Steamy contemporary holiday romance
Peppermint Bark, No Bite
A heartwarming holiday romance about healing, hope, and building the family you choose.
Book 1 in the All or Nothing Series
Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine • Best Friend’s Brother • Forced Proximity • Holiday Romance • Only One Bed • Found Family • Foster Parent
Representation: Transgender heroine • PTSD rep • Sensory processing exploration • Chronic illness (pediatric heart condition)
Heat level: Three open-door steamy scenes.
Content warnings: C=PTSD/flashback • transphobia (mostly memories) • verbally abusive parent
Grace Alvarez has spent years building a chosen family after being rejected by her own.
Her hospital patients, yoga students, and best friend Mallory’s family have become her home. But when it comes to relationships, her wish list doesn’t include romance.
Then Mallory’s older brother Alex storms back to town: arrogant, workaholic, and everything Grace should avoid. When she needs an emergency Santa for sick kids, Alex reluctantly agrees. But between the sensory room she created for overstimulated kids and her unwavering compassion, Alex’s carefully controlled world starts cracking.
Their connection heats up faster than caramel on the stove, and soon they’re stealing kisses that have nothing to do with mistletoe.
But Grace has spent years rebuilding after her family rejected her for being transgender. She won’t risk her friendship with Mallory for a man whose life is in California. And Alex is finally learning that some things matter more than making partner… if he can figure out how to let go.
Can a grumpy lawyer and a sunshine social worker turn their holiday fling into a lifetime?
Get the Exclusive Bonus Epilogue
Grab Mallory’s Maid of Honor speech and Nick’s Best Man speech from Grace & Alex’s wedding—plus a sneak peek at Kate & Nick’s tumultuous reunion.
Book Club Discussion Questions
Want to discuss Peppermint Bark, No Bite for your holiday book club? Share or print the Book Club discussion questions below.
Writing Grace
Grace isn’t just this book’s heroine — she’s the reason it isn’t like every other Christmas romance on the shelf. A social worker instead of a bakery owner. A trans woman whose story isn’t about her transition. A pastor’s daughter still working out what her faith means now.
Peppermint Bark podcast interview
Before Peppermint Bark, No Bite, Nikki interviewed me about how it came together — where the pen name Bailey Seaborn came from, how the plot took shape, and how the characters shifted as I wrote them.
What's the spice level in Peppermint Bark, No Bite?
Readers give this book a 2.5-3/5 chili-pepper spice rating.
The book includes three open-door steamy scenes, each of which advances the emotional and intimate connection.
Because Grace is self-conscious about her body, the intimate scenes reflect both her own self-awareness about her physical post-op differences, and also her growing familiarity and safety with Alex. They also allow Alex to show his thoughtful, gentle approach to Grace’s overall well-being, as well as Grace’s willingness to focus on her own autonomy and pleasure.
What kind of representation does this book include?
Peppermint Bark, No Bite features a transgender heroine, PTSD representation including on-page flashback recovery, sensory processing exploration, and a secondary storyline involving a pediatric heart condition.
Are there content warnings I should know about?
Yes: CPTSD and flashback content, references to past transphobia largely in memory rather than on-page confrontation, and a verbally abusive parent. The book is written with care around all of these, developed in consultation with a sensitivity reader.
Is this book about Grace's transition?
No. Grace is established as transgender from the book’s opening pages, and it’s never questioned or relitigated by Alex or his family — they know her and love her exactly as she is. The story is about her present-day relationship and healing, not about her transition itself.
What tropes are in Peppermint Bark, No Bite?
Grumpy/Sunshine, Best Friend’s Brother, Forced Proximity, Holiday Romance, Only One Bed, Found Family, and Foster Parent.
What's the POV & tense?
Past tense and dual POV (which is especially juicy in a grumpy-sunshine!)
Do I need to read the rest of the All or Nothing series first?
No. Peppermint Bark, No Bite is Book 1 in the All or Nothing series and stands on its own. The Clarke family’s prequel novella, Double or Nothing, isn’t required reading beforehand. (Thought it does give you the backstory of not only Bruce & Helen, but also Alex’s aunt’s house that ends up being where Grace lives during Peppermint Bark.)
Does this book have a Happily Ever After?
Yes! Not only do Grace & Alex end up together (which, spoiler alert, but also it’s a romance so that should be a given, right?) and end up expanding their family in a variety of ways …
You can also see Grace & Alex’s HEA play out for the remainder of the All or Nothing series, including their wedding in Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Playwright, more time with their foster children in Fake It Til You Break It, and a fun reveal in Mallory’s book!
The All or Nothing Series
| Double or Nothing | Peppermint Bark, No Bite | All Twerk, No Play | Making Spirits Bright | Two Wrongs Don't Make a Playwright | |
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| Format | Prequel Novella 0.5 | Book 1 | Book 2 | Holiday Novella 2.5 | Book 3 |
| Blurb | The beginning of the Clarke family: Alex's mom and dad, Helen & Bruce. | Can a grumpy lawyer and a sunshine social worker turn their holiday fling into a lifetime? | Victoria learns to speak (and sing!) her truth with help from Cruz, her sexy neighbor. | One wrong bed. One fake boyfriend. One month until New Year's. | Kate sets fire to her whole life... while rekindling an old flame. |
| Tropes | Instalove, Double Date Gone Wrong | Holiday Romance, Transgender Heroine, Best Friend's Brother | Black Cat/Golden Retriever, Neighbors to Lovers | Fake Dating, Holiday Romance, Roommates | Second Chance, Celebrity, Best Friend's Brother |