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The Detour
Bestselling author, Harley Humbug, needs an escape.
From the current state of her own love life.
From her deadline she blew past weeks ago.
From Christmas that’s just around the corner and the bad luck it usually brings with it.
When a snowstorm causes a road closure, she chalks it up to one more thing to go wrong.
Little does she know the detour will take her to a town she never knew existed, and right into the path—and possible arms—of a man who might just be her real-life muse.
From the current state of her own love life.
From her deadline she blew past weeks ago.
From Christmas that’s just around the corner and the bad luck it usually brings with it.
When a snowstorm causes a road closure, she chalks it up to one more thing to go wrong.
Little does she know the detour will take her to a town she never knew existed, and right into the path—and possible arms—of a man who might just be her real-life muse.
61 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2021
About the author
K. Bromberg
90 books19.1k followersNew York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary romance novels that make you work to get your happily ever after. She likes to write strong heroines and damaged heroes, who we love to hate but can’t help but love.
Since publishing her first book on a whim in 2013, Kristy has sold over two million copies of her books across twenty different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over thirty times.
A mom of three, Kristy finds the only thing harder than finishing the book she’s writing is navigating parenthood during the teenage years (send more wine!). She loves dogs, sports, a good book, and is an expert procrastinator. She lives in Southern California with her family.
Social Media Links:
https://facebook.com/AuthorKBromberg
http://pinterest.com/KBrombergWrites/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kbromberg13/
twitter: @KBrombergDriven
www.KBromberg.com
Completed Titles:
Series:
The Driven Series
Driven
Fueled
Crashed
Raced
Aced
The Player Duet
The Player
The Catch
Standalones
UnRaveled
Slow Burn
Sweet Ache
Hard Beat
Down Shift
Sweet Cheeks
Sweet Rivalry (novella)
Faking It
Then You Happened
Flirting with 40
Sweet Regret
Everyday Heroes Series
Cuffed
Combust
Cockpit
Control (novella)
Wicked Ways Duet
Resist
Reveal
The Play Hard Series
Hard to Handle
Hard to Hold
Hard to Score
Hard to Lose
Hard to Love
S.I.N. Series
Last Resort
On One Condition
Final Proposal
The Redemption Series
Until You
Full Throttle Series
Off the Grid
On The Edge
Over The Limit
Out of Control
Tangled Hearts Trilogy
Twisted Knight
Threaded Lies
Twined Fates
Since publishing her first book on a whim in 2013, Kristy has sold over two million copies of her books across twenty different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over thirty times.
A mom of three, Kristy finds the only thing harder than finishing the book she’s writing is navigating parenthood during the teenage years (send more wine!). She loves dogs, sports, a good book, and is an expert procrastinator. She lives in Southern California with her family.
Social Media Links:
https://facebook.com/AuthorKBromberg
http://pinterest.com/KBrombergWrites/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kbromberg13/
twitter: @KBrombergDriven
www.KBromberg.com
Completed Titles:
Series:
The Driven Series
Driven
Fueled
Crashed
Raced
Aced
The Player Duet
The Player
The Catch
Standalones
UnRaveled
Slow Burn
Sweet Ache
Hard Beat
Down Shift
Sweet Cheeks
Sweet Rivalry (novella)
Faking It
Then You Happened
Flirting with 40
Sweet Regret
Everyday Heroes Series
Cuffed
Combust
Cockpit
Control (novella)
Wicked Ways Duet
Resist
Reveal
The Play Hard Series
Hard to Handle
Hard to Hold
Hard to Score
Hard to Lose
Hard to Love
S.I.N. Series
Last Resort
On One Condition
Final Proposal
The Redemption Series
Until You
Full Throttle Series
Off the Grid
On The Edge
Over The Limit
Out of Control
Tangled Hearts Trilogy
Twisted Knight
Threaded Lies
Twined Fates
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
January 23, 2024
Quick buffer read. 😋 If you want a flirty small town meet cute with a Christmas time flair, this will work. 👍
August 23, 2021
This was a super cute short story and a super fast listen. Reminded me of a hotter version of a Hallmark movie, lol. Loved the narrators. I could seriously listen to Jason Clarke narrate stuff all day, every day.
December 28, 2020
“You’d be surprised what magical places do for people’s souls, Harley Humbug. You just might be in need of some of that magic too.”
This is short novella and part of the ‘Tis The Season for Romance anthology.
Synopsis:
Five days before Christmas, Harley Humbug heads out of Chicago looking for someplace where she can find her muse and get her creative writing juices flowing again. As she is driving, bad weather conditions force her to take a detour and she ends up in Saint Nick’s Hollow (which apparently is a town that "looks like Christmas threw up everywhere".
With places like Kris Kringle’s Cafe, Gingerbread Grocery, Saint Nick’s Saloon and Rudolph’s Roadside Repairs, Harley is sure she has gone down the proverbial rabbit hole. There’s no way this town could be real, right?
Well it is real and the sexy mayor ( Saint Nick) is one hot guy to be running to town.
Needless to say, Harley Humbug finds inspiration when she meets Saint Nick, and sparks fly. I adored both of these characters and I want a much larger story with Saint Nick because.....sigh 🥰😍....he was perfect! ❤️
This is a short novella, but I didn’t feel cheated in anyway. The chemistry and banter between the H/h was fun and sexy and I enjoyed spending time with them.
The epilogue was a little disappointing. I love the HEA ending and I’m not a fan of the happy for now or the more open ended type of conclusion (which this had). I like everything wrapped up in a beautiful neat bow. However that was just a small nitpick of mine, and the only aspect of the story that I didn’t necessarily like. Otherwise it was over the top Christmasy and perfect for the holiday season. And did I mention Saint Nick....gah, loved him 🥰🥰
Quotes
"what is your one wish this season? To visit a long-lost family member? To spread cheer to those who are doing without?”
"How about finding my writing muse again and if it’s not too much to ask, have some hair pulling, back scratching, toe-curling sex while I’m at it"
"but I’d made myself a promise: No down and dirty until I finished—or at least found my way through the fog—this book.
So now I’m a romance author who has to write about great sex without getting any . . . and the writing part most definitely hasn’t been happening. Shit, the idea part hasn’t even been happening."
"It has to be this damn holiday, its artificial cheeriness, and its superficial notion that to give is better than to receive because I gave. Hell, I gave for two whole years, and now I’m alone and unsatisfied with an unfinished book and a dried up hooha."
"I’m not one to objectify, but hell in a handbasket, Saint Nick is stunning."
“For the record, Saint, I got the hell out of Dodge because I wanted to find some random town with an even more random and sexy man. One who would pin me against the wall while kissing me senseless before carrying me off to have some wild, bed shaking sex. A little—or hopefully a lot of—something to take my mind off my dumpster fire of a love life and the train wreck my creativity seems to have fallen victim to.” She lifts the glass of wine and finishes the rest of it in one long gulp. “Is that the answer you were looking for?”
"I’m not sure if I should applaud her endgame or raise my hand and volunteer as tribute."
This is short novella and part of the ‘Tis The Season for Romance anthology.
Synopsis:
Five days before Christmas, Harley Humbug heads out of Chicago looking for someplace where she can find her muse and get her creative writing juices flowing again. As she is driving, bad weather conditions force her to take a detour and she ends up in Saint Nick’s Hollow (which apparently is a town that "looks like Christmas threw up everywhere".
With places like Kris Kringle’s Cafe, Gingerbread Grocery, Saint Nick’s Saloon and Rudolph’s Roadside Repairs, Harley is sure she has gone down the proverbial rabbit hole. There’s no way this town could be real, right?
Well it is real and the sexy mayor ( Saint Nick) is one hot guy to be running to town.
Needless to say, Harley Humbug finds inspiration when she meets Saint Nick, and sparks fly. I adored both of these characters and I want a much larger story with Saint Nick because.....sigh 🥰😍....he was perfect! ❤️
This is a short novella, but I didn’t feel cheated in anyway. The chemistry and banter between the H/h was fun and sexy and I enjoyed spending time with them.
The epilogue was a little disappointing. I love the HEA ending and I’m not a fan of the happy for now or the more open ended type of conclusion (which this had). I like everything wrapped up in a beautiful neat bow. However that was just a small nitpick of mine, and the only aspect of the story that I didn’t necessarily like. Otherwise it was over the top Christmasy and perfect for the holiday season. And did I mention Saint Nick....gah, loved him 🥰🥰
Quotes
"what is your one wish this season? To visit a long-lost family member? To spread cheer to those who are doing without?”
"How about finding my writing muse again and if it’s not too much to ask, have some hair pulling, back scratching, toe-curling sex while I’m at it"
"but I’d made myself a promise: No down and dirty until I finished—or at least found my way through the fog—this book.
