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Dear Santa
Dear Santa: A Fake Relationship Holiday Novella
Dear Santa,
Find me a fake boyfriend I can take home for the holidays...
There are certain things I never thought I’d do. Hiring an escort to pose as my boyfriend sits at the top of that list. But the idea of sitting alone at Mom’s table for the fifth year in a row after my fiancé cheated on me has me feeling desperate. It started as a drunken joke when I let my best friend convince me to fill out an application for a male escort. Now, I’m on my way to see my family with the man I paid for.
He’s nothing like the polished professional I expected—complete with tattoos, a sinful muscular physique, and a blunt attitude. I almost call the whole thing off. Yet there’s something he’s hiding under his gruff exterior, and while I’m supposed to be getting to know my fake boyfriend, I’d rather learn about who this mysterious man truly is.
What started as a simple business transaction isn’t so simple anymore. We can barely keep our hands off each other—even when no one’s watching. The lines we drew in our contract are blurring, and it doesn’t feel like we’re pretending. I can’t keep up with our lie for much longer.
But how can I trust my heart with someone who fakes love for a living?
Dear Santa,
Find me a fake boyfriend I can take home for the holidays...
There are certain things I never thought I’d do. Hiring an escort to pose as my boyfriend sits at the top of that list. But the idea of sitting alone at Mom’s table for the fifth year in a row after my fiancé cheated on me has me feeling desperate. It started as a drunken joke when I let my best friend convince me to fill out an application for a male escort. Now, I’m on my way to see my family with the man I paid for.
He’s nothing like the polished professional I expected—complete with tattoos, a sinful muscular physique, and a blunt attitude. I almost call the whole thing off. Yet there’s something he’s hiding under his gruff exterior, and while I’m supposed to be getting to know my fake boyfriend, I’d rather learn about who this mysterious man truly is.
What started as a simple business transaction isn’t so simple anymore. We can barely keep our hands off each other—even when no one’s watching. The lines we drew in our contract are blurring, and it doesn’t feel like we’re pretending. I can’t keep up with our lie for much longer.
But how can I trust my heart with someone who fakes love for a living?
116 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2020
354 people are currently reading
3880 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Granata
19 books2,980 followersKristen Granata is a bestselling romance author known for writing inspirational, emotional stories with realistic characters who struggle through the darkest parts of life and come out stronger on the other side.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2zblG7G
Instagram: https://bit.ly/34LUfge
TikTok: https://bit.ly/3xOqPMm
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3cuvtEg
Kristen openly shares her mental health struggles with depression and anxiety. Her message is a beacon of hope to anyone who is suffering: You are not alone. She delicately weaves this theme into her writing, and demonstrates the ability of love to heal after tragedy.
When she's not teaching or writing, Kristen is reading, tripping over something, indulging in her messy love affair with popcorn, and annoying her wife and step-daughters by incessantly singing along to The Greatest Showman soundtrack.
Kristen was born in Brooklyn, New York. She currently lives in New Jersey with her wife & her two step-daughters.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2zblG7G
Instagram: https://bit.ly/34LUfge
TikTok: https://bit.ly/3xOqPMm
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3cuvtEg
Kristen openly shares her mental health struggles with depression and anxiety. Her message is a beacon of hope to anyone who is suffering: You are not alone. She delicately weaves this theme into her writing, and demonstrates the ability of love to heal after tragedy.
When she's not teaching or writing, Kristen is reading, tripping over something, indulging in her messy love affair with popcorn, and annoying her wife and step-daughters by incessantly singing along to The Greatest Showman soundtrack.
Kristen was born in Brooklyn, New York. She currently lives in New Jersey with her wife & her two step-daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 403 reviews
December 31, 2020
"Don’t focus on the wreckage. It can all be rebuilt."
This will be the last book of 2020 for me, and it makes sense that it is. I feel really emotional after reading this, maybe because I understand depression. I've been there. I still am there. And it's amazing to see a romance novel tackle this issue so well and in such a heartfelt way.
This has been my first book by Kristen Granata, and I'm already following her on Instagram and Facebook. I promise I am not a stalker, but I will definitely read more of her books!
"I’ve been swept up into the whirlwind that is Jake Fallon."
I love Jake. It's not just that he's a musician, or hot, or tattooed (yep, this pushes all my buttons, sorry!) - I love everything about him and I love that we know how he thinks. I love how sweet he is, and how open he is, despite his vulnerability. And I deeply understand what he's going through.
"The way she looks up at me with those big brown eyes, it’s like she sees me."
I have to love Christina. I think some people may be thrown off because she's not very sure of herself, but that's understandable. Her ex cheated on her, and that's enough to shatter anyone's self-confidence. If you add to it all the issues with her mom... well, it's a lot. I love her regardless.
"'When you know, you know. Doesn’t matter if it’s the first day, or the tenth, or the hundredth.'"
Christina needs someone to take home for the holidays, just so she can get through them without having to deal with her mother's criticism. So she hires an escort - it's a clear case of "it seemed like a good idea at the time", you know? And while she's waiting for the escort to arrive, Jake is there, and he decides to pretend to be her escort and go with her to her parents.
"But sometimes in life, the best things don’t need to make sense. They just need to feel right."
What follows is a real love story. There's a connection that starts as physical but moves way beyond that. Jake's protectiveness of Christina is the sweetest thing. Her protectiveness of him and what he's been through, and the way she's there for him is heartwarming.
And the steamy moments... damn. Just... damn.
"Sometimes, all it takes is one person who believes in you, one person in your corner, to help you realize that all your broken pieces are worth a damn."
Simply put, Christina needed to be seen for who she is, and loved for it. She deserves it, and Jake is just that person. Jake needed a little sunshine in his life, the kind that shines through a rainy day... and he got his own personal rainbow.
Christmas time is so difficult for so many people out there, people who have found love and lost it, people who've been hurt and who are still hurting, people who are deeply sad but smile to hide their feelings... and I feel this book gives you hope. Maybe there are enough rainbows out there to go around!
This will be the last book of 2020 for me, and it makes sense that it is. I feel really emotional after reading this, maybe because I understand depression. I've been there. I still am there. And it's amazing to see a romance novel tackle this issue so well and in such a heartfelt way.
This has been my first book by Kristen Granata, and I'm already following her on Instagram and Facebook. I promise I am not a stalker, but I will definitely read more of her books!
"I’ve been swept up into the whirlwind that is Jake Fallon."
I love Jake. It's not just that he's a musician, or hot, or tattooed (yep, this pushes all my buttons, sorry!) - I love everything about him and I love that we know how he thinks. I love how sweet he is, and how open he is, despite his vulnerability. And I deeply understand what he's going through.
"The way she looks up at me with those big brown eyes, it’s like she sees me."
I have to love Christina. I think some people may be thrown off because she's not very sure of herself, but that's understandable. Her ex cheated on her, and that's enough to shatter anyone's self-confidence. If you add to it all the issues with her mom... well, it's a lot. I love her regardless.
"'When you know, you know. Doesn’t matter if it’s the first day, or the tenth, or the hundredth.'"
Christina needs someone to take home for the holidays, just so she can get through them without having to deal with her mother's criticism. So she hires an escort - it's a clear case of "it seemed like a good idea at the time", you know? And while she's waiting for the escort to arrive, Jake is there, and he decides to pretend to be her escort and go with her to her parents.
"But sometimes in life, the best things don’t need to make sense. They just need to feel right."
What follows is a real love story. There's a connection that starts as physical but moves way beyond that. Jake's protectiveness of Christina is the sweetest thing. Her protectiveness of him and what he's been through, and the way she's there for him is heartwarming.
And the steamy moments... damn. Just... damn.
"Sometimes, all it takes is one person who believes in you, one person in your corner, to help you realize that all your broken pieces are worth a damn."
Simply put, Christina needed to be seen for who she is, and loved for it. She deserves it, and Jake is just that person. Jake needed a little sunshine in his life, the kind that shines through a rainy day... and he got his own personal rainbow.
Christmas time is so difficult for so many people out there, people who have found love and lost it, people who've been hurt and who are still hurting, people who are deeply sad but smile to hide their feelings... and I feel this book gives you hope. Maybe there are enough rainbows out there to go around!
November 23, 2020
Holy Christmas hotness 🤩🎄❤️!!!
So, novellas are REALLY hard to write—it’s incredibly challenging to squeeze in the entire arc of a romance novel into a quarter of the page length. But Kristen did this so handily. I felt the butterflies, the building chemistry, heartache of their crisis moment, and the swoony heartfelt resolution.
If you want a Christmas romance that taps into mental health issues, complex family dynamics, and the tender sweetness of fake love becoming more, look no further, and pre-order today!
CW: depression, mentions of attempted suicide (not portrayed or remembered), mentions of cheating (not portrayed or remembered), toxic parental relationship.
So, novellas are REALLY hard to write—it’s incredibly challenging to squeeze in the entire arc of a romance novel into a quarter of the page length. But Kristen did this so handily. I felt the butterflies, the building chemistry, heartache of their crisis moment, and the swoony heartfelt resolution.
If you want a Christmas romance that taps into mental health issues, complex family dynamics, and the tender sweetness of fake love becoming more, look no further, and pre-order today!
CW: depression, mentions of attempted suicide (not portrayed or remembered), mentions of cheating (not portrayed or remembered), toxic parental relationship.
July 3, 2021
Holy HOTNESS! THIS is the Christmas novella I needed in my life!
A bookstagram friend recommended this book to me and I am so glad she did (thanks, girl! 😘)!! This is a new-to-me author and I will finish writing this review and then immediately begin stalking her back catalogue for my next read!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I usually avoid novellas, but this one was divine. It did not feel half-finished or like the two main characters were still strangers by the end. *slow clap*
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I loved Christina and Jake! Christina was the ultimate fun, relatable, and quirky lead. I adored her freak outs so much! The banter between these two leads was hilarious and hot.
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Jake was sweet and sexy and I just loved how the story of his struggle with depression was handled. It felt real and unhurried, despite this being a novella.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Both of these characters have personal relationships that need mending and we get great resolution that feels realistic and there is mention of therapy in the book which I am ALWAYS here for.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The steamy scenes in this book were Certified Panty Melters. Just...wow. Again, this novella took its time getting to the sex when the thing I often dislike about romance novellas is the bullet-train to sexytown. This almost felt like a slow burn (as much as a novella can be).
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So glad I took a chance on this book!
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: Depression, attempted suicide, emotionally cruel parent
A bookstagram friend recommended this book to me and I am so glad she did (thanks, girl! 😘)!! This is a new-to-me author and I will finish writing this review and then immediately begin stalking her back catalogue for my next read!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I usually avoid novellas, but this one was divine. It did not feel half-finished or like the two main characters were still strangers by the end. *slow clap*
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I loved Christina and Jake! Christina was the ultimate fun, relatable, and quirky lead. I adored her freak outs so much! The banter between these two leads was hilarious and hot.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jake was sweet and sexy and I just loved how the story of his struggle with depression was handled. It felt real and unhurried, despite this being a novella.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Both of these characters have personal relationships that need mending and we get great resolution that feels realistic and there is mention of therapy in the book which I am ALWAYS here for.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The steamy scenes in this book were Certified Panty Melters. Just...wow. Again, this novella took its time getting to the sex when the thing I often dislike about romance novellas is the bullet-train to sexytown. This almost felt like a slow burn (as much as a novella can be).
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So glad I took a chance on this book!
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: Depression, attempted suicide, emotionally cruel parent
September 27, 2021
3.5 ⭐
Jake a fallen rockstar is down in the dumps it's that time of year with happy family and couples and hes beening very broody and he has a right to since he had a very tough few years.. drinking he easedrops on a convo between a bartender and a gorgeous girl name Christina who is a ball of sunshine and bright colors that she's waiting for her blind date who is a escort to take to her family Christmas dinner.. and he feels protective of her because who does that. So he lies and pretends to be that man to keep her safe lol.
Their road trip was cute and funny he even teased her about her lipstick vibe.. but Christina did find out the truth when someone recognized him. Answered were given but he was still going to be by her side. And let me tell you I disliked the mom she was a bitch and I'm sad the siblings never stuck up for their sister at all.. like I get it it's your mom but geez atleast try to have some backbone.. glad Jake did stand up for his girl. Their is a miscommunication but it gets sorted out.
Low angst, no ow/om drama, no cheating, tiny drama, slight secondary character, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes/maybe
Cover-⭐⭐⭐
Heat level-🌶🌶.5
Slowinsta
Fake relationship
Mentions of past suicide (H tried to kill himself)
Verbal abuse (h mom is sorta rude and bitchy towards her)
Safe sex
Hea
Epilogue
Jake a fallen rockstar is down in the dumps it's that time of year with happy family and couples and hes beening very broody and he has a right to since he had a very tough few years.. drinking he easedrops on a convo between a bartender and a gorgeous girl name Christina who is a ball of sunshine and bright colors that she's waiting for her blind date who is a escort to take to her family Christmas dinner.. and he feels protective of her because who does that. So he lies and pretends to be that man to keep her safe lol.
Their road trip was cute and funny he even teased her about her lipstick vibe.. but Christina did find out the truth when someone recognized him. Answered were given but he was still going to be by her side. And let me tell you I disliked the mom she was a bitch and I'm sad the siblings never stuck up for their sister at all.. like I get it it's your mom but geez atleast try to have some backbone.. glad Jake did stand up for his girl. Their is a miscommunication but it gets sorted out.
Low angst, no ow/om drama, no cheating, tiny drama, slight secondary character, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes/maybe
Cover-⭐⭐⭐
Heat level-🌶🌶.5
Slowinsta
Fake relationship
Mentions of past suicide (H tried to kill himself)
Verbal abuse (h mom is sorta rude and bitchy towards her)
Safe sex
Hea
Epilogue
December 18, 2020
So stinking cute! This will not be the last book by this author I read!
December 10, 2021
4.5 stars
This was such a surprise read, I saw a TikTok by the author about this book and immediately ran to Amazon to download it and I am so happy I did. It is a novella, yet I finished it feeling like I knew the characters well, knew that they’d always be able to work though anything, and knew they’d be together, however that looked for them.
Jake and Christina meet in an unusual way; nervous and chattering wildly while looking like a rainbow, Jake overhears her say she’s meeting an escort she hired to go to her mother’s for a family Christmas and something in Jake worries that she’s too trusting so he pretends to be the escort because a family Christmas sounds good to him, something he hasn’t had in three years since he ruined everything.
I honestly loved everything about this book from the way they met, to her finding out quickly he lied to her, and then him convincing her to give him a chance to make it right and get her through the holiday. I was so impressed by how these two opened up so much to one another and thusly giving the readers great insight into their background and what makes them tick. You could feel the heat between them, but it was more than that, you could feel their bond growing, and their feelings engage.
The few days with her family were interesting and there were a couple of missteps, but they were good at communicating and working through their problems.
A Christmas romance that touches on familial issues as well as mental health issues yet is still charming, heartwarming, and sexy Dear Santa by Kristen Granata was completely enjoyable. I loved this one!
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
This was such a surprise read, I saw a TikTok by the author about this book and immediately ran to Amazon to download it and I am so happy I did. It is a novella, yet I finished it feeling like I knew the characters well, knew that they’d always be able to work though anything, and knew they’d be together, however that looked for them.
Jake and Christina meet in an unusual way; nervous and chattering wildly while looking like a rainbow, Jake overhears her say she’s meeting an escort she hired to go to her mother’s for a family Christmas and something in Jake worries that she’s too trusting so he pretends to be the escort because a family Christmas sounds good to him, something he hasn’t had in three years since he ruined everything.
I honestly loved everything about this book from the way they met, to her finding out quickly he lied to her, and then him convincing her to give him a chance to make it right and get her through the holiday. I was so impressed by how these two opened up so much to one another and thusly giving the readers great insight into their background and what makes them tick. You could feel the heat between them, but it was more than that, you could feel their bond growing, and their feelings engage.
The few days with her family were interesting and there were a couple of missteps, but they were good at communicating and working through their problems.
A Christmas romance that touches on familial issues as well as mental health issues yet is still charming, heartwarming, and sexy Dear Santa by Kristen Granata was completely enjoyable. I loved this one!
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
December 4, 2020
What a cute novella to put you in the holiday mood!
Christina always dreads the holidays because of family issues; so this year she drunkenly decides to get a male escort to come with her and pretend to be her boyfriend. When she shows up to the bar Jake is there drinking and hears her talk to the bartender about her plan. Jake doesn’t want this escort to take Christina because he is worried for her safety so he decides to pretend to be the escort and go with her to her Mom’s house for the holidays. What could go wrong?
I really enjoyed this read and even though it was a novella I loved the character growth and progression throughout. Would definitely recommend for a quick, cute holiday read!
Christina always dreads the holidays because of family issues; so this year she drunkenly decides to get a male escort to come with her and pretend to be her boyfriend. When she shows up to the bar Jake is there drinking and hears her talk to the bartender about her plan. Jake doesn’t want this escort to take Christina because he is worried for her safety so he decides to pretend to be the escort and go with her to her Mom’s house for the holidays. What could go wrong?
I really enjoyed this read and even though it was a novella I loved the character growth and progression throughout. Would definitely recommend for a quick, cute holiday read!
November 27, 2020
Have you ever wanted to throat punch someone? Christina's mother is a good candidate. She is pushy, abrasive, and puts down her daughter every chance she gets which leads Christina to hire an escort for Christmas. Someone to be there, so her mother doesn't comment on her being 30 and unmarried.
Jake overhears Christina's plan at a bar, he can't believe she is willing to bring a stranger home with her for the holidays. So he pretends to be the escort, because at least he knows he is safe. He is too damaged to be with anyone so she will be safe.
