The set up was good and intersting, but I didn't get enough investment into the two leads to really want it all to happen

Elisha meets Ves when he comes to town to deal with the sale of his great-aunt’s home. Elisha’s grandmother was best friends with Ves’ great-aunt and so she felt like family to Elisha. Elisha’s favorite Christmas movie was even filmed there 50 years ago and she’s been working on getting a sequel made.

Ves was just planning to sell the house and get out of the quaint town and back to his life in NYC. But Elisha charms him almost immediately.

Soon they’re spending almost all their time together despite both of them agreeing that their relationship has a defined end date. When Ves goes back to NYC they will end things. But they aren’t counting on feeling more of a connection with each other than they’ve possibly ever felt with anyone before.

I liked the characters and the sweet town this was set in. It was a really quick read despite the length of the story.

I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley, thanks!

With Hallmark Christmas movies filling the holiday season year after year with holly jolly cheer, it’s no surprise that novels in a similar vein are gaining popularity with lovers of everything merry and bright. Lillie Vale’s new novel Wrapped with a Beau even incorporates a Hallmark-esque film into its storyline by way of a historic home that served as the set for an infamous holiday movie made in the 70s.

Vess Hollins is in the town of Piney Peaks to handle his late grandmother’s estate. He wasn’t close to his grandmother and just wants to get the job done quickly and leave town, but there’s one problem. His grandmother’s home was featured in a much beloved Christmas movie, Sleighbells, 50 years ago, and the town, and one woman in particular do not want to see it fall to the wayside.

Elisha Rowe loves her hometown of Piney Peaks and her job as a film liaison, securing quaint places for potential movie sets. She would love to see a sequel to Sleighbells filmed in Piney Peaks, but it is going to take some convincing of the Grinch who has just arrived in town, AKA Vess Hollins. Can Elisha find a way to persuade Vess to honor his grandmother’s legacy and continue on the film series that she loved so much?

Wrapped with a Beau is one of those novels that starts strongly, but begins to waver as the story progresses. I really enjoyed the first half of this book as Elisha and Vess get to know one another as we learn more about the town of Piney Peaks, the Sleighbells movie, and Elisha and Vess’s upbringings. However, once the book moves on to “more than friends” territory, I found that the story weakened due to the characters acting, well, out of character! Elisha especially felt phony and so unlike how she presented herself in the preceding parts of the novel - I just could not connect her to the girl we got to know in the beginning of the book.

With all that being said, while I have read better Christmas novels, I have also certainly read worse, so Wrapped with a Beau falls somewhere in the middle of the available holiday fare. If you’re looking for a light, comfortable Christmas read, this book will do it for you, as long as you don’t mind some very steamy open door romance scenes!

This was a simple, syrupy-sweet Christmas novel that I felt like I’ve read before. It was a cute, fine story, but there was nothing particularly memorable with this holiday romance. Rivals due to an initial misunderstanding + fake dating = lovers. There was some steam to the sex scenes, which started about 65% in to the novel, so there was quite a bit of buildup. Not one of my favorites, so it’s a 3 star ⭐️ book for me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy for review.

I think I hit my holiday reading max and would have enjoyed this one a lot more had I read it earlier in the month.

Still a great small town holiday romance - but timing definitely left me

Things I loved:
-small town well known for a Christmas movie
-Christmas fan Vs grinch
-making a Christmas movie
-shitty ex boyfriend gets what he deserves
-mouthwatering food descriptions
-instant attraction, dating with a set end date

Things that weren’t my fave:
-just kind of meh about it all (again - I think it’s a timing thing for me)

3.5 stars rounded up

This cover is seriously adorable! Also, so is this book! I love Christmas movies and a book about Christmas movies is just perfect. Not to mention an opposites attract love story I’m all in. Add this to your Christmas reading list.
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Thank you #penguin and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 3 ⭐️

I think this is a cute holiday rom-com. It gives hallmark Christmas vibes which everyone needs, and I love.

Synopsis: Elisha Rowe is a film liaison who wants to bring attention to her small town by having their town featured in a new movie. Ves Hollins owns a historic home that Elisha would love to use for filming, but he denies her request. Ves is a grump and Elisha is sunshine, can they work things out?

What I liked:
-Dual POV
-Characters had good chemistry
-I love the holiday aspect of the romance
-Enemies to loves
-Good banter

What I didn't like:
- The pacing is slower in the beginning
-I feel like we don't get very deep into the characters for the length of the book
-I felt like this could be a little bit shorter and have more of an impact.

This book started off slow but picked up about half way through. It was a pretty typical Hallmark type story line with a good many bedroom scenes thrown in. A perfectly fine read, but not one that’s will stick with me over time.

