Tinsel in a Tangle

by Ainslie Paton

A Christmas story that packs a punch...

It's Shelby Yule's job to make sure the office Christmas party is a success. That means no dodgy Kris Kringle presents, no one gets too sloshed, and there are definitely no dance floor injuries. Never did she think she'd have to worry about the shy new guy, her inappropriate crush, starting a fight.

Adam Tide can't help it if his job as the lead coder means he has a better relationship with his project management software than his human colleagues, but that doesn't mean he's unaware of Felix, head of HR, and the way he treats Shelby. Adam has suffered a whole twelve months of Felix being a dick and after one over-warm beer he just can't take it anymore.

Decking Felix lands Adam in the Emergency Room, and likely the unemployment line, but since Shelby's New Year's resolution is to go after what she wants most, there's still a chance this season will be jolly.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Holiday

110 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 12, 2018

About the author

Ainslie Paton always wanted to write stories to make people smile, but the need to eat, accumulate books, and have bedclothes to read under was ever present. She sold out, and worked as a flack, a suit, and a creative, ghosting for business leaders, rabble-rousers, and politicians, and making words happen for companies, governments, causes, conditions, high-profile CEOs, low-profile celebs, and the occasional misguided royal. She still does that. She also writes for love and so she can buy shoes, and the good cat food.

Reviews

[Carlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired.

Ainslie Paton delivers on her promise of Christmas cheer with the fun, short read Tinsel in a Tangle. Shelby is responsible for the company Christmas party, in fact she's responsible for nearly every event in the office. She's known for her fun outfits and themed earrings, but no one notices her more than the office's handsome, new guy Adam. Quiet and shy, Adam's been crushing on Shelby since he first saw her and he's had enough of her boss, Felix, teasing her in a less than friendly manner. The Holiday party is meant to be a chance for the coworkers to hang out, let loose a bit, but when Adam decks Felix the mood changes. Now Adam's at the hospital, Shelby's sitting next to him, and he's positive he's going to start the New Year off jobless. Shelby's resolution is to go after what she wants though and what she wants is Adam, who cares if it's not quite New Years, she's ready to take the opportunity to make Christmas jolly.

Tinsel in a Tangle is a super fast read that's more office romance than mistletoe kisses, but it's still fun to read all the same. The book takes place in the ER, with both Adam and Shelby reflecting on the previous year of knowing one another and all the little things that both made them fall for the other. Of course, neither of them know they feel the same way so their time in the ER is more awkward than anything. The two shy coworkers are clearly meant to be together and it's adorable to read about their sneaking glances, brushing hands, and the sweet things they did for one another before they were ready to admit their feelings.

Ainslie Paton is a new to me author, but this quickie made me a fan. Tinsel in a Tangle isn't too Christmas-y and is perfect for those who like to get into the spirit a bit early. Filled with sweet romance and some hilarious awkward encounters, this is a must read for holiday book lovers.

ARC provided.

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shelby is the responsible for the company's Christmas Party. And she's also been kinda in love with sexy, nerdy, man-bun-wearing Adam - who's been working there for almost a year now. Same for Adam. He's hopelessly crushing for Shelby. But they're both too shy/scared to start anything. Until this Party... Adam kinda ... accidentally...on purpose ... knocks out Shelby's boss. Who's been an ass to everybody ever since Adam met him. Especially to Shelby, and Adam just couldn't stand it anymore.

And while we wait for Adam's war wounds to be seen to in the ER, we talk and look back at the last year of falling for each other ....

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Well... that was adorable. I really loved those two! Even though it's stupid that they missed almost a whole year of being happily together. And even more ... why didn't they say anything to the big boss about Shelby's boss? Ugh. Everything could've been all happy at that company for a year now! BUT ... I really liked reading how they finally got their stuff sorted!

It was a very short story, but it was cute. It was christmassy and funny and sweet and very australian and typically Ainslie Patonishly written. I finished it in one night. It wasn't too holidayish for end of September either! Lol. I tend to start my Christmas-book-readings more towards the end of November, but this book will be out in two weeks, so I had to start a bit early this year! ☺


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[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Christmas short-story! This time, from one of my favorite authors, Ainslie Paton. This book was charming from start to finish, just the kind that had me smiling all throughout.

Tinsel in a Tangle is an office romance between two people who have secret crushes each other only to have their feelings for each other surface in the aftermath of a Christmas party gone awry. Adorable doesn't do justice to this book. It was so darn cute and gave me such warm feelings. I was amazed at how much we got to learn about these two characters in such a short book. Even though this was just a novella, the character and romance developments were top-notch. Shelby and Adam were both sweethearts who totally captured my heart. Shelby is peppy, kind and very caring. Adam was quieter but just as compassionate as Shelby. We get to see the two of them meet at Adam's office orientation and get to watch their relationship blossom into a friendship.

Unbeknownst to each other, these feelings soon grow into something much more. They only realize that their crushes are not as unrequited as they might have originally thought when Adam lands a punch on Felix, Shelby's personal nightmare of a boss at the Christmas party. The two of them realizing the other person's feelings for them was so freaking cute as they were both so innocent. The romance truly was sweet and had me on cloud nine.

Tinsel in a Tangle is another holiday romance that I urge you to add to your holiday-reading TBR. You won't regret it! :)

[✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

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ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review

Office romance at Christmas time? Why yes please!

Tinsel in a Tangle is a charming novella that just warmed my heart.

I just wanted Adam and Shelby to be together right from the start. They are just too adorable!

I also liked that even though this is a short story, it didn't feel rushed. We go snippets of how their relationship got to where it is today, and it made me want more.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is time to start reading Christmas stories and as the tagline says for this one “A Christmas story that packs a punch”, it is fun, witty and fabulous, a quick read that will leave you feeling so very happy I loved getting to know Shelby and Adam and I am sure any reader will.

Shelby Yule works in HR at a very modern company, she is a fabulous person to work for always going out of her way to make any occasion fabulous, but when Adam Tide starts working there she is crushing on him, but office romances are not always the best, but heading up to Christmas Shelby is determined to invite Adam to her special Christmas lunch and even more so when the company Christmas party ends up in a fight.

Adam Tide has moved from Queensland to Sydney for this job and he is loving it and wants so much to get to know Shelby lot more than he does, but he holds himself back and does what he can to be there for her especially when their boss Felix is ass. Christmas parties should be fun but when Felix pushes Adam’s buttons he lashes out.

If you haven’t read an Ainslie Paton story before you are missing out and this is a great one to start with, she knows how to pull a reader in, her stories are filled with witty banter that will make you smile and truly this one is so good, so very Christmassy and lots of fun I was cheering Adam and Shelby on throughout this story and the ending is perfect, Adam is such an awesome hero and Shelby the best heroine they deserve each other big time, woohoo thank you MS Paton for a story that left me feeling happy and cheery.

[Maria Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet Christmas themed romance where the main story takes place in one evening at a Christmas party. Adam has seen his co-worker Shelby treated poorly by her misogynistic boss Felix one too many times and takes the theme of 'deck the halls' literally when he lands a direct hit on Felix. The story is told from Adam and Shelby's points of view, with a now/then/now narrative. No sex in this one, just a short story of unrequited feelings finally getting a chance to be aired and a hopeful future. Loved how it works out for everyone in the end :-)

Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delicious morsel of an office Christmas story. Well written so that while its short, its not insta-love. I very much enjoyed it and loved the two main characters.

[aarya]

DNF at 40%.

[lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tinsel in a Tangle is a cute story about two office mates who were crushing on each other but did nothing about it until the night of the office Christmas party, where one of them punched the lights out of the boss who has been terrorizing the other.

Super fun!

I don’t know why when I read about Shelby I instantly imagined Claire Foy’s face but anyway, Shelby and Adam are so cute together. Adam, especially, is just a quiet guy who does stuff on the low; caring for Shelby from a distance and doing little things like refilling her water jug and staying late when she’s staying late, and I love him so much. I mean, they don’t even interact that much since their tables are at the opposite ends of the office but I still ship them. Shelby is also easy to love--she’s literally described as a person who’s easy to love in the office because she’s just a ray of sunshine and a kind-hearted soul who makes effort to organize things that bring people together.

Overall, Tinsel in a Tangle is sweet, TOO SHORT, and yet is also developed and wrapped up real nicely so I can’t complain much (except that it’s too short and I want more). I mean, let’s be real—Ainslie Paton could write grocery lists and I’d read them ahahah

E-ARC is received thanks to the publisher via Netgalley.

[Limecello · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this - and I think it says something that I DID read it from start to finish ... but it wasn't really a romance to me - almost more like a vignette/a very long and detailed lead up to what would be a romance ...
Because sure while the hero and heroine know each other, they don't even ... it's not even that they don't even kiss until the end, it's that they don't even INTERACT until the end.
It's just in their heads and personal longing in the form of flashbacks for nearly a year.
THEY DON'T EVEN TALK OR HANG OUT AT WORK.
I think the most they've done is he's walked her out to her car for a week.

Sure he fills her [water jug] with amazing sounding fruit + herb combinations but ... he won't fess up to it. It's really sweet but it's ... oh it's hard to explain but it's not courting.

This wasn't even low key subtle etc, it was like two people existing on their own but we say this is a romance because it's labeled as such.

I did quite like the ending though, and Stella, who seems like a total badass and if she has her own romance I'd love to read it. (Guess I should look...)

For this story though ... guess it just wasn't for me.

D

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, sweet holiday novella that still manages to engage with an important feminist issue. The story opens with Adam waiting in a hospital emergency room, having just engaged in fisticuffs with his company's head of HR over the man's continual verbal abuse of his second in command, Shelby, a woman whom quiet Adam's been crushing hard on since joining the company at the start of the year.
Through alternating "Now" and "Then" scenes, as well as alternating POV scenes, Paton shows the quiet ways both Shelby and Adam have been showing their liking for one another all year, as well as the growing sexism and abuse Shelby's been putting up with from her supervisor, all in the name of keeping the peace. A story that deals with sensitivity and insight with the issue of workplace harassment of a verbal, rather than an overtly sexual, kind.

Paton has risen to the top of my list of romance writers who consistently and intelligently engage with feminist issues in their books.

[Bookgyrl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and warm Christmas story. Rather short but excellent to read during the holidays.

Adam and Shelby work at Luxlife together and have been attracted to each other ever since Adam started his job almost a year ago. He unexpectedly decks the HR manager (Shelby’s boss) at the Christmas party and Shelby visits him at the ER. I liked the construction of the story.

Would have loved a little epilogue but it did end just right.

I requested and received and ARC via Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Jas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but sweet, I really enjoyed this holiday tale about two co-workers with secret crushes on each other and the holiday party drama that brings their feelings to the surface. Would I have loved a longer story? Maybe, but this worked well for me a short story. I appreciated the snap shot of the development of their romance.


I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a much shorter book than I anticipated. It took a little over an hour to read from start to finish. However, it was a good story and I read it from start to finish without putting it down. I am glad to someone stuck up for Shelby and that she also asserted herself to HR ultimately ending in a work promotion. I’d love to hear more of the story for Adam and Shelby.

*I received this free book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Himanish Prabhakar · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is 4 stars.

I'm a big sucker of holiday books and Hallmark Movies and when I started reading this one I just went in the swirl-hole of imagination and a lot of happy emotions. I loved this one. There were one or two glitches along in the ride but there is nothing more good feeling when reading a holiday story and everything about this one is beautiful. I loved the characters, stories and there was so much beautiful moments.

Really loved this one!!!

[Abigail Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely agree with previous reviewers that it was pretty short. But that seemed to work

You're able to learn just the right amount about the characters and their relationship, and have the want for a happy ending for them
Great read for the festive period
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review it

[Anima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas love story with an office romance twist. A bully gets what he deserves, while the geeky computer guy thinks his love is unrequited for the bubbly HR girl. It's sweet, funny and quirky. Some of the terminology was foreign as the author hails from Australia, but still understandable. A lovely read for the evening. My copy came through Netgalley, review given voluntarily.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet low-heat holiday novella. Nice but I expected more. I liked the cinnamon roll kind of hero – a geek with a bit of rough exterior but with the most caring heart. A lively, bubbly sort of heroine who tries to please everyone and needs help going after what she wants for herself. One office Christmas party gone wrong. It’s perfectly nice story but too low on conflict, too tame and just skimming the surface of a potential love connection.

I really enjoy this author’s voice and writing style but this was not one of my favourite books of hers.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an adorable novella. How was it so short yet felt like it will packed so much in there? It's truly impressive as these 2 MCs were fully fledged and I was cheering for them to get together.

My only complaint? I wanted more!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short well written Christmas/New Year story by an Author I have not read before. Adam Tide and Shelby Yule's story that had me laughing as I read. I enjoyed seeing this story come together, and I want to read more by her.

[Reading with Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Cute, but I had a hard time believing that Stella had *no* clue how awful Felix was. His behavior was so OTT vile that it just made her look stupid and clueless.

[Saly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is just meh! It has no romance but basically is just a flashback of all the little moments which showed hero's goodness towards h. At the end of book they decide to date.

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle, heartwarming short story. Read with a smile on my face. And I so enjoyed all the Aussie vernacular (and the nativity scene).

[Malvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sure does pack a punch, literally, heh. Fun, quick office romance, culminating in the good old Christmas party... What can possibly go wrong?

[NicoleHasRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute holiday read about an unexpected office romance. Short and sweet.

[Shia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4/5

A really sweet quick read perfect for the holiday season! With Hallmark-movie potential, this story focuses on two office workers who finally get the courage to go for what they want - each other, and when choices land them both in the ER in close proximity, getting to know each other is just the start of their sweet romance.

[Jenn (YeahOrNeighReviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, quick holiday read. I had a rough time with the different spelling and vocabulary, so I found myself losing focus a lot. It's a cute story, but I wanted an epilogue!

[JoAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tinsel in a Tangle just didn’t appeal to me. The plot was slow and I couldn’t make a connection with the characters. I received a complimentary copy and this is my unbiased review.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay. I struggled through this one but it really never got going.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Kaetrin]

pre-ordered from Amazon.