The car ride provides plenty of time for them to craft their story for her family, while also getting to know each other. Aside from the Mom, I really liked Christina's family, they were all pulling for her and Jake. I liked that the epilogue was further into the future and you got to see where they went.
This was a great holiday romance, that depicts not only Jake's troubled past, and Christina's issues with her family she stuck up for herself finally and got the resolution she needed with her mom.
This story had lots of steam, awkward moments, mental health issues discussed in a sensitive manner, and a love story that takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Full of hope, acceptance, love and second chances.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Jake overhears Christina's plan at a bar, he can't believe she is willing to bring a stranger home with her for the holidays. So he pretends to be the escort, because at least he knows he is safe. He is too damaged to be with anyone so she will be safe.
The car ride provides plenty of time for them to craft their story for her family, while also getting to know each other. Aside from the Mom, I really liked Christina's family, they were all pulling for her and Jake. I liked that the epilogue was further into the future and you got to see where they went.
This was a great holiday romance, that depicts not only Jake's troubled past, and Christina's issues with her family she stuck up for herself finally and got the resolution she needed with her mom.
This story had lots of steam, awkward moments, mental health issues discussed in a sensitive manner, and a love story that takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Full of hope, acceptance, love and second chances.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2020
This was an adorable novella! Normally novellas feel too short to truly make you care about the characters. This one though was so well done! I'm not a fan of insta love but Christine and Jake's story was beautiful. Christina has a troubled relationship with her family and just wants to feel accepted for one holiday. Jake suffers with mental illness and doesn't feel like he has ever truly been seen.
"We all have scars, whether you can see them or not.” She kisses my wrist again. “They remind us that life is short, and sometimes we make mistakes. But the important thing is that we’re still here—we’re still living to fight another day.”
I love that this author portrayed mental illness and how she added it into the story so seamlessly. I will absolutely read more books by this author.
"We all have scars, whether you can see them or not.” She kisses my wrist again. “They remind us that life is short, and sometimes we make mistakes. But the important thing is that we’re still here—we’re still living to fight another day.”
I love that this author portrayed mental illness and how she added it into the story so seamlessly. I will absolutely read more books by this author.
April 5, 2021
Love this novella, wished it was longer, I wanted what was told in the epilogue to be shown. Yes I’m greedy like that 😂.
If you need to immerse yourself with a love story filled with likeable main characters, all the feels and a side of steam for two hours, this one is for you.
December 3, 2021
4 Sterne, überraschend gut, trotz Rockstar-Aspekt
- Standard-Plot: Christina gabelt Jake auf, um als Fake Date ihren Weihnachtsbesuch daheim zu erleichtern. Und dann wird aus Fake natürlich mehr.
- Ich konnte Jakes Background als pausierender Rockstar gut hinnehmen, weil der Fokus bei ihm ein ganz anderer war (Mental Health).
- Christinas Konflikt mit ihrer Mutter frustriert beim Lesen, weil er sich so unfair und gleichzeitig echt anfühlt.
- An ein paar Stellen gibt’s blöde Misskommunikation zwischen Christina und Jake, weil sie nicht offen miteinander reden. Sie haben sich halt erst am gleichen Tag kennengelernt, da verstehe ich es, finds aber trotzdem leicht nervig.
- Insgesamt war der Plot für die Länge der Novelle perfekt. Genau die richtige Annäherung, genau das richtige Erzähltempo, genau das richtige Maß an heiß.
- Standard-Plot: Christina gabelt Jake auf, um als Fake Date ihren Weihnachtsbesuch daheim zu erleichtern. Und dann wird aus Fake natürlich mehr.
- Ich konnte Jakes Background als pausierender Rockstar gut hinnehmen, weil der Fokus bei ihm ein ganz anderer war (Mental Health).
- Christinas Konflikt mit ihrer Mutter frustriert beim Lesen, weil er sich so unfair und gleichzeitig echt anfühlt.
- An ein paar Stellen gibt’s blöde Misskommunikation zwischen Christina und Jake, weil sie nicht offen miteinander reden. Sie haben sich halt erst am gleichen Tag kennengelernt, da verstehe ich es, finds aber trotzdem leicht nervig.
- Insgesamt war der Plot für die Länge der Novelle perfekt. Genau die richtige Annäherung, genau das richtige Erzähltempo, genau das richtige Maß an heiß.
December 2, 2023
4.5 STARS | Oh my goodness, this was SO GOOD! A holiday novella that has fake dating trope and a strangers to lovers trope! I enjoyed this romance! The story follows Jake Fallon, a rock star suffering from depression, is drinking down his sorrows at a bar in New York, when in stumbles Christina. Christina is waiting for a stranger she met on internet to go to her family’s for the holidays in Connecticut. Feeling a little unsure for the safety of it all, Jake comes up to Christina saying he’s the guy. They are then in for the holidays of secrets, plot twists, and wondering if it was a Godsend that brought them together in this spicy holiday romance! A must read for the season!
November 26, 2025
UPDATE, 11 months later: Still love it so much! One of my favorite Christmas novellas!
This is the Holiday Romance you don’t know you need ASAP!
I read this in less than one night... LESS THAN ONE NIGHT! Started around midnight and finished at 4AM... and I’d do it again.
I. Am. Obsessed.
This novella was so fun! A delightful read with so many laugh out loud moments but so profound and heart touching at the same time!
Jake and Christina re an explosive couple and I loved everything about them. I could feel their connection from the moment they met to the last page. Their banter and dynamic were crazy hilarious (I can’t decide who made me laugh the most) and the chemistry was🔥
I enjoyed Jake’s playful demeanor, although it was somehow a mask to cover up the mess inside. I love how protective he was over Christina. It was as if he knew she was the only one able to see the real him he wanted everyone to know and love. Christina was witty, funny and so understanding. I love how she was able to move past the first difficulty and help Jake in ways she didn’t even know. She was a wonderful soul and it made me happy to see her discovering how worthy she was of being loved and cherished for being who she was.
This Holiday Romance had everything: The swoon, steam, the laughs. The highlights and struggles of family love and one essential thing about life overall: No one deserves to be alone!
—Depression during the holidays is a real thing. Be empathetic, be kind and be ready to listen and support! Shut up and show up. That’s all it takes.
I’ve been following Kristen for a long time because I love her content but this is the first book I read from her (shame on me). I definitely will be reading everything she has to offer!
This is the Holiday Romance you don’t know you need ASAP!
I read this in less than one night... LESS THAN ONE NIGHT! Started around midnight and finished at 4AM... and I’d do it again.
I. Am. Obsessed.
This novella was so fun! A delightful read with so many laugh out loud moments but so profound and heart touching at the same time!
Jake and Christina re an explosive couple and I loved everything about them. I could feel their connection from the moment they met to the last page. Their banter and dynamic were crazy hilarious (I can’t decide who made me laugh the most) and the chemistry was🔥
I enjoyed Jake’s playful demeanor, although it was somehow a mask to cover up the mess inside. I love how protective he was over Christina. It was as if he knew she was the only one able to see the real him he wanted everyone to know and love. Christina was witty, funny and so understanding. I love how she was able to move past the first difficulty and help Jake in ways she didn’t even know. She was a wonderful soul and it made me happy to see her discovering how worthy she was of being loved and cherished for being who she was.
This Holiday Romance had everything: The swoon, steam, the laughs. The highlights and struggles of family love and one essential thing about life overall: No one deserves to be alone!
—Depression during the holidays is a real thing. Be empathetic, be kind and be ready to listen and support! Shut up and show up. That’s all it takes.
I’ve been following Kristen for a long time because I love her content but this is the first book I read from her (shame on me). I definitely will be reading everything she has to offer!
December 16, 2020
Christina is dreading going home for Christmas, showing up single yet again, disappointing her mother like always. So she drunkenly decides to hire a male escort to come home with her for the holidays.
Jake used to be a famous rockstar but fell out of the limelight due to demons from his past and now he’s spending yet another holiday alone. While drinking his sorrows away in a bar, he overhears a woman telling the bartender she hired an escort for the holidays.
Without thinking, Jake pretends to be the escort she’s blindly meeting because even though it may be a crazy idea, Jake wants to get to know this woman and doesn’t want to be alone. And when Christina learns of Jake’s deceit, she doesn’t kick him out the door like he thought she would. Instead, they still decide to go through with the ruse.
Even though their relationship started out as a hoax to trick Christina’s family, somehow by the time Christmas comes, Jake and Christina aren’t pretending anymore. Not even a little bit.
Dear Santa by Kristen Granata is a fake-relationship Christmas novella. This is my first read by this author and after reading Dear Santa, it certainly won’t be my last! This novella is a little over 100 pages, but Kristen was able to fit in a full romance in such a short amount of time. Sometimes novellas feel rushed or incomplete; that wasn’t the case here. I fell in love with both Christina and Jake as their romance was blossoming. And I appreciated that their HEA didn’t follow the traditional script a lot of romance authors follow. Definitely give this one a read before the holidays are over! 4/5 stars.
Jake used to be a famous rockstar but fell out of the limelight due to demons from his past and now he’s spending yet another holiday alone. While drinking his sorrows away in a bar, he overhears a woman telling the bartender she hired an escort for the holidays.
Without thinking, Jake pretends to be the escort she’s blindly meeting because even though it may be a crazy idea, Jake wants to get to know this woman and doesn’t want to be alone. And when Christina learns of Jake’s deceit, she doesn’t kick him out the door like he thought she would. Instead, they still decide to go through with the ruse.
Even though their relationship started out as a hoax to trick Christina’s family, somehow by the time Christmas comes, Jake and Christina aren’t pretending anymore. Not even a little bit.
Dear Santa by Kristen Granata is a fake-relationship Christmas novella. This is my first read by this author and after reading Dear Santa, it certainly won’t be my last! This novella is a little over 100 pages, but Kristen was able to fit in a full romance in such a short amount of time. Sometimes novellas feel rushed or incomplete; that wasn’t the case here. I fell in love with both Christina and Jake as their romance was blossoming. And I appreciated that their HEA didn’t follow the traditional script a lot of romance authors follow. Definitely give this one a read before the holidays are over! 4/5 stars.
January 16, 2021
Dear Santa by Kristen Granata (2021/01/10)
Rating 4/5 Stars
Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are my own
This story follows Christina who needs a fake boyfriend to take home with her so that the mother sees that she is not alone for Christmas. She then decides to hire an escort for the job. Jake used to be a famous Rockstar, but he didn't adjust to the Rockstar lifestyle well.
When he overhears a woman telling the bartender that she hired an escort to be her fake boyfriend for the holidays, he doesn’t think that her idea is a good one. He then pretends to be the escort she's supposed to be meeting so that they both don't have to be alone for the holidays.
However, Christina quickly realizes that Jake isn't who he says he is, but they still end up going along with the plan. As Jake and Christina spend more time with her family, they realize that they have much more in common than they originally thought and when the plan is all over, they aren't ready to say goodbye to each other.
I thoroughly enjoyed the fake dating holiday romance. This is my third novel that I have read from this author and so far, it is my favourite. I loved the chemistry between Jake and Christina. Even though this is a novella the pacing wasn't rushed, and I feel like we really go to see the characters fall for each other. I also loved the ending. I thought it was a perfect way to end these characters' love story.
Overall, if you are in a mood for a fake dating holiday novella then I highly recommend reading this one.
TW: Depression, Mentions Being Cheated On, Attempted Suicide.
Rating 4/5 Stars
Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are my own
This story follows Christina who needs a fake boyfriend to take home with her so that the mother sees that she is not alone for Christmas. She then decides to hire an escort for the job. Jake used to be a famous Rockstar, but he didn't adjust to the Rockstar lifestyle well.
When he overhears a woman telling the bartender that she hired an escort to be her fake boyfriend for the holidays, he doesn’t think that her idea is a good one. He then pretends to be the escort she's supposed to be meeting so that they both don't have to be alone for the holidays.
