Stocking Stuffer

by Harloe Rae

I’m not complaining about my extra gift under the tree this year.
If only I could track down the sweet talker responsible for stuffing my stocking.
Not that I can fault his lack of presence.

We’d agreed to a simple exchange.
No last names.
Just one night of mutual jingle and cheer.
After our jollies were sated, we let the night become a ghost of Christmas past.

It was the perfect hookup…

Until I found myself left with a yuletide glow to carry alone.
It’s a fact I’ve come to accept like the winter snow.
Then our eyes meet across the crowded terminal.
And this time, he wants the whole package.

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

106 pages, Unknown Binding

Published December 20, 2022

About the author

Harloe Rae is a USA Today & Amazon Top 10 bestselling author. Her passion for writing and reading has taken on a whole new meaning. Each day is an unforgettable adventure.

She's a Minnesota gal with a serious addiction to romance. She’s always chasing an epic happily ever after. When she’s not buried in the writing cave, Harloe can be found hanging with her hubby and son. If the weather permits, she loves being lakeside or out in the country with her horses.

She writes emotional, heartfelt romance with swoony heroes and sassy leading ladies. Her titles are available on Amazon.

Find all the latest on her site www.harloe-rae.blog
Subscribe to her newsletter at http://bit.ly/HarloesList
Join her reader group, Harloe’s Hotties, at http://www.facebook.com/harloehotties

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stocking Stuffer is a super cute, very short story by Harloe Rae that was a free download. If you are looking for a little steamy holiday fun, this is perfect.

Joy and Cole met at an outdoor concert and had a one night stand with no last names. It was Joy’s one and only one night stand ever. After they parted ways, they both realized they made a mistake in not getting each other’s contact info though. Their connection was so strong and both wanted more. Joy soon realized, though, that Cole left her with a special gift as well.

Six months later, they accidentally run in to each other. Maybe it was fate. Joy had no way of finding Cole and wanted him to know he was going to be a father. And once Cole had Joy back in his life with her beautiful round belly, he was not letting her go again!

This was so cute and steamy. A perfect little holiday pick me up.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Harloe Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

FREE READ FROM ME TO YOU!
Get your copy of Stocking Stuffer here > https://bit.ly/StockingStufferFree

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like this Christmas novella was like a dream of what happens after a one night stand!

Joy is 6 months pregnant and never got the contact info of the man who she shared some fun with. As she’s coming home, guess who she sees at the terminal. COLE. The man she will never forget.

So cute. So sweet. Definitely a quick Christmas read to add to your list 🎄❤️

[TheBookPlatypus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super sweet and cute novella about two people that had a one night stand which left the MFC pregnant. For six months, she tried to find this mystery guy. And randomly ran into him at the airport.

He’s a good guy and stuck around town to be with her and his baby. Adorable and quick read!

[Jess - Reader of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stocking Stuffer by Harloe Rae ❤️
Standalone Novella

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Adult • Romance
Digital review
106 pages

🎄holiday romance
❤️one night to more
🎄surprise pregnancy
❤️brother’s friend
🎄no 3rd act breakup

How can holiday novellas be this entertaining? What do authors put in them that I can’t seem to stop inhaling them? Wait! No need to answer her. I don’t care. I just care that they keep coming because I keep needing them 😍

Harloe Rae had me genuinely entertained with this one. 😌

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy & Cole - so cute!! This is just a snippet, a little bite of this couple. There will be more in an upcoming anthology.

😍😍😍

[Vivien Parry · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Joy gets off the plane at her local airport she doesn’t expect to see the man she’s been looking for to tell him she’s pregnant!
Cole doesn’t expect to see his mystery woman again, the one who rocked his world and made him obsess over for the last 6 months.
Instead of getting on his plane, Cole goes home with Joy. Was the chemistry between them all in their imaginations or was it the flame that’s kept on burning? Can their one night together become something more?
This was an amazing novella to read and I definitely needed more of it! A true Harloe laugh out loud, fan your face read.

[Amanda Davanzati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stocking Stuffer is such a cute, fast paced, holiday romance that will have you swooning for your own Cole Baker! I enjoyed this novella immensely. I don’t think there was a second I didn’t have a smile on my face. There was some steam to it as well.

