This is a cute fast read but not something I would be reading again in the future. It was entertaining but these kinds of cute romance stories aren't ones I read again .

I give this 3 out of 5

This was a really fun holiday novella from veteran contemporary romance author Shannon Stacey.

As soon as I saw that Zoe ran a bookstore, I was in. And the stuffy, but hot, neighbor business owner, Preston, has issues with the bookstore’s window displays? Adorable premise.

This felt slightly rushed at the end, even for a novella, and maybe this could/should be longer, but it’s still a great and fast read for the holidays.

*I was graciously given an ARC of this book via the publisher on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Short and sweet holiday novella. This romance was well done with believable reasons for hesitation but nothing insurmountable. The characters behave like real people and work it out. More holiday adjacent than full on holiday.

4.5 stars - In One Christmas Eve we get writing from the Shannon Stacey I feel in love with, way back in the Kowalski day’s. The read is fun, a little quirky, and a naughty nerdy guy (my fav). It’s romantic comedy gold in my book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Nice, fast holiday read that that is full of humor and cuteness. The two main characters are Zoe and Preston. I loved Zoe and all her sassiness. The chemistry and banter between Zoe and Preston was funny and heartwarming.
There are steamy scenes along with lots funny moments.
I recommend you grab this book and a cup of tea, kick back and enjoy this quick holiday romance.
Thank you to NetGallery, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and give my honest review about One Christmas Eve.

One Christmas Eve by Shannon Stacey is the holiday novella you are looking for when you need something short and swoon-worthy. The enemies-to-lovers and small town tropes worked perfectly in this novella. Zoe and Preston are wonderful characters that come alive for the reader on the page. This novella’s storyline didn’t feel rushed or unfinished by the end. The pacing was perfect. One Christmas Eve by Shannon Stacey is a wonderfully satisfying and sexy holiday read.

Zoe, owner of a bookstore, gets a lot of flack for their window displays. But her new neighbor’s reaction makes her extremely angry, it doesn’t help he is hot. This starts a trend of displays and social media posts that are just meant to get Preston riled up. Instead it makes him like her more and more.

I quite enjoyed the interactions between these two. It was funny seeing them both attracted to the other but trying to remain distant. This was a cute holiday story that I enjoyed from the start. It was perfect for getting into the holiday spirit.

*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*

A divorcee bookstore owner's saucy window displays irritate the buttoned up financial planner who just moved in to the office next door. That is until he learns that she just might be the perfect person to bring some color to his orderly life.

A lovely holiday novella with heart and steam, I loved watching the hero loosen up and also show the heroine she deserves to be heard, both in life and in bed.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Zoe's story was soooo cute! After hearing about her in Carly's book, I was eager to know more about her, her divorce, and whatever guy was lucky enough to catch her eye. Shannon Stacey did not disappoint. Both Zoe and Preston are dealing with baggage about how they're perceived. She for being a little too "passionate" and he for being a little too predictable. What came next was a fun read that had heat, but it was the chemistry between these two that really made it special.

I really loved this one.

One Christmas Eve by Shannon Stacey
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Thank you Carina Press and Netgalley for this free review copy.
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This was my first Christmas-y read of the year and it was so much fun. One Christmas Eve is an opposites attract romance that includes so many things that I love: bookstores and books, slight enemies to friends to maybe more and Christmas! It was steamier than I was expecting and it has me excited for Christmas movies and books! This is a quick and fun read that has me wanting to read more from Stacey.
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Zoe is a bright and fun woman who is living out her dream of opening a bookstore with her cousin after going through a divorce. Preston has leased the office next door and is not too pleased with the romance novels in the window display. This first interaction sets up a tense relationship for these business neighbours but will they be able to get past it?

Novellas are always hard to review. You know going in that their is limited page space to develop characters, plot and the romance itself. So can an author make a believable and enjoyable short story? Some can, and some cannot. Well this story fell into the can category IMO. A nice opposites attract/enemies to lovers novel - which didn't dwell long in the enemies situation, esp with some nice and sincere apologies. (I personally can't stand when a couple spends the whole book fighting, esp if its over stupid things.) I liked the couple and that their relationship wasn't rushed. I would have liked to have seen a little more of the H and why he was interesting and exciting to Chloe, as he ended up being a little bland. There were Christmas elements in the book, but it didn't overwhelm the story, though some may want a bit more of the festivities. Overall, an enjoyable quick holiday romance. * I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

Book 2 of the Cedar Street series and I loved this book. A quick, fun enemies to lovers’ book. Zoe and Preston were so good together. The attraction and chemistry between them was so hot. They both had issues in their past relationships that caused them to be leery about starting a new relationship with anyone. This book had me laughing, swooning and tearing up. Very good characters and a very good storyline. Ms. Stacey didn’t disappoint with this story. Loved it.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

One Christmas Eve was a sweet, happy, opposites attract novella.

I loved Zoe - post-divorce, she moved to a town she used to visit as a child to open a bookstore with her best friend/cousin. That's right: a female lead who loves books. Who's arguably brave and putting herself first. I could really empathize with the ways in which her divorce and moving forward were described; they felt true to life.

Then one day Preston shows up and she finds herself intrigued by the "uptight nerd." He's sexy, shows interest in her work, and gets along well with her family - who could blame her for maybe catching feelings?

What held this one back from being a five-star read from me: It was a little overly trope-y in spots. While I enjoyed the writing overall, there were a few moments that played up traditional gender roles to the extent that they rubbed me the wrong way. And, it just makes my skin crawl to see a romantic lead fall back on the uniqueness trope. A woman can have things in common with other women and still be the one for you! Let me be clear that I still really enjoyed this novella overall - I just could have done without those bits.

Oh, and p.s. - there's steam in this one!

Note to publisher:
This exact review posted to Goodreads and Barnes & Noble on Nov. 12, 2019.
Reviews will be posted to Instagram and Amazon within a week following publication (and links appended to this review).

After I had a whole line up of Christmas stories last year “to get me in the holiday spirit” that then proceeded to made me feel more bah humbug then ho-ho-ho, I decided to forgo the intentional holiday lineup this year. But when I saw this novella available by Shannon Stacey I decided to make an exception. I should have stuck with my original plan, because even though the first book in this series was really good, One Christmas Eve fell flat to me.

Due to her recent divorce, Zoe Randall is feeling a little feisty, and she’s expressing it by creating marginally inappropriate window displays in the small New Hampshire town where she and her cousin, Carly, own a bookstore. Their new neighbor, Preston Wheeler, is a stuffy, uptight lawyer/estate planner who shares their building and does not appreciate Zoe's displays. And tells her so. Which starts a bit of a war between Zoe and Preston, wherein she pushes the limits of acceptability just to see if she can get a rise out of him.

“I mean, he should probably start wearing a pearl necklace with his tie so he has something to clutch when he walks by our store.”

When Carly convinces her it would be best to make nice with Preston, Zoe reluctantly calls a truce. And despite Preston’s initially stodginess, it turns out he’s actually kinda fun, and a whole lot flirty.

Sadly, once the conflict between Zoe and Preston is resolved, what we’re left with is a lot of steamy times (which dragged on too long for a novella) and a silly, contrived conflict based on a misunderstood text message. Both Zoe and Preston had unhealed wounds from past relationships and they took that baggage into their relationship with each other. And instead of talking it out like the adults they were supposed to be, they broke things off. I feel like since there was so much page time given to the sex scenes, it was to the detriment of actual relationship development - their whole relationship was built on the physical connection they had instead of the emotional connection they needed. So of course things are going to fall apart quickly and easily for people who are already emotionally fragile.

After the first book in this series was so good, I had high hopes for this one. Instead, it lacked the witty banter and mature characters I’ve come to expect and appreciate from Ms. Stacey. Oh well, you win some, you lose some. In the meantime, I’m staying away from holiday themed books!

