If you are going to make up a fake boyfriend, you should always have a name in mind before you start spreading this story. This is the lesson Olive learns the hard way when the only name she can think of in the spur of the moment is the other English teacher at her school, her work nemesis. As story opens, she has come to terms with spending her Christmas break at a Christmas lodge with her mom and her mom’s new husband as well as with her pregnant sister and the sister’s family. Christmas is a time for family, but she can’t accept her mom’s new husband because she is still missing her dad who died the previous year. And then she finds out that her mom has conspired with another couple to come along to the resort, and bring their adult son, who just happens to be Olive’s ex-boyfriend. Could things possibly be worse? Yes, of course! To stop a reconciliation with the ex, Olive tells everyone she has a new boyfriend, Miles. And can you guess who owns the lodge? Mile’s parents. And who shows up on Christmas break to help out? Miles, of course. And before it all blows up in Oliver’s face, he figures out what Olive has said, and goes along with the charade. It’s a very gentlemanly thing to do, but his acquiescence comes with a price. This is a lovely and delightful Christmas romance. The plot is well thought out, and the characters are believable even if the the plot is a bit contrived. And being a Christmas novel, a happy ending is pretty much guaranteed. And while you might guess the ending, the journey, with its surprises, will keep you reading. A heartwarming story for Christmastime. ( )

cute christmasy rom com ( )

“‘Sweet dreams, Carrots.’ ‘Don’t Anne of Green Gables me,’ I hissed. A low chuckle met my ears before I closed the cabin door.”

“You can ‘what if’ your whole life away. Relationships are always going to be scary, whether we work together or not.”

Oh my goodness! This romcom is an instant favorite! From the first email that goes awry, I was hooked. Fake boyfriend, enemies to lovers, a delightful tease with a heart of gold, believable family dynamics, witty dialogue, forced proximity, heartfelt romance, hilarious scenes, and the gorgeous Christmas setting of Vermont, this book has it all. I laughed, cried, and swooned.

Olive Wilson used to be THE English teacher until her nemesis Miles Taylor arrived. From the first, the handsome guy gets under her skin. He teases her and offers unsolicited advice. When a Christmas getaway with her family includes a new step-father and ex-boyfriend, Olive makes up a fake boyfriend (saying the first name that pops into her head) hoping it will allow her to spend her holiday reading books and avoiding her family and ex.

When Miles Taylor aka the unsuspecting fake boyfriend appears at the same lodge in Vermont, she makes a deal to do all the Christmas bingo activities with him in exchange for her own cabin and his pretending to be her boyfriend. But when Miles gets too close and the lines between fake and real are blurred, will she let down her defenses?

Move over previous book boyfriends, Miles Taylor takes it to the next level. He’s sweet, funny, sassy, and too cute for his own good. He loves teasing Olive in the most adorable ways. From giving her various nicknames Carrots, Celery stick, etc. to his endearing flirting, Miles seems to understand Olive better than she understands herself. He’s the perfect guy, an English teacher, author, daredevil, and looks fabulous in flannel. His charming personality encourages Olive to be more daring, and open up sharing the sorrow of her father’s death and adjusting to a new step-father. Miles’s own experiences allow him to sympathize with Olive in a way no one has before. I loved the way he truly cares for Olive and discourages her desire to hide.

This is the type of romcom I absolutely love. It’s funny, sweet, intelligent, and romantic with a lot of depth. Miles and Olive’s relationship crackled with delicious romantic tension. They’re both passionate people and it was fun seeing list-loving Olive be more spontaneous and doing things like a polar bear plunge and trying “real” chocolate milk. And those tantalizing kisses! I loved how well they communicated and shared their deepest feelings. There’s also all the fun literary and movie references like Jane Eyre, Anne of Green Gables, P&P, Taming of the Shrew and even The Terminator that fit perfectly with the story.

Definitely put this on your must read list! It’s the kind of Christmas story you long for. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review. ( )