Her Cowboy for the Holiday

by Makenna Lee

Can a little holiday magic turn liars into lovers?

Victoria Cameron isn’t looking for love—she’s too busy chasing adventure. Seeking an invite to a private art auction, Victoria doesn’t hesitate to crash Cade Whitley’s work event announcing herself as his girlfriend. When the “King of Dallas Nightlife” reluctantly goes along with her ruse, Victoria’s intrigued. Besides, it’s just a harmless fake date for one night.

Cade has no time for distractions, especially a carefree spirit like Victoria. But now their “date” has morphed into a Christmas weekend together to impress his boss. What starts as a charade becomes a weekend of undeniable chemistry—which suddenly, uncharacteristically, has this cowboy dreaming of settling down. But Victoria still craves freedom and change. As the holidays approach, can what started as a fake date move from a weekend to remember into true love?

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Genres: Category Romance, Romance, Harlequin

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

Makenna Lee is an award-winning romance author living in the Texas Hill Country with her real-life hero and their two children, one of whom has Down syndrome and inspired her first Harlequin book, A Sheriff’s Star. She writes heartwarming contemporary romance that celebrates real-life challenges and the power of love and acceptance. She has been known to make people laugh and cry in the same book. Makenna is often drinking coffee with a cat on her lap while writing, reading, or plotting a new story. You might also find her studying herbal medicine or listening to Celtic music. Her wish is to write books that touch your heart, making you feel, think, and dream.

Reviews

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Cowboy for the Holiday is a heart-warming Christmas romance. Cade and Victoria are a very sweet and charming couple who on the surface seem to want different things, but when fake-dating becomes not-so-fake, can they put their differences aside to stay together? Set during the Christmas holiday, we are also introduced to their families and friends, and I can’t wait to see more of them in upcoming books! Small-town remains a favorite setting for me, and nobody portrays it better than author Makenna Lee.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am excited Makenna Lee has a new book and a new series out. The first book in The Cameron Family series is unique and humorous in the way Victoria Cameron and Cade Whitley meet. Talk about opposites attract – one is a free spirit, and one is a planner. But life has a way of happening when people least expect it. Victoria and Cade both want certain things from life including love but because of past baggage, are leery of taking chances. The interaction of the two characters is quite the journey along with some intriguing mystery about the Cameron family and a visit to the town of Oak Hollow. I can’t wait to read the stories of the other members of the Cameron Family. I voluntarily read an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Harlequin Books]

Holiday Romance, Family & Relationships, Contemporary Romance, Western Romance
Miniseries
The Cameron Family (Book #1)

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gave me vibes of 1980’s night time soaps, a combo of Dallas and Remington Steele, with less drama and danger and so much fun.

Victoria, the free spirited adventurer who refuses to be tied down enters into a fake relationship with Cade, the architect who only wants to settle down. This will get her access to her great grandfather’s journal in hopes of solving a family mystery while helping him create a family friendly image that might get him the promotion he wants.

These two are FUN. They have chemistry, they balance each other and I fell in love with them both. The writing is tight and the north Texas setting in the holidays is vibrant. There’s no real “bad guy” here - the only thing our MCs are battling is their own past hurt and fears - but the dynamic between them keeps the story moving. There’s wonderful side characters, like the Harper’s and Victoria’s family. I can’t wait to read future stories featuring her siblings

* holiday romance
* fake dating
* closed door

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun fake relationship, opposites attract holiday story. Victoria is a free spirit who thrives on spontaneity and adventure. As the book opens, she's waiting for her next job, working on a riverboat in New Orleans, to begin. In the meantime, she wants to get into an exclusive art auction to get a look at her great-grandfather's journal, which is up for auction. She's investigating a family mystery. In an amusing scene, she latches onto a handsome stranger and announces herself as his date.

Cade is exactly the opposite of Victoria. After a childhood of upheaval, he is a planner, leaving nothing to chance. Victoria's sudden appearance intrigues him, as does her proposition. She wants access to the journal, which his boss purchases, and Cade needs to look like he's in a settled relationship to gain the promotion he wants.

