Can an old letter spark a new flame?
When Tess Ravenel gets herself stuck inside a bathroom stall in one of Charleston’s most historic buildings, she isn’t exactly thinking about her dating life. But then the paramedic who comes to her rescue has a voice that sounds like butter and enough charm to make her forget she’s seconds from having a panic attack.
If only he were interested.
Andrew McKay has a mysterious Christmas pen pal, a woman who replied to a newly found letter he sent to Santa back when he was a kid. After weeks of correspondence, it’s clear she’s funny, smart, interesting…and an awful lot like Tess Ravanel—the woman he’s already blown off twice for good reason.
Tess and Andrew couldn’t be more different, but when their worlds collide, fate (and a little Christmas magic) set them on a crash course for love.
The Christmas Letters is a closed door sweet holiday romance with lots of chemistry but no spice. This book was first published in 2019 but has been heavily revised and updated.
My Review:
published in 2023
Festive, fun and flirty! This was a surprise best read for me this season. I loved the idea of a letter writing romance since I’m a huge fan of epistolary novels and this one is brilliantly crafted. No worries if you’re not a fan of this particular literary form, the story isn’t all letter writing! But those letters play a huge part in bringing the hero and heroine together.
So we have Tess desperately trying to reinvent herself which means standing up to her parents and rebelling against their societal expectations. And Andrew is just a hardworking paramedic trying to get past an unexpected heartbreak. Their meet-cute is adorably awkward but Tess is hopeful that the connection she felt wasn’t one-sided. She isn’t wrong but that doesn’t mean Drew is going to anything about it!
Lots of great comedic pacing in this novella – especially when the Christmas pen pal letters start up. A perfect case of hidden…or would that be mistaken…identity? And then things get even more complicated when Tess and Drew keep meeting up, neither of them realizing they are also writing to each other incognito. A kind of wonderful mash up of ‘Daddy Long Legs’, ‘You’ve Got Mail’ with a bit of ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ thrown in…and a whole lot of fun!
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
US – paperback or ebook
Canada – paperback, ebook or audible — winner’s choice
International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.
If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Christmas Letters, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 29 2025
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