So now I’m a romance author who has to write about great sex without getting any . . . and the writing part most definitely hasn’t been happening. Shit, the idea part hasn’t even been happening."
"It has to be this damn holiday, its artificial cheeriness, and its superficial notion that to give is better than to receive because I gave. Hell, I gave for two whole years, and now I’m alone and unsatisfied with an unfinished book and a dried up hooha."
"I’m not one to objectify, but hell in a handbasket, Saint Nick is stunning."
“For the record, Saint, I got the hell out of Dodge because I wanted to find some random town with an even more random and sexy man. One who would pin me against the wall while kissing me senseless before carrying me off to have some wild, bed shaking sex. A little—or hopefully a lot of—something to take my mind off my dumpster fire of a love life and the train wreck my creativity seems to have fallen victim to.” She lifts the glass of wine and finishes the rest of it in one long gulp. “Is that the answer you were looking for?”
"I’m not sure if I should applaud her endgame or raise my hand and volunteer as tribute."
March 16, 2021
WHAT THE HECK! It ends like that? JUST TEN MORE MINUTES!
This was cute, but dang I really wanted a better ending than that. Definitely loving these quick audible originals.
This was cute, but dang I really wanted a better ending than that. Definitely loving these quick audible originals.
March 19, 2021
Harley is having a bit of a shite week. Christmas is just around the corner, her love is non existent and she has failed to meet the deadline for her next book. She is suffering from writers block and hopes nothing else will go wrong.
How about getting caught in a snow storm and being forced to stay in a small town she has never heard of, oh and there is no room at the inn either. At first she thinks the town deliberately gets the road crews to close roads to trap people into staying, which in turn fills up the bars and restaurants and their tills.
However, she soon realises there is more to this town that she first thought. They celebrate snow days, just like children do when they don't have to go to school. They fill the bars and enjoy a bit of banter together. When Harley lays eye on Saint she almost forgets her own name and when he offers up a solution to her lack of accommodation options she soon finds more than she bargained for.
This was another fun flirty novella read for me :). Great narration too!
How about getting caught in a snow storm and being forced to stay in a small town she has never heard of, oh and there is no room at the inn either. At first she thinks the town deliberately gets the road crews to close roads to trap people into staying, which in turn fills up the bars and restaurants and their tills.
However, she soon realises there is more to this town that she first thought. They celebrate snow days, just like children do when they don't have to go to school. They fill the bars and enjoy a bit of banter together. When Harley lays eye on Saint she almost forgets her own name and when he offers up a solution to her lack of accommodation options she soon finds more than she bargained for.
This was another fun flirty novella read for me :). Great narration too!
January 6, 2021
Romance Holiday Themed Novella : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Soooo cute. Wish there was more cause I could have just gobbled it up.
Soooo cute. Wish there was more cause I could have just gobbled it up.
February 17, 2022
I listened to this on audio.
It was cute but I wanted more of Nick. I didn't mind the ending but I prefer them less open. I'd love if this was a prequel novella to the actual story
It was cute but I wanted more of Nick. I didn't mind the ending but I prefer them less open. I'd love if this was a prequel novella to the actual story
December 30, 2020
THE DETOUR by K. Bromberg is a contemporary, adult Christmas short focusing on romance writer Harley Humbug, Mayor / bar owner Saint Nick and a snowstorm that strands our heroine in Saint Nick’s Hollow.
NOTE: THE DETOUR by K. Bromberg was first released in the multi-authored 'Tis the Season For Romance anthology.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Saint and Harley) THE DETOUR follows the quick building relationship and one-night stand between romance writer Harley Humbug, and Mayor / bar owner Saint Nick. Harley Humbug has lost her muse; she is struggling to write, and the holidays are something of which she is not looking forward. Stranded in St. Nick’s Hollow, a virtual Christmas village Harley will get the inspiration she needs from the man that stirs something she hasn’t felt in a very long time-magic.
THE DETOUR is a character driven, short story with a sexy hero and a lost heroine who will find her muse in the unlikeliest of places. The story ends abruptly, I am hoping for more.
NOTE: THE DETOUR by K. Bromberg was first released in the multi-authored 'Tis the Season For Romance anthology.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Saint and Harley) THE DETOUR follows the quick building relationship and one-night stand between romance writer Harley Humbug, and Mayor / bar owner Saint Nick. Harley Humbug has lost her muse; she is struggling to write, and the holidays are something of which she is not looking forward. Stranded in St. Nick’s Hollow, a virtual Christmas village Harley will get the inspiration she needs from the man that stirs something she hasn’t felt in a very long time-magic.
THE DETOUR is a character driven, short story with a sexy hero and a lost heroine who will find her muse in the unlikeliest of places. The story ends abruptly, I am hoping for more.
December 14, 2020
This was such a cute and sexy Christmas novella.
The Detour has 12 chapters plus an epilogue. The main narrator is Harley (1st person POV).
She is a romance writer who has writer's block. She ends up visiting a magical town.
This was such an enjoyable story. I loved Harley. I loved Saint Nick. Really good!
This novella appears in Tis the Season for Romance anthology. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
June 19, 2021
I felt nothing for this. The Package is superior for suree.
May 23, 2023
This was a really quick holiday novella. Harley is a romance author, so the story within a story aspect was fun. It’s instalust between her and Saint and the story is essentially the lead up to their one night stand. It’s a novella, so we never get to know either character that well or their motivations, but it was an enjoyable listen. The ending was very abrupt though and there isn’t a HEA or HFN. Things are left hopeful though and I’m not sure if there are plans for more with these characters in the future.
The narration by Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke was great and I always enjoy their performances.
Audiobook Review
Overall: 3 stars
Performance: 4.5 stars
Story: 2.5-3 stars
Note: the majority of the novella is performed by Erin Mallon
The narration by Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke was great and I always enjoy their performances.
Audiobook Review
Overall: 3 stars
Performance: 4.5 stars
Story: 2.5-3 stars
Note: the majority of the novella is performed by Erin Mallon
March 30, 2022
It was a cute Christmas novella
Want to read
December 15, 2020Part of the 'Tis the Season for Romance anthology
December 10, 2020
This was short and cute. Main character was a romance author with a bit (a huuuge bit) of a writing block, so I was automatically like GIMME THAT.
I also appreciated the open ending - it held a promise of a happy ending, without making the relationship overtly insta-lovey, which is often the case in novellas.
I also appreciated the open ending - it held a promise of a happy ending, without making the relationship overtly insta-lovey, which is often the case in novellas.
December 11, 2020
read as part of an anthology. Loved this one! Selfishly, I wanted just a little bit more at the end but only because I was so invested in these characters and their HEA.
December 14, 2023
yeah...its going to be a no from me. 🫠
July 15, 2021
Little bit of romance and little bit of sweetness! This is a very nice story.
May 20, 2021
An author with a writer's block stuck in a small town with a sexy bar owner. So CUTE!!!
Just wish it was longer or had a lengthy epilogue!
Just wish it was longer or had a lengthy epilogue!
November 29, 2020
Read as part of an anthology.
I love short holiday novellas.
Perfect quick read lighthearted read
I love short holiday novellas.
Perfect quick read lighthearted read
December 5, 2021
This story was originally part of an anthology, but I thought I'd give the audio a try on my drive back home today because how can I say no to Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke?!
The narrators were fantastic and the story was a quick "one night stand" all about a woman that is put off course on the way to her destination and she gets stuck in a very "festive" town.
Saint is our hero and he basically owns the whole Christmas town. And Harley is the heroine who gets stuck. She's a romance author so we even get a story within a story and our hero makes her really think about the decisions she is making in her own life as well as in her story.
Fun, fast, cute and oh so festive. Definitely got me in the mood for the holidays! Only regret? Seemed to end too abruptly. Or is this because I just wanted more of these characters?
Overall: 3.5
Performance: 5
Story: 4
The narrators were fantastic and the story was a quick "one night stand" all about a woman that is put off course on the way to her destination and she gets stuck in a very "festive" town.
Saint is our hero and he basically owns the whole Christmas town. And Harley is the heroine who gets stuck. She's a romance author so we even get a story within a story and our hero makes her really think about the decisions she is making in her own life as well as in her story.
Fun, fast, cute and oh so festive. Definitely got me in the mood for the holidays! Only regret? Seemed to end too abruptly. Or is this because I just wanted more of these characters?
Overall: 3.5
Performance: 5
Story: 4
May 14, 2021
Audible Review
Overall 3 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 3 out of 5 stars
Cute quickie.
This was a cute, fun little quickie. I'd love to live in a place like St Nick's Hollow.
I liked how this was left open-ended. As much as I love a hea, a short read like this doesn't need one- it leaves the future open to the reader's imagination. I actually wouldn't mind a little prequel novella in Saint's pov, I'd love to know more about the town!
