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'Tis the Season to be Kissed

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A down-on-her-romantic-luck kindergarten teacher plans to drown her New Year's Eve sorrows in a gallon of spiked eggnog, but the arrival of her best friend's sexy brother threatens to melt the snow piling up outside the tiny Vermont cabin.

70 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2013

12 people are currently reading
287 people want to read

About the author

Amy Andrews

430 books1,427 followers
Amy is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling Aussie author who has written eighty-five contemporary romances in both the traditional and digital markets.

Her books bring all the feels from sass, quirk and laughter to emotional grit and panty-melting heat.

She loves good books and great booze although she'll take mediocre booze if there's nothing else. For many, many years she was a registered nurse which means she knows things. Anatomical things. And she’s not afraid to use them!

She recently took a sea change and lives by the ocean with her husband of 33 years.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for Stacey.
1,446 reviews1,127 followers
November 20, 2016
Tweaking the rules to suit.

'Tis the Season to be Kissed was a very quick but cute read. Poor Tamara is on the verge of freezing her butt off so she indulges in a wee bit of eggnog to warm her up. Stuck in a blizzard in her friend's family's cabin, she's alone and contemplating her life. For the last twelve months Tamara has imposed a ten date rule before getting intimate. It's been a LONG twelve months.

Feeling a wee bit tipsy, she's shocked when there is a rattle at the door. Maybe the Yeti's here to keep her company.

Luke is on leave from the army. He's home to relax and forget about work for awhile. Imagine his surprise when a pixie attacks him with a golf club in his family's cabin. Luke is fascinated with this woman and enjoying her drunken babbling. It's amazing what she admits while under the influence.

Sometimes fate steps in to help people connect. Luke is attracted to this older woman who is sick and tired of hookups. Tamara, while at first hesitant, can't help but be charmed by the sexy younger brother of her friend.

There isn't a lot of depth in 'Tis the Season to be Kissed but there was enough story to see the initial attraction flair into passion. I enjoyed it for what it was and would recommend it for readers looking for a quick and steamy fix.
Profile Image for Monique.
272 reviews17 followers
November 16, 2013
Review will be up tomorrow
*************************************

I am really starting to fall in love with novellas. this holiday novella really had me wishing it was New Years Eve, just so i could bring in the New Year like these two fantastic characters. Tamara had me laughing my ass off with her drunken confessions. And Luke... Oh Luke... *sighs deeply*

Seriously, I suggest you stop whatever you are doing for an hour or two, buy this book and just get lost in the sexiness of the story.
Profile Image for Mandy.
1,073 reviews93 followers
November 18, 2013
Thoroughly enjoyed this little Christmas novella. It was hot and steamy! This is one of those novellas that I really wish was a full length novel. I loved Luke and Tamara and really would like to read more about them, they were that interesting and enjoyable to me. :)

Straight Shootin' Book Reviews
Profile Image for Sarah.
3,360 reviews1,236 followers
December 9, 2014
I read this novella as part of the Baby, It's Cold Outside anthology

Tamara is sick of men who are only interested in one thing, she is determined that she will no longer sleep with someone unless they have at least a chance of building a future together. She's not looking for guarantees but she wants someone who is looking for the same things from life as she is so has instigated a new rule - she won't even kiss a guy until their 10th date. To escape the New Year celebrations she is spending time alone in her friend's family cabin but the last thing she expects is for her very sexy, much younger brother to arrive. Luke has recently arrived home from Afghanistan and is planning on surprising his sister, it turns out the surprise is on him when he meets her drunk but adorable friend.

