A Christmas Kiss is part of author Susan Hatler’s Kissed by the Bay series. Busy divorce attorney Harper Avery spends all her energy on her clients, and has no time for romance herself, due to her cynical nature. Last minute Christmas plans find her snowed in at a cozy cabin in Lake Tahoe. She planned to be alone, but discovers also there is her worst nightmare – or is it her secret fantasy?

Christmastime, falling in love, having an argument or betrayal, then getting that second chance. Isn’t that what we all like to read? I adore Susan Hatler’s Blue Moon Bay series, most particularly the Blue Moon Bay Legend. Swooning sigh inserted here!
I received an e-copy of this story for my honest review.

A sweet Christmas romance, this story is best enjoyed cozied up by a fire. Predictable and yet intriguing, beautifully done.

Harper Avery hasn't had much luck when it comes to relationships or men. Being a divorce attorney has made her see all the bad relationships and the events that lead to the ultimate breakdown of said-relationships. Taking on the case of a divorce before the Christmas season should be straight forward but that is until she comes face-to-face with the apposing attorney, Gabriel Hart.
Straight from the start you can tell that Harper and Gabriel are never going to see eye-to-eye on their clients but they are willing to give them the time to see if they can make their marriage work one last time. In the meantime, Harper decides to get away from the city to a beautiful cabin in the middle of nowhere, although what she didn't expect was to meet Gabriel there, let alone share the cabin with him for the weekend.
It isn't long before sparks start to fly but with them both being strong and determined characters in their own right, they could let the opportunity of love and a future slip through their hands. Then again, sometimes they need a push in the right direction and someone to take a chance on them for a change.
A Christmas Kiss is a short yet sweet Christmas novel about second chances and the miscommunication that sometimes ends up to be the best thing that ever happened. With a beautiful cabin, electric chemistry and the season for magic to happen what could be more perfect!
Three Words
Magical, Hopeful and Festive.

OH I absolutely loved this book, it was a light and fun read. It kept my interest from beginning to end

A romance story set during Christmas - what more could I want?! I loved this book so much for the characters, the setting and the ROMANCE!!

I've never read any of Ms Hatlers books before but I really enjoyed the novella, and will read the rest of the books in this series. Perfect Christmas story xx

Two divorce lawyers on opposite sides of a case end up sharing a cabin in Tahoe. He wants her, she hates him but thinks he’s hot. Gee, wonder what’s gonna happen. . .
That wasn’t the only time I was less than surprised; there’s a line that goes, “I’d never been as happy as I was in that moment.” Yeah, that’s not ominous at all. . .
There’s some good stuff in here, with the protagonist constantly having to readjust her assumptions of him. . . although sometimes they’re more like rationalizations so she can feel okay about taking him to bed. In general the writing is good, with some pretty funny jokes. On the other hand, the line “I pulled my hair back into a French knot” appears four times in the first half off this novella.
As always in romance stories, lack of communication and erroneous assumptions lead to misunderstandings, causing anguish until everything can be explained at the end.
Cute, but nothing special.

A Christmas Kiss

A Christmas kiss is the latest in Susan Hatlers kissed in the bay series, and follows an unlikely love story between opposing council in a divorce case. Short and Sweet this novella was the perfect holiday romance to read over the festive season.

Feisty Harper doesn't believe in love and her career has made her even more jaded. With a client struggling with a messy divorce and her opposing council on the case Gabriel believing that love deserves a second chance protecting her clients best interest is not the easiest task. Smart and sexy Gabriel is the guy every girl wants emotionally supportive and believes in true love. Seeing the best in every situation he's determined to give both clients the opportunity to work through thief problems.

With the lawyers unable to find a middle ground the case is adjourned until after the holidays but with circumstances meaning Harper and Gabriel are unable to spend time with their families they both have to make alternate plans and fate decides that these 2 lawyers need to spend a little more time together 4 stars!

This comes across as a cute story about falling in love at Christmas. But, there are a couple of things that i found very annoying: the main character is a divorce lawyer and she is somewhat jaded due to events from her past and also her aunts. Not sure that I feel that convinced by the reasons. Also I found the couple who are wanting to get divorced (around whom the story revolves) really irritating. I can't believe that they would phone and expect to get action so close to Christmas...

That said, Gabriel seems lovely - good looking, reliable, thoughtful and knows his way around the kitchen...

Not a keeper, but an okay short read.

Cute short story about overcoming your past and second chances at love.

Two lawyers, two differing opinions, one cabins neither want to leave.

This is a fun, sweet novella that is full of Christmas magic and a wonderful man making it happen. A quick read that will make you smile.

