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Christmas with the Brotherhood by A.J. Downey | Book Review

Dec. 02, 2025

Grab the tissues because you are going to need them for this one. This is the first of the second generation in the Sacred Hearts MC and let me tell you it will leave you in an emotional puddle on the floor. I was both happy and upset at the same time.

Christmas with the Brotherhood by A.J. Downey  | Book Reviewfive-stars
Christmas with the Brotherhood by A.J. Downey
Series: The Sacred Hearts MC
Genres: MC Romance

Smoke lived the life, but avoided love like the plague. He knew how much it hurt to have it ripped from your heart. Can Christmas bring him someone who will mend the shattered pieces of his heart, or will she be torn away, just like everyone else?

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Where to even begin. Let me start by saying this is a novella and is related to The Sacred Hearts MC. It is about the second generation and some time has passed since the last book. It is about Smoke (Sage, Maren’s younger brother that she was taking care of in Her Brother’s Keeper) and Eden (Mandy and Revelator’s daughter who Mandy was pregnant with at the end of Fractured & Formidable). I will say this before I get into he review. If you have it ready either of these books I highly recommend it before reading this one. While it is not necessary it will help you connect better with all of the characters.

That being said one thing I really like and hate about A.J. Downey is that when it comes to her books whatever happens, happens. She writes happy endings but lets face it life is not always happy endings. Life has a way of beating you down. People die, they get hurt, all sorts of things happen. That is why when I got to particular part of this book I almost put it down. I just wasn’t sure I wanted to go on. It was devastating. I am glad I pushed through though.

Smoke is trying to move beyond his heartbreak. He is going through the motions day by day and just is struggling with everything. Not to the point that everyone notices but some do and Eden is one of them. She was an amazing character. She noticed he needed some help and getting him to see what was right in front of him took her a little time. I loved how she helped him heal with patience and love. She didn’t push. She just quietly remained in his orbit so he would have someone that always has his back.

Honestly the most upsetting thing about this book was the fact that it was a novella. I wanted more of Smoke and Eden as well as all of the other characters. I loved catching up with them and I hope that this book means there are more for the other kids coming in the future.


meet the author


five-stars

About A.J. Downey

A.J. Downey is a Pacific Northwest girl living in an East Tennessee world who finds inspiration from her surroundings, through the people she meets, and likely as a byproduct of way too much caffeine. She specializes in real and relatable romance stories featuring that real-life kind of love that everyone craves.

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