Jingle Wars

Hollyridge #1

by Veronica Eden, Maren Moore, R. Holmes (Pseudonym)

Two inns, one town, and there’s not enough room for the both of them.

Add in a reindeer-ish donkey, a Christmas competition, and a rivalry to end all rivalries and you’re bound to end up in disaster, right?

Finn Mayberry has enough on his plate trying to keep his Grandparents inn afloat. The last thing he needed was some California state of mind starlet bulldozing into his town and throwing up a five-star resort right next to his family’s inn.

But, now she’s here and he can’t get her out of his town or his head.

Freya Anderson took one look at the snowcapped mountains of Hollyridge and fell in love. She’s finally here and ready to take on the task of proving to her father that she can handle running Alpine.

She never expected to make enemies with the sinfully delicious lumberjack of a man who runs the inn next door. He’s moody, impossible and completely off limits.

There can only be one winner, but you know what they say. All is fair in love and… Jingle Wars?

Jingle Wars is a full length small town new adult enemies to lovers holiday romance filled with humor, steamy sexual tension, and heartwarming moments sure to tug at your heartstrings. Contains strong language and explicit content intended for mature readers. This book can be enjoyed as a standalone with a guaranteed HEA.

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Holiday Romance, Contemporary Romance

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 10, 2020

About the author

Veronica Eden is a USA Today and International bestselling author of romances with spitfire heroines, irresistible heroes, and edgy twists.

She loves exploring complicated feelings, magical worlds, epic adventures, and the bond of characters that embrace us against the world. She has always been drawn to gruff bad boys, clever villains, and the twisty-turns of a morally gray character. She is a sucker for a deliciously swoony hero with a devastating smirk. When not writing, she can be found soaking up sunshine at the beach, snuggling in a pile with her untamed pack of animals (her husband, dog and cats), and surrounding herself with as many plants as she can get her hands on.

Keep up with Veronica:
Newsletter Sign up ➜ bit.ly/venewsletter
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Website ➜ bit.ly/veronicaeden
Amazon ➜ amazon.com/author/veronicaeden
Facebook ➜ facebook.com/veronicaedenauthor
TikTok ➜ tiktok.com/@veronicaedenbooks

Reviews

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, Sexy, Funny like a Hallmark Movie!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜💛🖤
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📔
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 👤👤👤👤

The setting: Hollyridge Montana

The Hero: Finn Mayberry – Runs the Mayberry Inn Bed and Breakfast with this Grams and Gramps. They are in danger of losing the Inn, bookings have been down due to the opening of a Luxury resort next door.

The heroine: Freya Anderson – graduated from college two years ago and has worked for her father ever since. She has worked hard for everything she has and put in a lot of hours hoping her father would notice. Freya’s father owns the resort and hotel chain and her getting to run the resort in Hollyridge is her big chance to get her father’s approval.

The Love Story: The town has an annual Jingle Wars contest that has gotten so big it is now televised and has a prize of $100,000. Freya doesn’t need the money but sees the contest as her way to advertise the resort and gain her father’s approval. Finn needs the prize money to save his Inn for his Grams and Gramps.



I liked whole concept of this book and thought it was pretty funny that Freya keeps talking about the Christmas movies she likes so much. Because the storyline is similar to so many Christmas Hallmark romance movies I have seen (Yes, I also am a huge fan of the Christmas romance movie). I used to DVR a bunch of them every Christmas season and binge watch them over Christmas.



This story was cute, silly and steamy. Finn Mayberry is what they call Lumberjack Chic or Lumbersexual! I looked that up and it is actually a thing. Men with beards and flannel. It kills me. Personally I like a clean shaven face, but for some reason bearded guys are the thing in romance lately. What I really like in romance is when the protagonists have pets, and this one has a donkey that dresses up as a reindeer, what could be better! 🦌.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

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[Nana · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first reading this Christmas season.

This was SO cheesy.

Entertaining, although nothing unforgettable, I would have liked the scenes of the competition for the Christmas prize ($) to be more detailed since somehow the plot revolves around that, and thanks to the competition are how the characters go from hating each other to falling in love.

But overall this was a cute, fun, and easy to read story to get you in the right mood for the holiday season!

[Alyssa Nieves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm, I don’t know how I feel about this one! I’m so conflicted.

The beginning was super cute and giving hallmark Christmas vibes, but the writing threw me off a bit as the story progressed. It wasn’t bad, but they kept mentioning social media (a lot) and I just found it so cringey. I really hate when books make pop culture or social media references and I definitely think I would’ve enjoyed this one more without that.

The story itself was so adorable though and it was a perfect cozy Christmas romance! I will definitely need to read the next book for West and Riley’s story!!

[Catherine Russell]

Book: Jingle Wars
Author: R. Holmes & Veronica Eden
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: DNF

Age: Freya - 25; Finn - 27.

I'm in a book slump right now. I dnf'd 3 books this past week alone. So, it's the cliché, it's-not-you-it's-me. I'm sure this one was entertaining. Just wasn't feeling it. 😔🙁

[Simran . · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 “It’s Jingle Wars time” stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

”This is my town. We're playing this by my rules and you might not realize it yet, but you will." I ever so slightly brush my lips against her, a mere whisper against her lips and a shudder racks her body.

Looking for a feel good and a heartfelt romance that will leave you all sparkly and happy then you’re at the right place because this one is it. It’s the kind of romance you need after binge reading dark romance just like I do. I went in thinking I’ll read a good old fashioned enemies to lovers romance but what I did not count on was just how emotional it was going to make me feel. It completely took me by surprise and you would think after reading the kind of books I do, i should be immune to crying. If all of this doesn’t convince you how perfect little treat this was, well then ladies the rest of my review will. ;)

Tropes to expect:

Small town romance ✔️
Enemies to lovers ✔️
Christmas themed ✔️
Angsty ✔️
Steamy ✔️
Forced proximity ✔️
Hilarious ✔️
Emotional ✔️

My first ever read by this duo and now I’m their fan. They usually write darkish new adult romance individuality but decided to give us a sweet and angsty story. You will undoubtedly fall in love with the MCs and also the secondary characters who were just as good and unforgettable.

”I don’t need distractions that are tall, look like they can throw me over their shoulder, and have that sexy beard with hints of red shot through the brown, but…he’s totally my lumberjack fantasy wrapped up in a muscular, climb-me-like-a-tree package. The kind that has me biting my lip anytime he pops into my head. Total panty-melter with a charming smile and he literally swept me off my feet.”

Freya Anderson has come to a small town called Hollyridge set in the snowy mountains to run her father’s new resort without him breathing down her neck all the time and plans to turn in into the best and try to make her dad proud of her hard work. Little does she know that’s its not gonna be that easy when she learns that her neighbour who is a grumpy and broody AF lumberjack runs his own family inn and is the heartthrob of this little town.

”My face is centimeters from her, even while looking down on her and I can feel the rise and fall of her heaving chest with each pant. I’m so pissed I want to put her over my knee and spank her here, right now, just to teach her an important life lesson to keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.”

Finn Mayberry has huge responsibility on his shoulders ever since he learned that he might lose the inn which has been in his family for fifty years. Which is why he ends up entering into jingle wars competition which seems like the only option to save his inn even he spent years hating it. The first time he met Freya was hilarious seeing as she literally fell into his arms but as soon as he learns that’s she’s his competition all friendliness vanishes and he considers her as an enemy on sight. Cue in angsty and sizzling moments.

Ho ho ho. Comes the jingle wars (yes that was me trying to imitate Santa). I absolutely loved this competition and it was made more fun with the banter and off the charts hot chemistry between Finn and Freya. Both have their reasons for wining the competition so it was exciting and entertaining to watch who will finally win.

My nipples harden, but I don’t know whether it’s from the rush of hot and cold I get standing at the edge of the spring or from his unwavering attention. “Your turn,” I murmur, dropping my gaze to his sweatpants, where the front has tented from his hardening cock.
Damn. My teeth sink into my lower lip. From thirsty bitches everywhere, thank god for sweatpants season.
Amen to that..

Every single one of their encounter was buzzing with so much heat and a delicious slow burn. Each time they went a little further, my heartbeat would pick up and then leave me feeling all types of hot and bothered. I just wanted them to give in to their insane attraction, angsty be damn.

”For the first time since meeting Freya, I see her for more than the neighbor next door that I'm supposed to hate. Everything is turning out to be more complicated, especially when I realize that I’m falling for a traitor. A beautiful, traitorous neighbor who despite all of that, is still off limits.”

Finn kept trying to push her away knowing it was only going to end in heartbreak because both of them had too much to lose. He couldn’t help but be attracted to her smart mouth, sexiness, stubbornness and her beauty. One minute he wanted to shake her and the next wanted to spank her hard.

I think this is what I’ve been searching so many years for. A person who makes me laugh, who challenges me, and lets me into his world. Someone who’s heart feels like a home, exuding the kind of love I’ve always craved.
With Finn, I no longer feel so lonely and out of place. I don’t feel like I have to be as loud as possible in order to be seen or respected. In his embrace, our bodies joined and our breaths mingled between kisses, I feel loved.

Fate seemed to be in their favour ‘cause they always wound up around each other. The more that happened, the more it brought their feelings to the surface and got to know each other. I loved both their personalities and insecurities and the romance between them felt so easy and meant to be and before you know it, they were in love. I couldn’t help but root for them.

”I’ve wanted to make you ride my cock in the truck,” he says, nipping at my inner thigh. “Want your lips sucking me off anytime you shoot me those looks of defiance.” He pulls his fingers free to taste me, groaning against my skin. “Fuck, baby. I want you so many different ways, all the time.”

The later half of the book made me emotional and shed a few tears when Finn’s gramps got sick because I adored them so freaking much. It definitely brought them more closer. Also the steamy moments between them were full of dirty-talk, sexiness and insanely sensual. When it happened, I was like it’s about damn time. Finn’s ruggedness and pure heart and Freya’s humour and cuteness is sure to steal your heart.

”The truth was that somewhere along the way Freya had changed me. She brought out the man that I was always meant to be, it just took a gentle pull from the girl I’m fucking crazy over.”

Honestly if you’re looking for a book which will melt your heart and your kindle, amazing set of secondary characters, full of steam and angst, Christmassy vibe and small town feel, this will totally rock your boat. ♥️

ARC provided to me by the authors in exchange for an honest review.

[Seda · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎄”Winning Jingle Wars was all I wanted, then somewhere along the way, she became what I wanted. I’m crazy about her.”





Birisi beni kitaptaki gibi bir kasabaya, karların arasına atabilir mi? Ömrümün kalanını Hollyridge’te memnuniyetle geçirebilirim🫠🫠





4.5⭐️
Kıristmııısss mevsimine güzel bir açılış oldu. Tatlı, keyifli, sıcak bir kitaptı. Özellikle küçük kasaba, karlı dağlar, mekan tasvirleri çok güzeldi. Kasabada geçen bir film izliyormuş gibiydi, çok iyi anlatılmıştı. Gözümü kapadığımda kendimi karlar arasında hissettiriyordu, anlatılan ortamlara bayıldım🤌🏻

Freya’nın ailesiyle anılarının olmayışına, Finn’in büyükannesi ve büyükbabasında aile sıcaklığını bulmasına kalbim eridi🥹🥹 Kadın karakterin bu konudaki nahifliğini, kırılganlığını çok güzel yansıtmıştı.

Finn’in başta çok etkilenmesi; sonra Freya’nın kim olduğunu anladığında, olayı tam bir düşmandan aşka çevirmesini okumak çok keyifliydi. Yarışmayı kazanmak ve ailesinin işletmesini kurtarmak istediği için düşman olarak görüp nefret etmeye, rekabet etmeye çalışması; ama Freya’yı görünce çarpıldığı için sürekli başarısız olmasına çok güldüm🫢

Kitapta kar ve kış havası çok güzeldi, noel teması ve aile sıcaklığı keyifliydi. Ama keşke ikili arasındaki çekişmenin başlangıcı olan yarışmanın noel temasını biraz daha detaylandırsaydı. Yarışma bölümlerinden çok daha eğlenceli sahneler çıkabilirdi. Bir puanj biraz bu yüzden kırdım. Ama bu haliyle de kışın, yeni yıl zamanı keyifle okunacak, sıcacık bir kitaptı❄️🎿🎄🎅🏻🌨️🏔️⛷️🍪

Finn de fena değildi ama🫢🫢 Ren geyiği kılığındaki eşek Saint Nick kitabın yıldızıydı🦌🫶🏻🫢





🎄”Winning Jingle Wars was all I wanted, then somewhere along the way, she became what I wanted. I’m crazy about her.”


🎄If you would have asked me three months ago, did I ever see myself on a stage in the middle of town square, surrounded by hundreds of people, participating in the Jingle Wars competition... I would have told you that you were insane, that nothing would ever make me participate in that stupid competition. I would've told you that falling in love was the farthest thing from my mind. Especially with a girl fresh off the beach in California with a pair of wet, soggy UGGs and a faux fur coat. But here I am, doing things I never thought I'd do.


🎄“I'm never going to be perfect and I won't always know the right thing to say or do. But what I do know is... I love you, Freya Anderson. From the second those squishy, wet, UGGs tramped into town, you stole my heart. I never stood a chance against you."


🎄"Mmm. Who can get the other to the finish line first?" Freya whispers challengingly.
Is my girl taking this to the next level?
"I'll always win this, baby. I can play in the dark with my eyes closed."
She sighs happily, and bends down, then flashes me a cheeky, smug grin.
“Well you know what they say… All is fair in love and Jingle Wars.”


🎄Presents are exchanged, along with laughter. When we’re full on Grams’ delicious cinnamon rolls, Finn puts on a movie and we wrap up in blankets. Gramps falls asleep and Finn distracts me with kisses, but it’s the most memorable Christmas ever.
I don’t need to wish for my life to be as perfect as a Christmas movie anymore. I have it now.
Finn Mayberry and his family chose me as much as I have chosen them.
Like so many holiday songs go, this is all I could ever want for Christmas.

[vangmayee · Rating 3 out of 5]

the writing was SO cheesy and SO extra that most of the time i wanted to fall off the face of the earth. points for Christmas spirit i guess...

[Lorilin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just FYI, if you’re not a fan of dirty sex talk, probably stop reading my review now.

This book was all over bookstagram, and given how many great reviews I saw for it, I was excited to give it a try. It seemed like a light and fun, quick and steamy read, a perfect distraction from life. At first, I was smitten. The Jingle Wars competition is a cute foil for the two main characters, and I always love a good enemies to lovers story.

But I started getting annoyed around the halfway mark, about when the relationship between Freya and Finn gets sexual. The descriptions of these characters are straight from a lazy porno, which isn’t the end of the world, but still—not impressive. Finn is 6′ plus, a gorgeous and charming man-whore who shuts down at the hint of conflict. Freya is five foot nothing with huge boobs, a tiny waist, a big butt, and pouty lips. She wears fake eyelashes and four-inch heels in snow.

I was okay with all of it…until the sex. Because now the book starts hitting some bigger issues but stays just as lazy. It bugged me how Finn describes Freya as perfect—like over and over and over again. Her “perfect tits,” her “perfect ass,” her “perfect tight pussy.” Nobody is perfect, and it’s not hot to think you’re having sex with perfection. It’s sad. And a little juvenile.

Moreover, the characters only seem to see the good in each other once the physical relationship starts. He’s the lumberjack with a hard exterior but a heart of gold. She’s the ditzy princess who, despite her perfectly manicured and gorgeous bod, has *sniff* suffered so deeply from her father’s rejection. Now she enjoys baking in the kitchen and spreading her unending warmth to all—that is, when she’s not kicking ass in the board room and taking charge of a hotel empire. I noticed myself audibly sighing and rolling my eyes every other paragraph by this point.

I’ll also mention how irritated it made me that Finn and Freya were totally okay having unprotected sex. The first half of the book talks about how Finn has sex with anything that walks, and yet when the time comes for the two of them to bone and neither one of them has a condom, Freya insists that she’s clean and has an IUD. Oh, so it’s okay then, cool. Wtf?

So, yeah. Definitely not impressed with this book. I don’t mind a little steam, but good grief, at least give your female characters the power they deserve, you know? And stop reinforcing sad stereotypes and expectations for who and what women are supposed to be. I’m over it.

[Huda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐
2/5🌶

There can only be one winner, but you know what they say. All is fair in love and… Jingle Wars?

This was soo cute and low-angsty (imo) with a perfect amount of spice, and plot.

Small town romance
Enemies to lovers
Christmas vibes
Angsty
Steamy

The community hosts an annual Jingle Wars competition, which has grown so popular that it is now broadcast and offers a $100,000 prize.

Freya isn't in need of the money, but she sees the competition as a means to promote the hotel and get her father's approval. Cz her father doesn't very much appreciates any thing she does!

Finn needs the money from the reward to keep his Inn for his Grams and Gramps. But Freya's Inn is more advanced and much larger, so he needs the money to save his dying Inn.

So what happens when both of their inns are opposite to each other and they both want to win the game...😏 but love is a dangerous thing that universe throws in their way.

Jingle Wars was a fun, romantic, and sexy story. There’s also more emotion than I would have expected, as well as some serious steam. The side characters were also very likable.
Overall this was a perfect Christmas book😊💞🎄

[Larry H · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Jingle Wars , by R. Holmes and Veronica Eden, is a steamy but poignant rom-com to put you in the holiday spirit!

Finn was raised by his grandparents, and their Montana inn, The Mayberry Inn, has been a part of his life for a long time. With his grandparents getting older and the inn needing more attention, he moves back to the inn and starts working on the improvements it so desperately needs, and tries to keep his grandparents from worrying.

Freya (amazingly, this is the third book I’ve read in 2020 with a character named Freya) is a daughter of privilege, but she can never get her hotelier father’s attention. She finally gets a chance to run their newest property, The Alpine Mountain Resort, and she wants to prove herself to her father.

Finn and Freya meet cute when Freya, a California girl unused to Montana winters, literally falls into him. Their chemistry is utterly intense—and then Finn discovers that Freya is the competition, and could harm his grandparents’ inn. Even though they can’t take their eyes or their minds off one another, Finn would rather keep her from succeeding.

Of course, this is a rom-com, so you know what will happen. Throw in a donkey dressed up for Christmas, a reality show competition to get people in the holiday spirit, a beautiful Montana winter, and lots of emotion, and you’ll have a great story, full of fun and sexual tension.

Jingle Wars was a fun, romantic, and sexy story. There’s also more emotion than I would have expected, as well as some serious steam. Freya says at one point, “From thirsty bitches everywhere, thank god for sweatpants season.” (Same, girl, same.) Also, I've never heard of the term WSE (wall-sex energy) but I am totally using it now!

You can always count on an enemies-to-lovers story to give you a smile and maybe wipe away a tear, too!

Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.

Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.

[Rayna McKinley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every year I look forward to watching horrible but delightful Christmas romcoms. I was excited at the premise of this book because I thought it would be on par with the corny Hallmark movies I hold so dear. I was wrong.

This book is bad. Not “Hallmark cheesy love story” bad. Like, the writing is genuinely bad. Here we have multiple blatant typos, sentences that make no sense structurally, and dialogue that feels awkward and unnatural.

This authors gloss over the most interesting parts of the story. The Jingle Wars competition feels like a footnote, which is disappointing since that is theoretically the center of the whole plot. Even the pivotal point where the main characters are snowed in together feels rushed and the timeline is confusing.

The characters are all two-dimensional and offer very little by way of growth and development. Our two main characters hate each other for a while and then suddenly …. don’t? With no real resolution to their conflict? Also, Finn calling Freya a traitor makes no sense to me in general, but that could be a whole rant on its own.

The only thing Finn talks about more than saving his grandparents’ inn is his dick. He literally never stops talking about his dick. Maybe occasionally to talk about Freya’s breasts or ass. But it’s mostly about his dick. It tracks for him, though, since he also has to clarify that everything he feels is still “manly” and that he’d never cry (because that is for pussies—his exact words at multiple points in the book).

I would not recommend this book to anyone. If you must read it, get it from the library or borrow a copy from someone. Do not spend money on it like I did.

[Elle G. Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 4 Stars
Genre Holiday Romance | Enemies to Lovers

There’s nothing like finding a new holiday romance to put you into a cheerful mood when all you want to do is just get under the covers and hide! Jingle Wars is one of those books that just make you smile. You don’t even have to be a Christmas fanatic like myself to enjoy it either. There’s so much more going on within the story other than the holiday decorations and Christmas competition. This is a love story. This is a story about two people who never intended to open up to others let alone each other fall into bliss. It’s funny, charming, and depicts a magical winter wonderland in a small town. I enjoyed it immensely. Jingle Wars also has all the hallmarks of a great Christmas movie (no pun intended) 🤣 and I wouldn’t mind watching it on the big screen. It’s just a feel-good romance to unwind with! I’m glad I took a chance on this one because I almost didn’t even read it. However, the cover is so darn cute I wanted to give these new to me authors a try and I’m really glad I did because had I not I would have missed this gem. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

You can find more detailed opinions of my likes and dislikes below 👇

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞

🎅 My favorite part of the story was seeing the heroine FINALLY stick up for herself when it came to her dad. I won’t give all the glorious details, but this was my absolute favorite thing! All too often writers will drag these types of moments out and make the final confrontation an angsty mess but that’s not the case here. Freya was a badass through and through and watching her BE the woman she wanted to be was a breath of fresh air! She’s also full of sass and takes no crap from anyone (especially her annoying neighbor) 😉

🎅 Finn is a dreamy hero and I wouldn’t mind a bearded lumberjack like him of my own (that is, if I wasn’t already married to my very own prince charming). He’s a little jaded when it comes to love but all it takes is the right one to bring him clarity and it didn’t take the entire book to do so! He also had a head on his shoulders, and I loved FINALLY seeing a hero who could ACTUALLY COMMUNICATE!

🎅 The setting is magical! I love when an author can transport me into a fictional world and both authors do just that within Jingle Wars. If I were to go on vacation to a small mountain town in the winter, I would certainly go to a place like Hollyridge!

🎅 Finally, I loved the Christmas feelings of this one. The festiveness wasn’t overdone and was just enough to FEEL like Christmas without being all in your face about it. It was perfect!

𝗪����𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞

🎅 I didn’t really find the book funny. Sure, there were a few scenes that had me giggling but overall, I wouldn’t consider this a romcom that makes readers laugh out loud. Rather, it’s a subtle romcom with a few giggle inducing parts.

𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗧 𝗨𝗣

Jingle Wars is a fun, cozy, and adorable Christmas themed romance and reading it was a pure delight! I loved getting to know these characters and am very much looking forward to the next book as it will feature two of the secondary characters from this one that I loved! That should be a FUN romance to watch!

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finn Mayberry has stepped in to help his grandparents run the Mayberry Inn in the tourist town of Hollyridge, Montana. Unfortunately, the Inn hasn’t been doing as well the past few years, so Finn wants to do anything he can to improve business. When the yearly Jingle Wars has a grand prize of $100,000, Finn decides to compete, even though he’s more the Scrooge type when it comes to Christmas.

Freya Anderson moved to Hollyridge from California to run the Alpine resort to prove herself to her father. When she learns about the Jingle Wars, Freya couldn’t help but sign up, as she’s a sucker for the holidays.

Finn & Freya meet in the town square and immediately hit it off, even setting up a date, but when Finn learns Freya works at Alpine and is only taking business away from the Mayberry Inn, he decides she’s nothing but a traitor and his enemy. And with them both competing in Jingle Wars, only the best will win.

Jingle Wars by R Holmes & Veronica Eden is a funny, sweet & steamy holiday romance. This was a fun read! Very lighthearted without too much drama. Finn & Freya were adorable together and I really enjoyed the enemies to lovers element in the beginning. Although, I do wish the enemies portion lasted longer. I wanted a more slow-burn build up to Finn & Freya’s romance. The Christmas tree portion of the Jingle Wars competition was hilarious and I was hoping to see more of that. But even still, this was such a sugary, holiday delight. 4/5 stars.

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything I needed in a holiday romance. It perfectly combines a charming, cutesy Christmas story with a delightful naughty side.

Preparing to eventually take ownership of the Mayberry Inn from his Grandparents, Finn is particularly feeling the pressure as bookings have slowly declined. Usually with an eye-roll towards the town's annual Christmas competition, Jingle Wars, Finn can't ignore the grand prize and opportunity to save the legacy his family built. There's only one person standing in his way: Freya Anderson.

With Finn, the rugged, small-town charmer, and Freya, the hotel entrepreneur from LA next door, it was a rivalry that definitely brings plenty of heat. Fuelled by their hatred and competitive edge, it's an all-consuming sexual tension that certainly delivers early on (hello, hot spring scene)! Both with a misunderstanding of each other, I equally loved seeing these two find strengths in each other and share their love for Hollyridge, which was such a picturesque town.

From the specific Jingle War challenges to the snowed-in sleepover, this story was bursting with humour, steam, and Christmas cheer. It is definitely be one I'll be recommending over and over.

[Bay · Rating 1 out of 5]

i hated this with every fiber of my being

[Grapie Deltaco · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm always down for a corny, cheesy romcom with a Hallmark movie vibe and this book definitely exists in that realm.

This story, though, gets painfully millennial and totally disconnected from what navigating social media is like. Freya’s character was very confusing and incredibly strange. She carries her phone around her hotel to be ready to “start an Instagram live at any moment”, she tells a complete stranger how cute her “insta feed” is when nobody asked (because I don’t think anyone has ever asked), she makes up acronyms in her internal narration like “WSE— wall sex energy”, and she won’t stop referring to her vibrator as her “vibe” which requires rereading sentences referencing her “vibe” because the word “vibe” already exists and it doesn’t mean sex toy and we know Freya knows that because she also uses the word “vibe" correctly which only made me more confused with what I was reading at times when this was supposed to be a casual read. I think Freya’s particular brand of annoying can be summed up in the very real piece of dialogue she spoke out loud to another human person:

“Let’s take a behind the scenes selfie. I bet the hashtag for the competition is poppin’. We’ll give the viewers a little reality TV drama. Maybe they’ll start shipping us. Do you think they’d put your name first or mine in our portmanteau?”

Also the “feminism” Freya’s character attempts was so weird. The line, “you really shouldn’t underestimate females, that’s sexist you ass!” caused me physical pain. Finn ignoring her statement to be horny over her caused me physical pain. Finn having random moments of casual misogyny after having to read Freya’s girlboss feminism caused me physical pain.

Finn’s character isn’t entirely innocent in this book’s level of cringe either. He hates social media to a degree that assigns a level of blame in his family’s dying holiday inn on TikTok and Instagram because…reasons? I’m not sure how social media addictions = people not staying at hotels and resorts as frequently when plenty of people use hotels (or inns) and resorts as photoshoot opportunities and locations for social media detoxes and XYZ but whatever. Finn’s anger at Freya was blown way out of proportion. He flirted with a girl once and upon finding out she’s running the rival hotel, he unironically calls her a traitor as if her flirted back owed him this epic loyalty ???


When you get to the halfway point, though, and the fighting and the “traitor” mindset starts to drop (not significantly but still), the story gets decent. The handful of chapters of smut were good but definitely not worth whatever the first half of the book was and this author’s obsession with UGG boots. This could’ve been a solid novella.

CW: emotionally distant/absentee parent, explicit sexual content

[Courtney Mccarthy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Caution ⚠️ Yikes! So much toxic masculinity. I never in my life have hated a male character so much. Finn is a man that says things like “these women…” or “I almost cried like a p***y”. He feels like he has to “save” his love interest. If the love interest is suppose to be an independent woman she should have never ended up with this man. I honestly wouldn’t want any women to read this book because it romanticizes men that aren’t in touch with their feelings or joke about women. We deserve better men than this.

[Maggie Cavanaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning: this book will make you want to move to bumbfuck Montana for a lumberjack boyfriend.

My friend Mel said it best: this book is straight up Hallmark After Dark. Very cute and steamy.

[anna ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

Cute, sexy, Christmassy, this is what it promises to be.

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas- and son of nutcracker, Jingle Wars has my Christmas-loving heart feeling all a flutter and festive AF. This story is like the book equivalent of a nice hotty toddy while cozied up by a warm fire amidst the glimmers of the twinkling Christmas tree lights. Heart-warming, festive, charmingly intimate, and of course, a little bit spicy. This book has all the sweet and feel good magic of your favorite holiday movie combined with the passion and heat of your favorite rom com. Hands down one of my favorite books of the year- and my all time favorite holiday romance. Hallmark movies, move over- I have a new obsession.

The premise of this story couldn’t be any cuter- or festive. Finn, our resident swoony but brooding lumberjack cassonova has recently returned to scenic Hollyridge, Montana to help keep his grandparents’ inn afloat amidst his Gramps’ fleeting health. The neighboring big business resort has been impacting their business, and while Finn has never been much for the local Jingle Wars competition, the large prize package catches his eye. AS does the petite new girl he bumps into town. Charmed as she may be by their snowy , town center meet-cute, Freya doesn’t have time for relationships. She’s recently relocated to Hollyridge to take over the helm of her father’s fancy resort. While she’s happy to be living in a town straight out of her favorite Christmas movies, she’s desperate to gain daddy’s approval and the Jingle Wars competition publicity would really take business to the next level- plus, no one loves Christmas more than Freya. She’s lived the holidays through her favorite movies for years- she’s sure to win this christmas spirit competition, right?! That is until she realizes that the competition is none other than her lumberjack cutie- and he’s declared war, frustrated that the petite beauty he met in town is not only his JW competition but also the owner of the very resort that is destroying his family inn. SO THE WAR IS ON! Who will ultimately prove they are the most Christmas-worthy? And what happens when these enemies give into their intense chemistry? Bring on the mistletoe! Seems like more than just the Jingle Wars is on the line. THE RESULT? TOTAL CHRISTMAS MAGIC.

Freya captures you straight away- she’s so endearing, so earnest and open, and delightfully quirky. Her love of Christmas (and especially Christmas movies) rivals my own, and the way she talks herself had me rolling. She’s delightfully sassy- but sweet and charming at the same time. She had me laughing out loud constantly.. But she’s also got a real vulnerability to her- she wants to be seen and appreciated, craving the love and family she’s admired in her movies. There is so much rich depth to her- an authenticity that is so compelling. AND, Finn is a DREAMBOAT- but he’s a much quieter character than Freya, as fantastically characterized but he more slowly unfolds. He’s stoic, less open, and starts a bit prickly, but understandably so. He’s also witty, sexy, and stoic- he’s just a good guy. Both character arcs are SO well done- we get to see Finn open up, re-orient to the work he’s doing, and certainly to Freya. And Freya learns how to pursue what matters to her. And I loved how each has such a distinct “voice,”- Freya more lively, Finn more casual- yet the book flows as one. Truly gifted co-writing. And the side characters!?!?! A menagerie of scene-stealing small town delights- from Finn’s sage Gramps and his spunky Grams, to their adorable friends, the Caesar Flickerman-esque JW, and of course the Christmas donkey.

The chemistry is EXPLOSIVE- more irresistible than a batch of Gram’s famous cookies. This book is HOOOOOOOOOT. Finn’s dirty talk? Oh lawd, I thought I was gonna overheat. Oh yes, this book shows you how much better your favorite feel-good Christmas movie would be with a heavy dash of heat. These two are magnetic. R and V beautifully created the enemies to lovers energy- the playful banter, the jabs, the hijinks and the grudges paired with the attraction, that undeniable draw. The story has a real intimacy- a tight focus on these two, it creates for such a compelling connection. JUST PERFECT. They totally captivated me from start to finish.

BUT LET’S TALK CHRISTMAS! These authors NAILED the holiday cheer. And this was CRUCIAL. From the tiny details to the architecture of the Jingle Wars competition- this book is jolly and bright. Christmas is sprinkled everywear- every little moment, no matter how small, feels Christmasy. And the JW competition itself? Not only is it basically the perfect Olympics of Christmas spirit, but the ideas are so inventive and clever. I’m desperate to participate in it myself! Tree trimming, cookie making, decorating, tree lightings, Christmas movies, sleigh rides, hot cocoa, SNOW! Every tradition you expect in your Hallmark favorites plays a role- but also cleverly catalyze our story and our characters.

But the REAL magic and heart of this story isn’t just in how beautifully, tenderly, and humorously creates all my favorite Christmas traditions, nor is it in the provincial and festive charm of our setting, not even is it in the charming banter and comedic wit. Although all of those things make this story rich and addicting. No, the real heart of this story is in how it creates the ESSENCE of what makes the holidays so special. The MAGIC of Jingle Wars comes from its vibrant sincerity and it’s joyful exuberance. From it’s unabashed and energizing optimism. As cheesy as it sounds, please know that I don’t say this lightly: this book captures the spirit of Christmas.The joyfulness, the hope, the power of unconditional love in all forms, and family. Sure, all is fair in love and Jingle Wars, but while our characters were trying to win, they didn’t just fall in love, they learned something important about life, about love, and about themselves. And then they stop fighting each other and start fighting FOR each other- fighting for the lives they want for themselves. For something worth fighting for: love, connection, and belonging. For home- as they realize home isn’t a place, it’s with the people you love. And that is really what Christmas is all about-love and the family you choose.

And the ending?! FA LA LA LA LA. More perfect than finding the just-right tree. Jingle Wars is everything I want in a Christmas story. My cheeks hurt from smiling and my heart is still pounding- but mostly my heart is just full of joy and tenderness and brimming with festive nostalgia. I AM IN LOVE! Jingle all the way! 🎄❤️

[Lia Strange · Rating 3 out of 5]

el como empezaron y como terminaron, soy lagrimitas

[maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ARC provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review]

I love Christmas, it's my favourite time of the year and, I'm obsessed with Holiday movies (like Freya). However, this is the first Christmas romance book I've ever read and it's probably not going to be the last.

I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers trope and the chemistry between both of the main characters, Finn Mayberry and Freya Anderson was something else. ( can we talk about how cute their names are? ) The book was cute, funny and quick to read with steamy scenes. The perfect rom-com for the holidays.

And of course, I need to mention my fav people: Grams and Gramps. They're just so cute and pure, and I had a hard time reading the end of the book, you both made me tear up. 😞🥺 I need to find a town like this Hollyridge and live there forever.

PS: a donkey that dresses up as a reindeer is the cutest thing ever. Saint Nick cutest donkey ever. 🖤 The part where Freya meets Saint and, she gets all excited and happy because he likes her was so cute.

"Being accepted by a donkey might be the usual to someone like Finn, but it makes tears prick my eyes. I probably look crazy, eyes glistening because I’m stroking a donkey dressed as a reindeer, but it makes warm joy pour into my heart. I think I get why the Grinch was amazed when he felt his heart grow three sizes. This feels just like that."

[Alevia · Rating 4 out of 5]

First let me say
I want to spend Christmas in Hollyridge with Gram and Gramps Mayberry.

And as cute and sweet as that is, let me also tell you
This book is also STEAMY 🔥

I love a good enemies to lovers romance, but this one started off rocky for me. I didn’t like the immediate spark and sexual tension between Finn and Feyra. Honestly, I just wasn’t on board through the first 25% of the book. But once things picked up, I could not put it down. I surprisingly ended up LOVING the rest of the book!

I think this is what I’ve been searching so many years for. A person who makes me laugh, who challenges me, and lets me into his world. Someone who’s heart feels like a home, exuding the kind of love I’ve always craved.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun and super steamy new adult, opposites attract, Christmas romance between two rival inn keepers competing to win a small Montana town's Jingle wars competition and the prize money that goes along with the bragging rights.

Full of pranks, an adorable donkey/reindeer, plus a great cast of supporting characters! This book gave me all the Falling for Christmas movie vibes and is perfect for fans of Elle Kennedy. I didn't manage to read this last year but I'm so glad I found the time to squeeze it into my holiday reading this December! Definitely a standout worth picking up!!

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one I had mix feelings I enjoyed it alot but didn't love love it.

Even if I wanted to roll around in the snow with Finn he was a sexist jerk a few times when he spoke to Freya and it brought down my likeness for him. But I still would roll around in the snow lol. Freya I love that she tried and never gave up wanting to show her asshole of a father she can do the job and maybe he would be proud of her.. but everything she did he just brush her off.. I felt bad for her in those moments. But Freya also annoyed me with her winter clothing WOMAN ITS FREEZING GET SOME WINTER GEAR!! So yeah lol I do agree with Finn on how she dressed for winter.. 🤣🤣🤣

The hate/love relationship they have during jingle war competition was funny and cute I enjoyed it so much. I do wish we had more then 3 events. We also got some side characters and there angst ugh.

No om drama tiny ow drama, No cheating Secondary character, tiny drama, no virgins kinda manwhore (mentioned he slept around town and most woman in town have slept with him)

Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶

Slowburnish
Push away from both (but more H)
No condom
Safeish
Hea
Epilogue

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 Stars*

I really only had two issues with this book, and they're kind of nitpicking. The first issue was Finn calling Freya "traitor" from the start of the story. I mean calling her the enemy I get, but she didn't betray him so it just sounded weird. The second issue was I feel like Finn technically cheated on the final task where he ended up winning. And it was just never addressed. Not really important overall but those two things stuck in my head.

[Angela Staudt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

RTC

[Alex Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic cheesy Christmas enemies to lovers book! Fair warning, it is spicy 🌶️🌶️ !!! Ready to pack my bags for the Montana mountains. I enjoyed this quick holiday read!!

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope, sorry, I can't finish this one. I have low expectations for romance novels and actually love when they're unrealistic - but I draw the line at issues with health and safety. Freya is so obsessed with looking cute that she refuses to wear a coat and proper footwear for snow. There are multiple mentions of her not wearing cold weather appropriate clothing because fashion is much more important to her. One of the early chapters also tells us that the characters would be going camping and I didn't read far enough to learn what happened on their camping trip. But I'm imagining frostbite. I just ... ugh. I can't deal with that type of woman. I've come across a few other books with overly social media- and designer clothing-obsessed heroines and I always give up quickly.

I did skip ahead to the candy cane scene everyone was talking about. I was curious, OK? All I could think about was how she's going to get a yeast infection. And he asks if she wants to fe f***ed by the candy cane...that was supposed to be sexy? There is literally nothing sexy about that. No. For so many reasons. Please, for the love of God, do NOT put food (especially candy!) on, in, or around your lady bits.

Maybe it was good otherwise, I just couldn't get past the heroine.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally ship Finn and Freya!

This book was everything I hoped it would be. It was the sweetest take on a enemies to lovers story. I had all the warm and fuzzy feels that Christmas and love bring. The banter was on point. So so good!

Finn is a grumpy, broody (but yet so swoony) man who lives with his Grandparents at their iconic Inn in the town of Hollyridge, Co. He helps them keep afloat since the property is in some money problems and his Grandparents aren't getting any younger.

He literally runs into the new girl while in town. She is in his neck of the woods, working at her Dad's super fancy resort.. which just so happens to be next door to Finn's family Inn.
Their chemistry is off the charts! They don't want to like each other, but, ya know...

They both are contestants in a Christmas competition, with a large cash prize.
They both want to win and they both want to best the other!
What ensues is some sweet fun, ongoing banter and Christmas lust turned LOVE!
Loved it!