Winter Shannon came home for one reason, to celebrate her parent’s 35th wedding anniversary. With a fresh break-up on her heart, she had no desire to start anything new. After spending a few days moping around the house, her meddling sister sets Winter up on a blind date. She was fully prepared to have a few drinks and leave until her high school best friend, Gabriel, entered the bar.
Gabriel Snow wanted one thing for Christmas, to reconnect with his best friend, Winter. After losing contact with her, he longed to have her in his life again. With the help of Winter’s sister, Gabriel plans a date, hoping to win over Winter’s heart for good.
I was basking in this story. It’s quiet, it’s warm, reading it felt like a hug. It was comforting.
It’s a friends-to-lovers, Christmas story. Two friends who’ve always had something and now that they’re no longer in individual relationships, they try to make things work (after losing touch) even though our heroine is slightly reluctant to do so.
A friends to lovers done right...a Christmas best friend to lover done right. This book was drenched in family, Christmas and soo much love. Gabe's pursue of Winter was intentional. He was patient with her. He catered to her and loved her beautifully. He left no room for doubts of his feelings for her. Looveddd this holiday read.
My One Christmas Wish was a great holiday read. I loved everything about this book. Winter and Gabe were absolutely perfect for one another. I'm a sucker for a friends to lovers trope and these characters did not disappoint. It was cute and amusing watching Winter and Gabe fall in love. What I love about D. Rose is, there's never a lot of drama in her storylines. She gets us right to the HEA without all the extra and unnecessary. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get a spin-off for August and Giovanni. I need to know if August is going to fall for Samantha's shenanigans and if Gio is finally going to commit to Ashley or let her marry her so called fiancé?!!! These are burning questions we all need answers to. My One Christmas Wish was a really sweet romance. I would definitely recommend it.
Winter and Gabriel have been best friends since high school, but after hooking up one night it all changed. After both ended bad relationships, their home for the holidays and Gabriel wants to show Winter she is all he wants for Christmas. Spending time with each other and expressing how she really feels, Winter decides to give Gabriel a try. I love a friends to lovers book and this one was good. I loved the family dynamics that was showed in this books and just how the families loved each other. I was glad when Winter finally gave Gabriel a chance. I loved this story!! I would love to see a book for August and Giovanni.
I thought their names were adorable. In fact, I enjoyed the couple's relationship; the characters and the storyline were extra dope: a lovely Christmas story and a sweet treat.
Nice friends to lovers Christmas read. Gabriel and Winter, definetely took the long scenic route to get together, but glad they did. I understood Winter's hesitency about not ruining her friendship, but when you have a man like Gabriel, there are no worries to be had. Gabriel, was just perfection! They way he catered to Winter, and was patient and purposeful in his approach to gaining her heart, was so sweet. Hope that we hear more from these families, as I would love to know more about August and Giovanni. Good job! 👍👍👍
Really cute!! A couple notes: a lot of the time spent without the love interest reallyyyyyy dragged. There was a lot of unimportant information included that distracted from the plot in my opinion. Also, we need to stop referring to eyes as orbs😭3.5 stars
4 stars. I was in the mood for some Christmas reading and picked this one up. I think the story would be perfect if it was edited a bit more. I got a tiny bit annoyed by some word choices and found some text errors here and there, but overall the story was cute and enjoyable.
I don't know what it is, but something about this story was missing for me. I'm a D. Rose fan, and her stories always have that special romantic, sexy smooth vibe running through the undercurrents of the plots. Like, the chemistry is powerful and makes you blush while reading because the two main characters are so hot for each other. At the same time the romance is sweet and sexy, like poetry and you just feel a tingle when the characters are around each other. I don't know...maybe I just need to come back and read it again and see if I view it differently. It was wonderfully written, and I even recognized a few names from her other books I love that she dropped here. I just felt like as a reader, the emotion I was supposed to feel--usually feel reading a D. Rose book--was right there at the edge, but not quite pulling me in. I mean, I love holiday romances--I could read them all throughout the year--and the friends-to-lovers trope is one of my favorites! Gabe and Winter are both sweet characters. At one point though, it almost felt like Gabe was doing all the work in trying to figure things out, while Winter was just...meh. I don't know why I'm not feeling the way I want to feel after reading a D. Rose book that is quite well-written. 😔
Christmas joy + Black joy + Black families + Black families at Christmas displaying joy + Black love + friends to lovers + CHRISTMAS SMUT = read it!!!!
This friends-to-lovers story is everything and more that I needed (and you need) for the holiday season!
Gabriel and Winter’s story was so beautiful 💕. Gabriel was not playing games. And Winter was low-key on my nerves because, girl, I get you scared, BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING? And by we, I mean you! If you don’t let this man break your back and love you and celebrate the holidays and stop playing games, please?
Also, I need stories for all of the Snow boys because I’M INTRIGUED!
…
Gabriel and Winter are heading home for the holidays in similar situations. Both of them are ready to get in the Christmas spirit with their respective families, both of them are still shaking off the remnants of recent breakups, AND both of them are desperate to see one another, hoping that their friendship isn’t too rattled by crossing the lines from friends to lovers months ago.
On one hand, Gabriel knows what he wants. He’s been in love with Winter for as long as he can remember, and he has every intention of letting her know it.
Winter, on the other hand, is terrified. She’s just off the heels of a disastrous end to a seven-year relationship and has no intention of starting anything new.
Until fate intervenes with a blind date, or more like her sister April intervenes, and not only is she forced to confront Gabriel but she is also forced to reconcile how much she feels about him.
