This is a sweet, low angst story that is full of holiday spirit. The characters in the story quickly drew me in and had me wanting to know what was going to happen next. Two people who are completely opposite find themselves drawn to each other and it works well. I enjoyed following along on these characters journey as they found their way toward each other.

Better Not Pout is Annabeth Albert's newest sexy, holiday romance. I love the holidays so I was extra excited for this. What can go wrong with a grumpy, sexy Santa and a fun, flirty elf? Well, ripped pants, bitter cold and a snow storm, that's what. Sergeant Major Nicholas Nowicki is only doing this as a favor. He's not a big fan of Christmas or the cold weather. But, he's loyal and he keeps his word. It can't be that bad. Until he meets Teddy. The man who runs the Helping Hand Resource Center and he loves his job, his town, his family and the holidays. They are complete opposites. Teddy and his wild curly, blond hair and overall cheerful demeanor and Nick with his military police attitude, giant muscles and his grouchy attitude. Oh, and the age difference. Teddy's twenty-eight to Nick's forty-six (YES!). Teddy could care less about the age difference, but Crankypants Santa thinks he's too old for Teddy. He's retiring and moving to Florida in a month and Teddy has his whole life ahead of him. But the snowstorm has Nick trapped with Teddy and he's not as strong as he thinks he is. Teddy is just too cute, sexy and appealing and Nick can't hold out for long. But can they just do casual until Nick leaves? What happens if feelings get involved? I loved this story! It's a fast, sexy, funny story that had me laughing, fanning myself, smiling and wanting to put up my Christmas decorations!

Warm, romantic, and festive!

Better Not Pout is a sweet, tender, captivating novel that features the kindhearted, fun-loving Teddy, and the grouchy, mature Nick as they discover that the heart wants who the heart wants, and sometimes opposites really do attract.

The writing is heartfelt and comforting. The characters are winsome, dependable, and genuine. And the lighthearted plot is a charming mix of undeniable attraction, sizzling chemistry, Christmas celebrations, charity, patience, understanding, new journeys, and taking chances.

Overall, Better Not Pout is a delightfully merry, passionate, humorous tale that reminds us that the holiday season is truly a time for family, magic, love, and giving.

PICK - Reading Annabeth Albert always feels like coming home, which is appropriate since her latest holiday romance features a social worker in love with his hometown and a military cop who's always been afraid to settle anywhere. Y'all know their relationship helps them both redefine their ideas of home, even as they revel in the magic of the holiday season (my fave!) and explore their intense chemistry. I enjoyed it very much.

this was adorable.. it was interesting and well written and just sweet. lol plus its christmas.. awwww... a good sweet fluffy christmas story lol. i enjoyed this.. the characters are amazing.. their emotions are real and raw.. and the storyline is very well done. i enjoyed it

My first holiday read for the year, and boy was it a good one!

Teddy first meets Nick when they have to spend some time together for a Santa and elf holiday photo shoot. To Nick, Teddy is everything that he is not - young, vibrant, full of pep and life. Nick sees himself as someone getting ready to be put out to pasture. he is retiring from the military and doesn't quite know what to do with himself. He plans on moving from NY to Florida to help a friend out and to enjoy the sun, sand, and beach.

Both knowing that any time they spend together has a clear expiration date, Teddy and Nick still give in to their attraction. And boy, these two brought the heat! Nick is 46 I believe, and Teddy is 28? So CHECK for a sexy age gap romance. And Nick is also all muscle, huge, and towers over Teddy. Can I just say yum? I love how Nick was so aware of his size and making sure he didn't accidentally hurt Teddy, but Teddy just wanted Nick to unleash on him.

I really loved the writing in this, and I loved the characters and all the feels - and there were a lot of them in this story. Both were self-sacrificing - Nick wanting to let Teddy find someone who would give him everything in life, and Teddy wanting Nick to be happy in sunny Florida and find whatever happiness he could. But I love that they both realized that they could compromise, and that being together was worth it.

Definitely recommend this story for a feel good, sexy, emotional Christmas story!

I received an arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dual POV with a delicious age gap, hot sex, feels, and a very happy ending.

It took me a bit to get into it, but once I did, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

I loved how Nick and Teddy had similar character-forming experiences in their childhood and how it made them able to relate on a deeper level.

Terrific holiday read!