However, Christina quickly realizes that Jake isn't who he says he is, but they still end up going along with the plan. As Jake and Christina spend more time with her family, they realize that they have much more in common than they originally thought and when the plan is all over, they aren't ready to say goodbye to each other.
I thoroughly enjoyed the fake dating holiday romance. This is my third novel that I have read from this author and so far, it is my favourite. I loved the chemistry between Jake and Christina. Even though this is a novella the pacing wasn't rushed, and I feel like we really go to see the characters fall for each other. I also loved the ending. I thought it was a perfect way to end these characters' love story.
Overall, if you are in a mood for a fake dating holiday novella then I highly recommend reading this one.
TW: Depression, Mentions Being Cheated On, Attempted Suicide.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2020
And here we go with another fake boyfriend theme --
Hand in hand with the fake boyfriend she hired in tow, Christina is on her way home for the holidays. Hopefully her mom won't be scowling and grumpy again this year -- or spouting displeasure with her life choices. It doesn’t take long before the lines are blurred between truth and lies, and Jake and Christina can’t even fool themselves. Not the usual Hallmark-type holiday romance – this one has steam!
A cute holiday novella that restores happiness to Christmas and kisses the bah-humbug blues good-bye. I quickly became engaged in the characters and plot. It moves at a fast clip, and I binged on the entirety of this story in one sitting.
December 9, 2020
I love a good holiday romance! This book was that, and SO much more.
The premise of the book itself was both humorous and sad - Christina can't deal with the family nagging her about being in a relationship so she hires and escort to accompany her to the family cabin. She is an amazing character - funny and quirky and I adored her.
Jake has his own family issues and stumbles into her charade and goes along for the ride. And what a ride it is. I adored him as well!
Kristen Granata does a good job of writing tough topics. This was so well done in this book.
Definitely recommend to everyone as an amazing holiday read!
The premise of the book itself was both humorous and sad - Christina can't deal with the family nagging her about being in a relationship so she hires and escort to accompany her to the family cabin. She is an amazing character - funny and quirky and I adored her.
Jake has his own family issues and stumbles into her charade and goes along for the ride. And what a ride it is. I adored him as well!
Kristen Granata does a good job of writing tough topics. This was so well done in this book.
Definitely recommend to everyone as an amazing holiday read!
December 20, 2020
Kristen's writing left me wanting the story to go on ...
Christina is so relatable we all do foolish things to some extent to appease our parents .
In this story you see it pay off in a big way for christina when she ends up meeting jack who she thinks is an escort.
Jack is really trying to hide who he is because it ties in to his depression and I love how his story is handled in this book I have been doing myself a disservice by sleeping on her writing 2021 I will catch up on her backlist
Because this book had romance understanding trials and tribulation humor everything ....
Christina is so relatable we all do foolish things to some extent to appease our parents .
In this story you see it pay off in a big way for christina when she ends up meeting jack who she thinks is an escort.
Jack is really trying to hide who he is because it ties in to his depression and I love how his story is handled in this book I have been doing myself a disservice by sleeping on her writing 2021 I will catch up on her backlist
Because this book had romance understanding trials and tribulation humor everything ....
December 18, 2020
I straight-up loved this! The chemistry was real, the relationship was realistic even though it was what most would consider insta-love. Doesn't matter, this story was told with class and it has definitely gone on my favorites list!! Highly recommend!
TW:Depression, attempted suicide (explained, not on page), abandonment.
TW:Depression, attempted suicide (explained, not on page), abandonment.
August 22, 2023
Kristen! I need a bonus epilogue or something. I need more of these two! They’re so stinking cute and fun and I love them!
December 31, 2020
3.5 Stars
This was a sweet read.
Trigger warning for attempting suicide.
This was a sweet read.
Trigger warning for attempting suicide.
December 6, 2020
I flew through this holiday novella by @kristen_granata and I’m so impressed by how much she was able to pack into a short book! I’m so floored that I’m planning on immediately devouring her backlist because this romance had it ALL.
Christina hires an escort to accompany her when she heads back home to see her family for the holidays and basically that’s all I needed to hear before I was sold on this one. But there’s so so much more to this than just a fun, fake relationship trope. This was funny, super sexy and also had a ton of heart. A lot of times when I read a novella I’m bummed because there’s just not enough time to really develop the characters/story but this one was different. I really felt like I knew both of them and nothing ever felt rushed. Definitely adored this one
Christina hires an escort to accompany her when she heads back home to see her family for the holidays and basically that’s all I needed to hear before I was sold on this one. But there’s so so much more to this than just a fun, fake relationship trope. This was funny, super sexy and also had a ton of heart. A lot of times when I read a novella I’m bummed because there’s just not enough time to really develop the characters/story but this one was different. I really felt like I knew both of them and nothing ever felt rushed. Definitely adored this one
October 17, 2025
I’m not usually one to read books like this but when my coworker said “it’s a hallmark movie but with sex” yep I was sold and glad I decided to borrow it from her
November 23, 2020
Do you want a short, sexy, sweet and emotional read to keep you company during the holiday season?
Look no further than Dear Santa by Kristen Granata. I'd there's one book you pick up before 2020 ends let it please be this one. It's the short you didn't even know you needed in your life until now.
A story full of so much hope, new beginnings and oh so much sweet, emotional, sexy, laughable moments. Dear Santa makes for the most exciting novella I have experienced this year!
I adore Kristen Granata with my whole heart and if it's the last thing I ever do, I wish everyone I know and trust picks up one of her books. She's talented beyond measures and her storytelling deserves to shine.
Dear Santa follows Christina and Jake. When Christina arrives at a bar waiting for her escort, who will supposedly help her tackle being her fake boyfriend during this holiday season with her family, Jake can't help but swoop in.
He doesn't like that this sweet, innocent woman is so welcome to meeting a stranger and so he pretends to be said escort knowing he won't at least be, a murderer. How kind, lol. It's sweet, and Jake wraps around your finger from the start as does Christina.