Cute christmas story but not enough to make me fall in love with the two main characters. And that's why this book only gets 2.5 stars for me (GR gets 3 cause I'm feeling generous as it is Christmas time)

Overall, if you like a Hallmark Christmas movie, this might be the book for you.

Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

"Wrapped with a Beau" by Lillie Vale is a delightful romantic escapade that swirls around the enchanting backdrop of a holiday season. Vale intricately weaves a heartwarming tale of love, second chances, and the magic of Christmas. The book follows a charming protagonist navigating a whirlwind romance while confronting personal challenges, making it a perfect blend of sweetness and depth. Vale's vivid descriptions and captivating storytelling create a festive ambiance that envelops readers, evoking the warmth and joy of the holiday spirit. "Wrapped with a Beau" is a feel-good read that sparkles with love, hope, and the enchantment of the season, leaving you with a cozy and contented feeling long after the final page.

A cute enemies-to-lovers holiday romcom! 🧣

Ves not only has to travel to Piney Peaks and sort out the house and possessions he inherited from his great aunt after she passes, but when he arrives, his aunt’s (hot) neighbor who thinks he’s a burglar attacks him with a candy cane garden stake.

Elisha is horrified not only to realize that she made a mistake thinking that the new (and hot) owner of the Christmas House is a burglar but that she’ll also need his signature to secure the house as the primary filming location for the sequel to Sleighbells which will help put her small town back on the map.

Wrapped with a Beau was so entertaining that I flew by the first 100 pages! I loved the banter and smart exchanges between Elisha and Ves — she was such an unexpectedly random character that made it tough not to melt Ves’ icy exterior. I also really liked how the author handled the instant attraction but the slow process of actually falling for one another.

Oh and it’s a bit steamy!

Truth is I didn’t care as much once they actually started dating and the end was a bit Hallmarky BUT I did still enjoy it! Certainly recommend and note to self to read more by this author!

So cute. Loved this one. It was the perfect length and I loved the characters. Perfect hallmark-esque book.

Wrapped With a Beau was a quick, fun little read. It has some of my favorite tropes: grumpy/sunshine, dating with a deadline, and small town romance with the added bonus of some spice. Great Christmas romance to pick up for your holiday reading list!

Absolutely adorable! This was an amazing small town Christmas romcom! Everything was perfect and I loved how quirky all the characters were!!

This story felt very scattered and like the author watched every Hallmark Christmas movie and combined everything that ever happened in them into this one book. I wasn't really rooting for the couple and felt annoyed most of the time when reading this one, unfortunately.

WRAPPED WITH A BEAU by Lillie Vale
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was definitely cute! I liked that Piney Peaks was the “perfect holiday small town” in the book too- it made it a little less cliche. I’d love to visit! The characters were mediocre… I didn’t feel the chemistry and just didn’t connect with them. Plus the names were weird- Elisha, Ves, and some more I can’t remember. This book was longer than I wanted… I might have been more into it if I were reading it at a different time. BUT a cute cover- I feel like a blonde man on a cover is unusual?!

The first half of the book the MCs spent time getting to know each other before they kiss at around 50% of the book. After their kiss and agreeing to a friends with benefits that they don’t act on until 75% into the book.
The first half could have been cut in half to make room for the second half. The ending was a bit scattered in trying to close the storylines. The MCs agree to be in a real relationship on the last page of the last chapter. Was a bit unfulfilling for me.

A quick grumpy/sunshine holiday read! When Elisha wants to put her small town back on the map, it requires her to enlist the help of Ves *cue meet cute*. They are so good together and I loved how Christmassy it was! It’s very Hallmark movie reminiscent so if you love Hallmark movies, you’ll love this book!

** thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC and chance to read and review **

Every Hallmark movie wrapped up in a package with a new beau (see what I did there?). Grumpy x sunshine is the trope, but the grump really isn’t a grump! He’s just… a guy! This book is a perfect Christmas book for those who love it, as it’s decked out in holiday decor and a love of Christmas all throughout. Not so much for those who don’t want to overdo the holiday. Me - I love Christmas, so I loved this! But, it was hard to keep loving the story and the characters and the ideas presented. It was almost just too much for one story, but still a cute one nonetheless. Thanks for the opportunity to read!

This was so sweet! Loved the bubbly stylish mc with her painted nails. She is trying to revive the town by shooting a classic in the same house, which was owned by her neighbor who passed away. But her great nephew who owns the last l house now is a little surly.
Loved their progression towards each other and the small town vibe. Her ex was a piece of work and probably helped them get together faster also the close proximity didn't hurt.