Without a doubt this was my favourite story in the anthology, I had so much fun reading it and as soon as I finished I wanted to go back to the beginning and start it all over again! Tamara is the kind of girl I think most women can relate to and she had me laughing out loud at the way she drunkenly propositions Luke. Now Luke, what can I say about Luke? I guess the main thing is he was absolutely delicious! Not only is he a returning hero with an incredibly chiselled body but he is also a genuinely nice, caring guy. I want to know where I can find a Luke of my very own please. I loved the connection between Tamara and Luke, they are so obviously attracted to each other but she is determined to resist him. I really enjoyed seeing him slowly break through her defences, the way he manages to fit their first 10 dates into the space of a day was hilarious but surprisingly romantic and I'm never going to look at a game of scrabble in quite the same way again! When they finally give in to their passion it was explosive and my only disappointment was that I wasn't ready for the story to end.
Profile Image for Jasmyn.
1,604 reviews19 followers
November 20, 2013
I'm not even sure where to get started with this book. It was so very amazing that I think I will go back and read it every holiday season - maybe closer to New Years next time. Tamara was beyond perfect for a character. It can be difficult to really delve deep into a personality with a novella, but within the first few pages Tamara was coming to life beautifully as she goes on a drunken rambling to her best friend's little brother. The "little" brother, Luke, is on a surprise trip home and stumbles upon Tamara using the spiked egg nog to keep warm in the family's cabin. Luke's personality was just as big and he was everything I could ever want in a hero.

The story is full of humor, as both characters are very intelligent and can use their words to make some very interesting conversation. The scrabble game was amazing - won't say more or I'll ruin it. You must go read this book the holiday season. I don't think I would change a single word. I need to make a bonfire image because five flames just isn't enough.
Profile Image for Nicola.
1,390 reviews286 followers
November 16, 2013
Combine a slightly drunken but sensible kindergarten teacher with a fabulously hot military man, add a snowstorm, a game of strip scrabble and you get a far from boring New Years Eve.

Well-written, it flows perfectly. It's light, fun and sexy and both Tamara and Luke are wonderful loveable characters. If you have an hour it's well worth seeing the New Year in with this couple. I could have happily read a full length book from them.
Profile Image for Marie Andersson.
Author 13 books118 followers
May 12, 2014
A fun and sexy novella! I want more!:))) The hero is yummylicious! I hope they get a novel! Please!:)))
You wonder if this story has a HEA? I give this 5 stars and it's one of the best novellas I have read but I truly don't understand why the age difference bother Tammara.He is only 5 years younger! I would have understood if he was..like 20 years younger.I will read other books by this author!:) ♥ ★♥★♥
Profile Image for Jeananna w/The Book Reading Gals.
906 reviews21 followers
April 3, 2015
WOW!! what a punch in a compact package!!
I am quickly turning into an Amy Andrews junkie and cannot get enough of her words and characters! This quick read was no exception - PERFECT!
Profile Image for b.andherbooks.
2,357 reviews1,274 followers
December 6, 2020
Ha joke was one me! I picked this out as a Christmas novella based on the title and the cover (the cover for the audiobook features a bare chested white man all wrapped up in holiday lights) but surprising me this was a New Years Eve romance! What?!

It was fine, nothing really stood out to me besides the 30 year old heroine being really hung up on her age and how much older she was than the hero (who was in his I think mid-20s). She's convinced she's not good enough and is only wanted for sex, so refuses to have sex with anyone until they've had 10 dates. He convinces her she is good enough and quickly makes her break her rule. He's her brother's friend too.

4,416 reviews28 followers
October 12, 2017
'Tis the Season to be Kissed is a cute holiday novella written by author Amy Andrews.
Profile Image for Sheri (Tangled Up In Books).
470 reviews51 followers
March 14, 2016
Originally posted on my blog: Tangled Up In Books

If I hadn't already instantly added Amy Andrews to my auto-buy authors list with the first book of hers that I read, No More Mr. Nice Guy, than this sexy, fun filled novella would have done the trick. I don't know how it's possible but I've fallen more in love with her writing style and her humor.

"It was just the rum talking. It gives me this...temporary insanity...kind of like Tourette's. It's not pretty.""


