Borrowed Hearts

Holiday Hearts #8

by Kiva Hart

He needs a girlfriend for Easter weekend.
She needs a place to hide from her past.
Pretending is supposed to be easy. Aria Bloom is running on empty. Burned out from years as a trauma nurse and fresh off a broken engagement, she escapes to Willow Haven Resort for one simple goal. Rest. Recharge. Disappear until Easter is over.

Instead, she collides with Beckett Hale.

Beckett is the buttoned-up owner of Willow Haven. A former Wall Street golden boy turned reluctant resort manager. He avoids holidays, dodges emotions, and absolutely does not have time for a guest who challenges his control at every turn.

Their chemistry is instant. Their patience for each other is not.

When Beckett’s picture-perfect family arrives for Easter, expecting him to finally bring home “the one,” he panics. Aria overhears his problem at the exact wrong moment. Or maybe the exact right one.

A fake girlfriend. A luxury cabin upgrade. One pretend Easter weekend.

No feelings. No future. No risk.

Except Easter has a way of stirring hope. Between spring blooms, family brunches, and stolen moments that feel a little too real, Aria and Beckett start to wonder if their bad luck in love was only leading them here.

Sweet, clean, and full of heart, Unlucky in A Fake Dating Romance With a Little Bit of Easter Magic is a lighthearted fake dating romance wrapped in cozy Easter magic and second-chance hope.

Genres: Romance, Amazon, Fake Dating, Holiday

111 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2026

About the author

Kiva Hart is a passionate romance author known for her ability to weave steamy, heart-pounding love stories with unforgettable characters. With a love for exploring intense chemistry, forbidden romance, and emotional conflict, Kiva creates stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Whether it's enemies turning into lovers, brooding heroes falling for bright-eyed heroines, or love blossoming in the most unexpected circumstances, Kiva’s books are filled with sizzling tension and heart-stopping moments.

Reviews

[Jaida]

✿❀❁✿❀❁✿❀❁✿❀❁✿❀❁✿❀❁✿✿❀❁✿❀

No song because I can't think of one. This was decently cute, not really anything special. Good short read for Easter time.

The Characters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aria ~ She was alright.

Beckett ~ he was ok.

What To Expect
🐣 Easter Themes
🐣 Romance
🐣 Fake Dating
🐣 Small Town
🐣 Teacher FMC
🐣 Novella (110pgs)

Quotes
~~~~~~~
“But when Beckett had kissed me...God, I had felt it in every inch of my body, the thrill of realizing that he actually, genuinely wanted me. Not just for show, not just as part of some game, but me.”

“This was not for show, not a front I was putting on for anyone else. No, when I looked at her, I saw a woman who would have been everything I wanted in a partner – even if we had only landed in this situation to try and fool my family.”

“And, as we sank into each other, I knew that the fiction the two of us had crafted together had turned, once and for all, into fact.”

"I want you in my life, Aria. Not as some game, not as some fake. I want you to be my girlfriend, for real this time. If you’ll have me.”

"You can have whatever seat you want," I assured her. "As long as there’s one for me next to it. Deal?” "Deal.”

Content
~~~~~~~
❤️‍🔥Romance| a few kisses with minimal details, a hand kiss, cheek kisses, a head kiss very mild innuendos,

🤬Language| D-mn, -sshole, Freaking, Hell, D-mnit, -ss, crap, God's name taken in vain,

🗡️Violence| none,

🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ| none,

✝️Religion/Spirituality| mentions of God,

🍷Alcohol/Drugs|

⚠️Other| death of parent due to heart attack, cheating recounted, mentions of hooking up,

[Alessa Auger]

Petite romance qui se lit super rapidement, c’est léger et très agréable :)

[Shawna]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Borrowed Hearts: A Fake Dating Romance by Kiva Hart is a charming, feel-good romance that perfectly blends cozy holiday vibes with heartfelt emotion.

