Asking Kate

Oxford Romance #3.5

by Clare Ashton

Olivia Sachdeva is in love. Who knew the perfect woman for the frosty lawyer would be down-to-earth Kate Laurence, her screen idol.

Olivia lives with her dream woman in their beautiful Park Town home in Oxford. But marriage is the last thing Olivia would raise with Kate. After meeting as lawyer and client in a fraught divorce case, it’s a miracle they're together, and weddings are beyond discussion.

Principled Olivia knows this. Her professional integrity demands this kind of discipline. Trouble is, underneath, Olivia is only human, and her besotted heart would really like to marry Kate.

So, what if she took a chance at Christmas to ask her?

A novella, set after Discovering Nicola in the Oxford Romance Series.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Novella, Queer, LGBT, Lesbian Romance, Fiction

81 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2025

About the author

Clare Ashton loves writing sapphic stories. Whether it’s a romcom or mystery, there’s always a queer woman about. With gorgeous settings, from the hills of Wales to college halls of Oxford, every book is a travel destination from the comfort of an armchair. Best known for her award-winning, sunny romance, Poppy Jenkins, and rollercoaster family drama, The Goodmans, Clare has a new series that captures the best of both and more, with Meeting Millie kicking off The Oxford Romance series.

Clare lives in the UK with her wife and kids and can be found spending too much time on social media – https://linktr.ee/clareashton

Reviews

[JulesGP · Rating 5 out of 5]

The worst part of a Clare Ashton book is always, “The End.” I hope to heck that there are more Oxford Romance stories in the future but I suppose I could just start at the beginning again whenever I miss the characters. Either way, this novella featuring Olivia and Kate at Christmas is both swoony and a joy to read.

[James McRay · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was this past summer I became obsessed with Clare Ashton’s Oxford Romance series and read the entire trilogy nine times in a row. (Okay fine, it was only three times in a row.)

Anyway, it was like a surprise Christmas gift when I discovered that Ashton had wrote a Christmas Novella for this series. What a joy to return to these great characters and lovely sapphic romance. Olivia and Kate from Tempting Olivia are my favorite of the three couples, so this proposal short story featuring them was just delightful.

Holiday Cheers, everyone.

[Stuffl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and romantic holiday novella. I enjoyed it! However, it is not really suitable as a standalone, but rather as a short sequel to the book “Tempting Olivia.”

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I normally hate reading Christmas books after Christmas, but I wasn't going to wait an entire year to read this after just finishing Discovering Nicola.

I'm never sure how to rate shorter stories, especially something like this which is essentially fan service (for which I'm not complaining). I am going to dock it one star because I find the whole concept of not discussing marriage a bit odd. Like, maybe the timing of the proposal is surprise, but not the idea of getting married. Or at least it shouldn't be in a healthy relationship. I don't know. It makes some sense given Kate's background, Olivia's job, and the entire way they met and fell in love, but that only makes the conversation more inevitable. But this is a small complaint for something I'm sure I'm supposed to just go along with without questioning. But I'm me, so...

[Guerunche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. I wish this series could go on and on and on.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful. Let’s hope we all get more books in the special world of Clare Ashton’s Oxford. A simple story so beautifully written.

[Agirlcandream · Rating 5 out of 5]

Move Over Love Actually

A perfect Christmas novella to get your heart stirring. Wonderful to spend some time with Kate and Olivia, their kids and the Oxford family we’ve come to know and love.

Available on KU

[Fran Sappharc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably 5 stars if I read it immediately after the previous Oxford book. I adored the first chapter and loved every one after that. I don’t think it is a stand alone but it is the perfect fourth in the trilogy! If you were considering reading it as your first in the series - don’t. Read the whole series in order, you will get more out of this, plus they are brilliant books.

[Elske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Only 80 pages I could have done with another 100 tbh. Olivia wants to propose to Kate but of course she is being all Olivia about it. Christmas dinner at Nicola and Geeta's home with Charlotte, Millie the kids. As always beautifully written and such a lovely romantic festive tale.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was exactly what I needed for Christmas. Reading this adorable Christmas proposal story made me love Olivia and Kate even more than before, I never knew that was even possible. I now just pray that the author will write even more about the couples in the Oxford series since I am not ready to let them go ever.

[Lyn Denison]

Gulp! Tears all round. What a lovely pulling together of the ‘Oxford’ books. As a reader who considers these characters to be friends, it’s such a romantically happy way to check back and see how they are, to know all is right with them after the pages close on their books. HEAs plus for Millie and Charlotte, Kate and Olivia, and Greta and Nicola. Perfect.

[Stillbittersweet31 · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect

[Angel Beckford · Rating 5 out of 5]

No complaints. Missed this cast of wonderful characters and I always did love their story so this is just a total bonus feature. Kate and Olivia FTW 💍

[gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know how much I needed this novella until I started reading it. It’s exactly the kind of Christmas story I wanted: full of family, warmth and love!

It was great to see all the characters again and catch up with how they’re doing after the last book. Even though I’m smitten with Kate and Olivia, Geeta and Nicola have stolen my heart and I’m really glad we got a glimpse of them.

I love the couples from the Oxford Series and I truly hope Clare keeps writing about them forever!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute. maybe sequel novellas just arent for me

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sort of short story or extra-long bonus epilogue to the book Tempting Olivia in the Oxford Romance series. I don't think it's much fun if you haven't read this series, or at least Tempting Olivia. All the characters from the books in the series are present for this story.

Normally, novellas and Christmas stories aren't my favorite, but this one was definitely worth reading.

[Sandi D · Rating 5 out of 5]

HEA.. nice to catchup with Kate & Olivia..

Nice to catch up with Kate and Olivia. Best laid plans often go astray was certainly the case here. But definitely nice to revisit with characters we loved.

[Sinah Troll · Rating 3 out of 5]

a cute bonus-end to the trilogy, but also hated it because every single person ended up fulfilling the social norms - marriage and having kids - even though they initially never wanted those things. I mean it's okay that their wishes changed but I personally would have loved different endings for the very unique and beautifully written characters.

[Minna Perälä · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Absolutely lovely. Lovely Olivia. Lovely Kate. What a holiday treat.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aweee

This is such a cute short enjoyable story with some of our favorite Characters. Highly recommend reading for the quick catchup.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute at wished it was longer

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars - i might die of happiness 😍😍😍

[Lady Olenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Goes without saying - beautiful, sweet and romantic. I will never get tired of Clare Ashton’s Oxford Romance series. “Never be enoughhh, for me. Never, never”.

[ReadingwithCaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The absolute cutest novella about the Oxford ladies we could have wished for! Olivia is still Olivia: stern, practical and deeply in love with Kate. Getting both their points of view in this ultra sweet Christmas proposal story? Exactly the balm the world needs right now!

[Elsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

[KJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful.

[Edna Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is wonderful Christmas romance. I love the characters in the Oxford Romance series and was very happy to see this book was available.

[Vesta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything

Clare Ashton has done it again. Absolutely stolen my breath with such a wonderful story from the Oxford Romance series.
Clare’s ability to weave so much love, desire and wit through her characters is quite frankly unparalleled. The tapestry of relationships are rich, as usual, Clare has brought all the characters together, the main characters held by the supporting roles of their family and friends. Each character envelops you like a warm familiar hug.

And that Christmas morning. It was like watching a Christmas comedy unfold. Just brilliant.

I pray that this is not the last of the Oxford bunch!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing follow-up to this wonderful romantic series. Clare really does justice to her characters, allowing Kate and Olivia to be so deeply in love while fighting off the anxiety that used to be crippling. The way these two see each other so clearly and support and communicate is so fabulous. And it was great to glimpse Nicola and Geeta and Charlotte and Millie again as well. What a holiday treat! Great novella.