Scrooge-ish by L.B. Dunbar [Review]

Scrooge-ish (Holiday HOTTIES #1) by L.B. Dunbar
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 8, 2023

Holiday HOTTIES
1. Scrooge-ish - Paperback | Kindle
2. Naughty-ish

L.B. Dunbar
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I hate Christmas. I don’t know who thought every female must love shopping, wrapping, baking, and hosting, but I’m missing the memo. On top of that, I manage a top-end department store. Sprinkle in the fact I’ll be turning forty during this holiday season, and my life is a Christmas cookie recipe gone wrong.

And every year I become a little more Scrooge-ish.

But the spirit of the most wonderful time of the year (insert sarcasm) seems to have a plan for me and my midlife crisis attitude.

First, my past returns when I attend a high school reunion happy hour and run into that boy—the one I had a summer fling with after graduation and before college—then promptly ghosted me.

The torture continues because that boy is now a man, worldly and wise and sexier than I remember. And he invites me to attend a holiday work party with him.

Which leads to my discovery that there is a lot more to this forty, fine, former NFL quarterback, now fireman, like being a single father to the sweetest little girl, putting me at risk of falling for both of them.

However, I have my reasons not to believe in love and the happiest time of the year. And the first twenty-five days of December tests all my strength.

Just what the Dicken is happening? Charles himself might approve of this plot.
Even I’m a little curious to see how it all plays out.

Thoughts on Scrooge-ish: A lady who has a lot of trust issues (like, A LOT) and a single dad who has some guilt and regret and considers said lady the one who got away. Throw in a whole lot of holiday spirit, an adorable kiddo, and family issues of the kinda big variety and these two have a lot to work with.

So. Eva and Zebb. She's grumpy, more than a little lonely, and she's trying to convince herself that she's okay in the grand scheme of things. Her parentals are...well, one's not terribly supportive and one is a hot mess. Eva is basically alone and the holidays aren't an easy time for her. Zebb, on the other hand, is practically bursting with holiday cheer. Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration. Compared to Eva, however, it's pretty accurate.

A few holiday dates, a kiddo who steals Eva's heart just as much as her dad does, a little changing room hanky-panky, a man who sees a chance for something great with his lady, and a lady who has to let go of the past if she wants to have a future. *thumbs up*