Will Gabriel get his Christmas wish? Or will Winter be too afraid to put herself on the line for love, even in the season of joy, hope, and love?
The best love stories start with a strong friendship foundation and that's exactly what Gabriel and Winter had. Their bond was already established and got stronger over the years. It allowed them to find comfort in each other when their past relationships went up into flames. I was glad once they realized how much they loved each other beyond just friends.
This was a great read, captivating, intriguing, and well written. I liked Ms. D Rose writing style because she is one of those authors that can make a sex scene romantic, not all authors can do that. I recommend this book and it will give you all the feels for the holiday season.
P.S. I would love to read a book on August and Giovanni. I think both of the brothers would have interesting stories to tell especially considering their past love encounters.
3/5⭐️3.5/5🌶️ This was a friends to lover Christmas book so I was excited! However it was a miss for me! The story felt so extremely long and nothing even happened! Writing friends to lover can be tricky because it can sometimes feel a little repetitive and thats what happened for me in this book. The plot had me scratching my head because I was not intrigued and I really hate that for me. I did enjoy the mmc Gabriel willing to meet Winter the fmc where she was at. There were definitely some enjoyable parts but not enough for me. This was a full length novel and I think if it was a novella I would have enjoyed it more. Oh and it started off with them cheating so it just left a bad taste in my mouth.
I absolutely love friends to lovers storylines. This one did not disappoint. Gabe’s love for Wynter was so authentic and tangible. I love how he did not miss any opportunity to express his love for Wynter. Now Wynter, on the other hand, was driving me up the wall but that seems to be typical for the female leads in all of these romance novel. I personally would not have put up with all of that mess from my significant other. I was surprised she did considering she was surrounded by so many examples of what true love looks like. Anyway, with all of that being said, the book was enjoyable.
I loved this friends to lovers story about Winter and Gabriel who had been friends forever, along with their families being friends! They both were finally in a place where their old and bad relationships were behind them and it was finally their time. However, they endured some bumps and bruises along their journey, but they survived and both came out happy and in love!
This was very entertaining and enjoyable! I highly recommend this book! Great Christmas Story! Kudos, D. Rose!! 💜
This was a friends to lovers read. It was a slow read for me. The characters were relatable, I couldn't connect with the characters or storyline. I felt as if something was missing. Gabriel has always loved Winter even when she kept him in the friend zone. Through heart breaks and wasted relationships, Winter realized that everything she needed was there the entire time. I would still recommend it
A really nice story of friends to lovers. Gabriel and Winter have been friends since high school and have been in relationships. Now both are single at the holidays and now is the time to see where it will lead. Loved this story and would have loved to see more. There are some really good stories that started with both of their siblings so hopefully those books will come soon. Great start to a potential series.
I always dig a good friends-to-lovers romance. And I can certainly appreciate someone going for what or who they want. Gabriel made it clear he wanted Winter and stuck it out. I'll admit I wasn't the biggest Winter fan at first but she grew on me. Their friendship seemed fun, as did their romantic relationship. And this might be the most I've seen 'orbs' in one story. lol
This was such a well done friends to lovers book. It really showed the love Gabe has for Winter and I love how it developed. It wasn’t a really slow burn. Very quick and to the point. I loved how although Gabe wanted Winter, he let her sit and decide for herself that she was ready for him. Also him flying her out during Christmas was just too cute!! Is another coming for Gabe’s brothers?? I hope so because I want to see Gio’s story play out! Definitely a lovey dovey feel good Christmas Romance 🫶🏾
I loved everything about this story! Winter and Gabe were absolutely perfect for one another! So happy that things turned out the way that they did for them! I’m also hoping we’ll get a book on August and Giovanni! You know the book is good when the author gets you invested in the side characters! Hook us up with those stories D. Rose! Lol
Winter & Gabriel have been friends since high school. Both in relationships that tested their friendship. Blind to each other but not their siblings is the love they have for one another. Loved this story of friendship and overcoming obstacles to welcome the love that has always been there for you.
I truly enjoyed this friends to lovers book especially centered around the holidays. Sometimes your real, one true love is right in your face. Winter and Gabe took their friendship to the next level and it paid off. Great job once again by an amazing author.
Really enjoyed Winter and Gabe’s story. This was a friends to lovers theme done really well - really liked the solid relationships surrounding them and appreciated the inner conflict Winter experienced in trying to decide whether and when to take the next step. Great read!
I love best friends to lovers stories. Gabe and Winter always had feelings for each other but didn't want to ruin their friendship. I am glad they took the chance together. They are a beautiful couple. Very good book. Hopefully we can get a book on August and Giovanni the siblings of Gabe and Winter.
Best friends make the perfect lovers. Gabe and Winter hid their feelings well or so they thought😂 Everyone can tell how they truly feel about one another so why keep wasting time with people that don't deserve their time? Eventually fate will intervene and do its job.
This was a cute and cozy read for the holiday. Gabe was patient with Winter and that was the icing on the cake for me. The ONLY hang up I have about this book is that Winter went to A&T and as an alum of NCCU, that made me upset. Really Winter? 😜 Kidding. 😁❤️❤️
I loved Winter and Gab’s love story. Bestfriends turned to lovers is always a great read. I’m glad Winter got away from her trifflin boyfriend, he was doing the most. This was a great storyline and i loved the characters. Must read for sure.
I absolutely adore Gabriel and winter best friends will become lovers. It takes them a while but they finally realize that they're meant to be more than just friends is really a sweet story well written.