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What Manda Reads, Caledonia, IL (2025)

12/17/2025

🎧 ALC Review 🎧

Thank you, and for the audiobook.

Ruin Me
The Beckett Brothers #3
By L.A. Gallaher
Narrated by K.C. Sheridan & Joe Arden
Blue Nose Audio
December 16, 2025

I love a bodyguard romance, and Killian Beckett is the epitome of emotionally closed off, protective and dominant yet all his control is challenged by Avery. Protecting her from a threatening stalker is the perfect segue into close proximity, one of my favorite tropes. Avery is brilliant, totally comfortable in her body, and watching her bring Killian to his knees was absolutely delightful!

Honestly, I am no expert in assessing accents in audiobooks, I just know if the accent was pleasant to listen to and added to the story. The Irish accents of K.C. Sheridan and Joe Arden were lovely to listen to and made me want to head straight to Dublin!

QOTD: What games (cards, board games, etc) do you enjoy playing with your family?

12/15/2025

🎄 Current Read 🎄

He Sees You When You’re Sleeping
Naughty or Nice Book 1
By Alta Hensley
Narrated by Rock Engle & Jillian Macie
September 16, 2025

I’m shocked that I kept this book on my shelf until the middle of December since it was one that I pre-ordered. I started it today and then added the audiobook to my library so that I could keep reading while running errands. It’s only $3.99 on Chirp right now!

TROPES
Stalker romance
Acquainted in real life Nonconsensual snow shoveling
Christmas romance
Fireman romance
Morally grey MMC
He falls first Forced Christmas joy
Kink friendly Wearing of ugly Christmas sweaters

❓Do you read your pre-orders immediately, or save them for the perfect moment?

12/15/2025

🎄ARC Review

Thank you, .steele and for the ebook. The Christmas Trap is out now.

I can never refuse a holiday romance, so when I had the opportunity to read an early copy of The Christmas Trap, I snapped it up like the first peppermint mocha of the season! This book has some of my favorite holiday ingredients: a brilliant, Christmas obsessed FMC, the Grinch-ish billionaire boss with a protective attachment to his Executive Assistant, a marriage of convenience, and a snowed-in honeymoon.

But, I was left feeling vaguely disappointed and guilty that I didn’t enjoy it more because it was well written, easy to immerse myself in, and had so many of my favorites. I pondered it for quite a while before hitting on the answer.

Given that the length of this book, I was looking for some additional conflict or subplot such as a board member trying to undermine Lark’s position, interference from rival businesses, corporate espionage...something beyond the attraction and developing romantic relationship between Lark and Brody. There were times I thought were set up for a subplot, but then nothing happened. I do appreciate that there was no big third act break-up, though. Points for that!

I want to be clear that my feelings of slight dissatisfaction are not a reflection on the author in any way, and more an indication of my mood at the time of reading.

The Christmas Trap
The Davenports #7
By L. Steele
December 9, 2025

🎄❄️🎅🏼🎄❄️🎅🏼🎄❄️🎅🏼🎄❄️🎅🏼

❓ How many books do you hope to finish in the last half of December? Do you have a list? What is your number one must read?

12/12/2025

It’s time to PARTY 🥳
a.collab.thing is celebrating the holidays of the season with our books because wrapping up the -Ber months means it ‘tis the season for a holiday party!! We are bringing the colors, vibes, tropes and main character energy straight from our shelves to the party!!

🎉📚🎊🎁🎊📚🎉🎁 🎉📚🎊🎁🎊📚🎉

I love a Christmas party…and by party, I mean reading Christmas romances! I pulled these festive titles from my shelves in honor of the season.

🎄The Holiday Claus by Ann Einerson
🎅🏼Pucking All the Way by Michelle Hercules
🎄Christmas Sweater Weather by Jaqueline Snowe
🧑🏻‍🎄The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison
🎄The Christmas Wager by Holly Cassidy
🎅🏼The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score
🎄A Cookie & Co. Christmas by Emma Foxx
🧑🏻‍🎄A Novel Christmas by Charity Shane’
🎄Confessions of a Christmasholic by Joss Wood
🧑🏻‍🎄Triple Tidings by Cleo White
🎄Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh
🎅🏼A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

🎉📚🎊🎁🎊📚🎉🎁 🎉📚🎊🎁🎊📚🎉

is spreading the holiday cheer. And the rest of the gang are all partying together at !

❓How many holiday titles have you read so far this season?

I’m at 28 so far! 🧑🏻‍🎄

Want to join us for the 2026 season?? Check out .a.collab.thing

12/11/2025

🎧 Currently Listening 🎧

Thank you and for the audiobook.

Ruin Me
The Beckett Brothers, Book #3
By L. A. Gallagher
Narrated by K. C. Sheridan and
Blue Nose Audio
December 16, 2025

I started listening to this bodyguard romance this morning and I’m captivated by Avery and Killian! I love how Avery challenges him with her beauty, snark, and attitude, while the broody, emotionless Killian battles against his attraction while working to find her stalker. The light Irish accent by both Joe Arden and K. C. Sheridan is a nice touch.

❓What accent would you choose for a main character?