Aria Bloom is a heroine you immediately connect with. After years working as a trauma nurse and coming off a painful broken engagement, she arrives at Willow Haven hoping for peace and a chance to breathe again. Her exhaustion and vulnerability make her incredibly relatable, and it’s easy to root for her as she tries to rebuild her sense of self.

Beckett Hale is the perfect opposite. The controlled, emotionally guarded resort owner who avoids holidays at all costs suddenly finds himself needing a fake girlfriend when his family shows up expecting him to finally settle down. His panic and Aria’s perfectly timed overhearing lead to a fake dating arrangement that quickly becomes anything but simple.

The chemistry between them is fantastic—full of playful tension, banter, and those quiet moments where pretending starts to feel a little too real. The Easter setting adds warmth and charm, with family gatherings, springtime energy, and cozy resort moments that make the story feel uplifting and hopeful.

Watching two people who both feel unlucky in love slowly realize they might have found something real is incredibly satisfying. Sweet, heartfelt, and full of cozy holiday magic, this book is the perfect escape for readers who love fake dating, emotional healing, and a romance that leaves you smiling. 🌸💛📚.

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

[EwreckaAnnReads]

Borrowed Hearts by Kiva Hart is the sweetest little springtime romance and the perfect read to tuck into over the Easter Holiday.

Aria heads to Whisper Falls Cabins looking for peace, a reset, and a fresh start after a broken engagement left her heart feeling a little hollow. Instead of just quiet and solitude, she ends up meeting Beckett – the cabin owner and former Wall Street golden boy who traded stock charts and city lights for the peaceful beauty of Whisper Falls.

The chemistry between Aria and Beckett sparks right away…even if both of them are trying very hard not to let it mean anything. Beckett has closed the door on love, and Aria isn’t exactly eager to risk her heart again.

Beckett’s picture-perfect family is arriving for Easter, and his mother has decided it’s the perfect time to introduce him to a very intentional new love interest. Meanwhile, the water in Aria’s cabin isn’t working, leaving her in need of a new place to stay.

So Aria proposes a trade: an upgraded luxury cabin for her and a temporary fake girlfriend for him.

I’m a sucker for a good fake dating trope, and this one is absolutely adorable. Aria is sunshine and warmth, slowly melting the walls Beckett has built around his heart. She slips right into his family dynamic and even finds the courage to stand up for him when he struggle to do it himself.

This story is short, sweet, and full of heart. It’s a cozy, easy to read romance that is the perfect little spring read that’s as charming as it is heartwarming.

[Kristina]

This installment of The Holiday Hearts series is a fake dating story between Aria, a teacher looking for a reset, and Beckett, a former stock trader now running a quiet, woodsy retreat. I really liked both of these characters. Aria is at that point in her life where she’s done tolerating nonsense, and I loved how she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, even when dealing with Beckett’s snooty, judgmental brothers. Beckett, on the other hand, is just trying to survive an Easter weekend filled with family pressure, an overbearing mother, and siblings who think they’re better than him. It made their dynamic really fun to watch.

I especially loved how much Beckett admired Aria’s spirit. Their chemistry builds in a way that feels natural, and the fake dating trope plays out in a really satisfying, low-drama way. There’s a nice emotional undercurrent too, with both characters working through past disappointments in a way that feels real without getting too heavy.

The setting added a lot to the story as well. The retreat has that peaceful, springtime atmosphere that fits perfectly with the Easter backdrop, and it made everything feel cozy. The pacing also worked well. Nothing felt rushed, even in novella form, which isn’t always easy to pull off. I also appreciated how the family dynamics added just enough tension without overwhelming the romance.

If you’re looking for a quick, clean, spring romance with strong character personalities, a bit of family tension, and soft, hopeful vibes, this is definitely worth picking up.

[Jennifer Amaral]

Thank you to Kiva Hart for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a sweet and feel-good read.

Fake dating is one of those tropes that can be incredibly fun when done right, and this story leans fully into the charm of it. Watching the characters navigate their pretend relationship while clearly starting to blur the line between fake and real made the whole thing really enjoyable.

The Easter magic element adds a light, whimsical touch to the story without overpowering the romance. It gives the book that cozy seasonal vibe that fits perfectly with the Holiday Hearts series.

What I liked most was the gradual shift in their dynamic. The little moments — lingering looks, quiet realizations, and the slow emotional softening — are what made the relationship feel believable and warm.

For me, this lands at 4 ⭐ because while the story was charming and fun, I would have loved a bit more time exploring the characters once the feelings started to become real.

Still, it’s a lovely, uplifting romance that’s easy to sink into.

This is a 4 ⭐ for me because:

• The fake dating trope was playful and engaging
• The Easter magic added a fun seasonal touch
• The romance developed in a sweet, natural way
• It was a cozy, comforting read

Soft. Charming. A little bit magical.

Read this book if you like:

• fake dating romance
• holiday themed love stories
• cozy small-town vibes
• sweet, lighthearted romantic tension

[Áža Sládková]

Pokud hledáte nějakou příjemnou jarní oddechovku, která má téma fake dating, tak tohle je přímo pro vás. 👌

Hlavní hrdinka Aira utíká od své minulosti. Prázdniny ve škole využije k tomu, aby si zarezervovala pobyt ve Whisper Falls, kde si chce vyčistit hlavu. Shodou okolností se potká přímo s majitelem resortu, ale tak nějak věří, že se s ním nebude muset potkávat. To se ovšem pokazí hned první večer, kdy jí neteče v chatě voda a ona to jde na recepci reklamovat. Náhodou při tom vyslechne rozhovor majitele se svou matkou a vymyslí dokonalý plán! On ji přestěhuje do luxusní chaty a ona na oplátku bude hrát jeho přítelkyni při rodinném shromáždění. Co by se mohlo pokazit? 👀

Celý příběh je velmi příjemný a doopravdy krásně se čte. Navíc jarní pohoda z knihy přímo sálá. Pokud milujete Velikonoce, tak tohle je výborné pohlazení po duši. Kniha neobsahuje žádné spicy scény a celkově je jednoduše roztomilá.Líbilo se mi budování vztahu mezi Arií a Beckettem a nejvíc se mi líbilo, jak měla potřebu ho chránit před pichlavými poznámkami od rodiny. 🫶

Lehce se dotýká i tématu, jak se vyrovnat se ztrátou někoho blízkého a také vyrovnání se s ukončením dlouhodobého vztahu. Navíc je zde i velmi pěkně popsána příroda a prostředí. ⛺

Je to po dlouhé době, kdy jsem se rozhodla novelu hodnotit nejvyšším počtem hvězd, ale tohle mi opravdu hodně sedlo a určitě zkusím i nějaké další knihy od autorky. 😍

⭐ 5/5

[Mia]

The story follows Aria, who is going through a really bad time after her fiancé cheats on her. She decides to take a break and goes to a cabin retreat, where she meets Beckett. Their first meeting is honestly a bit awkward and funny, and I liked that it didn't feel too perfect. The main trope is fake dating, and it was done in a very entertaining way. Aria agrees to pretend to be Beckett's girlfriend to help him deal with his family, and from there, things slowly start to change between them. Beckett is a bit grumpy at first, but you can see his soft side slowly. Their banter is fun and natural. The cabin setting and Easter vibe made the story feel warm and comforting. The family dinner scenes were a bit tense but also interesting and I liked how Aria handled everything even when she was nervous. The romance builds slowly, and it feels genuine rather than rushed. It's not overly dramatic, which made it an easy and relaxing read. This is a light, cute, fake dating romance with some emotional moments and a happy, cozy feel. Perfect if you want something quick and comforting read.

Tropes:

Fake dating
Grumpy x Sunshine
Family pressure
Slow burn romance.

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

[Laci]

Borrowed Hearts is one of those fake dating romances that just works. This is an adorable small town, cozy, Easter romance.

Aria is coming off a broken engagement and clearly trying to hold it together, and I loved how relatable she felt. She’s a little guarded but still hopeful. Beckett is your classic grumpy, keeps to himself type, but you can tell pretty quickly there’s more going on under the surface.

Their dynamic was my favorite part. The banter at the beginning was fun, but I really loved how it slowly shifted into something softer and more genuine. Watching Beckett open up and Aria start to trust again was just really satisfying.

There’s also a lot of charm here. The small town setting, the family moments, and all the Easter vibes made it feel extra warm and comforting. It’s low angst and a little predictable, but honestly that’s part of what made it such an easy, feel good read.

If you want something sweet, low drama, and a solid fake dating story with cozy vibes, this one’s a good pick.

[Kristi]

In this cozy and cute Easter romance, strangers who just met agree to pretend to be a couple for the holdiay weekend. Aria comes to the Whispering Falls looking get away from her life on a relaxing retreat. Beckett, the retreats owner, is stressed out by his family's expections, and most immediately by his mother's efforts to set him up with a date. It all seems like a perfect plan—Aria gets an upgrade on her vacation cabin and Beckett gets a pretend girlfriend for the weekend—until the two begin catching real feelings for each other.

While the writing is fairly prosaic, this was a perfectly enjoyable light romance. The main characters were likeable and had both devleopment and depth. The romance was sweet, but not overly sentimental, nor forced spice. I do seem to have read a later edition that has been rewritten, as the synopsis describes Aria as a trauma nurse, and in the version I read she was an elemntary school teacher. (Also the name of the town seems to be different). All in all, kudos to the indpendent author, with thanks for this holdiay-themed read.

[Em]

📚✨ Borrowed Hearts by Kiva Heart
⭐️4/5 | 🌶️0/5

okay but you already KNOW I’m gonna eat up a fake dating trope every single time

this was such a cute, quick little read—perfect if you’re in the mood for something light, cozy, and low-stress. the retreat setting really carried the vibe for me.

for a novella, the pacing actually worked really well, nothing felt rushed, which is rare. The romance had space to breathe, and the family dynamics added just enough tension to keep things interesting without taking over the story.

overall, it’s one of those “curl up for a quick break and just vibe” kind of reads. nothing super groundbreaking, but still enjoyable and sweet.

if you’re looking for a clean, feel-good spring romance with strong personalities, a touch of family drama, and cozy vibes…this one’s worth picking up 💕

📖 reading mood: spring afternoon, iced coffee in hand, windows open, soft breeze coming through

[Karyn]

3.75⭐

Borrowed Hearts by Kiva Hart is a cute, cozy small-town romance that leans into all the good tropesof fake dating, a touch of “turning fiction into fact,” and that warm, comforting vibe you want from a novella.

It did take me a couple of chapters to really get invested, but once I was in, it became an easy and enjoyable read. The chemistry between the FMC and MMC was sweet, and I appreciated how naturally the story flowed from there.

That said, I actually wish it had been longer. It felt like something was missing, mainly more time to really see the relationship develop and watch them fall for each other in a deeper, more gradual way. The bones of a great romance are there, I just wanted more of it.

There were a couple of spelling and grammatical errors throughout, but nothing that pulled me out of the story or ruined the experience.

I really like the concept behind the Holiday Heart series, and this has definitely left me keen to read more.

[Susannah]

Borrowed Hearts by Kiva Hart is such a sweet, cozy Easter novella that hit all the right spring romance vibes for me. Aria and Beckett’s fake dating setup for a holiday weekend starts off simple enough—she’s trying to disappear after a broken engagement, and he just needs a stand-in girlfriend to survive family expectations—but of course things get messy in the best way.

I really enjoyed watching their “pretend” relationship slowly turn into something more genuine. The pacing felt realistic, and I liked how grounded both characters were, especially with their own emotional baggage and hesitations about love.

This is actually the second holiday novella I’ve read by Kiva Hart, and I’m really starting to love her writing style. She has a really nice way of telling stories that feel believable and heartfelt without being over the top.

Overall, a warm, easy read with just the right amount of sweetness and emotional depth—perfect for a quick holiday escape. 4⭐️

[Nicole Lamborn]

Borrowed Hearts

I actually enjoyed this book. It has a really great plot and story line that takes you on a journey with the characters. Loved the authors writing style. My only issue is, I believe this book is supposed to be read in a certain order in the series,because at certain points there are character references that didn't understand. It list the book as a part of a series but I thought it was a seasonal/theme series not one that needed to be read in a particular order. Another positive and very helpful for me as a reader, was a full map of the town/world was printed at the very beginning for reference and information. But overall I really enjoyed this book and I will probably seek out more in this series.

[Sam Blevins]

This series was formerly the Unlucky in Love series.
Aria and Beckett are absolutely adorable in this fairly quick read.  Almost a grumpy/sunshine relationship but definitely a slowburn.
Aria, a grade school teacher just wants to relax and she ends up at the cabins that Beckett owns and runs around the Easter celebrations. His family is coming to town and he needs to escape his mum setting him up on some blind date.I loved how Aria stands up to Beckett's family while playing his fake girlfriend for the duration of her stay. Slowly, you start to watch them fall for each other.
Highly recommend to anyone who loves kisses only stories, upholding Family holiday traditions and watching two people fall for each other. 

[Nathalie DeSousa]

Aria is escaping her failed engagement and runs into a small town, here she meets Beckett, the owner of the cabins she is staying at. Their attraction shows right away, but both have sworn off love; so when he knows his family is coming for Easter, they device a plan: she gets a better cabin and he gets the girlfriend (fake) his family will approve of.

Their relationship blooms when they start to fake being together, between close proximity, family interactions, they both start to lower their walls and allowing each other into their hearts. BUt what will happen when Easter is over and the family is gone.

A sweet close door romance !.

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

[Chia]

Easter is around the corner, and this was an amazing way to welcome it! Borrowed Hearts is a soft, emotional romance. I really liked how the romance between Aria and Beck developed, "faking" the attraction they feel towards the other was what they thought would be best to pass the time, but I couldn't disagree more. Why do they take the difficult path? Their hearts are blooming, they want the other badly, but they cannot take the risk?! Come on, guys! Anyways, it was a lovely read, with a heartwarming romance and fun moments. Kiva knows how to read warm and tender love stories ♥
Thanks, Booksprout!

[Jessica]

I really enjoyed this short story! I’ve been loving all of Kiva Hart’s stories in the Unlucky in Love series. This one was a sweet, feel-good romance where the two main characters start out as complete strangers—literally just meeting and then making a deal to pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend—only to slowly develop real feelings and become exactly what they were pretending to be. It definitely gave me all the feels, and I’m excited to see what Kiva Hart comes up with next!.

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

[Sheryl Christine Tranmer]

A charming read. easy to get on board with the main characters, both with a past leading them to where they are in ther lives and fate bringing them together.
enjoyed the journey of Aria and Beckett getting to know each other through their fake relationship.
Have to say a fan of the FMC and pleased the MC was nicer than his first impression.

so far reading books by this author, I feel I could happily keep reading more when the story ends!.

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

[Johanna]

'Sweet, clean, and full of heart, Unlucky in Love: A Fake Dating Romance With a Little Bit of Easter Magic is a lighthearted fake dating romance wrapped in cozy Easter magic and second-chance hope.'

