Kindling Kissmas

by Ellie Hall

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Getting snowed in with my brother’s best friend wasn’t on the Christmas concert set list.

My life as pop star Rebecca Rios is one big glittery front. When my team books me last minute for a gig, cancelling my family plans, I snap. One breakdown and a snowstorm later, I’m hiding at a lodge that looks like a Hallmark movie brought to life.

Then Reese Marchiano knocks on my door—my brother’s best friend, firefighter, and my crush all wrapped up in a Christmas bow. Now we’re snowed in together, decorating cookies, hunting for a missing Christmas star, and falling for each other between sips of hot cocoa.

But my team won’t stop calling. They want me back. And when Reese accidentally tells me my niece has been sick—news I missed because I’ve been too busy chasing fame—I realize it’s cost me everything that matters.

Now I have to choose between the spotlight that’s suffocating me or a cozy mountain town where nobody wants my autograph ... just my heart.

Can I trade stage lights for starlight and find my way home for Christmas?

From USA Today bestselling author Ellie Hall, this sweet, closed-door Christmas noel novella with frosted kisses, a mini pug in a sweater, and a HEA will melt your heart faster than snowflakes on your tongue. Read for the perfect cozy holiday escape!

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Book Details

Genre

Romantic Comedy

Subgenre

Celebrity / Rockstar, Firefighter / Police / First Responder, Holiday (Christmas, Valentine’s, etc.), Small Town

Audience

Adult

Bell Peppers

🫑

Profanity

1 None

Violence

1 None

Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco

1 None

Publication Date

December 1, 2025

Language Versions

English

Fiction Form

Novella

Cute

This was a really cute little Christmas Novella.

My first Ellie Hall story was one of her other Christmas Novellas. So, when I had the opportunity to read this - I couldn't pass it up.

I really loved all of the festive activities included in this story. I think the cooking decorating and sweater making sound like so much fun. I think the inn in this story would be a really fun place to spend you Christmas! It sounds so festive.

If you want a cute, quick, holiday read to enjoy with a cup of cocoa (preferably under a blanket by the fire) this is the book for you!

A Runaway Pop Star

Rebecca Rios is a pop star who has had it. Burned out does not even begin to describe how she feels. She is tired of being a puppet, which is how she ends up running away one night after a performance driving aimlessly headed to her family's home. She ends up in a quaint inn in Huckleberry Hill. The description of this lodging sounded like something you would see at the North Pole. I loved it.

the next morning firefighter Reese Marchiano knocks on the door of Rebecca's room because her brother was concerned for her wellbeing. Rebecca is shocked to see Reese when she opens the door.

You can imagine where this is going as the two of them get snowed in together. What a perfect setting to get snowed in. It was like lodging in a snow globe. The forced proximity, the ease of already knowing each so well should make a blooming romance easy, but the worry of what Rebecca's brother will think keeps creeping in. I say let it go and go with it.

There were games, matching pajamas, and so much food. It helps remind Rebecca of a time when her life was simpler. I really enjoyed this sweet Christmas romance, but what I really enjoyed more than anything was the emphasis on self-reflection and remembering what the holidays are really all about. Staying in the lodge was simple, easy and laidback. It was a refreshing time and made the characters slow down and enjoy life. The reference to hearing jingle bells several times added a little Christmas magic to the story.

Her adorable dog named Pookie was the star of the show. Rebecca might be a pop star, but Pookie stole the show. This short, sweet story will steal your heart.

This is the PERFECT Holiday Novella!

Ellie got me into the holidays spirits and had me falling in LOVE!! As always there is the cutest pug named Pookie! Ellie always writes the best stories with animals. This novella was a quick read but you got everything you need in a book. I laughed my butt off, smiled so much my cheeks hurt and then I was left with a wonderful ending.

Rebecca is a pop start that has had enough of her pop start life. She wants to get away from her life and just enjoy Christmas again. So she grabs her pug named Pookie who is who Pugcess (LOL) and starts driving. She ends up at Timber Edge Inn. This place is decked out for the holidays and she loves it. Thankfully the lady dressed as Mrs. Claus tells her there is one room left. She loves that so far no one has recognized her. Before she knows it there's knocking on her door. Standing before her is Reese her brothers best friend.

Reese is a firefighter and is happy to finally be off duty. But when his best friend calls him to have him check on his sister he has to go to the Inn. Rebecca wasn't happy to see him at first but the realized he was there for her brother. He couldn't get ahold of her because she threw her phone out the car window on the drive there. After letting him know she was ok a snow storm ends up keeping Reese stranded at the Inn.

I loved this story so much! You will love all the holiday festivities they do together. It made me wish I was stranded at an Inn with my husband and doing all those fun traditions. These two will have you swooning and falling in love right along with them. This is a fun, sweet holiday novella. Grab some cocoa, a blanket, this book and curl up for a holiday novella full of love! I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Sweet, contemporary romance novella

Romance, sweet, contemporary, novella; series, but stand alone read
Rebecca and Reese’s story was a snow stranding that brings two friends who each secretly hoped for something more their second Chan e for love. Cute, fun, lighthearted moments, and sweet chemistry between them made for a fun read. Novellas are tricky to get all the depth of characterization that makes a 4/5 for me. Still a cute story.

Fun Christmas Packed Romance

There's a lot of Christmas fun packed into this short novella. I really enjoyed the story and the length of it was perfect to read in a few hours. The MMC and FMC characters grew up together- due to a winter storm they will spend Christmas at a lodge that really knew how to celebrate the season.

Rebecca Rios is a pop star who just wants to spend Christmas with her family. When her manager books her to sing at an event that is a fundraiser she wants nothing to do with it. The funds don't go to help anyone just into the pockets of the people running the fundraiser. She doesn't want her name attached to it. So in a desperate attempt to get a break she takes flight in her manager's rental car with her concert dress on and her small cup pug as the only things with her. When her phone keeps ringing as she flees she decides to toss it out the window. Now with no GPS she will have to find somewhere to shelter on her own. She finally stops at a lodge that is dressed for Christmas like a Hallmark movie. Even the woman at the check in desk is dressed up like Mrs. Claus. With one room left in the lodge, a winter blizzard on the way and no one seeming to know who she really is, she has found a refuge.

Reese Marchiano is on a mission to check on his best friend's sister Rebecca. Her brother is a police officer and when Rebecca's manager called him to see where she was, Brady tracked her credit card to the lodge. Reese is a firefighter so used to doing well checks. He can see the fatigue that is weighing Rebecca down and he decides to forgo sleep to spend some time with her. When a bad winter storm shuts down the roads, they will spend a few days filled with lots of fun Christmas activities. He just loves seeing her laugh and relax.

Rebecca will get to spend a wonderful time with the guy she used to have a crush on. As their attraction seems to be mutual, will they have just these few special days together or is it possible to have a future?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.