Spread Joy: A Christmas Eve Hot Holiday Hookup

by Danielle Allen

Signing up to volunteer on Christmas Eve felt like the best thing to do to get in the holiday spirit.

Turns out, there are multiple ways to get in the holiday spirit.

Genres: Novella, Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Second Chance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

61 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 13, 2021

About the author

Diversity in Romance Advocate.
Life Coach.

XOXO

Reviews

[Warda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can always count on Danielle Allen for a good time.

[Salma · Rating 5 out of 5]

full rtc but just know

danielle understood the assignment and i ate it up and would gladly sit on james iykyk

[babygyalreadit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we have a story that follows James & Joy who are high school sweethearts but drifted apart in college. Tonight they’re forced to be together on Christmas Eve because they both volunteered to hand out gifts at Children’s hospital. THIS SHIT WAS SO GOOD!!! Would I change anything about it? No. Did I want it to be longer? Hell Yes😩

There was no bad blood between these two so when they run into each other it’s immediate catching up and old banter as you would expect with people who’ve know each other for a while. James is a total flirt and from the jump he starts flirting with Joy on the bus ride there. Joy was eating up all that MF attention & I was cheesing right along with her.

After handing out the first round of gifts to the kids Joy gets a little bit emotional & the way James comforts her ouffffff LOVE THAT. There’s so many tiny flirtatious and fun moments between them until the tension finally cracks ON THE BUS & bitch I could barely breathe it was so damn hot 🥵 the way he asked her permission every step of the way. The way he makes his intentions clear & the way he shows his blatant attraction for her UGH I love a man that exudes confidence & is sure of himself.

I always feels the need to talk about how perfectly Danielle Allen writes her male characters they literally tick all the boxes you can think of. Especially consent and it’s done in such a classy and effective way you can’t help but admire it. I loved everything about this hot holiday hookup it’s a close second to Booed Up. If you haven’t read anything by Danielle yet take this as your starting point you won’t be disappointed. It’s not on KU at the moment but it is available on Amazon for ebook purchase.

[Richelle Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a festive and cute read.

[Alex | | findingmontauk1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished SPREAD JOY and, yes, the main character's name is Joy. That should tell you everything about this story.

On one hand, however, I was expecting a little more full on East to West spreading here if you know what I'm saying - I mean, c'mon... right? But even if it wasn't as spicy as I thought, there were plenty of fires to put out. I mean with one scene I got major Fear roller coaster scene with Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon vibes except this time they are in the back of a bus full of other volunteers. Oh, did I leave that out? YES - they are volunteering on Christmas Eve and trying to spread good deeds and, well, spread everything I guess.

Our main male character, James, is kinda corny. I cringed at all his corny lines so much - I mean I guess I should count my blessings no one has ever said most of these things to me because I would totally bust out laughing and maybe ruin the mood. But Joy was not going to let that put a damper on her holiday hookup.

This is a quick read and there's some energetic flirting, catching up on old times (Joy and James used to know each other back in the day) and enough Christmas spirit to make this a fun and spicy-lite read. "Joy to the world..." and "Oh, come, all ye faithful..." are in my head for some reason now...

[Toya Davis-Stokley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun and spicy holiday hook up in the books! Volunteering on Christmas Eve does the heart good right? Well, maybe the body too, when you run into your old high school boyfriend as a fellow volunteer! James and Joy were a ton of fun, with their playful flirting, and risky behaviors! 👀😂 This read was over too quickly, and I just need more of these two! Enjoyable read.

[Jan (Kavanagh's wifey) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this would be like the other freaky books that I read, but it was very good and sweet. It exceeded my expectations.

[withryelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: ☆☆☆.5
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶.5

[Dahyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this little story so so much. During the holiday season, Joy wanted to spread a little...joy. And boy did she. The flirty banter between her and James was perfect and so cute. They were young and in love and lust.

[Ana Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting for it just to be smut, and it wasn't. It had so much more depth to it. Even though it's short, the chemistry they have and the way they interact with each other makes me fall for them as a couple.

[fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS HAD FULL LENGTH POTENTIAL IM SO MAD

[WellReadRuby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Joy and James! I loved this second chance love! High school sweethearts that come back around after college?!? Here for it! These two were reckless once the gloves were off but I guess that’s what put this in Zola’s holiday hookups! Either way, I was here for it and thoroughly enjoyed this read! Ms. Allen knows she can write y’all!

Lastly, I will never hear “Spread Joy” the same! LOL

[xoa.xo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great, but it felt unfinished. I think it needed the scenes of them getting food, and going back to her place.

[ariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was really cute!! I liked Joy as a character, but James??? Sir was mad corny!! But they had me laughing the whole time! And I’m screaming that Danielle stay putting her characters in reckless situations 😂😂 Chile the bus!? The bench!? SCREAMING!!

[kaylee🍒🎧📖🪩🎀 (taylor’s version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
it was short and right to the point and i enjoyed it. the characters seemed to actually feel something for each other which i loved and they spent most of their time getting to know each other

[ShayBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

Another 5⭐️ Hot Holiday Hook up. Zora be getting the deets and they are not ashamed to share. I love these quick holiday hook up stories, they grab you and hold you right there from beginning to end. If you need a quickie I highly suggest this and the other ones.

[Lizzy Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was sooo freakin hot and steamy and beautiful🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

YAAASSS Queen Danielle Allen gave us one sexy as holiday hookup and I'm begging for a follow-up on James & Joy cause I want more of them🤞🏽😏
James & Joy were my kind of naughty and nice😜. They dedicated their time on Christmas Eve to give back and in turn the universe gave them a second chance at rekindling a love lost. Although this was a novella it gave us their back story which made it feel like a full novel.
DEFINITELY A MUST READ💕

[Tori - Novel Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars - Holiday Novella

Steamy, Short and Sweet. Just perfect lol

[Munsaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very funny 😂🤦🏾‍♀️

[Seph🌱]

Reading Christmas smut in March. Don’t judge me.

Spread Joy…… The FMC name is Joy so-
You get it?
Miss Allen, where’s the rest of the book?

[BetweentheCoversLiterary · Rating 5 out of 5]

whew hunny!!! These holiday hookups is hotter than hot and James and Joy definitely kept up the momentum. I can wait to read them all so far i’m in holiday heaven

[wybie lovat · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was super freaking cute. i wish it was a full length story

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short, and quite spicy, but I loved it!

[Beccy · Rating 1 out of 5]

THIS BOOK TURNED ME INTO A GRINCH

This is probably one of the worst Christmas novellas I've ever read? The hookup was SO random and even the story line was terrible. No more words needed, I can't believe I actually paid money for this.

[Angela (books_ever_after) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars

I imagine it would be really difficult to squeeze a story into 60 pages. Unfortunately, this Christmas novella didn’t do much for me. It was okay - I didn’t love the characters and I felt like some parts of the story were glazed over and slightly unrealistic.

I love Danielle Allen, but Spread Joy won’t fall on my favorites list.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much!!! Another perfect holiday novella. This is my first Danielle Allen book and I can’t wait to read more of her books!

High school sweethearts who broke up after their freshmen year of high school….reunite after their senior year of college to volunteer for charity on Christmas Eve.

This was perfection: so many amazing butterfly moments that made me just 🥺🥺🥺 his entire commentary on her natural hair and how he SEES HER. HE HAS SEEN HER. Just made me fall in love with James. The cute little moments between them as they rekindle their love was so well done.

The spice: also freaking great! That school bus scene!!! OMGGGGG !!! We have praise, we had a dash of breeding kïnk, and a little bit of exhibitionism.

LOVED EVERY SECOND.

[Kadisha (paperbackpassionista) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the perfect amount of Christmas spirit and Christmas smutt!!! The story begins with Joy volunteering for an event where you spend the evening bringing joy and light to the unfortunate and ill during the holiday season. While Joy is receiving instructions on how the event will go and all the places they will visit, her first love from high school, James, shows up and lord do they make up for lost time!!! 😏

When I tell you I’m so ready to book a bus trip for my husband and I so I can experience what James did to Joy’s body on that bus!!!! That scene will forever live rent free in my head!!! This book was so good that I’m pissed that it ended so fast!! You will definitely want to live out all your Christmas “dreams” with this one!

[that.bookish.girly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danielle Allen does not disappoint when it comes to her novellas! This one is no exception!!

The plot is great. I love how the author makes sure there is a plot even though it is a novella. With this one being Christmas, I absolutely loved how she had the characters volunteering on Christmas Eve! Just melts my heart!

The characters were amazing also. James is so corny it’s adorable! The flirting between these two was perfect! I liked how James and Joy kept getting in trouble by Karen. Made me love them even more!

This is a great little spicy Christmas novella! Will definitely be rereading again next year!

[Sisireia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these little "Hot Holiday Hookups" by Danielle Allen. These are great reads that put you in the holiday spirit and are filled with just enough to have you wanting more. These books/stories are like phone calls with your best friend to hear about how her holiday went. To be able to write a story that is the perfect blend of characters, plot, along with the magic of the holiday is the mark of a true writer. This is my 3rd Hot Holiday Hookup read and I can't wait to read the next one. Danielle is easily one of my favorite authors and I love that I have something to read of hers each month.

[Raqueni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the game word with the tittle (the female character is named Joy). This was a cute, quick and hot second chance story around Christmas Eve. I liked how whenever they talked about the past it was in a positive way and you could see since the first minute the care and love they still had for each other (and also the sexual tension, tbh). The spicy scenes were really hot and I liked knowing that they have a HEA at the end since the beginning. If you want a quick and hot christmas story, this is it.