Probably one of my favorite Tessa Bailey books. The heroine was grumpy--but not-so-much after all. And I loved Aiden. He was the perfect match for her--the best at getting her to open up and be happy.
Not so much the Christmassy vibe I was going for. But the romance was great!

I love Tessa Bailey's books and this one was no exception!

If you're looking for a cozy Christmas read - with a little spice - then you're going to want to read this one!! It's the perfect romance book to get you in the Christmas spirit! It's a pretty quick read too which is nice sometimes if you're not wanting to commit to a really long story!

Summary:
Just two weeks before Christmas, Manhattan sparkles with festive red and green. Stella, standing alone outside a famed department store, is approached by a dashing man who seeks her opinion on the holiday decorations.

Brutally honest, she calls it a “tragedy in tinsel.” Little does she know, the charming stranger owns the store and has just put her on the spot. Now, she's working for him, trying to focus on the job while battling her growing attraction to the incredibly handsome boss.

Despite her challenging past and recent hardships, Stella seizes the opportunity with determination, giving her all to her work. But as she strives to resist the irresistible temptation, she finds herself caught in a whirlwind of holiday romance, realizing that sometimes, even the best window shopper can find their heart’s desire.

I really enjoyed this read!! Tessa Bailey is an auto buy author for me!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tessa Bailey and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This was definitely the kind of holiday romance you can't go wrong with. A bit of opposites-attract love, some impactful character growth, and a super spicy action between Stella and Aiden made it a quick, satisfying can't-put-down read. I've already recommended it to friends! Tessa Bailey did what she does best, making a light, enjoyable, easy read with a holiday twist.

Absoltutly loved this, if you enjoy Tessa’s other books you will love this one too. Also. The love intresst being inspired Ted Lasso yes I’m 100% in!

The perfect book to get you in the holiday mood!

I loved everything about this book. It's a fast moving, steamy rom-com that will make you ready to deck the hall. Highly recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Very classic Tessa Bailey. Steamy and frothy, but a fun read. Perfect for people who like contemporary romance.

I really enjoyed this one. I’m a huge fan of Tessa and always love her stuff. This was short, sweet and had a great developed plot.

I’m so embarrassed to say that I bought and read this in 2022–I just didn’t realize it. That said, I’m not a re-reader in general, but decided to read this one again and I loved it all the same. Tessa Bailey just can’t go wrong and Stella might just be one of my fave heroine’s to date. Loved this one—again!

This heartwarming holiday romance beautifully captures the theme of second chances. The story centers on Stella, a woman trying to rebuild her life, and Aiden, the charming co-owner of a Manhattan department store. Their paths cross when Stella critiques a Christmas window display, leading to an unexpected job offer and a blossoming romance. Stella's cynicism contrasts perfectly with Aiden's optimism, creating an engaging and endearing dynamic. Bailey's signature mix of humor, romance, and just the right amount of spice makes this novella a delightful read. The characters' growth and the festive New York setting add extra layers of charm, making it a perfect holiday treat.

A sizzling, standalone, feel-good holiday romance from Tessa Bailey, New York Times bestselling author of It Happened One Summer.

Tessa Bailey has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Just two weeks before Christmas, Stella, a self-professed goth girl who has recently been released from prison, stands in front of a window display at Vivant in New York City. A man, Aiden Cook, approaches her, and asks for her opinion of the display, attempting to pick her brain about the decor. Before she knows it, Stella has been hired by Aiden to improve the window displays at Vivant.

What I absolutely love about this book is the gender role reversal. Stella, is a grumpy, just out of prison, self-proclaimed goth girl loaner. After years of making bad decisions, Stella is trying to turn over a new leaf, despite her tough exterior. Aiden is the optimistic, Christmas-loving, all-around nice guy. His southern charm and wacky stories about Aunt Edna make him a genuinely fun character.

This book will be one I want to re-read during the holidays!

Nothing like a spicy Christmas read! Anything with Tessa Bailey flies off the shelves at my library, and it's easy to see why. While I don't like this one as much as the last one, it's still definitely worth reading.

✨Book Review✨

Window Shopping - Tessa Bailey

📖 It’s two weeks before Christmas and Stella is standing in front of the worst storefront window she’s ever seen. It’s a disaster, kind of like her life right now. She recently finished her sentence behind bars and now that she has freedom she’s not sure what she should do with it. Too bad window dressing is out of the question, who would hire a convict? Enter a handsome man on the street who asks Stella what she thinks of the window, and when she answers honestly and paints her picture of what it could be - he encourages her to apply for the open position. Could the future be bright for Stella?

📚 This Christmas novel is sweet and salty all wrapped into one. We’ve got a semi-grumpy heroine and a positive, sunshine main male character. I loved that we got POV from each character throughout the story. I loved that Stella spent time in prison, what a fascinating character background to have!

🌟 If you’re looking for a smutty Christmas read then cuddle up with this book. It is explicit in the bedroom scenes.

Have you read this one yet? I got my copy from @Netgalley - it’s being rereleased this October, so keep an eye out!

#BookReview #TessaBailey #WindowShopping #NetGalley #BookLover #Bookstagram

This story was wonderful. A love at first sight from the male point of view. Stella had issues he could see past and want the best for her. She grew strength from his love. Wacky personalities on both sides but what a ride.

The book is likely to engage readers aged 45 and under. Although the plot presents an intriguing concept, the explicit sexual content may not appeal to all readers. By including realistic elements, the story aims to connect with its audience. However, fully accepting the main premise might pose a challenge. The probability of securing and maintaining a job post-prison release seems unrealistic.

A spicy-sweet grumpy-sunshine workplace holiday romance set in a Manhattan department store. Perfect holiday read: quick and fun, but with enough depth that the specifics of the happy ending had me in tears, and genuinely surprised. Thank you to NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyage for digital review copy.

This romance novel enchants with its heartfelt storyline and vividly drawn characters, pulling readers into a tale of love and self-discovery. The author beautifully captures the complexities of relationships, blending passion and tenderness with just the right amount of tension. Its emotional depth and captivating twists make it an unforgettable read for fans of the genre.

This is such a cute Christmas story. Aiden is such a great character and I love the juxtaposition of both main character's personalities in this book.

3.44

Two things to get out of the way at the start. The first is that this is apparently a republishing of a previous Tessa Bailey book from 2021. I didn’t know that until I was flipping through the first pages. It also explains why several parts referred to being the first since the pandemic. The second is that this is very much a Tessa Bailey book. If you don’t know what that means, she is known for her very, VERY descriptive sex scenes.

I still somehow enjoy most of her books that I’ve read and almost forget about how much sex is in them until I start reading a new one. A few have had dynamics that I felt were too imbalanced that the relationship was not healthy to say the least. In this case, the characters are concerned about the imbalance, or sometimes perceived imbalance. It gets a little tricky because, though Aiden is truly a nice guy, he is in a position of power and authority. I don’t just mean as the head of the iconic department store, or even necessarily just as her boss. He comes from an educated, successful background, is a little older, and has no real concept of what Stella has been through, other than his own challenging upbringing that has also made him empathetic. When he asked her questions about her sexual preferences, she doesn’t even know how to answer because, aside from having been in prison, she didn’t seem to have much experience prior to that.

It’s a little bit hard to determine the motivation for their actions because some people do have those type of connections and some people just people are just more amazing in certain ways than others you’ve met. However, Stella had only been out of prison for barely a month when she met him so her world was in a tailspin with no one for support. After all, she was still living like she was assigned to a bunk in the corner. He was taught to be a caretaker and didn’t want to disappoint people, so in walks this messy, but beautiful project that he gets to nurture and love and who would love him back. Self-control doesn’t matter if you ultimately do it anyway.

As an aside, even though this is an interesting and unrealistic take on things , it does highlight how challenging it can be for one who’s been released from prison to avoid recidivism. I agree that, in many cases, they have made their proverbial bed, but why let them out if there is no chance to even minimally succeed? If they can’t get a job and don’t know people in places who would go out of their way to break the rules for them to get one, what do we expect? I think that Aiden was really drawn to Stella because of her response to the window and her ideas, but it doesn’t go unmentioned how attractive he finds her, which is why he goes to the trouble of tracking her down and giving her a second and third chance at interviewing for the job. It’s not hard to imagine why Nicole got into so much trouble, why Stella would feel guilty about not giving her all the support she could, or how successful Nicole could actually be without any support. Even if Nicole’s intentions good, if Stella had only just gotten a minimum-wage job, had to pay for a place to live, and didn’t have a support network, both of them would have been in jeopardy. We won’t get into the fact that they probably couldn’t live together and that there didn’t seem to be any other parole limitations.

Having said all that, if you feel like or can get around the complicated socio-economic and power dynamics and the explicit sex scenes, it’s a cute and unique idea for a holiday romance and a quick read!
Thank you to the author Tessa Bailey, NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

3/5 stars

I enjoyed this one and the two leads were lovely. I liked how aware they both were of the power dynamic and the exploration of Stella's friendship with Nicole.

However, I kind of... read the whole book and was surprised that was it. I thought it was really slow buildup and then the plot would get going, only to learn that <i>was</i> the plot. Additionally, I couldn't suspend my disbelief enough about how Aiden found Stella to hire her. My last gripe was Stella's insistence that she couldn't sign the paperwork, which I think could be a Me thing, but it wasn't like she was signing a marriage contract.

Overall, this book is a bit unrealistic, but good for a fun time.