3.5 rounding up for this book.

This book had me on a whole spectrum of feelings. From moments that I absolute loved to ones that were cute, to that was ok and all the way down to some moments bothering me. Overall it was a fun Christmas read with witty dialogue as the two MCs bantered back and forth. There was plenty of sparks flying, sparks of love and sparks of angry. Harper and Gabriel are both divorce attorneys who are each representing one side of a couple filing for divorce. This divorce fuels the fire throughout the book.

Both Harper and Gabriel have some emotional scars they are healing from. They have both taken moments in their lives where they were hurt and allowed either anger or healing to fuel them and turn their thoughts and personal opinions into what they are when the book opens. Heartbreak can be ugly and leave you feeling broken, alone, angry, resentful and a plethora of other similar emotions. Harper has definitely allowed herself to go down that line of feelings after a hard breakup. She allows those to guide her in her client's divorces.

Gabriel has watched his parent's love and marriage for years and realizes that it is possible to have a great relationship and that everyone should have a second chance. Sometimes those second chances work and sometimes they don't but then the couples will know for sure that it won't work and can end amiably instead of with anger. Yes he has had previous relationships that didn't work out which also spur his belief in second chances.

When these two meet to sign the final papers with their clients something very unexpected happens leaving both emotionally charged.

Harper decides to disappear from town and go last minute to spend Christmas with her aunt. Unfortunately her aunt is unavailable so she does the next best thing....grabs the chance to rent a cabin in Lake Tahoe from a friend and drives off to enjoy her solitude.

Yet her Christmas experience is not what she thought it would be. Why can't she stop thinking about Gabriel. He is completely wrong in his view points. Doesn't he know anything about relationships and love? If he did wouldn't he know that he's wrong? Yes he would...

Without giving too much away, let's just say that Harper is at odds with herself in her feelings towards Gabriel. Since it's in the little blurb about the book I won't be giving anything away saying this, Harper arrives at the cabin and finds it already occupied...yep I think you've guessed it (or probably know if you've read the blurb)...it's occupied, by none other than that man Gabriel Hart.

Ugh, he must leave, he has to leave....like now....like RIGHT NOW!!!!! But he refuses, she refuses and then we end up with two divorce attorneys with differing opinions staying together in a cabin over Christmas.

As I said it was a pretty fun read with lots of sparks flying. I really enjoyed the dynamics between Harper and Gabriel. I liked Gabriel's character a lot. Harper wasn't my absolute favorite but at the same time she had a lot of growth and development that she was working through. She had some pretty significant struggles from her childhood and life that really affected her. My thoughts are (one of the things that bugged me) that her main relationship she holds onto was many years before(or it feels like it but I think in all actuality with her age being told in the book that it really is only a couple years) and she holds onto it so tightly without ever allowing any peace or healing into her heart. I know, this story is what brings that about but I struggled with her mood swings(I think that's a good way to say it). One of the other things that bothered me was the married couple filing for divorce. I know why their story was in there and I know what point the author was making but the husband drove me bonkers...well, I think the wife did too. LOL. I really don't want to go into specifics because I don't want to spoil it. Maybe I shouldn't even say they bothered me because they really aren't the main focus of the story just a side part that gets our couples together and thinking.

Ok, maybe I shared a little too much info but even with the things that bothered me in the book I did enjoy it. It is a story about healing and love and hurt and loneliness and sorrow and forgiveness and LOVE(oops already said that didn't I ;-) ). Definitely about LOVE!

This was a clean read. A few steamy Christmas kisses(couldn't resist throwing that in there) but nothing else. An unmarried couple shares a cabin together but have separate sleeping areas and just kiss. I'd recommend it for older YA and up. This is part of a series but can be read separately. If you're interested the first book Every Little Kiss is available on Amazon for free.

I received a copy from Hatco Publishing, all thoughts and opinions in my review are definitely my own.

Happy Reading!!!

A Christmas Kiss
Kissed by the Bay, Book 5

The Characters:

Harper Avery: Might just be the most cynical woman in the world, next to yours truly. Love once handed her a bad hand and it is not easily forgiven.
Gabriel Hart: Believes in the magic that is love.

The Story:

This book wasn’t what I could call the bee’s knees, however it was sweet and sentimental if not a bit predictable.

The Random Thoughts:



3 Stars

While this is very short and definitely a case of insta-love, I enjoyed it immensely. The message of second chances being something we all need is a great one. I especially appreciated that the book is a clean read. This is a great book to fill a little reading time during the Christmas season.