Book picks similar to
Santa Crush by Annabelle Costa


romance
christmas
holiday
short-story

The Christmas Cadeau


K.D. Elizabeth - 2019
    The MEN'S bathroom.No stalls were available in mine. I'd be in and out before anyone noticed.Except someone walked in.And, oh, he was so gorgeous.Four months later we moved in together.Two years later I can't imagine living without him.He's the love of my life, to the absolute bottom of my heart.So why are we breaking up?The Christmas Cadeau has NO cheating and a happily ever after!

Escaping Christmas: The Peakton Village Trilogy - Book One


Alice B. Ryder - 2015
    Escaping the rat-race of London for Peakton seems like the perfect way to avoid the Christmas celebrations for Sophie, especially when the tiny Derbyshire village holds so many fond childhood memories for her. The last thing she expects is to be faced with her teenage crush, Andy Martin, who stirs up feelings in her she never thought possible. But just when Sophie is considering a future with Andy, something comes between them which could destroy their new found happiness.

The Christmas Baby Bundle


Barbara Lohr - 2014
    For five years they’ve worked at starting their family. Timed lovemaking and failed fertility treatments drain the romance from their marriage. Then Connor’s sister McKenna, a Chicago midwife, links them up with Angie from her natural childbirth class. Young and unmarried, Angie is looking for a home for her baby, due shortly after Christmas. At the same time, the couple begins working with Dr. Logan Castle on a new in vitro technique. But Amanda is afraid to hope her dream might finally come true, irritating the heck out of Connor. They’re at odds when heavy snow almost cancels the baby shower organized by the Kirkpatrick clan. Amanda’s parents haven’t even responded to the invitation. Have they given up hope as well? As Amanda and Connor teeter on the brink of Christmas hope, life bestows a surprise that could bring everything back into focus. The Christmas Baby Bundle is a heartwarming holiday novella.

Love Bytes


Melanie Jacobson - 2018
    But that's because Jessica has Dallen, the best man, helping her navigate the trouble their respective best friends keep stirring up. Even though she and Dallen have only spoken online or in texts, their friendship forms fast and easy, and Jessica is beginning to hope that the wedding in Hawaii will become the start of something special for her and Dallen too. Except...Dallen dates braniac supermodels. And while Jessica is a brainiac, she has a bad feeling she won't be his type. Will their connection survive in real life?

If the Fates Allow: A Short Story


Rainbow Rowell - 2021
    Maybe a little too easily. She’s always liked people better from afar. But Reagan doesn’t want her grandpa to be alone for Christmas this year—he’s already spent too much time on his own in 2020. So she heads back to her hometown with a dish of holiday Jell-O salad, hoping they can have a little normalcy. Hoping it will be safe…She isn’t expecting to run into the boy next door. Mason is all grown up now. He’s considerate. He’s funny. He doesn’t mind how prickly Reagan is—he maybe even likes it. And it makes Reagan feel like her defenses are falling. She needs her defenses, doesn’t she? In a time when six feet is close enough, how long can they keep their distance?

Home for Christmas: A Collection of Sweet Christmas Shorts


Daphne James Huff - 2017
    Special presents are wrapped beneath the tree, mistletoe is hung, the smell of cookies is in the air, but what if you don't have someone special to share it all with?Will the magic of Christmas reach these characters? Or will they end up being a bunch of lonely grinches?Three up-and-coming young adult authors share their Christmas stories about hope and joy during the holiday season.Contents:Dirty Santa, by Kayla Tirrell.The Christ Redeemer Christmas Spectacular, by Daphne James Huff.The Night Sale, by M.F. Lorson.

Christmas in High Heels


Gemma Halliday - 2010
    It's their first Christmas together, and Maddie wants it to be perfect. But between her zany family and wacky friends, Maddie's having a hard time finding alone time with her man. But come Christmas morning, this is one holiday she'll be sure to remember - naughty or nice!

Unexpected Mistletoe Kisses


Milan Watson - 2017
    How much longer can she deny the feelings she has secretly harbored for her brother’s best friend?After he saved her kitten, Megan Price knew that Prince Charming didn’t always ride a white horse. Sometimes he was your brother’s best friend. As the years moved on Kingston became more and more handsome and so did the long line of broken hearts he left in his wake. The first time Kingston Halloway noticed that little Megan had grown up, was the evening of her prom. He had paid for it with a bloody nose and a promise to Alex to never look her way again. For years he has ignored her chestnut hair and amber eyes and the way her smile lit up a room.When Megan unwittingly buys the house next to Kingston and hires him to help her renovate, can they both keep denying the attraction between them?

Blue Harmony (My Day Book 1)


Mary Kelly Reed - 2018
     MY DAY IS A SERIES - HOWEVER EACH BOOK CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE NOVEL Amy is tired of sabotaging all of her relationships because of Ethan. He broke her heart years ago, and she let him get away unscathed. It’s time for her to confront him and rewrite the past. Determined to set things right, she flies away with her friends for the blue skies of Santorini to carry out her plan; a plan that begins to collapse as soon as she crosses Ethan’s gaze. Surprise guests and an idyllic romantic setting will further complicate her designs. Is she right to insist, or will stirring up the past prove to be a dangerous game? EXCERPT “Good morning, Zoe, Allison ... Amy.” Why does a shiver go through me when he utters my name? It’s like he … “You look like you didn’t sleep well. I hope it wasn’t because of me.” “I don’t see why it would be because of you. Your kiss didn’t perturb me to the point of staying awake all night.” “I just wanted to make sure our walk didn’t get you too worked up to sleep, but I see the answer is quite different.” I try to picture him as a Greek statue, made of stone and unable to speak, and in my distraction I miss something Zoe asks me. “Excuse me?” “Ethan just offered to show us around the island. He knows it better than we do, and I think it’s a good idea. What do you say?” “I don’t think so,” I reply dryly.

Bah, Humbug!


Heather Horrocks - 2011
    He digs into the snowman to discover two things: the weapon fits into the body just under the head, and the snowman was supposed to be the back drop for Lexi's next show.From this improbable beginning comes friendship. Can there be more for a woman who is afraid to get close again and a man who has shadows from his childhood?Families join together and hearts are healed as this couple goes walking in a winter wonderland.

A Christmas Gift


Stella Wilkinson - 2014
    When Caleb unexpectedly asked Holly to help him pick out a Christmas gift for his girlfriend, neither of them anticipated where it would lead. A young adult romantic comedy, from Stella Wilkinson, acclaimed author of The Flirting Games Series. A Christmas Gift is a "clean" romance, suitable for ALL ages "Oh what it is to be young! A funny, light and frothy read." Janie Oakes, Teen Reader Today Please note that this is a short story of approx 7000+ words Available from Stella Wilkinson: The Flirting Games (Book One, Free!) More Flirting Games (Book Two) Further Flirting Games (Book Three) The Flirting Games Trilogy, (Books 1 - 3) Good @ Games (Book Four) Flirting with Friends (Book Five) Halloween Magic & Mayhem (Book One, Free!) Werewolf Magic & Mayhem (Book Two) Solstice Magic & Mayhem (Book Three) Notice Me A Christmas Gift Romancing the Stove Bend it like a Bookworm

An Unexpected Gift


Lily Zante - 2013
    Walking home late on a cold, December night after a Christmas party at work, Caitlin is suddenly and brutally attacked. Terrorised and frightened for her life she screams for help when suddenly a handsome stranger comes to her rescue and saves her. Thrown together under the most horrific of circumstances, Caitlin and her rescuer must learn to deal with the effects of the attack as well as their existing relationships and the problems that each of them faces.The bigger problem, however, is that they are starting to become attracted to one another too.

Only Us


Susan Mallery - 2011
    She's drawn to veterinarian Cameron McKenzie's good looks, caring nature and especially his devotion to his young daughter. But he's also her boss and a good friend. Putting her heart on the line could cost Rina both her job and their friendship forever.Since his divorce, Cameron hasn't been willing to trust his heart--or his daughter--with anyone else. For months he's pushed away all thoughts of taking Rina in his arms and kissing her, unwilling to risk their friendship for a single night of pleasure. But when a kiss under the mistletoe unlocks the simmering passion between them, Rina and Cameron may just find love for the holidays after all...An ebook exclusive Fool's Gold series novella.

Home for Christmas


Lia Fairchild - 2013
    Stephen is fresh out of a relationship and dreading the prospect of Christmas alone. Ali, on the other hand, can't celebrate with friends or family. The most important man in her life is dying - decorating cookies and hanging tinsel aren't even on her radar. When the two meet during a chance encounter, Stephen's instant attraction to Ali spurs him into action. He'll do whatever it takes to give her the holiday she deserves and pull off a real Christmas miracle.This holiday romance short is the moving story of two people, fates intertwined, about to be surprised by what destiny has in store.*Bonus: Sneak peek of the uniquely-told story of a compulsive liar and her therapist, Compulsive.

Misfortune: Christmas with Scrooge


Peggy Ann Craig - 2014
    Or is rescued by one. Dexter O’Reilly, a cold and ruthless businessman, meets Laura Witherow, a loving and compassionate individual on Christmas Eve. Recently orphaned, Laura faces her first Christmas alone. After taking a wrong turn down a deserted snowy road, she finds herself stranded deep in the Pennsylvania backroads. Then, as miracles would have it, she is sent someone to share the holiday with that cold fateful Christmas Eve. True, he might not be old Saint Nick, but he was her very own Scrooge. After their brief and unusual encounter, Dexter hopes never to lay eyes on the woman again. However, eight months later she unexpectedly shows up on his business doorstep seeking financial aid for a homeless shelter she operates after a series of unfortunate events leads her to financial ruin. Dexter scoffs at any charitable organization, as well as his growing attraction toward the obstinate woman who refused to give up. Laura is determined to conquer the past, the present and even the future to show Dexter that there was more to life than money and that she was the way to true happiness.