Christmas in Spite of You by K. C. Mills
4 🌟

A Christmas fanatic and a modern day Scrooge, what could go wrong? Noel needs some extra cash to tide her over to the new year and putting her apartment up on Airbnb seems like the perfect solution. But when her circumstances change and she has to cancel the booking but Kanton arrives anyway, they decide to share the space for the week. Will Kanton become infected with the Christmas spirit or perhaps Noel herself before their week is up, and if he does, can they make it last past the holidays?

This was such a fun, cute Christmas read! It had all the cliches of a hallmark-vibe Christmas movie presented in a really enjoyable way, including Kanton acknowledging just how similar their situation was to the Christmas movies Noel forced him to watch. As a Christmas lover, I really enjoyed Noel’s passion and how Kanton opened himself up to experiencing Christmas her way. I was lucky enough to get an eARC from Netgalley and I would highly recommend this read, especially as we approach the Christmas season! 🎄🎄

I'm a huge fan of K.C. Mills and was excited t get into the holiday spirit with this awesome story!! A forced proximity grinch and Christmas enthusiast!! The chemistry mixed with the couples forced proximity was hot!!

Can a man who hates Christmas live one week with a Christmas enthusiast and not fall in love with the holiday and the beauty?

Kanton Joseph never expected that when he rented a Airbnb to seal a business deal in Atlanta, he would have to share living space with the Christmas enthusiast Noel Anderson. Noel Anderson was experiencing financial hardship and decided to list her place as an Airbnb for the holidays to earn additional cash. She didn’t expect to become ill and have to cancel her Christmas plans. While suffering through her illness, she forgets to cancel all plans. Kanton is surprised to find Noel still in residence and after a back-and-forth, he and Noel agree to share the space for the week. What was supposed to be a week of prepping for this business deal, Kanton would find he could not help but be drawn to Noel and the love of Christmas.

Ms. Mills did a great job with writing Christmas in Spite of You. Noel and Kanton are from two different worlds, he is a successful business owner who does not love Christmas and she a creative interior decorator and that loves all things Christmas. Noel is described as bundle of joy, always providing kind words, smiles whenever she encounters people. She makes people feel valued. When she realizes she did not cancel the Airbnb appointment and Kanton shows up, she bargains with him to share the space. Kanton upon meeting Noel, is instantly attracted and agrees to the change in plans. As the two embark on this bizarre situation, Noel is determined to change Kanton’s view on the holiday. While Kanton gets to experience the holiday through Noel’s eyes, he falls further into her spell and in addition to enjoying the activities, he finds his heart and mind are dangerously falling for Noel and wanting more than a week. Kanton is more used to a structured life pattern and Noel is more creative and carefree. Two opposite personalities that would probably never fit, however when love is present, it will find its way into their hearts.

This was a good storyline reminding me that even Scrooge can find that one person who will make him/her love the holiday and find their true love as a bonus. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
Note: I received an advance copy from Netgalley

ARC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Planning to spend the holidays with family, Noel, put her home on Shared Space. Despite having some trepidation about leaving everything she owns in the care of a stranger, she desperately needs the money. But when she unexpectedly comes down sick she cancels the booking.

Kanton is a successful man in finance. He has never been a fan of Christmas and sees the holiday as the perfect opportunity to win over a client. When he discovers an opening on Shared Space in the building his potential client resides, he jumps at the chance.

Upon Kanton’s arrival, Noel discovers her cancellation never went through. When both claim to have possession of the home they reach a standoff. Will they be able to cohabitate, or will legal action be their only option?

This was a fun Christmas romance. As a fan of this sub genre I found K. C. Mills’ story to be a nice surprise. It gave mature Hallmark feels. But be forewarned there is some explicit content. While the spice rating is on the lower side, it is still a major part of Noel and Kanton’s love story.

Read this story for:
-opposites attract
-forced proximity
-Christmas/ holiday romance
-dual POVs

Special thanks to Netgalley, Black Odyssey Media, and K.C. Mills for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I adored the opposites-attract vibes in this holiday romance! Noel’s Christmas spirit clashing with Kincaid’s grumpy, business-first attitude made for such fun tension. Their chemistry slowly building as they soften toward each other felt so cozy and sweet. A perfect festive read with just the right amount of heart and holiday magic!

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up...

This was such a cute cheeky Christmas rom-com. If you want to read a book that will have you giggling and kicking your feet while you're thrusted into the Christmas spirit, go ahead and add it to the cart. This will definitely be a reread during Christmas season! Noel loves love and all things Christmas and although this Christmas she isn't able to be with family, she's met with something or should I say someone who flips her world upside down! Can't wait to get my hands on the physical copy and snuggle up with a cup of hot chocolate and a snuggly blanket while I read!

This book was Hallmarky as hell, which is def what the author was going for. Noel was artsy and obsessed with Christmas, and thrown into forced proximity with a polar opposite. She, of course, taught him about the magic of Christmas. He was all sorts of uptight, but loosened up under Noel’s influence. They had their sexy and cute moments, but the book just wasn’t my fave.

Spice: 2/5

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, steamy, heartwarming and action-packed. It kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and will look for more books by this author.

I really thought I would have enjoyed this book but sadly I didn't. The book was well written, but the characters didn't resonate with me, and the romance fell short. I'll definitely check out K.C Mills' other work since I like her writing style. Thank You Netgalley for the arc of this book.

I enjoy reading this book so much! I couldn't put it down! I enjoyed the storyline and the emotions that I felt while
reading. I enjoyed the characters and their journey to love. I enjoy a good Christmas love story.

When it came to enjoying Christmas, Noel and Kanton couldn't be more different. As Scrooge, Kanton is, and Noel adores Christmas. Numerous little humorous moments were produced by seeing these two forced to interact. This story is best explained by picturing yourself watching a Hallmark or Lifetime holiday movie. It appears that the mean guy and the nice girl will set their differences aside in order to be in love. I think you would like this story if you appreciate these kinds of stories; it was a cute read for the holidays.

Thanks to NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for this read. This collection of three Christmas books in September was a great idea and I enjoyed all of them.

A great festive read. Noel and Kanton spend Christmas week together after a mix up with his accommodation. But he is from New York and she is happy in Atlanta so what happens at the end of the week? I liked how it was told from both points of view, and her friend Simone was great.

it’s never too early for #christmasromance 🎄 and with the right amount of spice 🌶️!!! 🙌 yes please!
If you’re looking for a book to read over the #holidayseason look 👀 no more! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
🎄
Noel Anderson-loves Christmas, well more like, obsessed with Christmas 🤣🎄🤣 She finds herself alone for the holidays after deciding she can’t afford for visit her parents during the holiday break 🤓
🎄 ➡️➡️➡️➡️ ENTER
Kanton Joseph- he’s in Atlanta on business and thru the magic of writing 💫 he finds himself sharing and apartment with Noel! Ah-hem, let’s just say Kanton is easy on the eyes but not a fan of Christmas 🎅🏽 think: SCROOGE!!!
🎄
Sparks will obs fly between these two! Think Hallmark movie with the perfect amount of witty dialogue, quirky characters and spice! 🌶️

Noel listed her apartment on Shared Space for Christmas week, planning on visiting her family for the Holidays and having a little more money coming in. But money is too tight and she can't afford a last minute ticket, so she decides to cancel her listing... What are the odds that at the same time, the man who has booked booked her apartment, Kanton, was confirming and she mistook the email confirmation for him for an email confirming her cancellation. They now have to share her appartment for the week...
This is an opposites attract, forced proximity Holiday romance. She's a Christmas enthusiast ( awoman named Noel who absolutely adores Christmas? How novel...) and he is a complete Scrooge. It felt a little flat, with a lot going on but not much happening, but if your in the mood for a cheesy Christmas romance, this one may help you scratch your itch!
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Christmas in Spite of You" begins with entrepreneur Noel needing a way to make some extra cash during the holiday season. Originally intending on renting out her apartment while she's out of town for Christmas, Noel ends up too sick to travel. Unfortunately, the rental cancellation fails, and in walks Kanton, a businessman determined to rent her space in order to use the space for networking opportunities. With neither party able to leave, the two decided to cohabitate for one week. Can they survive living in such a small space while battling opposing views on Christmas?

This was a cute holiday romance with a Grumpy x Sunshine/2 people, 1 bed plot. Some of the negatives- she starts off the book supposedly too sick to travel but then her symptoms never show up again. Additionally, it doesn't seem realistic for a man like Kanton who hates Christmas to be won over by forced shopping during the worst shopping season of the year and forced clothes-wearing. I also wish Noel had been more of an independent woman. It felt like the men in the story kept coming to her rescue. Kanton helps her with her business and also with her ex. Letting Kanton drive her car because "he insisted" really pissed me off. Overall, it was a cute story though.

*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***

I knew I was going to love this!

Christmas in Spite of You brings the cozy Hallmark vibes but adds a lot of laughs and steam. This is for fans of forced proximity and opposites attract.

Noel & Kanton were the epitome of grumpy x sunshine. These two had awesome banter and I really liked their chemistry. Noel loves Christmas and Kanton is Scrooge. Seeing these two forced to interact created a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. I loved how their relationship developed as well. I felt that they had a great connection once they started opening up to each other. I found their story to be very romantic and I definitely swooned. The steamy scenes were great too!

A perfect holiday romance!

Special thanks to the author & @iamblackodyssey for my advanced copy.

Another Christmas read in September somebody stop me now‼️

This was my first book by K.C. Mills and it was super cute. The author perfectly crafts a heartwarming read filled with romance, spice, passion, miscommunication, and of course a little drama. There was a slow build in the beginning but the premise was interesting enough to keep me engaged. Sharing your place with a complete stranger for the week because of a minor Airbnb mistake sounds outrageous. But it turned into the best week Noel and Kanton ever experienced.

Their relationship unfolded rather quickly at the expense of Kanton’s generosity. He wasn’t into the holiday’s much but it was something about Noel that brought out a different side of him. He was dropping a bag and didn’t even know this woman. Despite Noel’s initial irritation with Kanton she couldn’t deny there being a strong connection between the two or her physical attraction to him.

Kanton’s character was absolutely irresistible it was really his wordplay for me. Noel on the other hand was the hopeless romantic who still believed in love even though her last relationship took her through it. Them coming together was fate and Kanton proved to Noel why he was the perfect match for her even if their current situation was temporary. The run-ins with each other’s ex and the heat they brought in the bedroom was the highlight of the book for me.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and definitely recommend for the holidays. Everything was well-balanced from the dual perspectives, gaining insight on their backstories and past relationships, and seeing their feelings for each other being brought to the forefront. The author also explored themes of letting go of past heartbreaks, opening up to someone new, and the complexities surrounding uncertainty. Here’s another good read to add to your holiday TBR.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I really disliked the set up for this book and was worried that I would not like it but I'm so glad I kept reading because it was so worth it!

The circumstances that lead to Noel and Kanton meeting are straight out of a rom-com and this book will give you ALL the Christmas vibes (with the exception of snow because it's in Atlanta) Highly recommend if you want a cute feel good Christmas romance - there will be holiday themed outfits, tree shopping, gift chopping, and holiday movies.

I LOVE Kanton and Noel's relationship. Started off rocky but I enjoyed watching them get to know and fall for each other. So cute.

This book was such a cute story, I really enjoyed reading about Kanton & Noel falling in love during an unexpected trip 🥰 The Grumpy meets The Christmas Delight 🥰 !