Her Cowboy for the Holiday: A Cowboy Christmas Fake Romance

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 Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

The Cameron Family

Genres: Harlequin

265 pages, Kindle Edition

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)

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.”