Dysfunctional

by Eve Dangerfield

A sexy and emotional Christmas romance featuring an Alpha Billionaire Hero, a small-town damsel in distress, public spice and Love At First Sight.  

Christmas is around the corner, but Jessica is determined she won't be kissing anyone under the mistletoe this year. Her track record is so bad, and her waitressing job is so demanding that she's sworn off dating for the foreseeable future. But a girl has needs, and a man like Austin inspires them like no other…

From the moment Austin sees Jessica, he wants more. But when he asks her out, he’s informed that a pre-Christmas one-night stand is as far as things can go.

Jessica is determined to protect her heart, but that’s before Austin kisses her, and she discovers he's not like any man who’s come before...

Dysfunctional is a spicy holiday romance novella by critically acclaimed romance author Eve Dangerfield.

★★★★★ “Dysfunctional is a novella that will have you laughing out loud and praising Eve Dangerfield's wicked talent.” Isabella R

★★★★★ “A cute, romantic novella about a jaded heroine bent on not trusting a hero who has her best interest at heart.” T. Rosada

★★★★★ “A fun Christmas quickie for when you want your bells jingled.” Coral

Genres: Romance, Holiday, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Christmas, Short Stories, Anthologies

Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2021

About the author

Eve Dangerfield has loved romance novels ever since she first swiped her grandmother’s paperbacks. Now she writes her own stories about complicated women and gorgeous-but-slightly-tortured men. Her work has been described as 'genre-defying,' and ‘the defibrillator contemporary romance needs right now'. And not just by those who might one day need bone marrow! She lives in Melbourne with her beautiful family and can generally be found making a mess.
www.instagram.com/evedangerfield/

Reviews

[Isabella. R · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 The Act of Celibacy Stars ⭐

Jessica is a waitress when she's not studying. As the primary carer for her mum and sister, money is tight and life is full on. Independently resourceful and smart, she's quit men and is happy living by her own ideals after a history of dating disasters. Thus her self imposed celibacy.

"I have the world’s worst track record with men and the mere fact that I’m all weak in the knees over you means you probably strangle cats for fun."

Dealing with the hectic pace of the Diamond Hill Country Club is barely tolerable, but add in the Christmas season filled with drunken fools; it's unbearable. With her boss gone AWOL it becomes Jessica's responsibility to put out all the metaphorical fires. Except she isn't prepared for Austen Delaney-Ford.

Austen may need to work at convincing Jessica to shelve her reservations and break her 'vow of chastity' but he is utterly perfect. You will adore him 💕

Dysfunctional is a quick read novella that will have you laughing out loud, shaking your head at Jessica's inner monologue and praising Eve Dangerfield's wicked talent.

[juli✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

✩ 𝟮.𝟱

“I’m so going to get a crush on you,” he announces to the room at large. I bite down my smile.
“Oh, are you?”
“Yup, I’m going to write shit poetry about you and think about you all the time. It’s gonna be fuckin’ tragic.”

I mean it's Eve Dangerfield, so you guys already know that this novella was hot. The holiday themed shenanigans were just a bonus. Jessica and [can't remember his name] the hero were actually pretty cute together.

Ultimately, the ending felt a bit too rushed for me to give this one above twoish stars. Dysfunctional could've used at least one more chapter to wrap things up in a nice neat holiday bow.

[Sarah (thehireader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Austin literally rolled up his sleeves to help with dinner service…MY HEART.

[Chalice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The couple: Austin and Jessica

Romance trope: insta-love-ish

Plot: Jessica is struggling to get by, but her job at the restaurant helps. When she meets the new investor's son, it's lust at first sight - for both of them - but she's sworn off men. Austin isn't going to give up though; he knows Jessica is the one that will make him break all of his rules.

Commentary: The rule lists were funny. I do feel like the ending was rushed and I would have liked maybe a second epilogue to find out they were still together, but otherwise, it was fun and steamy and I feel like Jessica deserved her happy ending.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good short set in Oz, featuring a sweet, young thing and a hunky young stud who wants her. I swear that I’ve read this story before, or at least the beginning. Maybe it was a teaser in one of Ms. Dangerfield’s other books? Dunno. This here is a great short. The chemistry is hot, the obstacles realistic but manageable, the dialogue funny as hell.

Bought from kindle.

[Valerie Connors · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the premise of this but I probably wouldn’t have picked it up if it wasn’t in an anthology. The blurb didn’t really sell me on it. The locked room forced proximity was fun though, so I’m glad I kept reading. Grab this if you need to add some pages to your end of the year counts and like spice.

[Sandra R · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. An interesting and steamy romance novella.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this short story as part of the Reindeer Games Anthology. While I enjoyed the plot and thought the characters had good chemistry, I also though the story could use some polishing.

In the edition I read, the editing was nonexistent, making it tough going in parts. The ending felt a bit sudden, too, as happens with some short stories.

I’d love to see this story expanded into a longer novella or novel - there’s definitely enough set-up to do that, and I think it would give the author space to really bring the story arc home.

Overall, I really liked her style and voice, and will probably try out more full length versions of this new-to-me author’s work.

[T. Rosado · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

I originally read Dysfunctional as part of the Reindeer Games anthology and it was one of my two favorites in the collection.

It was a cute romantic novella about a jaded heroine bent on not trusting a new and interested hero who has her best interest at heart. I enjoyed the quick read. Both the hero and heroine were well-written and likable characters. I absolutely loved the final sweet and funny "dating do/don't list" shared by both Jessica and Austin. Definitely an "Aww" moment for a sweet ending.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending to this short story, nice guys do exist in the world #teamAustin

[Coral · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun Christmas quickie for when you want your bells jingled.

[Leigh MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but sweet. Wish had a more fleshed-out ending, especially b/c my ereader told me I was at 70% so it felt pretty abrupt.

[Onnica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet. Very enjoyable read that left me wanting more.

[s.]

such a cute novella!!

[Sadie Hope · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very funny, very realistic. Too rushed for me to feel like I knew the characters or what actually happened at the end.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was alright, insta-lust and a bit too short for me to really get invested but I did like the ode to people who have to work christmas.

[Beachbaby]

In boxed set - "Holiday Nights: A Scorching Hot Winter Anthology"

[Shathara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as part of the "Holiday Nights" Anthology

[Maranda Prigmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book. I just felt I needed more from it. The characters were fun.

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you want from an Eve Dangerfield story: humour, grit, spice and interesting characters. An easy, steamy romance read.

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Ashley (Kindled Souls Book Blog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I may have to give something else by this author a try as this short story was really too short. Austin and Jessica had chemistry for sure, but given the short nature of this story, it felt like insta-love. But if you’re looking for a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am story with a side of holiday shenanigans, this one may be for you.