Ever wonder what the Billings girls were like before Reed Brennan arrived on Easton’s campus? Before Easton Academy was rocked by murders and scandal? Last Christmas by Kate Brian tells the story of Ariana Osgood and her secret love affair with Thomas Pearson during her junior year.

Ariana is a junior. She and her best friend Noelle have recently been initiated into Billings House and Ariana is dating Daniel, a popular senior. Even though Ariana appears to have everything and more, there is still something she wants: passion.
When bad boy Thomas Pearson begins flirting with her, Ariana doesn’t know what to do. She is attracted to Thomas, but she is devoted to her boyfriend.

It’s almost winter break and Ariana is supposed to go with Daniel to Vermont. She doesn’t finish a paper for English and needs to stay behind one day to get her work done. When Thomas finds out that Ariana is staying behind, he makes it his mission to find her and capture her heart. Ariana finally gives in to her temptations, but someone else is watching…

I LOVED this book. I don’t think I can say enough good things about Kate Brian, but each of her books excites me more than the one before it. I love prequels simply because I love getting to learn about a character’s life before all the drama began. It was interesting to read about Ariana especially knowing what she is capable of and the kinds of crimes she committed later. This book really gives readers a peek into who Ariana was BEFORE she went crazy.

Last Christmas had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it. Brian really knows how to make a reader feel as if they are in the story along with the characters. I literally had chills and goosebumps while reading, afraid I was going to get caught along with Ariana.

Can’t wait to read more of Kate Brian’s work!