It is always good to know you can count on Katie Reus to give you a warm and cosy (and a little non- conventional) Christmas Holiday. Last Christmas we got to enjoy Eliana and Theo and this year it’s ‘auntie Elli’s’ turn to help out her ‘niece’ Nessa.

Because Nessa is in need of a father and she has decided that neighbor Dante would be the best candidate to become her dad. When Dante screws up, Elli ensures that she sets up Aileen with a decent guy. Just to get Dante jealous.

But then, strange Santa’s start to harass Aileen. What’s up with that? A little suspense, a lot cuteness and a great meddling group of family and friends. Perfect for the Christmas time. Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

This review will be posted to IG and Goodreads the week of 11/4/24. I will be including details on tropes and book description on my IG page. I will add the links to both sites once they are posted.

If you are looking for a fun fast holiday romance that has comedy, suspense, and all the festive holiday vibes... this book is for you. I didn’t realize that this book was actually the second in a series until I looked at author’s list of stories online. I enjoyed this book. It covers some tough topics for a holiday story but overall it had just enough lighthearted moments to make sense. Side note, the chapter headings tied in perfectly with the story. By far my fav was “Keep calm and get your ho, ho. ho on.” That made me cackle. Overall a solid 3.5 read for me.

Another fun light holiday story by Katie Reus. This is the second book in this series with the first one coming out last year. In a community of hitmen, her parents, brother and sister in law a part of the community, there is one neighbor and hitman, Dante, that Aileen and her daughter want in a bad way. I loved the character of Dante as he had all the qualities of someone who could kill, but also had a quiet strength about it which he tried to show Aileen and Nessa. He was also the very jealous type! A cute light romantic suspense.

This was a very enjoyable read, Aileen is in a unique family and she rolls with the punches. Dante is that "unique" part of it. He needs a little push and he gets it and a lot more than he bargained for, but he's ready and willing. Hitmen, hilarity and family, all parts that you need for forever. Nice easy one sitting read.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

Would like to thank NetGalley and publisher for letting me read this book

A quick read that has all the elements you come to expect from this author

When you proposition your neighbour you have to hope he will respond but when he doesn’t well that’s just plain embarrassing

But it’s not quite what think because said neighbour has been in love with her for years and he never thought she would ever feel as brave to approach him with that offer

A fun read though with some serious issues

Dante has been in love with Aileen for a long time and she has felt the same but neither wanted to risk their friendship to pursue more. Aileen’s daughter Nessa goes to Elli, her aunt, to seek help because she wants a Dad for Christmas and she wants it to be Dante. There’s so much fun and adventure that it keeps you engaged. The family dynamics are heartwarming and hilarious. I read this fast and enjoyed every minute.

Only Katie Reus can make you fall for a hitman! Aileen and Dante had been friends, both hiding their attraction. When Aileen is threatened, Dante steps up to the plate. (And eventually saves the girl!)

The second book in this series brings us Aileen Contos who has gradually recovered from the trauma she suffered while in college. The birth of her daughter, Nessa, has brought so much joy into her life. Now that Nessa is eleven, it is time for her to move on with her life and she hopes that life is with Dante, a member of her unusual family group. Dante, along with her parents, brother and several of the neighbors are “hitmen”. They have their own neighborhood that was constructed for their privacy and their career “talent”. Dante is very interested in a relationship with Aileen, but he has been cautious due to her past trauma. He wonders, is she ready to open her heart to love? When a mugger dressed as Santa steals her purse, luckily for her, her phone and cash were in her pocket. Dante’s protective mode is now on high alert and when another Santa tries to carjack her, she is able to call the police. Dante, along with her entire family, is determined to catch the fake Santa…and find out who is so interested in her phone and why. Suspense, humor, danger and laugh out loud dialog, loved it! Hoping there will be another in this series, maybe Hudson? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I had not read the previous book and it is not necessary to enjoy this book but after reading this book, I really want to read the book with Elli and Theo!

What a family to be part of and when you are having issues, they can come through for you! Aileen has lived her life with her family being in the hitman business and secretly has wanted more with her best friend, Dante, another hitman.

I loved that there were clues for me to pick up and was able to figure out who the person behind the attacking Santa's and even why this might be happening to Aileen.

She was such a great mom and I loved her interaction with her family and Dante.

Hope there will be more books with this hitman series!

In keeping with the slightly off-kilter title, this isn't a dark, angsty or tortured romance. It's very much filled with the holiday spirit, featuring likable lead characters (even if one of them is a hitman), plenty of holiday scenes, an adorable 11 YO who wants a father for Christmas, and a slightly crazy, matchmaking BFF.

Aileen is a single mom who's been celibate for 12 years as a result of the incident that resulted in her smart 11 YO daughter. She is surrounded by hitmen and women, including her own parents and brother. Her best friend, Dante is also a hitman. But don't worry, they only kill bad guys. When Aileen turns to Dante to break her draught, it turns out to be perfect timing as someone with bad intentions has her in their sights and is intent on causing her harm.

Dante was a sweetheart with Aileen, patiently waiting for years for her to be ready to start a relationship, never pressuring her and generally being present for whatever she needed. Aileen, though is no pushover. She survived trauma, has thrived, and won't let Dante take over her life or make decisions for her, much as his protective instincts push him to do so. I enjoyed this story, and my only complaint is that it was a bit too short (long novella length) and while it was great for a quick afternoon read, I wish it had been a bit longer. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Darling next segment to this series! I loved these characters and it was delightful to be on their happy ending journey. I can't wait to see who we get next Christmas!

I only wish this had included more. It was a good story and I love the characters! It felt rushed in some parts that seemed like they could have had a bigger impact with a bit more depth.

This book has a very cute and interesting story. I have not read a story about a family of hitmen before. I enjoy that it takes place around the holidays, I think that the main characters have a cute love journey together. However, there were quite a few things that felt very underdeveloped. I think that the story really jumps in too fast into this world of hitmen in the neighborhood and I found myself a bit confused honestly as to how Dante and Aileens friendship had been before the story started. Clearly he had been in the picture a bit, but it had not been very well established before they jumped into the him helping her with sex. The holiday theme with the Santa's being the threats was cute, but the attacks and then subsequent discovery of who was behind it all felt really rushed.

Overall a cute story with a HEA, but it felt a bit lacking, like I wanted a bit more background and depth to the characters for this story.

I loved this story about Dante and Aileen. Who would not enjoy a story about a neighborhood of assassins at Christmas? This was well written and I loved our couple. Aileen was a single mom and Dante had loved her from afar. There is a misunderstanding, a couple of fake Santas who threaten Aileen, danger, afoot, and funny scenes, I would definitely recommend this book. I just wish it was a little longer. I was given an arc from Net Galley but this is my honest review.

Aileen’s daughter Nessa wants a dad for Christmas, specifically Dante. So, she enlists help from her Aunt Elli. Aileen's first date with Elli's friend ends with her being mugged. When she’s accosted a second time it’s clear something is up and her family and Dante are just the professionals to figure it out.

This was a cute Christmas story with mischief and mayhem.. I loved how Elliana and Theo, from the first book, were incorporated into this story, along with other family & friends.

I received this advance review copy from NetGalley & the publisher for my honest review.

Absolutely an enjoyable read. Amazing characters that had me glued to my kindle. Definitely must one click this book

I had a blast reading this book.

Holidays and hit-peeps. I'm down for it. Somehow, its fun, sexy and involves an inordinate amount of hit-peeps. Aileen is a single mother who has been in a LONG dry spell. She finally works up the nerve to ask Dante to help her over her long dry spell. He's a no go, until she's robbed by santas and squirrely things begin to happen to her. Dante then goes into overprotective hitman mode. Its kind of sweet.
Recommend.

A very different Christmas book about a family and others around who are hitmen or have to do with that business. Dante the hitman has been in love with Aileen but has done nothing about it. Aileen's daughter has now with the help of her Aunt put a plan into motion because she wants a family and she feels that they like each other but that her mother is scarred. The plan begins and Dante is hooked and you are in for a fun story that is a different Christmas story but one that is very much worth the read. Very good characters along with the story.

For a fun, tongue in cheek Christmas romance be sure to check out A Very Merry Hitman by Katie Reus. Even though it has the word hitman in the name it is all about being two neighbors being crazy about each other and one little girl who has decided to play matchmaker. Then it all seems to go crazy as Aileen does seem to be in danger, but no one knows why.

The family are all hitmen or hitwomen, which is rather unusual to start with in this story. I would have like it better if maybe they had been in security or something not so drastic of a profession. Dante seemed like a nice guy but one that killed other people. Reminded me a little of that Jack Nicholson movie from long ago but with a much better ending. Nessa was the star of this story for me.

It's the most wonderful time of the year because there's a new Katie Reus holiday hitman rom com! A Very Merry Hitman follows How the Hitman Stole Christmas. Theo was our leading man in the first book and this one features his sister, single mom Aileen. Aileen had a traumatic incident happen when she was a young girl in college. Since then she lives in the same neighborhood as her parents and brother where she's been busy raising her daughter. Her closest friend is Dante. He's a fellow hitman with her brother who also has been keeping a secret. He's been in love with Aileen from the moment that he met her. When Aileen approaches Dante with an unconventional idea, he's shocked but also very interested. The problem is that strange Santas keep attacking Aileen. Dante plans to not only get to the bottom of this mystery but he also plans to get his girl! A Very Merry Hitman was so much fun! lots of laughter, some action and a bit of heat for the holidays. It was told from dual POV and stands alone, however I highly recommend reading How the Hitman Stole Christmas too because it was equally wonderful.