Reviews of the 8 Books I Read in December 2025

1. Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

Swift and Swaddled by Lyla Sage follows Ada Hart, a fiercely independent interior designer starting fresh after a failed marriage and career setback, who lands a dream project at a Wyoming ranch. Things get complicated when the cowboy she shared a one-night spark with turns out to be her new boss, Weston Ryder.

With forced proximity, undeniable chemistry, and plenty of emotional walls in the way, this small-town romance leans hard into opposites attract and the tension between protecting your independence and risking it all for love.

My Rating: ★★★★

I finally got around to reading the second book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series and it was almost as amazing as the first. We follow Emmy’s brother Wes in this book and as lovely as the story was, I did miss Emmy and Brooks from the first book.

However, the setting, the found family and wider set of characters in this series had me falling even deeper in love with the world that Lyla Sage has built in Wyoming.

2. Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter is a sweet, nostalgic YA rom-com about Liz Buxbaum, a hopeless romantic determined to finally win over her longtime crush when he moves back to town. Her plan involves teaming up with her annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor, Wes Bennet, who has been driving her mad since childhood.

But as fake schemes turn into real feelings, Liz is forced to rethink everything she believes about love, happy endings, and whether the best romance might be the one she never planned for.

My Rating: ★★★★★

This had been on my Kindle for a while, and I remembered enjoying a previous Lynn Painter book that I’d read (The Do-Over) so thought it would be a nice rom-com book to read going into the Christmas period.

I think I finished it in less than 48 hours, I read it so quick. I was quickly obsessed with Wes in particular and the banter between the two main characters.

There were parts that had me smiling like an idiot and I’m so glad there’s a second book in this little series so I can continue on with Wes and Libby.

3. Holiday Ever After by Hannah Grace

Holiday Ever After by Hannah Grace is a festive small-town romance about Clara Davenport, sent to Fraser Falls to clean up a PR disaster after her family’s toy company is accused of stealing a local maker’s design. Enter Jack Kelly, the very person hurt by the scandal and the last man willing to trust a Davenport.

As Clara tries to win over the town, sparks fly beneath Jack’s icy exterior, forcing both of them to confront loyalty, forgiveness, and the possibility that love might be the best holiday miracle of all.

My Rating: ★★★★

We’re getting into Christmas books now as I was having a very hard time feeling festive here in Sydney, Australia so wanted to transport myself to some snow-covered small towns in books instead.

I already loved Hannah Grace’s writing in Icebreaker and Wildfire, so had a feeling I’d like this too. It was highly predictable and cheesy, but also everything I’d expect from a Christmas romance novel. Perfect.

4. Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey

Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey is a festive holiday romance set in Manhattan, where blunt, down-on-her-luck Stella accidentally lands a dream job after brutally critiquing a department store’s Christmas window display. The only catch? Her charming new boss is also the man who hired her on the spot.

As Stella pours herself into the work and tries to keep things professional, sparks fly amid twinkling lights, snowy streets, and holiday temptation she’s determined not to touch.

My Rating: ★★★

I’ve read quite a number of Tessa Bailey books by now, so know I’m always in for a bit of a spicy read when I pick up one of her books.

I was intrigued that she’s written a few Christmas stand-alone books, so picked up Window Shopping for some romantic Christmas reading. The male character was definitely a lot different from the male characters Tessa usually writes about, but it strangely worked.

Enjoyable, but I found it quite similar to Holiday Ever After with the retail element, only this was set in New York City so made me quite nostalgic for where I should have been this Christmas.

5. Wild Love by Elsie Silver

Wild Love by Elsie Silver kicks off the Rose Hill series with a forbidden small-town romance packed with tension and banter. Billionaire Ford Grant retreats to Rose Hill to open a recording studio, only to have his quiet plans derailed when a surprise twelve-year-old daughter enters his life and his best friend’s little sister, Rosie Belmont, storms back into town.

When Ford hires Rosie, years of pent-up attraction collide with forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine energy, and sizzling chemistry neither of them can ignore. It’s messy, emotional, and impossible to resist.

My Rating: ★★★★

I love the books I’ve read so far by Elsie Silver (Flawless and Powerless from the Chestnut Springs series) so was very excited to get into this, especially with the reviews I’ve already seen.

It was good, but I found myself comparing it to other books I’d read recently like the Rebel Blue Ranch series and Elsie Silver’s other books. I’ll definitely be continuing the series but I’m disappointed that I didn’t love it as much as I thought I was going to.

6. Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage

Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage centres on Teddy Andersen, a free-spirited small-town girl suddenly questioning her future, and Gus Ryder, an overworked rancher juggling family responsibilities and single dad life. When Gus reluctantly hires Teddy to help out for the summer, their long-standing irritation turns into slow-burning tension and unexpected chemistry.

With changing life paths, forced proximity, and feelings neither of them planned for, this instalment delivers a classic enemies-to-lovers romance wrapped in small-town ranch life.

My Rating: ★★★★

Book number 3 in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, I just couldn’t stay away from this little world in Wyoming and this family.

I was very excited to read Gus’s story in particular as he’s quite a big character throughout all of the books, and I loved the role his little girl played throughout too.

This would be my second favourite book in the series if I had to rank them.

7. Christmas at the Ranch by Julia McKay

Christmas at the Ranch by Julia McKay is a cozy second-chance holiday romance set against snowy ranchland and small-town charm. When disgraced journalist Emory Oakes escapes family scandal and ends up back at Wilder Ranch for Christmas, she’s forced to confront the place and the man who once broke her heart.

Reunited with Tate Wilder, old feelings spark amid festive magic, unresolved betrayals, and the pull of a place that still feels like home. Warm, nostalgic, and perfect for winter reading.

My Rating: ★★★

The final Christmas romance of 2025 and I was keeping with the ranch theme that was very present this month.

It was kind of giving rich girl from the city meets stable boy when they’re 18, have a fling for two weeks and then 10 years later still aren’t over each other.

Which seems a tad unrealistic to me, but can we expect anything else from Hallmark Christmas books and movies?

8. Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage

Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage follows Camille Ashwood after her perfectly planned life implodes when she’s left at the altar and suddenly homeless. Moving next door to her first love, Dusty Tucker, forces Cam to confront both her carefully controlled future and the feelings she never truly let go of.

As old wounds resurface and long-buried emotions reignite, this final Rebel Blue Ranch instalment delivers a heartfelt second-chance romance about choosing roots, forgiveness, and love that refuses to stay in the past.

My Rating: ★★★★★

The final book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series and I’m a devastated! I wasn’t overly anticipating Cam and Dusty’s story as Dusty was a recent addition to the other books and we don’t learn much about Cam throughout the first three books.

I did like the new past and present tense storytelling element, but what really made this book five-stars for me was the short story at the end, wrapping up the series.

We get a short story of Emmy and Brooks’ wedding day and I shed actual tears reading it. I loved this series so much.