I love a good novella every now and then, but… this one ain’t it. Just not into the dialogue and insta love.

(Thank you, Brilliance Publishing | Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

There isn’t a lot of time in these stories but this was about a single mother and a gentle giant. It went from 0-60 in no time flat and I wish we would have had a little more set up. Evie and her baby work at the Thrift Store where Luke sometimes comes to try on pants. Only problem is he is a big guy and nothing really fits. As a gift Evie makes him a part of jeans and from there they find there is a spark between them.

I liked Luke and his down to earth roots. The way he wanted to look out for Evie was just adorable. Evie was burned by her previous relationship but I enjoyed how Luke treated her to get her to come around.

I liked the idea of the story but wish we could have got a little more character and interaction time before they started jumping each other’s bones. We did get a cute epilogue which was nice.

Narration:

I appreciate the dual narration for this. Connor Crais was a good narrator for this and got Lukes voice really good. Summer Morton did a good job with Evie as well and kept up with Chris. The sex scenes were steamy and they did great with them.

I wish it were longer 😭 I love everything Tessa does but unfortunately these novellas leave me wanting her usual character depth

This fell flat for me unfortunately! I love a Tessa Bailey book but this one was just too short. I get that it's a novella but novellas are not meant to feel so rushed. I think if the romance was already started at the beginning, it would have just been best for a whole novella about the romance not the start, middle, and future. It was doing too much in so little time. The romance was still cute so it does get 3 stars

This audiobook was super cute. I really enjoyed the narrators and even though it was bite-sized and predictable , it gave me all the feels.

This was just not my cup of tea, but I fear that is on me. A tall farmer with a single mother? It just does not interest me at all. The story is so short, too, that it sort of feels like insta-love. And a guy THAT large...not interested.

Thanks to Amazon and NetGalley for the audio arc! Friends, this is light on the romance, heavy on the smut. Nothing wrong with that, I just actually liked the romance elements a lot and would've enjoyed more of that. Sometimes there is too much of a good thing.

This was a super short read so a lot of spice was packed in. No pun intended hahaha. This is not your sweet little holiday read although it does have a sweet outcome. Was this a Holiday masterpiece... no, but it is what Tessa Bailey does best. The narrator had a pleasant voice and did a great job.

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audio book.

Thank you Brilliance Publishing!

First, I love TB and her spice is usually so good for me. But I’m just not into insta-love. The FMC made some choices which were questionable for the timeline of this relationship 😅 I’ve read/listened to some novellas that do the relationship justice in a short amount of time but this one just didn’t work for me. What I did love were the narrators. They did a great job and I’d definitely listen to them again 😍

Maybe romance novellas just aren’t for me… This was too much way too quick and I do understand that it is a novella but holy moly i am in no way a prude (i love dark dark romance) but if people think these thoughts and then actually voice them to each other in real life this quickly such as “he’s daddy and my pussy needs his come” lord help us. This storyline would have a lot of potential if it wasn’t a novella because the vibes are cute - small town, cowboy (farmboy), single mum romance with a bit of an interesting backstory! but then this dude goes on to say “they don’t make jeans that fit me or women that fit me either” BRUH i need some mouthwash for my brain 🙃 however the writing was fun as tessa’s books always are and I think I could’ve really enjoyed this if there was more build up! The audiobook was well done though and Luke’s voice was quite sexy it was just the things coming out of his mouth that was a bit concerning at times lol!

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review!! 💜

If you remember the @amazon short stories from Valentine’s Day, they are back with some holiday shorts! Merry Ever After by @tessabaileyisanauthor runs at about 59 pages so I’m really talking about a short story.

It was cute, sweet, spicy and touch festive. It’s a single mom, small town farmer romance. It was the perfect book to start off my holiday reads for the year.

The #underthemistletoe collection comes out Nov 12 and is only available on Amazon or audible. I listened to the audio and loved that awe shucks farmer! Thank you @brilliancepublishing for my advanced copy.

hmmm...

I think I am quite literally speechless.

Merry Ever After

I was SO not expecting this.

What I thought I was getting was a wholesome little cookie cutter romance. What I received was a whole lot of spice and a dark husky farmer.

Tessa Bailey, has done it again.

Although, I was quite honestly, shocked by the way they straight up went at it early on, I am assuming that is to be expected with a short story.

For whomever is looking for a short, panty dropper, this one is for you.