The narration was good, although I wish there were more chapters in Saint's pov so we got more Jason! Erin Mallon always gives a solid performance.
*Audible Plus
Overall 3 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 3 out of 5 stars
Cute quickie.
This was a cute, fun little quickie. I'd love to live in a place like St Nick's Hollow.
I liked how this was left open-ended. As much as I love a hea, a short read like this doesn't need one- it leaves the future open to the reader's imagination. I actually wouldn't mind a little prequel novella in Saint's pov, I'd love to know more about the town!
The narration was good, although I wish there were more chapters in Saint's pov so we got more Jason! Erin Mallon always gives a solid performance.
*Audible Plus
December 20, 2021
I listened to this on audio! This book was so solid until the last 10%. I would argue that this isn’t a Romance, but that’s because I’m salty. It’s maybe a happy for now.
I love the premise of this book & the instant connection between Nick and Harley. BUT WHY. The internal dialogue of Harley was making me so frustrated. I was screaming in my car at both Nick and Harley.
I love the premise of this book & the instant connection between Nick and Harley. BUT WHY. The internal dialogue of Harley was making me so frustrated. I was screaming in my car at both Nick and Harley.
September 10, 2024
This book is less than 100 pages and yet it still took me about 2 weeks to finish. Yep, blame it all on the reading slump.
I’ve read some of the author’s works and I liked them honestly. But this one unfortunately was a miss.
I’ve read some of the author’s works and I liked them honestly. But this one unfortunately was a miss.
January 29, 2022
Audible. Good narrators. Ass story
May 25, 2024
So, thankfully this one was much better than the other one by her. It was still too short, but I actually felt my heart tighten before the epilogue. It hit me, despite the entire novella only being over one night. And when it got to that final chapter, that epilogue... Ok, I might have smiled. My old heart gave a little ba-dumph. I would have liked it to be longer, for more of the relationship to be explored, but... It was good enough for an hour and a half audiobook.
One thing I will say, I do wish that there were more chapters of Saint's. Such as why he felt so connected to that town (I have thoughts and they are all...magical which is probably completely stupid), and what made him chase after her. Why didn't she go to him? But that's the only real issue I had.
It is very good. It's a great, quick book. I would recommend the audiobook, even though there is the thing where the female narrator is nowhere close to getting the male mc's voice, compared to when he is doing Saint and Harley. But that's a slight hitch.
But please, read/listen to this. I'm being nitpicky.
One thing I will say, I do wish that there were more chapters of Saint's. Such as why he felt so connected to that town (I have thoughts and they are all...magical which is probably completely stupid), and what made him chase after her. Why didn't she go to him? But that's the only real issue I had.
It is very good. It's a great, quick book. I would recommend the audiobook, even though there is the thing where the female narrator is nowhere close to getting the male mc's voice, compared to when he is doing Saint and Harley. But that's a slight hitch.
But please, read/listen to this. I'm being nitpicky.
September 8, 2023
Cute but unrealistic plot. The worse thing was the robot sounding narrators. I like to listen on a slightly faster pace then recommended and it felt like I was listening to male and female version of C-3PO. It was pretty horrendous. Then I up'd the speed and it was worse. It really took away from the story. I mean who sits around saying I want to picture (whatever your version looks like) a hot guy but make him sound like C-3PO that would be great, said nobody ever! To make matters worse the female also sounded like a robot. So now instead of picturing hot late night/early morning sex with 2 attractive humans its more like grinding metal on metal. So needless to say I was not thrilled having to listen to C-3PO and the Tin Man flirting and then clanging metal on metal.
July 25, 2023
This was a fun novella to cleanse the palette before diving into one of the newly released heavy books on my TBR. Harley Humbug needs an escape and she's forced into one when a storm comes along and shuts down her path. She ends up in a Christmas Themed town trying to find a place to stay. Lucky for Harley the local tavern owner is there to help out. Romance ensues. Adorable. The one smut scene at the end was a bit cringe and that ending was abrupt.
I have to note, I don't usually love Erin Mallon but she did okay on this one. Of course Jason Clarke is always amazing.
I have to note, I don't usually love Erin Mallon but she did okay on this one. Of course Jason Clarke is always amazing.
January 1, 2024
I don’t have anything bad to say about it really, the problem is I don’t really have anything to say about it at all. It was more than okay, but it wasn’t cute, funny or even sexy. Since it was really short, no character left an impression, there were no stakes either. Big meh.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews