I curled up with Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey and lost myself in this warm & fuzzy Christmas in Connecticut retelling. A farm, goats, mishaps and the magic of the holidays await you in this delightful tale. Grab some hot cocoa and check out this enemies-to-lovers, fake marriage, forced proximity romance.
by Kerry Winfrey
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Heat Level:
Laurel Grant is playing house for the holidays--complete with a fake husband and kids--in this delightful, cozy rom-com by Kerry Winfrey.
Laurel Grant works as the social media manager for Buckeye State of Mind, an Ohio tourism magazine and website. She is most definitely not an owner of a farm...but one tiny misunderstanding leads her boss, Gilbert, to think she owns her twin sister Holly's farm just outside of Columbus. Laurel only handles the social media for the farm, but she's happy to keep her little white lie going if it means not getting fired.
And keep it going she must when Gilbert, recently dumped by his wife, invites himself over for the farm's big holiday dinner (as advertised on Meadow Rise Farm's Instagram, thanks to Laurel herself). Laurel immediately goes into panic mode to figure out how she can trick Gilbert into thinking she's basically the Martha Stewart of rural Ohio and keep her job in the process.
Laurel and Holly come up with a plan--all Laurel has to do is pretend to own the farm for one dinner. But when Laurel shows up at the farm, an unwelcome guest is there: Max Beckett, her nemesis since Holly's wedding. The annoyingly attractive man she hates will be posing as Laurel's husband just for the evening, but when a snowstorm traps them all for the entire weekend, Laurel is going to have to figure out how to survive with her job and dignity intact. Whatever the case, this promises to be the most eventful Christmas in ages...
I am a sucker for fake-marriage romances and an enemies-to-lovers romance comes in at a close second. Toss in a snowed-in, forced proximity romance and I am all in! Faking Christmas is a retelling/reimagined tale of A Christmas in Connecticut and it had all the magic of Christmas, from family traditions surrounding the holiday to lots of food, children, family and merriment.
Laurel Grant handles the social media management for her firm and never corrected her boss, who assumes she lived on a farm, loves to cook and sell soap. Said farm lives includes a husband, two adorable children and a pack of goats. That’s actually her twin sister’s life. Laurel lives in a one-bedroom apartment and cannot cook, let along milk a goat. She loves her job, but when her boss’s wife leaves him before the holidays and he practically invites himself to the farm for Christmas Eve, Eve dinner… Laurel finds herself in a pickle. Her sister insists she can pretend for one night. Her kids will get a kick out of it and she’ll help with the cooking.
Laurel arrives at Meadow Rise Farm assuming her sister’s husband will pretend to be hers and is shocked to discover her nemesis, Max Beckett, will play the part of her husband. The annoyingly attractive scrooge unnerves her, but it’s only for one night. Right? Wrong…. a snowstorm moves in, trapping them throughout the holiday.
This was a fun, quirky tale filled with holiday traditions, barbs, mishaps and laughter. Laurel is like a ball of chaos and Max is this quiet calm. She loves all things Christmas, and he doesn’t. I loved the back and forth, as Laurel tries to fool her boss, Gilbert. The anger she feels for Max stems from the wedding of her twin, and we slowly learn the story, but as Max opens up, Laurel will have to rethink her opinions of him.
Toss in some kids, holiday cookies, and some sexy cooking scenes and I was all in. If you are looking for a fun, sweet, romantic, Hallmark Christmas tale… this one is for you!
Grab some hot cocoa and check out Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey an enemies-to-lovers, fake marriage, forced proximity romance. #bookreview #holidayromance #ChristmasInConnecticut Click To TweetAbout Kerry Winfrey
Kerry Winfrey is the author of the adult romantic comedies WAITING FOR TOM HANKS, NOT LIKE THE MOVIES, VERY SINCERELY YOURS, and JUST ANOTHER LOVE SONG, as well as the teen romantic comedies LOVE AND OTHER ALIEN EXPERIENCES and THINGS JOLIE NEEDS TO DO BEFORE SHE BITES IT. She lives in Columbus, Ohio with her family.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
If I hadn’t already bought several books this year for my holiday reads, this one would have been one because it sounds so good! Your review only makes me want to read it more!
Kimberly
Maybe next season 🙂
Kim
I love the sound of this book.
Kimberly
I hope you get to read it 🙂
Meezan
Sounds like a good one. I’ve add it it to my TBR! 🙂
Kimberly
Enjoy!
Laurel-Rain Snow
WEEKLY UPDATES
Carla
This sounds fun, Kimberly. I recently watched Christmas in Connecticut before I read this one. It sounds like a fun story to curl up with on a cold day or evening.
Kimberly
I rewatched it after reading this 🙂 It had been YEARS! LOL
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
I don’t know the story of A Christmas in Connecticut, but this sounds cute and it’s the perfect time to read it!
Kimberly
I hope you get to read it 🙂
Anne - Books of My Heart
Fake relationships are my favorite. I like the sound of this one.
Kimberly
It was fun, I think you’d enjoy this.
Sophia Rose
I didn’t spot this one until I’d already made a stack for this year’s holiday reading, but I love that its a Christmas in Con retelling so I’ll be reading it at some point. I’m glad it was a fun one.
Kimberly
I look forward to your thoughts when you do!
Nadene
The synopsis had me smiling, so I know the story will be a fun one.
Kimberly
Thanks Nadene.
DEBBIE HAUPT
Ditto for my faves as well Kimberly I love fake dating etc… and frienemies to lovers novels. This looks right up my alley. I’m putting it on my list for Santa
Kimberly
I hope Santa treats you well.
Ethan
This sounds like the perfect read to kick off the month!
Kimberly
It was. Thank you Ethan.