Again can't get enough of her books this year!! I actually bought older copies of hers I never read!!

A quick sweet Holiday read!

Such a cute fun story just right for the Holidays. I love Christmas books that give you that heartwarming feeling.

A genuine happily ever after.

Perfect cozy read!!

enjoyed this this story much more than the first book in the series of novellas. It's like a second chance romance that neve really had a first chance. Because it's a novella the story moves quickly but the pace actually works until the end, and like the first, its the mystery that trips me up. I get what Kauffman is trying to do with these books but I think they would work okay as stand-alone holiday romances without having the secondary mystery as well and probably be better books for it.

I loved reading Sean and Holly's story in Lock, Stock & Jingle Bells by Donna Kauffman, book two in her Hamilton Christmas series. Holly moved to England as soon as she graduated high school to study art while Sean stayed close to home to learn culinary skills. Sean ended up back in his hometown to take over his parent’s restaurant after they were both killed while Holly stayed in England. Holly just learned that her parents have retired earlier than she expected and she now has to deal with her mother’s Christmas store, back home. While back in town she runs into Sean. They grew up together in their small town. Both had crushes on the other while they were in high school but neither acted upon it. Now that they are both in their thirties and they are ready to see if what they felt when they were younger could be the start of something. During this journey they discover the secret that was focused on in the first book Unleashed.

It was so easy to fall in love with Sean. He was so patient, kind, caring and totally hot. He knew what he wanted and he went for it. As for Holly she wants to stay friends since she doesn't know if she is going back to England or not, and I was really pulling for her to fall for Sean. She had never had the love and support that Sean had; but when he takes her into his family, she realizes that she may have found her home after all. These two friends definitely had more than just friendship between them.

Ms. Kauffman wrote a wonderful and moving story about friends finding their soulmate, filled with great dialogue and endearing characters that is not to be missed. I highly recommend this book to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

A sweet, funny Christmas read, perfect for sipping eggnog and reading by the tree.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A Christmas novella filled with romance and steamy love scenes.
The story line is centered in the big decision Holly has to make regarding her inheritance from her parents, the family Christmas and antique store. While her main concern is to settle her affairs and go back to her job in London, her will may change with the presence of her high-school crush and what truly makes her happy.

I've read a lot of Donna Kauffman's romance novels. In general, I like them because they add interesting and realistic characters, and aren't overly "sleazy" when it comes to the romance. They also tend to expand on characters (or relatives of those characters) in previous novels. But, you wouldn't necessarily have to read them all in order to get the most out of a single novel. There aren't any "secrets" you'd need to know from previous books.
This holiday novel focuses on Holly, a 30 year old who works in advertising in London who is suddenly given an early inheritance from her mother. Her mother and father have decided to retire and she's just inherited her mom's Christmas shop in her small hometown. Except, Holly (who was born on Christmas eve) does not even like Christmas. But, she's returned just before Christmas to see what to do about the store. And, just across the street is Gallagher's Pub, now run by Sean Gallagher, her high school crush. Turns out he also had a crush on her and still does. So, the rest of the book focuses on their budding romance as well as what Holly will do with the shop.
The book kept my attention, but I didn't think it was quite up to Kauffman's quality (e.g., the Brides of Blueberry Cove series was much better). Perhaps it was the shorter length of the book that made it seem a bit too simple. There is also bit of an extra story line that doesn't really get resolved in this book, eventually leading to a second short novel in this series, "Naughty But Nice."

Holly Berry Bennett returns to her home town from England to take care of the business her mother has run for most of her life. Sean Gallagher, Holly’s high school crush, owns the restaurant across the street from Santa’s Workshop, her mom’s Antique/Christmas business. Her parents retired and left the business to Holly to run. Holly has no interest in running the business. She plans to liquidate it and return to her life in England. Sean has other ideas.

This is the second in the Hamilton series of Christmas novellas. It is a small town/second chance romance with a touch of mystery. I really enjoyed the light holiday reading.

I would like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this delightful book.

.4 out of 5 stars
Sweet, short and sassy
By Maggieon October 22, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
A sweet, short and sassy novella well suited to the Christmas season. Heroine and Hero rekindling their friendship, but he wants more... A nice read by the fire with a box of chocolates!

So glad to have found Donna Kauffman! I loved Lock, Stock and Jingle Bells. I was attracted by the title as I love Christmas romance novels and I certainly got everything I could ask for. It’s a sweet romance with a touch of mystery. Perfect for curling up in a chair and losing yourself for a few hours. Thanks to the author Donna Kauffman, her publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Lock Stock and Jingle Bells.

3.5 Stars

It's ten days before Christmas and Holly Berry Bennett finds yourself traveling across the Atlantic for the third time in roughly two weeks. Holly isn't going home to celebrate Christmas with her parents. She's returning to what's left of her parents old life, or should I say her mother’s. During her Thanksgiving visit, her parents happily informed her that they were retiring and moving to Florida. Her mother wants Holly to take over running Santa’s Workshop, an all-things Christmas and antique store. In fact, the family home has already been sold, the parents have already moved to Florida, and they are spending Christmas aboard a cruise ship. There are a couple of problems with this: 1) Holly's life and job in London and 2) Holly's isn't very big on Christmas. What's a girl to do?

While Holly isn’t a fan of Christmas, her high school crush and owner of the restaurant across the street from Santa's Workshop is. Sean Gallagher knows all about Holly’s dilemma. With a possibility that Holly might leave town forever, he decides it's now or never to confess his attraction to her.

