This holiday season, there’s more than gingerbread in the oven.
I was always a type-A kind of girl— and that’s exactly what got me into trouble with Sterling Ahren.
Having a baby before thirty didn’t work out, so I took some time off to sort out my life. Sterling’s my new landlord… and he doesn’t plan anything.
He’s a billionaire playboy who can’t stand the holidays. A recluse of the worst kind, … holidays. A recluse of the worst kind, Sterling makes Scrooge look like a generous soul… except Ebenezer was never this sexy.
He doesn’t want a family— until the night we have a spontaneous one-night stand, and forget to use condoms. I can’t have a baby with a disorganized, free spirit like him. Between my overprotective brothers and his crazy fans, I already know this isn’t going to work out.
Except Sterling isn’t willing to let me go. He wants me home for the holidays… and this is my last chance to make a Christmas miracle happen.
One thing I know for sure: when Sterling and I collide, it’s going to be anything but a silent night.
Funny, touching, and delightful, this smoking hot billionaire holiday rom-com by Claudia Burgoa will make you feel the magic of Christmas.
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So here’s the thing, I have been patiently waiting for Sterling’s story for over a year, I first met him when he appeared in his brother Wes’ story (Begin with Me) now that’s a long time and I have read a LOT of books since then but there was just something about Sterling that always had me wondering if he would ever get his HEA. Well, it’s a Holiday Miracle because he got more than he ever dared hope for but once he met June he knew things would never be the same.
Juniper (June) Spearman is the youngest sister of Jason Spearman from Then He Happened and Jack Spearman from Maybe Later , if you have read either of these books you have met June. I never would have guess these two would work together because they are just so different but you cannot deny the chemistry between them, and I guess the saying that opposites attract hold true for Sterling and June.
This story was fun and sexy and touching at times, I didn’t need tissues but I did feel the pulls at my heartstrings. June looks like she has it all together but she feels like there is something she’s missing in her life, it was sad to see how all of her past relationships had played out and how it has pushed her into making the decisions she is now making. I do applaud the author for broaching the subject of PCOS and the decisions some women may have to make in order to fulfill their dreams of having a family.
This book as with all of Claudia Burgoa’s books are very easy to recommend, this one I would recommend to readers over 17 because it is a pretty steamy read. If you enjoy Contemporary Romance, Rom-Com, Holiday Romance, or the Surprise Pregnancy Trope you should definitely check it out.
Happy Reading!!!
Ms. Burgoa brings us a sweet holiday treat. June and Sterling have witty banter and off the chart chemistry. The oops baby scenario I could totally see coming and was thrilled at how it all played out. I loved seeing these families combine as we’ve met so many of the characters in prior books. Ms. Burgoa is a master at weaving together her stories. I love catching up with old friends. This book will give you all of the holiday feels. Perfect holiday read!
5 Over the top, insta-connection, holiday miracle stars!
What happens when you have over protective brothers, a no-nonsense security team, and protagonists who have quite a bit of trouble communicating? And did I mention a blizzard? The result is a heartfelt, (sometimes) steamy, delightfully humorous read! There really is nothing like a Claudia book!
This was such a refreshing and enjoyable holiday read. This Christmas tale brings together two of Claudia’s fictional families: the Spearmans and the Aherns. Though I’ve only read a few of the previous books, this one can easily be enjoyed as a standalone.
Juniper and Sterling are complete opposites. She is a planner, while he lives life in the moment. She wants a family of her own, while he just wants to be left alone. Or does he?
After a chance (and laugh out loud) meeting in a restaurant, their lives are forever changed. One night with Sterling and June’s carefully constructed plan disappears. Does Sterling fit into June’s new plan? Sterling isn’t willing to let her, or this miracle go, and he uses every trick in the book to show her why they should give this a chance.
Sterling is the stuff that book boyfriend dreams are made of. Sexy, wealthy, artistic, alpha, a little bit broken…maybe a tiny bit insecure. Oh, and 100% struggling with his feelings! Swoon.
If you like your holiday reads with a bit of steam, humor, and a whole lot of heart, add this to your TBR!
This is the perfect holiday novella but can also be enjoyed any time. I am hooked on the characters and their families now too. June and Sterling are everything they need without even knowing it. The story is funny, sweet, and all kinds of sexy. I couldn’t get enough. I loved the narrators and how we not only had 2 but 3 narrators which really brought the story to life.
