The Stocking was Hung (The Holidays #1)

I honestly cant remember how I came across this book, but Im glad I did because THE STOCKING WAS HUNG was pretty damn funny.

I. LOVED. SAM. He is so kind, patient, generous and loyal. Hes never had a family, so every time Noels family did something nice for him, he soaked it right up. Though it was a little sad to see that the smallest of gestures made him so happy. He may not have known what it was like to be part of a family, but he fit in with Noels perfectly.

I liked Noel, but I cant say much about her because Sam stole the show in my opinion. I loved her first meeting with Sam, and you could tell from the start that nothing in her life ever seems to go right. Her family is definitely crazy, but theyre a very loving bunch.

While I liked this book so much that I quickly purchased the next book in the series, there were a couple of things that didnt sit too well with me. As funny as Aunt Bobbie is, she s3xually assaults men and everyone considers it a part of her charm. Theres also a bit of dru9 usage, which is talked about like its not a big deal. I know this is supposed to be a funny and lighthearted read, and I only mention these two things because they might greatly bother some readers.

THE STOCKING WAS HUNG is told in dual POVs and comes with a HFN ending for Sam and Noel. Its a novella and an insta-love, with the story taking place over just a few days. Im normally not a big fan of insta-love romances, but this one was done really well and I really felt their connection. Sam and Noels story continues on in CUPID HAS A HEART-ON.

This was a very short read. I finished it in one evening. I have to say, going in, I thought it would be maybe a slightly R-rated rom com, but it was a bit heavier on the sex than I figured it would be.

The main characters, Sam Stocking and Noel Holiday (unbelievably cheesy names that fit the humor style of the book) meet purely by happenstance as he’s coming back from a tour of duty and she’s drowning her sorrows. She hasn’t told her family yet that her boyfriend, Logan, proposed and, by the way, she freaked out and ran off. Instead, she does the next best thing, and invites her new acquaintance, Sam, who happens to live not far away, to pretend to be Logan.

The story was wildly hilarious. The situations at times bordered on ridiculous, which is a sort of humor I’m fond of (but if you’re not, you’re probably not going to like this book). The characters were witty and sarcastic. The whole Holiday family had quite large personalities, and I loved Dad and his obsession with milk. I found myself laughing out loud quite a few times.

The plot seemed to take a back seat to the sex. When they weren’t having sex, they were thinking about sex. But at least there was a plot, and there were several heartfelt moments that definitely made the characters more than just horny adults and gave them each a bit of death.

Another big pet peeve was the spelling/grammar mistakes. It clearly wasn’t edited (or not well), since there are some really glaring typos like def instead of deaf and to instead of do, which was really annoying. Not a deal-breaker, per se, but I did expect more from a bestselling author.

All in all, I’d say this is like an R-rated Hallmark channel movie in word form. I’d recommend it as a good short read, especially this time of year, with some hot chocolate and a blanket. I paid $0.99 for it, and I feel like that was a good price. If the other stories were also this price, I’d probably continue the series, but as much as I liked it, I didn’t like it enough to pay $7 for the three others, personally.

If I can survive her milk-hating father, handsy Aunt Bobbie, and c***-blocking brother, I can survive anything.

OMG, I loved this book! It was hilarious and over the top at times but it was also super sweet and heartwarming too. Its the perfect combination for this time of year and it will definitely get you in the holiday spirit! We meet Noel when shes waiting in the airport for her delayed flight to return home for the holidays after having pretty much the worst week ever. Shes lost her job, she ran out on her boyfriends proposal and therefore has nowhere to live. Its here she meets Sam, a hot marine who happens to be waiting for the same flight, returning home after an 18-month deployment. Seemingly always the source of disappointment with her family, Noel doesnt want to deal with their judgment this time around and enlists Sam to come home with her and pretend to be her boyfriend, the one she ran out on who her family is expecting her to show up with. Having nowhere else to really be and not wanting to part ways with Noel just yet, Sam agrees and hilarity ensues!

Were standing in her parents living room with her mother giving me a pitying look, her ancle staring at me like she wants to eat me whole, her father cursing under his breath in the kitchen down the hall, the sounds of cartons of milk and containers of sour cream thumping into the bottom of the trash can while he makes sure I stay far away from Noels eggnog.

I loved Noels family, they were an insane bunch but it was clear they loved each other and their excitement over the holiday was infectious! My family may not be as crazy as Noels but I could definitely relate to their love of traditions and some of the silly stuff they did, it made me think of my own family traditions both past and present. It was great and often hilarious seeing Sam being thrown into the holiday madness, especially given his limited experience with family functions. But he was a good sport about it and it only made me like his character more as he grew to love Noels family as well.

I want to hold her every night, I want to wake up to her every morning, and I dont even care if her crazy family comes as a package deal. I want it all. The good, the bad, the crazy, and the messy. I just want her, however I can get her.

Sam and Noels relationship was so sweet! I loved both of their characters, they were both so down to earth and realistic. I wish I could be friends with them! The chemistry between them was electric and there were some crazy hot scenes between the two of them! (Santas workshop will never be the same!) There were so many hilarious scenes that left me in fits of laughter and loads of swoon-worthy moments that left my insides a puddle of goo! The story was super-fast paced so their relationship advanced quite quickly, but given the circumstances and because of the awesome writing it was totally believable and I was soooo on board with them being together!

I really enjoyed this book, its the perfect book to put a smile on your face and a little love in your heart! My only complaint is that I wish it didnt have to end! If youre looking for a fun, quick, hilarious and romantic holiday read then this is the one!

OK… so I was a bit on the fence for this one. I both enjoyed the book and found it intensely irritating at the same time.

The storyline:
2 beautiful people meet in a bar of an airport and fall immediately into lust at first sight. Woman invites man home for christmas and tries to pass him off on the man who proposed to her a few days ago and on whom she promptly ran out on. Man goes home with woman hoping to get lucky. Thus proceeds family hijinks and the couple fall in love.. no sorry… even more in lust

The heroines family were utterly insane and ridiculous… and not in a funny way. It wasn’t just them however – all of the characters in this story were one dimensional and caricatures of themselves.

I managed to get to the end of this but overall my overwhelming feeling was *shudder*. I don’t care about the annoying, rude and ridiculous Holiday family, and I felt a bit sorry for the abandoned ex boyfriend who’s attempts to ask the heroine to marry him were met by screaming insults. Charming.

Oh how funny! Loved, loved Noel and Sam from the beer throwing to the defiling of Santa’s Workshop.
What a man! to take on the pretence of being the boyfriend, and then experiencing these two sexy people becoming friends and closely followed as lovers.

You could not help but love the family. A hilarious Aunt Bobby, haha, Nicolas as a typical brother, but when he needed to be he stepped up. Noel’s mom Bev, and her dad Reggie, what a crazy pair, but so fun. They love Christmas and just really want their children to be happy so when Noel’s ex comes crashing in, after a perfect Christmas and the family finding the truth, ahh I ached for her, cross with Sam…. he walked away. Ahh but so loved the family reunion.

This has you chuckling, grinning and feeling all warm and fuzzy, plus it has a fab ending…

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