Check out this teaser :

A single mother working in a thrift store. A gentle giant farmer who can’t find jeans that fit. When opposites attract, they find themselves making alterations in more ways than one in this smoking-hot short story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey.

Evie Crowe is starting over in a strange town with her newborn, and men are the furthest thing from her mind. If only the quiet, hulking farmer, Luke Ward, would stop coming into the thrift shop and piquing her reluctant interest. Evie wants to stay single all the way—she can’t trust anything more than friends-with-holiday-benefits. But Luke is in it for the long haul. He’s fixed on making this a Christmas Evie will remember forever. If she gives him a chance.

Tessa Bailey's Merry Ever After is a delightful, heartwarming novella that brings together a cast of lovable characters, steamy romance, and a touch of holiday magic. In her signature style, Bailey delivers an opposites-attract story that's both sizzling and sweet, packed with emotional depth and just the right amount of humor.

The story unfolds quickly, but Tessa Bailey makes every page count. The chemistry between Evie and Luke is electric, with some sizzling moments that are balanced perfectly by their tender, more vulnerable exchanges. Bailey expertly combines heat with heart, creating a romance that feels both steamy and emotionally fulfilling.

In typical Bailey fashion, the novella is also steeped in charm. The small-town setting, complete with its cozy thrift store backdrop, adds a seasonal warmth that ties perfectly into the Christmas theme. The holiday setting gives the romance an extra layer of sweetness, as Luke is determined to make this Christmas unforgettable for Evie. It’s a love story that feels like a holiday gift: unexpected but deeply satisfying.

Merry Ever After, part of the Under the Mistletoe collection, missed the mark for me. While it had potential, the high level of spice felt excessive for such a short read, with little depth behind the scenes—it seemed more about shock value than meaningful connection. The narrators did a fine job, but their efforts couldn’t quite lift the story beyond a surface-level romance. If you’re looking for a quick holiday romance with a focus on deeper emotions, this one might not satisfy.

I am glad I got approved for this one but I was sad there was very little Christmas theming :( I did enjoy both Luke and Evie and their pull toward each other but it felt extremely rushed even for a novella.

4.5⭐️.
It's getting hot in here yall🔥🔥🌶🌶. The single mom gets the hot guy, I'm swooned. I fell inlove with Luke Ward instanly. A giant who falls first, n its gentle, and a beast when it counts and can take care of a baby? Count me in. Evie and Luke were just a perfect fit, I kinda like the whole insta love thing that was going on. As usual Tessa Bailey didn't disappoint. But for a holiday read I didnt really feel that Christmas-y vibe,
But hey it's a short story so I'm not complaining.
I loved the narrators especially the MMC, His voice was 😍😍.

Thank you NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing / Amazon and the author for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in advance.

This short novella left my head spinning! The storyline was sweet and had so much potential, but the insta love was just not my cup of tea! I need more depth and development before things get so.... ummm hot?! The spice was definitely spicin' and a bit cringe-worthy at times!
I get that it's a novella and things have to move quickly, but this was to the point of being unrealistic and just yuck.
If you are in the mood for a quick, spicy read- this could be the one for you. If you are a Tessa Bailey fan- you may absolutely love it, but if you are looking for a heartfelt, Hallmark channel: Christmasy vibe, you will not find it here.

Classic Tessa Bailey. That's all I'll say. This book is classic Tessa Bailey.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first Tessa Bailey read and unfortunately just wasn’t for me. I don’t mind insta lust one bit nor do I mind insta love but this felt really rushed for both. We get a high dose of insta lust in my opinion without any building blocks. It all hits in the first chapter and I think giving the characters more than one interaction would have helped here. It also felt a bit rushed on the plot and how the characters connected again after their first talk in chapter one. It felt like maybe I’d missed something as it went on so I think maybe this book just needed an extra chapter or two in my opinion. Overall I think this story just wasn’t for me.

This would be a great read for anyone who is looking for an insta lust/love, single mom, farmer cinnamon roll holiday romance that jumps right into it without too much fluff. It’s an easy read and low stakes so it’s perfect for anyone looking for that!

The narration however was fantastic for both and I especially liked the narration for our MMC, will be looking into their other titles because I enjoyed his work so much!

In true Tessa Bailey fashion, this novella has everything: fun characters, delightful banter, spice that sizzles, and a tender happy ending. Plus, the narrators were lovely, and it made listening to the book that much more enjoyable.