Meeting Tamara is hilarious because that spiked eggnog mentioned in the summary is already mostly gone by the start of the book. So needless to say she was feeling no pain. And she's the type of drunk that I always ended up being, funny and running at the mouth. I loved her right away, she was definitely someone I could see myself being friends with. She's had really bad luck in the relationship department and has sworn off anything meaningless in the future. Which is why she's locked herself away in her friend Georgia's cabin for New Year's Eve.

So what if his faded jeans clung to legs that could tempt a perfectly good girl to turn bad?


Luke was all kinds of sexy. The kind of sexy that you pray you get stuck, snowed in a cabin with. Sigh. Oh right. Review! Imagination got the best of me. Anyway, Luke is sweet and funny and all around adorable. He's instantly attracted to Tamara and makes plans of his own to break through Tamara's rules and show her how good they could be. I adore the way he goes about it. Trust me he won me over instantly.

"You have the gift of fire, oh wizard."


For such a short book it sure was filled with lots of humor and passion and heat. Normally I attempt to stay clear of novellas unless they're part of a series or something because the curse of the novella is usually insta-love. The bane of most of our existences. Deep down I just knew though that Amy Andrews wouldn't do something like that to us and thankfully I was right. There are no declarations of love and forever at the end of this story. Just this feeling that what these two shared was the start of something wonderful.

She laughed. "You have an m stuck to your butt."


'Tis The Season To Be Kissed was the perfect quick and light read. If you want a quick does of passion and sweetness without being stuck with all the angst and drama this is the novella for you! Especially for the scrabble game alone. ;)
Profile Image for Petra Grayson.
182 reviews6 followers
November 23, 2013
This one is a super short novella that takes place over the course of one day. New Year's Eve deserves some love and kisses. It was fun and flirty. Not too much detail about life obviously because of the length. But I had lots of happy tingles from reading about these two. I love Amy Andrew's voice in pretty much any story and this was no exception. (I have a definite weakness for Australian and New Zealand authors.) The book is set in the north east US, but there's definitely a little bit of Australia in it. Not as much as some of her other books though.

Luke is fun and creative and doesn't let a little negativity stop him. He's younger than Tamara, but is feeling grown up and ready to settle down...and also all ready to show Tamara that he can bend her rules without officially breaking them, but still get what he wants. He was hot and open, but didn't overwhelm Tamara from having an active role in the action.

Tamara is a kindergarten teacher. She's got the strict teacher looks down pat, but she's just so cute about it. I honestly couldn't get into the whole drinking to oblivion thing, but besides that Tamara is funny and outrageously honest. She's also horny. I loved that she wasn't ashamed of her sexuality. She may be trying to make good decisions, but she knows what she likes and also what she wants. She lets Luke take the lead in their journey because he wants to, but she doesn't give up her own role and doesn't sit second guessing herself once she's decided what she wants.

The story is so self contained; everything happens in this little cabin, in the middle of a snow storm, over the course of one day. If anything, I wanted more of these two. They didn't know each other before, so the one-day-we're-ready-to-get-married thing takes some extra escapism to believe. But I truly enjoyed the story. When you only have an hour or so and want something light and sexy, this is a great story to pick.
1,557 reviews38 followers
December 1, 2013
http://blue-moon.fr/spip.php?article8953

Amy Andrews mérite vraiment d’exploser dans la romance contemporaine. Auteure de formats courts chez Harlequin, là voilà chez Entangled Publishing qui lui convient parfaitement ; elle e lance dans une jolie romance de Noël, dans un paysage enneigé, ce qui ne manque pas de sel pour cette Australienne qui de son propre aveu ne sait pas ce que veut dire avoir froid le 25 décembre !

Mais malgré cela, elle va respecter les codes du genre ne proposant une histoire des plus classiques. Un chalet dans la neige avec un couple inattendu et qui n’était pas sensé se retrouver là pour le réveillon du Nouvel An. Tamara est donc une jeune institutrice qui s’est réfugiée dans le chalet de la famille de sa meilleure amie pour échapper à la corvée du réveillon. Elle a juré de ne pas sortir avec un homme avant dix rendez-vous. Le résultat prévisible est qu’elle a passé une année seule ! Tendue, en manque et passablement glacée par le climat du Vermont, elle commence sa journée du 31 décembre par une sévère cuite. C’est à ce moment qu’arrive le jeune frère de son ami, Luke, en permission car il est militaire. Il a cinq ans de moins mais exsude la testostérone. On devien el reste.

En fait, non... Car si l’intrigue semble cousue de fil blanc, Amy Andrews va nous y conduire de façon amusante et délicieuse. Tamara a largement décrit ce qu’elle attendait d’un homme. Luke a parfaitement entendu et va se faire un devoir de lui proposer dix rendez-vous en une seule journée et les baisers qu’elle attend. C’est original, délicieux et très sensuel. Car, Amy Andrews n’a pas son pareil pour faire monter la tension sexuelle inexorablement. A chaque regard échangé, effleurement, nous sentons littéralement les étincelles crépiter.

Voilà une très jolie, sensuelle et amusante romance de saison. Rien de nouveau sous la neige, certes, mais une auteure au top de sa forme qui délivre juste ce qu’on attend d’elle.
Profile Image for Kerrie.
Author 4 books6 followers
November 26, 2017
Really enjoyed this story, was just getting into it when it ended. Would love to read the full happy ending 😊
Profile Image for Rakisha.
477 reviews23 followers
December 20, 2013
Tamara is tired of the duds that she has been dating, and their hit it and quit it style once they hear she wants long term commitment. To resist the temptation of a New Year's Eve kiss that might lead to something more after a year of celibacy, Tamara hides out in her best friend's Vermont cabin to ring in the New Year alone while sticking to her no kiss until the 10th date rule. What she didn't count on was her BFF's little brother--the hunky, horny, and just spent 9 months in Afghanistan U.S. soldier--showing up. Luke can't resist the firery temperament of petite kindergarten teacher. There's something about her spunky attitude that warms his heart and ignites his passion.


When a snowstorm traps the two in the cabin, Luke bets Tamara that she will let him kiss her at midnight. With that challenge, Tamara tries to hold on to her resolve while Luke steadily tries to break it down. With alternating POVs, Amy Andrews quickly fleshes out what could have otherwise been two flat and cliched characters. She turns up the heat with the sexy banter and their even sexier inner-monologues. Two-thirds through the story and they haven't even kissed, but the passion is leaping off the page. You're completely vested and rooting for these two to get together. My only problem with this story was Tamara's hang up with the five year age difference between her and Luke. At 41, I'm a long way from 25 and 30 but I'm still young enough to remember that there isn't much of a difference between a 25 year old and a 30 year old and that 30 years old is still pretty damn young! Her dilemma might have been more believable if the difference had been a decade or more. But that's a small complaint. Do yourself a favor and grab this holiday story.
Profile Image for Romance Between The Sheets.
1,175 reviews66 followers
November 10, 2015
Please note this review may contain spoilers.

Tamara is avoiding the New Year's festivities and has holed herself up in her friends cabin. She's not fit for company and plans to drown her sorrows in eggnog and leave her depressing year of dating where it belongs⎯in the past. It's going well until she attacks an intruder with a golf club. It gets worse when she learns the intruder is her friend's younger brother, Luke, who has returned home early from deployment and is hoping for some quiet downtime before meeting up with his family. But Tamara is fiery and cute and suddenly being stuck together in a cabin opens up a world of possibilities.

I really liked Luke and Tamara and enjoyed reading their story. Luke is smart and funny and really quite charming and a good match for the smart but serious Tamara. He's younger than her by five years and while that's not an issue for him, it is for her. She wants to settle down and assumes that at his age, he wouldn't want the same. But he's been deployed twice which has made him very mature for his age. Now he's ready for some normalcy and perhaps a family to come home to.

