REVIEWED by Jay V.
TITLE: A Villain for Christmas
AUTHOR: Alice Winters
SERIES: A Snow Globe Christmas #4
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 281 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 25, 2019
BLURB:
Despite growing up in a family of villains, I’d rather curl up and read than commit crimes. When I get coerced by my brother into helping him rob a bank, I run into August, my childhood crush—also known as Chrono, the city’s greatest superhero. He’s sexy, sweet, and suddenly he’s asking me to Thanksgiving with his parents. It’s probably because he doesn’t realize that I’m Leviathan, a villain with the power of telekinesis. And I can’t tell him because he’d never forgive me and would stop doing things like cooking for me—wait, maybe that would be a good thing, since he’s a terrible cook. It doesn’t help that my parents think they’re the ultimate villains and won’t stop getting in my way, although they can’t even steal toilet paper without getting caught.
But when real supervillains (not the wannabe kind that I grew up with) start targeting August, I might be forced to show everyone who I truly am: a slightly warped and snarky man who’d really rather read a book than save anything… besides August. I’ll tear this world apart just to get another glimpse of him in those glasses and spandex suit. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him safe, even though it means exposing my true identity. Luckily, August still cares about me, proving that even a villain and a hero can fall in love. Hopefully, we’ll be able to save the world in time for Christmas.
REVIEW:
Landon just wants to read his books. Being thrust back into the family business, things begin to spin slightly out of control. Running into his childhood crush, August (who’s also the cities biggest superhero), starts to send Landon into crazy scenario after scenario. Robbing a bank isn’t Landon’s usual activities, but family is important. The attraction to them is strong, but Landon is keeping secrets from August.
Winters is very good at displaying humor and this one abounds without going overboard. Many of the situations just set themselves up: Tight costumes? Check. Clueless family? Check. Hairless cat dressed in ridiculous outfits? Check. There is snark with the characters, but it doesn’t come from insecurities or trying to outwit or shock, it comes from a place of general joy and just trying to have fun. Landon and August have good chemistry. And Winters paints a hysterical love/hate banter between Landon and August’s manager that is truly palatable.
Superheroes and Christmas? You never think the two would meet. The book takes a premise that has been used before and turns it on its head. Secret identities are always a part of superhero lore but when your villainous family is pretty much an embarrassment, your hidden identity takes on a whole different meaning.
This is also not your typical Hallmark Christmas story. The holidays do play a part in the book but more for some of the situations that play out. What is lovely about this novel is that it has layers and themes that go beyond the couple – can you be good all the time? Can people change? Should you be judged by who is your family? Can a hairless cat win over the public? What is evil?
Winters has done another excellent job of creating a fun and humorous couple that, even though rooted in a fantasy work of superheroes and villains, feels like people you might know in real life, which is a compliment to her writing. She is quickly becoming a one-click author for me.
RATING: 
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