Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey
Contemporary Romance
December 1, 2023- Amazon Originals
Amazon First Reads

Review by Angela

I’m so happy Amazon First Reads is offering Romance as one of their picks the last several months. I snapped this up simply because I enjoy this author.

Same Time Next Year is a sweet and spicy novella length romance featuring the fake marriage/marriage of convenience trope. Britta works in a bar where the local hockey team frequents and one New Year’s Eve, they have only one request–that she marry their star player, so he won’t be sent back to Canada after his green card expires. Despite her distrust in marriage and desire to remain single (for reasons), she agrees after a deal is struck for enough money to invest in the bar she loves so much. They set an expiration date, but Sumner Mayfield, her new husband hopes to change her mind.

This was a super sweet romance, but with that signature heat that this author is known for. Sumner is a big, growly, protective bear of a man who has had a thing for Britta from the first moment he saw her at the bar. This novella spans a year with the couple getting to know each other, and eventually falling in bed and for each other. I think the author did a great job with the page count, able to tell a complete story by jumping several months every few chapters.

I’m not sure how correct the visa, green card, and marrying in order for him to stay in the US portion of the story was, but I just kind of went with it and enjoyed the romance. All in all, this was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

Grade- B-