me into the holiday writing mewd. Delighted to find a Beverly Jenkins book I haven't read yet. WOOP. This one was a good, a great balance of story and steam with a satisfying ending.
July 7, 2023
I thought I was getting a warm, fuzzy holiday second chance story, but this was more complicated and yet exactly that. Beverly Jenkins delivered a well-developed, quick read standalone holiday romance that showed a person can screw up royally and with a bit of holiday magic gain forgiveness.
December 14, 2025
This was one of my least favorite Beverly Jenkins books.
The main conflict of the book is Morgan, a celebrity chef, fighting for a second chance with Dina, a Broadway star. Morgan cheated on Dina when they were engaged to be married and now, four years later, has turned his life around and worked to be a better person. The two grew up together as next-door neighbors, with each person’s parents serving as god parents for the other. With Morgan’s sister getting married over Thanksgiving weekend, the Morgan and Dina have to interact with each other a lot and sparks fly.
My main issue is that I’m not big on a second chance for cheaters. Jenkins has a doubly hard hill to climb as this is a novella and not a full-length novel that might give more time for a redemption arc. The book is well written, it’s just a hard task to convince the reader of Morgan’s trustworthiness in such a short span.
The other minor quibble with the book is that it mostly takes place over Thanksgiving with only a brief bit at the end happening over Christmas.
Honestly, this book was well written but the trope was not for me.
The main conflict of the book is Morgan, a celebrity chef, fighting for a second chance with Dina, a Broadway star. Morgan cheated on Dina when they were engaged to be married and now, four years later, has turned his life around and worked to be a better person. The two grew up together as next-door neighbors, with each person’s parents serving as god parents for the other. With Morgan’s sister getting married over Thanksgiving weekend, the Morgan and Dina have to interact with each other a lot and sparks fly.
My main issue is that I’m not big on a second chance for cheaters. Jenkins has a doubly hard hill to climb as this is a novella and not a full-length novel that might give more time for a redemption arc. The book is well written, it’s just a hard task to convince the reader of Morgan’s trustworthiness in such a short span.
The other minor quibble with the book is that it mostly takes place over Thanksgiving with only a brief bit at the end happening over Christmas.
Honestly, this book was well written but the trope was not for me.
October 25, 2021
I enjoyed this story. Two former lovers are reunited after several years of no communication to attend an upcoming wedding of a loved one. Morgan, the male love interest, is on his way of reforming his bad boy ways and is hopeful Dina, the female love interest, will forgive him and spark what the once had. "I'll Be Home for Christmas" had the quintessential cozy holiday vibes with talk of food, travel, and family, as well as some heat. For a novella, I thought the storytelling/pacing was good.
December 12, 2021
🤔second chance
The author did her good work in writing this holiday and wedding story. This short was filled with more Thanksgiving assistance for the homeless, police and fire departments and others who did not want to cook. The wedding of "Morgan's" sister ended happily for her and husband. Snow storms are not always bad 😉
The author did her good work in writing this holiday and wedding story. This short was filled with more Thanksgiving assistance for the homeless, police and fire departments and others who did not want to cook. The wedding of "Morgan's" sister ended happily for her and husband. Snow storms are not always bad 😉
October 3, 2024
I'm on a roll with these second chance romances.
Morgan really messed things up with Dina. Four years later, he is back to try and win her heart again. She doesn't plan on making it easy for him. But as much as she tries to fight it, her heart still belongs to him.
This was cute. She could have made him grovel a bit more but I enjoyed it a lot.
Morgan really messed things up with Dina. Four years later, he is back to try and win her heart again. She doesn't plan on making it easy for him. But as much as she tries to fight it, her heart still belongs to him.
This was cute. She could have made him grovel a bit more but I enjoyed it a lot.
March 24, 2021
Second chances
This was a good read. Morgan had a second chance to make up what happened between him and Dina. Dina guarded her heart. Morgan was destined to show her he changed. The story line flowed seamlessly.
This was a good read. Morgan had a second chance to make up what happened between him and Dina. Dina guarded her heart. Morgan was destined to show her he changed. The story line flowed seamlessly.
June 16, 2021
I'll Be Home For Christmas
Diana and Morgan back together and they live happily ever after. Once they remember being successful is nothing if you don't have someone to share it with.
Diana and Morgan back together and they live happily ever after. Once they remember being successful is nothing if you don't have someone to share it with.
December 24, 2024
I enjoyed Dina and Morgan’s second chance romance, however, I struggled to get past Morgan’s previous cheating enough to say he truly deserved another chance with Dina! Small thing, but it was enough to bug me long after finishing the story. Otherwise, this was a fun read.
December 29, 2025
I wanted more from this book. I read it on kindle so initially I didn't even pay attention to how short it was. It was a Christmas book but there wasn't a Christmas theme.
I'm definitely team Beverly so I'll be reading more
Of her books. This was just wasn't it.
I'm definitely team Beverly so I'll be reading more
Of her books. This was just wasn't it.
January 13, 2020
Short but cute
I enjoyed the story of Morgan and Dina finding each other again. With everyone pulling for them glad it worked out . Also happy Rick's parents came to their senses.
I enjoyed the story of Morgan and Dina finding each other again. With everyone pulling for them glad it worked out . Also happy Rick's parents came to their senses.
January 28, 2020
Great:!
April 12, 2020
A very good quick read!
December 24, 2020
Wonderful story! Love for the holidays best book can't wait to read more! Awesome Author
December 31, 2020
Another hit by one of my fav authors. Her writing is consistently good. Dina and Morgan made you want to make sure they became a couple. Loved the family. Would like to see these characters again.
January 8, 2021
Sweet, short, & sexy
Centered around a Christmas wedding, two ex-lovers are reunited and must finally face their break up for closure. I loved it
Centered around a Christmas wedding, two ex-lovers are reunited and must finally face their break up for closure. I loved it
June 18, 2021
Cute. Reminded me of home.
June 3, 2022
quick read
Cute holiday story- predictable, but nice anyway. It would have been nice to have a whole
Novel about them/their family.
Cute holiday story- predictable, but nice anyway. It would have been nice to have a whole
Novel about them/their family.
December 23, 2022
2.5 stars
January 1, 2023
IMO She gave him a second chance way to fast to be as broken hearted as she said. Perhaps I'm just jaded.
December 7, 2019
Too short!
December 6, 2019
It was ok.
February 11, 2020
This was a great Christmas story. Dina and Morgan grew up together, fell in love, got engaged, and then he messed up big time. These are the types of stories that keep you up at night. I loved that when the main couple reunited that it was not an instant "I forgive you" and they get back together. I enjoyed reading about them working through their issues. The book warmed me.
August 5, 2020
The hardest thing to get right about second chance romances is to realistically show how trust is able to grow again. Ms Bev's tale about how Dina begins to trust again and how Morgan proves himself trustworthy satisfies on all counts. It also doesn't hurt that the sex they have is bone-melting. Thanks Ms Bev for another winner.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews