Last updated on May 7, 2026
There are two things Ben Schumacher can happily live without: sex and Christmas.
All Ben wants for Christmas is to be left alone (and maybe to snuggle by a fireplace with a cute guy). He is sick of the holiday season with its real Christmas trees, whimsical traditions, and overall cheer.
The Heart
Troubled by Ben’s lack of Christmas cheer, a mysterious (and frankly creepy) old man gifts him with a glass heart that glows when the beholder is full of Christmas spirit. Its light extinguishes as it falls into Ben’s hand. He’s soon offered a challenge to make the heart glow before Christmas. A challenge he ignores. He has better things to do than save Christmas. Like snuggling with a cute prince.
The Prince
As the Christmas season begins, he’s dragged to the quaint county of Mistelvia to visit his cousin, Julianna, who just happened to marry to a prince. On his first night at the palace, he run into Nikolas, a scruffy book nerd and Julianna’s brother-in-law. Last Christmas, the two bonded at Julianna’s wedding and became friends. Now both single, it seems like Ben will get his wish to snuggle with a cute guy; however, merry misfortunes throw a wrench into his plans as Christmas is attacked by a mysterious spirit known as Grumpus. And the only way to stop this malevolent force of Christmas mayhem is for Ben spread a little holiday cheer. Because Grumpus only goes when the Christmas Heart glows.
When the Christmas Heart Glows is a cozy Christmas Rom-Com, it does come with a content warning for:
• Explicit language • Open-door sex scenes (infrequent & awkward) • Aphobia • Ableism
• Fatphobia • Internalized & unintentional bi-erasure • Brief mentions of sexual coercion and sexism • Alcohol use and alcohol consumption coercion • Partner lying about asexuality • Brief mentions of Catholicism • Mention of perceived poisoning • Mention of fighting wild animals for sport • Arranged marriage • Pedestrian-vehicle accident Injuries and hospital stay • Violence in self-defense against mythical creature
Generative Ai was not used in creation of any parts of this books (cover and manuscript)