I can’t keep my title as a Cara Dee superfan if I don’t read all the things, but I’ll admit that I approached this story with mild trepidation. First because of one of the major tropes, since “forbidden” romance (in this case between people of very different statuses within an office hierarchy) often stresses me out unnecessarily. Then, once I did start reading, because Parker’s admittedly adorable personality didn’t necessarily counteract all my second-hand embarrassment at his shenanigans.
Luckily, this book is also a low-angst holiday romance. Despite his antics, Parker gets the tables turned on him fairly early in the story with deliciously swoony results. Parker already knew that Wyatt ticked all his boxes, but little did he know that the opposite was also true. Dee incorporates a subtle examination of how aspects of certain lifestyles can affect mindset into a scene that is pure spice. I joked after the author’s previous holiday release that “heart-warming filth” is my new favorite genre, and this story completely reinforces the notion.
The countdown to Christmas offers a fun way to highlight Parker’s sweet character, but this office romance could have worked any time of year. (Yes, the characters do acknowledge the surface-level difficulties of their relationship, and Wyatt quietly and efficiently deals with them like the Daddy he is.) I highly recommend this holiday romance to readers no matter when they discover it.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.