Mobility Mom Book Shelf: Midnight Kiss Countdown by C.K. Darling(Audio Review)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Grab your copy HERE!!

Book Description

Snowfall, silence, and a marriage on pause—some hearts only need a little holiday light to shine again.Beth Brockington thought she had everything figured out—until her marriage fell apart just before the holidays. Now she’s struggling twin five-year-olds, a bustling family store, and trying not to think about the empty space where her husband used to be. The last thing she expects is to feel her heart skip when Brett shows up looking like the man she fell in love with instead of the stranger they’d both become.

Brett knows they lost their way somewhere between building a life and living it. When he sees Beth across the Town Square laughing with Callie, like she used to laugh with him, he realizes what they had is worth fighting for; but some bridges take more than good intentions to rebuild.

With nosy neighbors, well-meaning matchmakers, and a town that practically runs on Christmas magic, Beth and Brett must decide if their love can be rekindled—or if some hearts stay closed for good.

Midnight Kiss Countdown is Book 2 in The Holiday Matchmaker Short Romance Series—an interconnected/standalone short romance perfect for readers who believe chancesSeparated couples reconnectingChristmas reconciliationSmall-town matchmaking schemesFamily-centered holiday magicSpice 2–3 🌶️
Sweet heat. Real emotion. Swoon-worthy redemption.

The perfect short (~ 2 hour) holiday read for anyone who knows that love is worth the work—and that sometimes, the best resolutions are made with a kiss.

About C.K. Darling

C.K. Darling crafts witty, spicy contemporary romances set in the charming town of Peachwood Grove, Georgia. Specializing in quick reads for busy romance lovers. C.K.'s stories deliver all the emotion and satisfaction of a full-length novel in under two hours. Away from her desk, C.K. is either concocting the next heartwarming tale or dabbling in arts and crafts, or enjoying the charms of Southern life with her family and beloved pets.

Peachwood Grove Short Romance

Sweetheart Scones & Stories:

- Buttercream and Second Beginnings

- Sweet and Spiteful Rivalries

- Forbidden Love and Lattes

- Bitter Tart Temptations

Holiday Matchmaker series: launching end of 2025

Blazing Hearts series: launching summer 2026

Visit C.K.'s website for more information on books, bonus content, quizzes, and more!

My Thoughts

Midnight Kiss Countdown by C.K. Darling, narrated in a superb duet by Andi Eloise and Ryan Lee Dunlap, is a tender, hopeful second-chance holiday romance that completely steals the heart. This perfect Christmas short explores what happens when a marriage isn’t broken, just quietly neglected, following Beth and Brett—two people struggling to find their way back to each other amidst the holiday glow of a small, festive town.

Beth is doing her best to hold her world together, raising five-year-old twins and running the family shop, all while grieving the quiet ache of a love she had to put on pause. Brett, the man she once trusted with her whole heart, returns to town determined to face what he broke, having realized that his long hours and dedication to work caused him to miss the shared dinners, hand-in-hand holidays, and the woman who once laughed with him like no one else could. What begins as accidental proximity—complete with well-meaning matchmakers, nosy neighbors, and a town that runs on Christmas magic—slowly unravels into a deliberate rebuilding of connection, effort, and presence, not a sudden, passionate rekindling.

For a short story, this novella has immense emotional depth. You truly feel Beth’s exhaustion and vulnerability, and Brett’s regret and quiet determination, as they navigate their slow, hopeful pull back toward each other. The story avoids dramatic conflict, focusing instead on the everyday moments that make a relationship, allowing ample space for reflection, growth, and forgiveness. It’s a cozy, tender tale that hits all the right notes for a Christmas romance, proving that love is only worth having when you decide to show up for it, even when it’s hard.

The narration is exceptional and elevates the emotional nuance of the story. Andi Eloise beautifully captures Beth’s heart, strength, and sincerity, while Ryan Lee Dunlap gives Brett that warm, steady presence, conveying his regret and determination through thoughtful softness rather than melodrama. Together, their duet performance makes the experience feel incredibly intimate and real, perfectly capturing the theme of love being rebuilt through patience and commitment. If you love quick holiday listens that focus on intentional reconnection, mutual growth, and a sweetly earned happily-ever-after just before midnight, this emotionally powerful and beautifully narrated romance deserves a top spot on your December list.

Other books by C.K. Darling