Window Shopping, by Tessa Bailey. Photo: Sarabeth Pollock
There’s nothing like a good holiday romance to get you in the mood for the season, and Tessa Bailey’s new book Window Shopping is a delightful story that will leave you with a smile on your face.
The first thing you notice about Bailey’s story is that Stella Schmidt is not your average heroine. She is in New York trying to start over after being released from a four-year prison stay. The circumstances of her crime reveal a lot about who she is and how she ended up in prison, but her experience tempers her ability to trust and accept help when help is offered.
Aiden Cook is the epitome of a nice guy. He’s more than a nice guy. He’s a dream guy. But beneath the bowties, perpetual holiday cheer and endless stories there’s an Aiden waiting to be released.
The chemistry between Stella and Aiden is instantaneous and explosive. They meet unexpectedly after she offers some advice on Aiden’s new window display and in the blink of an eye she lands her dream job working for Vivant’s handsome manager. Stella and Aiden both have history, and their pasts are the only thing standing in the way of their happiness.
Window Shopping is fresh, wholly original, smart and so much fun. Aiden is one of the nicest book boyfriends I’ve ever seen, and his love and admiration for Stella is enviable. It’s fun watching him fall head over heels for Stella while she takes a decidedly more cautious approach to love.
As the number of pages remaining in the story dwindled, I couldn’t imagine how Bailey would be able to bring Aiden and Stella’s journey to a close but she manages the feat effortlessly. While I would love to have 200 more pages of their adorable romance, Bailey creates a wonderful holiday tale in a very manageable 248 pages.
Window Shopping is the perfect blend of holiday romance, steamy sex scenes and a couple you can’t help but root for as they navigate the chaos around them to arrive at their happily ever after.
