OMG Christmas Tree: a country boy-city girl Christmas romance

OMG Christmas Tree is the first book in the Holidays in Crystal Cove series by Stephanie J. Scott. Three nights before Christmas, Megan reluctantly comes home to their small town of Crystal Cove to spend the holidays with her mom and her new husband. On her way in, her mom asked Megan to pick up a Christmas tree and she did. Nick Bennington heads to the Christmas tree farm to pick up the tree on hold for the charity event at the mayor’s historical mansion. However, he learns that the tree was sold to someone else. He is determined to get the tree back and luck may be on his side as he helps Megan out of a snowy ditch. As they fight over the tree, what Megan and Nick don’t account for is their instant attraction. Can the city girl and the country boy find love during the magic of the Christmas season? 

OMG Christmas Tree is described as a “sweet, slow burn, holiday romantic comedy.” However, I did not find it sweet, romantic or comedic. However, as a novella, there is no time for a full development of the characters or a slow burn story. From the very beginning I did not like Megan. She does not know what she wants in life, which is fine as many struggle with future decisions, and has an attitude about it when others talk about her choices. Then suddenly, at the end, she knows exactly what she wants. I also did not like Nick as he constantly degrades Megan because she knows how to live life in the country. And then, suddenly, he decides she is everything he didn’t know he needed. I could see this story as a Hallmark Christmas movie; however, it is one I would not watch. I do not recommend OMG Christmas Tree.  

OMG Christmas Tree is available in paperback and eBook

 

Mistletoe Between Friends: a friends to lovers, fake dating Christmas romance

Mistletoe Between Friends by Samantha Chase is a Christmas romance. Lifelong friends Lily Cavanaugh and Cameron Greene know each other inside and out. Their matchmaking mothers seem determined to pair them up on blind dates. As the Christmas season is approaching, they come up with the perfect solution: pretend to date each other and break up after the holiday. It will get their meddling mothers off their backs at least for a while and have a chance for a peaceful Christmas without the constant questions. Simple, right? What could go wrong? As they pretend to date and suddenly the feelings are becoming very, very real. Will they continue to pretend? Or will they face the possibility that they have fallen in love?

Mistletoe Between Friends is a sweet friends to lovers, fake dating Christmas romance. A quick paced, page turner, it was easy to fall in love with Lily and Cameron, to root for them and cheer as they reveal their true feelings. I loved their friendship banter and their uneasiness as they experienced more romantic feelings for each other. I cheered when Cameron defended Lily against her sister’s backhanded comments. I especially loved the epilogue. I won’t say why because it would spoil the ending but it was so good! Mistletoe Between Friends is a great read for an afternoon of romance and the magic of Christmas. If you love a friends to lovers, fake dating romance with the magic of Christmas, I highly recommend Mistletoe Between Friends. 

Mistletoe Between Friends is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook