I enjoyed this a lot more than the last book I read by this author -- everything just clicked and I truly love Elisha and Ves together. While I think Ves' backstory could have been developed a bit more, this was a fun holiday romance. Definitely add to your TBR pile if you love holiday romance!

Wrapped with a Beau comes out next week on September 26, 2023, and you can purchase HERE! I really liked this one!

Elisha shrugs, swallowing past her dry mouth. "Could have been a past-tense girlfriend. As in "We broke up, but Ill always cherish her by this gift she gave me."

"You keep presents from your exes?"

That tinge of horror in his voice makes her blink. "You don't?"

"If you were mind, I wouldn't let you wear anything gifted by another man."

i really enjoyed this book, definite hallmark vibes and i was all for it! the tension with the slow burn was just perfect and this was such a cute read, i couldnt put it down! even though it was a sweet story their were some serious topics that i though were handled perfectly! i enjoyed this so much and loved their HEA

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

This book was the perfect blend of Hallmark Christmas movie with some spiciness thrown in for good measure. Elisha and Ves are officially my new favorite Christmas grumpy/sunshine couple but I would love to see Tori get her own sequel cause she ended up being such a good character (even if just a minor one).

The good: This book oozes Christmas. Finally, a book with Christmas puns on every page and festiveness galore; I loved it. Also, short chapters! If you’re like me and you can’t put a book down until you come to a natural ending then you’ll love this. Every chapter was 10 minutes or less;
Perfect for carrying with you everywhere.

The not so good: I felt like it took forever for Ves to have his love epiphany and when he finally did the book was near the end. I think the author could have been a little less subtle in how she wrote his attitude change but the story is good I’ll forgive it.

Highly recommend this one for your Christmas reading list!!

Wrapped With A Beau by Lillie Vale

What a beautiful, heartwarming, sweetest story for Christmas or all round the year!

I recommend this to everyone who loves cozy small town magical setting.

Elisha wants her hometown back on the map and when an opportunity for a sequel to Sleighbells appears she is doing everything in her power to make that happen. Unfortunately, the permission to film in the historic house is denied by the charming and handsome owner, Ves.

My top reasons to read this book ~

• You will be in love with the first chapter itself, atleast that was the case for me.

• It was cute, sweet, festive and a hallmark kind of book.

• Ves! My heart hurts for him. I wish I could squeeze him tight and pour all the love he missed out on. He is such a sweetheart.

• So many lines to love and hold on to {few I have shared ahead}. I am going to make an aesthetic on every that I can.

• What an amazing cast of characters. This opposites attract, sunshine x grumpy will melt your heart. The slow burn is well done with also brilliantly addressing heavy topics. Lillie Vale has done it again!

Now coming to my favourite quotes ~

• As her grandpa always says, everything is possible with grace and gumption.

• And nothing is messier than a damsel in distress, especially one who looks like her who’s looking at him like that.

• “Seek magic and you shall find it.”

• “Do you think that’s possible? To wish for something different than what you have?”

“Why not? It’s your life. Who else will chart your future if not you?”

“You say it like it’s that easy.”

“Of course it’s not easy. But it’s still worth doing. All the best things are. And don’t forget, everything in life happens because someone first wished it so.”

• Not everyone is fortunate enough to be loved unconditionally and unreservedly by the people who brought you into this world. But that’s a reflection of them, not you.

Wrapped with a Beau is such a delightful Christmas romance. Elisha decides to sneak into the house of her neighbor who recently passed away because she believes there's been an intruder. Little does she know Ves has been given the house by his great-aunt. Ves is a grump and Elisha is everything that reminds you of Christmas. Elisha will do whatever she can to get filming permission for the Sleighbells sequel which was filmed in the house. However, Ves just wants to tidy it up to sell. The two end up spending a ton of time together and a romance quickly begins to form. Can they keep it with no strings attached or will it turn into something more?

Honestly, this book is a Hallmark movie with some spice in it. It definitely gets spicy. I wasn't excepting that but I still enjoyed it even though that's not really my thing. For some reason I'm not a fan of reading spicy things in books. I still found this book to just be warm and cozy. I was rooting for Elisha and Ves the whole time. Plus, I just loved all the Christmas vibes. Plus, the Chocolate Mouse, a bakery, sounds like an incredible place. I wish it was real. I probably would go there all the time. Plus, I love the closeness Elisha has with her family and friends and just the whole town in general. It was so wholesome to see how everyone accepted Ves right away. He's a newcomer but they were all just there for him with open arms.

I highly recommend this book especially if you're looking for a fun romantic Christmasy read.

*Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Wrapped with a Beau is your fairly standard Hallmark-with-steam holiday romcom, but Lillie Vale injects enough charm to make it her own. I really liked the concept of a now legendary film and its filming locations of this historic house and the small town of Piney Peaks itself, and I’d love to read more stories set in this location.
The leads are pretty great spins on traditional holiday romance archetypes. Ves is pretty recognizable as a Grinch-esque, broody hero whose ties to the house have reluctantly brought him home, and while there are certain things about him that I initially was skeptical about, like his noncommittal nature, particularly when it came to relationships, he won me over. I especially love that he writes middle grade fantasy books, and I appreciated going on the journey of connecting with his family history alongside him.
Elisha is also recognizable, being a bit more passionate about things related to the holidays, in this case, things related to the town’s visibility in relation to the film and its upcoming sequel. She grows on a professional front, and there’s a very recognizable predicament (in the context of holiday movies) as a result.
While I can’t say the romance rocked my socks off, they do work well together. They come from somewhat different places and perspectives, but that made their bond over what they did have in common more interesting.
I did feel the book was a bit busy, to the point where it wasn’t sure what it wanted to be at times, like at one point it’s fake dating, and then later it’s a no-strings relationship, and I’m not sure there was enough justification for balancing both, when fleshing out one trope would have worked better. There were also a lot of side characters, and while I like what they do for coloring the town as a setting at times, and Elisha’s family could be fun, I felt they sometimes overwhelmed the story. And the ex, justifying the initial fake relationship felt like a lot of unnecessary drama.
In spite of these issues, I did enjoy this book overall, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for a fun Christmas romance in the coming holiday season.

This is a cozy, steamy, Hallmark movie style Christmas story. If you like cute, cheesy rom-coms you will love this book!

Favorite things:

🎄 Grumpy x Sunshine
🎄 Small Town
🎄 Dual POV
🎄 Opposites Attract

Thank you, Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley, for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Today it is the 3rd September and my review of Wrapped with A Beau by Lillie Vale does not go live until the 17th but I need to put down my thoughts like now.

I am relatively new to reading Christmas Romance Books during the festive season heck I never ever included any Christmas books. So I am always on the lookout to make my reading as festive as possible and for me Wrapped with a Beau was perfect.

This book gave me all the feels and last night I could not help thinking and wanting to finish as I was desperate to find out what happened to Ves and Elisha I kept waking up in the early hours so I could read some more and I love my sleep.

I loved both Ves and Elisha but Ves tugged at my heart strings more and I could see why he was deemed to be the grumpy one.

As much as I cried I laughed alot to with Ves and Elisha first encounter to the Christmas Innuendos had me cackling alot. Not forgetting the Smut which was top notch and was so well written and not added for the sake of it.

I really do hope there be more visits to Piney Peaks as I loved the setting and the People but what would be the icing on the cake would be Maeve's story hint hint.

For all the above reasons I am giving Wrapped with a Beau 5 stars

Known for the holiday classic Sleighbells Under Starlight, Piney Peaks finds itself ready for more magic from the home it was filmed in fifty years ago. Elisha is lucky to call this small-town winter wonderland home, but she is ready to take her career to the next level putting the town on the map as a destination meant for tv and movies with the promise of the movie’s sequel filming set to start in January. If only she can convince Ves to go along with his great-aunt's verbal agreement after her passing, leaving the house to him.

“Meet-cutes are everywhere you look. Save a local business, protect a landmark, fall in love with a wholesome small-town girl. Maybe she’s the hot lumberjane daughter of a tree farmer! Kiss under a blanket fort! Break your rule about holiday romance! Do everything different. The opportunities are endless.”

The banter, the quick to fall grumpy/sunshine love that seems to get me in holiday romances, a great cast of family and friends who added to the story with every scene — this book put me in a happy mood that has me counting down to Christmas! & after reading this, who wouldn’t want to try the Grinch drink, I know I need one!

Thank you TBR and Beyond Tours + Putnam Books for the opportunity to read and review an early copy!

Thanks Netgalley for an ARC of this book!
Guys this is the PERFECT Christmas romance book! If you love Hallmark (like me!) this is the book for you. I think the author did a great job moving the story along and developing the characters. I want to see this as a movie asap!

I am a sucker for fake dating and Christmas books so this made my heart so happy! The romance is grumpy/sunshine and fake dating turned friends with benefits that has an expiration date romance. I loved Elisha and her cheery attitude and how she won over the grumpy, big city author Ves - their first meeting had me laughing out loud! I did wish the book went into more detail of the film Elisha is working to get filmed at the Holiday House Ves inherits. I thought we would get to the filming and see how Ves handles having his house overrun, but it does not happen on page. Overall I really enjoyed this book - perfect Hallmark Christmas movie vibes!

