HOW THE HITMAN STOLE CHRISTMAS begins with Elliana Reed relaxing at home. She loves her house, and the view is amazing. Well, the one that she sees through her drone of her way too gorgeous neighbor who tends to not like to wear clothes but that’s all right with her. She can’t imagine anything ruining her vacation, except maybe the fact that the man just seems to ooze Christmas and she hates it. With good reason.

But when Elliana finally talks herself into going over to his house, she finds herself witnessing a murder. It’s okay though, because Theo Contos, her neighbor, says he was a bad guy and deserved it.

It really is surreal, but it only gets better, when Theo kidnaps her and says that his family are contract killers, and a contract just came up with her name on it. Really?

HOW THE HITMAN STOLE CHRISTMAS by Katie Reus is a lighthearted holiday read once you get past the killing attempts and mayhem. Theo and his family are contract killers, but aside from that they are normal people. Though this is marked as a grumpy-sunshine romance it was just the opposite of what one might expect. Theo was the sunshine and Elliana was the grump. He didn’t really steal Christmas – he gave it back to her.

Elliana's hatred of the holiday was quite understandable--anyone whose engagement ended the way hers did would probably agree. Theo's family will have you laughing at their antics; especially in the scene where Elliana and his mother are arguing over the best explosives to use!

Though HOW THE HITMAN STOLE CHRISTMAS is a novella-length book, the story is packed with action, danger, intrigue, and romance. Throw in family and Christmas and you will wonder how author Katie Reus managed to pack so much into 166 pages. A perfect holiday read – if you like murder and mayhem along with your decorations and who doesn’t!