'TIS THE SEASON TO BE KISSED is a really cute and fun novella, with the story taking place on New Year's Eve. This is a standalone and as with the other 'TIS THE SEASON novellas, the story ends with Luke and Tamara beginning a relationship. 'TIS THE SEASON TO BE KISSED can be bought separately or as part of the ‘Tis The Season Bundle, which is a collection of four Christmas & New Year novellas.

For more reviews, please visit our website: www.romancebetweenthesheets.com
Profile Image for Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews).
1,475 reviews142 followers
November 19, 2013
Reviewed by Kim
for Read Your Writes Book Reviews

It’s New Year’s Eve and Tamara, a Kindergarten teacher, has decided not to go to New York City with her friend, Georgia, to watch the ball drop. Instead, she’s spending New Year’s Eve alone at a cabin owned by Georgia’s parents.

Sergeant Luke Jackson wants to surprise his older sister, Georgia for her birthday. He spends thirty-six hours traveling from Afghanistan to the U.S. Due to a horrible snowstorm, he ends up going to his family’s cabin in Vermont. After walking two miles through a blizzard, Luke is greeted by an unexpected golf club wielding guest.

It’s fifteen hours until midnight and Tamara is already drunk on eggnog. Because she knows that kissing leads to other things, she has a ten date rule, before she will kiss a guy. But when the sexy soldier shows up, she starts to question her own ten date rule. Tamara is definitely attracted to Luke, but he’s off limits, since he’s her friend’s brother. Luke desperately wants to be Tamara’s New Year’s Eve kiss. Over the course of twelve hours, Luke manages to pull off ten non-traditional, yet fun and sometimes romantic dates with Tamara. Once the kiss is granted it could be the start of something permanent and forever for both of them.

‘Tis the Season to be Kissed is more of a happy for now story, than a happily ever after story.

Source: Publisher
Profile Image for Shirley Frances.
1,798 reviews119 followers
December 23, 2013
Tamara is staying at her best friends’ parents’ cottage in the woods for New year’s Eve. She made a resolution the year before that she was going to stay away from meaningless encounters with men and she just doesn’t want to be kissing another dead end. What she was not counting on was to be sharing the cottage with Georgia’s brother, Luke.

Luke just returned from a tour in Afghanistan and just wants to sleep his weariness away. But having to share the space with the attractive woman posses a challenge. One he is gladly to accept.

Through flirtatious banter and humorous dialogue, Amy Andrews delivered a wonderful story of new beginnings. There were emotions thrown into the mix along with a heap of explosive chemistry. These two just lighted up the room anytime their eyes met. I loved the tension their mutual attraction brought and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

Luke was sweet, caring and completely in lust with Tamara. I enjoyed his way of thinking and the way the author went about him finally getting together with Tamara. Their coupling was flirty and fun with an abundance of passion. I loved it!

All in all, an amazing sexy read with fun and interesting characters that will heat up your holidays!
Profile Image for Melyssa Winchester.
Author 32 books240 followers
January 7, 2017
I'm pretty sure Amy Andrews is the Queen of writing short and sweet, awkward and funny, and oh so steamy holiday reads. There I said it.

This is the second one I've had the pleasure of reading and even though I always want more when they're over, would even possibly kill (did I just say that?) to see a full length novel featuring these couples that are so damn adorkable while at the same time hot as hell, they remind me most why I love novellas so much.

The ten date idea? Incredible. The off the charts chemistry between these two and the undeniable passion that finally explodes (in more ways than one) at midnight on new years eve? Kindle burning. The awkward drunkenness of our heroine and the overwhelming sweetness of our hero, even when he's trying to deny the pull (when they both are?) The absolute sweetest.

I can't say enough good things about this read. If you've read anything by the author before, enjoy novellas of any type, but definitely holiday stories, this one might be for you. I only hope you'll enjoy it and the authors unique story telling ability and humor as much as I did.

