Elle Austin is the deputy PR director for a major league hockey team and one of her main duties is helping the players when they get into trouble. When their enforcer, Max “The Beast” Beasley, finds himself wanting permanent custody of his son, it is up to Elle to help him work through it. Spending so much time together, though, may prove too much for her as she’s spent the last year trying to limit her contact with Max and ignore her desire for him.

Baby Under the Christmas Tree is a nice treat for the holidays. Elle has hangups about sports stars, and Max in particular, but she’s tough, courageous, and smart. Qualities she’ll need in spades when dealing with Max. Max has issues with his self-worth, although most people wouldn’t know it from his hockey persona. He grew up in foster care and spent time on the streets, which causes him to feel separated from the life he now lives as a successful pro-athlete. He also has issues with commitment and emotional involvement due to his childhood. Suddenly finding himself with his son full-time creates a lot of changes in his life, most of them for the better.

This is your typical story-line of a commitment-phobic man meeting his match, but Teresa Carpenter does a great job with it. The characters are compelling and fun, their issues are interesting and believable, and their journey is sweet. Max is strong, giving and thoughtful. He hides a lot between his swagger, but that just makes getting to know him all the more enjoyable.