Who can resist a holiday romance? Today, I’m sharing two books that deliver everything you could want in a love story—complete with unforgettable settings that make the season even more magical.
Christmas Fling by Lindsey Kelk
Pages: 384
Genre: Romance
Pub. Date: October 14, 2025
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Publisher for review
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads says, "Laura and Callum have met exactly three times –
once at a mutual friend’s wedding (Laura doesn’t remember), once at a
baby shower (Callum doesn’t remember) and once right now – when Laura
lets herself into his flat to find him exiting the shower completely
naked (they both remember).
When Callum's parents walk
in and mistake Laura for his mystery girlfriend, Laura has no choice but
to play along, accepting their invitation to spend Christmas at home in
the Scottish Highlands.
But then Laura's best friends show up
pretending to be her family, and Callum's ex is invited, and as Laura
gets closer to Callum, she can't tell if the increasingly sizzling
chemistry between them is real or just a very convincing part of the act."
Laura, a doctor, doesn't have plans for Christmas, which kind of sounds thoroughly depressing. When a stranger's parents mistake her for the stranger's girlfriend, an adventure ensues. The stranger is Callum, a Scottish pastry chef, who is in a bind with his parents and his plans for the holidays. His parents want him to return home to Scotland with his girlfriend, Caroline, whom they mistakenly take for Laura. So, Laura goes with it initially, and to help Callum out, because a Scottish Christmas doesn't sound too bad, does it? The more time Callum and Laura spend together, the more their fake dating is pushed to the brink. Is Laura having real feelings for Callum, or is it just the idyllic Scottish Christmas complete with sleeper trains, cozy pubs, warming whiskey drinks by the fire, the highlands, castles, and more? Christmas Fling by Lindsey Kelk is an enjoyable holiday rom-com. While many parts of the story felt far-fetched, I suspended my disbelief, because that's what the holidays are all about, right?
I love all things Scotland, so I knew the setting would be a win for me in Christmas Fling. Plus, Lindsey Kelk always delivers a laugh-out-loud holiday rom-com, and that is what readers can expect with this one. Callum was giving Jamie Fraser vibes, so I really loved their slow-burning romantic moments as well as the fake dating that always leads to something more. There's a lot of miscommunication going on in Christmas Fling, but other than that, I thought it was a delightful holiday novel. I didn't love it as much as The Christmas Wish, but overall, it was charming with just the right amount of holiday spice.
Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding
Pages: 336
Pub. Date: October 28, 2025
Publisher: Gallery
Source: Personal Copy
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads says, "Eight years ago, Anne Elliot broke Freddie
Wentworth’s heart when she refused to give up her five-year plan for the
sake of adventure. But despite big dreams, Anne, now thirty, is still
living at home with hardly a plan in sight. Anne tries to be
optimistic—she knows better than anyone that regret will get you
nowhere—but that goes out when the window when, thanks to her father’s
bad spending habits, her childhood apartment in is rented out to the
very man still living in her head rent-free.
Freddie Wentworth
never thought he would see Anne Elliot again after she dumped him for
accepting a job overseas. He spent years trying to forget her, and he’s
been mostly successful. So when a job opportunity takes him back to New
York, he’s shocked to find out that Anne is not only his new neighbor,
but also the former resident of his new Greenwich Village penthouse.
Nearly
a decade after Anne and Freddie’s fateful romance, the only thing they
still have in common is a desire to leave their relationship firmly in
the past. But between a disastrous off-Broadway show and a drunken
Thanksgiving dinner, nosey neighbors, and flirtatious friends, Anne and
Freddie suddenly find their lives more intertwined than ever before.
When old feelings start rising to the surface, they must decide whether
to put their hearts on the line or walk away all over again."
Anne Elliot broke up with Freddie Wentworth years ago when he took a new job overseas, and it still haunts her to this day. She is living a pretty normal life in New York City until Freddie enters the picture again. Anne's father mishandled their money and, in turn, has to sell their sprawling apartment in New York City. Now Anne has a whole new set of problems; plus, the buyer is none other than Freddie himself! Anne is at a crossroads in both her work and personally. Freddie, who just sold his company, is also at a crossroads. The more time they spend together as they both live in the same building, the more they realize that the sparks are still there. Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding is a wonderful retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion - perfect for fans of second-chance romances.
As the story continues, readers will delight in Freddie and Anne's second chance at love and in figuring out what went wrong the first time around. Also, readers will appreciate the personal journeys that both Anne and Freddie are on in Anne of Avenue A. Anne's life was all planned out, but it has taken an unexpected turn at work, and she must deal with the ramifications, all while navigating Freddie's return to her life. One of the best parts of the book was the New York City setting during the holidays. This definitely added to the charm of the book. Fans of Bellezza and Harding's For the Love of Austen series won't be disappointed by this heartwarming retelling. Persuasion is one of my favorite of Austen's novels, and I think they captured the spirit very well.
Have you read Christmas Fling or Anne of Avenue A yet? Let 'em know in the comments. Also, Christmas Fling is on sale for under a dollar as an e-book, which you can't beat, so pick up your copy today for the holiday season.
