RATING (BASED ON PERSONAL SCALE): 1/5 – Not for me at all, but I finished it. → Name recall? Not happening.

MY TAKE: ACCIDENTALLY READ A DEVOTIONAL INSTEAD OF A ROMANCE

THOUGHTS & FEELS: Sooooo I’m reviewing this before all my other books because I know if I wait even one day, this entire story will evaporate from my brain.

I picked this up because it was on the Contemporary Christmas Romance side quest list, so I thought, “Sure, why not?” Well… I now know why not. I went in blind and did not realize this was Christian romance. Not “inspirational.” Not “faith-adjacent.” I mean full-on preachy. God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, “Lord,” rinse, repeat. I found myself genuinely wondering, “Do people talk like this 24/7?” Because if so, the Lord Himself needs PTO.

And listen, Bebe’s daughter is named Hope. HOPE. In a Christian Christmas romance. The subtlety has left the chat.

The wildest part though? Hope’s biological father being absent is framed as totally fine, because she has a perfect heavenly father who fills that void. Like… what?! I literally paused the audiobook.

The romance? Instant and flat. The chemistry? Nonexistent. The plot? Not plotting.

Jahleel is a football player (“catch,” get it 😭) and Bebe is a Sunday school teacher, and somehow even that setup couldn’t spark anything. The setting wasn’t charming or special, this storyline it could’ve taken place in April and it would read the same.

Toni Shiloh’s writing just didn’t land for me. It felt bland, rushed, and so PG it looped back to awkward. I also didn’t know it was a novella, but honestly the pacing screamed drive-thru romance, so it tracked. I literally answered emails while listening because I knew I wasn’t missing a thing.

The ending? Loved it because it meant I was done.

This was my first Toni Shiloh and likely my last. No humor. No swoon. Zero cozy Christmas vibes.

BOTTOM LINE: Not for me. Would only recommend if someone specifically wants a very Christian romance. Otherwise… skip and save yourself the time.