I definitely think this is a great, fast, easy read for all to enjoy!

[Angela Denny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet, quick read. Joy is pregnant and never thinks she would run into the father on her way home. Cole gets the surprise of his life when he runs into Joy. What follows is a sweet and funny ride as they explore their relationship.

[AJ's Book ReMarks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute novella about couple who have a one-night stand that turns into a search for expecting father to be.

[Jess P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[Angie Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute holiday novella!

[Keri Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super sweet holiday treat! Cole and Joy are insta-lust and second chances. A steamy holiday fairy tale that is the sweetest indulgence. Loved it!

[luna ୨୧⋆ ˚｡⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute mini read! also the fact that he was friends with her brother was such a good book thing. like this would only happen in the books kind of situation and i did eat it up!

[kodreadsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely adorable! Short, sweet, spicy, and perfect for fans of surprise pregnancy!

[C JM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick enjoyable read

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute and short I loved it!

[Read Watch Crochet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast and fun read but overall just fine. It’s really hard to say much as it was so short and seems like this will be part of a series with the story continuing.

“You are a father. Congratulations and happy holidays”

🎄 surprise pregnancy
🎄 dual POV

Very much Insta love/ Insta family (I know she's pregnant with his child). But still. Within a week they are planning to buy a home together…

The fact that they were both keen to reconnect even before they knew about the pregnancy was a sweet touch.

“I’d never hear the end of it if she knew I’d started my search far before those double link lines revealed themselves” - Joy

“This is the women I’ve spent months fanaticising about. She appeared like a vision” - Cole

Just feels like an unfinished story. And will be difficult to write my full review as more parts are going to be released.

Very light on the Christmas.

“Then I catch sight of a holiday cliche dangling directly overhead”

[Imogen Dior · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Stocking Stuffer. I enjoyed Joy and Cole’s short story! I thought both characters where great and it was well written. I usually feel like novellas short stories miss a lot because of length but this one was done so well and you felt so immersed! I love Harloe’s books.

[Liz (LoverOfBooks80) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute novella.

One night stand pregnancy and loved the meet again..
Cole is super swooney and loved him. Joy is funny and adored her.

Lovely read

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Harloe Rae! Her spice never fails, her MMCs are always perfect.

[Leticia (jerseygirlsbookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What would you be doing if we hadn’t seen each other again?"
"Missing out,"
Anyone who knows me will know I'm not a fan of the accidental pregnancy trope. However, when it breaks the usual mold, and especially on Christmas, I actually become a fan.
If you're looking for a sweet read with a bit of spice, a swoony guy, and a lot of interesting innuendo on stuffing and baking—this is for you!

"You’re the father."
"Come again?"
"That’s precisely how we got into this predicament."
Joy and Cole had one night together about six months ago. It was absolutely amazing and it was just supposed to be about fun. Except she was left pregnant without a way of knowing who he was, as they didn't even exchange last names, and when she tried to track him down—he just couldn't be found. So she's doing this alone.

"You didn’t know."
Then he bends to whisper in my ear. "But I do now."
What are the odds of them running into each other at the airport? He couldn't stop thinking about her over these last few months, but she doesn't know that. She needs to tell him, but she's unsure of his reaction.
It's a life-changing moment, and Cole comes packing all the swoon when he steps up in every possible way.

"Merry Christmas." Cole peppers my cheek with kisses.
"And a happily forever after to you."
There was a smile on my face throughout the book. There was a bigger smile at the end. It's not your run-of-the-mill HEA, but you know the 'forever' is there, and that was enough for me.

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

"This entire day has thrown me through the spin cycle, and I can’t make sense of his instant devotion."

🎅 Holiday Short Story
🎄 One Night Stand Reunited
💙 Brother's Friend
🎄 Second Chance
🎅 HEA

I can't make sense of it either. Joy and Cole had a one and done, leaving her six months pregnant with his little girl. She never saw him again until the day she spotted him in an airport terminal and things continued right where they left off. And now Cole was endlessly devoted to her, ready to leave his life behind. Huh? I mean, I get that this is supposed to be light and I think it was attempting to be funny but it was just so awkwardly cringey. I was drawn to the catch of the 'stocking stuffer' but it was nothing like I'd expected. And the five scene bonus at the end didn't do anything to make it better. I was more interested in what the story was between Jake and Joy's friend, Harper, than I was in Cole and Joy. I was looking for a quick holiday read but this barely even felt like that. It was just a complete train wreck overall.

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great quick read

Joy and Cole have a 1 night stand, which leaves joy 6 months pregnant and unable to let him know since they didn't exchange details.

After 6 months of trying to find him, their eyes meet again across the airport.

Cole, who gets to again meet the woman whom he hasnt been able to stop thinking about since their fateful night together, finds out shes pregnant. With his child.
He accepts without any hesitation at all, wanting to be a part of her life and their childs life.

It's such a sweet little story, although i wish it was longer, lol.
also, i think the book should have started off with how they met, then a story of her finding out she was pregnant little cliffhanger.
Then jumped to the air port scene. Would have made a lot more sense.

I understand these books are meant to be stand alones but i do think that they should be read in order so they make sense

This would be the 1st little book
Then wrong for you, about jake and harper, would be the next one.
Then yours to catch, about grace and garrett.

[Frances Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ordering this book, was the best decision I’ve ever made. The story, the characters, the situation are all well written by Harloe Rae. The couple had met several months ago, and did not trade info about each other. Unawares, Cole has sent Joy home, with a little surprise.
Months later, they meet again, and Joy’s condition is revealed. Needless to say, this shocks Cole. The couple has tried to locate each other, but were unable to succeed. Their feelings from months ago, are still there. Cole decides that he will be present for Joy’s future. They decide that their feelings overcome any adversity, and the couple reach their HEA.

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this on a free offer after reading, Wrong For You. This novella gives you insight into how Joy and, Cole came to be. I loved how brash, Joy’s character is in, Wrong For You. It seems so different, to see her so differently in this book being vulnerable, but still strong as a woman, and mother-to-be. She had a one-and-done thinking at the time no last name, or exchanging numbers was a good idea, until she finds a bun in the oven. She is set in her mind on being a single mother. When she is getting off a plane she and, Harper runs right into her baby daddy. Surprise! See how they work it all out. Remember the only way, to read about them is, to read, Wrong For You.

[Savannah Cherniwchan · Rating 3 out of 5]

✅Surprise pregnancy
✅One night stand-Reunited
✅Christmas Novella

Joy went to a concert a couple months back and got knocked up by her one night stand and has spent months trying to track Cole down. How crazy is it that she runs into him at the airport on her way home and he was just visiting her brother🙈

I thought this book was cute just very unrealistic 😂 However if I ever get knocked up by accident I pray to god that guy is exactly like Cole. Cole is quite literally husband material. I will expect nothing else out of my future husband

[Sherry Sias · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very cute short story. A one night hook up brings and unexpected surprise that lasts a lifetime for Joy. Searching for 6 months, Joy and her friend Harper return from a trip on to see Joy's "stocking stuffer" in the airport waiting to board a plane. Cole, thanks to Harper, sees her and recognition is immediate. Sparks fly as he realizes she is pregnant.

A great short read with a fairy tale ending.

[Jennifer Leigh (jenjenbookfan) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, super quick second chance/ sort of secret baby mash up. I enjoyed the characters, the banter, the connection, and the romance aspect. I wish we would have gotten a bit further into Cole and Joy’s story. I’m looking forward to the next novella, I guess. I didn’t realize going in that this would just lead into another novella that’s part of an anthology 4 months from now. Harper and Jake’s story looks quite intriguing as well.

[Cat Nunez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet and easy read, Cole and Joy were wonderful and I loved reading their christmas story. The story was really good and everything happened at the perfect time, Cole and Joy’s chemistry was always there and it was nice reading their interactions and how Cole didn’t hesitate to be there for Joy and start their new family together.

Can’t wait to read more of them in the new anthology that’s coming in April and also read the new book about Harper and Jake.