The characters were very appealing and well developed. Plot was intriguing and well paced. World building was solidly drawn. All in all a very good addition to the series. Recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

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

[Shannon Binegar-Foster]

She is on a break before school starts again. She just needed somewhere peaceful after finding her fiancé with another woman. He owns the cabins she has chosen for her getaway. They don’t quite hit it off from the beginning, but after she agrees to be his fake girlfriend to get his mother off his back, things take an interesting turn. I enjoyed this book very much. It was nice to have a few characters from previous books make an appearance. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by booksprout.

[PAMpublish]

Story about a teacher coming off of a broken relationship who takes a spring break reprieve at neighboring Whispering Falsl Resort to heal. The owner is an uptight fella who needs a change after his father passes from their dual work as stock brokers. When intrusive extended family arrives who attempts to set him up, Aria negotiates a deal to become his 'fake girlfriend' in exchange for an upgraded cabin. Unexpectedly to them, fake becomes more as they find commonality. Good clean novella that makes for an entertaining read.

[Yvonne]

If you know me by now, I usually do not go for holiday themed books ...

However, this year I have been reaching for them, and I am not even mad. They have been proven to cleanse my palette in between all of the other genres that I read.

I loved this as much as I loved 'Hidden Hearts', because it was a cute storyline and I fell in love with the characters.

Beckett and Aria were such relatable characters, that their story was believable. And I just love how the characters, especially Aria, took her role in this fake dating relationship.

Excited to read the other stories in the series ...

[Soul]

One of those reads that lands squarely in the middle for me. It’s a short, quick novella with an Easter setting and a fake dating premise.

The story is easy to get through and does what it sets out to do, but it never really goes beyond that. I didn’t have any strong negative feelings toward it, but I also didn’t find myself especially invested or excited while reading.

I didn’t really connect with the male lead or his family, which made it harder for me to fully buy into the romance.

Overall, this was a perfectly fine, quick read nothing bad, nothing amazing, just something that passes the time.

[Fatima Salih]

While the book started off with a fake-dating premise, I loved how Aria seemingly fit into the role and went right into it making sure to be there for Beckett. I also loved how Aria was there for the children as if they were already her own family. It's not the usual complex fake dating but instead one that brings comfort to the reader.

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

[Sandy]

Nice story to have some retreat, enjoy nature. The heroine's initially harsh attitude when she met the hero was beneficial later on, as she didn't tolerate belittling or critical attitudes from his family.
The protagonists had a cold start, but it gradually warmed with a better understanding of each other, appreciation of work, simple things, a peaceful place, and beautiful surroundings.

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

[Alicia Viola]

A Sweet Romance Full of Heart

I really enjoyed Borrowed Hearts by Kiva Hart. The story was warm, heartfelt, and easy to get into from the very beginning. I loved watching the relationship develop between the characters, and the emotional moments made the story feel genuine and engaging.

This was a sweet, feel-good read and a great pick if you enjoy romances with strong emotions and a satisfying love story. 💕

[D'anah]

Had issues with it

Had problems with her language and people living together who are not married. As a Christian, this is unacceptable behaviour.
Apart from that, it had good points: how she spoke straight; how she engaged the children;and how she confronted the brothers' destructive and spiteful behaviour.
I will be deleting the book and not pursuing anything further from this author, given our different world views.

[Elizabeth]

Borrowed Hearts: A Fake Dating Romance With A Little Bit of Easter Magic (The Holiday Hearts Series) by Kiva Hart – This girl is willing to go to great lengths to have a cabin with a working bathtub lol! I think it works out in her favor! The blurbs say that she is a nurse, but she is actually a teacher (honestly, healthcare and education both burn you out so it still works)! Very sweet for Easter! Happy Reading!

[Rachelle Whynott]

Adorable fake dating novella, perfect for all the Easter vibes! I loved reading holiday books during each holiday and this gives a cute little holiday feel perfect for an Easter read. Fake dating that turns into more when all the pressure is finally off and you can be yourself is kind of relatable. The main characters were fun and this was enjoyable to read.

I received this book as an arc and am leaving my honest review