ARC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Saira has successfully written dozens of books for Brownstone Literature. But when her ratings start to plummet, her publisher demands she put her current work on hold for a holiday romance. Seeking inspiration she travels to Santa Clause, Indiana; a small town known for its holiday cheer. Will her week away spark creativity, or will it mark the end of her writing career?

Charity Shane’s A Novel Christmas will have you feeling festive no matter the time of year!

I love books about books and holiday romances. Therefore, Shane’s story was right up my alley. It didn’t matter that I read it in the middle of September or during a heat wave.

Read this book for:
-FMC in literature
-Dreamy MMC (volunteer firefighter and football coach)
-Christmas firsts
-Holiday traditions
-Forced proximity
-Spice

Special thanks to Netgalley, Charity Shane, and Black Odyssey Media for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

As a lover of all things Christmas, the one thing I can never get over is how white-washed holiday themed media is. Most of us live in communities with far more diversity, and this is not what we meant when we asked for a white Christmas. I was elated to be approved by Netgalley for A Novel Christmas. The cover of this book and the description immediately pulled me in, and as soon as I started reading, I knew I was going to devour it. The cute setting, loving (if not lovingly over-involved) community, the deeper backstory, the sexy couple, and the added spice were everything I could ask for in a Christmas story.

Loved this! It was like reading a Hallmark Christmas movie but better. This book delivered on the Christmas vibes. A cozy & steamy romance that felt fresh. Definitely got me in the holiday spirit.

I fell in love with Dorian & Saira. I could relate to both of them. They are both going through a rough patch and find new love with each other. This is a slow burn but I felt that was perfect for these two. They needed time to open up to each other and I really liked watching their romance blossom. I loved these two so much!

A Novel Christmas provides a heartwarming romance wrapped in holiday cheer. This book is perfect for the holiday season.

I was obsessed with them. SO OBSESSED. this was such a good holiday romance. This man is my living dream and I wish there was a real life calendar with this man on it, yes please. I liked the pacing in this, the romance in it. It is kind of insta lovey, because they meet and instantly connect and are attracted to each other. But it's a Christmas book and I was here for it.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When a writer of romance novels needs a Christmas book ASAP or may lose her publisher what can she do? You find the holiday spirit quick, and she gets to the town of Santa Claus, Indiana as fast as she can. Dorian (Mr. December calendar) hottie also just may need some extra holiday cheer so when the two end up sharing space a hot holiday romance begins with just enough drama to make you believe you are in a Hallmark movie. It was such a great surprise to see African American traditions, food, and games mentioned—it really made it feel like I was celebrating with family and friends. This one’s a winner! It’s the perfect cozy, steamy read to enjoy during the holidays.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to review.

First of all the name of the town is just the cutest 🥰
Saira gets to fulfill my fantasy of being with a sexy firefighter 🤭 Mr December had the ladies going wild 😏! But he only has eyes for Saira 🥰
This is just the sexiest Christmas story I ever read and I love everything about it 😋

Reading this novel was like hanging out with friends. It was a plausible and mature story (no, I have not met a man like Dorian Black on a vacation, but now I have hope :-). The obstacles the couple faced on their way to happily ever after were realistic and there was character growth.

Saira is an author looking for inspiration for her first Christmas romance. Being a Florida girl, she goes to the town of Santa Claus, Indiana which is all things Christmas. There she meets Dorian, an attractive firefighter with an emotional past, and sparks fly.

I wasn't a fan of the writing style in the beginning but decided to power through. It got better but there were still some parts of the story that had me cringing. The spice also caught me off guard.

I did love the town of Santa Claus and the events that took place in the Christmas season. I was also invested in how Saira and Dorian would work out the rest of their lives to fit each other.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating ⭐⭐💫
🔥🔥🔥🔥 Open door, moderate to explicit scenes

This book had amazing spice and I loved the festive vibes. I rooted for the main characters and I loved the banter between the main characters and the side characters. This is a cute, cheesy small town Christmas book for sure?

A book author that up until now has written love stories or in the words in the book Black Romance Division. Now her Brownstone Literature Company wants her to write a Christmas themed romance book. It is needed as far as they are concerned, and it will need to be a top seller as well. If not Saira Wright will need to find herself a new company. This is not fair in her eyes as she has five years with them and she has released 18 stand alone novels, 5 series, and 4 novellas. Quite a few of them top sellers for this company! Still they want by January 3 topics of which she has researched for the book.

As she leaves the meeting and contacts her best friend and agent Linaya to let her know everything that was discussed and to let her know just exactly how this is never going to happen and how upset she really is. Linyay does her best to talk her down and tell her she can do anything and she will do it and she can do it.
On the flight back to Florida she does a search and finds a place called Santa Claus, Indiana. She checks it out a bit more and then registers for an Airbnb. Without giving any more thought she tells her mom and sister that it is for research and she is sorry she will be missing Christmas this year.

Once she gets to Santa Claus and gets into the duplex she has rented for the next seven days, she can't believe how beautiful it is. The town and her little place. She goes out and gets groceries and meets another black girl named Crystal, which invited her to a get together that was by invite only. She exchanged numbers with her and a sexy calendar of firefighters. Oh she fell hard for Mr. December. Crystal told her to come and she could meet all of them!
Before the party she actually met Mr. December as he was in fact living next door to her. That's right he was he landlord and lived in the other duplex.

If I have to say this was a very good book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great reading and a great book thank you Charity Shane!

Happy Reading!!

A Novel Christmas was a "feel-good" read that I enjoyed . It felt like I was reading a Hallmark Christmas movie but better 😜. It will have you feeling in the Christmas spirit. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for an instant attraction, fast paced holiday black romance. Saira and Dorian were just ❤️. The development of their relationship may have been fast but it was unique and different. I loved how he ran up in that house honey and claimed his woman. Yessss.. 😂

Thank you NetGalley, Black Odyssey Media, and Charity Shane for the eARC.

"A Novel Christmas" begins with a Black romance author named Saira stuck in a slump. Needing inspiration for her next romance novel, Saira leaves Florida and heads to Santa Claus, Indiana, for the Christmas season. She connects with the Black community in town and meets Dorian, a firefighter/ex-NFL player. Christmas is the perfect time of year to cozy up to someone, but Dorian is still grieving his ex-wife. With Saira's short-term visit and Dorian's past, can the two find a way to make it work?

This was a cute Black romance with a diverse cast of characters. I loved that Saira was able to find a community and found family in a town away from home. The references to Black foods, games, and cultural norms were fun, but some of the colloquialisms seemed forced. I'm also not sure that Dorian being an ex-NFL player really added to the story. It seemed an unnecessary character detail; barely affecting the way he lives his life in Santa Claus. Although this was a cute story, nothing really made this book stand out to me as different than other Christmas romances. The diversity, however, can be appreciated by Black people looking for more representation in mainstream literature.

*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***

For the last five years, Saira has had a successful career as an author with Brownstone Literature. But, when her last three books fail to make the top ten and her ratings start to plummet, Saira’s publisher takes notice. She’s summoned to the offices of Brownstone Literature to, essentially, be put on notice. They’re pressing pause on her current work in progress and want her to start working on a holiday book ASAP. Now, Saira detests holiday romances and she purposely does not write them. But, if she wants to continue working for Brownstone Literature she betta come up with one expeditiously. Playing Let It Snow on repeat is not helping Saira find the Christmas spirit to write this holiday book. After some research, she lucks up and finds a small town in Indiana called Santa Clause. With no hesitation, Saira books her flight and packs her bags.

Dorian is a widower who’s still struggling with the death of his wife. To keep his mind off of his grief, he stays busy as a volunteer firefighter and an AAU football coach. He also owns and manages rental properties. When Dorian’s new tenant for the next two weeks arrives, he’s shocked at how instantly he’s attracted to her. Saira and Dorian are so relatable. Both are struggling with opening up to new love. She’s fresh off of a break-up and he’s still getting over the death of his wife. But, these two find more than holiday spirit in Santa Clause, IN. Christmas In Spite of You was definitely channeling black Hallmark vibes. The setting of this book was spot on for the holiday season. Break out your hot cocoa, fuzzy socks, and prepare to fall in love with Saira and Dorian as they fall in love with each other. Thank you to Black Odyssey Media and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Super cute small town romance.
He's a firefighter. She's looking for inspiration for her next book. Very on theme for a Christmas holiday small town romance.

I was introduced to Charity Shane through her book One Eighty and I REALLY enjoyed that story. So, hearing that she wrote a Christmas novel spoke to my Christmas obsessed heart! Thank you NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for this ARC copy for my honest review.

Saira and Dorian are just what we need for the holiday season! Spicy and festive! And not spicy just because he’s a fireman who lives in a town named Santa Clause! 😉 Lol! This book felt like a Black Hallmark Christmas movie and I am here for more of those as we approach the season. Representation matters and I really enjoyed the vibes in this story. It made me want to go visit a small, snowy, Christmas town.

#NetGalley #ANovelChristmas #BlackOdysseyMedia

As someone who is desperately hanging out for Christmas and it’s not even September yet, this book was just what I needed to read! First off, the cover is gorgeous. It set the mood beautifully and the story followed through, lots of Christmas magic sprinkled throughout. I’ve read a few books lately where the main character is grieving the loss of a spouse, and I have to say this was one of the better ones. It was handled delicately, as was the moving on part of the story. Great amount of spice. All in all a wonderful book that I really enjoyed. Thanks netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this.

I love a bit of Christmas any time of the year and this romance was a joy to read! A Novel Christmas definitely brings the Christmas cheer!

The overall atmosphere & setting were definitely spot on for the holiday season. I mean, it takes place in Santa Claus, Indiana! 🤭 Bonfires, cocoa, snow, gingerbread houses - all that - were highlighted along with all types of winter comfort foods. Some things were overly detailed that just didn't need to be (ex: interior designs). Just tell me what matters as far as Christmas decor goes!

Sairia and Dorian are so relatable & real. Both struggle with opening up to a new love. But it's not often where the widow is the male in books and this was a fresh take for me. There is spice that flows & isn't forced!

This was a cozy, quick, cheerful but steamy read that had me rooting for love!

Thank you to NetGalley & Black Odyssey Media for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.❤️

Overall: 4.5/5
Spice level: 3.5/5
Tropes: holiday, landlord/tenant, firefighter, widower, small town

CW: discussion of spouse death due to terminal illness

I really enjoyed this story! Inside that broken, widower heart, Dorian was sexy and thoughtful and strong and skilled 🔥🌶.

I saw so much character development, especially with him. He was still mourning loss but had finally met his match in Saira, falling again when he didn't think it was possible. 

They had an electric chemistry between them that ignited quick! 

I loved their supporting characters. Their families and friends were really great. I loved how Dorian's circle encouraged him to find love again, while understanding grief has no timeline.

The plot was unique and well-paced. It was a fun holiday read with just enough heart and emotion.

Rating: 5/5
Spice: 4/5

Christmas is my very favorite holiday, and I love a good Christmas centered love story! When I found out about this book, I could not wait to read it, and I have to say, it did not disappoint!

In A Novel Christmas, we meet Saira Wright. Though her love life is not going so well, Saira, a romance writer had been doing very well in her career. But, after a string of subpar books, she is given the task of writing a Christmas novel with a very quick turnaround time. In search of inspiration, Saira goes to Santa Claus Indiana. There she meets Dorian, who owns the place where she is staying. Dorian is a volunteer firefighter in the small town and having lost his wife, he is weary of love and relationships. He finds it difficult to let go and trust others. Surrounded by Christmas and all the magic it entails, will these two hurting souls learn to trust again and give love a try?

I absolutely loved this book. The pacing was just right, and I was able to read the book in just one day…it was so good that I did not want to put it down! I loved Saira and Dorian’s chemistry; it was palpable. I loved watching as their relationship developed and the spicy parts were done just right! The characters were relatable and human. I could empathize with both Saira and Dorian. The development of these characters throughout the story was also done very well.

I loved the plot and the author’s writing style. This story was magical, full of small-town Christmas spirit and romance, and love, it had its lighthearted moments, and had elements of found family and true friendship. The friendships displayed on the pages through the secondary characters was also nice to see and done so well by the author. Through the authors descriptive narration and world-building, I felt like I was transported into the small town of Santa Claus. It was like watching a Christmas Hallmark movie. I love those! If you are looking for a great, fast-paced, love story to put you in the Christmas spirit, this one is for you. Read it…you will not be disappointed.

Christmas in the summer time was just what I needed! If you are looking for a fast paced book I wouldn't recommend this book. If you are looking for a bit of a slow burn with a sprinkle of Hallmark (but make it Black) I would definitely suggest that you read this book. I liked the setting and the chemistry of the characters. This is my second read by this author and I think it's safe to say that I really enjoy her writing and look forward to going through her catalog.