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Bea and Charlie were together when they were 18, they broke up and now they have a second chance when they go on a Christmas vacation with their families.

•second chance
•novella
•best friends to lovers
•he takes care of her
• She’s a romance reader
(The scene I'm thinking of is hilarious, but is a spoiler)
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This was a cute, quick, spicy Christmas read. This is the third book in the Winter Wanderlust series

Thank you NetGalley and Liz Alden for an arc!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was super cute! I loved the second chance romance trope and all the holiday vibes. This book had so many moments that made me laugh out loud. It also had just the right amount of spice.

This was a cute holiday read. I liked both Charlie and Bea as characters and really enjoyed their family dynamic. I only wish there was a little more romance. We know that they were once sweethearts but split 8 years ago when Charlie went off to college and left Bea behind. They've also spent all those Christmases together since then with their families, but didn't rekindle that relationship and kept their distance. So now it's 8 years later and they're once again spending Christmas together in NY with their families. Charlie is trying to sell his company so he can take a step back and start a family with the love of his life, Bea. She doesn't know any of that when the book begins though. But after Bea pushes him off for a while, she gives in and they start their romance back up. But the romance was so abrupt and short that it honestly didn't feel believable to me. We're told they were perfect together in the past and we only get a small glimpse into their current life together over just a few days. So I wasn't feeling the intense connection that I should have felt with a couple who had spent so many years together. I'd have rather been shown than told they loved each other. I'm a fan of this author and enjoyed the last book, so I still recommend this series to those who like a sweet Christmas-like romance.

This is the second Christmas novella I’ve read from Liz Alden and yet again, I wasn’t disappointed. Liz Alden really deserves more recognition – I think people who enjoy reading Elsie Silver would LOVE these spicy romances!

Charlie and Bea are exes whose families are such close friends they spend every Christmas together. This year is no different, except Charlie has decided he wants Bea back. Lots of cute banter between the two and I appreciated that it wasn’t overly Christmassy but just enough! Liz’s travel theme continues as this one is set in upstate New York, in a small town.

One quick point of confusion – in Chapter 26. I read this 3 times as I thought I’d missed it, but Bea says “I love you too” but Charlie hasn’t said it in the first place (or alluded to anything similar). I assumed this got edited out but it had me reading it and rereading! This is a big spoiler so won’t post this part on public reviews.

Ghost of Ex-mas Past is book three in the Winter Wanderlust series by Liz Alden..
A great spicy second chance novella.
A sweet romance with a bit of spice to heat things up! I really enjoyed the characters and the will they/won't they aspect of the story.
This holiday novella is super cute.
I need to read book one Nutcracker with Benefits. Because the second two are so good!

Thank You NetGalley and Liz Alden for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

He didn't value what he had and tossed it aside for eight years....

Charlie isn't that bright. He's very self centered and never thinks of Bea's needs and wants.
He isn't a well thought out character. He had a boner for Bea when they were neighbors, they went out and then he tossed it aside so he could move to CA and make tons of money. The only reason he is selling his company is because he has burnout and he certainly hasn't been celibate since he dumped Bea.

Bea is blindsided when she has to drive Charlie to Here from NY. He's trying to sell his company and there's some shady going on that her company caught. Bea is long suffering after being dumped by Charlie and is still single. I was frustrated for her, as there was no atonement, no acknowledgment of what a first class douche Charlie was to her.

In this second chance Xmas romance, 10 years ago, Bea and Charlie were best friends and HS sweethearts but their relationship did not survive after Charlie left their small town to go to Stanford while Bea stayed home and started working.

Because their parents are best friends, the families typically spend Xmas week and other major holidays/life events together but Bea and Charlie otherwise have no contact. Both have tried to move on with others, but neither has been able to sustain a serious relationship. However, this time, Charlie is determined to see if there might be some life still in their relationship, while Bea feels her defenses against him weakening.

There was plenty of spice, fun banter, and cozy, small town winter vibes in this romance, perfect for the season. I also loved that both Bea and Charlie were not perfect. Bea admittedly was lonely and was coming to realize that she held everyone at arms length. Charlie occasionally had strong anxiety attacks and had learned how to cope with them through therapy. Overall, a fun Xmas themed novella, perfect to put you in the holiday mood. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

This was a sweet, lighthearted and quick read. The chemistry between Charlie & Bea was amazing and I liked the forced proximity settings(exes spending eight Christmases together since they split up). The writing was great and I was rooting for Bea & Charlie to reconcile. I got how they drifted apart but him wanting to suddenly get her back after eight years confused me a bit. Still, there were definitely sparks between them and the dual pov helped me understand more about their feelings. Also, I loved how Bea & Charlie's parents were so close and I liked their family dynamics. Overall, I found this story to be quite enjoyable and if you're looking for a lively and short holiday read, then you can pick this one up! So, my rating for this one would be a solid 3.25 stars!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

The perfect second chance romance for the holiday season. I love the Hallmark vibe that this entire story has. I can picture reading this next to a cozy fire, warm blanket and cup of tea with holiday music in the background.

Two childhood friends, that became lovers, then reunite after 8 years apart on their annual family Christmas trip. Bea and Charlie are great together and have some heat to keep the cold winter away!

I loved this light-hearted romantic story. The little situations that the characters find themselves in while still trying to get to know each other again, the skiing, the wood chopping (iykyk), it all has great banter and chemistry!

Their families all have such wonderful development throughout the book and support the relationship all the way. There is no miscommunication trope, or break up that tears them back apart, which I absolutely loved.

A cute, lighthearted second chance romance- I enjoyed the story, and found relatable qualities with the characters- However it was a bit unbelievable at times. Still worth the read!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This book is a short entertaining second-chance romance. The main characters are likable enough but the story is not too believable. Apart from having still chemistry there is no real reason why -after spending a week together every year seven years in a row - Bea and Charlie should decide that now is the time for getting back together. Still a sweet and hot novella.

Cute and Llight-hearted are two key words for this second- chance novella.

Bea and Charlie broke up eight years ago, but their parents are best friends so they get to spend Christmas together every year.

But, and this is a big but, even though I enjoyed reading about it, it was a bit off that Charlie suddenly felt it was his time to get Bea back. I get the reason why they broke up, I get the explanation he gave us for drifting apart for eight years, but they still kept meeting every Christmas. This is the main thing that put me off.

All in all is a nice reading and I thank NetGalley and publisher for this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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This was a super cute and fun read. I really liked the banter between Bea and Charlie. I literally laughed out loud a few times and I could definitely relate to Bea in many aspects. The storyline wasn’t anything new but it was an easy, fast and enjoyable read. If you are looking for a Christmas-y story, this is probably not it. It was mostly focused on Bea, Charlie and their family who just happen to be spending Christmas together. I read this in mid October so that wasn’t an issue for me.

**Ghost of Ex-mas Past: 4/5**
**Spice: 3/5**

I dove into this book without a clue—no description, just the intriguing title—thinking it would be the perfect cozy October read. Boy, was I off the mark! But hey, surprises make reading fun, right?

If you're in the mood for a heartwarming story about exes who still hold deep love for each other after eight long years, then this is your book! Set against a Christmas backdrop, it weaves a narrative about family bonds that resonate even after a breakup. While the festive vibes didn’t fully come through for me, the connection between the families was beautifully portrayed. However, I did feel like the story raced ahead a bit too quickly. Despite that, I ended up really enjoying the journey!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A cute novella but it didn't feel very festive to me and I feel if they've spent 8 christmases together, surely they would've had a second chance a lot sooner, not 8 years later?!

"Ghost of Ex-mas Past" by Liz Alden is such a fun read! It's a super spicy novella that blends that Hallmark-Christmas-in-the-cabin-vibe with fun family characters, an engaging plot, and lots of chemistry between years-ago high school sweethearts.

The two main characters, Bea and Charlie, were not only each other's first loves but also best friends and neighbors, and their parents are still best friends to this day. After a messy breakup during Charlie's first year of college, it's been hard to see each other during every holiday or major family event over the past eight years. Something changes this year, and wow, do the sparks fly!

Alden's writing style is full of humor, which makes it even more enjoyable. I had several laugh-out-loud moments! The novella's length is perfect for a cozy evening read, and the holiday setting (escape from the big city to a small quaint town) adds an extra layer of charm. I loved the dual narrative of Bea and Charlie, allowing a deeper perspective into their characters' points of view, thoughts, and feelings.

Overall, "Ghost of Ex-mas Past" was a quick, fun, and enjoyable read! I look forward to reading more of Alden's books.

Thank you, #NetGalley and #LizAlden, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #GhostofExmasPast

I thought this was super cute.I am in my holiday novella season and have been early this year so this was just what I was looking for. Bea and Charlie broke up after long distance didn't work for them in college. Charlie had it in his head that he needed to make something of himself to be able to deserve Bea and each year he saw her at their families shared Christmas and each year he didn't feel good enough. This year felt different. He thought he was going to have the money and the time to come back and finally get what he wanted, Bea.
While I thought parts were a little far fetched, I appreciated the adorableness of the story. The tension was there and palpable and it made me smile. Charlie and Bea had been with others, but it was inevitable that they would come back together and they never forgot one another. Sometimes the right person can come along at the wrong time and you just have to wait till it all falls into place. I loved her family and sisters too.
Thanks to Liz Alden and Netgalley for an early copy.

Quick and dirty second-chance romance! Bonus that it takes place during the holiday season!🎄❄️

I’ve read similar books so nothing super original but still enjoyed this one. I liked that it seemed very realistic compared to over-the-top hallmark movies. I couldn’t help rooting for Bea and Charlie.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC. Recommend to anyone who wants a spicy and lighthearted short story that takes place during Christmas time.

4.5 Stars ⭐️

I love a good second chance romance and when said romance takes place during the holidays, I am one happy camper! GHOST OF EX-MAS PAST with its Hallmark like vibes was the perfect afternoon read. I enjoyed Bea and Charlie find their way back to each other and get their Christmas themed happily ever after. This book is a keeper, I’m giving it the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval, TBR & Enjoy!

I have read so many good holiday books. My latest was Gost of Ex-Mas Past. Such a great read! Pick this one up!