What a lovely book to read at holiday time or anytime really. Cute, sweet, easy to read and a lot of fun. I do love a good Christmas book and this one made me feel warm and fuzzy. I enjoyed it, was entertained by it and then I just wanted to start getting the Christmas decorations out. I must check out what other books this author has written as I think I would like to read more.

Thank you NetGalley and Independently Published for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a good book. The two main characters are. People and Cole. They meet when they were in college. They dated. Noelle’s grandmother got sick, so Noelle took care of her. Cole got drafted for a major league team. They drifted apart. Several years later, they meet up in a cabin owned by their friends at Christmas. They got snowed in by a blizzard. They talk and reminisce. They fall in love again.

A second chance romance that sparkles with holiday magic. The story is full of humor, heartache, and healing with festive atmosphere.
Many thanks to the author and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a super cute, second chance novella!
I really liked it!
It had cozy, Christmas, snowed in vibes!
I kind of like novellas because since they are short, there's no time for miscommunication 🤣.
This was a very cozy, fast read that will put you in the Christmas mood! (Even though it's only June 😂).

Exes Noelle and Cole are stuck in a cabin together after being snowed in, and she can't stand him. Can they rekindle their old romance, or will things be even worse between them?

For only a plot that occurs in a few days, this was really cute! All the moments Noelle and Cole had together were cute and I loved seeing them do Christmas activities.

This is Noelle's first Christmas back home and she wants it to be special because of what she's been through. I feel bad for her and I'm glad she's moving on with her life.

My buddy Cole has been through a lot as well. I'm surprised he took everything so well but then again; time heals. I'm glad he had a support system and good friends.

I don't think these types of short stories are for me. I like my stories longer so I can fully see the character's journey and not just some snapshots. I'm not saying I didn't like this story, because I found it cute. I just wish there was more development and plot.

I did not find Cole's nickname funny at all...pretty basic to me actually.

Overall, this is a cute Christmas book that will hit everything you want in one! there are some setbacks but only because of how short it is but don't let that stop you from reading. I enjoyed seeing Noelle and Cole slowly come back to one another and I'm glad they got the ending they deserved.


Thank you Abby and netgalley for providing me with an arc copy!

I'm normally not a fan of second chance romances especially ones that involve ex spouses. But I don't know if it was the Christmas setting and the reason why they split but I actually liked this one.

A cute holiday book about second chances and coming home! Loved the characters and the setting. It was a feel good book to read during the busy days of holiday prep.

This was a really enjoyable cozy Christmas read. Maybe a little shorter than I’d usually expect but the characters were engaging, as was their bickering at the start, and I loved that you got to know their best friends only through their phone calls and messaging. A lovely little ready for the winter months.

I loved this book. It is a romantic comedy about second chances. I was hooked from the beginning, and I couldn't put it down. I loved the characters and the story. The author did an amazing job keeping me entertained. I highly recommend this book. I can't wait for more from this author.

Thank you Net Galley ARC

4.25 ⭐️

☕️💚 Sweet Christmas Kisses #5 💚☕️
Thank you Abby Greyson & NetGalley for the gifted eARC.

🔔 A Not So Merry Ex-Mas 🔔
Abby Greyson
Publishing Date: October 2, 2024

This is the fifth installment of the Sweet Christmas Kisses Romance Novella Series. I fell behind on doing these in real time in October and November, because life, but I’m back and going to get through the rest!!

I really loved this one! With Christmas themed names and guaranteed HEA, this novella was perfect to help pull me out of my reading slump! Noelle and Cole are former flames who haven’t seen each other in years. Noelle’s grandma passed away and she just got divorced, so now she is returning home to spend the holidays with her BFF Melanie and her husband. Imagine Noelle’s surprise when she arrives and Cole is the only one there.

Forced proximity coupled with a snowstorm, gives us the perfect setting for a rekindled romance. The banter and history between these two was so cute. Their backstories had depth. The burn was slow, and well done, which is hard in a novella! The side characters, while not physically present, had a presence that added to the story. A really enjoyable holiday novella!! I devoured this one in one sitting!

Tropes:

🔔 Dual POV
🔔 Second Chance Romance

🔔 Close Proximity
🔔 Kisses Only
🔔 Meddling Friends
🔔 Slow Burn

Such a cosy, cute, romantic christmas read in the 'Sweet Christmas Kisses' series. I love Greyson's style of writing and was left swooning over Cole. My heart went out to Noelle after all her heartache but was cheering for her as she was able to repair the pieces and give Cole a chance again, albeit 10 years later. I also loved the banter and all the cute christmas bonding.

This was a super cute holiday read, it truly lived up to the festivities. It gave me all the feels I look for when reading a christmas/holiday read. The romance was also great, it was super sweet. The characters were great and I was rooting for them from the start. Can't wait to continue this series.

If I was to dream up the perfect man even my wildest imagination would have fallen short compared to Cole Nichols. Tall, broad shoulders, smile to die for and dreamy green eyes that held a mischievous glint. Add in a heart of gold, always helping others in need. We had planned out every detail of our lives together…including his dream of becoming a major league pitcher.

So when my gran got sick and I needed to take care of her, I gave him the push he needed, breaking my heart, and his, in the process. A decade, and a divorce later, I'm heading back home to start my life over. That new start begins with Christmas at my best friend’s cabin…and the man I’ve done everything to leave behind.

Adorable, super sweet cozy Christmas novel to curl up by the fire. Just the vibes I was looking for with a light read! Loved it! 4.5⭐

Sorry for the late review! Somehow I didn't download this before it was archived, but I got it from Amazon once it was published!

3.75/5

Tis the season for cheesy holiday romances. I mean, the main characters were named Noelle and Cole!? A perfect one sitting (4 for me 😅) cheesy romance novella with the second chance trope. Definitely what I needed to kick of this time of year.

Also, take a shot for every time someone giggled or “bursted out laughing”.

Time for some Christmas romance? Here's one you'll enjoy if you like light reading and fun relationships. With a past, not so much of a future, and an ex nearby, how hard can Christmas be?

Take it on your commute or crack it open when you have an hour or two but little brain power for serious work.

This was a sweet little holiday story that read more like a novella than a full novel. It was the perfect amount of forced proximity, second chance romance to get me in the holiday mood. The epilogue was a lot of content in a short amount of time and I almost wish we had just a few more pages so it didn't feel so rushed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy!

A Not so Merry Ex-mas was a delightfully cheesy Christmas novella. A fast-paced love story, but watching the two of them quickly fall back in love was adorable. It was predictable but that made me enjoy it even more. Perfect Christmas novella.

I struggled to get into this book. I don't love first-person present tense, and I don't love the "divorced after marrying the bad guy, here's a shot with my old flame" trope. I just found myself annoyed through most of the book. Not for me and I will not be posting a public review.

A Not So Merry Ex-Mas is a wonderful holiday romantic comedy that wraps you in festive cheer and sweet romance. This story vividly portrays the blend of holiday magic and rekindled romance. I enjoyed reading it for its depiction of second chances and the holiday spirit.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

Noelle has always loved Cole Nichols, but when he got picked by a major league baseball team, she decided to stay home and care for her sick grandmother instead of being with him. Now, years later and newly divorced, she returns home to start fresh. To her surprise, she finds out that Cole will be at her best friend's cabin for Christmas Eve. When a blizzard keeps their friends from arriving, Noelle and Cole are left alone together. As old feelings come back, Noelle must choose whether to open her heart again or keep pushing Cole away. This charming story is full of holiday spirit, romance, and hope for a happy ending.