Not So Merry in Maldives

Category

Christmas Romance; Enemies to Lovers; Tropical Island Romance; Steamy Beach Reads; Christmas romance; Forced Proximity; Office Romance; Black Romance; Only One Island

A Steamy Tropical Christmas Romance 

Available November 4, 2025

From bestselling author Mia Heintzelman comes a festively fresh holiday rom-com that's part enemies-to-lovers, part will-they-won’t-they, and part I-hate-you-for-firing-me—but-I'd-still-make-magic-with-you-in-the-Maldivian-moonlight.

Two enemies. One resort. Paradise just got a whole lot hotter this holiday.

Pear and Hollis. Photographer and art director for a travel magazine—a classic coworker combo. She’s everyone’s work bestie; He’s the office yes-man on the promotion track. She’s master of flirting; he’s king of inaction. And somehow, they’re both single. A small push is all they need—grab coffee, share lunch, or even a snack in the break room—but for the most part, the romantic tension is there.

Until he fires her, a week before Christmas.

Pear may be unemployed and in debt—an unapproved out-of-pocket expense for the magazine’s holiday island shoot will do that to a girl. But at least she’s bound for the Maldives with her bestie, her camera, and a week-long girls’ getaway. Until her friend’s flight is mysteriously diverted. Now, she’s alone, on Christmas Eve, headed for an island halfway across the world…with the enemy seated beside her?

Now Pear and Hollis are hopping flights and ferries to the private resort, but she still resents that he fired her, so she draws a line in the pristine white sand. But on a small island, there’s no escaping chemistry…or the reason he never asked her out. What could possibly go wrong?

PLEASE NOTE: This is a preorder. Shipping set for November 4, 2025.

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Preorder ships November 4, 2025