Book Smart Kate

Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Spice: Closed Door

By Katie Bailey

This is my fifth Katie Bailey book, and she again delivers a witty, funny, charming holiday rom-com and even includes a little cameo from the characters from I Think He Knows.

Maddie is dumped while filming a national holiday baking show. She thought that would be her low point, but her ex is now engaged, she’s living on her brother’s couch, and her parents insist they still spend the holidays with her ex’s family. The only bright spot is her new job as a nutritionist for the Atlanta NHL team. One night, when traveling with the team (after too many cocktails), she tries to convince Sebastian, one of the players, to join her as her fake boyfriend. Seb has troubles of his own and needs a visa to continue to play in the US. He gives Maddie a counteroffer – get married, stick it to her ex, and allow him to keep playing hockey. But, as they enact their madcap plan, they realize that what originally motivated them is no longer important, and they might be in this marriage for real.

Katie writes great fade-to-black closed-door romances with funny dialogue, interesting characters, and lots of warm fuzzies. But it is also the story of Maddie standing up to the people in her life who have consistently mistreated her. Bailey not only writes great protagonists, but she also writes a set of characters you’ll love to hate. If you want a sweet holiday romance (with fun snark between families and exes) that will keep you smiling, this is it! It is also an excellent setup for The Quit List, which was Maddie’s brother as the main character.