Buvusiam futbolininkui Luisui Matolai verkiant reikia pagerinti reputaciją, o senojo verslo paveldėtoja Suzana Koljer – vienintelė galinti jam padėti moteris. Susitarimas aiškus: Kalėdų laikotarpiu jie apsimes draugaujantys, bet nepuoselės jokių rimtų jausmų. Artėjant šventėms, Luisas vis labiau susidomi Suzana, ypač tais jos bruožais, kuriuos moteris slepia nuo viso pasaulio. Netrukus tarp netikros poros ima suktis ne tik snaigės...
Bestselling author Barbara Tanner Wallace makes her living making up stories. When not writing, she's either reading, crocheting or bowing to her cats' whims.
She's a life-long New Englander with two hundred years of Yankee history behind her. She currently lives just outside of Boston with her husband. They have one son who lives in the middle of nowhere and apparently likes it.
So adorable! This is absolutely my favorite Barb Wallace romance. I have a soft spot for holiday romance, and this one was perfect. The hero was sexy with just the right amount of vulnerability, and the heroine was smart and savvy and finally realized how much she had to offer.
I like the "little bit" of magic from Nick, the bartender, too.
This is the second book in a trilogy and although there are some moments (one great one in particular involving Susan and her sister-in-law) that may be a little more rewarding if you’ve read the first book, this can still be enjoyed as a standalone novel.
While the fake-dating is as usual a fun trope, it’s the emotional depth of Susan and Lewis and their relationship that most stood out to me. I really liked the insight into their backgrounds and experiences so that you had a solid understanding of how their insecurities came to be, and more than that, I liked how frequently they confided in one another and that those conversations gave the sense that these two were truly getting to know one another.
With some romance novels everything happens in such a whirl that it can be hard to buy into the happily ever after, but even though this one also takes place over only a matter of weeks, their ease with talking to one another, the foundation that’s built through those conversations over the course of the novel made it pretty easy to see Susan and Lewis having a future.
The same family as in ‘Their Christmas Miracle’, which I read and enjoyed this time last year. I didn’t realise it until I began reading, so that was a nice unexpected surprise. Love the way Barbara Wallace tackles the whole feeling of inferiority here - for both H&H - with a light but meaningful touch. A relationship of convenience turns serious. Nice and festive as well.