Bring on the next one! :)

Profile Image for Lynn Reynolds.
1,698 reviews39 followers
November 17, 2013
I received this book for review from the publisher and the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review.

Tamara loves eggnog and she’s celebrating New Year’s Eve. Sergeant Luke Jackson got the surprise of his life. You will love the first conversation that these two have – it will have you in stitches. Playing games also takes on a new meaning.

Amy writes a very hot and sexy read that’s over too quickly. During this holiday season, when things are rushed, why not take a little time for yourself and read this feel good story. It’s a book that you can read at anytime and it’s also a nice one to cuddle with. Even though it’s short, she has time to make you laugh which is a good thing when life is so full of stress. If you are thinking of what books to read during this holiday season, why not have this one set aside for New Year’s Eve. And if that’s not possible, save it for one of those winter nights where you can’t go anywhere and it will help to keep you warm.
Profile Image for Staci.
109 reviews4 followers
November 19, 2013
This novella was very hot. I'm just saying. The fireplace definitely was not the only place that had a roaring fire. Picture a 30-something single female on New Year's Eve hiding out in her friend's family cabin. Tamara doesn't want to spend New Year's Eve with all the other couple's kissing at midnight surrounding her, reminding her that she is just a poor lonely Kindergarten teacher. No thank you, instead she will drink the wonderful egg nog her friend left for her at the cabin. In fact, she may have to drink it all before noon as the cabin is freezing and it seems to be the only thing helping keep her warm since she ran out of clothes to layer and can't find matches to light the fireplace.

Luke has just arrived from another tour of duty in Afghanistan. He wants to hang out at his family's cabin and then surprise his sister for her birthday. No one knows he is coming, especially not Tamara.

This novella was a satisfying read, but I could definitely see how it could be expanded if Amy Andrews chooses to do a series related to these characters. An outstanding Christmas read!
Profile Image for CassandraG.
611 reviews
November 22, 2013
Tamara was staying at a friend’s family cabin for the winter holidays, when an unexpected guest shows up.She had started drinking a little early, to kind of combat the loneliness of the holiday season when she hears a thud outside her door. She gets the putter that's close by and when she comes in contact with the intruder, she nearly brains him. Turns out that the mystery guest was none other than her best friend’s brother, Luke who’d just finished a tour of duty in Afghanistan. They cautiously get to know one another and she was was a little hesitant because
a) He’s her best friend’s brother
b) He’s a little younger than she is
Tamara was a hoot, especially when she did her little impromptu drunken strip tease, only to regret it in the morning. Luke was cool under scrutiny and sexy. It was fun and thoroughly enjoyable.You won't be disappointed.
2,130 reviews46 followers
November 18, 2013
Tamara wants to avoid people and the expectation of a New Year's Eve kiss. She heads to a remote mountain cabin in Vermont. Here she can avoid the pressure and expectations of the holiday tradition. How wrong can she be? While a blizzard howls outside she is trapped with a very sexy man. Luke Jackson is just home from Afghanistan. He wants to recharge before he goes to his sister's birthday party. Now he is here with a beautiful pixie. The attraction between these two is powerful. Will there be a New Year's Eve kiss? Amy Andrews has written a steamy novella. Tamara and Luke are such a great couple. They are ready for a forever love. Their story is humorous and very, very sexy. I will never play Scrabble without thinking of 'Tis the Season to be Kissed. This is a perfect holiday treat.
Profile Image for mer.
1,523 reviews65 followers
December 6, 2014
The opening started with Tamara in drunken haze in the morning and as I went further I laughed out loud as she did and said something really, really funny. The more reason to laugh for more when reading Luke's reaction at the same time. This one held serious sexual tension. Wow it was hot, fan-self! Both were attracted to each other but age differences, dating issues and Luke is Tamara's close friend's younger brother made things difficult for a few hours on New Year's Eve. Eventually they were cool at last, thank goodness, and had some mind blowing moments.

Also review it here.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews

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