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Off-The-Grid Christmas #1
Hiding From Christmas
Hiding from Christmas (Off the Grid Christmas Book 1)
He’s been hiding from the world since he lost his family in a brutal attack.
She’s just hiding from her family for the holidays.
What happens when they find each other?
Elle
I couldn’t face the piteous glances of my family over the holidays after my fiancé Austin unceremoniously dumped me. I was too tame, too awkward, too vanilla, too risk averse. Glad he took five years to figure that out.
I’m devastated. Humiliated. And angry. I told Mom I couldn’t bear the thought of coming home for the holidays. I’d rather be alone. Anything was better than their sympathy, but my own company didn’t promise to be any better. That’s why I jumped at the chance to visit my eccentric aunt Muriel in a remote village on the West coast of Mexico.
Joe
No one would call my solitary life here uncomplicated, but on the surface it’s simple enough. After seven years in exile, I’m used to my routine and my solitude, though my grief walks beside me like a silent companion. As much as I might like to go back to my old life, I could never put the people I trust, love and depend upon at risk.
Never again.
I’m regularly reminded that the cost would be too high. Especially this time of year when a cruel gift arrives from my nemesis. My sixth Christmas alone in Mexico. The anniversary of the date I lost everything.
I’m expecting the package, right on schedule. But I’m not expecting the clumsy, beautiful, bewildering blonde that crashes into my world and turns it inside out.
NOTE: This story was originally published as part of the limited edition Secret Santa: A Christmas Romance Collection charity anthology in December 2021.
He’s been hiding from the world since he lost his family in a brutal attack.
She’s just hiding from her family for the holidays.
What happens when they find each other?
Elle
I couldn’t face the piteous glances of my family over the holidays after my fiancé Austin unceremoniously dumped me. I was too tame, too awkward, too vanilla, too risk averse. Glad he took five years to figure that out.
I’m devastated. Humiliated. And angry. I told Mom I couldn’t bear the thought of coming home for the holidays. I’d rather be alone. Anything was better than their sympathy, but my own company didn’t promise to be any better. That’s why I jumped at the chance to visit my eccentric aunt Muriel in a remote village on the West coast of Mexico.
Joe
No one would call my solitary life here uncomplicated, but on the surface it’s simple enough. After seven years in exile, I’m used to my routine and my solitude, though my grief walks beside me like a silent companion. As much as I might like to go back to my old life, I could never put the people I trust, love and depend upon at risk.
Never again.
I’m regularly reminded that the cost would be too high. Especially this time of year when a cruel gift arrives from my nemesis. My sixth Christmas alone in Mexico. The anniversary of the date I lost everything.
I’m expecting the package, right on schedule. But I’m not expecting the clumsy, beautiful, bewildering blonde that crashes into my world and turns it inside out.
NOTE: This story was originally published as part of the limited edition Secret Santa: A Christmas Romance Collection charity anthology in December 2021.
199 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2021
16 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 1, 2022
4.5🌟 stars
I loved the plot and the two main characters, Joe and Elle. Elle literally stumbles into Joe's hideaway. She's escaping the aftermath of a sudden break-up, he's basically a hermit hiding from a dangerous enemy and his grief. There's steam and emotional connection as well as action adventure, even danger with guns, all set in the Puerto Vallarta area over the Christmas holidays. I was expecting a short story or short novella but got much more.
I read an advance copy of Clarke's story provided through Booksprout when it was first published as part of a Christmas romance collection; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
I loved the plot and the two main characters, Joe and Elle. Elle literally stumbles into Joe's hideaway. She's escaping the aftermath of a sudden break-up, he's basically a hermit hiding from a dangerous enemy and his grief. There's steam and emotional connection as well as action adventure, even danger with guns, all set in the Puerto Vallarta area over the Christmas holidays. I was expecting a short story or short novella but got much more.
I read an advance copy of Clarke's story provided through Booksprout when it was first published as part of a Christmas romance collection; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
December 28, 2025
If you are looking for a fun, quick, mildly spicy, holiday read, you should definitely grab this one! We have a billionaire mountain man, we have forced proximity, we have damsel in distress, insta-lust, and fair bit of suspense. This would be a perfect book to read while relaxing after wrapping all those gifts, baking all the cookies, and stuffing all those stockings.
August 21, 2022
Hiding from the world when you’ve lost your family doesn’t always work out. When a stranger wanders onto his land, feelings he’s kept hidden seem to arise. Second chance romance perhaps. Enjoyable.
December 30, 2022
Really don’t have much to say other than this writing is not my cup of tea. Very repetitive thought sequences and didn’t realize this was a raunchy romance when picking it up. I needed a quick read to reach my yearly goal, but despite how short this is I found myself skimming A LOT.
December 27, 2025
This was such a cute book!
July 13, 2022
Wonderful story around the holidays. The holiday is always at an unexpected twist to any story. Interesting characters to follow along. They both have issues they're dealing with and quirks as well. Good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 4, 2022
Klutzy and a bit naive Elle seems to stumble into tricky situations including onto the private property of a reclusive angry man. Joe was running his company while hiding from the thug who took out his family. He didn’t want Elle there, but is forced to take care of her when she’s injured. The story become steamy immediately with their attraction to each other. They have a whirlwind relationship before she has to leave. I was surprised no one worried much when she was missing. She was foolish to leave a party and get into an unknown boat.
December 29, 2022
Original story
Very enjoyable story. The author did a great job with the character's description and development. The intimate romance scenes were done tastefully. I thought the storyline was an original.
Very enjoyable story. The author did a great job with the character's description and development. The intimate romance scenes were done tastefully. I thought the storyline was an original.
December 30, 2025
Hiding from Christmas by MaryAnn Clarke is a fun, quick, (open door) spicy, holiday read! There's a billionaire hermit mountain man, forced proximity, a jilted FMC, insta-lust, and action and suspense.
He’s been hiding from the world since he lost his family in a brutal attack.
She’s just hiding from her family for the holidays.
What happens when they find each other?
Elle couldn’t face her family over the holidays after her fiancé, Austin, dumped her after 5 years for being " too vanilla". Devastated. Humiliated. And angry. She jumped at the chance to visit her eccentric aunt, Muriel, in a remote village on the West coast of Mexico.
After seven years in exile, Joe formed a routine led by solitude and grief. As much as he might like to go back to his old life, he could never put the people he trusts, loves and depends upon at risk. Especially this time of year when a cruel gift arrives from his nemesis. His sixth Christmas alone in Mexico as well as the anniversary of the date he lost everything.
He was expecting the package but not the clumsy, beautiful, bewildering blonde that literally and figuratively crashes into his world and turns it inside out.
Full of action, violent crime, suspense, insta lust, forced proximity, and major slow burn.
This would be a perfect book to read while relaxing after wrapping all those gifts, baking all the cookies, and stuffing all those stockings. Need some me time? Wanna unwind with a cup of coffee or hot cocoa? Give this a try ... it's quick, fun, and unputdownable.
He’s been hiding from the world since he lost his family in a brutal attack.
She’s just hiding from her family for the holidays.
What happens when they find each other?
Elle couldn’t face her family over the holidays after her fiancé, Austin, dumped her after 5 years for being " too vanilla". Devastated. Humiliated. And angry. She jumped at the chance to visit her eccentric aunt, Muriel, in a remote village on the West coast of Mexico.
After seven years in exile, Joe formed a routine led by solitude and grief. As much as he might like to go back to his old life, he could never put the people he trusts, loves and depends upon at risk. Especially this time of year when a cruel gift arrives from his nemesis. His sixth Christmas alone in Mexico as well as the anniversary of the date he lost everything.
He was expecting the package but not the clumsy, beautiful, bewildering blonde that literally and figuratively crashes into his world and turns it inside out.
Full of action, violent crime, suspense, insta lust, forced proximity, and major slow burn.
This would be a perfect book to read while relaxing after wrapping all those gifts, baking all the cookies, and stuffing all those stockings. Need some me time? Wanna unwind with a cup of coffee or hot cocoa? Give this a try ... it's quick, fun, and unputdownable.
March 21, 2023
Story was sound but language and graphic sexual content ruined the enjoyment of reading. Did not finish the book because it was not pleasant to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 28, 2025
I absolutely loved the plot and the main characters, Joe and Elle. Elle literally stumbles into Joe’s hidden getaway—and immediately clocks him as a full-on Jason Momoa clone 🤣. She’s running from the emotional fallout of a sudden breakup, while he’s living like a recluse, battling grief over losing his family and hiding from a dangerous enemy.
What follows is the perfect blend of steam, emotional connection, action, and high-stakes danger (yes, including guns!), all set against the gorgeous backdrop of Puerto Vallarta during the Christmas holidays. I went in expecting a short story or novella, but ended up getting a full story with an exciting plot!
Thank you MaryAnn Clark for the gifted copy.
What follows is the perfect blend of steam, emotional connection, action, and high-stakes danger (yes, including guns!), all set against the gorgeous backdrop of Puerto Vallarta during the Christmas holidays. I went in expecting a short story or novella, but ended up getting a full story with an exciting plot!
Thank you MaryAnn Clark for the gifted copy.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews