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Hoax for the Holidays
When freewheeling artist Isla Quinn risks losing her family home to developers, she's thrust into a scheme as wild as her paintings.
The solution? Fake being married to Grace Yates, the frosty CEO whose heart beats to the rhythm of board meetings, not wedding bells. Grace is all crisp lines and cool stares, but she's not above playing pretend wife for the holidays if it means saving Isla's home.
It's supposed to be all business between them, but as the snow falls and sleigh bells ring, their fake marriage gets a dusting of real romance. Cookie baking, cozy fireside cuddles, and stolen kisses under twinkling lights…
How much of their marriage is fake, and how much is real?
Hoax for the Holidays is a warm and fluffy holiday novella, with a little heat, a lot of heart, and two fake wives racing to host the perfect holiday dinner.
The solution? Fake being married to Grace Yates, the frosty CEO whose heart beats to the rhythm of board meetings, not wedding bells. Grace is all crisp lines and cool stares, but she's not above playing pretend wife for the holidays if it means saving Isla's home.
It's supposed to be all business between them, but as the snow falls and sleigh bells ring, their fake marriage gets a dusting of real romance. Cookie baking, cozy fireside cuddles, and stolen kisses under twinkling lights…
How much of their marriage is fake, and how much is real?
Hoax for the Holidays is a warm and fluffy holiday novella, with a little heat, a lot of heart, and two fake wives racing to host the perfect holiday dinner.
101 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2023
32 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Bel Blackwood
10 books65 followersBel Blackwood (they/them) spins stories of flawed women finding happiness, aimed at readers who like their lesbian romances to be heartfelt, quirky, and funny.
When they're not writing, Bel loves hiking with their mutts, baking up a storm, and trying (and failing) to learn to meditate. If they followed the advice to write what you know, all of their books would be about heroines waging war on the caterpillars eating their zucchini plants.
When they're not writing, Bel loves hiking with their mutts, baking up a storm, and trying (and failing) to learn to meditate. If they followed the advice to write what you know, all of their books would be about heroines waging war on the caterpillars eating their zucchini plants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 23, 2023
Kindle Unlimited.
A very quick novella length story, so not as much depth as I would have liked - but a touching and steamy story still!
Would recommend for a quick bite of a festive read.
A very quick novella length story, so not as much depth as I would have liked - but a touching and steamy story still!
Would recommend for a quick bite of a festive read.
December 1, 2024
I enjoyed this. Was a nice short read. Sapphic Christmas romance. Fake dating. Forced proximity and some spice!
December 18, 2024
This was so sweet
February 12, 2024
6/10
It was a sweet story but maybe dont read it if ur grandpa died in the last couple of weeks lol
Got me extra emotional for sure
It was a sweet story but maybe dont read it if ur grandpa died in the last couple of weeks lol
Got me extra emotional for sure
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December 2, 2024Hoax For The Holidays is an Adult Holiday Romance novella that is perfect for the season.
{When freewheeling artist Isla Quinn risks losing her family home to developers, she’s thrust into a scheme as wild as her paintings}
This is a quick and cute holiday novella. Isla and Grace are two very different people but I enjoyed the way they interacted and the sprinkling of spice.
If you’re looking for a bite sized holiday romance this is a great one to check out!
{When freewheeling artist Isla Quinn risks losing her family home to developers, she’s thrust into a scheme as wild as her paintings}
This is a quick and cute holiday novella. Isla and Grace are two very different people but I enjoyed the way they interacted and the sprinkling of spice.
If you’re looking for a bite sized holiday romance this is a great one to check out!
January 4, 2024
Isla is a shy, introspective artist, painting some surreal and beautiful art. Grace is an architect, and CEO of her own company. She has got there by hard work and by being professional, aloof and stubborn.
At the reading of his will, Isla has been left the family home by Louie, Isla’s recently departed grandfather, on the condition that she is married. The only problem, she isn’t married, and so the house will go to Isla’s objectionable property developer cousin, Todd.
In a rush Isla and Grace marry, just so the family home won’t be demolished in Todd’s dastardly plan.
This is an interesting and romantic story, about how Isla and Grace hastily marry, and fall slowly in love later. I found it to be too short, as though the beginning was written as a longer story, but it was finished in a rush with a shorter ending. We see very little of the preparation for the Christmas festivities, and the women’s life together - it seems to rush straight to the grand family party with little in the way of mental preparation for the women. Usually Bel Blackwood’s stories are far better than this. What a shame.
The scenes with the letters to Isla’s grandmother were well written, an oasis amongst some rather trivial writing. There were so many subjects left untouched or unexplained, many loose ends, such as Grace’s work colleagues, and more of Isla’s family.
At the reading of his will, Isla has been left the family home by Louie, Isla’s recently departed grandfather, on the condition that she is married. The only problem, she isn’t married, and so the house will go to Isla’s objectionable property developer cousin, Todd.
In a rush Isla and Grace marry, just so the family home won’t be demolished in Todd’s dastardly plan.
This is an interesting and romantic story, about how Isla and Grace hastily marry, and fall slowly in love later. I found it to be too short, as though the beginning was written as a longer story, but it was finished in a rush with a shorter ending. We see very little of the preparation for the Christmas festivities, and the women’s life together - it seems to rush straight to the grand family party with little in the way of mental preparation for the women. Usually Bel Blackwood’s stories are far better than this. What a shame.
The scenes with the letters to Isla’s grandmother were well written, an oasis amongst some rather trivial writing. There were so many subjects left untouched or unexplained, many loose ends, such as Grace’s work colleagues, and more of Isla’s family.
March 4, 2024
This is a Christmas novella where you get a HEA and you feel happy that good things happen to good people.
Isla has an uncle, her uncle left a will, the will has some conditions to inherit a house.
Isla’s uncle has a protégé, Grace, she is a self-made businesswoman, now she’s wealthy and smart enough to overturn the will that Louie (Islas uncle) left.
Isla has an uncle, her uncle left a will, the will has some conditions to inherit a house.
Isla’s uncle has a protégé, Grace, she is a self-made businesswoman, now she’s wealthy and smart enough to overturn the will that Louie (Islas uncle) left.
April 29, 2024
Sweet and cute, nothing crazy but nothing to complain about!
December 27, 2024
Sweet, funny and kinda spicy
December 26, 2025
Very short, cheesy read. Pretty cringy and predictable but still cute and a fun read
December 16, 2023
I stumbled upon the book while going through the authors' newsletters. I was in the mood for a story in which the fake wedding came true.
The story is from the point of view of Isla, Loui's granddaughter and artist, and Grace, who, like Loui, made a name for herself as an architect and became successful. At the opening of the will, either Isla or Todd, the other grandson of Loui and a developer who converts everything into cheap housing developments, would inherit the estate from Loui that he planned and built.
The solution to prevent Todd from inheriting the estate is a flash wedding between Isla and Grace. After announcing this fact after the lunch break, they learn that they have to live together and organize the family Christmas party and invite the whole family. They rise to the challenge.
For me, beautifully told and described how they find each other. Humorous sayings, emotions and the slow development made me a pleasure to read slowly.
The story is from the point of view of Isla, Loui's granddaughter and artist, and Grace, who, like Loui, made a name for herself as an architect and became successful. At the opening of the will, either Isla or Todd, the other grandson of Loui and a developer who converts everything into cheap housing developments, would inherit the estate from Loui that he planned and built.
The solution to prevent Todd from inheriting the estate is a flash wedding between Isla and Grace. After announcing this fact after the lunch break, they learn that they have to live together and organize the family Christmas party and invite the whole family. They rise to the challenge.
For me, beautifully told and described how they find each other. Humorous sayings, emotions and the slow development made me a pleasure to read slowly.
December 4, 2025
Hoax for the Holidays by Bel Blackwood tiptoes in like a festive prankster 🎄🕸️ and left me feeling… entertained but not entirely bewitched.
I ended up giving it 2.5 stars, because my brain kept doing little cartwheels over the third-person POV. It’s not my fave to read and, combined with the slow pacing, it felt like I was wading through holiday syrup while waiting for something to snap, crackle, ignite. The story itself? Cute. Fun. A little sparkle of chaos here and there that kept me reading. 🎁✨
But… my heart whispered for more spice. Just a tiny ember of heat to melt the snow a bit. Instead it stayed on the cozy side, and I was craving something with a little more bite.
Still, it’s an interesting read with a playful concept, just not one that fully set my bells jingling 🎄📚💫
I ended up giving it 2.5 stars, because my brain kept doing little cartwheels over the third-person POV. It’s not my fave to read and, combined with the slow pacing, it felt like I was wading through holiday syrup while waiting for something to snap, crackle, ignite. The story itself? Cute. Fun. A little sparkle of chaos here and there that kept me reading. 🎁✨
But… my heart whispered for more spice. Just a tiny ember of heat to melt the snow a bit. Instead it stayed on the cozy side, and I was craving something with a little more bite.
Still, it’s an interesting read with a playful concept, just not one that fully set my bells jingling 🎄📚💫
December 17, 2023
cute
Fun little fake marriage/relationship story. I personally would have liked a bit more to the story. But it reads well and is enjoyable. I know with shorts everything speeds up, but I would have liked a couple more chapters maybe. The length doesn’t detract from the overall story, it’s just personal I guess.