This is a really lovely, sexy, holiday themed opposites attract romance! Teddy is a sweet, small town man with a large, loving family and a caring heart. Nick is a gruff, quiet, lonely, soon to be ex-military officer. Stuck playing Santa to Teddy's elf, Nick finds himself rethinking his retirement plans.

There's a 10+ year age difference between them and that's at the heart of their conflict, as Nick thinks Teddy deserves someone younger and has already experienced a breakup with a younger man. Their love scenes are super sexy, but just as important is the friendship they develop. Nick worries about feeling useful once his retirement comes through, and with Teddy's help, sees a better future than he'd imagined. I picked this one up without even reading the blurb, based on my enjoyment of the author's previous books and I made the right decision!

This review will be posted at sale sites during release week.

This is the first Christmas book of the season for me, and what a perfect way to start getting in the holiday mood. This story hit all the marks: it was sweet and sappy and sexy at the same time, and made me just want to curl up by the fire and watch the snow outside.

I’m a huge Annabeth Albert fan, and I love her hot SEAL men. This book felt like a little detour from the Out of Uniform series that I am used to, but I gobbled it up just the same. Instead of a man balancing the life of an elite soldier with his romantic interests, we have someone that is at the end of their military career trying to make peace with the change of pace and settling down.

With retirement from the military looming ahead, Nick has a plan to move from his current base in (basically) Siberia, USA to Florida, and work with a friend in a fishing venture. That is until he is coerced into playing Santa in the town. And meets Santa’s helper, Teddy the Elf. And soon, despite his protests, he can’t imagine life without Teddy.

Teddy and Nick are about as opposite as two people can be. Nick is retiring from his first career and Teddy is starting his. Nick is a bear of a man while Teddy is lithe. Nick is the eternal realist, set in his ways. Teddy is cheerful, optimistic and outgoing. There is nothing these two have in common, other than their attraction to one another. But it works. They are the missing parts that makes the other whole, and they just fit together like the piece of the puzzle that the other didn’t realize they were lacking. The times they spent with Teddy’s loud and crazy family were so endearing and the sex scenes were hot enough to melt though the snow that was always blanketing the town.

I loved this book, not just as a holiday story, but as a tale of falling in love with someone who makes you a better person. In Teddy, Nick got a family, a town, a home and a second chance to do what he loved, and I got to go along for the ride.

I’m not going to lie, I was scared at the beginning of this book…I didn’t like “Sergeant Major Nowicki” very much at all when we first meet him. He really rubbed me the wrong way. I should have known I could count on Ms. Albert to make it work because I ended up liking him quite a bit when Teddy got him to thaw and be not so Grinch like.

Not only are they opposites in personality, they are pretty much opposites in most every way. Nick gets (Tazmanian Devil) Teddy to slow down and take a breath. Teddy helps Nick enjoy life…he helps him really live instead of grump about and just march through life. Nick is a hulk of a man where Teddy is more lithe. Teddy enjoys the winters in New York, Nick wants to be where the sun always shines. Teddy comes from a loud, boisterous, loving family who seem to all live in the same town. Nick has a sister and mother he rarely sees and they have trouble being in the same room.

All that being said, they work perfectly together. Their banter is entertaining, they are adorable with each other and they have scorching hot sexual chemistry. It takes them a minute to figure out what they want out of life…individually and together but these guys started my holiday reading off just right!

Rating: 5 stars out of 5



One hard-nosed military police officer.

One overly enthusiastic elf.

One poorly timed snowstorm.

Is it a recipe for disaster? Or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for holiday romance?

Teddy MacNally loves Christmas and everything that goes along with it. When he plays an elf for his charity’s events, he never expects to be paired with a Scrooge masquerading as Santa Claus. His new mission: make the holiday-hating soldier believe he was born to say ho-ho-ho.

Sergeant Major Nicholas Nowicki doesn’t do Santa, but he’s army to his blood. When his CO asks an unusual favor, Nick of course obliges. The elf to his Kris Kringle? Tempting. Too tempting—Nick’s only in town for another month, and Teddy’s too young, too cheerful and too nice for a one-night stand.

The slow, sexy make-out sessions while Teddy and Nick are alone and snowbound, though, feel like anything but a quick hookup. As a stress-free holiday fling turns into Christmas all year round, Teddy can’t imagine his life without Nick. And Nick’s days on the base may be coming to a close, but he doesn’t plan on leaving anything, or anyone, behind.

