A "Cheery and Queery" Holiday Romance
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Make the Season Bright Book Cover Make the Season Bright
Ashley Herring Blake
Contemporary Romance, Sapphic Romance, Holiday Romance
Berkley
October 1, 2024
ebook, paperback, audiobook
367

Two exes find themselves stuck at the same house for Christmas in this holiday romance by Ashley Herring Blake, USA Today bestselling author of Iris Kelly Doesn't Date.

It's been five years since Charlotte Donovan was ditched at the altar by her ex-fiancée, and she’s doing more than okay. Sure, her single mother never checks in, but she has her strings ensemble, the Rosalind Quartet, and her life in New York is a dream come true. As the holidays draw near, her ensemble mate Sloane persuades Charlotte and the rest of the quartet to spend Christmas with her family in Colorado—it is much cozier and quieter than Manhattan, and it would guarantee more practice time for the quartet’s upcoming tour. But when Charlotte arrives, she discovers that Sloane’s sister Adele also brought a friend home—and that friend is none other than her ex, Brighton.

All Brighton Fairbrook wanted was to have the holliest, jolliest Christmas—and try to forget that her band kicked her out. But instead, she’s stuck pretending like she and her ex are strangers—which proves to be difficult when Sloane and Adele’s mom signs them all up for a series of Christmas dating events. Charlotte and Brighton are soon entrenched in horseback riding and cookie decorating, but Charlotte still won’t talk to her. Brighton can hardly blame her after what she did.

After a few days, however, things start to slip through. Memories. Music. The way they used to play together—Brighton on guitar, Charlotte on her violin—and it all feels painfully familiar. But it’s all in the past and nothing can melt the ice in their hearts...right?

“December was the month the universe conspired against Charlotte and rained down an amalgam of mishaps, everything from a mundane red wine spill on a white blouse to the disaster five years ago she wouldn’t even let herself think about anymore.”

Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake is the “cheery and queery” romance that will have readers wishing they had their own “Two Turtledoves” holiday to experience and features every bit of holiday magic that one should expect out of a holiday themed romance. A standalone that packs a punch, Make the Season Bright is equal parts emotional as it is terrifically horny.

Holiday Tree in NYC plaza via giphy

Charlotte and Brighton haven’t seen each other in 5 years…since one of them *ahem* never met the other at the altar. I’ll give Charlotte some big props, but I don’t think I could easily come back from that feeling. I admired Charlotte’s tenacity to make it as a classical musician in New York City although I truly felt for her as much of the first half of the book, Charlotte is still grappling with so many unresolved feelings towards Brighton but her mother as well.

“Fresh start meant friends. Fresh start meant Charlotte could hold anyone’s hand she wanted and Brighton would toast to their happiness.”

Brighton is a musician of the singer/songwriter variety. Recently kicked out of a newly viral girl band, Bright is looking to find her footing in a world where she hasn’t been steady since she’d been with Charlotte. When both Bright and Charlotte show up in a small town in Colorado to ring in the holidays, neither woman is prepared to confront the 5 years of silence that lay between them.

holiday vibes via giphy

I warned you earlier: Make the Season Bright is emotional, it’s angsty, and it’s so horny. Both Charlotte and Bright clearly have no problems picking up where they left off in the sexual chemistry department. With as much on page “lovins” that happens the amount of pining between the women is second to none.

“Forgiveness wasn’t forgetting. But it was just as real. Just as healing.”

Luckily for me, I was able to buddy read with fellow bee, Val. She and I bemoaned Charlotte’s December streak of bad luck and were equally enchanted with the idea of “Two Turtledoves”: a dating/social hour for singles who want to mingle during the holidays. Val said this, “This small town, second chance romance was nostalgic, endearing, and so relatable to an emotional person like me.” I couldn’t agree more.

You have plenty of time to read Make the Season Bright before the holidays are over. Ashley Herring Blake writes the most vivacious and alluring heroines. I am absolutely addicted to the way she unfurls the romance throughout the story. Make the Season Bright is a fantastic queer romance and should not be missed! It’s available now! Go get your copy today!