Let me first say: Reed York was never my boyfriend. He was the pen. I was the company ink. Though if you want to get technical, we were more like colleagues-who-hated-each-other … with benefits. Everything was fine until the charming jerk went behind my back, stole my promotion, and became my boss—literally overnight. Refusing to work beneath him (professionally speaking and otherwise), I … otherwise), I transferred 2,014 miles away to our Chicago division, and I’ve spent the past year trying to remember how much I hated his panty-melting smirk so I can forget how much I secretly loved the way his ocean eyes lit every time I walked into the room.
But he’s just announced a last-minute site visit next week, and on top of that, he’s audaciously designated me as his ‘right hand gal’ during his visit. If he thinks he has a snowball’s chance in this hell at getting back in my good graces, he’s got another thing coming.
Reed York might be a man used to getting everything he’s ever wanted, but Joa Jolivet is a woman that never forgets.
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Exmas by Winter Renshaw
What a great story! It is enjoyable and I liked it quite well. Had me engaged from the first page!
Grab it today!
Nothing like an ex at the holidays…
If this doesn’t ring a bell for some, I’d be surprised. Wonderful read and great characters. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves a good ex at the holidays. 😉
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Joa (cool name!) is a 20 something climbing the corporate ladder at her company, which deals in cryptocurrency (ie Bitcoin) when she meets a fellow coworker, Reed. They have an instant lust that mixes in with the competitive vibe between them, and neither is really up for a relationship, especially Reed. So they start a friends with benes thing that works really well for the both of them until Reed snags the promotion she’s been angling for right out from underneath her. She can’t handle being in the same office as he, so she requests a transfer across the country from the man she still has feelings for. Now a year later, she’s happily enjoying her job, her friends, her coworkers, when she’s blindsided by her boss’ declaration that Reed is arriving at their office soon and that he’s demanded Joa be his guide while he’s there. Um…nope!
When it becomes apparent that the attraction between Reed and Joa is still red hot, Joa succumbs, all while trying to keep her heart intact this time around. After all, Reed’s broken her before, she knows better than to allow him close enough to do it again. But there are things in the background that Joa doesn’t know, can’t know until someone allows Reed to fill her in. When she finds out, will she ever forgive him? For keeping it from her? For breaking her heart, possibly AGAIN?!
I loved this hot, sweet holiday read. Reed is so much more than I had been expecting. Given Renshaw’s past heroes, I was expecting another alpha type with a cold heart just waiting for his woman to bring him to his knees. What I got in Reed is more, much more. He’s not really alpha for one. He’s honestly a regular guy who got caught up in something he had no control over. He’s more vulnerable than some of Renshaw’s past heroes, and I found it really, really attractive in him. He’s also genuinely a sweetheart. Yes, a sweetheart with issues, but still a genuinely good guy, and perfect for sassy, sweet herself, Joa. If you want the perfect little gem to warm you up for the upcoming holidays, I suggest you take a dive into Exmas. You will not regret it!
I love Christmas Story, and this one was a great second chance to love story. The storyline is filled with drama, twists and turns and so much love. I liked the back and forth from past to present. I also like it when a story brings you to love a character you didn’t really like at first. Well written, this story kept me hooked from the start to finish. Winter Renshaw never disappoints! I received an ARC, but also purchased the ebook on the release day.
I have always felt quite lukewarm towards office romances. Reed York and Joa Jolivet work for the same crypto currency firm located in Los Angeles. Both are extremely intelligent and driven individuals. They give into the undeniable chemistry and start a “friends with benefits” relationship. There are rules such as no staying in hotels or at each other’s houses.
When Joa applies for a promotion, unexpected events happen and the position is given to Reed. Burned by Reed’s betrayal, Joa packs her bags and returns to her hometown of Chicago.
Close to a year has passed and Joa is informed that Reed York will be visiting the branch office during the holidays. Unbeknownst to her, his visit is related to an audit he is conducting.
Their story continues from there. Reed is set on winning Joa back. Will Joa forgive him? Well, you’re going to have to read this story!
As previously mentioned, I’m not a big fan of office romances but this story blew me away. Exmas is easily one of Winter Renshaw’s best works yet! Cleverly written with a touch of suspense and of course steamy (yet tasteful) love scenes, I assure you that you won’t be able to put his book down! Highly recommend.
I really enjoyed this book. It is different from most as in it goes back and forth from the past to present which gives us clues as to why things happen the way they did. We bounce from the “non-relationship, relationship” between Reed and Joa when they worked together to the present where she hates him and is forced to deal with his presence in her hometown over the holidays.
I love how Reed is such a complex character. Sexy oozing from him with his self confidence and arrogant smart mouth but underneath he is really vulnerable from his childhood. We never really know what molds a person until we take a look at the way they were raised and the events of their lives.
Joa comes from a loving albit nosey family that loves her and encourages her in whatever she choices to do. She omits her “non-relationship, relationship” with Reed to her family for obvious reasons so when he shows up her family thinks he is the perfect match for her. Little do they know that they have a messy history and one she doesn’t want to repeat. He ripped her heart out and stomped on it and she isn’t going back down that road again or is she?