Over quiet daily meals at the shop, Holly and Sean grow closer and closer. But things hit a snag when Holly stumbles upon a mystery involving Sean's family. As the two work on a resolution to both the mystery and Holly's future, Holly realizes that Christmas isn't so bad after all.

Lock, Stock and Jingle Bells is the second book in the Hamilton Christmas Novella series. Originally published in 2009 as part of the Kissing Santa Claus anthology, this is a story about finding yourself and your place in the world. Holly and Sean were both likeable characters and I enjoyed watching them come together as a couple.

A cute holiday story. Good characters and story. I'd like to see all the novellas in this series put out as one book to give it a real continuity. But a good read especially if you want something short and sweet.

Merry Christmas to all!

Holly Berry Bennett grew up hating Christmas. It did not help at all that she was born on Christmas Eve and that her parents ran a Christmas themed and antique store. So when she turned 18, she left Willow Creek, Virginia and headed to England to follow her own dreams.

But she's back in Willow Creek now. Her parents have retired and left her the store. And the boy that she had a terrible crush on has grown up and owns the restaurant across the street.

This was a great, fun Christmas novella. I enjoyed the storyline, the characters, and I love Christmas.

I received this novella from Kensington Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

Holly and Sean were great characters. Kindling a flame from years long past is a great storyline. I felt like I was there in that small town with them and was going through the emotions, too. I did feel that the story was a bit slow. However, i did keep going and it picked up the pace. It was very well written, and I'd love to read more from this author.

As Holly returns home from her job in the United Kingdom she has some decisions to make. In a surprising move her parents have given her an early inheritance of her mother’s Christmas shop since they are now off to retirement in sunny Florida. It might have been a great opportunity except for one fact… Holly hates the Christmas season with a passion. Being born on Christmas Eve, her name, Holly Berry, and constantly being watched by every single Santa in mom’s shop… well, enough was enough. Now it’s up to Holly to decide to sell or continue in her mother’s footsteps.

The first person to welcome Holly home was a former classmate, and if she’s honest a former crush, Sean, who runs a restaurant across the street from the shop. Unknown to Holly, Sean had a crush on her back then as well. In her case, she was to shy to try to catch his eye… for Sean she was too smart to ever possibly care about an ordinary guy like him. Youth… the years we waste, and the silly things we think. But now Sean is older, wiser and still holding onto feelings for Holly – so it’s his plan to change her mind about Christmas or leaving ever again.

I enjoyed Lock, Stock and Jingle Bells so much. Full of holiday cheer, a mystery to get tot he bottom of and two people who have always been right for each other get the second chance at love they so richly deserve. If you’re following the series then another discovery is made that plays into the ongoing thread – and we’ll meet up with some familiar faces as well.

I liked Sean, and came to like Holly as she grew to let go of the past and embrace the future. If you love a good Christmas Romance with a touch of mystery and a simple, easy second chance feel then you’ll want to pick up Lock, Stock and Jingle Bells. It’s a fast, enjoyable read that will definitely put you in the Christmas mood.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Lock, Stock & Jingle Bells is the second novella in the Hamilton Christmas series and picks up from book 1, Unleashed. I really enjoyed this story I found Sean and Holly fabulous characters and as a secret crush becomes very real we get to enjoy the journey. I highly recommend you read the Hamilton Christmas novellas and fall in love with the characters and their stories

Another charming revival from Donna Kauffman. If you didn’t read it the first time, you will be happy you picked up now. I enjoyed reading again!

Lock-Stock-Jingle Bells by Donna Kauffman is a wonderful Christmas novella. Although it was a quick read the story was well written and was enjoyable. This is the story of Sean and Holly and with the chemistry they share, how their relationship develops into HEA. I liked it and recommend it as a nice Christmas story for this wonderful season.

Book 2 in the Hamilton Christmas Series but each book can be read as a stand-alone as each novella features it’s own characters with fleeting mentions of characters from previous books.
Holly can’t belive her parents have retired to Florida and handed over their Christmas and Antique Store to her to run, she may have been born on Christmas Eve and been given a name that makes you think of the holiday season but that doesn’t mean she has to love the holidays as much as everyone else does in Willow Creek. Sean Gallagher can’t believe the girl that got away is finally coming back home can he give her a reason to stay and will the timing be right this time around......
A second chance romance set in my favourite time of year, this book may be short but it still packs a punch and it has adorable characters. This is a really enjoyable seasonal read and it’s a great addition to the Hamilton Christmas Series.

This is the second book/novella in the Hamilton Christmas series. The story was originally published as part of the Kissing Santa Claus anthology. It's the second of three holiday novellas in the Hamilton Christmas series that are being released individually this season. Each of Ms. Kauffman’s novellas can be read as standalone stories with each featuring a different set of main characters. We do meet up with characters in “Unleashed”(the first novella in the series) for added familiarity for those readers who read all three.


Donna Kauffman has created yet another fun holiday second chance romance with all the small town goodness that makes for a snowy loving holiday romance. The characters are likeable, lovable, funny, full of their own insecurities and in need of romance. The story is touching and heart warming as all of Ms. Kauffman’s books are. This story is obviously fast paced as novella’s usually are. If you are looking forward to a few hours tucked away with a good holiday story in the midst of the holiday hecticness this is the book for you. The best part is there is a third novella that is coming next in the Hamilton Series “Naughty but Nice”. Yay!

I would like to thank Donna Kauffman, Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.