One fake date turns into a holiday season-long ruse that quickly becomes more than they expected. As different as they are, they still have much in common. I loved watching them get to know each other. I laughed to see Victoria embrace some planning and watch Cade surprise her with something spontaneous. Sweet scenes, such as decorating Cade's apartment, show their growing closeness, while past fears and hurts make them reluctant to admit those feelings. The future looks promising until something happens that stirs up old fears and sends them retreating. I wanted to shake them both. I loved the ending and seeing Cade's boss playing fairy godfather (or Santa Claus).

I liked Victoria's family and look forward to reading their stories. I loved Cade's boss and his wife. Mr. Harper clearly liked Cade, and I enjoyed seeing how he encouraged him. I also liked how he connected with Victoria over the journal. The storyline of Mr. Harper's development plans was intriguing, and I adored the way it turned out.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Cowboy for the Holiday by Makenna Lee
A Cowboy Christmas Fake Romance
(The Cameron Family Book 1)

Can a little holiday magic turn liars into lovers?

Victoria Cameron isn’t looking for love—she’s too busy chasing adventure. Seeking an invite to a private art auction, Victoria doesn’t hesitate to crash Cade Whitley’s work event announcing herself as his girlfriend. When the “King of Dallas Nightlife” reluctantly goes along with her ruse, Victoria’s intrigued. Besides, it’s just a harmless fake date for one night.

Cade has no time for distractions, especially a carefree spirit like Victoria. But now their “date” has morphed into a Christmas weekend together to impress his boss. What starts as a charade becomes a weekend of undeniable chemistry—which suddenly, uncharacteristically, has this cowboy dreaming of settling down. But Victoria still craves freedom and change. As the holidays approach, can what started as a fake date move from a weekend to remember into true love?
Victoria Cameron
Cade Whitley
My favorite quote is
It was time to focus on the task at hand, which was gathering information about a family mystery—because she’d never met one that she didn’t want to solve.
Victoria had grown up with the question of where her famous great-grandfather had disappeared to the year he went missing, long before she was born.
I recommend this book.
Her Cowboy For The Holiday by Makenna Lee is
a 4-star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Makenna Lee.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

[Happily Ever After Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance

Her Cowboy for the Holiday begins The Cameron Family series as Victoria crashes Cade’s event, declaring herself his girlfriend. What harm is there in one totally fake date? Besides, there’s a mystery she’s out to solve, and nothing gets in the way of an adventure for Victoria, especially not the truth! She runs on adrenaline, he plans for every moment of his life. Is there a future for two people so completely opposite? Maybe, if they let walls crumble, and take a few risks in the name of love.

I always have fun with a Makenna Lee story, and I’m loving this new series from the very beginning. Victoria and Cade might be total opposites, but tell that to the chemistry flaming between them. One crashed event, going along with an obvious lie, suddenly turns into a Christmas weekend, discovering that they might have more in common than at first glance.

I enjoyed Her Cowboy for the Holiday by Makenna Lee; it’s well-written, emotional, filled with sparks of attraction, a bit of a mystery, and two people who counterbalance each other in the best possible way. I’m definitely looking forward to learning more about the Cameron family members in future stories. If this sounds like a romance you’d enjoy, then Victoria and Cade are happy to entertain you. Enjoy.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review, giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was exactly what you expect from a holiday romance, was PG-13, and could have been a movie on the Hallmark Channel. The storyline is a little bit cheesy which I expect in holiday romance, and at times it was simplistic and a little boring. This love story starts when the heroine attempts to fake date the hero at an art auction so that she can gain access to her Grandfather‘s journal that is being auctioned off. The ruse quickly turns into a month-long fake dating situation when the hero’s boss buys the grandfather‘s journal and the hero needs to appear like he is a family man for an upcoming promotion at his firm. If they pretend to be a couple, the heroine gets to read her grandfather‘s journal at the boss’s house for the office couple’s retreat and the hero gets to appear like he is in a relationship headed towards something serious. The hero wants to settle down, the heroine thinks she still wants to travel the world. This relationship starts with a timeline that ends when the holidays end, but feelings develop and plans for the future change. Of course, we get our happily ever after. It’s Christmas!

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in the Cameron Family series, in which marketing expert, Victoria Cameron, is looking forward to her next adventure on a cruise ship. While waiting for her assignment to begin, she happens upon a private art auction that may give her information about great-grandfather and his journal, which Vic wants to read.

At the art auction, she latches on to architect Cade Whitley in order to get into the auction to see that journal. Their fake date there soon becomes a fake set of activities that may net Cade a promotion and move to where he wants to settle down and begin a family. But Cade is certain--as is Victoria--that she is not the "settled" woman he's looking for. Nor is she interested in getting close to another man, not after her ex-husband did her wrong and makes her extra cautious. But that doesn't seem to stop Cade's boss from creating situations that keep Cade and Victoria in a couple's stance. Will that be enough for the two of them to set aside their cautions?

[Jaime Totten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her Cowboy for the Holiday by Makenna Lee features Victoria and Cade.
Victoria is always chasing adventure and her current one surrounds the mystery of her great grandfather. She needs help to access his journal and thankfully Cade is up for the challenge. Victoria isn’t the only one who benefits from this fake dating scenario, Cade is up for a promotion that he needs Victoria’s help getting, especially with the upcoming work retreat open to only couples.
Can they keep up the charade long enough to convince everyone? Or will they finally succumb and see what everyone else can clearly see?

This was such a cute read and a fun way to kick off my holiday reading. It felt like I was watching a hallmark movie!

Thank you, Harlequin, for providing me a copy of this book.
@HQN_ShamelessRomantics @HarlequinBooks

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Cowboy for the Holiday by Makenna Lee is the first book in a new series, The Cameron Family. This is the first book I have read by this author.
This was a fake date troupe which is one of my favorites to read. I adored Victoria and Cade. They were made for each other and did not realize it at first. They each wanted something from the other and the story just fell into place. It was fun, heartwarming and easy to develop feelings for these two. I am looking forward to the next episode of this series. When I saw the cover of the book, I could feel the connection they have for each other.
Thank you NetGalley, Makenna Lee and Harlequin – Romance for the copy of Her Cowboy for the Holidays. This is my personal review.

[Asheley T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fake-relationship story involving Cade, who is eager to settle down and start a family, and Victoria, who craves spontaneity and takes temporary jobs so she can travel and see the world. Naturally, love finds them during their time fake-dating over the holidays. The supporting cast is super likeable here and I wish there were more books already published featuring each of Victoria's siblings. I'll enjoy reading these as they are published.

Many thanks to HQN Special edition for sending me a review copy via NetGalley.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victoria and Cade met at auction and somehow make a deal of fake dating as a way to get what they both want. Somewhere along the lines things start to blur and both catch feelings. Since they have seperate paths to take, they got to figure out where they go from here. Even with a overplayed storyline this book does manage to find ways to be unique to stand out. I like getting to know the characters and seeing how they work together that you can't help but root for them. Overall pretty good book I'm not going to talk too much about it since I want you to about this book and enjoy yourself.

[Miranda Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this holiday cowboy romance! Cade and Victoria’s story was cute and charming the whole way through! Very much reminds me of a cute hallmark movie. I loved the idea of Cade getting to move out of the city to a small town! I also loved how family oriented Cade’s boss. I found it funny how Cade and Victoria thought they were fooling his boss but in the end Mr Harper had a few tricks up his sleeve as well!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this Arc!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

This is a charming and delightful story. A solid foundation for the series. The characters were great together. I especially loved Victoria. Her outlook on life was such a joy to see her effect on Cade. Totally opposite attracts here.

If you are looking for a bookcation, give this one a try.

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this kickoff to “The Cameron Family” series. I can’t wait to see what else Lee has in store for the family.

“Thank you, Harlequin Special Edition, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.”

[Hsiau Wei · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a warm, feel-good small-town romance that perfectly captures the magic of the fake-dating trope. When Victoria and Cade strike a mutually beneficial deal, neither expects it to stir real feelings—but their chemistry proves impossible to ignore. What begins as a pretend relationship quickly blossoms into something tender, genuine, and full of holiday spirit.

Victoria is a heroine you can’t help but root for—strong yet vulnerable, while Cade is the perfect cowboy blend of charm and steadfastness. Together, they bring out the best in each other, and their slow realization that their connection is real is deeply satisfying. The story unfolds naturally, with heartfelt moments, small-town warmth, and a sprinkle of festive charm that makes it the perfect seasonal read.

Makenna Lee’s writing shines with emotional depth and authenticity, making the romance feel both cozy and real. Fans of fake-dating, holiday romance, and endearing cowboys will find this story utterly delightful. It’s the kind of book that leaves you smiling long after the last page.