Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey

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Two weeks before Christmas and all through Manhattan, shop windows are decorated in red and green satin. Stella is standing alone outside a famous department store, when a charming man asks her opinion on the decor. It's a tragedy in tinsel, she say, unable to lie. Then he asks for a better idea, with a twinkle in his eye. She didn't know he owned the place when he put her on the spot, and now she's working for that man, trying to ignore that he's hot. But as a down-on-her-luck girl with a difficult past, Stella knows how to make a good opportunity last. So she gives it her all, working without stopping. Trying to resist temptation, because she's just window shopping. ~~~~ Pretty much fell in love with this story. Stella fresh out of prison doesn't think she stands a chance at starting a normal life. A chance meeting with Aiden, the manager at Vivant Department Store (though she doesn't know who he is), gives her the chance she needs. Her vision for the Christmas window display has won him over. He wants to her work at Vivant, even though there are hiring policies, especially against felons. But he has another motive. He is deeply attracted to her, and her to him. Of course they resist at first, especially once she starts working at Vivant. Can't really hook-up with the boss when you're working on a trial basis, can you? In the way are family members. But love does strange things, like make you stand up to your father and grandmother. He's the manager. He saved the company. He can do what he pleases. And slowly the walls between Stella and Aiden come down. However, in the background Stella is dealing with her partner in crime who will also soon be let out of prison. Nicole keeps calling her and she tries to ignore her. She doesn't want to go back to that kind of life. Will she return to the toxic life she had with Nicole and lose Aiden? Or will she stand up to her and go running to him professing her love for him? This is a very steamy book and the story had me hooked. Highly recommend. I'm not sure what number this is but it is from my Holiday Reads Jar. (I skipped a review because I just couldn't say anything nice about it). And I'm behind on reviews. I have 3 more waiting in the wings. Trying to get as many books read before the end of the year. But I have surpassed my Goodreads goal of 60 books.