Thank you for the ARC. This book is perfect to get you into the holiday season. If you love Hallmark and you love spicy then you will love this book. Ves write books for middle schools when he inherits his Aunt's house. Elisha lives across from the big house. Enter grump vs sunshine and small town romance.

This had cute and quirky characters that tied the story together. I loved the family and how supportive they were. The book was a bit longer than it needed to be, yet there were still parts that were missing for me.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Review:

I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review and place on this blog tour – thanks!

I didn’t realize I needed a cozy holiday romcom in September until I started reading this book. Wrapped with a Beau was everything I had hoped it would be and so much more. Ves and Elisha were just the cutest protagonists, I am so glad we got to read their story from both of their perspectives. It just made the whole thing even better.

These two could not be any different: big city Ves, with his opposition to the holidays, and Elisha, billboard for the Christmas shenanigans of her small town. Yet, they worked so very well together. Their chemistry was instant, and it never really wavered throughout the novel. I loved the way that they grew as individuals, and then together. Their characterization was what made this book work even more for me.

Vale has this ability to create such colourful little microcosms in the books of hers that I have read, and Piney Peaks was no exception. It felt like watching a Hallmark movie, with all its cheesiness, but in a way that was not as annoying as those movies can be. I loved the layers that the inclusion of the Sleighbells remake created, especially with Maeve who is arguably the heart of this story.

Wrapped with a Beau will make the perfect edition to any cozy winter TBRs – even if you’re starting early like me! Ves and Elisha will make you fall in love with the holidays as they do, and I hope it brings you as much joy as it brought me.

I’m so excited holiday novels have arrived! I know it’s only September, but it’s not too
early for a holiday romantic comedy. 🥂
And, Wrapped with a Beau by Lillie Vale is the perfect Christmas romcom to pull me into the holiday season! From page one, I was pulled into the story and swept away by the charming characters in the small town of Piney Peaks. This Christmassy romcom could soften the Grinch’s cold heart. It has all the feels of a hallmark small town Christmas romance with a dash of spice. Ves Hollins and Elisha Rowe have the best meet cute! 💗 I highly recommend this novel if you want holiday romcom with grumpy-sunshine, hallmark Christmas romance, a small town, spice, and banter 😍
Read this if you enjoy:
🎄Christmas movies
🌦️ Grumpy-Sunshine
✌️ Dual Povs
💞 Opposites Attract
🔥 Slow Burn
🏡 Small town Romance

This was definitely a cozy, holiday season small-town read but it felt quite boring to me.

I skimmed through a lot and the chemistry, for me, wasn't there.

Sorry to say, but this book wasn't for me.

Thank you NetGalley & Publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Seek magic and you shall find it

When Elisha Rowe returns to her snow kissed hometown of Piney Peaks she has one mission: put her small town back on the map. 50 years ago the hit romantic Christmas movie Sleighbells made Piney Peaks and it’s beloved Christmas House a household holiday name. But now the town is in need of a little revamp. So when a famous director wants to film the sequel, Elisha jumps at the chance promising to do whatever it takes. What she didn’t plan on is author Ves Hollins to roll in to town as the new owner of the Christmas House.

Ves also has one mission: sell his late great Aunt’s house as fast as possible and get back to his life in NYC. No need to rehash any ghosts of Christmases past. And definitely no need to get chummy with his over the top but very attractive neighbor. But with writer’s block keeping him from starting his next novel, maybe Little Miss Christmas Cheer and the folks of Piney Peaks are just what he needs.

This book was so stinking cute and it instantly put me in a holiday mood! From the infamous meet-cute, involving a not so innocent candy cane, you know immediately these two are evenly matched. The banter between Ves and Elisha is so witty and you can feel the attraction and respect building with ever exchange. I loved that the entire town is so invested in not only honoring Maeve’s legacy but making her great-nephew feel welcome. Piney Peaks is filled with a full cast of charming characters and Elisha’s family truly steals every scene they are part of, especially sweet Grandpa Dave. This story has all the warm feels of a Hallmark movie with just enough cinnamon spice 😉

You will definitely want to pick this up and tuck in while wrapped in a fuzzy blanket, with a mug of hot coco, and warm fire at your back!

- Grinch meets Little Miss Christmas Cheer
- Hallmark movie vibes
- Small town girl and Big City Guy
- Meddling neighbors
- Over the top holiday cheese
- Tons of punny lines

Thank you @tbrbeyondtours for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

This was overall a cute, festive read that delivered on the cover’s promise. With the small town girl returned home to stay and looking to put her town on the map and the city boy grump who wants nothing more than to get in and out quickly… Perfect for fans of a hallmark-type, holiday romcom, with the cozy small town, and sunshine/grump vibe.

