A Kiss on a Dare

by Gaia Tate

Perfect for fans of passionate holiday rom-coms...

Dr. Ray Hale has spent the past year quietly pining after the brooding and impossibly handsome Dr. James Gabrielle. Between grueling shifts and challenging patients, Ray’s crush seems destined to stay a secret—until a Christmas Eve party changes everything. A chance encounter, too many drinks, and a risky game of dares reveal that the hospital’s most enigmatic attending might not be who everyone thinks he is.

A Kiss on a Dare is a passionate holiday romance about finding love in the most unexpected places, featuring forbidden workplace attraction, tension that could light up a small city, and two doctors discovering that sometimes, the best medicine is taking a chance.

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, LGBT, Novella, Holiday, Christmas, Queer

80 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 3, 2024

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah damn, this author just knows how to write endless mutual pining and so much delicious sexual tension in such a short amount of time!

I enjoy a good dare plot line to get things going as much as the next person, so consider me a very happy camper.

LOVED this little novella and all the flutters it gave me ❤️‍🔥
But also: they’re all out there having a slight alcohol problem, because… the amount these people can drink is baffling to me 😂 7 GIN AND TONICS PLUS SHOTS? Ciao 😅

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute and hot and once again with a damn gorgeous cover!



**************

A Kiss on a Dare - 4.0 stars
Accidental Valentine - 4.0 stars
Billionaire One-Night Stand - 4.0 stars

[Valen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this for what it was, a short and straight to the point novella. In my head, these two gorgeous men have a very intense and fun relationship once they finally talk and get together during Christmas. Will they last? Who knows, but oh to be young and hot and in lust.

[Gaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazingly cute, swoony, and delightfully hot novella by Gaia Tate! Once again, I have to say, these books have such amazing covers, 10/10 no notes.

[Tsyhanchuk Anastasiia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Такі милі, я не можу 🥹

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three things I’ve noticed after reading three of this authors books in the matter of a few hours:

1. There is mutual pining (which I love)

2. Her characters love to drink alcohol (doesn’t bother me)

3. Its always only ONE of the MCs confessing their love while the other stands there like an idiot (which I hate)

Please make both these men start confessing their love. It’s so frustrating having one say “I’m so in love with you” and the other one is like “uh” like for real?!!! Anyway this was cute as well but maybe my least favorite so far.

[Melanie THEE Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

My biggest gripe is that I wish that this was a full length novel instead of a novella 😭😩

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9 ⭐️

[Jess.bookrecs · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO FREAKING CUTE🥹🙊

[SJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute read set in the world of doctors and interns. Growing up and watching soap operas has me thinking that there is a tryst in every on call room, such as in this novella. The sex was très hot and the doctor MC was smooth as silk, brilliant and handsome.

The intern MC has had a torrid crush on this untouchable man ever since he met him, but they only talk business. The wild longing was well written as a prelude to a hospital Christmas party, a real bacchanal where inhibitions are lowered for drunk intern and his best friend who has challenged him to talk with hot doctor and perform other dares.

Things come to a head with some behaviors and a later Christmas Eve big confession. The scene where this all happens was very unconventional and well written.

I enjoyed this quick read.

[DLB2572 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was so cute to read. I liked the build up with the dares. I also appreciated the ending for Ray and James.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

[Gareth Jones-Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet and Hot
Merry Christmas

[Carmen Marin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A story set in the course of 24 hours, in only sixty pages, and yet half the pages were dedicated to a holiday work party and drunkenly pining over the typical stoic, silent, more experienced doctor, James. This is all in the first person point of view of the newer doctor in residence, Ray. He'd only been to this hospital for one year, had made a best friend in another new resident doctor, of course the perfect gal pal, and been pining over their semi-boss.

And then it's the Christmas party, and everyone is surprised that the other doctor, who's known to keep to himself and be all professional all the time, show up and have some party food and drinks. Our main guy, Ray, is already super drunk and gets dared on to interact with his crush from his best friend. It's a super serious dare game that these two play when they're bored, but there's no real stakes other than doing what your friend tells you to do or they whine about it.

So he manages to have a stilted conversation with James, get through some easy dares, and then they both have to take his drunk best friend home. All the while Ray is fantasizing and reminding us he hadn't gotten laid in a very long time. There's a drunken kiss but nothing more because James won't take advantage, as much as Ray wants him to.

Eventually they're both on-call on Christmas day and have an awkward time of it before it leads to a rather sudden confession by James while they're taking showers after an incident in ICU. Then, finally after 40 plus pages, the smut happens.

I've read other short novellas from 24 to 50 pages that were faster reads, and still had character development and chemistry with characters that were new to each other. Here? It didn't quite make sense especially since both James and Ray did know each other and worked with each other in the past. The sex scenes were pretty typical, and it does end on a happily ever after for a holiday short. So if you want something with two doctors over Christmas getting together, it's a quick enough read.

I also tend to review covers, and while this one is pretty, it's hard to tell if it's AI generated or not, so I'll make no other comment.

[Arielliasa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ага, читать рождественские новеллы в июне. Это, конечно, на меня совсем непохоже, но хотелось чего-то максимально лёгкого и ненапряжного и так, чтобы страниц поменьше, и это единственное, что я нашла у себя на электронке. Я в целом стараюсь читать хотя бы по пару страниц в день, а тут у меня было пять дней без чтения, и уже начинало казаться, что нечитун начинает подбираться всё ближе и ближе. Что же, эта новелла меня излечила.

Сюжет незатейливый, но оно и понятно, с такой-то длинной. Герой уже как год влюблён в своего старшего коллегу, но он старается этого не показывать, так как не уверен, что они играют в одной команде. И тут рождественский корпоратив, много выпивки, вмешательство лучшей подруги и парочка загаданных желаний, чтобы у героя точно не было шанса убежать.

Было весело это читать, и я даже как-то расслабилась, наслаждаясь нелепыми моментами. Жаль, что это не полноценный роман, и персонажи в нём не особо прописаны (особенно любовный интерес).

[autumn 🍁📚🌻☕️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎄A Kiss on a Dare, by Gaia Tate
⭐ 3 stars


Finished Reading: January 25, 2025
Reading Challenge: 5/100 books read in 2025
Novella Challenge: 2/100

Dr. Ray Hale has had a crush on his superior forever, and when the hospital holiday pary rolls around on Christmas even Ray’s best friend dares him to kiss Dr. James Gabrielle. What starts off as a simple game of truth or dare, leads Ray on a journey of discovery and brings the two doctors together in unexpected ways.

This was a cute little holiday novella, while the story did read a little like a Wattpad fic, it was light hearted and fun and hit all the notes it needed to hit. A cheesy, hot and heavy novella with a touch of forbidden workplace romance, mutual pining and Christmas spirit, and what more can you ask for?

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute. Dr Ray has a crush on Dr James. James' sexuality is a mystery to hospital staff. Ray speculates about James' lifestyle with his bestie Dr Cat. A holiday party, lots of drinking and free inhibitions. Ray, James and Cat get to know each other better. Very short story about co-workers trying to find out where they stand with each other. Nice story, but way too short. Ray, James and Cat seem like really nice people and caring doctors, I'd like to read more about them. The author, does a good job setting the story and building a high level foundation for our characters. Good story. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Henna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and cute - and steamy - workplace Christmas party novella.

Ray has had a crush on another doctor for months. His best friend Cat is quite sure Dr. James Gabrielle is gay, because eyebrows on fleek. Cue in party, too many gin and tonics, questionable shots, and dares. The evening ends up in a kiss, but what happens after that?

I really liked all the characters, and the story. Perfect read during holiday season!

[Hira Chaudhary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little story about two doctors having a crush on each other from afar but not being sure what the other thought of them, and then a night of dares that brought them together. I adored Ray and how sweet and uncertain he was. I loved James and how serious and awesome he was. I adored Cat and how she dared Ray to go after James. This was so much fun and I loved their night together and how they finally started talking and confessed their feelings to one another!

[J.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute, unexpectedly steamy, and full of endearing moments that made me grin. The chemistry between the characters is playful and genuinely charming, and the humor keeps the whole story feeling light even when emotions run deeper. It’s the kind of romance that gives you butterflies one minute and makes you laugh the next. A fun, feel-good read that’s easy to devour in a single sitting.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short holiday novella about James and Ray who are both secretly pining for each other but at their works Christmas Eve party after a few drinks and a few dares for Ray from his best friend Cat they finally talk and admit they like each other. Good short holiday novella.

[la review bleu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect short Christmas novella. It's sweet, funny, and with the perfect amount of steam. Very well-balanced. I liked the characters, and the story was good. Really perfect for this busy time of the year.

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the holiday shorts this author has written this year - they have all been just delightful! I love the dares and the workplace setting in this one, plus of course, there's some humor and steam. A winning combo!!



I received a complimentary copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Kiss on a Dare is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely be trying to get more from them. This was a sweet and steamy read about a workplace crush that comes out with a little alcohol and party games.

[Nilam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bless the cover art artist for giving a visual description of the two male leads because, wow - it helped a lot. *fans self*

I had to knock off a star because I could not get over any part of a body touching a public shower - and there was also no mention of shower shoes.

[Elissa Vazquez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un libro rápido, sin complicaciones se ven solo 2 días de la vida de nuestro protagonista, tiene una narrativa simple, algo burda, aunque por el tema y las páginas que tiene no se espera mucho aunque siento que si se quedo corta...

[Dariia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,7⭐️
коли обоє намагалися триматися один від одного подалі, але все ж не втрималися. початок дуже смішний: п'яні переписки кет та рея, їх гра в виклик і взагалі дружба дуже крута вийшла. пара рей та джеймс мила, трохи побігали один від одного, трохи позаганялися, а тоді й поговорили 😈

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked how the dares allow Ray and James to act on their attraction. They nicely remove the awkward barriers.

[Jessica Swan · Rating 3 out of 5]

1/5 🌶️

Short and sweet. Very insta lovey but to be fair it is a super short novella so I can’t be that picky.

[Elise H · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75⭐️

[Karen Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

😍😍😍😍