June is a planner. Lists are her friend. The one thing she planned on most was falling in love and having a family, but things haven’t quite worked out that way. Also, having three overprotective brothers who still treat her like a kid at thirty three doesn’t help. So she’s decided she’s got a new plan to start checking things off a bucket list. Once again life throws her plans out the window when she meets the sexy as sin Sterling, gets lost in a night of passion with him, and fails to use a condom.
This was such a sweet and heartwarming holiday romance. I’m still swimming in feels after finishing reading. June and Sterling are the sweetest couple. I loved watching them both come together and open themselves up to feelings and possibilities they both thought were out of their reach. Sterling was a sweetheart. My heart squeezed for him as he tried to sort out his feelings for June and the inexplicable pull he get for her. Watching he and June navigate their attraction and new connection was adorable and kept me in a constant puddle of swoon.
Claudia Burgoa has penned a sweet, steamy, and feel-good holiday romance about finding love when you least expect it you’ll want to both curl up with and get lost in. 5 stars.
Once Upon A Holiday is a stand alone novella by Claudia Burgoa. This is my very first book by Claudia. I can imagine how attached an author must get when she writes more than one book about a family. I can just imagine how thrilling it must feel to bring together TWO families she has written about into one beautiful Christmas story. The Spearmans meet the Aherns in this wonderful little holiday tale of love and the magic of Christmas.
June Spearman is thirty three years old. She has three older brothers and one twin sister. She is the baby of the family. No matter how old she is, her over protective brothers make her feel like she is still a little girl. June has never wanted anything more than to fall in love and have a family. The falling in love part didn’t work out so she has decided to plan things out for herself, maybe check a few things off on her bucket list. So June has taken a little time off to try to start her plan in motion. June likes to plan everything, make lists. But one thing she didn’t plan on was meeting the sexiest man she has ever seen, sharing the most passionate night she has ever experienced with him, and forgetting to use protection.
Sterling Ahern is a successful, very rich artist. He has to keep body guards with him everywhere he goes. His success has brought out the worst in his fans. Sterling’s life is his art. But, due to his celebrity, he has learned to live a secluded life. It’s what he is accustomed to. For reasons of his own, Sterling doesn’t feel like he is any kind of relationship material. That he’s just not the lovable type.
“How could we fit so well when we don’t know each other?”
“She’s like a blue sky. She’s sunlight. The laughter of a baby.”
When Sterling first saw June across a room, he felt pulled to her. The way she looked, the way she sounded, her laughter. He couldn’t let her walk away. It was supposed to just be one night. But it was never going to be enough.
“Life isn’t what you plan, but what you live.”
Sterling doesn’t understand his need for June, just that he needs her in his life. But then they find themselves pulled together for another reason. Neither June nor Sterling ever thought they would find forever. But maybe it was just because they hadn’t met the right forever person yet?
“How can I stay away from him when all I want is for more?”
This was so sweet. I loved how Sterling’s heart just expanded with his feelings for June. He didn’t understand it at first, but that didn’t stop him. The two of them definitely had some communication issues. They had quite a few struggles just because they were so unsure of what the other was feeling and were keeping their own feelings to themselves.
This is a heartwarming, sexy holiday story of finding love when you least expect it, and opening your heart to the possibilities of something you never dreamed of finding. I enjoyed this so much, especially the beautiful ending. The last chapter and the epilogue left me with such a happy heart.
Are you ready for a sweet, heart-warming holiday romance, well Once Upon a Holiday will have you hooked from beginning to end. This charming tale was Sterling and Junes story and I absolutely loved seeing these two families again. Both Sterling and June were two flawed complex characters who were as different as night and day, yet they had the most intense chemistry from the moment they met and I loved watching them navigate through their relationship. The banter between them was hilarious and their steamy scenes were hot.
This sexy holiday tale about finding love when you least expect it and realizing that life doesn’t always go as planned will give you all the feels and evoke a range of emotions from you.
Once Upon a Holiday was an engaging novel with likable characters and was a fantastic read. I loved it and would highly recommend it to all lovers of contemporary romance.
Once Upon a Holiday is the first book/Novella that I have read by this author and it is a standalone.
This is a story of a single woman wanting to have a baby and June Spearman’s clock is ticking at the age of 33.
Sterling Ahren is a “Hot Billionaire playboy” who is a successful artist, owns property that he rents out and he becomes June’s landlord. June and Sterling end up getting together for a fun “one night stand” and “forget to use condoms. He says he doesn’t want a family and guess what? You got it, June is pregnant.
This was a cute and very hot story and I completely enjoyed reading this book. I will be looking up Claudia Burgoa and reading more of her books.
