I enjoyed this holiday themed novella! Zoe takes delight in planning her co-owned bookshelf displays exactly as she wants them, even if they make her uptight new neighbour Preston disapprove. An early misunderstanding however soon gives way to a friendship and an outlet for the attraction they feel for one another. Combined with the holidays, it's a fun and enjoyable read with a satisfying happy ending.

One Christmas Eve
Cedar Street, Book 2

I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series

Media Type: Digital
Source: Netgalley
Dates Read: 10/7/21 - 10/25/21
Stars: 3.5 Stars

The Characters:

Zoe Randall:
Preston Wheeler:
Carly, Noah, Joe

The Story:

A very cute enemies to lovers/opposites attract story. Zoe and Preston have tons of chemistry. Too bad they were too wrapped up in their own perceived shortcomings to get together sooner.


The Random Thoughts:

I've enjoyed Shannon Stacey's other series and I was hoping to love One Christmas Eve. I tried to read it last year and paused it 40% of the way through. Since I haven't picked it up again, it's going to be a DNF for me. I may try again during the holidays when I'm in the right mood.

The cousins are back and Zoe is on a mission… one that just might change her life in ways she never imagined. This series picks up shortly after Noah and Carly’s love story, returning us to the lives of the Randall girls and giving us a glimpse of the happy couple as Carly’s cousin Zoe finds herself faced with some challenges and decisions over the holidays. I love a good holiday story and this one is filled with all my favorite motifs for the holidays but the most important one being love of course. Zoe is the cousin with a chip on her shoulder for sure, so when her new business neighbor complains about her sexy Halloween window display is means war. Preston has finally fled the big city in hopes of living a calm and sedate life in her new small town, but on the very day he opens his new business he inadvertently begins a war with his sexy new neighbor. Soon they are butting heads not only in person, but digitally and with notes left around their businesses. But when they are forced to accept that they may have gotten off on the wrong foot, they both begin to see that there is more to their war than anger, the teasing and flirting undertones have made the war even more interesting and as Preston and Zoe really get into the spirit of the holidays their friendship becomes more. But they both have so much to lose if they let their feelings become more, so are they willing to let go of their fears and allow that love to grow or will they walk away from the best thing to ever happen to either of them? Zoe is a woman that I can fully relate to, a woman on the defensive, one trained that ever word out of someone’s mouth should be assumed as negative, mostly because I’m the same way. Her last relationship left some serious scars so when Preston pulls at them; he is instantly disliked before she ever gets a chance to really know him. But as she accepts more and more that she might have been wrong about him, she learns that she could not only come to like this man but lose her heart to him forever if she allows herself that freedom. I loved seeing Zoe release the walls around her heart finally and find a way to trust again, even with the fears that she would be hurt. She is the kind of woman I want to grow up to be when I find the courage to let go. Preston is the kind of guy that has been kicked by snotty women a few too many times and like any abused animal he protects himself by withdrawing from the field. I was so sad to see the way he was willing to let go of something he wanted so badly in order to keep himself from getting hurt by Zoe, even though she had never shown any inclination to do so, but being gun-shy after being dumped one too many times is understandable. I loved seeing these two pull one another out of their personal abysses and find a way to come to terms with their pasts together, showing that sometimes the whole truly is more than the combined parts. The passion between Zoe and Preston was apparent even when they were only throwing shade at one another, but once the good stuff got going and their relationship shifted the heat was enough to melt all the snow in New England. I am wondering if there will be more in the series because I would certainly be interested in seeing more of these two cousins again and seeing how they are faring with their men and their happy new lives. Another great story Ms. Stacey.

So fun! Cute, romantic, short and sweet, once again Shannon Stacey did not disappoint. Loved the scene, cozy bookstore, boring office. Two wildly different people bringing out the best in each other. Great distraction from the real world, perfect little Christmas read.

One Christmas Eve is the story of a fun, sexy, bookstore owner and an uptight lawyer trying to decide if they can put aside their differences and get along with each other. Zoe isn't so sure. Preston might be renting the office space next door to her and her cousin Carly's bookstore, but that doesn't mean she has to like him.

Does it?

I was a big fan of Preston and Zoe right off the bat. Well, what I should say is that I really liked Zoe. It took some time for Preston to grow on me. Haha. But the chemistry between the two was undeniable and I like hate to love romance stories, so this book was right up my alley.

I also really enjoyed reading a romance about a bookstore owner. I loved reading about the different window displays that Zoe would create, in order to attract customers and advertise books. A big point of contention between her and Preston is that he doesn't like her Halloween display. It's much too sexy.

The back and forth between him and Zoe about that was really funny, and it made me smile how they clearly liked to push each other's buttons.

One of the reasons that I picked up this book was because I wanted to check out a new Christmas romance, and while there wasn't a lot of talk about Christmas. this story took place during a couple of different holidays. Preston and Zoe have an interesting Thanksgiving together at her grandfather's house, and they keep get thrown together in different places.

One of my favorite scenes was when Zoe helped Preston decorate his place for Christmas. It felt like a scene that would occur in one of my favorite Christmas movies.

I would recommend this book to you if you enjoy contemporary romances, talk about the holidays, as well as hate to love relationships. It was fun to read about Zoe and Preston's blossoming relationship and the epilogue at the end made my heart happy.

4 stars.

Very enjoyable story with great characters. I did feel the problem between the hero and heroine was a bit surface level, but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
I received a free digital copy via NetGalley, but the opinions expressed are my own.

Shannon Stacey can be counted on to bring the humor - and One Christmas Eve is no exception. The premise of opposites attracting is done well. the hero and heroine are both layered engaging characters who show real growth through the story. I especially appreciate Ms. Stacey's witty, sharp dialogue - always fitting both character and situation. This book is the second in a two book set, but can stand alone easily.
35.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

I have chosen not to read/review this title as I was not able to connect with it or recommend it to the readers of our blog page or those who follow my reviews on Goodreads.

I apologize for the delay in this, as sending the negative reviews is something I (clearly) avoid doing for an embarrassingly long time.

Thank you, as always, for the review title.

Laura

I've never done Christmas in July before and now I am so happy I'm doing it, cause this Christmas novella From Shannon Stacey hit all the feels. I love her Christmas stories, they always manage to capture the spirit of the season with warm and fuzzy feels with laughter and love. The romance between Preston and Zoe is delightful, ardent, and sweet. They both have been hurt before, wounds they carry nearly wrecking their dreams and hopes for the future. This story had me laughing out loud with the banter, swoon and sigh with the passion between the protagonists, and even tear up with the power of love, with the magic of the season, and cheer for conquering life's hurdles. A potent tale in a shorter form of a novella.
~ Five Spoons

Entranced and delighted...that is how I felt reading this one. Zoe is back in town after her divorce and opened a bookstore with her cousin who has settled into wedded bliss (after the first book in this series *which you do not need to read to know what is happening*) and they have a new neighbor. He is buttoned up and drives a boring car and *gasp* is an estate lawyer. He looks down his nose at her window displays. That does not stop her from trying to get under his skin and sends him romance books with sticky notes. Oh, these two do like to try to get to each other and when they are together the chemistry cannot be denied until that kiss cannot be denied and then all bets are off. Decorating for Christmas turns out to be fun and when you add color to a beige life it is wonderful what happens.

**Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

*~~*ARC kindly provided from the publisher/author to me for an honest review *~~*

Full review to come

5 stars

One Christmas Eve is the second book in the Cedar Street series from Shannon Stacey. Ms. Stacey became an auto-read author for me with her very first Kowalski story, and I love her new series every bit as much.

Zoe Randall and her cousin Carly run the local bookstore and it is Zoe's job to do the window displays. When Preston Wheeler opens up his business next door, he and Zoe start off on the wrong foot when he complains about her sexy Halloween display. Let me just say I loved this fast-paced opposites-attract Christmas novella. Added bonus for me was it taking place in a small town. For some reason, I love the small town setting in stories centered around a family.

Preston and Zoe both have stuff in their pasts that could have been a deal breaker for them becoming anything more than business neighbors. I loved they each strived to move past what had occurred in their respective past to have full and happy lives. I loved that Zoe found a way to initially communicate through the super sexy books she would recommend to readers at their store, and shared those books with Preston to open up communication lines. As a lover of books, this spoke to me as such an ingenious idea for two people who seemed to be such polar opposites. I loved seeing them fall in love so quickly, and the pacing of the story totally worked for me. This is the perfect story for anyone who loves a novella-length contemporary romance.


Rating: 4 Stars (B+)

***Thank you to NetGalley, Carina Press and Shannon Stacey. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own.***

I love Christmas and read a lot of Christmas stories around the holidays. Many of them tend to be novella length. I think short stories have their own unique challenges, and they often come up short in terms of depth of plot and emotions. One Christmas Eve did not! It was the perfect combination of sweet and heat and plot, and it made for a wonderfully delightful read. I truly loved how Zoe and Preston pushed each other’s buttons in regard to the window displays in Zoe’s bookstore. The author was able to develop enough back story for both Zoe and Preston to give the reader an understanding of their reservations about relationships and love. She created emotions and connection, all while making it feel Christmassy, and she included books in the story. Who doesn’t love a story that includes readers? If you’re a fan of Christmas stories, you’re going to love this story just like I did.

3.5/5

Zoe and Preston are total opposites who happen to work next door to one another. When Preston starts complaining about the window decoration in Zoe's bookstore, she decides to push his buttons a little bit about how lame his complaints are.

The tension in this story is great. Both Zoe and Preston have been hurt in the past and are reluctant to open up their hearts, but the pull is just too strong. I love their fun conversations with one another and I love the way their communication extended to Instagram. It was also fun to see Carly and Noah from the previous novella, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3102870301">One Summer Weekend</a>, doing so well. I would LOVE if Shannon Stacey wrote more in this series!!



Thank you to Carina Press for the free review copy via NetGalley! These views are my own.

Super cute read!

Reading a holiday genre after the holidays has a certain nostalgia...and I enjoyed every second of it.

