Thanks so much to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the e-book. I did not think I was ready for Christmas vibes but this book just opened up that door. I enjoyed this book so much it had some heavy stuff but it was written so good that they didnt weigh down the story. I loved the banter between the MMC and the FMC just enough without it being too much.

I think WRAPPED WITH A BEAU is a nice Christmas romance with all the festive trappings. It's a perfect read for a low-key Saturday in December. But for me, the story didn't meet my expectations.

There was something missing in the story, but I'm not sure what it was. Elisha and Ves had chemistry, but I think the plot fell a bit flat. Elisha started off sunshiney and, I don't know, I found myself not rooting for OR against her at the end.

The politically correct references felt forced and a bit out of place to the story.

I think overall it's a good cozy romance and would probably resonate with millennials.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an e-copy of WRAPPED WITH A BEAU to review.

I rate WRAPPED WITH A BEAU three out of five stars.

3 Stars Wrapped with a Beau by Lillie Vale was an enjoyable Christmas romance with enemies to lovers vibes. Reading this book felt like watching a Hallmark movie, but with some added spice. While the romantic aspect of the novel was enjoyable, my favorite part of the book was reading as the main character Elisha became more empowered and used her voice to stand up to her family. We stan a woman finding her voice and becoming empowered. A cute read!

Thank you to G.P Putnam Sons & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wrapped with a Beau, was a sweet small town, found family, enemies to lovers story, packed full of Christmas cheer and witty banter!

Elisha has settled back into life in her small hometown of Piney Peaks, Pennsylvania. Her town came on the map for a well know Christmas film, that was filmed there back in the day. With the upcoming sequel announced, Elisha is excited to secure the official “Christmas house” in town to use for filming again. Except the homeowner passed away, and now her grumpy great nephew Ves in charge. After Elisha tries to convince him to use the house in the new movie, he continually declines. But being stuck in such a small town, they begin to see more of each other. Eventually they strike up a deal, and Ves allows her to use the house for the sequel. But as quickly as these two enemies turned friends, they might also be turning into lovers. But what will happen when Christmas is over, and Ves leaves Piney Peaks for good?

This was a sweet Christmas read, and felt like watching a Hallmark movie, definitely add it to your TBR this winter season!

Lillie Vale does it again for me with her latest novel, Wrapped with a Beau! I eagerly await for Vale's novels, because there is something about the stories she crafts that I enjoy and relate to. Her books I think perhaps hit home for me in a special way because of my upbringing and my Indian background.

This book also provided me with much needed wintery bliss that I have been craving these days. The temperatures have been unseasonably warm and I am day dreaming about putting up my tree after reading Vale's novel.

As a successful film liaison, Elisha Rowe has her heart set on one thing and one thing only: putting her hometown back on the map. So, when she gets the chance to secure the long-hoped-for sequel to Sleighbells under Starlight, a beloved holiday movie, she's willing to do whatever it takes to make sure everything goes smoothly. Unfortunately, that includes claiming to have already gotten permission to film at the historic Christmas house—permission she was very much denied by the gorgeous new owner.

Elisha is finding herself in this novel in a way that was empowering and inspiring. Standing up to your family isn't easy and finding the voice and balance to do so and stay connected is even more challenging. For Elisha, it's been easier to eat it than to speak her truth. However, when Ves walks back into her life, she starts to feel herself change and solidify who she is.

If you're a fan of Lillie Vale this won't disappoint. I am also a fan of Sarah Adams and this feels similar to her novels in many ways, but steamy!

Wrapped with a Beau by Lillie Vale is a delightful contemporary holiday romance. I'm new to this author's work but after reading this book I'm eager to explore more titles. Out this week, I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a contemporary holiday romance that is both cute and sweet. This is one of my favorite holiday romances so far this year. TAGS: fiction, romance, contemporary romance, holiday romance #WrappedWithABeau *Thanks to NetGalley, the book's publisher & the book's author for providing a free eARC in exchange for my honest review

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a fun holiday read! It has a classic happy ending and is warm and fuzzy.

I've really enjoyed Vale's books before, but this one was pretty mediocre for me.

I loved the premise of the book. It revolved around a house that was used in a famous Christmas movie from years ago. I loved all the references to the holidays and Hallmark-esque movies. Then throw in a bit of small-town magic and it was fun.

Things were a bit slow for me. And once they slowed down, they never really picked back up. It was a slow strut uphill on a hike I no longer wanted to be on.

Also, the way we got to the fake dating portion of the book felt a bit forced. Ves, our MMC, was the grumpy type. Love. Then why was he so willing to fake date Elisha, our FMC? And why was he the one to suggest it? I know he was seeing how uncomfortable Elisha was feeling around her ex, but Ves didn't know Elisha that well and the ex wasn't being too horrible. He wasn't great, but it also wasn't enough to provoke Ves to be like, Yup. We're dating. Suck on that.

Overall, this was a mid read for me. Maybe if you're a die-hard holiday romance reader then you'll like this more than me, but I won't be recommending it.

This book is so adorable, OMG! A grumpy/sunshine trope is always a WIN when it comes to Christmastime romances, that’s all I’m going to say about THAT! But we meet Elisha who is a location scout in her small town, and Ves who is the great-nephew of a beloved woman, Mauve, who just recently passed away. Ves inherited her home, which was the main feature of a really famous Christmas movie, and Elisha needs to win him over, because the director wants this home for the recreate of that movie. Well this was a fun reunion that’s for sure, and not only did Ves fall for her but he fell HARD for everything the town had to offer. Elisha is everything I like about a strong female character, she’s straight forward and Ves doesn’t stand a chance to her charm, Ves and Elisha are everything I love in a Christmas time romance hands down, family, love, and everything CHRISTMAS!!!!!! YEAAAAA…….

This book has a hint of Grumpy/Sunshine and fake dating tropes, but what really stands out are the sweet characters and holiday magic.

Elisha and her family live in Piney Peaks (love the name) which is an idyllic, snowy northeastern town and things get shaken up when Ves (who currently lives in the big city) has to return to town after the death of his great aunt. Ves didn’t grow up in a warm and loving family environment so the friendly small-town vibe is a bit hard for him to get used to. Elisha has issues of her own as her ex-fiancé just moved to Piney Peaks with his new wife.

I love that the two main characters actually communicate in this book! They both have their own insecurities and work through them together in a lovely way. Anyone that enjoys romance novels and/or holiday vibes will definitely like this read.

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wrapped With a Beau is very sweet and sentimental small town Christmas romance.
It's a great quick read filled with Christmas magic, sunshine/grumpy trope goodness, and absolutely delightful character growth.
You really root for the characters to find their happy ending, which was my favorite part. I highly recommend!

I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review! 4 stars

TL;DR: If you’re a fan of holiday romances with small-town settings, quirky residents, loveable big families and all the warm fuzzy feel-good vibes, then you’re bound to enjoy Wrapped with a Beau. If you want a book that will give you the same cosy and joyous feelings that you get when watching your favourite holiday movie, look no further because this book will make you wish it was Christmas right now or like, every day. The romance was sweet, the main characters were easy to love and they were accompanied by supporting characters who made the story even better.

This had everything I loved about small-town romances. I adored the way that Vale gave such life to Piney Peaks because she 100% made me want to pick up and move there and immerse myself into this welcoming and diverse community with its cheeky neighbours, well-meaning gossips, and wonderful shops. It’s an idealistic town, especially during the holiday season with its Christmas fairs and themed events, and it oozed all the warm cosy vibes! Think Serendipity, Love, Actually, The Holiday, It’s a Wonderful Life and all those other feel-good holiday/Hallmark movies you love to watch and you have Wrapped with a Beau. The side characters in this story really helped to make it come alive but also made it that much more entertaining to read. Elisha’s family were so fantastic and her friends and the town residents were also amazing!

Our main characters, Elisha and Ves were both well-rounded and easy to root for. Elisha is a sunshiney, sassy, smart and talented woman who wanted to bring fame back to Piney Peaks, starting with the filming of the Sleighbells sequel. She’s well-loved by everyone in town and it’s not hard to see why. I admired the way she rose to meet every challenge sent her way—whether it was dealing with her lousy sexist boss or convincing the Grinch-y new owner of her favourite home in town to let them use the house for filming, she tackled it all with dogged determination and a whole lot of optimism! In total contrast, Ves started out as your typical Scrooge. He was grumpy, had no love for Piney Peaks and wanted to get things settled to jet out of town as soon as possible; until Elisha came crashing into his life and broke all his steady rules. My heart broke reading about his childhood and the people who broke his heart and made him feel less than just because he was raised in a cold and loveless home. It was heartbreaking to read about how much he simply wanted to feel loved and find a place where he is accepted as he is—a place where he simply fits. Elisha and her wholesome loving family give him that and it was so heartwarming to see him thaw and recognise that maybe he wasn’t “too broken” to love all these years, he just hadn’t met the people who would wholeheartedly welcome him with open arms, no questions asked.

I loved their open communication, the way they opened themselves up to each other and the friendship that they formed in addition to the romance that bloomed. If you love the grumpy/sunshine and opposites-attract tropes then you’ll enjoy what these two have! That said, while the romance was super sweet and I loved the way their opposites complemented each other, I have to admit that, for me personally, their steamy moments fell flat. This isn’t the first time I’ve felt this way about Vale’s steamy scenes and I think there’s just something about the way they’re written that doesn’t feel… genuine or at least that comes across as awkward. I actually found the sexual tension and build-up to the big moment much more fun to read, so it wasn’t really a deal-breaker!

I will also say that if you’re going into this expecting the shooting of the movie sequel to play a central role in their story, you might be disappointed because all of this happens in the lead-up to it. While I loved the throwbacks and the stories we learned from the community about why the original movie had such a big impact on the town, the actual filming itself doesn’t take place in the main story. But, even though Maeve had passed, she felt very much like a live presence in their story and I was so invested in her tale too!

Overall, this was such a great holiday romance and I would highly recommend adding it to your list if you love heartwarming holiday romances too!

I feel like this was a 3.5, but closer to the 4 star range, so I'm rounding up.

Wrapped with a Beau was almost everything you want in a Hallmark holiday romance. Romance, with a touch of comedy and a dash of spice, just enough of each aspect to not overpower the rest. The story centers around Ves Hollins, an author who inherits the infamous Christmas house in Piney Peaks, and Elisha Rowe, the small town film liason who must convince Ves to sign off on the Christmas house being included in the upcoming Sleighbells sequel.

This story really put me in the holiday spirit. The overall story was sugary sweet, and incredibly easy to immerse yourself in. I can't fully pinpoint where this fell short for me. Pacing was a slight issue, but not enough to pull me out of the story. The rest came down to not fully exploring our characters and certain details in the story. While I could relate to both MC's, I wasn't fully invested in their story.

Some more drama between Ves and Bentley, a further dive into our MC's and some side characters, and connecting small things (like Maeve gifting Elisha THE necklace) really would've sent this over the top for me.

I enjoyed this a lot more than the last book I read by this author -- everything just clicked and I truly love Elisha and Ves together. While I think Ves' backstory could have been developed a bit more, this was a fun holiday romance. Definitely add to your TBR pile if you love holiday romance!

Wrapped with a Beau comes out next week on September 26, 2023, and you can purchase HERE! I really liked this one!

Elisha shrugs, swallowing past her dry mouth. "Could have been a past-tense girlfriend. As in "We broke up, but Ill always cherish her by this gift she gave me."

"You keep presents from your exes?"

That tinge of horror in his voice makes her blink. "You don't?"

"If you were mind, I wouldn't let you wear anything gifted by another man."

i really enjoyed this book, definite hallmark vibes and i was all for it! the tension with the slow burn was just perfect and this was such a cute read, i couldnt put it down! even though it was a sweet story their were some serious topics that i though were handled perfectly! i enjoyed this so much and loved their HEA

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

This book was the perfect blend of Hallmark Christmas movie with some spiciness thrown in for good measure. Elisha and Ves are officially my new favorite Christmas grumpy/sunshine couple but I would love to see Tori get her own sequel cause she ended up being such a good character (even if just a minor one).

The good: This book oozes Christmas. Finally, a book with Christmas puns on every page and festiveness galore; I loved it. Also, short chapters! If you’re like me and you can’t put a book down until you come to a natural ending then you’ll love this. Every chapter was 10 minutes or less;
Perfect for carrying with you everywhere.

The not so good: I felt like it took forever for Ves to have his love epiphany and when he finally did the book was near the end. I think the author could have been a little less subtle in how she wrote his attitude change but the story is good I’ll forgive it.

Highly recommend this one for your Christmas reading list!!

Wrapped With A Beau by Lillie Vale

What a beautiful, heartwarming, sweetest story for Christmas or all round the year!

I recommend this to everyone who loves cozy small town magical setting.

Elisha wants her hometown back on the map and when an opportunity for a sequel to Sleighbells appears she is doing everything in her power to make that happen. Unfortunately, the permission to film in the historic house is denied by the charming and handsome owner, Ves.

My top reasons to read this book ~

• You will be in love with the first chapter itself, atleast that was the case for me.

• It was cute, sweet, festive and a hallmark kind of book.

• Ves! My heart hurts for him. I wish I could squeeze him tight and pour all the love he missed out on. He is such a sweetheart.

• So many lines to love and hold on to {few I have shared ahead}. I am going to make an aesthetic on every that I can.

• What an amazing cast of characters. This opposites attract, sunshine x grumpy will melt your heart. The slow burn is well done with also brilliantly addressing heavy topics. Lillie Vale has done it again!

Now coming to my favourite quotes ~

• As her grandpa always says, everything is possible with grace and gumption.

• And nothing is messier than a damsel in distress, especially one who looks like her who’s looking at him like that.

• “Seek magic and you shall find it.”

• “Do you think that’s possible? To wish for something different than what you have?”

“Why not? It’s your life. Who else will chart your future if not you?”

“You say it like it’s that easy.”

“Of course it’s not easy. But it’s still worth doing. All the best things are. And don’t forget, everything in life happens because someone first wished it so.”

• Not everyone is fortunate enough to be loved unconditionally and unreservedly by the people who brought you into this world. But that’s a reflection of them, not you.

Wrapped with a Beau is such a delightful Christmas romance. Elisha decides to sneak into the house of her neighbor who recently passed away because she believes there's been an intruder. Little does she know Ves has been given the house by his great-aunt. Ves is a grump and Elisha is everything that reminds you of Christmas. Elisha will do whatever she can to get filming permission for the Sleighbells sequel which was filmed in the house. However, Ves just wants to tidy it up to sell. The two end up spending a ton of time together and a romance quickly begins to form. Can they keep it with no strings attached or will it turn into something more?

Honestly, this book is a Hallmark movie with some spice in it. It definitely gets spicy. I wasn't excepting that but I still enjoyed it even though that's not really my thing. For some reason I'm not a fan of reading spicy things in books. I still found this book to just be warm and cozy. I was rooting for Elisha and Ves the whole time. Plus, I just loved all the Christmas vibes. Plus, the Chocolate Mouse, a bakery, sounds like an incredible place. I wish it was real. I probably would go there all the time. Plus, I love the closeness Elisha has with her family and friends and just the whole town in general. It was so wholesome to see how everyone accepted Ves right away. He's a newcomer but they were all just there for him with open arms.

I highly recommend this book especially if you're looking for a fun romantic Christmasy read.

*Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Wrapped with a Beau is your fairly standard Hallmark-with-steam holiday romcom, but Lillie Vale injects enough charm to make it her own. I really liked the concept of a now legendary film and its filming locations of this historic house and the small town of Piney Peaks itself, and I’d love to read more stories set in this location.
The leads are pretty great spins on traditional holiday romance archetypes. Ves is pretty recognizable as a Grinch-esque, broody hero whose ties to the house have reluctantly brought him home, and while there are certain things about him that I initially was skeptical about, like his noncommittal nature, particularly when it came to relationships, he won me over. I especially love that he writes middle grade fantasy books, and I appreciated going on the journey of connecting with his family history alongside him.
Elisha is also recognizable, being a bit more passionate about things related to the holidays, in this case, things related to the town’s visibility in relation to the film and its upcoming sequel. She grows on a professional front, and there’s a very recognizable predicament (in the context of holiday movies) as a result.
While I can’t say the romance rocked my socks off, they do work well together. They come from somewhat different places and perspectives, but that made their bond over what they did have in common more interesting.
I did feel the book was a bit busy, to the point where it wasn’t sure what it wanted to be at times, like at one point it’s fake dating, and then later it’s a no-strings relationship, and I’m not sure there was enough justification for balancing both, when fleshing out one trope would have worked better. There were also a lot of side characters, and while I like what they do for coloring the town as a setting at times, and Elisha’s family could be fun, I felt they sometimes overwhelmed the story. And the ex, justifying the initial fake relationship felt like a lot of unnecessary drama.
In spite of these issues, I did enjoy this book overall, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for a fun Christmas romance in the coming holiday season.

This is a cozy, steamy, Hallmark movie style Christmas story. If you like cute, cheesy rom-coms you will love this book!

Favorite things:

🎄 Grumpy x Sunshine
🎄 Small Town
🎄 Dual POV
🎄 Opposites Attract

Thank you, Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley, for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.