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minnfinnfiction's review
3.0
Only for Christmas Before the first snowflake even flies, I'm ready for a good cozy up Christmas/Holiday read.
Pros: - Author's shoutout to Duluth, Minnesota & Lake Superior (among other MN references) - Main male character, Lucas, has golden retriever energy and makes a good cinnamon role book boyfriend - Fake dating trop - always a sucker for the pretend dating but really falling for each other
Cons: - The "boss" character in the book is major red flags and instead of spending so much of the book, tolerating it (especially when the main female works in HR) - I'd rather this storyline get edited out; It wasn't a story line that made the fake dating trope worth it. - The ending felt a bit cliche - wrapped it up quickly and epilogue I felt like was done before. Though it is a HEA which I do enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley, Canelo and Tracy Corbett for this ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Pros: - Author's shoutout to Duluth, Minnesota & Lake Superior (among other MN references) - Main male character, Lucas, has golden retriever energy and makes a good cinnamon role book boyfriend - Fake dating trop - always a sucker for the pretend dating but really falling for each other
Cons: - The "boss" character in the book is major red flags and instead of spending so much of the book, tolerating it (especially when the main female works in HR) - I'd rather this storyline get edited out; It wasn't a story line that made the fake dating trope worth it. - The ending felt a bit cliche - wrapped it up quickly and epilogue I felt like was done before. Though it is a HEA which I do enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley, Canelo and Tracy Corbett for this ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion.
niahraereads's review
3.0
First things first, thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Romance for my ARC copy! This review contains my personal thoughts and opinions.
In short, I enjoyed the story. I liked the fake dating and grumpy/sunshine tropes, most of the characters were very likable, and the romance element was just sweet enough. I also really, really liked the ending!
I love all things related to the holiday season, so I was excited to dive into this book. However, it lacked a lot of the Christmas spirit, and there needed to be an insight into Christmas Day. With "Christmas" being in the title, I was expecting more.
The FMC, Sarah, was too grumpy for my liking. I wanted to jump through the pages, shake her, and tell her to open her eyes to what was in front of her. She was too resistant to the MMC, Lucas. It was up until the very end, and I wish we could have seen a bit more of the Christmas magic with their relationship.
One little thing that kept bugging me was that Lucas, who is American, used a LOT of British phrases. It was confusing, and I feel that his character would have been perfect if he had used American terms because there was a lot of emphasis on him being an American.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and would still recommend it.
Rating: 3.5/5
In short, I enjoyed the story. I liked the fake dating and grumpy/sunshine tropes, most of the characters were very likable, and the romance element was just sweet enough. I also really, really liked the ending!
I love all things related to the holiday season, so I was excited to dive into this book. However, it lacked a lot of the Christmas spirit, and there needed to be an insight into Christmas Day. With "Christmas" being in the title, I was expecting more.
The FMC, Sarah, was too grumpy for my liking. I wanted to jump through the pages, shake her, and tell her to open her eyes to what was in front of her. She was too resistant to the MMC, Lucas. It was up until the very end, and I wish we could have seen a bit more of the Christmas magic with their relationship.
One little thing that kept bugging me was that Lucas, who is American, used a LOT of British phrases. It was confusing, and I feel that his character would have been perfect if he had used American terms because there was a lot of emphasis on him being an American.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and would still recommend it.
Rating: 3.5/5
romance_book_obsessed's review
3.0
Thank you so much to NetGalley for this advanced copy!
I love Christmas romance, especially fake dating. This one just wasn’t for me.
I didn’t know this would be 3rd person perspective and I just can’t connect to the story as well. The FMC has a superior at work that is very obviously harassing her, but she does nothing to report him. She fake dates the American FMC to keep her boss away. Of course, this doesn’t work. He gets worse.
The MMC was a sweetheart and made her love Christmas again. However, as an American, I think the author wasn’t up on her American lingo. A lot of what he said sounded very European/British. Not an issue, but it made his history less believable.
I love Christmas romance, especially fake dating. This one just wasn’t for me.
I didn’t know this would be 3rd person perspective and I just can’t connect to the story as well. The FMC has a superior at work that is very obviously harassing her, but she does nothing to report him. She fake dates the American FMC to keep her boss away. Of course, this doesn’t work. He gets worse.
The MMC was a sweetheart and made her love Christmas again. However, as an American, I think the author wasn’t up on her American lingo. A lot of what he said sounded very European/British. Not an issue, but it made his history less believable.
npat88's review
3.0
This book was a sweet, light-hearted and festive read to get you in the mood for the Holidays! I love reading holiday books set in London and this one did not disappoint.
Fake dating turned into real love is the premise of this book and I think it was mostly done well. I do feel like more time could have been spent with Sarah and Lucas actually falling in love because it felt like they just met at colleagues and then it went from a kiss. to Lucas professing his love for Sarah. I did feel like the sparks were perfectly between the two, it just felt like the story missed a little with them actually falling in love. In the same sense I feel like too much emphasis was set on the creepy boss at the hospital and him being this super stalker to Sarah, honestly they could have done without that whole part and the story wouldn't be lacking.
Overall I feel like this was a festive and quick read for anyone who loves Christmastime in London!
**thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.
Fake dating turned into real love is the premise of this book and I think it was mostly done well. I do feel like more time could have been spent with Sarah and Lucas actually falling in love because it felt like they just met at colleagues and then it went from a kiss. to Lucas professing his love for Sarah. I did feel like the sparks were perfectly between the two, it just felt like the story missed a little with them actually falling in love. In the same sense I feel like too much emphasis was set on the creepy boss at the hospital and him being this super stalker to Sarah, honestly they could have done without that whole part and the story wouldn't be lacking.
Overall I feel like this was a festive and quick read for anyone who loves Christmastime in London!
**thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.
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