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Have a Happy, Sexy Christmas!: A Five-Book Christmas Romance Collection!

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Welcome to a Leslie Kelly holiday season!

Included in this huge boxed set are FIVE novels/novellas--275,000 words of super- steamy, funny and tender Christmas romance!

DON'T OPEN TIL CHRISTMAS
Can a sexy cop teach a holiday-hating social worker the true meaning of Christmas?
After Chicago detective Mark Santori shares a hot kiss with a sexy stranger in a dressing room, he can't get the brunette out of his mind. So when he gets a call about some toys stolen from a shelter, and comes face-to-face with his mystery woman, his interest in the case definitely grows. Holiday-hating Noelle Bradenton is furious that a ring of costumed Santas hit the women's shelter where she works. But when a super-hot detective shows up to investigate, she can't help wondering if it's a Christmas blessing in disguise.

IT HAPPENED ONE CHRISTMAS
Six years ago, they shared one amazing holiday...now they have a chance to do it again!
Dressed in a silly elf costume as she photographs kids at a big corporate Christmas party, Cassie Fleming is shocked to come face to face with Ross Marshall—the man she’d fallen head-over-heels for during one snowy Christmas season. But they are no longer broke students out to experience a magical holiday in the Big Apple. Now they’re living their adult lives in Chicago. There’s no reason to get emotional about this reunion…not even if the memories of the past are overwhelming them both.

MAKE ME OVER
The prize on this reality show is one hot, sexy man!
Professor Drew Bennett never dreamed he'd become a part of a reality TV show. But the success of his newest book hinges on his participation. He just hadn't pictured falling hard for one of the contestants...a woman who is his complete opposite. Mechanic Tori Lyons went on the dumb reality show to try to win money to save her no-good brother. She is in it for the cash, and nothing else. But the chance to win even more, by seducing the sexy professor, is a lure she can't resist. But when the truth comes out, and he realizes he's merely a prize, will a Christmas miracle allow them to find their own happily-ever-after?
DO YOU WANT WHAT I WANT?
What do you do when the guy who hated your guts when you were kids is now the one you desperately want? Well…you might take one steamy night without letting him know who you really are!
Growing up together, Lulu Vandenberg and Charles Browning took friendly-enemies to a whole new level. Linked by family connections through holidays, baseball games, and general kid craziness, they learned that they are just oil and water…best interacting only from a distance. But now they’re all grown up. And when Lulu sees what a sexy adult Charles has become, she realizes the boy she once teased so relentlessly has grown into a man she hungers for. But will he ever see her as more than just the girl next door?


I'll Be Home for Christmas
When you’re trapped in a blizzard with the one who got away, is there anything you won’t do to make things work this time?
Seven years ago, Rafe Santori fell in love with the woman of his dreams…but the military was calling and he knew he had no right to ask her to wait for him. And when fate had brought them together again, she was engaged to someone else.
He has spent the last three years calling himself a fool for letting the woman he loved get away.

938 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 10, 2022

264 people are currently reading
82 people want to read

About the author

Leslie Kelly

280 books406 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

New York Times Bestselling author, Leslie Kelly writes sexy romances and dark romantic thrillers. A four-time RWA RITA Award nominee, eleven-time Romantic Times Award nominee and 2006 RT Award winner, Leslie has become known for her delightful characters, sparkling dialogue, and outrageous humor in her romances, and for the dark grittiness of her thrillers. Since the publication of her first book in 1999, Leslie has gone on to pen more than forty sassy, sexy romances for Harlequin Temptation, Blaze, and HQN.

In 2009, Leslie began tapping into her love for dark suspense by penning several books under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish. The Black CATs and Extrasensory Agents series quickly put Leslie on the must-read list of romantic-suspense fans.

Tired of writing under various names, Leslie decided to go into her next genre--futuristic thrillers with a suspense element--under her real name. She released her dark, gritty Veronica Sloan books, and reissued the Black CATs series, as Leslie A. Kelly.

