Unleashed by Donna Kauffman is a short and sweet Christmas holiday romance. I like my books with a bit more steam but overall not a bad read.

Ok this was my first book by this author. Not sure why the title is such... it made me think it there was some force or spirit or power that was going to be unleashed... It's just passion and feelings I guess. And while not OTT like some novellas, this couple fell rather fast for each other and there wasn't much challenge for them to go through together so this feels waaaaay light. So still insta-lust/love with more pacing and less heat. I do like Trevor and Emma and for a novella, they're personalities are clear in my mind.

Wonder what the rest of the series is like...

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of the book.

4 out of 5 stars
Cute short romance with a touch of dogs and mystery
By Maggie on October 24, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
This is the first in a series of cute, warm, quirky novellas by Donna Kauffman. This author is definitely a winner, as is the series. There's your basic snowstorm, old house, sexy hunk, unique heroine, two dogs, bird and mystery. All in 100 pages. Perhaps a few more pages would have allowed the author to develop the mystery a bit better, but then, there's two more books in the series!

Fun little novella. Story progresses quickly. Perfect for a quick, easy, fun read. Hope to read more by this author soon.

I thought Unleashed was funny, sweet, mysterious and romantic. I couldn’t put it down. I love a happy ending and while this book is a whole and complete novel I’m happy to say the mystery part continues in future novels. I have found an author I’ll continue to be on the look out for future titles! Thank to Donna Kauffman, her publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Unleashed!

Unleashed was a great quick read that I read by the fireplace during one of the rare cold days we've had. It was the perfect book for such a moment because while quick to read, it had mystery, romance, and dogs. I'm not sure which I love more but what I am sure of is that Donna Kauffman can do no wrong in my book. (Pun intended) I recommend this but if it's your first read of hers, try one of her longer books that isn't from an anthology. I loved this but the shortness doesn't lend itself to intense character development that I think Donna is so wonderful at.

Emma Lafferty is pet sitting/house sitting for billionaire, Lionel Hamilton while he is away during the Christmas holiday season. After a nerve wracking drive through an ice storm, she finally arrives at the Hamilton mansion. She takes care of her pet charges and starts to explore the mansion when she encounters Hamilton’s great nephew, Trevor, who has “visited” his uncle’s home in search of information.

The storm increases in intensity and Trevor, who had planned to find the information he was seeking and leave, is stranded with Emma. Suffice it to say they are attracted to each other.

I enjoyed this lighthearted Christmas story and I recommend it to anyone who likes a sweet romance with a little bit of mystery.

I liked this book. It was a good start to holiday reading. Also loved the pets and the little bit of mystery that went a long with it.

Unleashed was a good short read. A strangers to lovers, insta love story between Emma and Trevor that actually had some depth at times. Good for an afternoon read that is good but isn’t just fluff.

Unleashed is the first novella in the Hamilton Christmas series (previously published in the To All a Good Night anthology). Sweet, funny and sexy, overall a great short read that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you’re looking for a great, short Christmas romance to fill in your day, then Unleashed is perfect so go grab it and start reading.

Unleashed by Donna Kauffman is a great Christmas novella. It was a quick read, but the story was so well written, that is was a pleasure to read. Trevor and Emma’s relationship started quickly and was fully developed quickly but felt believable. It was a fun story involving cute pets, a bit of mystery, and finding love. I liked it and happily recommend it.

I read this story years ago when it was published in an anthology. I think back and this book might be my introduction to Donna Kauffman. If you haven’t read any of her works I hope you pick this book up. If you are a fan and haven’t read this story please do. If you have read it, rereading will remind you why you liked it before.

A fun short read that is the perfect read this holiday season. Emma has been hired to pet sit for a billionaire businessman during the holiday season. Looking for a quite time until she meets Trevor, the nephew of her client. Trevor has arrived to do some exploring on his own, not expecting Emma to be there. Soon a blizzard develops, so both are stranded there and a connection develops between the two.

This is a reprint, first published as part of the To All a Good night anthology. This is the first book in the Hamilton collection. A fun holiday read that I recommend during this busy holiday season.

I thought this book was very good . I always enjoy this authors books and highly recommend them.. The characters are very strong and the ending was very good definite;y not expected in the beginning.

