It's hard not to love a hero who lets his wild side out to protect the girls in his life, even if said hero is kind of an ass at the beginning. I mean, who says no to potentially making a kid smile? Um...Kyle was determined not to play Rudolph, but Crystal was even more determined to have him do it. They clashed repeatedly over this while fighting an attraction that refused to go away. In the end, it proved a great thing because it led them to a happy ending they rightfully deserved.And that kid who needed to smile after the hell they'd been through? That'd be Crystal's daughter. It was so precious how she latched onto Kyle. Whether it was because he was larger than life to her, or because he was incredibly sweet and tender toward her, she saw something in him that was worth holding onto. Her instincts proved right because he was there for her and Crystal when they needed him the most.This sweet story moves quickly but there aren't a lot of holes in it. The characters and plot are well-developed for a novella, and it's a perfect taste of her writing style and this series if you haven't read it before. It's a terrific addition to this series and goes to prove that a bad ass hero doesn't have to move the Earth for a woman to fall in love with him. All he has to do is love her unconditionally and make her little girl smile.***Received from Smexy Fab Four for an honest review*** This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. I'm a sucker for a shifter romance but a Christmas story about Caribou and a Cougar? It's so crazy funny! The book moves at a fast pace because it's only 100 pages, so don't expect a deep dive...but do expect snarky remarks, a steamy scene or two, and loads of good cheer. Quick recap. Kyle is former military, AKA Mr. Ego Tough guy who refuses to play Rudolph in the Christmas pageant. Crystal is a single mom who just moved to town with her daughter Gigi, and is hiding from a mean ex. Kyle and Crystal meet, they clash, they spark! But, Kyle and Gigi are so cute together. He learns quickly he wants to be a family when he loses his heart first to Gigi and then to her mother. Overall, 4 - 4.5 stars. The dialogue was witty, the romance was sweet and the ending was all kinds of happy and magical.
