Reviewed by Cheryl K
TITLE: Hold My Hand, It’s Christmas:
AUTHOR: KC Wells
PUBLISHER: Self
LENGTH: 222 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 3, 2025
BLURB:
Best. Pickup line. Ever.
Eli Winters wasn’t expecting romance to strike between aisles of lumber and LED reindeer. He’s just home for the Thanksgiving weekend, helping his sister with her bakery and trying not to drown in the town’s over-the-top Christmas cheer. Then, in Home Depot’s lighting section, a handsome stranger grabs his hand and says, “My ex just walked in—please, play along.”
Before Eli can protest, they’re strolling past garlands and wreaths like the world’s most domestic couple. It’s not until the stranger disappears that Eli realizes there was no ex. Just the most ridiculous—and effective—pickup line ever.
Noah Carter didn’t plan to lie. He’s the town’s perpetually cheerful event coordinator, always smiling, always “fine.” But the truth is, the holidays have felt hollow for a long time. One impulsive moment in a hardware store changes everything.
When Eli’s sister ‘volunteers’ him to help Noah organize the Christmas Festival, sparks turn into something deeper. Amid tangled lights, late-night cocoa, and small-town gossip, Eli and Noah discover that sometimes the best love stories start with a little pretending.
Because when it’s Christmas—and your heart’s finally ready—you don’t just hold someone’s hand.
You hold on.
REVIEW:
Well, K.C. has done it again… Gotten me to read a Christmas story. Once again, K.C. took a plot bunny suggestion and ran with it. I just love how versatile she is in her writing. A lot of authors just focus on one trope or genre, but the lovely K.C. spreads her wings and embraces everything.
The world building is spectacular. I mean if you love Christmas, Mapleford is the perfect holiday town. Their festival manager is apparently very hot as well. She’s created the perfect small town atmosphere for the holiday’s and for love to blossom.
Once more K.C. has deeply emotional and intriguing characters – not only the main characters, but all the side characters are well developed. Noah and Eli are just adorably imperfect guys, looking for something more. Both men having survived being left by significant others, these two bond over a chance meeting at a hardware store. Talk about the perfect meet cute.
His warm, calloused, slightly trembling hand caught Eli’s.
“Please,” the stranger whispered. “Just hold my hand?”
Eli blinked. “What?” What the hell is going on? It had all the markings of a prank.
“Just for a couple of minutes, max. I swear. He’s standing over there by the paint samples.”
He blinked again. “Paint samples?”
The stranger nodded urgently. “With someone new. It’s—look, it’s a long story, and I don’t have time to explain. Please?” The pleading note in his voice tugged at Eli’s heart.
This is a wonderfully sweet, low angst holiday story, that incorporates a real life touch of small town life and the magic of Christmas. Will Eli and Noa get their happy ending? Will Eli reveal is secret to Noah? Will Noah bring the holiday festival together in time? What surprise does Noah for Eli? Well, my lovely readers, I’m not telling you… You know the drill.
I highly recommend this beautifully sweet and tender holiday story by K.C. Wells. In fact, do yourself a favor – run to your favorite eBook purchasing site, grab this book and curl up with a mug of hot cocoa and enjoy this sweet romance.
Till next time…
RATING: 
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