All I Want for Xmas is a Vampire by 
Never let it be said that I am not easily swayed by a pretty cover and buzzwords. That is how I ended up picking up All I Want for Xmas is a Vampire by Amity Grey as my final Christmas romance. Sadly, this did end up disappointing me as it didn’t feel like Christmas and didn’t feel like romance.
Despite the snow in the setting, the last name of Winter, and an awkward Thanksgiving dinner, there was so very little Christmas in this novella. It felt like just a winter romance and not necessarily a holiday romance. Speaking of romance, it also felt lacking. There is no chemistry between leads Wren and Ellery. Ellery tells us that he loves Wren, but I don’t feel it, I don’t see it. Wren says she loves Ellery, but why? Where? How? I am always someone that can suspend belief and can even understand instalove for holiday romances, but I just could not feel the romance or attraction between the two. It’s almost as though telling us they love each other was supposed to suffice. The pacing was all over the place. It was steady at the start, then sped up as though the author realized they were running out of pages, then slowed again when they wanted us to linger in a space. There wasn’t enough to show the romance, but there was enough for a weird and random side plot where Ellery’s brother kidnaps Wren. Don’t even get me started on how Wren miraculously didn’t suffer any trauma from what was done to her.
I was really hopeful for All I Want for Xmas is a Vampire by Amity Grey. I love vampires. I love holiday romances. But sadly, the vampire aspect was brief, the romance practically nonexistent, and the holiday cheer a distant echo in the background. I’m not sure this is one I can recommend.