I really liked both the main characters, Elisha and Ves, and loved the cozy, holiday small town vibes throughout the story. Ves was definitely a character I felt for and was rooting for throughout. Who doesn’t love a grump, who is just secretly longing for a family / found family dynamic of his own?

As mentioned I really felt that the book in general read like / could be a hallmark movie type romance. I liked that tone and quality of the story, as a caveat there was some spicy moments in the story. Not too many, but I would have preferred the story without. The spice just didn’t fit in this format for me, so that was one thing that I didn’t find working as well. It felt out of place and took me out of the cozy, sweet, holiday feel of the book as a whole. On the upside the sections were fairly easy to skip around.

I liked the story and people we met here, and hope that there was a hint of something to come at the end with Riley and Tori. Piney Peaks was such a fun ‘getaway’, and I would love to revisit it.

I enjoyed the story overall and look forward to more from the author in the future. Definitely a fun, holiday read to enjoy with some cocoa on a cool day.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read an early copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely offered.

3.5 ⭐️

Happy Tuesday y’all! I read my first Christmas book of the year and it made me so happy! It’s still extremely hot outside (it was 103 last week!), but mentally, I’m in the fall/winter, so this was perfect. Thank you so much to TBR and Beyond Tours for having me as a part of their tour for Wrapped with a Beau. Definitely go check out all of the other great stops on this tour!

Wrapped with a Beau 5/5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:

In its heyday, Piney Peaks and its beloved Christmas House were made famous by Sleighbells, a romantic holiday movie. 50 years later, the small town is ready for a new love story.

As a successful film liaison, Elisha Rowe has her heart set on one thing and one thing only: putting her hometown back on the map. So, when she gets the chance to secure a sequel to Sleighbells, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make sure everything goes smoothly. Unfortunately, that includes claiming to have already secured permission to film at the historic Christmas house—permission she was very much denied by the gorgeous new owner.

Ves Hollins is only back in Piney Peaks long enough to sell the house he inherited from his great-aunt. The holidays have always been tough for Ves, and it’s not any easier when he’s distracted by memories of a Christmas long, long ago, and the undeniable charm of neighbor Elisha. Ready to return home to New York as quickly as possible, he has no plans to put down roots or fall in love…even if Elisha unravels his hesitations like a bad Christmas sweater.

There’s no question the two are opposites in every way. Ves is unquestionably frosty. Elisha is brimming with warmth. He doesn’t do commitment. She never runs from a challenge. But as the two grow closer, they quickly realize that the growing spark between them may be just what the season calls for.

Y’all this was such a cute book! I really liked Elisha and Ves as characters and I loved both of their jobs- like do I logically think that they could have been making good money on those jobs? Probably not, but we’re reading the book version of a small town Hallmark Christmas movie with so much spice, and it was amazing. I really liked the whole grumpy-sunshine trope we had in there [side note, do we ever get grumpy-sunshine tropes where the guy is the sunshine and the girl is the grumpy? If y’all know of any, let me know]. Piney Peaks was the cutest little town. And I really loved all of the Indian influences throughout the book- Ves’s best friend is named Arun and that’s my dad’s name. Elisha’s mom’s side the of the family is from Goa, so all of those influences with the food and I loved the fact that they go to Goa for a couple of weeks in January every year. Seeing how much the divorce impacted Ves throughout his life and how Elisha was able to slowly but surely knock down all of his walls. Overall, I really, really loved Wrapped with a Beau and I now cannot wait for the holidays! Make sure you pick up Wrapped with a Beau when it comes out on September 26th! Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

This is what I love about Wrapped With a Beau (aside from the adorable title) ~

The magical small-town Pennsylvania setting

It incorporates Christmas movies! A classic holiday film was shot right there in Piney Peaks, and now they’re filming the sequel 50 years later.

The romance starts off in a rival fashion- Elisha is trying to protect a house she loves (the Christmas house, as well as the cats that live there) but the intruder is the late owner’s nephew, writer Ves.

And he’s standing in her way to film the movie at the house.

After she already bragged on her success getting the filming set up in their town to her mean ex-fiance (who doesn’t acknowledge they were engaged!)— that means she’s in real trouble now.

So we have a grumpy/sunshine rivals to lovers romance, a most excellent combination of tropes!

I love the characters and friendships in the town, but the romance was my favorite— the spice, the way the characters just got each other and ultimately supported each other. I’m here for it!

In short, maybe I was hooked from the start by the setting, but I stayed for Ves and Elisha.

Do I plan on reading this again in November? Yes, yes I do! This is the perfect Christmas romance.