Christmas with the CEO

by Kaya LaSalle

When she came home for the holidays, Ivy wasn't planning on falling in love with the new CEO in town...

Going back to her sleepy hometown of Cascade Falls isn't high on Ivy Ferguson's list of priorities, but when her big-city dreams dry up she decides to stay with her family for Christmas. It seems like nothing has changed since she left...until she hears about the wealthy CEO who has taken up residence in town.

All Allie Moore wants is some peace and quiet. She's built a life for herself in Cascade Falls, and she's happy with things just the way they are. But when a brash (and beautiful) woman comes storming into her office one day, Allie finds herself reevaluating things.

Sparks fly between the two women, and Ivy swears the CEO is out to make her life miserable. But as she reluctantly spends more time around Allie, she wonders if she might have been too quick to judge the other woman.

With a little help from the rest of the town, can Ivy and Allie find the spirit of the season--and maybe fall in love along the way?

Genres: Christmas, Lesbian, Holiday

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 21, 2020

About the author

I always grew up hungry for stories that I could see myself in. Even the tiniest hint of queerness would make my heart beat faster, but any sort of media where queer women were the protagonists was a rarity. Even rarer if you wanted queer characters who got happy endings!

One day I decided to start writing the types of stories I wished I could read. Stories where being queer isn't something to overcome, where the main characters could fall in love and be themselves and find joy in each other. I'm mostly writing contemporary F/F romance these days, but occasionally I dabble in fantasy and sci-fi.

I love connecting with readers, so feel free to drop me a line any time you want to talk about books, dogs, or nerdy things :)

Reviews

[AnnMaree Of Oz]

A kindle unlimited read I wanted to try. But wouldn't really recommend.

The writing isn't stellar, the third person narrative makes things feel a bit distanced. My biggest issue was the CEO (which gets said sooo many times) isn't really a CEO... She's a small to medium business owner of a shipping company in a small town. There's no board of directors she has to please. She's the sole proprietor/trader/operator. So decidedly NOT a CEO.

The story is simplistic, and the main character, Ivy, is immature and arrogant. She's been a shit friend and daughter, and loathes that she has to even be back home after being laid off in a mass work cull after living the high life in New York City for years, and wants to keep up that lifestyle for reasons? despite technically having no friends or life outside of her job.

She treats going back to her small hometown as slumming it, and she has a run-in (literally) with Allison from the Shipping Company, and she thinks that 'the CEO' is taking advantage of the people in the small community. Infact she is not. Allie has become a true part of the town and community, while Ivy has been gone, and people care about her and she inturn about them. But Ivy is jealous and petty towards her, even when things are explained to her, and the fact she hasn't been back in years.

Ivy does soon turn a corner, and an attraction between her and Allie happens - but it just all feels very surface level and I had no emotional attachment to the characters or the town.

[Lorraine Rusnack]

Home is where the heart is

Ivy is reluctantly returning home after losing her job in NYC. Allie came to town after Ivy left so she doesn't realize that's who runs her down on the sidewalk. They get off to a rocky start until best friend to both women gets involved. It a sappy romcom Christmas story which I'm a sucker for. I enjoyed this book tears and all.

[Kexx]

A twee tale that I think I'd term as a novella but as I skip read the last 40% that might be unfair. Good ending.

[Kaye]

Cute, easy going, holiday romance. Ivy returns to her very small hometown after getting laid off from her accounting job in NYC. The Big Apple was always her dream and she's done it for the last 8 years. She meets Allie who has moved to the town and started a shipping business. At first she thinks that Allie has taken advantage of her parents and confronts her. Things smooth out when a mutual friend gets them together. I like small town romances. And the couple together or good. But the third person narration feels awkward. I got tired of hearing them referred to as the CEO, the blonde, the brunette. Not reading their names, which we know, seems odd and took me out of the flow of the story. It is a decent read but nothing I'll remember down the road.

[Kathy]

Flirty and enjoyable!

Ivy loses her big job in the city and finally returns home to her parents and best friend in the small town she couldn't wait to leave. She literally runs into Allie, the CEO of the transportation company that wasn't there the last time Ivy was home. Actually, their first few meetings were rough, and it wasn't until best friend, Kayla and her cute young daughter Everly, brought them all together before they were even civil to one another.

Both women are captivating and very accomplished and their friendship evolved naturally into a slow burning yearning. I enjoyed the story of Allie and Ivy very much; however, I was a little put out by the excessive usage of the author's reference to the CEO rather than the name Allie or even the pronoun her. I hope she doesn't follow this style of writing in her books to come!

[SussexCat]

I found myself reading this after purchasing it on a whim on a Saturday afternoon.
I got a random Kindle alert and when scrolling through titles I decided on this because it was some love / hate enemies to lovers action in a small town. Sometimes... it's just nice to pick up a little sometin' and go with it.

This was exactly what it said it would be and I appreciate that.

Ivy returns home after some professional disappointments and encounters Allie.
Fireworks for both of them, we soon learn.
The leads are very likeable and I enjoyed their romance.
Some initial misnderstandings and misadventre makes for an entertaining trip to happy ever after.
The small town setting is a welcoming one and I wanted to go to a diner after reading this.

[KJ]

Okay, so I did enjoy this book. I liked the story, the characters, and the setting. Because I read for fun, I overlook a lot of things that others might point out as negative, but this time I just have to say something. My biggest issue with this book is how often the author reminded, pointed out, said, discussed, revealed, and told us over and over that Allie was a CEO. On one page I counted five times that Allie was referred to as the CEO. I turned the page and the bold letters of CEO leapt off the page again in multiple places. It became a bit distracting. CEO is her title but once that has been established, there are so many other ways she could have been described.
Again, I really did enjoy the story and this will certainly not prevent me from reading other books by this author.

[Michelle Schuler]

Christmas in a small hometown

I really wanted to rate this 5 stars, I couldn't. I get not wanting to constantly use the name of the characters, but at times it seems as when one of the MCs is thinking of the other, I doubt she references her as the CEO (the brunette, Allie, Allison), especially lovingly or being intimate. I loved the premise, I loved the chemistry. I truly enjoyed the book, I couldn't get past all the descriptors, even used on the best friend (blond, curly haired woman, Kay and Kayla). Like I said I really enjoyed, it's worth the read and I look forward to more by Kaya LaSalle.

[MissAlice]

Here I was thinking this would be a Hallmark holiday sort of deal. Sure, it's an HEA, but my goodness- the chemistry and steamy scenes between these MCs could melt a snowbank. Maybe if Hallmark was owned by HBO this would fit into the lineup.

I didn't even care that this was a pseudo-love at first site, an early "I Love You" confessional... sure to be a U-haul! I loved the town, characters, and plot. Now if it only were closer to Christmas time because all I want to do is eat some pie and decorate a tree:)

[Doug Elliott]

This is a sweet back-to-the-small-town romance with lots of snow and mistletoe. The characters are are not overly well developed as unique individuals but it is a nice cozy read. Continually referring to Allie as "the CEO" was a little distracting and tended to reduce her to a bit of a caricature.

[Faraona del sol]

Amazing story

A slow burn romance, spicy, and festive I enjoyed . A beautiful Christmas story, full of joy and love. The characters are captivating, and gorgeous. Allie and Ivy are perfect together, A timeless love, A dream come true, hanging on a balance of a moment, choices and decisions. I love it and definitely recommend it.

[Gina L]

Heartfelt Story!

I enjoyed this holiday romance. Despite how they meet, Ivy and Allie has such a instant connection. Fueled on misplaced anger, the two learn more about each other to realize that deep down they need each other and they could be so much more to each other. What they both believed about their own selves gets proven wrong. I am enjoying this writer.

[Erika Arriaga]

such a great story

This really was a great read. I loved the build up of the two characters and I almost started to cry when ivy was leaving. I was expecting this story to feel rushed and be cheesy but it wasn’t at all. I really enjoyed this.

Would have loved a year later update.

[Ciara]

I'm not usually into Christmas type books however, I decided I would give them a go this year and I've read every other book by this author and enjoyed them!

I was pleasantly surprised, I really enjoyed this book. I also enjoy the small town storyline. I read in 24 hours as I was wanting to know how it all played out.

[Christine Reid]

Excellent storyline

Excellent storyline the main characters were perfectly believable passionate loving heartfelt the twist and turns were amazing written congratulations on another fantastic book.

[Jude]

Nice

I really enjoyed this story! It's a nice, sweet love story. Everyone has dreams of how they want their life to go but sometimes, just sometimes, those dreams change when you're not paying attention!

[AL]

Beautiful and Romantic story

Excellent written story with so much romance for new beginnings and new chances. It has its intense moments but are so beautifully described and what an end. Every single character plays a role in this story. I fully enjoyed the book.

[Sydney]

A bit long

Well developed characters. I felt there was more background than was necessary on the town and Ivy’s reactions. Calling Allie the “CEO” through the story also was a tad odd.

[Michelle]

An incredible love story

Allie and Ivy's love story had me laughing, crying and ultimately cheering. Ms. LaSa!!e has written era wonderful Christmas love story that can be re-read year after year.

[Dana Formale]

Holiday feels

I thought this was a cute story and I enjoyed it a lot.
Definitely helped to get me into the holiday spirit this year

[Sharon]

Loved!

Ivy loses her job and returns to her home town, where she literally runs into a beautiful yet maddening mystery woman! This is a sweet, steamy and heartwarming story!

[charles clayson]

Oh how this book resonated with joy and happiness. Even though we start out with a mild bit of angst! The story flows like one of those lifetime holiday movies; except for the lite dustings of sapphic love 💘
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹!!! 12 Doz Roses.

[Cheryl]

This is the feel-good story with great chemistry that all the lesbians wanted when we heard Kristen Stewart was making a Christmas movie.

[Kelda]

Steamy and sweet

This is a lovely romance with strong female characters. The storyline is believable and the story flows well. Steamy and sweet.

[Mrs. Jillian Tibble]

A truly great love story. One to lose yourself in.

[M L Brooks]

Heartwarming and heartfelt

I really enjoyed this. It's well paced and I like that they take the time to actually establish their relationship before it became a full on thing.

[Carole Damoci]

Great Christmas story

I love Kaya LaSalle books. This is a heart warming Holiday story with a happy ending. Two women who need each other.

[Clare 45]

Good read, good characters, pretty simple love story.