* thank you to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Carina Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I’ve gotta say, I love this series so far. The stories are short and sweet while being romantic and steamy. The author does an amazing job of pulling you in immediately and forging a connection between the characters almost as fast. Yes, these are short stories so it’s definitely insta-love. But it’s dealt with in a fun and quirky way.

My goodness, Preston is a dream. It really tugged my heart to know that any woman had ever made him feel bad about himself. He may be a bit straight-laced when it comes to work and he likes things to be a certain way, but he’s interesting and amazing and fun to be around.

As for Zoe, any man trying to tamp her flame doesn’t deserve her. She’s sexy and smart and deserves all she craves. Unfortunately, her ex-husband made her feel bad about voicing her wants and needs and she has a shield up around her heart when it comes to any many she thinks might be passing any sort of judgement on her.

While Zoe has to learn to trust and not jump to conclusions, Preston needs to learn to have confidence that he is enough for the right person. They go on this journey together, with some inevitable bumps along the way. I loved it all.

ONE CHRISTMAS EVE by Shannon Stacey is a wonderful Christmas romance! I loved the way Zoe and Preston were with each other. All the fireworks between them, you just knew they'd be special together!

Zoe Randall lives life just as she likes it. She’s back in her hometown, freshly divorced and living her childhood dream of running a bookstore with her cousin.
Preston Wheeler is all too aware that he takes like too seriously. When he opens his business next door to Zoe’s bookstore, he realizes he’s not a fan of her sexy window displays. He complains and then it’s game on. They both begin to push each other’s buttons and realize that they may just not hate each other after all.
Zoe adds color to Preston’s black and white life and he begins to realize that she may just be what he needs. One Christmas Eve is an insta-love and opposites attract novella. I’m a sucker for a good novella and I adore Christmas novellas the most! I especially enjoyed the flirting that occurred between Zoe and Preston through books. It was really super cute. This book is a nice and breezy read that gets you into the holiday spirit.
Thanks to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Carina Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One Christmas Eve by Shannon Stacey was everything I want in a Christmas romance! I've been reviewing a lot of Christmas books already this year, but One Christmas Eve has to be one of my favorite this year. This novella didn't leave me feeling like I was cheated out of really knowing the characters like most novellas do. From the first Zoe/Preston encounter I knew I was in for a really good story. Ms. Stacey's characterization was superb. She definitely painted a picture of what the snarky Zoe and the nerdy Preston were like instead of just telling the reader. The story was lighthearted almost all the way through and just delightful to read.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I have to admit that I really like One Christmas Eve better than One Summer Weekend. I'm not sure why. Both are very well written with characters I really enjoy. In fact, I enjoyed both stories, but holiday romances are my jam!

This one started off with a bang. I love how Preston had his nose up in the air about the way the book decorated their windows. I'm used to the women in my books kinda acting stuck up, it was nice to have a man do that. It wasn't over the top so you didn't think him a total jerk, you were just put out about it.

Soon said window becomes much of a fun point to the story. You'll have to read the book to understand what I mean. Not giving anything away here!

I love Zoe and felt for her. I really wish the story had some interaction with her parents but I also understood why it didn't. I can't believe parents would act the way hers did but I'm also not shocked. I'm just so happy she has her cousins and grandfather for a family bond.

The back and forth between these two is so much fun! I kinda wish we had more pages so I could have had more to their story. But I will admit that the short page count didn't detract from it being a wonderfully complete story. It didn't feel rushed or that something was missing like some novella's can feel. Since both stories are novella length you shouldn't have any problem reading them in order and being about to enjoy One Christmas Eve during the holidays.

I always love reading Shannon Stacy and with One Christmas Eve, it was no different. You'll love these characters and how they interact with each other. They both learn something about themselves and with the help of each other, they learn to deal with and grow.

As always you will enjoy Shannon Stacy's newest story One Christmas Eve. This was a cute short story that puts you right into the Christmas mood.