I loved every angel of this book. The surprises, the discoveries, and the love. I received an early copy to read and review and give my honest opinion. I highly recommend it. I enjoy this author and love how she gives us more in her books than just a hot sex scene, there is depth and emotions along with the heat.
Winter has a way with her writing that draws me in, and I can’t put the book down till it’s done. She just pulls me in and doesn’t let go. I love her more angsty stuff, but this book is still a page-turner.
Joa and Reed’s story is light and easy. There is drama, but it’s very very little. It’s an excellent, easy afternoon read. The story is a 2nd chance romance with a side of enemies to lovers. These two are perfect for each other, their chemistry is electric, and you want to root for them from page one. For me, I need more conflict and a bit more angst to my stories. I just wished that confrontation to be a bit more than what it was. I still enjoyed this book, but to me, it could have been more. I love her work, and I can’t wait for the next one.
Exmas is my first Winter Renshaw and it won’t be my last (so I suppose that it’s a great thing that I have quite a few of her books waiting for me on my Kindle already)! This was the delicious second-chance romance that I needed to cleanse my palette after reading a rather unsatisfying one earlier this week. It did everything that the other book did not: provided a dual first person POV so that we got some insight into both of the characters’ feelings and motivations PLUS we got multiple flashbacks (from both POV’s) to give a more well-rounded understanding of the relationship and history of Reed and Joa. This was an exquisite slowburn, which makes total sense given the reasons behind the couple’s initial splitting. Reed York is truly a remarkable character and it was a real pleasure seeing his character arc. I also loved that Joa is rightfully righteously indignant towards Reed (based upon what she knows), she is smart enough to know when to forgive. The inclusion of both characters’ families is also a delight and the epilogues were icing on the cake. I honestly look forward to having a bit of wiggle room in my TBR so that I can read another book by Winter Renshaw soon! 4.5 out of 5 wine glasses.
Absolutely loved Reed and Joa’s story. It’s a co-workers with benefits type of book that kept me reading up until the end. So page turning good.
When Reed steals Joa’s promotion it is the end of their friends with benefits relationship, and she moves as far away from him as she can get. Now a week before Christmas, Reed shows up, and is determined to get his girl, despite whatever she says. Will the truth be exposed, and is there any sign of forgiveness? No spoilers; this is a definite must read, you will not be disappointed! This is a beautifully written story, which is filled with drama, twists, passion, romance, and is a steamy read. I was totally captivated throughout this addictive page turner, and I cannot wait to read more from this talented author, who I highly recommend for all readers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I just finished this and it was fricking AMAZING
Joa and Reed were incredible couple to get to know. The whole resisting Reed was so fun to see as Joa tried everything to avoid him.
Reed was an amazing man – I loved him for making a decision on the spot in order to protect her. I fell so in love with him when he took care of her when she was sick. But what I loved the most is even though he was relationship-challenged he knew what he wanted and did everything he could do to get Joa back.
This second chance romance was just a perfect sit-until-you-finish kinda book – I highly recommend it and can’t wait to get my hands on the next Winter Renshaw book.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
Exmas is a juicy little short and sexy tale from extremely talented Winter Renshaw. I can never get enough of these stories, and love that knife edge sexual tension the is always ever present in this authors work.
From the very beginning, Exmas was an immediate fit for me. Sometimes I have to warm up to a story and the characters, but not the case with this book. I was instantly taken in by Joa and Reed. I knew there was more than met the eye, and the buildup of tension was just perfect and kept me on the edge and desperate to know the outcome. I loved everything about these two. The connection they had was phenomenal, and the passion sizzled between them, ensuring breathlessness and a little envy.
Winter Renshaw never ceases to amaze me. These stories never fail to amuse, arouse and tantalise me. I hope it never ends. 5 stars
Delightful lovers-to-enemies romance!
Joa and Reed start out as just office … buddies, keeping it light and entanglement-free. It works for nearly a year, but then the promotion that Joa thought she had in the bag somehow ended up being handed to Reed. Feeling betrayed, she transferred out of LA all the way to the Chicago office.
Reed’s been keeping a secret for the past year, a secret that cost him a relationship he didn’t even know he wanted. He can’t betray that secret now, so all he can do is try to get close enough to Joa to hope that she’ll give him another chance once the dust settles. What he doesn’t expect is that being in Chicago, especially getting to know her down-home, middle-class Americana family, brings out feelings he’s tried to keep buried for decades.
I loved seeing the softer side of Reed, and understanding why he was such an arrogant jerk made it easier to accept his new outlook on life. It was hard not to be sympathetic for Joa, since she had no clue of the behind-the-scenes drama that was the real reason she and Reed were apart. I loved how quickly she put everything together at the end. The delayed Christmas gift was a perfect touch. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Reed & Joa used to be Co-Workers with benefits in L.A. until Reed took Joa’s promotion out from under her without a word. Immediately Joa decided to transfer to a branch in Chicago to be closer with her family and hundreds of miles away from Reed – the backstabber, not boyfriend, who never wanted to take their relationship further – or so Joa thought. Now a year later Reed has moved up to the VP position and is at Joa’s Chicago branch reviewing accounts, but really hes come to claim Joa now that everything he’s been fighting for the past year can be explained.
