The 12 Books of Christmas: Christmas Ever After by Jaimie Admans

youngcreativepress

1 year ago

Synopsis:

A picture-perfect town, a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street…

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but Franca Andrews has never felt more miserable. With business far from bustling, she needs a Christmas miracle to keep her beloved nutcracker shop open… But there’s one man standing in her way – expert snow globe maker Raff Dardenne.

Dardenne Snow Globes have a magical reputation for bringing lovers together, a myth that Raff continues to exploit, much to Franca’s annoyance! But this Christmas their shops are pitted against each other and only one gets to stay on Ever After Street. Franca doesn’t know how her handmade nutcrackers are ever going to compete with Raff’s magical snow globes, especially at the most magical time of the year!

Franca’s determined to prove Raff’s business is built on lies. But when disaster strikes, and she’s left unable to make anything, she needs help. It’s just very frustrating that the only person offering is her gorgeous, annoying, nemesis himself!

As these two enemies get to know each other, Franca discovers another side to Raff – kind, caring and funny. But unless she can prove that his magical snow globes can’t really match true lovers together, she’s going to lose everything…

But maybe it’s not too late for them to put aside their differences and find some Christmas magic of their own?

Review:

Christmas Ever After was the perfect book to kick off my 12 books of Christmas series. As always, Jaimie Admans have provided a feel good festive romance that I didn’t want to put down.

Even though I read this in August, I felt wonderfully festive and really excited for Christmas. This is how I felt when reading Jaimie Adman’s festive romance from 2020; The Little Christmas Shop on Nutcracker Lane. There’s something about her festive books that are set in shops that make me so happy. It makes me wish these places were real.

Hooray for a festive romance that doesn’t include a male love interest that hates Christmas. Actually neither character disliked Christmas. Franca had definitely fallen out of love with it, but she didn’t act negatively about the holiday at all. If anything she starts remembering why she used to love it so much and it’s very heartwarming.

After the first chapter I was worried the competition and the spat between Franca and Raff would get annoying, but, without giving too much away, they both seriously mellow out. Franca does hold a grudge for quite a while, but you can’t stay too angry during the festive season, especially when you start to view your ‘arch nemesis’ as an actual person.

Again, I don’t want to give too much away as the synopsis doesn’t mention too much about it, but seeing the friendship grow between Franca and Raff is so lovely. It’s obvious from the get go that they don’t really know each other as their insults are purely about their businesses and they even admit they’ve never had a conversation outside of complaining about each other. Raff is nothing like Franca assumed and his sun beam personality made him so easy to like. Franca on the other hand can really hold a grudge. Her issue isn’t even with Raff and I’m glad she realises that fairly early into the story.

There are so many festive activities happening throughout the entire book and they made me feel all warm inside. Raff’s family really knows how to do Christmas and it made me a little envious. I want to do a gingerbread house challenge, but unfortunately I live over four hours away from my family.

I highly recommend you check out Christmas Ever After if you’re interested in a low stakes, fun yet fiery festive romance (fiery as in hurling insults at each). Jaimie Admans really knows how to write a heartwarming hug and wonderful characters.