‘Twas a month before Christmas, and all through the town,
Everyone was ready to celebrate, except my hot and grumpy new neighbor.

Christmas is my favorite time of year with the festive parties and holiday cheer. But having Connor Tyler move in next door is as much fun as searching for a burned-out bulb in a string of lights.

His rugged good looks and guitar can make anyone swoon. That doesn’t change the fact that he slammed the door in my face when I welcomed him with a tray of homemade cookies.

But I won’t let his bah-humbug attitude damper my holiday spirit. This year, more than ever, I need to deck the halls and revel in being jolly. As I ramp up my holiday cheer, Connor spends more and more time casting lingering glances toward my… mistletoe. When a blizzard hits, a gesture of hospitality leads to exchanging more than presents.

As Christmas draws nearer, I chip away at his icy facade only to discover a painful truth. There’s an expiration date on his time next door.

And I’m certain I don’t have enough boxes of tinsel to convince him to stay.

My Review

Tatum absolutely LOVES Christmas, but she’s also accident-prone. 😂🎄 Oh my goodness, I love her vibe! She’s a hot mess, but she’s also so upbeat and full of holiday spirit that it’s hard not to adore her.

Connor is temporarily moving into his grandmother’s house to fix it up and sell it. He’s a musician who’s happy to take a break from the band, but he probably wasn’t expecting his next adventure to involve a Christmas-loving neighbor who seems determined to get under his skin. They’re living in the small Minnesota town of Harbor Highlands, where the holiday antics are just getting started.

These two bring both the enemies-to-lovers and grumpy/sunshine tropes to the table. Tatum’s attempts to get back at Connor for his attitude toward Christmas feel a little petty at times, but honestly, the antics make for some entertaining holiday chaos. The short chapters are refreshing, too, making this a quick and easy read.

Their interactions are hilarious and set the stage for a chaotic seasonal romance. This quote sums it up perfectly:

“I got dumped and now the grump who hates Christmas lives across the street. This is shaping up to be a great holiday.” — Tatum

This holiday romance definitely brings the spice, with a steamy interaction before these two go right back to annoying each other. 😂 But underneath all the bickering, I love how they show up for each other when a neighbor needs help. Between Connor’s little oopsie with the axe and Tatum needing a fake date, there’s never a dull moment!

Connor also keeps his identity a secret from Tatum, which adds another layer to their relationship. Thankfully, it doesn’t turn into some massive, drawn-out disaster, and everything comes together in the end.

The ending is super sweet and cute! ❤️ I loved watching their journey from enemies and neighbors to friends and, finally, lovers. This was a fun, spicy, chaotic little Christmas romance with plenty of humor, holiday spirit, and a grumpy musician who might just need a little Tatum-style Christmas magic.

If you would like to read Flirting with the Scrooge by Gia Stevens, you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn on qualifying purchases.

If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: Holiday, Grumpy/Sunshine and Neighbors to Lovers.