Loved Sterling and June!!!! It was a mixture of funny times, beautiful moments, heartbreaking moments and beautiful surprises. They were opposite but yet perfect for each other. They both had their own set of demons that they were fighting but handled it completely different. She wanted things that he didn’t want but he yet couldn’t let go of the woman that captured him that one night. June was so different from the women he’s met. She made him want to be a better man. And Sterling made June want to live and enjoy life to the fullest. Their families were funny and had their moments but were very supportive. The ending was simply amazing and I enjoyed their growth.
A holiday “Scrooge falls in love” novel that combines two families in the author’s arsenal? Sounds like a perfect holiday gift.
We get to revisit Claudia Burgoa’s Spearman and Ahern families again for the holidays, and this novel is definitely a treat. It’s heartwarming, entertaining and satisfying.
Sterling Ahern is our Scrooge – brash, broody, takes life as it comes and has a killer smirk.
June Spearman worms her way into his heart before he even knows what hits him and turns his world absolutely upside down, sideways and inside out. June is determined, independent, and driven, and Sterling gives her much more than they bargained for when they first meet! The banter is witty, and sparks definitely fly, and the two of them challenge each other in amazing ways.
The audio, narrated by Aaron Shedlock and Emma Wilder, was fantastic. They do a wonderful job conveying the emotions, the humor and the sizzle in this story. A cameo by Sebastian York adds to the powerhouse narration of the audio.
This most recent release by Claudia Burgoa is a wonderful holiday read. I loved reading and following Juniper and Sterling’s story. This author knows how to write a story full emotions and wonderful characters, I can’t to read her next book.
Let the Christmas Magic begin! Claudia has written another wonderful book, this one reminiscent of a Hallmark or Lifetime movie!
Juniper Spearman has decided to make some big changes in her life. No one knows the plans she has made, except her bestie and sister
-in-law But running into Sterling Ahern puts a wrench in all her hard work.
The chemistry these two have *sigh*. It was off the charts! The one and done wasn’t going to work with them and when Sterling ends up being her land lord, well, those sparks just grew into a raging fire!
It was fun to see the other Spearmans (if you haven’t read their stories, you’re going to want to!). This is a Standalone and can be read as such.
The ending was just perfect. These two learning to trust not only each other but the members of their family. The witty banter and the humorous dialogue made me laugh so hard! You NEED this book! It deserves more than 5 STARS!
Solid 3.5 stars.
I liked Juniper, aka June. She was smart, sassy and not afraid to go after what she wants.
I liked Sterling. He was the totally the kind of sexy alpha I love to read about.
I loved the idea of this sweet holiday story and it started with a bang…literally!!
I kept waiting for the typical Claudia agnst but it never came. But overall I enjoyed the story and getting to see June’s crazy brothers was awesome!
Do you like Hallmark movies? The kind that make you swoon and laugh and cry and give you all the feels? The ones that are centered around a holiday such as Thanksgiving or Christmas? Yes? Then this is definitely the book for you! It’s a steamy story filled with ups and downs. June has planned her life down to her every day meals… Sterling is an artist with a go with the flow kind of attitude… What happens when they have a steamy night together and learn that maybe there is more to life than calendars/schedules and charcoal on canvas? One believes in true love the other believes in one night stands and a means to an end… Throw in some wicked plot twists and a mean mugging body guard and you have the perfect start to the Christmas season! This is a must read for the century!! I’m so in love
I received a review copy before release for an honest review.
This story was kinda complicated and it brings together two previous series, one I have read and loved and one I had never read before.
In this story we meet June Pearson, she is the sister from another sister of Jackson Pearson and Jason Pearson and they both are in this book as well. June is single and she meets this guy and she has a one night stand with him before Thanksgiving.
The male lead in this story is Sterling Ahern and his adopted siblings were Wes and Abby whose story was told in a duet that I have not read. They also are featured a lot in this story. The fact that I had not read this story did not impact my enjoyment of this story, so I feel it can easily stand alone.
June is in the process of changing her life and selling her business and she is in town to celebrate the holidays with her family and rent a house in the area for a medical treatment. Guess whose house she wants to rent? And that is how her and Sterling see each other again after their one night.
This story was as I said complicated with lots of twists and turns so I don’t want to give too much away. Its a really wonderful holiday story that starts at Thanksgiving and follows thru the Christmas holiday nd even thru New Years. Family is very much a theme in this story from June’s relationship to her siblings and parents to Sterlings relationship to his adopted siblings. It was a wonderfully written holiday story I loved.
Once Upon A Holiday is a funny, touching, heartfelt quick holiday read with wonderful characters. It is sweet and sexy with a touch of heartbreak.
June and Sterling couldn’t be more opposite but once they come together, sparks fly and June throws caution to the wind. Sterling is a billionaire artist who leads a secluded life. He used to sleep around but after a few unfortunate incidences with some overzealous admirers, Sterling is very careful and shies away from relationships. June is a twin and has three older, overprotective brothers. She’s the baby of the family. She is tired of her family treating her like a baby. She is 33, unlucky at love, and not getting any younger. Because of this, she formulates a plan. She wants a family of her own. She decides to go to a sperm bank and get artificially inseminated. She is an independent woman and can do this on her own. Being a Type A, June plans this out, makes a list, but sometimes lists don’t work out, and life doesn’t always turn out how we plan. Throw in a chance meeting and a little fate and this book is holiday magic!
I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was romantic, heartbreaking, touching, sizzling, passionate, and beautiful. The epilogue gives you all the warm fuzzies. What more could you want?
***ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.***
June is the youngest of five (although her twin sister is only a few minutes older). All her siblings are married and she can’t seem to stay in a relationship. Just wanting someone to love, she decides to see a specialist and try to conceive a child. She is also compulsively organized, making lists for everything.
Sterling is June’s opposite. He doesn’t want anyone in his life, is content to focus on his art, and doesn’t believe in planning his life. When the two meet up at a hotel around Thanksgiving for a one-night stand, the sparks fly but both had decided it was a one time deal and names were not exchanged. When June shows up in Denver to see a fertility specialist, she is shocked to find she is already pregnant, from her one-night stand with Sterling.
I enjoyed the dual POV, seeing how June and Sterling struggled with their conflicting emotions towards each other. The two are opposites, but together they ignite. Both have baggage from past relationships (including his relationship with his parents), and neither trusts the other with emotional ties. Still, it was so much fun watching the two of them, especially when their families get involved.
Love love love Juniper and Sterlings amazing beautiful intense emotional love story
Grabbed my heart
So ready for more
My world is now complete: the Ahern’s and Spearman’s together in one book.
Sterling is the brooding bachelor with zero plans of settling down. He doesn’t believe in love and has never planned to have the perfect family. He lives his life by his terms and while he spends most of his time alone he is completely okay with it.
June has her life planned out and since it isn’t going the way she has planned she won’t let it deter her from the family she wants. Even if that means going it alone and being a single mom. Hopefully all her planning will have her celebrating babies first Christmas next year.
Sometimes with all your planning the stars align and have something altogether different in mind and try as you might sometimes there is no running away from your destiny and these two really try to make sure they stay on their own course but somethings you just can’t run from destiny.
“When it happens, it’ll catch you off guard. Change your entire life. It’ll be a soul deep connection and you’ll need each other like you need air to breathe. Maybe when you find love the stars shine brighter and everything that used to be dull has a new light. She’ll be your favorite feeling, even when you can’t understand it. The best place you’ve ever been in and the one you want to stay in forever.”
This soon to be released book by Claudia Burgoa is a sort of rude, cocky guy finds himself attracted to a strong, funny and different kind of woman romance. A big screw up starts them off annoyed, disgusted and on the absolutely wrong foot before they even set eyes on each other. June (Juniper Spearman) is about to change her life and all her careful planning keeps getting tossed out the window! She’s the baby of the family and feels like the biggest failure…why can’t she find the same happiness her siblings have?
June and Sterling Ahern cross paths, exchange a no names, no holds barred, no regrets kind of moment in time. She’s got a plan to fulfill a dream years in the making and no one is going to change her mind or her path. Sterling is happy with his life just how it is, no complications, just making the art he loves with a passion and no one to get in his way…he has everything he needs to be content. A few crazy stalkers, well, that’s just part of the territory in his world.
It seems that June and Sterling are destined to collide again and who knows where that might lead? To more sexy times I hope! Here’s an added bonus worth some chuckles- a few beloved characters you may remember from previous books..hello-overprotective Spearman brothers alert, in high gear to keep their baby sister away from the bad, bad playboy artist! As if she needed saving!
I loved how June and Sterling could ‘feel’ each other’s emotions right from the beginning, even though they fought the connection and feared the future. A little angsty, A LOT steamy, some back and forth that would have put a tennis match to shame, but a really good romantic love story that I’m glad to have had the pleasure of reading tonight. I love a book that keeps the story and excitement moving…this one did just that. An especially warm and lovely epilogue, one of the best parts of a romance for me. I wonder if another book set in this world is coming our way???
An early copy was generously provided for me to read and honestly review.