Crushing Christmas — Cheryl Phipps

Somewhere between heartbreak and hope lies the courage to try again. Kat thought she had her life under control. After years of heartache and rebuilding herself from the shadows of an abusive relationship, she's determined to keep people at arm's length. Loneliness is safer than risking her heart again. But when Eli, a charismatic and kind face from her past, unexpectedly reappears, Kat’s carefully constructed walls start to crack. Eli isn’t just a reminder of the good she once knew—he’s offering a chance at something she’s long forgotten—hope. Torn between fear and longing, Kat must confront the pain she's been hiding from and decide if she’s ready to take a leap of faith. Will she let Eli in and embrace the possibility of love, or will her past keep her locked away forever? A sweet short second chance Christmas romance.