Festive Fever

Christmas & Curves #1

by Hallie Bennett

Welcome to MerryCon: a fun-filled weekend where holiday movie TV stars and their fans can meet!

Emery Michaels wishes for a Christmas miracle—to be paired with her TV crush, Calder Mayfield—after becoming a volunteer at MerryCon. Instead, she gets matched with Thatcher North, an attractive older man who's trying to stage a comeback. What's a curvy girl to do when his dark eyes and kind heart capture her attention?

Thatcher North needs some Christmas magic. After making poor decisions as a young man, he's back to resurrect a lagging acting career by participating in MerryCon. Too bad the curvy volunteer assigned to him smells like holiday cookies and looks good enough to eat! He can't afford distractions, but Emery is irresistible—except she's enamored with a younger actor.

Will these two find a holiday love meant for the movies?

Warning: Short and hot, this quick read is for fans of Hallmark Christmas movies who need ALL the steam (no fade to black or ending on kisses here). Just a curvy girl and a filthy-talking hero who are definitely on Santa's Naughty List!

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Romance, Celebrity, Novella, Plus Size, Fiction

67 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2021

About the author

Hallie prefers steamy, insta-love stories where the curvy girl finds love with a filthy-talking hero. And when she ran out of reading material, she decided to write her own stories. If you want a quick, hot read, she's your girl!

Instagram: @authorhalliebennett
TikTok: @authorhalliebennett
Facebook: @authorhalliebennett

Reviews

[Andrea ☾ [is inconsistently consistant] · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

[Torey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick Hallmark type book with a little spice. Short read so the character development isn't fully there but this was a good palate cleanser.

[Elizabeth Hillebrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great hallmark vibe book, but with some spice!!!
A very quick read but worth it

[Hayley Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a quick, cute Christmas book. I really enjoyed reading it. It was like I was watching a hallmark movie. Reading this just made me feel happy 😊

[Malini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than a cookie by MeemsAngel82

This was such a homey read! And a steamy one! Just at the right time for this season. The plot was so in tune with the Christmas theme! Who wouldn't want a real life Hallmark movie life but with heat? The writing is cozy as well as the setting. These characters are attracted and could make their dreams come true in such a happy place!

She was there for her crush but would find her love instead. He was there for his career but would find that his real life wss getting better all the time now!

Better than snickerdoodles? Um, love certainly is! I received this book for free but volunteer this review. This was such a warm read for the season. The H was a wonderful guy and she was a kind person. I do wish she mentioned her physical attraction to him more however. But this was definitely steamy and they are going to have some fun unwrapping under the tree this year!

[Beverly McCall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Festive Fever is the second installment in Halle Bennett’s Christmas and Curves series. In this age-gap romance, she chronicles the romantic jourey of Emory Michaels and Thacher North. She is the MeryCon volunteer assigned to him. From their first encounter they are attracted to each other. Like the other books in this series, it is a delightful contemporary holiday romance. Ms. Bennett masterfully uses literacy devices such as stron and likeable primary characters, outstanding dialog, both conversational and internal monologue, dual POV and vivid descriptive scenes. Nicely done, Ms. Bennett.

[Devon (tips_and_tropes) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Instalust/love at a Christmas movie convention between an actor and the volunteer assigned to him for the weekend. It's a quick novella that felt at times a little disjointed between the sweet and the spice. I feel like that's really just down to the constraints of the format. It was a fun little treat of a story that allows a little extra punch for the next time I'm watching my favorite Hallmark actor *ahem, Tyler Hynes*. 😂

[Alyssa’s Cozy Book Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday Con Romance

I loved the idea of this story. As someone who goes to conventions and loves Hallmark movies, I’m sure myself and others have thought about our favorite characters or movie stars in a spicy way, and this novella brought that to life. The only reason I gave this 4 stars is because I’m not a huge fan of insta-love stories and I was left with a feeling of wanting more to the story. But it was still a cute, spicy, and fast read!

[Kristina Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Festive Novella!

I love how Hallie writes! Her books are guaranteed to be a quick, fun read with a wonderfully written book boyfriend, a storyline that doesn’t feel rushed and keeps you entertained, and just the right spice! When her books come out, I can’t wait to get my hands on them and enjoy! She will never let you down!
Kristina

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

Both T and E weren’t expecting anything but what they got was everything. She’s obsessed with Christmas movies and he’s an actor in some of those Christmas movies. They met at merrycon.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the spicy Hallmark Christmas hottie romance story we all needed. Hallie brought the Christmas spirit and now I'll be looking at those leading men just a little differently come this Christmas season. A quick, easy read with a spice level guaranteed to sizzle your tongue.

[Julia Milam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Picked this up on stuff your kindle day a while ago and finally got to it. This was a cute and a bit steamy short story. Whoever said Hallmark with spice was right. Would read this again as a palate cleanser and would be even better at Christmas time.

[Brittany Crawl · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute little hallmark spice

This one was ok. It was a little cheesy but it was also Really Spicy. Volunteer turned wife. Very fast …

[Krystine de la Fuente · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a cute Christmas story

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably more like a 3.5

I promised myself I'd read at least one Christmas romance this year and I am happy this was it!

[Shari Jahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick but very satisfying read. I liked the curvy girl getting her man! This was a hallmark Christmas story with steam!

[Stasi Apple (The Reads of an Apple) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Stacy! · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was exactly what I was in the mood for! A short, but unbelievably sweet and sexy Christmas read! 🔥

[Kay Leyda · Rating 4 out of 5]

spicy Christmas novella

I read December Desire earlier and couldn’t resist immediately swiping this little treat set in the same town. Thatcher is dreamy!

[Zondra.Hallyahoo.Com · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it.

[teresa gallant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every and Thatch

This read is as good as watching a Hallmark Christmas movie. You appreciate a man that likes what he sees and doesn't waste time going for it.

[Jendee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 star read! A short and quick read, but super full of fun and passion. And a stocking full of spice.

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Short, sweet, dirty & to the point. A quick read that has all the feels.

[Carrie Poppe · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was insanely cringey.

[LaTara · Rating 5 out of 5]

super adorable

Absolutely fantastic! I enjoyed every word. The romance was top tier and the communication was chef’s kiss! 10/10 will read again.

[Whiptosticbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a super quick fun read. It didn't feel entirely realistic

[Charliegirl1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and naughty

This is a short holiday story, definitely more naughty than nice. It's an okay read, not as fun as some I've read by this author.

[Kyleah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it almost July and I’m just now reading this? Yes.

Did I love every single moment of it? Yes.

Quick, to the point, steamy, ticks all the boxes for a great holiday read!

[Alyssa J · Rating 4 out of 5]

So freaking cute! Super quick read . Spicy. Filled with holiday spirit. Curvy girl. Snickerdoodle. Steamy man. Yes!!!

[Kaija · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun steamy insta love Hallmark Christmas movie turned book!
It’s a quick read and a fun read!