"Being Merry," by Meka James

Contemporary FF Romance

Book Blurb

Goodwill towards others has never felt better…

Noelle Cameron won’t let being basically homeless in a new state dampen her Christmas spirit. Thanks to her coworker, she has a temporary housing possibility. However, her new potential roommate is about as welcoming as the Grinch. But Noelle refuses to let scowls and snide remarks about her festive attire steal her joy. Winning over the cranky Lennox will be a victory sweeter than sugar cookies.

Lennox Sutton doesn’t want to live with anyone. Unfortunately, one well delivered guilt trip from her sister means taking in the woman wearing a reindeer headband and an attitude that goes past glass half full to it completely spilling over. Now she’s stuck with a person who embodies everything Lennox dislikes about the holiday season. But beneath the ugly sweaters shines someone whose company Lennox could enjoy.

A meddling sister and a dash of Christmas magic might have these two polar opposites finding new ways to enjoy the season of giving.

My Review

I am such a ridiculously huge fan of Meka James. I’ve yet to read anything by her that hasn’t completely hit my readerly spot in all the best of ways. Being Merry is absolutely no different. This grumpy/sunshine delight is the perfect bite-sized novella treat for the holidays. It features some well done forced proximity romance and some delish wlw love. 💕

Oh, and did I mention it’s sizzling hot? 🔥😉 Ms. James has a knack for writing sex that never fails to make me tingle from head to toe, and this story is no different. Lennox and Noelle get busy with a thirsty vengeance and I am here for it.

Noelle is a bubbly little Santa’s helper who sets her sights on “befriending” and breaking through Lennox’s tough exterior. Lennox, on the other hand, has the Grinch schtick on lock—but has a super sweet and squishy side underneath that can’t help but fall for Noelle’s over-the-top saccharine personality. The grumpy/sunshine trope might very well be one of my absolute favorites, and Ms. James adds a little something extra and unique that makes this one of the most satisfying versions I’ve read in longer than I can remember.

If you’re a fan of holiday romance, watching the Grinch find her Christmas spirit in the form of a bouncy holiday elf, or just plain love a good FF romance, then this should top your holiday reads list this year! Be sure to keep scrolling for a sneak peek teaser excerpt!

Teaser Excerpt!

I popped the tray of cookies into the oven, then hopped up to sit on the counter. A week in and not much progress had been made on operation befriend Lennox. I didn’t understand what more I needed to do. I had her coffee going in the mornings. I made dinner, plus kept the groceries stocked. Only to be rewarded with a partial thaw.

She worked, she gamed, and the only conversations we had were ones I started. But I wasn’t ready to admit defeat. She’d let me have the dying plant to see if I could revive it, and I’d come home to find it had a friend. She’d bought me a second plant for the sunroom. Not a huge thing, but something that almost canceled out her continued cracks about my clothes.

I looked down at my oversized fuzzy white sweater with ice skating penguins and knew she’d have something to say about it. I smiled as I licked the batter from the spoon. I was looking at her insults like a game now. She was almost like the boy who pulled your pigtails on the playground. Maybe I was getting to her and she was grumpier because she didn’t want to admit it.

That thought made me giddy. Maybe I was wearing her down after all. I started singing to “Frosty The Snowman,” happy in the knowledge I’d possibly be friends with Lennox, and if I played my cards right, might even garner a few benefits. That made me excited for a whole different reason.

“Smells like a bakery in here, Dasher.” She leaned against the wall with her arms crossed.

“I’m making cookies. If you’re nice to me I might share.”

She laughed and pushed into an upright position. “If you’re scooping out more with that spoon you were just sucking on, I’ll pass.”

She reached up to open the cabinet beside me. Lennox had a way of crowding my space, intentionally it seemed at times. Her dark eyes zeroed in on my sweater and I braced for whatever comment was inbound.

I slid off the counter so we stood nearly face-to-face. “It lights up.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“You only have to push right here.” I said, pointing to the star atop the Christmas tree.

She tilted her head and a smirk pulled at her lips. “You want me to turn you on?”

I sank my teeth into my bottom lip. “I’d love nothing more.”

Meka James
She/Her

Meka James is a writer of adult contemporary and erotic romance. A born and raised Georgia Peach, she still resides in the southern state with her hubby of 16 years and counting. Mom to four kids of the two legged variety, she also has four fur-babies of the canine variety. Leo the turtle and Spade the snake rounds out her wacky household. When not writing or reading, Meka can be found playing The Sims 3, sometimes Sims 4, and making up fun stories to go with the pixelated people whose world she controls.