Ahhhhh....the holiday spirit is in the air! I'm getting the hankering to set a fire, toast some chestnuts, grab a hot toddy, and look out the window for the first sprinkling of snowflakes! Never mind that our leaves just started turning colors and the tricker or treaters barely had the door slammed on them. Nope, feeling all  holiday and Christmassy here.  Why?  Because Annabeth Albert's story, Better Not Pout, has left me feeling that way!  That's why!

Next I'll be hearing jingle bells up on the roof.  Laughing.

With this marvelous, heartwarming story, characters guaranteed to make you laugh, make you love and yearn for family, and everything that the holidays can bring up in your heart and memories, the author has jump started my Christmas and holiday season.

Sergeant Major Nicholas Nowicki?  A hard case that comes under the spell of Teddy the man with a  huge heart in elf h gear and a town that seems full of people all named MacNally.    I was under this town's and Teddy's spell myself, that's how real Albert makes them all.

It's a slow burn relationship for Nic but he's the only one.  For Teddy and the reader the slide into love is quick and permanent.  I could have stayed with this couple and town for the longest of times.  Definitely past New Year's.

It's the writing that's so well done.  We feel like we know all these people.  The ones in trouble and needing Teddy's assistance, all the many family members, all the situations that Teddy and Nic find themselves in, the snow, the tentative path towards a relationship, and finally, the love.

Yes, this is an excellent story for the holidays.  Or anytime of the year.

Grab it up, a warm blanket or two, get all snuggly and prepared to be transported into the snow, and the town where Christmas and love is alive and well and waiting for two men so very much in need of it.

And yes, I highly recommend this story.

Cover art is not credited but it's adorable and a great representation of the characters. Love it

This book is absolutely amazing like all annabeths books. I loved the characters and the plot line and how even though it was not a military book she still worked it in there.

What a lovely 4.5 star story! :)
It starts off with Nick as a grumpy, older, soon to retire Sgt Major and ends with a big softie retired soldier. The reason for the thaw? The pretty irrepressible Teddy.
The writing is great. I loved the humour and was pleasantly surprised how well Ms. Albert avoided the common cliches and stereotypes used for bigger/smaller men pairings. I loved how the relationship between Nick and Teddy grew - the friendship/emotional part slowly, the lust/attraction fast - the 2 aspects morphed into something deep that Nick was a little too stubborn to acknowledge -at first (men!)
This is great read for any time of the year!

I was provided an ARC. My opinions are my own with no expectations.

Tis the season for Christmas stories! And for me there is no better way than with a book by one of my favorite authors.

This story deviated from her norm in that it was set in upstate NY (not the Pacific Northwest or San Diego) and it featured an Army MP (not a Navy Seal). And it was adorable.

Nick is in his last month of active duty as an Army mp before he retires. Sounds like he was pushed into retirement, but I don't think it was ever explained why. And without giving anything away, the events surrounding the tragedy in Nick's family was never really explained either. Small details most probably won't notice.

Teddy runs a non-profit in his home town. A hometown that seems to be overrun by his extended family. Nick is persuaded to help Teddy and the non profit by dressing as Santa for some pictures and other events leading up to Christmas.

To say Nick and Teddy are polar opposites is putting it mildly. Nick is super grumpy, minimalistic, isn't close to his family and doesn't care about the holidays. And he much prefers sun and surf to snow and ice. Teddy is a do-gooder, perpetually happy, is ridiculously close to his family and adores the holidays.

I loved Teddy's confidence. He puts himself out there with Nick and when he is turned down he doesn't get all mopey and feeling sorry for himself. He just continues on. The way he slowly insinuated himself into Nick's life as a friend was super cute.

And then they did get together and wow. That would melt the snow on the roof.

I appreciated that the book included Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve in the story line. It was a fairly happy, low angst book with all of the holiday and family feels.

4+ Stars

There’s something endearing about a gruff island kind of military man play boisterous Father Christmas. And when a sassy, too young and too cheerful Charity Director played his elf for the event is added to the mix, the result is something beyond adorable! Moreover when there’s age gap between the characters of such contrasting personalities!

Annabeth Albert’s latest writing paired Sergeant Major Nicholas Nowicki and Teddy MacNally in “Better Not Pout” a standalone set in Mineral Spirit, a (fictional) small town in upstate New York. It’s such a sweet and charming holiday romance that would warm one’s heart that I couldn’t help but fell for both characters and consequently the story in general. Not to mention there’s a generous portion of humor dotted here and there, giving “Better Not Pout” a soul and draw reader to devour the characters’ journey.

I truly enjoyed the interaction between Nick and Teddy (Teddy’s endless nickname for Nick were the stuff of giggle: Sergeant Major Stuffy Butt, Sergeant Major Santa, Sergeant Major Bossy Pants...) and how their POVs illustrated their opposite personalities well. The one trait they shared - the ingrained stubbornness to stick to their plan - was both a pain and attribute to story development. After a sort of unhurried pace the majority of the book, the end did feel a bit of a dash to me. But heck, overall “Better Not Pout” just delivered that satisfied-smile-after-reading and lifted-up the mood! And look at that cute cover; aren’t they just adorable there? I couldn’t recommend this book enough!!


Advanced copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I completely enjoyed Better Not Pout. Annabeth Albert is one of my favorite authors and her books never fail to blow me away. Teddy was almost too wholesome at first and then he surprised me with a large backbone and a great deal of determination. Nick at first seemed too old for Teddy but somewhere in the middle of the book they just plain clicked and the age difference was immaterial, The chemistry was there but it was the connection that was the glue to this relationship, A great holiday read with a great plot and substance. Though they were together a short time it never felt like insta love. I highly recommend this book.

Love this Christmas story, It was sweet, funny, and sexy at the same time. Annabeth always writes tremendous books and this one didn't 'disappoint. You can tell Teddy and Nick are opposites but they are the perfect couple.
You can tell they have a great connection from start to finish.
I love Teddy's family they had me laughing out loud, and I was smiling the entire time I was reading it. The book seems so real even though it's fiction. Looking forward to the next book.

Better Not Pout by Annabeth Albert is why I love holiday reads.



Feel good + grumpy Santa + loving Elf + Snowstorm + hot chemistry + Annabeth Albert = WINNER.

What I loved:

-Opposites attract. Nick and Teddy had completely different personalities but complimented each other well.

-Dual POVs

-Relationship development. Their feelings going from casual to serious felt very natural and genuine. They were perfect for one another in and out of the bedroom, and we were shown this throughout the book.

-Teddy. Although I loved both main characters, Teddy truly stole my heart. His giving nature and maturity made me wish he was real.

-Age gap. What I wrote for opposites attract would apply here as well- despite their age difference (46 and 28) these two clicked. Teddy came at a time in Nick's life where his old life was ending, and a new journey begins.

-Chemistry: smoking hot.

-And the end was warm fuzzy goodness.

Any negatives?NONE.

Do I recommend this? Hell, yeah!

5 Stars

Loved it!

4.5 cute Christmas stars

This book was love at first chapter.

We have a broody, grumpy Santa Sergeant Major Nicholas - Saint Nick and a cute Elf with a heart of gold named Teddy who is all about positive vibes.

Mix these two polar opposites, Grumpy Santa and bubbly Elf together and we get one big explosive Christmas romance.

Like Teddy, i love Christmas and this book provided the right recipe for a feel good holiday book.

Teddy loves Christmas and is tasked to play an Elf in one of his charity events. He is paired with the Grumpy Santa nicknamed Saint Nick, and Teddy makes it his mission to help grumpy Santa love the holiday too. I enjoyed the wooing part, from the get go, these two had some major chemistry going on. I loved how Teddy slowly broke down Nick's not so permanent walls.

The romance was so well done. The slow-burn , the build up and everything in between was so romantic.

The kisses! damn the Kisses! oh my i loved them, these two had some hot panty melting makeout sessions and the sex was hot too and well balanced throughout the story.

Teddy's family provided a solid supporting characters, loved them all and also Nick's sister and her family were a nice addition to the story.

Overall it was a sweet Christmas read and i really loved it.

Highly Recommended when you are in the mood for a feel good holiday story.

ARC kindly received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

This was such a sweet holiday love story! It really got me into the spirit! Nick and Teddy are definitely the “odd” couple from the start but AnnaBeth really draws the reader to see things from both men’s perspective. I loved the Christmas-y theme with the Santa and Elf jobs. It had all the necessary elements, and I would recommend.

Set in upstate New York, Teddy lives in a small town and runs the community center. They meet as Nick, about to retire from MP, does his commanding officer a favor by playing santa as her husband is unable. Sparks ensure but with the large age gap, and kicks plans to head south to Florida the future is uncertain.

I loved that teddy was a Bignotti personality and didn’t back down! All around seeet read!