First off, this short Christmas novella was originally published in the Christmas anthology To All A Good Night along with Jill Shalvis and HelenKay Dimon in 2009… I mention this up front because it is possible you have this story. I happen to love the fact that authors can re-release their novellas from anthologies after a certain time frame as individual stories… but I, personally, want to know if I might already have bought it, back then.

I had fun with Unleashed, and if you love pets, a touch of a mystery and a good old fashioned Christmas Romance then I’m pretty sure you will, too. Because it is a short novella I’m also going to be brief in talking about it. Simply put, Emma has changed careers to do what she truly loves which is taking care of pets. She has the chance for a great recommendation, as well as possible future work by taking on a house/pet sitting job for one very wealthy client. What she didn’t expect was to find her client’s great-nephew also in residence searching for… something. Or being snowbound with adorable dogs, one talkative parrot and one sexy as sin male. This job is about to get interesting – and just might lead to a life time of Happy Christmases.

Unleashed is light, it’s funny, it’s definitely sexy and simply… so much fun. If you’re looking for a quick, satisfying Christmas romance to fit in between all those holiday activities, then Unleashed is perfect.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Unleashed By Donna Kauffman is my favorite type of story. Not because it's put out as a Christmas story or a contemporary romance, but because the characters just have such a strong connection almost from the start.
That said, Emma and Trevor weren't obnoxious or sappy about their attraction to each other. Trevor knew there was something special about Emma from the start and he wasted no time acting on his attraction to her. Kauffman was smart enough to give Emma a backbone. She didn't fall at Trevor's feet--far from it. She questioned him and demanded his honesty. Their growing respect for each other added to the sexual encounters and made this a totally swoon worthy read for me.
If you enjoy this novella, you should try Kauffman's Halfmoon Harbor. It hit me the same way--directly in the heart. I loved them both!

Unleashed by Donna Kauffman

Unleashed by Donna Kauffman is the first book/novella romance in the Hamilton Christmas series. This story was originally published in the To All a Good Night anthology but is being republished as part of it's own Christmas collection. Each book in the series can be read as standalone stories with each featuring a different set of main characters.

Donna Kauffman has done it again. She has created another set of characters who are likeable, funny, full of their own insecurities and in need of love. The story is very touching and enjoyable. Obviously being a novella the story is fast paced. This is definitely a nice Christmas interlude. If you are looking forward to a few hours snatched away enjoying a good book in the midst of the holiday hecticness this is the book for you.

I am looking forward to the next in the Hamilton Series “Lock, Stock and Jingle Bells”.

I would like to thank Donna Kauffman, Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Donna Kauffman is a new author and what better place to start than with her new Hamilton Christmas Novella Trilogy after finishing this quick read I have to ask why she hasn’t crossed my radar before now and make no mistake I will be reading the other two books in this series plus I will be looking at other books by her.
Pet sitter Emma Laffererty is expecting a quiet Christmas looking after a billionaire CEO’s pets which consist of two dogs and a very talkative parrot what she didn’t expected was to get snowed in at the mansion with not only the pets but with Trevor Hamilton the sexy great nephew........
The temperature may be dropping outside but inside the temperature is soaring with an instant attraction for each other and nothing but roaring fires to keep themselves occupied the setting is set for a perfect romantic holiday interlude......
Christmas is my favourite time of year and I love Christmas romances and this one did not disappoint and I’m looking forward to reading the other books in the trilogy.

I received an ARC for an honest review.
A great holiday story about Emma and Trevor. Emma is a hired pet sitter for Trevor's wealthy uncle. She needs to go to his mountain getaway in the midst of some bad weather. Trevor shows up with a mission in mind to settle a family mystery he feels so strongly about. Well, love gets in the way and becomes way more important for him. In seeking his past, he found his future!

In Unleashed by Donna Kauffman, Emma is hired as Lionel’s live in pet/house sitter 2 weeks while he’s out of the country and his staff is given a holiday. She arrives in the middle of an ice storm and after taking care of the immediate needs of the animals decides to go exploring in the massive mansion. She gets totally turned around and while trying to figure her way around she bumps into Trevor, Lionel’s nephew. The ice storm is too much for the power and everything goes dark. By the next morning Emma knows why Trevor is there and they both realize that they want to be together forever.
A lovely story about falling in love and accepting ones family no matter what.