Wreck the Halls

Melody Gallard and Beat Dawkins, whose mothers formed the legendary, raucous rock duo Steel Birds before they were born, are brought together when a reality TV show wants to livestream them reuniting the band for one epic Christmas Eve concert. Shy, retiring Melody lives quietly, avoiding the press that was so hurtful when she was an awkward teenager, while charming, gorgeous Beat runs his mother’s charitable foundation. His personal life is less charming, however, and he’s in desperate need of the money the reality show will pay. Though Beat and Melody only met once as teens, they’ve always had a connection. As adults, that small spark has grown into an intense attraction. The protagonists are well-developed, managing to be relatable even as their situations are far removed from the experiences of many readers. Melody’s self-esteem and Beat’s mistrust are both sensitively explored, and the screwball shenanigans keep the story from descending into melodrama.