Both these characters feel like you've known them forever and as they tackle faking a relationship, they unravel their trueselves building something together that is less than fake.
It's a brilliantly told story full do second chances and love and hope. So much hope and I cannot praise the writing enough because every page will keep you hooked until the next.
I wish we get to meet Christina and Jake but I'm completely satisfied with their story.
They're characters that will stay with you and will help you feel comforted if you're finding things difficult during this holiday season.
Granata has provided us a small story full of love, laughs, emotion and hope that we all needed to end 2020 on a high note instead of a sullen one.
I can't thank her enough for lighting up the spark that was slowly dimming in all of us.
Words have power and Kristen Granata has used hers once again to the greatest of her strength, just for us. Thank you.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Look no further than Dear Santa by Kristen Granata. I'd there's one book you pick up before 2020 ends let it please be this one. It's the short you didn't even know you needed in your life until now.
A story full of so much hope, new beginnings and oh so much sweet, emotional, sexy, laughable moments. Dear Santa makes for the most exciting novella I have experienced this year!
I adore Kristen Granata with my whole heart and if it's the last thing I ever do, I wish everyone I know and trust picks up one of her books. She's talented beyond measures and her storytelling deserves to shine.
Dear Santa follows Christina and Jake. When Christina arrives at a bar waiting for her escort, who will supposedly help her tackle being her fake boyfriend during this holiday season with her family, Jake can't help but swoop in.
He doesn't like that this sweet, innocent woman is so welcome to meeting a stranger and so he pretends to be said escort knowing he won't at least be, a murderer. How kind, lol. It's sweet, and Jake wraps around your finger from the start as does Christina.
Both these characters feel like you've known them forever and as they tackle faking a relationship, they unravel their trueselves building something together that is less than fake.
It's a brilliantly told story full do second chances and love and hope. So much hope and I cannot praise the writing enough because every page will keep you hooked until the next.
I wish we get to meet Christina and Jake but I'm completely satisfied with their story.
They're characters that will stay with you and will help you feel comforted if you're finding things difficult during this holiday season.
Granata has provided us a small story full of love, laughs, emotion and hope that we all needed to end 2020 on a high note instead of a sullen one.
I can't thank her enough for lighting up the spark that was slowly dimming in all of us.
Words have power and Kristen Granata has used hers once again to the greatest of her strength, just for us. Thank you.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2020
To avoid her mother’s ridicule about her being single for another Christmas, Christina hired a male escort this year. The story opens with her in a bar talking to the bartender while she waits for Dominick, the male escort she hired, to show up. The whole time Christina is talking to the bartender about her plans, another customer is nearby at the bar and overhears her plans. Fearing she is being a little naive in heading off with a male escort she paid & chatted with online but hasn’t met/seen in person, Jake decides to step in to act as “Dominick”. Him pretending to be the male escort only lasts for a few hours until she figures out who he actually is, a former rockstar. But they decide to go with it and he still is going to act as her fake boyfriend at her family’s Christmas. So this is a fake relationship trope with a little bit of sharing one bed happening too.
I normally don’t like rockstar romances, but this one worked for me since it isn’t taking place when he’s still a rockstar. Jake has left behind his rockstar days and is now just trying to figure out what makes him happy/ his place in life when he first meets Christina. Christina is someone who hasn’t felt good enough — in relationships and with her mother. So while this is a Christmasy read, it’s definitely more emotion-filled and harder-hitting than a romcom style would be. Which I love my emotionally packed stories so I appreciated this one!
Likeable moments: Jake’s little chat about The Land Before Time with Christina’s nephew, all the family Christmas time, both characters working on themselves. I really loved how much the hero stuck up for the heroine around her family, her mom especially is very hard on her. But what I really appreciated was after Christina thanks Jake for sticking up for her, he tells her that maybe it’s time she start sticking up for herself.
CW: depression & mention of attempted suicide in the past
I normally don’t like rockstar romances, but this one worked for me since it isn’t taking place when he’s still a rockstar. Jake has left behind his rockstar days and is now just trying to figure out what makes him happy/ his place in life when he first meets Christina. Christina is someone who hasn’t felt good enough — in relationships and with her mother. So while this is a Christmasy read, it’s definitely more emotion-filled and harder-hitting than a romcom style would be. Which I love my emotionally packed stories so I appreciated this one!
Likeable moments: Jake’s little chat about The Land Before Time with Christina’s nephew, all the family Christmas time, both characters working on themselves. I really loved how much the hero stuck up for the heroine around her family, her mom especially is very hard on her. But what I really appreciated was after Christina thanks Jake for sticking up for her, he tells her that maybe it’s time she start sticking up for herself.
CW: depression & mention of attempted suicide in the past
November 28, 2020
I've been on a bit of a kick lately with Kristen Granata's books, and I was thrilled to hear about Dear Santa. This was the first Christmas read for me this year, and it was everything I could have wanted in a romantic Christmas novella. This was a single sitting read for me, and I had trouble putting it down for even a few minutes to take a break.
Dear Santa follows Christina and Jake. Christina is tired of the questions that come from showing up for the family Christmas alone, and ultimately decides to hire an escort to pretend to be her boyfriend for the holiday weekend. In steps Jake, who is most definitely not an escort, but decides to step in and pretend to be the escort she hired in an effort to keep her safe. It's only a bonus that it gives him a break from thinking about the complications in his own life. The book starts with the night that they meet in the bar, and it only gets better from there. No spoilers... you'll have to read for yourself to find out what happens!
I also have to say, novellas tend to be hit or miss for me, especially standalone novellas. When it's a standalone romance novella, I think it's even more challenging to establish connections to the characters and give a complete arc for the story. I think, in this regard, Kristen excelled. I loved the characters from the start and came along with them on their journeys. The story was light, and there was plenty of humor to offset the more serious topics and steamy scenes that play into the story.
Warning: This book discusses some sensitive topics that may be triggering for some readers including suicide and toxic familial relationships.
Many thanks to Kristen for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Dear Santa follows Christina and Jake. Christina is tired of the questions that come from showing up for the family Christmas alone, and ultimately decides to hire an escort to pretend to be her boyfriend for the holiday weekend. In steps Jake, who is most definitely not an escort, but decides to step in and pretend to be the escort she hired in an effort to keep her safe. It's only a bonus that it gives him a break from thinking about the complications in his own life. The book starts with the night that they meet in the bar, and it only gets better from there. No spoilers... you'll have to read for yourself to find out what happens!
I also have to say, novellas tend to be hit or miss for me, especially standalone novellas. When it's a standalone romance novella, I think it's even more challenging to establish connections to the characters and give a complete arc for the story. I think, in this regard, Kristen excelled. I loved the characters from the start and came along with them on their journeys. The story was light, and there was plenty of humor to offset the more serious topics and steamy scenes that play into the story.
Warning: This book discusses some sensitive topics that may be triggering for some readers including suicide and toxic familial relationships.
Many thanks to Kristen for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 25, 2020
If I could whack myself upside the head right now, I would! This deliciously sexy and sweet Holiday Romance was my first book by Kristen Granata and I’m kicking myself trying to understand HOW that is humanely possible considering how much I read.
I can’t begin to tell you how much I loved Dear Santa. I read it in a little over an hour and could not put it down. It’s a heartfelt, rockstar, fake boyfriend romance read with ALL the sexy feels.
Jake is such a sweet, loving, caring soul. He carry’s the weight off the world on his strong shoulders and pays a heavy price for it. You’ll want to reach into your Kindle and squeeze him hard. Christina is a ray of sunshine on a dark and cloudy day. She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside and you are going to adore her sassiness.
When Jake discovers that Christina a perfect (and beautiful) stranger is waiting for a paid escort she hired to pose as her boyfriend for the holidays to show up, he steps in and takes his place because the thought of her trusting soul in danger frightens him. His desire to protect her turns into a desire for so.much.more. For her part, Christina discovers rather quickly that her escort is a sexy rockstar and is okay with it after discovering the man behind the fame.
Watching Jake and Christina blur the line between real and fake and rewrite their story from a lie to a beautiful happily ever after, makes this a Five Star Holiday read!
Dear Santa gets the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval. TBR and Enjoy!
I can’t begin to tell you how much I loved Dear Santa. I read it in a little over an hour and could not put it down. It’s a heartfelt, rockstar, fake boyfriend romance read with ALL the sexy feels.
Jake is such a sweet, loving, caring soul. He carry’s the weight off the world on his strong shoulders and pays a heavy price for it. You’ll want to reach into your Kindle and squeeze him hard. Christina is a ray of sunshine on a dark and cloudy day. She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside and you are going to adore her sassiness.
When Jake discovers that Christina a perfect (and beautiful) stranger is waiting for a paid escort she hired to pose as her boyfriend for the holidays to show up, he steps in and takes his place because the thought of her trusting soul in danger frightens him. His desire to protect her turns into a desire for so.much.more. For her part, Christina discovers rather quickly that her escort is a sexy rockstar and is okay with it after discovering the man behind the fame.
Watching Jake and Christina blur the line between real and fake and rewrite their story from a lie to a beautiful happily ever after, makes this a Five Star Holiday read!
Dear Santa gets the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval. TBR and Enjoy!
December 21, 2020
4.5
I absolutely loved this fake-relationship holiday novella! Even though this book was fast paced, it dove into the characters enough that you were able to get to know them pretty well. There were quite a few funny moments throughout this book, and Christina and Jake had some really great chemistry, and the way they met was perfect. They start out as friends, and their friendship quickly grows into something more quickly. They’re raw and real. They have real problems, and they are nothing but supportive of each other. Some of the subject matter is a bit deeper but executed excellently. You definitely feel the emotions the characters are feeling, and you heart hurts for what they’ve gone through. Christina is heading home for Christmas, but she is dreading it because of her mother. She decides to hire an escort to be her stand-in boyfriend to attend Christmas with her family. When she shows up to the bar, the man who she thinks is who she’s paid for, exceeds her expectations. Jake is not going home for the holidays, because his relationship with his parents is complicated. When overhears this yellow beanie wearing beauty hired an escort to be her fake boyfriend, he swoops in before they can show up.
I absolutely loved this fake-relationship holiday novella! Even though this book was fast paced, it dove into the characters enough that you were able to get to know them pretty well. There were quite a few funny moments throughout this book, and Christina and Jake had some really great chemistry, and the way they met was perfect. They start out as friends, and their friendship quickly grows into something more quickly. They’re raw and real. They have real problems, and they are nothing but supportive of each other. Some of the subject matter is a bit deeper but executed excellently. You definitely feel the emotions the characters are feeling, and you heart hurts for what they’ve gone through. Christina is heading home for Christmas, but she is dreading it because of her mother. She decides to hire an escort to be her stand-in boyfriend to attend Christmas with her family. When she shows up to the bar, the man who she thinks is who she’s paid for, exceeds her expectations. Jake is not going home for the holidays, because his relationship with his parents is complicated. When overhears this yellow beanie wearing beauty hired an escort to be her fake boyfriend, he swoops in before they can show up.
December 19, 2020
It’s no surprise that I loved this. Kristen’s writing is so good and detailed without being overkill and sweet & sappy without going completely over the top. Her characters are flawed & she touches on real issues in her stories. I love how she writes conflicts (I know, weird thing to say) but they’re always so believable & she doesn’t just throw an unnecessary wrench in the story. There’s steady buildup and timely resolutions.
Okay, now for the story- HOW FREAKING SWEET ARE CHRISTINA AND JAKE? They have the sweetest connection. The friendship they build with each other is so swoon-worthy. I love how they make each other feel important and loved.
For a novella, the pacing was great! I really enjoyed this story. ☺️
Okay, now for the story- HOW FREAKING SWEET ARE CHRISTINA AND JAKE? They have the sweetest connection. The friendship they build with each other is so swoon-worthy. I love how they make each other feel important and loved.
For a novella, the pacing was great! I really enjoyed this story. ☺️
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