BELOW ZERO AND BURNING: The Rudolph Effect

For Ana, Christmas isn't a season of peace and love; it's an obstacle course designed to survive her own anxiety.

At 33, Ana has perfected the art of being invisible. With a past marked by grief, a self-interested family she keeps blocked on her phone, and the scars of a toxic relationship, her December plan is simple: go from work to home, avoid carols, and take shelter in her sarcasm. She defines herself as an impenetrable fortress... until one Monday morning she literally crashes into a disaster made of spilled coffee, three-day stubble, and irritating optimism.

He is Liam. Not the typical unreachable romance-novel heartthrob, but something far more dangerous: a real man. With Golden Retriever energy, a warm smile that melts defenses, and the audacity to wear a ridiculous reindeer sweater in public, Liam is everything Ana claims to hate and, secretly, everything that makes her nervous.

What begins with a sidewalk accident and a humiliating nickname ("Rudolph") quickly turns into a battle of wits when Ana discovers Liam has the mental agility to return every bit of her sarcasm without losing his smile. Between panic attacks and chance encounters, Ana is forced to confront her greatest fear: that the real danger isn't being alone, but allowing someone to melt the ice guarding her heart.

Can a cynical, voluptuous woman and a charming optimist survive the winter without killing each other... or without tearing each other's clothes off in the process?

An irreverent romantic comedy about grief, mental health, and how to find warmth in the most unexpected places.