12/10/2025

🎄 Cover Reveal 🎄

Check out the gorgeous cover for Dashing Through The Snow by !

Dashing Through The Snow comes out on December 23rd.

What to expect:
🎄Reindeer Shifter
🧑🏻‍🎄 Christmas Romance
🎄Small Magical Town
🧑🏻‍🎄 Meddling Mrs. Claus
🎄Christmas Cookie Magic
🧑🏻‍🎄 Reindeer Prince
🎄Fated Mates
🧑🏻‍🎄 Big City Girl x Future Dasher
🎄He’s running from his destiny
🧑🏻‍🎄 She’s trying to survive the holiday season
🎄Spicest Series
🧑🏻‍🎄 Food Play

❓🦌 What would be your reindeer name?

🦌 Mistletoe Frostino
(I used the generator at santasnorthpole.com )

12/10/2025

🎄✨Audiobook Review ✨🎄

Jolly & Jaded
By D. J. Krimmer
Narrated by Amanda Willow and Joe Arden
2hrs. 41 min.

January 17, 2025

I was hooked from the first line of the summary! 😆
“He’s been in love with her for years. She just broke his nuts with her knee. Merry Christmas.”

A second chance holiday romance novella that brought all the feels while tackling the reality of trauma, grief, and guilt with compassion and authenticity. For such a short book, the author brought surprising emotional depth while keeping it balanced with humor and spice.

Joe Arden was perfectly cast and flawlessly brought Grant to life. From his grumpy demeanor, vulnerability, and raw emotion that brought me to tears, Joe Arden’s performance is one that will stick with me.

In her debut audiobook, Amanda Willow provided an impressive performance as well, and I look forward to listening to more from her.

Don’t let the short listening time fool you, this novella is worth every penny and I’m sure to listen to it again next year.

Rest of the Summary:

Elsie:
Running my coffee shop is one thing. Running the town’s Christmas marketplace? That’s been my dream forever.

This year, I finally get my shot—twinkle lights, ugly sweaters, full festive takeover.

Only problem? Grant Anders.
My late brother’s best friend. The grump who shows up every day with that scowl… and has now been assigned as my co-planner.
And let’s not forget—I’ve secretly loved him since we were kids.

It’ll be a Christmas miracle if I make it through without falling harder than ever.

Grant:
I’ve spent six years avoiding Elsie Marshall—because loving her from a distance is the only thing I’ve ever done right.

She’s my best friend’s little sister.

The girl I failed.

Now she’s running the Christmas market—and I’ve somehow been roped into running it with her.

Late nights. Close quarters. And all the feelings I’ve spent years trying to bury.

She deserves joy, magic, everything good.

I just hope I don’t become the reason she loses any of it.

🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨🎄✨

❓What activity, place to visit, etc. is on your holiday bucket list?

12/09/2025

🎄 Two for Tuesday

If an age-gap cowboy romance sounds like a pleasurable way to thaw out December’s icy chill, check out these two spicy Christmas novellas by Elliott Rose that are sure to heat things up!

Bouquets and Buckles
A Crimson Ridge Standalone
By Elliott Rose
Narrated by Gabriel Spires & Amy Hall
December 9, 2025

Thank you, and for the audiobook which released today.

This book definitely delivered on its promise of another 5 star visit to Crimson Ridge while providing all the spicy, snowed-in, best friend’s dad, age-gap goodness and introducing characters that I immediately felt invested in.

Lucas Rhodes is what cowboy dreams are made of with his phenomenal dirty talk, the desire to take care of Skylar while still supporting her dreams and independence, and when he places his cowboy hat on her, be prepared to swoon and sigh!

I loved this book when I read it back in January, but I have to say, the audiobook was even better! Gabriel Spires and Amy Hall gave spectacular performances that enhanced my experience of the story and truly took it to the next level. However you choose to visit Crimson Ridge, get this book on your tbr!

🎄🎀🎄❄️🎄🎀🎄❄️🎄🎀🎄❄️

Winter Wishlist
By Elliott Rose
November 26, 2025

Winter Wishlist is a sweet and spicy why choose MMF romance featuring a librarian, a cowboy, and a retired pro rugby player turned metal artist. If insta-love isn’t your thing, pass this book by, but if you enjoy two men who instantly know when they find the woman they have been looking to add into their relationship, and aren’t afraid to go after her, this book is a must read!

Check out a few of my favorite quotes ➡️

🎄🎀🎄❄️🎄🎀🎄❄️🎄🎀🎄❄️

❓Would you rather wear a Santa hat or a reindeer headband all day?

🎅🏼 Santa hat for me! Headbands give me a headache.

12/08/2025

🎧 ALC Review

Thank you, and for the audiobook. My Favorite Girl will be out this Friday, December 12th.

My Favorite Girl by Skyla Summers is a prequel novella in the Playing Favorites series and is a step-sibling, forbidden romance that ends on a cliffhanger. Dan and Ally get their HEA in the next book, My Favorite Sin. I knew this going in, so the cliffy didn’t bother me.

The audiobook is performed in duet by and and let me tell you, they were amazing! At approximately 4 hours listening time, it was perfect for a morning of laundry and errands.

After innocent, introverted Ally meets bad boy Dan, the son of her mother’s boyfriend, they quickly form a deep connection and become each others’ safe space, their person. Dan was the perfect “only soft for her” book boyfriend. He’s popular among his peers, yet with wounds he doesn’t let anyone except Ally see. He protects her from mean girls, coaches her through panic attacks, and helps her reach her dreams, while also sacrificing to stay close to her and dealing with his father’s constant disapproval.

Neither Dan nor Ally want to blow up their parents’ marriage or drag their very public family through a media storm by giving in to their feelings, but as teenager do, they get very close to the line…before crossing it, just a bit…and a little bit more…until there is no going back. The open door spice is sizzling and I could listen to Anthony Palmini all day! Heather Firth perfectly portrayed Ally as she grew from the shy, innocent, girl to the young woman ready to take a risk.

I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book!

My Favorite Girl
Playing Favorites Book #0.5
By Skyla Summers
Narrated by Heather Firth and Anthony Palmini
Blue Nose Audio
December 12, 2025

💜 Title Predictive Text
My Favorite Girl__________

My Favorite Girl is a very nice girl who loves to talk.

12/05/2025

❤️💚🩵🤍❤️💚🩵🤍❤️💚🩵🤍❤️💚🩵🤍

There is nothing more magical than a holiday romance! There’s not a small town inn or Irish castle broken down enough to keep us away! There’s no baking contest too fixed or royalty too secret to keep us from reading! Give us all the candles being lit, all the flirty snowball fights, all the holiday sugar, and sometimes the holiday spice 😏. Our collabers are bringing you the gift of holiday romance, so get yourself in front of that crackling fire and take a tinsel at what’s making our seasons bright!

I’ve read 26 holiday romances so far this year, many of which were audiobooks. I’m sharing a stack showcasing a few of my favorite print editions.

Merry Little Kissmas by Lauren Blakely

The Holiday Post by L.B. Dunbar

Naughty-ish by L.B. Dunbar

The Holiday Claus by Ann Einerson

Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal by Meghan Quinn

❤️💚🩵🤍❤️💚🩵🤍❤️💚🩵🤍❤️💚🩵🤍

is also sharing books with that holiday vibe. Looking for more Holly in your jolly and more glow in your snow? You can check us all out by visiting our hashtag

Follow .a.collab.thing to join us in the OG Booksta collab group and take part in our creative challenges!

❓Tell me something you are looking forward to this weekend.

12/04/2025

🎄 Three for Thursday Feature 🎄

Thank you, for gifting me with these three books and a spot on tour.

I love Rachel Hauck’s Lowcountry series, and my oldest daughter repeatedly devoured Hauck’s Royal Wedding series when she was in high school, so this trio of Christmas romances grabbed my attention immediately. I’m looking forward to reading all three of these books before Christmas!

The Christmas Ring
By Karen Kingsbury
Published by Thomas Nelson
October 21, 2025

A Royal Christmas Wedding
Royal Wedding Series
By Rachel Hauck
Published by Zondervan
October 18, 2016

On the Way to Christmas: Three Stories
By Sheila Roberts, Melissa Ferguson, and Amy Clipston
Published by Thomas Nelson
October 11, 2022

❓Do you have a favorite short story? Bonus if it’s set during the holidays!

Gift of the Magi by O. Henry is one of mine.

12/02/2025

❄️ Currently Listening ❄️

Thank you and for the audiobook.

Bouquets & Buckles
Crimson Ridge Novella
By Elliott Rose
Narrated by Gabriel Spires and Amy Hall
December 9, 2025

Bouquets & Buckles was a five star ebook read for me back in January 2025, so yesterday when I saw it was one of the December picks for Libro.fm influencers, I literally squealed in delight!

This story is as swoon-worthy as I remember and the narrators are perfect as Luke and Skylar!

If you like a sweet and spicy age-gap novella, don’t miss Bouquets & Buckles!

Book Description
My plan was to visit my boyfriend back home in Crimson Ridge for the holidays. Except, my surprise trip, after shutting up my florist shop for the festive season, only ended up revealing the worst kind of betrayal.

Now, I’m hiding from the guy I just caught cheating on me, while stranded with a flat tire and a snowstorm approaching.

All it took was a slip of my thumb, a press of the wrong contact name in my phone.

Instead of dialing my best friend for help, I accidentally called my life-long cowboy crush.

My best friend’s father.

Lucas Rhodes is a man I haven’t seen in twelve months. Not since last New Year’s Eve when he drove me home… alone.

If we get snowed in together on his ranch tonight, how am I supposed to resist my every teenage fantasy when he’s looking at me like that?

Bouquets & Buckles is an interconnected stand-alone, novella set in the same world as the Crimson Ridge series.

❄️ Do you get snow where you live? If you do, has it snowed yet this year?

What Manda Reads

12/17/2025

12/15/2025

12/15/2025

12/12/2025

12/11/2025

12/10/2025

12/10/2025

12/09/2025

12/08/2025

12/05/2025

12/04/2025

12/02/2025

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