I’m a grump and proud of it. I hate forced cheer, pointless traditions, and the fact that everything in Jingle Bell Junction reminds me of my lonely teen years.
Which is why I decide to steal the town’s ridiculous Christmas tree topper and burn the peg leg—yes, a peg leg. I’ll be doing the town a favor by making Jingle Hell a slightly less embarrassing place to spend the holidays.
Then, sweet, generous, sunshine-y Holly Jo catches me in the act. Holly, whose smile has always melted my icy heart. Even when we were kids.
She ropes me into baking dog treats with her to make amends, when the power goes out and we’re snowed in together for the night.
Add in one roaring fire, an unexpectedly sexy reindeer costume, and some whipped cream, and suddenly my trip to Jingle Hell is turning into Jingle Hell Yeah…
But what happens when one night with this woman isn’t nearly enough?
Contents include a lonely businessman, a happy-go-lucky optimist in a reindeer costume, and all the holiday hijinks. This swoony romance is the first book in a series of interconnected standalones following the billionaire Ratcliffe brothers.
USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written over a hundred novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult, and adult romance. Erin has a special weakness for high-heeled boots, beaches and martinis. She lives in Ohio with her family, two grumpy cats and a socially awkward dog.
The Grumpy Billionaire Who Stole Christmas by Erin McCarthy and Lili Valente was a fun, flirty, and festive holiday romcom that wanted my heart from start to finish! Luke and Holly were such an easy couple to fall head over jingle bells in love with! Their romance included a teenage crush, billionaire grump, forced proximity, all the spice, and a HEA filled with all the Christmas cheer. This author collaboration was such a joy, and I always look forward to more!
“This kiss is sunlight in the darkness, a roaring fire on a cold winter’s day. This kiss is…magic.” 🎄 🐿️ This book was a triple surprise. One because it came out of the blue, I really wasn’t expecting this release. Two because is a Christmas novella and I’m always looking forward to read the more of this trope. And, finally, three… I really wasn’t expecting it to have some steamy scenes, it was a very good surprise.
Luke Ratcliffe is back at the small town of Jingle Bell Junction and everything is already a disaster. He absolutely despise being there and he feels really alone there, despite having 3 siblings there. But when he has the fantastic idea to steal the peg leg who goes on top of the Christmas tree, his life turns upside down.
He’s caught on act by the fabulous Holly Jo. I loved her so much, she’s fierce, won’t sell herself short, clumsy and hilarious. From there on, it’s all about flirting, banter, teasing and many steamy deliciousness. Of course by the size of the book things a little rushed and there was a couple of things I wished it was more developed, but it was a great great reading.
Holly was read to help heal all past wounds Luke had due to his awful dad and although his many stumbles, he grew conscious and in love with her so much and so fast that he was willing to be a better person for her and be more present to his siblings. Talking about them, I loved how they helped Luke and I can’t wait for their books too.
I was honoured to get an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review
1. Grumpy Billionaire 💲 = ✔️ 2. Childhood Crush 😍 = ✔️ 3. Small Crazy Town 🤪 = ✔️ 4. Legendary Wooden Peg Leg = ✔️ 5. Pet Chipmunk 🐿️ = ✔️ 6. Stranded at Christmas ⛄ 🌲 = ✔️ 7. SERIOUSLY HOT ROMANCE ❤️🔥 = ✔️ I loved this book great for a quick seasonal read
Witty from the very first line of the book! I giggled quite a bit. I love the sarcasm and humor between the two main characters. I also adore their chemistry. Great characters! Super good book. Loved the ending and the spice was oh so good!
Super cute and fun! Who doesn’t love a Christmas grinch who finally finds the spirit of the holiday?! When Luke returns home to Jingle Bell Junction the last thing he wants to do is get into the holiday spirit. But when he crosses paths with an old friend sparks ignite and melt his ice cold grinchy heart. This holiday novella is such a sweet friends to lovers story.
Me gustó la premisa, pero la escritura es forzada y no capta el sentimiento. No hubo romance o acumulación que me hiciera creer en toda esta situación. Tuve la tentación de abandonarlo varias veces debido a la falta de brillo de la escritura, pero quería ver cómo terminaba.
2.5 Ante el primer roce, la más mínima fricción de sus labios cálidos y los míos, se que este beso es diferente a cualquier anterior. Este beso es la luz del sol en la oscuridad, un fuego rugiente en un día de invierno frío.
The Grumpy Billionaire Who Stole Christmas is the first book in the The Billionaires of Jingle Bell Junction by Lili Valente and Erin McCarthy. I have read all of Lili’s books but this is my first book by Erin and I am looking forward to more from this duo, and will have to check out more from Erin.
Luke is a workaholic who isn’t exactly a fan of the holidays. He hasn’t spent them with his family since he was a child and now they are all together in the small town of Jingle Bell Junction. With three weeks until Christmas he wasn’t sure he would make it until he came up with a grand scheme that goes awry when he runs into a childhood friend. A friend that made he laugh like nobody else and that was decades ago…
Of course she would be wearing a reindeer onesie with a red nose and all when she runs into her one and only true crush. She was eight when she last saw him but she could never forget Luke. She saw him over the years on the Internet but those pics were nothing compared to the grumpy hottie in front of her. He might be grinch-worthy to others but she knew the real him and she wants their one night stuck in town hall to mean something. To get him in the spirit of the holidays.
Chipmunks. Whipped cream. Peg legs. Play mats. That was all they needed plus some real talk and fun times. But what will happen come morning?
This story is soooo much fun and sexy at the same time. It’s a good time all around and I can’t wait for the next one!
Quotes:
“Is that Captain Herbert’s peg leg or are you just happy to see me?”
Luke is gorgeous, even when he’s grouchy. But with his lips curved and amusement in his deep, rumble voice he’s… Well, he’s also diabolical, but in a totally different way.
This kiss is sunlight in the darkness, a roaring fire on a cold winter’s day.
Having read Ms.Valente and Ms.McCarthy's work before, i was so happy when i found out these two were joining forces! The fact that it was a Christmas read had me even more excited to dive into it! I picked it up and got right into the world of the Ratcliffe brothers. I enjoyed this story so much!
Luke and Holly's journey captured my attention right from the very get go! These two knew one another when they were kids. As Luke is back in Jingle Bell Junction he reunites with Holly in quite the priceless way. Can Luke's Grinch heart grow while he's around Holly? and can this Christmas prove to be the best one yet?
I really liked the way Luke and Holly were brought back into each other's lives. These two quickly had me cracking up. I adored the whole grumpy/sunshine aspect of their story. I am a total Holly and i loved getting to see her with Luke and the joy she brought. I was so glad that i got to dig deeper with Luke and oh how he had me falling. The chemistry between Holly and Luke was undeniable and so great!
With The Grumpy Billionaire Who Stole Christmas, Ms.Valente and Ms.McCarthy have created such a good and entertaining read that will keep you turning the pages! I am so looking forward to more from this duo! This story will be sure to bring the Christmas vibes right to your heart! So grab your hot cocoa, sweet treats, and curl up with this book today! 💗🎄❄
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from the authors*
“The Grumpy Billionaire Who Stole Christmas” was a fun and steamy Christmas novella that was a fun read and I enjoyed Holly and Luke’s story.
Luke is a billionaire who is back in his hometown and he isn’t happy about it. While out to obtain a certain town Christmas item, he runs into Holly. Holly is the sunshine of the town and loves Christmas. But when she catches Luke in the act, she makes him help her bake dog treats and his secret will be safe with her. But the two get snowed in when the power goes out and a chemistry filled night happens.
This was a laugh out novella and I enjoyed reading it. I love a grumpy/sunshine romance and these two were perfect. Luke was the perfect Mr. Grumpy and he had me cracking up as he was trying to take the town Christmas heirloom. Holly was an instant like for me and I couldn’t help being drawn to her like Luke. That sunshine pulled me into her because she’s genuine and an overall great person. This story might be a novella but it is not lacking on the steam especially when you add whipped cream to the mix. I loved these two and I’m looking forward to reading the upcoming books in the series.
“Half of all hypothermia deaths occur in people with Grinch-itis.”
The Grumpy Billionaire Who Stole Christmas was an adorable, fast-paced holiday read that will fill you with Christmas cheer. Luke and Holly Jo were childhood friends, but their lives have lead them in very different directions. Luke is a grumpy billionaire who absolutely hates Christmas and everything it stands for while Holly Jo encompasses the idea of holiday fun. When these two complete opposites are trapped together for a night, can the grinchy Luke find his holiday spirit?
“When I’m with you, I forget how much I hate everything and everyone around me.”
Full of spirited banter, fun, heart and heat, this novella was a delightful, quick read that will get you in the mood for the holidays. I loved watching Luke’s icy demeanor thaw under Holly Jo’s bubbly and sassy attitude. I can’t wait for the rest of Luke’s brothers and sister find their HEA in future collaborations by this delightful duo.
A Christmas romcom with a side of forced proximity
I loved Holly and Luke’s long standing crush, grumpy-sunshine romance with a side of forced proximity. This was a steamy sweet swoony funny heart warming tale about embracing love in order to live your best life. Holly is a happy pet photographer in small town Jingle Bell Junction. Elias is a billionaire who returned to town only to comply with a stipulation in his grandfather’s will. But a snow storm results in these childhood friends having to spend the night alone together in the local museum. It’s this unexpected forced proximity and decades of an unfulfilled crush that starts the journey to Holly and Luke’s HEA. And oh what a fun and hilarious journey it is. The book has a little bit of everything - sweet moments, fan your face sexy, hilarity, painful pasts, and all the life revelations a good Christmas story should include. Holly and Luke’s love story has all the feels - expect to laugh, grit your teeth, cringe, growl and of course swoon. The book is well written, with characters with depth who grow and an engaging storyline. This book is definitely worth adding to your holiday reading list.
Never have I missed one of Lily Valente’s releases, and I was so excited to hear about this new Christmas story. Erin McCarthy is new to me, but collaborating with Ms. Valente made her a definite addition to my reading lineup. The Grumpy Billionaire who Stole Christmas is a fun, romantic tale with just the right amount of quirkiness thrown in to leave me smiling.
Luke and Holly have been friends since they were young. But with his father grooming him for business, Luke has never taken the time to find love. Holly has been in love with Luke for as long as she can remember, and the unexpected snowstorm gives her the perfect opportunity to make Luke really see her and remember their friendship from so long ago.
This charming love story is a quick read, and will keep you entertained right through to the very end. The authors have also included an epilogue to give us a taste of the second book in the series. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Valente and Ms. McCarthy as their collaboration was a perfect blend of characters with a wacky chipmunk and lots of love and romance.
This book was so cute, about a couple who’ve known each other since childhood, and finally fall in love as adults. The authors did a wonderful job of describing the area, the characters, and Christmas tree and it’s topper. Luke has become a bitter person, who has had to take on adult responsibility at a young age, and so much weight on his shoulders. He is in town for the Christmas holidays, and gets drunk, while pondering a possible destruction of a town tradition. While in the City Hall, he runs into Holly, and she convinces Luke to help her make doggie treats. Unable to accomplish their plans, they instead have a one night stand. Holly is a happy person, and decides to tempt Luke, with tremendous success. The next morning, Luke leaves with his brothers, without saying goodbye to Holly. Her feelings are hurt. Luke’s family finally convince him to accept Holly’s love, and he goes to apologize. Holly accepts his apology, and the couple finally obtain their HEA .
Get ready for lots of hot and steamy…hot cocoa, hard and tasty…peppermint sticks and having your bells jingled all the way in this quick, quirky, charming holiday read.
Luke and Holly were friends as kids, but as the oldest Ratcliffe sibling, Luke spent less time at their grandfather’s place in Jingle Bell Junction, VT, and focused his time on the family business. Against his bah-humbug will, Luke is back there to spend a Christmas with his siblings.
Thanks to a little alcohol, a lapse in judgement, and a peg leg pilfering gone afoul, Luke comes face to face with Holly, and things are about to heat up. In the kitchen, because she extorts him into assisting her in making doggy treats for her upcoming pets-with-Santa photography gig.
A little insta love, an extra helping of smexy, and the perfect amount of holiday heart, this fun, humorous read is just the thing to give you a quick romance fix and put you in the Christmas spirit.
Tis the Season for the hot, spicy, and holiday cheer! I was so enamored between this author collabo... I was no putting this book down until I reached the end. And so the binge reading had begun. I have kids and work life, but that did not get in my way of pulling an almost all nighter. As long as there was coffee, I was going to be ok.
Enough rant lol ... More about this story. We get our amazing Grumpy Billionaire, Luke. And we meet Holly (love the name). They have a past. You think they would have stayed in touch, but they don't. Fast forward to the present and it is an adventure in the making. I love how these two are meant to get back together.
The Grumpy Billionaire Who Stole Christmas is a MUST READ for this holiday season. There is some spice and the chemistry is undeniable. You will not be disappointed!
The Grumpy Billionaire Who Stole Christmas is a new Christmas novella by Lili Valente and Erin McCarthy. It's sexy, hilarious, fun and totally endearing. I loved this second chance romance about a billionaire Scrooge and the girl he used to know. Luke is back in his hometown, reluctantly. He hates Christmas and he's mad at the world. But when he sees Holly again, he thaws as fast as melting snow only after a short time in her presence. It's impossible to be mad around such a fun, sexy, witty woman. Holly can't believe her childhood crush is back. She's determined to cheer him up and remind him how much fun they had as kids. A snow storm turns an ordinary night into one with shenanigans, whipped cream, sexiness and so much fun. I laughed out loud and swooned. Looking forward to more from Luke's brothers!
**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**
In this book we are taken to Jingle Bell Junction, a small town with bad cell service that Luke has been forced to go back to after the death of his grandfather with his siblings.
It is here, that drink Luke makes a mistake and is caught by Holly-Jo, an old friend, and she makes him help her in order not to hand him over.
Realising that Luke has lost his Christmas spirit she does her best to get Luke to remember the past and to have a little fun after they are stuck at the community centre.
It does not take long for Luke to loosen up and be seduced by Holly and her charms, realising that he has always liked Holly-Jo and that he needs her in his life to bring back the joy that he has been missing.
I really enjoyed this book and really loved the collaboration of the authors.
Luke hates all things Christmas and festive related. Holly catches him red handed trying to steal a famous memorabilia with the intention of vandalism. As a means of repentance, she ropes him to help her in some dog treat baking. Things go south, when they end up trapped in the building during the snow storm. What’s the worst that could happen, right?!
This was such a cute fun Christmas romance novella. It was short, sweet, shockingly spicy, and an easy read. Definitely did the job in getting me in the mood for my holiday reads.
Holly and Luke had tons of chemistry, back and forth banter, and swoon. They had a few moments which made me laugh out loud. I am always up for any humor and fun injected into the story.
Its well written. Engaging storyline. Expect a little of everything in this story.
4.5 Stars This was such a delightful holiday read written by two great authors. It was hard to put this book down. Holly and Luke had me gobbling up the pages. This grumpy sunshine romance was perfect and right up my alley. I love Christmas like Holly, but her love of animals reminds me of my brother. Luke so deserves all the sunshine Holly brightens his day with. He hasn't had it easy and this Christmas his life is going to do a 180. This was a quick read for me, but the connection and chemistry between the characters pulled me right and wouldn't let me loose until the very last page. The humor was a huge added bonus. I would highly recommend this one and can't wait for more from these brothers!
The Grumpy Billionaire Who Stole Christmas was a holiday romance romance from the combined writing efforts of Erin McCarthy and Lili Valente. This was a fun, quick read featuring main characters who were childhood friends. Holly Jo and Luke's story had an insta-love feel to it, with all the lighthearted and jolly ones you hope for when you read a story set in a small town during the holidays. The grumpy-sunshine trope has become a favorite of mine this year, and McCarthy and Valente deliver with Holly Jo and Luke. The door is also not just left open for more stories to come, but readers are already promised another one in the weeks to come from the Billionaires to Jingle Bell Junction series! This series starter gets four stars.
Family is never more complicated than around the holidays and I felt Luke’s heartache behind his, yes, very grump-like surface. Holly was a perfect gift for him with her sunny disposition, irrepressible humour and love for his booty. It was laugh out loud. It was squeeze my heart over and over. It was steamy, sweet and really did feel like Christmas spirit…
The story read way too fast. I needed it to be much longer so I could enjoy the characters, the hilarious shenanigans, and the love that surrounded everything… It’s only the first in the series for the Ratliffe family and I am up for all it! Oh, and definitely an #Andyfan…