Claus and Effect

By: Piper Rayne

Narrated by: Lee Samuel, Brooke Bloomingdale

Two strangers, who couldn’t be more opposite, find themselves on an unexpected cross-country road trip, days before Christmas where whatever can go wrong, does.

He’s an Army Ranger.
She’s a baker.

He’s organized and ridged.
She’s messy and carefree.

He doesn’t do relationships.
She’s following her heart.

His family chat blows up his phone.
She just buried her last living relative.

The holiday season doesn’t seem so jolly, as they venture from one mode of transportation to the next. But they have to become friends and rely on each other, if they’re going to survive all the obstacles thrown their way.

As the miles grow shorter, vulnerabilities are shared, and by the time they reach their destination, neither one of them is sure what they really want for Christmas anymore.

©2023 Piper Rayne, Inc. (P)2023 Piper Rayne, Inc.

Opposite Attracts

Claus and Effect is a new holiday romance where Tessa boards a plane after getting a tarot reading that said she will fulfill her fate and marry the man the she is supposed to. Tre is going home for Christmas. Everything is going wrong of Tessa, but when her seat mate goes into labor and the plane has to make an emergency landing, she and Tre have to team up to get to Portland Oregon after a snowstorm shuts down the airport. This book is so freaking cute! I love the dynamic between Tessa and Tre. I love the twist and turns, the romance, and the heart in this holiday romance!

Tessa and Tre are a perfect pair

How can you make the holiday romantic and full of twists and turns? Have Piper Rayne write a holiday romance because they absolutely kill it in the best way! Tessa is trying to fulfill her fate at Christmas and Tre just seems to plop into her world and together they make for an epic adventure. I laughed, I loved, I felt the highs of the characters and the lows. It gave me all the holiday love and comedy that I was looking for! I could not stop listening or reading! This book is an epic read!

Cute Quirky Hallmark Vibes

NGL the twist sent me for a second but mostly because i can’t believe i didn’t see it coming. Definitely enjoyed this for a fun, (semi) spicy christmas themed read/listen.

Family & Christmas ♥️♥️♥️

Oh…this book gave me all the feels. The heartache for Tessa for where she is in her life, the joy for Tre & his family with him getting to come home for Christmas, and the utter hilariousness that was their venture across the country.

I loved the way that these two were really exactly what the other needed from the beginning. Even though they began at odds, deep down the chemistry & passion were there. Their banter was top tier, and as these two got to know each other better, their easiness with each other practically radiated. The way that Tessa was able to bring Tre out of his rut & entice him into being spontaneous brought out some good chuckles. And the way that Tre was able to show Tessa that family is so much more than blood relation when you have people that love you deeply had me melting.

Overall, wonderful heart warming Christmas read, and the anticipated Piper Rayne shenanigans has me chuckling & wanting more. I couldn’t put down this book once I started and flew through the pages (you know…hypothetically if I had a paperback 🤣).

Audiobook Review:
The second this dropped on Audible early, I snagged that sucker. Lee Samuels & Brooke Bloomingdale delivered a top notch performance. Their duet narration really set off the feel of the book & truly draws you into the characters. So glad I snagged this audio!

Great read!

The characters were engaging, funny and dynamic. A fast paced page turner with one unexpected twist and turns!

Really enjoyed

Really enjoyed this one. Fun little twist. Could read "Single and Ready to Jingle" first, but this is easily a standalone. Not overly Christmas, bit enough to get into the Christmas spirit.

Entertaining, funny, and a little spicy!!

Claus and Effect is a fun strangers to enemies to lovers Christmas rom-com with great characters, some spicy chemistry, small town charm, tons of witty banter, and a twist that will drop your jaw to the floor! Tessa is heading west on a mission of the heart, and Tre is an Army Ranger going home for Christmas. One obstacle after another gets thrown at them as they band together to try to reach their destination. Through quirky adventures and heartfelt conversations, they both begin to question what they really want for their future. Could meeting a stranger in an airport change everything?

What a way to start the holiday season! The witty and feisty banter between these two had me laughing out loud, and their attempts to travel were like a comedy of errors.🤣 I loved their little pit stops and the quirky small town vibe. While the romance aspect was definitely a slow burn, they had plenty of spark, and their animosity early on felt like foreplay. My heart hurt for Tessa as she longed for a family and a place to belong, and I loved the dichotomy of how supportive Tre’s family was, even as he had his own insecurities. Watching them open up to each other was a joy. Prepare to have your mind blown by an awesome plot twist that added to the drama and the interest! Don’t miss this must-read holiday adventure or the bonus epilogue!

As soon as the audio released early, I grabbed it. Lee Samuels and Brooke Bloomingdale worked together in the duel narration format to deliver a flawless performance. They way were able to convey the comedy, emotion, tension, and the developing relationship was beyond fun!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Loved Tre and Tessa

I loved this holiday story. It’s has so many tropes. Strangers/enemies to lovers, forced proximity, opposite attract, one bed, grumpy/sunshine, fake relationship, and found family. It was like opening the best Christmas present. This story was sweet, sassy, and sexy. It was full of banter, slight angst, and a slow burn between Tre and Tessa but also full of tension. They were both lost for different reasons. They allowed each other to be vulnerable, be their true selves and they read each other so well.
Nothing like an unexpected road trip filled with funny mishaps along the way to make this story perfect. I will never look at egg nog the same. Man, ya sure did through a plot twist or two in there that I wasn’t expecting. This story is full of humor, beautiful moments and Christmas Spirit. Great read. I also listened to the audio and they were perfect for the part. They kept me engaged and listening

A new holiday favorite!

Slapstick antics, a “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” style adventure, and loads of holiday cheer make Claus & Effect a must for your Christmas TBR!

Lee Samuels has been a longtime favorite narrator of mine. He played the brooding, grinchy/secret Christmas-loving, heroic, love-averse Tre to a T. His performance of Tre’s character arc as he opened up to Tess was fantastically swoon-worthy. Brooke Bloomingdale was a new-to-me narrator and an absolute delight to listen to! She has a lovely cadence and her portrayal of Tessa’s endearing quirky, and adorkable character was outstanding. I loved this duet narration; Brooke’s bubbly & snarky Tessa matched Lee’s low, whiskey smooth & reserved Tre fantastically. Claus & Effect is a new holiday romcom favorite!

Sweet meet cute!!!

Loved this book so much! Funny and adorable. These two narrators did such a great job through this book! Piper did such a great job with this story!