🎄 'Tis the season for an explosive mix of grumpy-sunshine romance, murder, and mayhem in Katie Reus's holiday novella, "How the Hitman Stole Christmas"! 🎄💔🔫

💥 Explosives expert Elliana despises Christmas and everything it stands for—until her gorgeous neighbor, Theo, becomes the unexpected source of holiday cheer. Theo's allergic reaction to shirts, as witnessed through Elliana's drone, adds a delightful twist to the grinchy festivities. Little does Elliana know, her Christmas takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon a murder committed by none other than her tempting neighbor.

🕵️‍♂️ According to Theo, the murder is a minor detail—the victim needed to be eliminated. As protective instincts kick in, Theo becomes both Elliana's festive savior and a captivating cinnamon roll hitman. When danger looms, Theo takes unconventional measures, kidnapping Elliana "for her own good." Handcuffed to her savior, Elliana reconsiders her grumpy stance on the holidays, leading to an explosive climax.

🎄 This novella brilliantly weaves a reverse sunshine-grumpy romance with a dash of action and suspense. Elliana's disgruntlement towards Christmas creates a charming dynamic with Theo's determined efforts to bring her holiday cheer. The result? A super cute and unexpected love story that defies the typical holiday romance tropes. 🎅🏽❤️

📚 Despite its novella length, "How the Hitman Stole Christmas" doesn't leave readers feeling short-changed. Katie Reus crafts a captivating narrative that feels like a longer read, keeping readers engaged from start to explosive finish. Theo and Elliana's chemistry leaps off the pages, making their journey a joyous and entertaining experience.

🤣 Theo's "murdery" reactions, triggered by his protective instincts, add a unique and humorous layer to the story. His unconventional methods of ensuring Elliana's safety create moments of tension, laughter, and heartfelt connection between the characters. 💑💣

🔥 "How the Hitman Stole Christmas" is a delightful holiday read that combines romance, action, and festive cheer in a novella package. Katie Reus's storytelling prowess shines in this unexpected and heartwarming tale that proves even the grumpiest hearts can be melted by love and holiday magic. 🎁💖

How the Hitman Stole Christmas by Katie Reus
Holiday with a Hitman #1

Over the top but fun with a dash of steamy romance that was a romp and a half in spite of being a stalker-ish, killer-y, hitman love story.

What I liked:
* I am sitting here smiling after finishing the book
* Elliana: grumpy, anti-Christmas, ex-Marine, wealthy, explosives expert in the security business who keeps a CLOSE EYE on her neighbor using drone and binoculars
* Theo: upbeat hitman, in a family of hitters, ex-navy, knows that Elliana is the perfect woman for him, protective, lethal, a bit of an exhibitionist
* The chemistry and dynamics between Theo and Elliana
* Theo’s family and how close they are while also being willing to welcome Elliana
* That the man who put the hit out on Elliana was rather easily found, as were the people he employed, and all were dealt with
* That there was murder but nothing graphic
* That it was a fun way to escape for awhile
* That it was quick and complete in the pages with the possibility of more in the series at some point in the future

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Wondering if a person would REALLY put a hit out on someone like Elliana for the reason the person did in this story

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and KR Press LLC for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

This book had so much potential and yet here we are. This is the second time I’ve been burned by a book involving a hitman so maybe this is a theme I just need to avoid. Within the first three pages, our main character who is an explosives expert and Marine has already discussed how she stalls get neighbor which her drone. By page 16 ish, her neighbor has already killed someone basically in front of her and also confirmed his own obsession.

This was a DNF for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!

How the Hitman Stole Christmas by Katie Reus is the First book in the Holiday With a Hitman Series. This is the story of Elliana and Theo. This was such a good book. I really enjoyed it and I hope to read more from this author soon!

I had no idea what to expect with this one and had never read any Katie’s other books. But, I will be reading more now! This book was adorable. The premise was fun and the banter between Elliana and Theo was great! I could not put this book down! I am excited to read more about Theo’s friends and family (and bust into Katie’s backlist too 🤪).
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
This was such a fun, spicy, action-packed, holiday read. When I saw grumpy sunshine I instantly knew I’d love it but I loved it even more when I realized the FMC was the grumpy one!

As you can guess from he title, the book follows a mysterious “hitman” and his equally mysterious neighbor as they find themselves in the most unlikely and weirdest situations one could ever think of.

Theo’s obsession with Elliana is evident from the very beginning and never wavers. Almost every single one of my highlights in this book stem from his passion and infatuation with her. It’s definitely one of the best parts about the book.

This is a very morally grey storyline from beginning to end and I was all in and loved every second of it.
This is a short one so if you’re looking for a slow burn, this isn’t it. Things are very fast paced including the action!
This was my first ever read of Katie Reus’ and I know she has many more books so I will be diving head first into all of those RIGHT AWAY!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC title!

Elliana is a semi-retired bad ass. I mean, being a Marine explosives expert can't last forever. Why not branch into private security and make a billion dollars after that? Well, she did. But she's not your average wealthy socialite. She still enjoys her modest lifestyle, making the occasional explosive, and spying on her hot neighbor.

Theo isn't all that he seems either. And Elliana finds out the hard way. I thought that this was a fun little rom-com with a dash of action and Christmas thrown in for flavor. I had fun and enjoyed it!

Such a super fast paced, easy read.

Literally in the first chapter you are bombared with spying and listing over a super hot neighbor.

I had to double check to make sure I wasn’t missing any context because it was just so fast paced for me.

The spicy sex scenes and just overall romance was really fun.

But I did find the plot rather scattered. You slowly get more of the character’s traits throughout the chapters.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book

I really enjoyed this read. It totally put a smile on my face. Was it a little goofy? Yes, it was but it was fun and it helped pass the time during the holidays.

What a fun and spicy holiday read! I’ll admit I blindly requested this one based on the title alone because I love spy and thriller romance reads. I was thrilled to find out it also included the grumpy/sunshine trope in the shape of a Christmas lover and a Scrooge. Elianna accidentally stumbles into her neighbor murdering someone (he is the hitman) he ‘lovingly’ kidnaps her to keep her safe now that there is a hit called for her murder. This book has suspense, humor, cracking spice, and overall left me wanting more! I am excited that this seems to be the first book in a new series centered on hitman. Nothing quite says Happy Holidays like a romance book with the “kidnapped, but make it sexy” trope! Check your trigger warnings, but I think dark romance lovers will gobble this one up. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for my advanced e-arc copy!

please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
spice: several open-door spicy scenes
TWs: stalking, murder, torture, mentions of SA (off page, recounted, not MCs), cheating (not MCs), kidnapping
standalone: first book in Holiday With a Hitman series
final thoughts: overall, this was a cute, quick read but I was left wanting more! What could’ve easily been a dark romance novella type book was much fluffier than I expected but it was a cute “dark hallmark” type story.

read this book if you love

🏝️ forced proximity
😡 grumpy/sunshine
👮 blue collar MC (hitman)
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 found family
🔫 hitman
☠️ “touch her and die
🖤 dark romance (only in the triggers but not in the execution)
💖 instalove
🔎 adventure
❓ mystery

This was a very cute and short holiday romance. I love the grumpy sunshine trope and found myself captivated by the story. I loved the premise of murder mystery and enjoyed the pacing.

Was easy enough to read in one sitting, but did wish it was a little longer.

I voluntarily read an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review.
Elliana loves nothing more than spying on her hot neighbour Theo with her drone for the past year without having an actual conversation with him. Even though Elliana hates everything to do with Christmas she gets Theo a Christmas present to use as a icebreaker so she can finally introduce herself, When she arrives at his house she is greeted with a tied up man on Theos floor and that's where she learns her hot neighbour is a hitman. With a now a hit out on her life Theo being the obsessed neighbour he is kidnaps her to keep her safe. We go along on a journey of Elliana and Theo getting to know each other while trying to find out who wants her dead.
I loved Theo with his golden retriever energy, He knows what he wants and does everything he can to get it. This book is very much reverse grumpy/sunshine, found family and a who did this to you in there too. I do wish it was a little longer as I read it in one sitting and wanted more at the end but it did give the impression there could be another book with other characters which I'm excited to read.
It was such a easy read and although I wanted to keep it until December to read while in the Christmas spirit I found I couldn't help but pick it up.
Overall I loved this book. The characters were interesting and very easy to like.
I will be posting my review to both Goodreads and Amazon

How the Hitman Stole Christmas is a short and grumpy-sunshine romance; perfect for the holidays! Elliana hates Christmas, but her neighbor is forcing her to enjoy it. Elliana has been watching her neighbor, Theo, for months, I mean why wouldn't she when he seems to be allergic to shirts?! She finally works up the courage to talk to him and stumbles right into a murder that he has committed.

Theo is a hitman and kidnaps Elliana for her own good, when he discovers that there is a hit out on her. She is starting to reconsider her stance on the holidays and the results are bound to be explosive.

I enjoyed this short and spicy holiday book. There a soft spot for when someone turns one from a holiday grump to a holiday lover. The evolution of Elliana was great as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and KR Press, LLC for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

How the Hitman Stole Christmas is funny, steamy, inappropriately appropriate and loads of fun! The characters are loveable, the dialogue had me constantly laughing out loud, and the chemistry between Elliana and Theo is explosive!

You wouldn’t think a hitman would be able to steal Christmas-and my heart-but you’d be totally wrong! I absolutely loved it! And to find out that it’s gonna be a series?!?!?! I cannot WAIT for the next book!

I was given a copy of this book by @netgalley but unfortunately did not manage to read it by the publication date.

I would recommend this book to others.

I really enjoyed the book. It was fast paced and a different style to your usual Christmas romance.

Elliana hates Christmas and has been spying on her hot neighbour for almost a year using her drone to watch him. Theo, her neighbour knows it and clearly enjoys it as he puts on a show for her.

Elliana finally plucks the courage to take a Christmas gift to Theo but soon discovers Theo has someone held hostage in his house.

This is the start of a lot of things to come for Elliana. I won't share any more in case I give out any spoilers.

This book isn't too dark, it is Christmas after all! But, it has everything that makes an enjoyable read. Just the right amount of romance, humour, steam, and suspense.

It looks like it may be the start of a new series.

It was my first read by @katiereusauthor . I will definitely be reading more!

Thank you Katie Remus, NetGalley & KR Press for this ARC of How the Hitman Stole Christmas. I found myself captivated and loved thiss christmas book with a side of a mystery thriller - and have recommended it to any of my friends who love the thriller genre and want to spice up their read with a bit of. Festive spirit. It had some sizzling chemistry, a possessive MMC (which we all love) with lots of action and suspense. This was my first book of Katies but i really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read more!!!!

How the Hitman Stole Christmas is the first in the Holiday with a Hitman series. It was a short novella full of suspense and lots of humor that I normally expect from Katie Reus’s books. She wrote a holiday story with a grumpy-sunshine troupe but added a small twist with the FMC being the holiday grump. This is the perfect book if you are looking for a short, light, and hilarious read. I cannot wait to see what she has planned for the next book in the series. I hope to see some of the same characters in future books.

Though HOW THE HITMAN STOLE CHRISTMAS is a novella-length book, the story is packed with action, danger, intrigue, and romance. Throw in family and Christmas and you will wonder how author Katie Reus managed to pack so much into 166 pages

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

Complete review: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=84269

"How a Hitman Stole Christmas" by Katie Reus is a delightful and action-packed holiday novella that adds a touch of danger and romance to the festive season. Reus skillfully combines the warmth of Christmas with the adrenaline of a suspenseful plot, creating a unique and engaging story. The characters are likable, and the chemistry between the protagonists is palpable, bringing a sweet and romantic element to the narrative.

One of the novella's strengths is its ability to blend the holiday spirit with a thrilling storyline. The Christmas setting adds a charming backdrop to the unfolding events, and the author effectively balances the festive atmosphere with the tension of a hitman's mission. The pacing is brisk, making it a quick and enjoyable read that can be easily consumed during the busy holiday season.

While the novella delivers on its promise of a festive romantic suspense, some readers might find that the brevity of the story limits the depth of character development and plot intricacies. The compressed format may leave fans wishing for a more extensive exploration of the characters' backgrounds and a deeper dive into the suspense elements. Nevertheless, "How a Hitman Stole Christmas" remains a solid choice for those seeking a holiday-themed romance with a dash of excitement and danger.