Book Review: Christmas Ever After

I recently read Christmas Ever After by Jaimie Admans, and it was an absolute delight! This charming festive romance swept me into the enchanting world of Ever After Street, where magic and love intertwine in the most heartwarming ways.

Franca Andrews, the protagonist, had me rooting for her from the start. Running a struggling nutcracker shop during the bustling holiday season, she faces the seemingly insurmountable challenge of competing against Raff Dardenne, the talented snow globe maker. The tension between them was palpable and so well-written, capturing the essence of rivalry and the potential for something more.

What I loved most was how Franca’s character developed throughout the story. Initially consumed by frustration, she slowly discovers Raff’s kind, humorous side, revealing layers to him that make him incredibly relatable. Their chemistry crackled as they navigated their professional rivalry, and it was a joy to watch them evolve from adversaries to allies.

The setting itself was as vibrant as the characters. Admans paints a picturesque picture of a Christmas wonderland, filled with twinkling lights and holiday cheer. I could almost smell the gingerbread and hear the laughter echoing through the streets. The small-town charm added a cozy backdrop that made the festive atmosphere all the more enchanting.

Admans has a knack for blending humor with heartfelt moments. I found myself laughing out loud at some scenes while simultaneously feeling a tug at my heartstrings. The message of love, community, and believing in magic during the holiday season resonated deeply with me.

Overall, Christmas Ever After is the perfect read to curl up with during the holidays. It's a story about competition, understanding, and the unexpected magic that love can bring. If you're looking for an uplifting, romantic escape this winter, I highly recommend diving into this delightful book!

I had to dnf after the first couple of pages cause it made me uncomfortable and was gross. I get maybe it was supposed to be quirky and funny but it was not and if that is the writers humor I am not reading any further.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

Can there be anything more Christmassy than a story involving a nutcracker shop and a Snow Globe shop, I mean with the exception of setting the story in Santa’s village on the eve of the big day itself I’m thinking this maybe the most Christmas themed of reads I’ve read and it made me feel the full spirit of the season, even reading at the very end of August.

It’s always such a joy to read one of Jaime Adman’s books, I especially love her Ever After series as they are just so magical. In this book, Christmas Ever After we get to see some old faces (if you’ve read before) and also get to know some new ones. Whilst this is a book in a series and we see some previous characters, I definitely think it could be read as a stand-alone and not lose out on anything.

I absolutely love Christmas, its probably my favourite time of the year, just spending time with family and friends, this story reminded me so much why I love the season so much and made me more excited for the next couple of months. I love Ever After street and the thought and images iof walking through it, all decorated abd the cute shops, I just wanted Togo there myself even more !

I love the slow burn we have with Franca and Raff, and although it reads as enemies to lovers on the synopsis, they only stay enemies for a very short portion of the book (but no spoilers fro me) I loved their story, the family side of Christmas again highlights my joy of the season. This is simply a wonderful Christmas story that reminds me of all the best things about Christmas and it’s definitely going to be a seasonal reread now.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A lovely Christmas romance full of Christmas magic a heartwarming enemies to lovers book that I didn't want to end I now need to read the previous books in the series

The Blurb :
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but Franca Andrews has never felt more miserable. With business far from bustling, she needs a Christmas miracle to keep her beloved nutcracker shop open... But there’s one man standing in her way - expert snow globe maker Raff Dardenne.
Dardenne Snow Globes have a magical reputation for bringing lovers together, a myth that Raff continues to exploit, much to Franca’s annoyance! But this Christmas their shops are pitted against each other and only one gets to stay on Ever After Street. Franca doesn't know how her handmade nutcrackers are ever going to compete with Raff's magical snow globes, especially at the most magical time of the year!
Franca’s determined to prove Raff’s business is built on lies. But when disaster strikes, and she’s left unable to make anything, she needs help. It’s just very frustrating that the only person offering is her gorgeous, annoying, nemesis himself!
As these two enemies get to know each other, Franca discovers another side to Raff – kind, caring and funny. But unless she can prove that his magical snow globes can’t really match true lovers together, she’s going to lose everything…
But maybe it's not too late for them to put aside their differences and find some Christmas magic of their own?

My Thoughts :
Christmas Ever After, is part of the Ever After Street series.
In this story we focus on Franca Andrews who owns a Nutcracker shop and Raff Dardenne, maker of snow globes and owns a shop.
Neither of them see eye to eye and really dont get on, years ago Franca’s parents were matched by one of the Dardenne family snow globes made by Raff’s grandfather and had a very unhappy marriage.
She thinks its all a con and complains to the council, who then in turn decide that one of the shops need to go in the new year as both shops do not work in the street.
But when Franca has an accident with her fingers, she can no longer make her Nutcrackers, Raff offers to help and soon the couple are forced together and the sparks fly in more ways than one.
As we continue with the story can they fall in love or were they always destined to hate each other!?.
Once again Jaimie Admans delivers us a festive treat. I really loved the blurb for this story and knew it was one I had to pick up and read, seeing as I am a fan of her previous work.
We are soon dropped right into all the festivities and made to feel all warm and fuzzy with the surroundings. It was great to revisit some past characters aswell.
Jaimie Admans, creates a community that we can relate to and I feel I am always routing for the characters in question and wanting to live on the street.
Great supporting cast as always and a few treats added in for good measure.
Looking forward to more soon.

A lovely heartwarming read. Raff seemed like the perfect gentleman and I enjoyed reading about the cosy festive nights that Franca had with Raff’s family.

A great story to add to the Ever After Street collection. Already looking forward to the next one!

Loved it!!!! I would give the book 4.5 stars. So far this is my second favorite book in the series after "An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street." This book series are cute and fun reads, especially if you love all things surrounding Disney and fairytales. This book is all about Christmas. It's the perfect read for the holidays or anytime since I read it in September. It will get you in the mood for hot chocolate, nutcrackers, mistletoe, carols.....everything holiday related. When I first started reading, I wasn't too sure about the story. Franca and Raff were dreadful. I didn't want to read about two people hating each other that much. The bickering and the anger was just too much. They didn't even know each other. Franca kept going on and on about Jorge and how wonderful he was and how much she wanted to kiss him. Bad breath and an oink definitely changed her mind. After a terrible fall and some broken bones, the story changes. We get to see the real Franca and Raff. Franca's anger was completely displaced. She blamed the Dardennes for her parents' horrible marriage. Instead of making her parents accountable for their actions she blamed the snow globe creators. Loved getting to know Raff and Franca. Once they let go of their anger, they were perfect for each other. They wanted both shops to succeed and helped each other out. Raff's family is the best. They are all so loving and welcoming of Franca. Grandma Biddy is never without a martini in her hand, no matter the time of day. All around I loved the book. It made me laugh, smile and maybe a few sniffles at the end.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the story, characters and writing style. I want to visit Ever After Street and Christmas on Ever After Street. I would be friends with all the shopkeepers, except for Jorge. Hopefully there's more books in the series. This would make the perfect Christmas rom-com. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Boldwood Books, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Ahhhh my first Christmas book of the year and now I can’t wait to dive into more! This was a lovely read and has left me wanting to do some crafting activities this weekend,

I love Christmas but haven’t been much of a nutcracker fan but that may change after reading this! Although it would definitely have to be a hand crafted one…

The community of Ever After Street is present in this book and lots of familiar faces are mentioned but this is very focused on Raff and Franca which I really liked, you get lost in their worlds and I felt like I became friends with them both.

This is chocka block with Christmas festivities, from quality street, to Christmas markets and building gingerbread houses. Such a warm feeling spreads while reading this and it really did feel like you (and Franca) were getting a massive hug!

I’ve loved this series and the final one is no different.
Full of Christmas magic and romance. Franca runs a nutcracker shop and when a terrible accident brings her together with Raff who runs Loves is all Around something magical happens.
With Raff and Franca both struggling to keep their business afloat can they settle their differences and help each other out.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book

Jaimie Admans’ Christmas Ever After is the perfect festive finale to the beloved Ever After Street series, and it absolutely shines with heart, humour, and Christmas magic!
Franca has lost her love for Christmas, and after watching her parents’ marriage fall apart, she’s also given up on romance. Now, she channels all her energy into one-upping her longtime rival, Raff Dardenne, who owns a snow globe shop with a magical history of bringing couples together. Franca, meanwhile, is famous for her handcrafted nutcrackers, and the rivalry between them has been simmering for years. But when a humiliating accident during a live-streamed holiday event leaves Franca with broken fingers, everything changes. Unable to work, she finds herself reluctantly accepting help from none other than Raff—and soon, their feud begins to melt into something entirely unexpected.
Raff is a beautifully flawed character, and as Franca starts to see beyond their rivalry, the chemistry between them becomes irresistible. Their enemies-to-lovers journey is filled with touching moments and festive charm, making their romance feel magical. Watching Franca’s walls come down and her rediscovery of Christmas joy was both heartwarming and relatable, especially with Raff’s gentle support.
This story is more than just a romance—it's about healing, embracing love, and finding magic in the most unexpected places. I loved the return to Ever After Street, with its enchanting setting and the sense of community that brings the story to life. The small, whimsical touches, from nutcrackers to snow globes, add an extra layer of holiday warmth.
Christmas Ever After is a joyous, uplifting read that will leave you smiling long after the final page. Jaimie Admans has crafted a wonderfully cozy, festive love story, and I couldn't think of a better way to close out this enchanting series. If you’re a fan of holiday romance, this is an absolute must-read!

This is the last book in the last in the Ever After Street series and boy is it a beautiful ending to a beautiful series! I’ve loved every one and this is no exception!
The two main characters in this story are Franc and Raff. They are at loggerheads with each other and no one is backing down!
Unfortunately there is a bit of an accident and Raff manages to knock Franc off a stool while trying to do a kiss under the mistletoe for the start of the Ever After Street Christmas, drawing customers in from far and wide to buy all their Christmas wares. The trouble is that it’s a live stream and the whole awful episode is live online! Feeling awful about it, Raff attempts to help Franc, although they have a notice by the council that whoever sells the most through December will keep their shop while the other one loses theirs.
It’s a truly joyous read, making you want all that the characters have. A loving family, a perfect Christmas…. we can only hope!! I was left with a warm feeling inside when I finished this book.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #TheBoldBookClub, #JaimieAdams1

I'm thoroughly enjoying the Ever After Street Series so was looking forward to reading the latest book.

After Franca’s injury, the person who helps her most is Raff, although she cannot tolerate being in the same room as him. This changes as she gets to know him, which leads to some sweet moments and also some humorous ones. By the end I was rooting for both of them and their shops to stay on the Street.

I had very mixed feelings on Franca for a lot of the book but warmed to her as her realisation grew. Raff, on the other hand was so sweet and such a gentleman. I adored his family, especially when they welcomed Franca in and helped her see the magic of Christmas again.

A lovely enemies-to-lovers, slow burn story with all the magic of Christmas that makes for a heart-warming read.

Christmas Ever After
Jaimie Admans

“No one is ever too old to believe in magic.”

Ok this book was magical, I simply adored this and the sweet romance and realistic characters. The was the perfect balm to restore joy and festive cheer ahead of the busiest time of the year. I do know if Christmas Ever After lane was a real place I would be certain to visit.

“The broken fingers have revealed how many other parts of my life are broken. One spinning plate falls and all others falter too, like a ripple effect.”

Christmas Ever After was such a delightful holiday romance read and the perfect start to kick off my festival reads. It has feel - good characters, small town charm, second chances, found family and most importantly the magic of finding love in the most unexpected of ways.

“I’m yours. Metaphorically speaking.”

Welcome to Ever After Street and its little sister Christmas Ever After where every shop is festively themed. Franca owns the Nutcracker shop and her arch nemesis Raff Dardenne owns Dardenne Snow Globes, which has a magical reputation for bringing lovers together, a myth that Raff continues to exploit much to Franca’s annoyance. With their Christmas shops pitted against each other and only one will get to stay on Ever After Street, tensions will definitely boil over.

“You’re telling me that the entire Dardenne legacy is based on wishful thinking and the power of suggestion? Come off it, Raff!”

Will they be able to put aside their differences and find some Christmas magic of their own?
Magical matchmaking snow globes aren’t a real thing, or are they?

‘And it all starts to make sense. Horrible, profiteering, money-grabbing sense.’

Massive thank you to @jaimieadmans1 and @theboldbookclub. Christmas Ever After is out now!

Do you have a favourite Christmas shop? Mine is in Scotland, it’s open all year around and every time I’m on the Royal Mile (Edinburgh) I always go in and buy a handmade ornament.I have far too many now but it’s a little tradition I love. 💝

(Review posted 10th September 2024)

It was lovely to visit Ever After Street again, catching up with old characters and being introduced to new ones. Jaimie's books are such a joy to read, they remind me of Hallmark movies. Her characters are so lovely and have such depth. I loved getting to know Franca and Raff. Their chemistry from the start was fantastic. I'm so looking forward to the next book in the series. I'm definitely feeling the Christmas spirit after finishing this.

This was such a cute Christmas novel. I haven't read the Ever After Street Series and read this book as a standalone.
I really liked the two main characters Franca and Raff.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In a Nutshell: A sweet standalone continuation to the Ever After Street series. Christmassy vibes, loveable lead characters, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. Somewhat slow in tempo and not much conflict, but the emotions in the story trivialise the shortcomings. A heartwarming read for Christmas time.

Plot Preview:
After her career as a ballerina came to an abrupt end, Franca has been running her own nutcracker shop on Christmas Ever After, a festive offshoot of the Ever After Street. However, her shop might now be in danger, thanks to an unexpected competition pitting her against her “pet nemesis” Raff Dardenne and his snow globe shop. As they have been told that only one of their shops can continue on Ever After Street, it is going to be a fierce battle.
When an accident leads to an injury, Franca is forced to accept assistance from the only person capable of helping her out. And it turns out, Raff isn’t really the nemesis kind. Will the two be able to put aside their differences and save both their shops? Or will one of them be forced to say goodbye to their dream vocation?
The story comes to us in Franca’s first-person perspective.

I had always wanted my 1000th NetGalley review to be for a special book, so it thrills me that I achieved this milestone with a Jaimie Admans work. This is my sixth book by Admans, and at this point, I doubt I have anything original left to say about her novels. She continues to be the only romance author whose books I grab without even reading the blurb.

Bookish Yays:
😍 Raff might not be not as charismatic as Admans’ earlier leading men (Her own fault for setting such high standards of book boyfriends!), but he is still adorably perfect except for his hatred of spiders. I love how his arc depicted how the pressure of living up to your family’s expectations can affect you, even if the family is supportive.
😍 Franca is also amazing. Though she acts younger than her 38 years, at least she is not all cutesy and gushy like typical romcom heroines. While she does have her goofy quirks and biases, she isn’t afraid to use her head and her heart simultaneously. I loved her independent spirit that doesn’t stop her from accepting help when needed.
😍 While the blurb makes this appear like an enemies-to-lovers romcom, the ‘enemies’ part of the story hardly lasts for a couple of chapters. (Which was great news for me as I am not a big fan of enemies-to-lovers.) This story is more liked enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, and the progression is slow and steady. Loved it!
😍 Wholesome romance that gives all the feels without resorting to steam. Yay for me, might be a Nay for others. To me, clean romances over spicy, slowburn over insta, love over lust, friends over enemies – no exceptions.
😍 Raff and Franca also show the challenges of running a small business in a megacorp-oriented world (though I am not sure if their idea of celebrity nutcrackers can be implemented without copyright violations), of handling high expectations, of acceding to your family’s wishes even when your dreams lie another way. They are two individuals trying to handle past hurt and present uncertainties the best way they can, which makes their arcs believable and relatable.
😍 Several other loveable characters who, even in their limited roles, create a mark. Chief among these are the members of the Dardenne family, especially little Sophia and Grandma Biddy (except for the latter’s insistence on happiness being found only as a couple. Let’s put this down as a quirk of the aged.) I also loved Mrs. Bloom, and would like to see more of her in the rest of this series.
😍 Christmas Ever After is a slightly new venue, as all the earlier books have been on the main Ever After Street. But this little Christmassy offshoot offers a nice location for such a storyline. Plus, several characters and locations from the earlier books make an appearance, making us feel the closeness of the locations and the people.
😍 Loads of lovely Christmassy vibes in this story, right from carol singing to nativity plays to gifts to calorie-loaded lunches. I felt like I already reached December!
😍 While I am no fan of ‘The Nutcracker and the Mouse King’, which serves as the theme for this book, I loved how the story uses both nutcrackers and snow globes as actual plot devices than as background embellishments. I also loved learning the technicalities behind the making of nutcrackers.
😍 The plotline this time is the most understated of the series. There is no OTT drama or forced-in conflicts. The story progresses on natural human actions and reactions, which feels refreshing. There is a great balance between funny scenes and emotional moments.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
🤔 Loads of touchy-feely stuff in the content – touching of arms, brushing of hair, nudges, winks, shoves,… I usually complain a lot about such things, but I am kinda getting used to this as it is a standard feature of almost every Jaimie Admans book (Dear author, every time I read those scenes, I pictured you giving me a sneaky side-eye and a smirk!), and I am even willing to admit that those scenes were super-duper cute in this book. (Has this author finally managed to coerce this Grinch onto the other side of the touchy-feely fence? Time shall tell!)
🤔 Franca is a bit too obsessed with her supposed weight issues. While I appreciate this angle as it is so true to life, I think it could have been used better in the plot, maybe towards some kind of a self-realisation that she is not what her weighing scale says. As the writing was in her first-person perspective, it would have been great to see her verbalising her acceptance of her size and that it didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Regardless, I love the realistic way in which her insecurities about her weight were included in the story. (As a lifelong sufferer of BDD even before I knew the term or that it was a mental health condition, I really connected to Franca’s vulnerability on this aspect.)

Bookish Nays:
😕 This is not a Nay of the book but of the cover art. Only with this fourth book of the Ever After series did it strike me that even though the series has attempted to be somewhat different in its couples’ appearance (a bespectacled MMC in Book One, an MMC with major facial scarring in Book Two, a blue-haired MMC in Book Three, an FMC with mild body dysmorphia due to being slightly overweight in this fourth book), the book covers never reflect this. They always depict a picture-perfect, cookie-cutter-moulded romcom couple. Why? Even if the covers are gorgeous, readers would surely love to see the couple more accurately and might even appreciate the way they stand out.

All in all, Jaimie Admans’ performance streak continues untarnished in my reading list. She has never failed to deliver on semi-magical plots, memorable characters, astounding settings, clean romance, heartfelt emotions, and a HEA. This book retains all the positives of her writing.

Much recommended to readers of clean romances. You cannot go wrong with a Jaimie Admans work when you want something sweet and *touching*. [Pun intended!]

4.25 stars.

My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for a complimentary copy of 'Christmas Ever After' via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

The digital version of this book is currently available free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

For the first time, the author’s note reveals to us the next character that this series will focus on. The character’s unusual name had caught my eye while reading this book, and that, combined with the business she runs, are sure to make the next book an interesting one as well. Eagerly looking forward to it!

This book is actually book number four from the Ever After Street series of books. Each book can very easily be read as a stand alone with no problems at all.

Anyone who knows me will know that i love christmas books and this one was wonderful. I now actually want to go and live in Ever After Street and absorb all its goodness! It sounds perfect!!

The characters were all wonderful and we do come across some familiar faces from previous books which was a nice touch.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was Christmassy and heartwarming and funny and romantic and sweet and it definitely left me with a warm fuzzy feeling too…….

This is the perfect get ready for the season book. I love enemies to lovers and my family also has both a nutcracker & snow globe collection so reading about France & Raff was so fun for me. The book was sweet and a lovely Christmas romance to get you singing deck the halls.

It may be an unpopular opinion but I did not enjoy Christmas Ever After. It took me over two weeks to finish this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.