💫🎤 Book Spotlight: Later On We’ll Conspire by Kortney Keisel
Genre: Christmas Romance • Clean Romance • Small-Town Romance

☕ Book Details & Rating
Format: Audiobook
Series: Christmas Escape Series (can be read as a standalone)
Year Published: 2022
Page Count: 338
Rating: ☕☕☕ (3 Coffees!)

🥤 Coffee Pairing: Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cold Brew

Rich, slightly bitter, and wrapped in a hint of peppermint, this pairing feels festive and a little mysterious. The dark chocolate brings depth and intrigue, while the peppermint adds just enough Christmas energy without turning overly sweet. It’s cozy but moody.

Perfect for sipping while unraveling secrets, leaning into winter nights, and enjoying a holiday romance with a touch of shadow and suspense. ☕❄️✨

About the Book

Later On We’ll Conspire by Kortney Keisel is a holiday rom-com with a twist. Lacee plans to spend Christmas quietly on her own, but those plans derail when she meets Park Bradshaw, a charming stranger who keeps showing up at exactly the right moment. What starts as a casual holiday fling quickly becomes far more complicated than expected.

As Lacee brings Park home for Christmas, it becomes clear that there’s more to him than meets the eye. Suddenly, the holidays take a sharp turn into something resembling a Christmas action movie, complete with secrets, danger, and a ticking-clock tension that raises the stakes far beyond mistletoe and cocoa.

Blending witty banter, closed-door romance, and over-the-top holiday hijinks, this story leans into fun, fast pacing, and a little suspension of disbelief. It’s a Christmas romance for readers who want humor, chemistry, and a dash of chaos alongside their holiday cheer.

My Thoughts

really liked Later On We’ll Conspire by Kortney Keisel*. The fake dating trope mixed with a spy storyline made this feel like a refreshing change from the usual rom-com formula. Instead of leaning fully into cozy or Hallmark-style romance, this book adds a layer of mystery and action that keeps things moving quickly and makes it stand out from other holiday romances.

“One minute I was starring in my own version of a Hallmark Christmas movie, but now we’ve moved onto the Lifetime network or maybe even Netflix with this level of violence. I’m no longer TV-G.”
— Later On We’ll Conspire, Kortney Keisel

While this is a no-spice book, Keisel doesn’t shy away from attraction. A lot of rom-coms focus almost exclusively on sweet emotional moments, but this one leans more into physical attraction alongside the sweetness. The chemistry feels intentional and noticeable, which adds tension without crossing into explicit territory. It worked well for me and helped the romance feel more grounded rather than overly sanitized.

There was a twist that I saw coming almost immediately, honestly from the first chapter. While it didn’t ruin the book for me, it was a bit of a letdown because it removed some of the suspense early on. That said, the story is self-aware enough that the fun doesn’t rely solely on surprise. The pacing, banter, and overall concept carried the book even when the outcome felt obvious.

The twist also leads to a third-act breakup, which I don’t always love. In this case, though, I understood why it happened. The situation is complicated, layered with mistrust and dishonesty, and given the spy element, that dishonesty is also somewhat justified. It didn’t feel like drama for drama’s sake, which made it easier to accept even if it wasn’t my favorite trope.

Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced holiday rom-com with a unique angle. If you enjoy fake dating, closed-door romance, and a little Christmas chaos mixed with espionage, this one is worth checking out.

Final Thoughts

Later On We’ll Conspire by Kortney Keisel is a fun, fast-paced holiday rom-com that stands out thanks to its fake dating trope and spy-infused chaos. While some elements were predictable and the third-act breakup wasn’t my favorite, the unique concept, strong chemistry, and playful tone kept me engaged. I appreciated how the book balanced clean romance with genuine attraction and leaned into its over-the-top premise without taking itself too seriously. If you’re looking for a Christmas romance that’s a little different and willing to suspend some disbelief, this one is an entertaining ride.