Leslie lives in Denver with her husband Bruce--her real-life romance hero. Visit her online at lesliekelly.com (for her sexy romances) or at leslieAkelly.com (for her romantic suspense.)

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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Profile Image for Jo Reads Romance.
945 reviews66 followers
December 10, 2022


A selection of Christmas treats - perfect for Blaze fans
5 Stars

Leslie Kelly will always have a special place in my heart as my first ever author crush, the first author I bought the entire backlist of and as the queen of my beloved Harlequin / Mills & Boon Blaze line.

This set consists of 5 previously published Leslie Kelly books or novellas - all with a Christmas theme. These are:

* Don’t Open Till Christmas
* It Happened One Christmas
* Make Me Over
* Do You Want What I Want?
* I’ll Be Home for Christmas


No matter that I’ve read many of these back in the day, it’s always nice to take a walk down memory lane, especially if that walk includes Leslie Kelly, Blaze books and Christmas romance.


* Don’t Open Till Christmas
First published in 2005 - Blaze
Leslie Kelly has once again written a sensual, fun and highly entertaining hot romance that doesn't disappoint. Mark Santori is a delicious dark hero who is by turns smart, funny and brooding but always sexy. Noelle is also smart and fun but cautious and more importantly she's real and someone you actually like and understand.

The story is spicy, interesting and oh so satisfying with plenty of chemistry and sexual tension throughout the book. It is a Christmas story and I did feel that nice festive glow but without all the cheesy stuff that you normally associate with a Christmas romance.


* It Happened One Christmas
First published in 2011 - Blaze
The writing was good (as always), the characters were both likeable and relatable and the plot wasn't terrible. It's just that the story seemed to lack any sparkle. The story is told both in the present day and in flashbacks to six years ago when Cassie and Ross first got together. I found this made the story a little slow going and I found myself continually wanting to get back to the modern day chapters so I could see how the pair were getting along now and not back then.

Cassie was also fairly peeved at Ross due to their breakup, which led to a lot of the conflict for whether or not they would be able to make things work. However, when it got to the reason that the pair split up in the first place I couldn't believe it. Sure, it was a legitimate reason for breaking up but certainly not for being mad at someone - I just didn't get it. Still a good book for a quick read on a cold night.


* Make Me Over
First published in 2003 - Desire
This story takes its inspiration from Pygmalion / My Fair Lady but in this case our professor, Drew, has more than one student that he’s attempting to make over. The premise is fun, even if I generally take a swerve at reality show romances, and the characters - especially the side characters - are as barmy as you would expect as a result.

Everything was just okay for me with this story. I was a bit confused by Tori, though. She was at times not very bright but at others, using fancy language and admonishing Drew for assuming she was stupid. I felt that I should be offended by the way she was presented. I wasn’t - but I can see that some people - especially those who speak the way Tori did - would give serious side-eye to her character. Still a fun and light-hearted story with a happily ever after.


* Do You Want What I Want?
First published in 2014 as Oh Naughty Night - Blaze
Oh my stars I adored this story. This brought me right back to the good old days of Blaze romances and reminded me just why I fell in love with Leslie Kelly and the line in general. Charles and Lulu are childhood nemeses but nothing so terrible that you can’t see how they could easily have been teasing each other because they liked the other.

The sexiness of this story is off the charts with so much sexual tension and, when they finally get together, all their naughty shenanigans. It wasn’t until the very end that I noticed that Charles Browning’s name was similar to an American favourite cartoon’s. There were apparently many nods to that story but I didn’t pick up on any. Still, a sexy and fun story and one that makes me hanker even more for the return of Blaze.


* I’ll Be Home for Christmas
First published in A Soldier’s Christmas in 2011 - Blaze
Another classic Leslie Kelly story - this time a short novella from one of the Blaze Christmas anthologies of old. A second-chance, military romance with a forced proximity, road trip element thrown in for good measure. And Christmas of course.

Although I’d read this story before, it’s a classic story and one that I very much enjoyed revisiting. The writing is superb and I loved the yearning, the tension and the love that tops everything off with a neat ol’ bow at the end.

#

Not all the stories were the full 5 stars from me - but I’m still giving this book 5 stars for the following reasons: It’s Leslie Kelly; It’s giving me serious Blaze vibes and anything that brings this awesome line back into people’s minds is a winner in my mind; And Christmas. This book is packed with content and it’s definitely one I’d recommend. You’re sure to find a favourite amongst the pages.


Profile Image for Margaret Watkins.
3,566 reviews88 followers
December 11, 2022
I have previously read and reviewed all of the books in this box set. Each one is a standalone, set during the Christmas season:

Don't Open Til Christmas: I thoroughly enjoyed this delightfully quirky romance, in spite of the underlying tension and suspense. The dialogue is witty and entertaining as Detective Mark Santori seeks to unravel a case that is plaguing the department. Literally bumping into Noelle, the sparks fly between Mark and the social worker. However, when he meets Noelle at her workplace after the gang of rogue Santas has hit the safe house for children she is sheltering, he will do what it takes to find the criminals. The plot is steamy and romantic as Mark and his colleagues investigate the crimes, little realizing that Noelle holds the key to solving the mystery. The novel closes on a happy note despite some disappointments along the way.

It Happened One Christmas: In this enjoyable and witty second-chance romance, all roads lead back to Ross. The alternating chapters tell the story of both past and present, the one leading to disappointment and the other to the fulfillment of dreams. Ross once came to Lucy's rescue when she needed it most, and showed her that joy could be found at Christmas. Six years later, when Lucy comes face to face with Ross in a different place but on the same date, she steps back fearful of being hurt again. Nevertheless, fate steps in, and Ross and Lucy are forced to spend time together. The spark that brought them together in the first place is easily fanned into an inferno, but it takes courage on both their parts to set the past aside and find a future. I enjoyed this novel, the characters, and the chemistry between them.

Make Me Over: Ruing the day she made a deathbed promise to her father that she would wipe off the grease and get herself an education, Tori is less than happy when her father makes a full recovery and holds her to her vow. Entering the makeover contest that would pay out a million dollars, almost enough to get her brother out of the mess he has made for himself, Tori enrolls in the reality show. Her initial meeting with Professor Drew Bennett takes her by surprise and when it would seem that he is similarly smitten, Tori knows she has choices to make before things get out of hand. Drew's interest is drawn immediately upon seeing Lori as she is very different from all the other girls, but unbeknown to him, he is the prize. The romance that develops between Drew and Lori is beautiful in its rawness, and I loved the main characters in this book. However, having a pathological fear of manipulation, I was unable to fully invest myself in this novel. I could only applaud Tori for the choices she made and Drew for choosing to follow his heart.

Do You Want What I Want? : Shock turns to lust when Lulu discovers that the boy she tormented in her childhood has become a gorgeous hunk. That he obviously returns her interest makes her think that he remembers her. However, it quickly becomes apparent that Charles does not recognize her, and rather than spoil the electricity between them, Lulu chooses to avoid giving away her identity. The truth eventually comes out, but not without fireworks and a price to be paid. Unfortunately, their formative years get in the way, and Lulu cannot believe that they could possibly have a future together until it is almost too late. Fortunately, this standalone novel comes to a successful conclusion, and Charles and Luly find the missing link in their lives.

I'll Be Home for Christmas: Short, emotional, and romantic, this novella is both steamy and emotive as two lovers connect once again. Discovering that all flights have been canceled due to a blizzard, the only other option is to rent a vehicle and drive through the night. Finding that Rafe has indeed taken the last SUV available, Ellie accepts his offer to accompany him home to Chicago. Hours on the road give them time to sort out the misunderstandings between them and discover that the initial spark between them is as strong and powerful as 7 years before. With the goodwill of strangers along the route, Rafe and Ellie bridge the gap that has kept them apart and Christmas takes on a new and joyful meaning for the pair.

Each holiday romance is a standalone and comes to a happy conclusion. I received a copy of this box set as a gift through BookSprout and this is my honest and voluntary review.
2,753 reviews128 followers
December 24, 2022
Four and a half stars
Have a Happy, Sexy Christmas is five of Leslie Kelly's refreshed titles. As always, they're full of humor, heart, and heat! A stellar holiday treat, sure to get you into the spirit of the season!


////.
DON’T OPEN TILL CHRISTMAS is part of Leslie Kelly’s Santoris of Chicago series. Noelle Bradenton is shopping for a dress for an upcoming charity event when Tall, Dark, and Hot literally tumbled into her dressing room and they share a scorching hot kiss.

Officer Mark Santori couldn’t get the gorgeous stranger he’d locked lips with out of his mind. So when a robbery investigation brings him into contact, he’s thanking his lucky stars.

Leslie Kelly’s story about two Christmas grinches who rediscover the magic of the season as they work through some past trauma is a terrific balance of heat and heart. Noelle and Mark get along swimmingly and their families are warm and entertaining. A great holiday read.


IT HAPPENED ON CHRISTMAS ////
Ross Marshall and Cassie Fleming meet six years after they’d last laid eyes on each other. When they had originally met, they’d shared a magical day, but life intervened, and their paths diverged before leading them back to each other half a dozen years later.

Leslie Kelly’s story is a sweet Christmas second-chance story with a bit of heat.


MAKE ME OVER ////.

Make Me Over by Leslie Kelly is a reality TV, Pygmalion set up, where Professor Andrew Bennett has arranged to consult on the set of a show designed around giving promising (or least promising?) candidates lessons in everything from elocution to makeup, with the aim of crowning one of them The Lady of the All.

Mechanic Tori Lyons has agreed to participate to fulfill a promise to her father, but doesn’t expect to stick around. Until she runs into Drew in the library and finds that their crazy hot chemistry is undeniable. And his determination to help her be her best self is even more attractive.

Leslie Kelly’s story is all too entertaining and a delightful holiday read.


DO YOU WANT WHAT I WANT ////.

Do You Want What I Want by Leslie Kelly is a flirty, fiery childhood friends to lovers, with a nod at the prickly relationship portrayed by some beloved holiday specials…

Charles Browning and Lulu Vandenberg have known each other since practically infancy. And their parents remain close friends, while they’ve both grown up and moved away to pursue their own interests and careers.

When they both end up in the same city again, and a Halloween costume party gives them a hot encounter with some mystery, it’s a turning point in their friendship and relationship…

Leslie Kelly’s story is a fun, hot take on seeing someone you’ve known for a long time in a completely different light…



I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS ////
Rafe Santori’s and Ellie Blake’s paths cross at the airport where they need to get back to Chicago…. But the weather isn’t cooperating and Rafe snags the last rental available, and offers Ellie a lift.

Leslie Kelly’s second-chance story brings Ellie and Rafe together again when they’re able to move forward together rather than anticipate numerous years apart, and they’re able to resolve their differences to their immense satisfaction…


A set of sweet, hot stories to light up the holidays!
Profile Image for Marie M..
32 reviews
Read
November 20, 2025
Have a Happy, Sexy Christmas! is pure holiday escapism; steamy, funny, and full of that cozy rom-com charm Leslie Kelly does so well. Each story has its own flavor, from second-chance reunions to blizzard-forced togetherness, and even a reality-show romance twist. Some plots are over-the-top, but that’s half the fun. If you want festive heat, big feelings, and plenty of playful holiday chaos, this collection delivers.
Profile Image for Shelley.
700 reviews4 followers
January 22, 2023
This is an anthology of 5 books by 5 different authors. Each is a few chapters long and many tie into another series written by the same author. Each could be read as a standalone story without having read any of the author's other works.

Each story had a unique flavor and feel, which made them fun short reads during busy holiday times.
Profile Image for Kristen.
16 reviews
November 21, 2025
I skipped 2 of the books. One I had already read and enjoyed, the other one I just couldn't get into.
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