Great to be reading a Blackwood story again.
Fun little fake marriage/relationship story. I personally would have liked a bit more to the story. But it reads well and is enjoyable. I know with shorts everything speeds up, but I would have liked a couple more chapters maybe. The length doesn’t detract from the overall story, it’s just personal I guess.
Great to be reading a Blackwood story again.
January 15, 2024
A Fun Fake Romance Christmas Story
This is a 90-ish page novella but I can easily see it as a longer book. However, it’s still a fun and funny read. As the calendar slides away from Christmas into January, if you’re still in the mood for a short Christmas romance, give this one a try.
This is a 90-ish page novella but I can easily see it as a longer book. However, it’s still a fun and funny read. As the calendar slides away from Christmas into January, if you’re still in the mood for a short Christmas romance, give this one a try.
December 17, 2025
A cozy, fun little story that’s super easy and quick to read and will make you smile 🥰
There are some foundations for a really good story here, but nothing is quite developed enough to hit the mark. We don’t get to know that much about the characters, there’s no real conflict in the plot and there’s only really brief moments of chemistry between the fmcs. I just wanted more of everything tbh.
There are some foundations for a really good story here, but nothing is quite developed enough to hit the mark. We don’t get to know that much about the characters, there’s no real conflict in the plot and there’s only really brief moments of chemistry between the fmcs. I just wanted more of everything tbh.
December 16, 2023
I recommend this book
Very enjoyable. Holiday read. The characters are likable and interesting. Can't beat a fake marriage that turns into the real love story. Thanks for a very enjoyable resd.
Very enjoyable. Holiday read. The characters are likable and interesting. Can't beat a fake marriage that turns into the real love story. Thanks for a very enjoyable resd.
December 18, 2023
A Real Feel Good Christmas Story
This Christmas tale was a joy to read and very unique. Sometimes people need a little push to realize their life isn’t complete without having the right person in it.
This Christmas tale was a joy to read and very unique. Sometimes people need a little push to realize their life isn’t complete without having the right person in it.
December 26, 2023
Grand Schemes for Christmas
Isla and Grace partake in a fake marriage to save Isla’s grandfather’s house. The ending of this story was so good. This is a story that is a perfect read for Christmas.
Isla and Grace partake in a fake marriage to save Isla’s grandfather’s house. The ending of this story was so good. This is a story that is a perfect read for Christmas.
April 3, 2024
nice Christmas read
I enjoyed the short story and really liked the fun and romance. Was hoping a painting was made of grace by accident. Loved the discovery in the attic and the build of the relationship. Yay for bento boxes
I enjoyed the short story and really liked the fun and romance. Was hoping a painting was made of grace by accident. Loved the discovery in the attic and the build of the relationship. Yay for bento boxes
December 19, 2024
The book is only 100 pages long and it shows (unfortunately)… Isla and Grace are really sweet together but for my liking the build-up was kinda missing as well as Grace really being all „cold stares“ because she was everything but. This book could have been great if it had been a little longer.
December 28, 2024
This short book took just over an hour to read. I think the storyline was strong enough for it to be a longer book. It’s not unfinished and there is a happy ending, but I would have liked a bit more detail on how they got there.
December 27, 2025
Hoax for the Holidays was a really soft, and cozy romantic read. I really enjoyed this read and the story that went with it. It truly felt straight from Hallmark. I liked how the story felt predictable in the sense of just wanting a light holiday story to read. I loved the found family story and how the forced relationship ended with love for one another. With being a short story (90 pages) there wasn’t a third act breakup, and only a bond that became stronger between the two characters. To be honest, the story in the beginning was hard for me to get into. It seemed almost too good to be true and sort of unbelievable. But as the story went on, I really got into it and enjoyed it. Definitely recommend for a quick, holiday read!!
2.5/5 🔥
2.5/5 🔥
December 25, 2023
It was okay, but a little predictable. 3,25⭐️
January 9, 2024
Too cute!
This book was good and delightful to read. We need more bite sized lesbian happily ever after books like this!
This book was good and delightful to read. We need more bite sized lesbian happily ever after books like this!
February 19, 2024
Fun read,
December 22, 2024
this was so cutesy and silly
January 10, 2025
This was super cute! I was hoping for a bit more of an insta-love or insta-lust, and this is not that. This starts off so cute and adorable, then leaves you a little curious in the middle (again, I was expecting a romance and it was more of a roommate awkwardness situation for a while, not the building romance I was kind of expecting) then we went from 0 to 100 with a quick spicy scene and then we had a super cute Christmas ending.
January 28, 2025
Not enough conflict to fully appreciate the story.
December 16, 2025
cute little Christmas story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews