Kate  Stewart

The Plight Before Christmas

This is a ssssssllllllloooooowwwww burn. The pay out is good and shocking jfc. You’ll be waiting awhile.

All that aside. So good. Such a perfect holiday read with found family, tradition, drama, comedy, everything. Loved it. Some of the stuff is overly cheesy, but I didn’t mind it too much. 

This is a ssssssllllllloooooowwwww burn. The pay out is good and shocking jfc. You’ll be waiting awhile.

All that aside. So good. Such a perfect holiday read with found family, tradition, drama, comedy, everything. Loved it. Some of the stuff is overly cheesy, but I didn’t mind it too much. 

This was a surprise for me and ended up being so good. It is in fact a dramedy from start to finish. I enjoyed it so much and related to the family dynamics so much. This is also a second chance that was right person wrong time that cross paths again and I ate it up. All of the characters added different little quirks to the overall book that made it so good. Saying it was a dramedy is accurate because of everything that happens and how there was depth with Eli and Whitney here which I wasn’t anticipating. It was a fun read to start my December off. 

Priscilla Stanfield

The Plight Before Christmas 

Miralis Davis

This book made me feel all the emotions. I was in a major reading slump, opening books and unable to get past the first couple pages. This book pulled me out of that slump. 

Small town, second chance romance and set during Christmas, this book was a banger. Easily 5 stars for me.

I love how Kate Stewart set the book in Triple Falls and crossed-over a beloved character from the Ravenhood Series.

Allison Freedman

“Whitney, you were ready, so ready to start your life, and I was still just surviving.” 



THE CHRISTMAS READ I NEVER KNEW I NEEDED! Ugh Kate thank you again for completely ruining me in the best way. I’ve seen this book on here PLENTY of times, but decided to wait on it until I needed a pick me up. Little did I know I’d be in a puddle of tears. Here I was thinking the highlight of the book would be the tid bit of Sean, but Whitney girl serenading our sweet Eli with my one true idol, Celine Dion, just about ended me. It was a slow start the first few pages, but once it started rolling I was hooked. This was a fantastic holiday book without being overly predictable! Love it.

Lovely christmas story, but not super special. I think it was a bit long. But… because of this book I want to make a birthday bucketlist!

Emma Kamer

isabela 

this book was so good. i didn’t expect it to be so emotional but it had me crying, i loved them so much

Yasmim Linhares

OMFG KATE!! This book is so fucking good! I love it so much! Just finished it and it's so goooood. I laughed, I cried, I felt my heart so warm though out it. I cared for every single character. URGH I LOVE THIS BOOK!

Caitlin Vanderheide

Beautiful Second Chance!

I read this blind and didn't realize it takes place in Triple Falls and I absolutely loved the little cameo in chapter 25 ❤️. 

Such a beautiful story of lovers in the worst time, brought back together years later. This has become my favourite Holiday read !

Maggie K

18+ 
5/5 Stars 
1/5 Spices 
Trope: Second Chance Love

First off, holy cow this book was amazing. Nothing that I was expecting to happen. I had genuinely laughed at some of the moments in the book. When Kate said this was a rom-com, this is definitely a romantic comedy. I think that is what made this book so fucking amazing. 

The relationship dynamics and character development in the book are really what made this such a killer read. Not only was I wanting to see an interaction between the main love interests but also the side characters. The family dynamics during this book were so amazing and sweet. However, they were also so real. It isn't a picture-perfect family, Kate beautifully portrayed how every relationship struggles and how looks can be deceiving. 

Another factor that I loved about this book was how it is such a short time frame of the matter of days it takes place. Yet, it felt like the perfect length to build the tension between Whit and Eli. Allowing for all the past and present to collide in an epic battle of tension and wit. That had me biting my nails or throwing my pillow. 

The discussion of mental health in this book and how it factors into relationships was beautifully written into the subplot and allowed for the growth of characters to be seen and made me fall in love with them even more. 

If you are looking for a wholesome holiday read, definitely pick up this book. 

(this was provided to me as an ARC review however all opinions are my own)

Bailey

ALL of the Stars. 

There was not a single character in this book that I didn't love. I love the Collins family dynamic and it is exactly the dynamic that I am striving to establish in my own family. I love that the supporting characters are so involved and really you get to follow Thatch and Serena's conflict, as well as Brenden and Erin's. I love Ruby and Allen and the way that they embrace all of the great and not so great things about their children. I love Eli and Whitney and their struggle to find their footing in this new season of being in each others' lives. Eli is such a sweetheart and Whitney is such a strong, yet soft, woman. 

This story thrived, for me, and I really believe that Whitney's family is what makes it.

Franccesca Jimenez 

I finished this book yesterday at 3:00am. Was it worth it? IT FUCKING WAS.

You guys have no idea, but no idea how much I love Kate Stewart. This book was what I needed right now. It’s an amazing but AMAZING read. So let’s get into it.

The characters; Whitney, she’s so relatable! I’ve felt like her so many times and even have a crazy family too so I loved her and her family. We knew just enough about them to fully understand and love them all. Eli, oh Eli.. can I have an Eli? Pretty please? He’s so incredible and this shows the importance of having the others person perspective or truth.

The story and plot go truly hand in hand here and it’s written perfectly so you never get tired, you don’t want to put the book down and it’s kind of unpredictable. There were some turns there that I didn’t expect. And it’s so funny! I never expected that. I was laughing, genuinely laughing. 

An amazing, great and lovely book. It’s slow burn but in the best way and those spicy scenes 🥵 Lord have mercy. 

And that special someone who shows up, I love you and will forever love you.

Jenni Clements

I went into this just thinking it was another stereotypical Hallmark Christmas romance and came out with 100 different emotions. The amount of times I audibly laughed and the number of tears that streamed down my face were both endless. Whitney and Eli’s story, along with the whole family is such a true story in modern love. It’s not easy, but boy can it be worth it in the end.

Tatiana

4.5⭐️

It’s books like these that make me think I should read more second chance romances. 

Whitney and Eli dated in college. A painful break-up and 17 years later, Eli shows up to her family Christmas vacation. So what do you do when the man who broke your heart in a thousand pieces surprises you with his presence and an agenda? 

I loved almost everything about 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴: the writing, the characters, the setting, the romance, the relationships, etc. I have two little drawbacks about this story:
- the way children spoke and behaved, most specifically Peyton, that felt a bit flat. It didn’t sound like something a kid their age would do or say. 
- the fact that 17 years had passed. I wish it had been less time. I think 10 years would have been enough. I do understand that it probably is because the author wants to play with the fact that the characters are approaching 40, but I still stand by my point.

However, these two points did not prevent me from having a jolly time reading this book! I will definitely check out more of this author’s work in the future.

Aundreya Rich

The word infatuation comes to mind as I drink him in because it’s what I feel. When I’m with Eli, it’s too much and not enough all at once. 
 
First Kate Stewart gives us the Ravenhood boys that completely wreck us for all other men fictional and real.

AND THEN SHE GIVES US ELI.


Whitney is single.
Super single.
To the point she's given up any hope of commitment or children.
Work is hard.
Life is hard.
And it gets even harder when her big bro brings the man from college who ruined her heart by stomping on it with brute force.

Someone get her a spiced egg nog, stat!

This book, while festive and jolly as heck, is SEXY.
Between the flash bags and the tension between Whitney and Eli, this book had me fanning myself.

Read if you like:
-laughing, A LOT
-a man with a bit of an ego and extremely broken
-a female progantist that you see as yourself, or at the least would want to grab a drink with.
-family. a cabin full. with loud kids. marriage issues, and spiked egg nog
-a little drama to keep it "Kate Style"

This book has easily been shelved as my favorite Christmas book this year, if not one of the favorite OF the year.

Don't miss out... get it now, I promise it's worth it.

Rating:
story-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
romance- second chance love
characters- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
steam- HOT like HABANERO SAUCE BABEEEE (iykyk)

Song- Two Ghosts by Harry Styles

Leah | @LeahsLittlePleasures

Well, holy GRAVITY 🥺🙌🏻✨This story is so much more than just a holiday romance. It's about family, second chances, staying grounded, living out loud and boldly, and loving fiercely.

When Whitney's ex crashes her family’s Christmas getaway, she must make the hard decision of letting Eli back into her life or guarding her heart - again - at all costs.

This book was INTENSE - at times, overwhelmingly intense and emotional, but in the best way - from the witty snark and banter to the big, close-knit, would-do-anything-for-you family vibes and dynamic to each character's personality and the main love story’s trauma and healing...

✨ it’s a big energy book ✨

It has complex characters with lots of baggage and trauma and issues that they're all dealing with and wading through, plus it's the holidays... so yeah, it's ✨ dynamic + big energy ✨ wrapped up in so much love and sweet + funny moments and many happily ever afters all around Christmas. I loved it so much!

READ THIS IF YOU LIKE:
— snark and LOL moments (it's chock-full of them!)
— flashbacks
— college sweethearts
— second chance romance
— truth bombs
— family Christmas getaway
— emotional healing
— steamy moments
— strong family bonds

Song: The Power of Love, Céline Dion

CW: anxiety, anxiety/panic attacks, fear/anxiety-induced episodes due to crowded spaces and loud noise, depression, sudden loss of parents, grief, cancer, PTSD

Maria Elena Vitale Zelaia

I hope this book will be turned into a movie one day because it would be everyone’s favorite holiday romantic movie! It had everything: a loving family atmosphere, Christmas cheer, and an undeniable chemistry between the characters that you get to see play out twice in time. Through a series of carefully placed flashback sequences, we see how Whitney and Eli first meet and fall in love, and we also see them coming closer again in the present. A wonderful second chance romance that gave me all of the feels—and I mean it! There were times I laughed, other times I cried. The latter were the moments that especially took me by surprise, because there wasn’t any particular grand tragedy setting off the waterworks. I was simply so in tune with the characters’ feelings that I felt the good and the bad, and their moments of vulnerability were enough to have me in tears. 

In short, this book was simply perfect, and it’s become one of my favorite holiday stories. The book is available on KindleUnlimited, so if you have a subscription I would highly recommend it!

The Plight Before Christmas

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