The Plight Before Christmas

An Un-EX-pected Sugar and Spice Christmas Romance

Kate Stewart

• Publisher: Lyrical Press
• eBook ISBN:
  9781516112579
• Year: 2025

From the internationally bestselling author of The Ravenhood Trilogy, a heartwarming, hilarious, un-EX-pectedly spicy, second chance holiday romance with all the feels for readers of Meghan Quinn, Julie Murphy, and Tessa Bailey!

The last three weeks of my life have been riddled with humbug—another breakup, a broken toe, an office promotion I didn't get—and I'm not at all in the mood to celebrate nor have the happiest Christmas EVER.

When Mom insisted that we all gather at my grandparents' ancient cabin for a family Christmas, I fully intended to get into the holiday spirit with the help of the three wise men: Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, and Jim Beam. But those boys did nothing to offset the shock of seeing my EX on our doorstep the first day. Apparently, Santa missed the memo, and this elf is pissed.

Stuck for a week with the man who obliterated my heart nearly two decades ago, I did the only thing I could do and put on my game face, thankful for the home advantage.

I knew better than to drink that last cup of eggnog.

I knew better than to get tongue tangled beneath the mistletoe with the only man to ever break my heart.

I knew better than to sleep with Satan's wingman on the eve of the Lord's birthday.


I could blame the nog. I could blame the deceitful blue eyes, angelic hair, and panty-evaporating smirk . . . but mostly, I blame Eli because he always knew exactly which of my buttons to push. I foolishly thought I might turn my inner Scrooge around, but this year's festivities went up in flames. Leave it to the ghost of my Christmas past to be the one to light the match.

Fa la la la la, la FML.
The Plight Before Christmas is a full-length, second-chance Christmas romance filled with Kate Stewart's distinctive humor and heart—and most definitely on SANTA'S NAUGHTY LIST!

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright
• Table of Contents
• Dedication
• Playlist
• Chapter One
• Chapter Two
• Chapter Three
• Chapter Four
• Chapter Five
• Chapter Six
• Chapter Seven
• Chapter Eight
• Chapter Nine
• Chapter Ten
• Chapter Eleven
• Chapter Twelve
• Chapter Thirteen
• Chapter Fourteen
• Chapter Fifteen
• Chapter Sixteen
• Chapter Seventeen
• Chapter Eighteen
• Chapter Nineteen
• Chapter Twenty
• Chapter Twenty-One
• Chapter Twenty-Two
• Chapter Twenty-Three
• Chapter Twenty-Four
• Chapter Twenty-Five
• Chapter Twenty-Six
• Chapter Twenty-Seven
• Chapter Twenty-Eight
• Chapter Twenty-Nine
• Chapter Thirty
• Chapter Thirty-One
• Chapter Thirty-Two
• Chapter Thirty-Three
• Chapter Thirty-Four
• Chapter Thirty-Five
• Chapter Thirty-Six
• Chapter Thirty-Seven
• Chapter Thirty-Eight
• Chapter Thirty-Nine
• Chapter Forty
• Chapter Forty-One
• Chapter Forty-Two
• Epilogue
• Recipe for Snowman Soup
• Preview of Flock
• About the Author
• Thank You
• Teaser