Christmas Past by Mary Burton is a novella length romantic suspense story that is now being republished. Originally published in 2012 it once was part of a collection of four novellas from different authors. This one is a standalone story though that takes place at Christmastime.

Nicole Piper has spent the past year picking herself up and putting her life back together for not only herself but for her daughter. Nicole’s place now may not look like much but it’s hers and she’s proud she found the courage to leave her abusive ex-husband. But just when she thinks she’s finally got him out of her mind she receives a letter from his lawyer.

David Ayden is a homicide detective who is divorced himself and raising his boys on his own. David had met and fallen for Nicole as she was first getting her life back on track but Nicole wasn’ t ready then. When David hears that Nicole plans on seeing this lawyer looking for evidence from the past he insists on tagging along for protection.

Mary Burton did a wonderful job taking what feels like it could easily be one of her longer novel plots and working it into a novella length story. There was never really that moment I felt I missed anything since the past covers the relationship moving quickly and also the danger that befalls the characters. Great little quick read that mirrored the author’s other suspense novels.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Christmas Past was a quick reading novella in the genre of romantic thriller. The main character Nicole is the survivor of domestic abuse. Back story includes the fact that her husband was killed during an attempt to kill her. Even though he is dead, can the husband come back to finish the job? Enjoyable romp that can be a quick afternoon diversion.

Nicole has a violent past. She married a very charming man but discovered that beneath that charming exterior, he was physically abusive and controlling. She was afraid that eventually he would kill her ... leaving her no choice but to run and pray for safety.

Not realizing that she was pregnant until she was in hiding, she's turned all her love to her infant daughter.

She only breathes easily again when she receives a letter from an attorney and discovers that her husband has died. Evidently he left something for her .. and only her.

It's only when someone tries to kill her that she's afraid her past isn't as dead as she had hoped.

This is a novella of approximately 100 pages. It's a short read, but packed with suspense and action..... a page turner. The characters are finely drawn. Toss in a romance with explicit intimate moments and you get a terrific read.

Many thanks to the author / Kensington Books - Zebra / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

You thought that you were free. Nicole has just made it through the last year but she can't get past the feeling of not been free. Her husband is dead but he is still coming after her from the grave. Will she ever be free? David knows that he still loves Nicole but he won't push her he hopes that she find her way back to him. So when she comes to him with a message from her murdering husband he knows that he will do anything for her? Will she be able to put the past behind her for good or will she never be left in peace? A good read. I was lucky enough to receive a copy from netgalley and the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.

I have to say, when I first started reading Christmas Past, I was a bit confused thinking there must have been a previous book because there was so much that had happened previously to the main character. But, the author did do a good job keeping up the backstory throughout the whole book.
Christmas Past will grab your attention right from the beginning. Nicole is a single mother who had been in an abusive marriage and is trying to put the past behind her. When she receives a note from her dead husband, she enlists the help of a detective, David Ayden.
I received the arc of Christmas Past from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author, Mary Burton, for this opportunity.

Christmas Past is a novella that is a more thriller/romance than a Christmas story but rather set against the backdrop of the holidays. The description wasn't very clear that this was a continuation of characters from previous stories but Burton easily catches up readers on the past that links single mom Nicole to handsome detective David.

Nicole thought she was free of the past and from her vicious husband. When a mysterious letter reaches her, a chain of events is set into place that has Nicole facing the past once more-but this time with her baby daughter to protect. Can Nicole beat her ex-husband at his game? If you like thrillers/crime based books you will enjoy this read.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Boom! Mary Burton has done it again. 🎤 drop
*****
This book will be released 29 October!! Preorder it now! ******
Overall Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kindle Unlimited: unknown
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Bells-Mary-Burton-ebook/dp/B07NCPW51M
******
Grab a drink (it’s Screwball Peanut Butter whiskey for me tonight ❤️), a warm blanket and get ready for a Christmas story Mary Burton style. .
For a novella, this book packed a punch. David and Nicole/Christina are a wonderful set of MCs. David was strong, kind, and very patient, Nicole has had to do a great deal of healing and might be willing to give David a chance. Of course that would be the easy story, and even in this short book there are no shortcuts.
.
Christmas Past has an evil 👿 ex that is about to tilt Nicole’s world upside down, a suspenseful story, and an insta love 💕-ish relationship, and even a little bit of heat 🔥🔥. The insta love 💕 worked for me because there was history for the pair and I knew going in this was a quick read.
.
I always one click Mary Burton’s books and this one is no different! Don’t just grab this one but hit her back list because if you like edgy, gritty, psychologically twisted, romantic suspense this is the author for you. Do I recommend? Sure do! Be sure to pick this up on Tuesday!
*****
#bookstagrammer #bookstagram #romanticsuspense #ChristmasPast
#MaryBurton #Netgalley
******
I was provided a copy of this book by Netgalley for an honest review.

I love Mary, have read all of her books and was very excited to get an ARC of this one. On thing I usually love about her books is that while they are romantic suspense, they are heavier on the suspense. This one began as suspense, but quickly became more about the romance. It was still a quick, enjoyable read and I was not bored, by any means. Not really a Christmas story though. I would recommend this.

Thank you to Mary Burton, NetGalley and Kensington books for the ARC.

I’ve become a huge fan of Mary Burton in the last year, so when I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, to read and review I See You in advance of publication, I eagerly accepted. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

Christmas Past is another spin chilling romantic thriller with plenty of action. The pacing is fast as with most novels in this sub-genre. This book does have a twist that isn’t normally in Mary Burton’s books. The heroine has an infant child, which makes the heroine a nurturer.

Nicole Piper is a wonderful heroine. I fell in love with her from the start. My heart ached for what she went through with her late husband. Her fear is palpable when she receives a letter from her dead husband eighteen months after his death. I love that she turns to David Ayden for help.

David Ayden’ character is a warrior who will protect his loved ones with his life. He understands a mother’ love because he’s the father of two boys. He’s a patient man, and his willingness to accept whatever Nicole is ready for, even though he wants so much more.

The romance between Nicole and David is sweet. Even when it heats up, David lets Nicole take the lead. The chemistry between them is sensuous and lovely. I truly wanted them to find their happy ending.

If you enjoy romances with plenty of nail-biting action, and a villain that will send chills down your spine, then you will love Christmas Past as much as I did. Mary Burton never disappoints, and I always know I’m in for an exciting read. Happy reading!

This novella was a wee bit slow and never seemed to get up to speed. It would have been better as a novel with depth to it.

Unfortunately this one just didn't do it for me at all. I didn't get that shock I expect in a thriller ... felt more like a romance. More sex scenes than twists and turns. The writing was well done but the storyline fell short for me.

This is a rerelease of a Mary Burton novella, so you will recognize some characters if you have read some of her other work. This story focuses on Nicole and David and is coming in a later into their story. They have known each other for some time by now and this is the story of their HEA. There are characters from the Richmond series and I believe this is where we first meet Charlotte Wellington from the Alexandria series. Even though there is some of the classic Mary Burton romantic suspense flair, I think I just prefer novels to novellas. The format just leaves me wanting more from a story. That being said, this is now the 20th story I have read from Mary Burton. She is one of my favorite authors and I will pretty much read anything she releases. :)

Nicole is still running from her past. Her dead husband tried to kill her and even in the grave is taunting her. David is a detective who fell for Nicole and her daughter when he met her but Nicole is not ready for any commitment.
Thank you for the ARC copy NetGalley and Mary Burton.

I found this book to be really slow and a tad boring. It wasn't until the last 3 chapters that any type of excitement started happening.

Christmas Past is a fast and engaging read, where at least I ended up rooting for Nicole considering her background. I only wish this was a full-length novel rather than a novella, as the plot was interesting and complex enough that it could have benefited from some extra pages.

Overall an excellent suspense novella with characters familiar to Burton's readers. The pace of the plot and the depth of character development were will keep even a reader unfamiliar with Burton's writing and characters intrigued. The writing is consistent with few errors in grammar and substance. Some readers may be mildly bothered by Burton's interchanging of first and last names for characters; reference to a character by last name only and then first name only may be initially confusing.

This starts as a thriller and turns into a romance so be prepared for the mystery part to downshift as things heat up between Nicole and David. She's finally moving on, more or less, since the death of her abusive husband and then a video turns up in which he sets up a cat and mouse game. David, a homicide detective, goes with her but then he also turns into a hot love interest. It's a quick read (it's a novella after all) and while it's not especially Christmas-y, it's set during the season. Thanks to net galley for the ARC.

I expected a romantic suspense set during the Christmas season. The novella was good but I felt as if I were missing something more detailed to the story. I would consider this suspense with steamy romance thrown in. And there really not much about Christmas so it's not your typical feel good holiday book.

* I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.. It was my own decision to read and review this book.

If you like thrillers, romance, and Christmas - this is the book for you! I didn't realize that this story was connected to other ones when I got it- and even though it does stand alone, I would have preferred to read at least the preceding book first. this book also needs a serious content warning for physical and mental abuse. Nicole's former husband was a terrible and terrifying man. She has bounced back pretty amazingly - and even with her fear still holding on to a part of her life - she is still moving forward and loving her baby girl and friends. She had also clearly started down a path towards a relationship with David - but didn't move forward past being friends because she still needed to heal and wasn't ready for anything more than that.

When her husband takes aim at her again, this time from beyond the grave, she is in some serious danger. Luckily David (a homicide detective) insists on going with her to face the issue that comes up. Nicole and David quickly fall back into the place they left off. David wants forever - but Nicole is only willing to commit to right now.

I really liked both David and Nicole. Nicole was tough, but vulnerable after surviving hell. David is definitely an alpha - but also a good good man.

I was actually surprised how fast this book read - and how engrossed I was in the story. I think if I had read the book that came before it - it probably would have been a five star read for me!

I received this book as an ARC from Net galley, but these opinions are all my own.

Christmas Past is a very fast paced, action packed novella. Perfect for people who want to get into reading again or who doesn't have time for a full length book.

Nicole Piper barely escaped out of an abusive marriage. With her baby and new name she is determined to rebuild her life and is slowly starting to make name again as a photographer. Her husband died nearly 2 years before and cannot hurt her anymore.......or can he? She receives an unsettling package and together with Homicide Sergeant David Ayden she goes on a hunt for the truth.
True to form you can expect some romance and it's always good to know that the good guy gets the girl.
I found it a fast and fun read.

Thank you to @Netgalley and @@Kensingtonbooks for the ARC in exchange for a honest review

I love Mary Burton Stories she is able to bring the dark and light to her stories but this one feels forced, the characters fall flat and lacks the suspense that usually Mary Burton is known for. While the story is a short story/Novella it lacks story that is engaging from her past books.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of Mary Burton Christmas Past.