I love that Winter’s books always have a little twist to them, something you really didn’t see coming. The storyline is always something fresh and intriguing, the characters always have this great quipy chemistry. Loved this book. Two thumbs up.
I have read many books by Winter Renshaw and am never disappointed. This book is a romance but also covers a topic I wasn’t too familiar within the world of finance, cryptocurrency. I love books where I learn something new and when our heroine is self-motivated, smart, respected, and educated, and Joa Jolivet, our leading lady, is all of that and more. She’s also beautiful, sassy, loyal, and believe it or not, has both parents alive and well living in Chicago, her hometown! Such a treat as in most romances today the parents are not in the picture.
Joa moved to LA to begin her dream job at Genisis Financial Securities. It is there that she meets Reed York and is assigned to work with him on the same team. Reed is everything you’d hope for in a leading man. He is smart, confident, charming, and super sexy (I love the descriptions of what he is wearing, how he looks at her, and even how he smells!). He is also harboring secrets of his upbringing that condition him to not get very close to anyone, and when it is finally revealed, it’s very heartbreaking. I savored the gentle and vulnerable moments where he showed his true self and began to open up to Joa.
The relationship between Joa and Reed is wonderful and I was routing for them the entire time. They are colleagues collaborating on projects where they admire each other professionally, have so much in common, and are pretty much instantly attracted to one another, and because of his past, agree to a co-worker with benefits situation. They have rules such as not meeting family and no visiting each other’s homes in order to not get too close.
They share an amazing year together in secret, but the story takes a dramatic turn when Reed gets the promotion that he claimed he didn’t want; a position that Joa was qualified for and had her heart set on. She feels she has no choice but request to transfer to her company’s Chicago branch to be near her family and try and mend her broken heart. Ugh! Please read this book and find out why Reed had to take the promotion and how he goes to Chicago a year later to get his girl! Yes, an entire year later and they haven’t forgotten each other and it is then that their love story really develops and you understand everything that transpired and why he made the choices he did. Many books today are very predictable, but this book kept me engaged the entire time and I couldn’t stop reading until the very last page! I loved the chapter at Christmas with her family, and especially the extended epilogue that gives you a glimpse into the future.
This story is told in alternating points of views which is my personal favorite, and very well told through flashbacks of the year they spent together in LA. Reading these snippets into the past is why you, too, will route for them to be together and cheer in the end!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Booksprout and am leaving my honest review.
I love how you get some of Reed and Joa’s back story along with the present. It made you really see how the relationship was. She was hurt and didn’t know what was really going on. When he can finally explain everything…
I loved this book!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Absolutely loved this latest book by Ms Renshaw. Joa and Reed were such a great couple. I like the storyline. I like how Reed never wanted to do anything but protect Joa and the fact he was faced with the dilemma of not being able to explain why he had to make the choice he did two years ago made for a wonderful read. The chemistry between them is unmistakable and I also loved the suspense aspect of what is going on with the company they work for. I enjoy all of Ms Renshaw’s books and this one does not disappoint. Wonderful HEA
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
What made this book so insanely good ? Joa Jolivet and Reed York! This couple who started off as co workers turned friends with benefits turned enemies turned…. Oh holy hotness, this is is one angsty, passionate, hot, sexy,emotional, heartwarming, touching 2nd chance romance that will have you rooting for Reed and Joa to get their HEA.
The two former colleagues are thrown together thru their work after a year’s separation. Its fireworks and steam which I loved; plus the flashback scenes the readers were treated to as Reed and Joa’s story were played out in real time was really good. It helped explain the angst and drama between Joa and Reed. Was the betrayal all it was made out to be or is there more to the story? Will Reed and Joa finally get their 2nd chance at love ? Ms. Renshaw gave such a beautiful romance that will keep you hooked from page 1 to the last page with the ladt word. Absolutely amazing.
My Rating: 4.8 stars *****
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. I love this story. Joa and Reed’s book has quite a bit of drama and emotional turmoil. I loved their banter, the tension, the passion. The friends with benefits to second chance, enemies to lovers plot. This is an amazing book that will captivate you from the beginning until the end.
I loved the storyline of enemies to enemies with benefits to lovers. The characters, Reed and Joa, are sensitive, secretive and afraid. I felt sorry for Reed and the way he was brought up. I felt it was cruel of his parents to have treated him as if he did not exist. Then when his little sister was born, he was even more ignored while she got lavished with all the attention. For Joa, it was the exact opposite. She came from a loving, supportive home and had strong ties with her family. It was not until the end of the book that Joa came to see Reed in a new light. He let his guard down so Joa would see the real him. He wanted a real chance a romance with her and not the arrangement they had before. I loved reading this book and highly recommend it. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.