"He couldn't make sense of his attraction to Zoe Randall, but he could feel himself nearing the point he didn't care anymore. To hell with sense."

Having a business neighbor who may not agree with your choice of advertisement, especially a handsome planner of a man...not the way to start the holiday season, but Zoe isn't like other girls.

She's a blot of color on an otherwise pencil sketch of life. And Preston is about to find out just how much color this woman brings to his life...even if it seems unwilling.

I honestly adored this book, it was witty and fun. Lighthearted and easy to read. Stacey has a great knack for details in ways that show us the emotion behind the words, instead of just telling us a sweet story.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

"I'm here for a sexy fling with you," he said. "But I don't want the fling to ever stop. You should know that." "A forever fling, I like that."

Keep them coming, Ms. Stacey...love these sweet, never-ending flings.

**4 Kiss Me Under the Mistletoe, Stars**

One Christmas Eve was a phenomenal read featuring a delightful opposites attract romance set during the holidays.

Zoe Randall’s life is finally back on track. Her divorce is behind her and she’s living out her dream of running a bookstore with her cousin. The only bump in the road is the rule follower next door who complained about one of the stores’ sexier window displays. Preston Wheeler may have been hoping for a quiet place to set up his business, but with Zoe next door and unable to stop herself from pushing his buttons, he’s not likely to get it. When their teasing quickly turns to flirting, Zoe and Preston realize there may be more to their relationship than either of them ever expected.

Zoe and Preston’s relationship doesn’t get off to a great start due to Preston’s reaction to the window display and Zoe, due to her experiences with her ex-husband, is understandably defensive when it comes to a man questioning her decisions. I have to say I loved how Zoe started to do increasingly sexy window displays to get on Preston’s nerves as well as Preston’s passive aggressive Instagram likes of more tame shots of the store. As the pair spend more time together, we see Preston slowly loosen up while Zoe stops judging Preston through the lens of her ex-husband. I loved the banter between these two and how generally joyous their interactions became. The chemistry between them is fantastic and the sexier scenes are amazingly done.

Despite the novella length of the story, the pacing was well done and nothing felt rushed. Too often I read novellas where there isn’t enough build up between the characters or the plot and that was thankfully not the case here. I was happy to see the return of the characters from One Summer Weekend as I really enjoyed Carly and Noah’s romance. This story does stand well on its own and while it’s not required to read the first book in order to read this one, I do recommend it as the first book is also amazing.

Overall One Christmas Eve was a fantastic read and it’s the perfect thing to get you into the holiday spirit. I highly recommend this book as well as the first book in the Cedar Street series, One Summer Weekend.

What better day of the year than Christmas Eve to review this darling Shannon Stacey novel, One Christmas Eve? This one was described an opposites attract love story, and I love this trope so much in romance novels. We've also got a fun, outgoing, bookish heroine named Zoe that I really loved. She has the best job ever. She runs a bookstore with her cousin, and spends her days recommending books and designing elaborate window displays. Sounds perfect to me! Nerdy, uptight Preston Wheeler moves in to the office next door. He's an estate planner, and gets offended by one of her displays because he thinks it's tasteless. He doesn't want his clients having to walk past the, so he pops into the store to complain. What follows is a bit of a cat and mouse game, where Zoe does everything she can to push his buttons. She knows he's secretly following the store's Instagram page, so she posts about how they've got books on estate planning and even though they're boring people might want to come check them out. She also gets even more obnoxious with his window displays. The banter back and forth is so much fun, and the tension is top notch! I loved the small town and the cute little streets. The people are all great, and I loved this festive love story so much! Highly recommended.

(Please note, I was so busy during the holiday season that I did not have time to get this posted during my Bookish Little Christmas event. This review will appear on my blog on 12/24/20.)

This novella was a sweet, sassy, steamy binge read! I love enemies to lovers and this one did not disappoint. So much fun and so much heart.

I got this book before Thanksgiving and I read it pretty quickly. It was perfect just before the holidays to start getting into that Winter/Christmas sort of feeling. But because of break, vacation and celebrating Christmas, New Years and my birthday -- the review took longer than planned. I feel bad about that because this is just the perfect book to read in December. From the perfect cover, to the holiday fun on the inside and the HEA...this is totally a good choice.

This book is a novella. Zoe Randall is trying to rebuild her life after a devastating divorce. She moved back home and started running a bookstore with her cousin and her grandfather. Zoe is fun, bubbly, smart and vibrant. She is working on the bookstore display window when Preston Wheeler walks by. He comes across as uptight, stiff and formal. Zoe doesn’t like the look of disapproval that Preston gave her, so she works to push him over the edge with even more outrageous displays that are right nextdoor to his business. In Zoe and Preston’s case, opposites do attract. I love their flirting, their insecurities, their conversations and the setting that the author describes. The party scene was fun. I laughed out loud when Zoe took a drunk Preston home and didn’t take advantage of him. I enjoyed the epilogue that was a year later. I do appreciate the fast forward into the future for HEA’s. I always want to know how things turn out ;)