Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

A Christmas Wish

Rate this book
All I needed was a date.

One measly date to go with me to my company’s Christmas party to show my ex— and current boss— that I was over him and had moved on. It wasn’t like they had to love me— heck, they didn’t even have to like me. They just had to show up.

When I got stood up on ANOTHER blind date, I was starting to panic until a gorgeous stranger swooped in and pretended to be my boyfriend. Luckily for me, my ex and his new girlfriend just happened to be there to see it.

Pretending to be in a relationship with the beautiful man wasn’t hard. In all honesty, it felt pretty natural. Soon, we had everyone convinced that we were the perfect couple. In fact, we were so good at pretending that we almost fell for it ourselves.

Everything about him felt too good to be true. And one thing that I’d learned quickly was never to trust a man who promised he could make your wishes come true, even if it was something as simple as a Christmas wish.

185 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2021

42 people are currently reading
296 people want to read

About the author

Samantha Baca

58 books1,046 followers
Samantha lives in the southwest with her husband and two children, where she enjoys writing, drinking iced coffee, and watching the greatest show of all time—Friends. With over 30 books published, Samantha enjoys writing across several different genres, from steamy romantic suspense to laugh-out-loud spicy romantic comedies. She also has a sweet spot for holiday stories, so grab a blanket and get ready to binge some of the sweetest—yet spicy—holiday romance your heart can handle!

Samantha loves connecting with her readers, so here’s a list of where you can find her:

Facebook Reader Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/29457...

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSamant...

Instagram:
https://instagram.com/author_samantha...

Webpage:
www.samanthabaca.com

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/authorsamant...

Books2Read:
https://books2read.com/ap/RQAYK9/Sama...


Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
62 (19%)
4 stars
103 (33%)
3 stars
93 (29%)
2 stars
42 (13%)
1 star
12 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
Profile Image for Nagma (Take A Look At My Bookshelf).
1,712 reviews100 followers
December 30, 2022
I loved this novella and the chemistry between this couple was off the charts!

Everly needed to save face in front of her ex-boyfriend who is also her co-worker and his girlfriend. Enters a handsome, seemingly perfect stranger Jared who sweeps Everly off her feet. Everly and Jared’s relationship starts off fake, but soon becomes a Christmas wish come true.

Samantha Baca has written another amazing novella. While this novella is short, it was a quick read and a great fake relationships romance. I loved the storyline and the characters. I didn’t feel it was lacking in any way and that’s usually my complaint with novellas.

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Profile Image for niki_reads_romance.
883 reviews9 followers
November 18, 2021
WHEW. This book was H-O-T. The couples chemistry was off the charts and I swear I could FEEL the heat wafting from the pages.
Jared was perfect. Exactly what every woman wants in a man. But honestly, I didn’t like Everly. The author did a fabulous job writing her, with her timid ness and need to please, but I never warmed up to her.
Regardless, I still really enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to more from this author.
Profile Image for Amanda Mendez.
113 reviews14 followers
December 1, 2024
*Samantha Baca's "A Christmas Wish"* delivers a steamy, holiday romance with an engaging blend of tension and emotional depth. The story follows a woman who is stood up by her ex at a Christmas event, only to be rescued by a handsome stranger. To avoid further embarrassment, they agree to fake a relationship, which quickly turns into undeniable chemistry. The couple's journey from pretend lovers to passionate partners is filled with sizzling chemistry, playful exploration, and some steamy scenes at a kink club that add a unique edge to the romance. Baca skillfully navigates the characters' emotional growth, turning what starts as a fake relationship into something real, with moments of vulnerability that give the story heart. This is a perfect pick for readers looking for a spicy, holiday romance with a touch of kink and lots of heart.
Profile Image for Joni Foster.
187 reviews5 followers
November 19, 2021
Absolutely this novella!! A Christmas Wish was absolutely perfect. I couldn't put it down!! There was so much heat that I had to fan myself! Samantha u did a fabulous job!!
Profile Image for ManthaReads .
286 reviews
December 19, 2023
It gets two stars because I finished it. But that is it.

Everly is so hard to like - she plays the victim because she has been stood up a couple times and it's all "woe is me"... yak.

Jared swoops in, is charming, funny, and genuinely likes her but that's not good enough and she blows him off to go on another date with a guy who has already stood her up once, because her mother arranged it and she couldn't say no. Grow a bloody backbone woman!

Then when Jared goes to find Everly after the little fight resulting from her basically rejecting him asking her to be his girlfriend to go on said date, he finds her being assaulted by her boss/ex-boyfriend and she then gets mad at Jared and makes him leave? Seriously? All because she was worried about what her ex would do. Yuk.

She then goes home and is disappointed Jared hasn't called her? Like, he found you being assaulted by your ex, tried to help, you shouted at him to leave, but you still want him to make sure you're okay? This girl is deluded.

She is exhausting - Jared even says so himself!

Too much for what is supposed to be a cute little holiday novella.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
74 reviews1 follower
December 16, 2022
This is a cute story, Short and sweet with just enough spice. I knew it was a quick read but I got so involved with the characters I was so surprised when it was over. If you want a HEA with a spicy finish them this is perfect
Profile Image for Gessica.
108 reviews1 follower
November 11, 2024
Adoro essa época do ano e adoro clichê de Natal.
Profile Image for mimi.
126 reviews
December 16, 2024
adorei,teve voyeurismo vocês acreditam?com essa CAPINHA ai
Profile Image for Cathy Z.
94 reviews
January 5, 2023
Quick, steamy Christmas romance. I liked both the characters and their chemistry.

I felt like the story was a bit misguided at times. I was not expecting the last 10% of the book where it explores exhibitionism… felt like that came out of nowhere!

For a short read, about 20% of it is a third act breakup. It didn’t have that instalove vibe that must short reads usually have, so though they had chemistry, I don’t think their “breakup” / “fight” was really necessary. It dragged a bit for me. They could have focused on the boss drama and I would’ve been fine with that.

This sometimes happens with short novellas, but there were characters which the reader had no knowledge of prior which felt confusing at times.. (I.e. she can’t say no to her mom but there was no mention about their relationship until then, a friend named Becca randomly appears mid-book). There were also some contradicting plot. (I.e. he claims it’s too soon for deep feelings but says I love you to her two days later)

Overall, if you’re looking for a quick, steamy holiday romance, it’s an easy read.
Profile Image for Karrie Lynn.
628 reviews12 followers
November 21, 2021
After a nasty breakup Everly has started dating again and is having the worst luck. She keeps getting stood up or saddled with the bill. After waiting for yet another failed date she runs into none other than the ex and his new girlfriend. Things get awkward when they realize her date has yet to show up and yet her wish is about to come true in the form of Jared. He slides right in pretending to be her date and saves the day. Jared is pretty much everything that Everly is missing and after sharing a meal they decide that they can help each other out over the holidays. Operation fake boyfriend starts and Everly can't help but fall for Jared and he the same. Jared is the type of guy you want to bring home, stable, attractive and most of all he is willing to fight his physical attraction to Everly until he is sure she won't have any regrets. Sparks fly between these two. This was a fun holiday story with steam and spice and all the things nice.
Profile Image for Dasha.
328 reviews
November 18, 2021
This was a fun story that I couldn't put down. Everly has bad luck with men. At the beginning of the story, Everly is sitting in a restaurant being stood up by a blind date when her a-hole ex and his girlfriend show up and start mocking her. Jared, a stranger to Everly, overhears everything and feels bad for her so swoops in pretending to be her boyfriend, even surprising her with a kiss. The two end up eating dinner, which leads to Everly asking if Jared would pose as her boyfriend for a work function. The two hit it off but are not sure of their actual relationship status and what the other is feeling. Then there is more of the a-hole ex trying to mess up the relationship and Everly herself making mistakes but in the end there is a very steamy HEA. I would highly recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Scarlet.
351 reviews9 followers
December 28, 2022
I got this audiobook via a promo code at my request and this is my voluntary review.

Reasons not to date your boss number 1... when it goes to hell, you have to see them every day. Reasons not to date your boss number 2... you just might end up sharing an office Christmas party with his latest squeeze. After a work romance breakup Everly needs a date, except shes got the worst luck ever, and when her Ex and his biatchy girlfriend catch her being stood up on her latest date, a kind stranger Jared, jumps in to save the day. He agrees to be her fake boyfriend for the holidays. Soon both Everly and Jared realise they could be exactly the gift they both needed for Christmas. This was a lovely story, the chemistry between the main characters is enough to give you that holiday glow.

Narration by Mary Jane Meloy was good, but its a shame it wasn't done in duet for the male POVs.
24 reviews
December 15, 2025
Everly só quer uma coisa neste Natal: um companheiro para ir à festa da empresa, mostrar ao seu ex — que também é seu chefe — que ela seguiu em frente e se divertir.
Quando o seu encontro não aparece e a vergonha parece inevitável, um estranho charmoso surge do nada e se oferece para fingir ser o seu namorado por uma noite. Tudo parecia apenas uma pequena mentira conveniente… até que o “namoro de mentira” começa a parecer verdadeiro.
Enquanto eles convencem todos ao redor de que formam o casal perfeito, Everly descobre que, às vezes, aquilo que desejamos com mais força pode estar mais perto — e ser mais real — do que alguma vez imaginámos.

O livro parece aquele filme basiquinho de natal. Tudo acontece muito rápido e o Jared é demasiado perfeito para ser verdade ! Os últimos dois capítulos acho que foram completamente desnecessários 🙃
Profile Image for Tracy Pulley.
204 reviews6 followers
November 29, 2021
I would have rated it a zero star if I could have. There was nothing I liked about it. It didn’t catch or keep my interest. I stopped reading for days at about 40%. I only finished skimming it because I got it as an ARC from booksprout. The female character was weak. And it was so cliched that she only stood up for herself because of the male main character “giving her strength”. The plot was par for the course but the choices the Arthur used were awful. The advice given was way off base and he was well within his rights to be upset. This was the longest short novella I’ve ever read.

I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Crystal.
904 reviews15 followers
August 2, 2023
This was a quick whirlwind romance straight out of a romance novel!! 🤣
Jarrod came in like a white knight to save Everly the embarrassment of telling her ex-boyfriend Tom that she had been stood up by her blind date. He overheard Tom and his girlfriend making fun of Everly when they realized she was alone in the restaurant so Jarrod stepped right in and pretended to be her boyfriend. Ahh this fake boyfriend turned real feelings was such a great novella. I loved how Everly grew stronger and stronger in Jarrod’s presence.

I didn’t care for the narrator’s impersonation of Everly, but all the other voices she did was great.
Profile Image for Ann.
177 reviews
August 29, 2023
I absolutely loved this Novella. Everly has not been having much luck in the dating department. Add to her lack of luck, her ex boyfriend is also her boss.

While waiting for her blind date to show up, (who is running late) her ex approaches her with his new girlfriend.

They both start making comments about her being alone. Behind them a stranger hears it all.

Jared, said stranger comes to her rescue. This is the start of their fake dating.

The chemistry between these two is definitely not fake. I enjoyed watching their fake relationship turn real.

Also loved the epilogue which gives us insight in all things turned out later down the road.

I'm new to Audible and love the narration.
3,024 reviews16 followers
December 2, 2021
loved it !!! love Jared... swoon... love Everly... this is their story... a fast paced rom/com.. Everly just needed a date... simple... right ? wrong... she keeps getting stood up or left with the bill... on this last one... it's a stood up... not great... her ex is here with his new girlfriend... Jared comes to the rescue... he acts like he's late and her date... the perfect date... they have dinner and he will help her out... hoping to make this real one day... a sweet story...

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4,330 reviews27 followers
December 4, 2021
I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review. When Everly once again has horrible luck with men, her ex is there to witness it. Jared is also there watching the proceedings. His spontaneous decision to help a girl out leads to finding his perfect match. Everly deserves a man like Jared. She has been changed by all her experiences. A fake relationship with Jared seems like the perfect solution to her problems. He might be her entire future.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Courtney Reads Smut.
702 reviews29 followers
December 3, 2024
Everly has terrible luck with men, even worse luck with dates! Sitting at a table waiting for her date to arrive, and realizing he’s not going to show. Her Ex spots her and gives her grief about sitting alone, until Jared over hears the conversation and pretends to be her new boyfriend.

Jared couldn’t believe a man could talk to or treat a woman like that. He was going to protect her no matter what. But can he?

Loved the narrator, Mary Jane Meloy.

✔️Jealous Ex
✔️Cinnamon Roll Hero
✔️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✔️ Holiday short story
✔️ 142 pages / 3:45 audiobook
Profile Image for Jennifer.
595 reviews15 followers
December 6, 2021
A great fake relationship romance. Great book! Quick fun read! Well-developed story line and characters. It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. I really liked how the author built up the relationship between the two main characters. Great chemistry between the main characters. Recommended read! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,469 reviews3 followers
November 7, 2025
A wonderful Christmas story! Everly has had no shows for a few blind dates, one who her mother arranged and insisted upon. As she realizes she's been stood up again, Jared steps in and pretends to be her boyfriend, in front of her ex who also works with her. Everly is happier than she's ever been as Jared is as perfect as a man can be. It's easy to fall for each other as they continue their "pretend" relationship. This story has romance and a very happy ending!
Profile Image for J.E. Feldman.
Author 192 books83 followers
December 9, 2021
This is a great holiday read. Female MC is stood up by her date and sulks, but then her ex shows up with his new girl. Things take a turn when a hottie slides in pretending to be her boyfriend to save her from the awkward situation. Of course she would fall head over heels for him. He resists at first, but then succumbs to the inevitable.
Profile Image for Angie Bowman.
426 reviews2 followers
December 6, 2022
So Good

Well that was a bit hotter than I was expecting.
A Christmas Wish started off sweetness and light and then bam, without warning you get a scene that's as hot as it's unexpected. Not that I'm complaining. Don't even get me started on the "Euphoria" scene, now that one was off the scale hot.
Profile Image for Gwen|| Bookish Blondie.
1,285 reviews11 followers
December 20, 2022
I actually really liked this novella, despite the fact that Everly was a mess and annoying as hell for the entire thing up until the end. Jared is a saint. I also adore the fact that Jared stood up for himself and chose his own sanity and mental health over enabling Everly's terrible behavior throughout the end of the book. Also, the ending is sweet and ends on a hopeful note.
Profile Image for Marcia Esders.
971 reviews5 followers
December 16, 2023
A little more than I bargained for

The first 92% of the story was enjoyable. The last 8% went a little further than I expected. I thought I was getting a cute holiday story but the last 8% took the story to a different level….one I wasn’t really prepared for so this story was just okay for me.
Profile Image for Daniela Gonçalves.
135 reviews8 followers
December 23, 2025
𝐀 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐡 | 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 🎄

𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚çã𝐨: ★★★.𝟓
𝐆é𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐨: 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

📖 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐨:
⤷ Depois de ser deixada pendurada num encontro, Everly aceita fingir um namoro com um desconhecido para impressionar o ex (e seu chefe) numa festa de Natal. O que começa como um plano acaba por parecer real demais. Entre aparências e sentimentos, percebe que nem todos os desejos de Natal vêm sem riscos.

ᡣ𐭩ֶֶָָ֢ 𝐎 𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐢:
~ Esta novela é uma leitura leve, com algum spice e tem a trope fake dating, mas senti um pouco falta de natal e acho que a história podia ter sido um pouco mais aprofundada em alguns momentos.

~ A Everly é uma personagem doce, impulsiva e com um humor subtil e gostei da forma como ela tenta manter a dignidade mesmo quando tudo está a correr mal.
O Jared é o típico MMC saído de um comédia romântica de natal. É atento, carinhoso e transmite uma segurança que faz Everly confiar nele quase de imediato. Apesar disso achei que ele podia ter sido um pouco mais desenvolvido, pois alguns aspetos ficaram por abordar.

~ As personagens secundárias ajudam a criar tensão e humor, mas não têm grande complexidade e ajudam a reforçar a ligação entre Everly e Jared.

~ Gostei de ver o crescimento da Everly no decorrer do livro, pois ela começa numa fase frágil, marcada por desilusões amorosas e pela falta de autoestima, mas ao longo da narrativa vai recuperando a confiança.

~ O livro é narrado em duplo POV, tem capítulos curtos e a escrita é fluida, o que faz com que seja uma leitura rápida e fácil.
4 reviews
November 22, 2021
I loved everything about this book - from the second I picked it up until the very last page. I absolutely could not put this book down. I love Jared - everyone needs him in their lives. The attentiveness, adoration and responsibility, absolutely perfect!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.