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Denver Defiant
Reindeer Games: A Holiday Novella
One fake relationship. Two best friends. Three days.
Charlotte Sutton is an honest person. Perhaps that's why, when she does lie, it turns into a mess. She invented a girlfriend as a way to get out of one too many hangouts with her Denver Defiant teammates, but now it's coming back to bite her.
Danielle "Dani" Gilbert is not Charlotte's girlfriend. But she's also not one to turn down an all-expenses-paid ski resort getaway, even if it means pretending that she is. After all, it's only three days, and she and Charlotte will just be two friends doing a little acting. What could possibly go wrong?
Except for the fact that Charlotte maybe, possibly, might want the whole thing to be real.
So. There is that.
Reindeer Games is a holiday romance novella. It is part of the Denver Defiant series but can be read as a standalone.
Charlotte Sutton is an honest person. Perhaps that's why, when she does lie, it turns into a mess. She invented a girlfriend as a way to get out of one too many hangouts with her Denver Defiant teammates, but now it's coming back to bite her.
Danielle "Dani" Gilbert is not Charlotte's girlfriend. But she's also not one to turn down an all-expenses-paid ski resort getaway, even if it means pretending that she is. After all, it's only three days, and she and Charlotte will just be two friends doing a little acting. What could possibly go wrong?
Except for the fact that Charlotte maybe, possibly, might want the whole thing to be real.
So. There is that.
Reindeer Games is a holiday romance novella. It is part of the Denver Defiant series but can be read as a standalone.
84 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2022
3 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 28, 2022
Part of the Denver Defiant series but may be read as a stand alone novella.
Pressured by her soccer teammates, Charlotte lies about having a girlfriend. Ultimately that lie leads to a ski trip where Dani (Charlotte's best friend) is eagerly accepted by the gang as the once hidden girlfriend. Queue snowy events and fun that work to bring possibilities to the minds of the lead characters.
This is a quick sweet romance to be read on a wintery day.
I rec'd a copy through Booksprout. My review is unbiased.
Pressured by her soccer teammates, Charlotte lies about having a girlfriend. Ultimately that lie leads to a ski trip where Dani (Charlotte's best friend) is eagerly accepted by the gang as the once hidden girlfriend. Queue snowy events and fun that work to bring possibilities to the minds of the lead characters.
This is a quick sweet romance to be read on a wintery day.
I rec'd a copy through Booksprout. My review is unbiased.
December 4, 2022
A good fast paced festive novella, with a fake dating trope between two sporty friends who want more.
If you love a fake dating trope, you will probably love this! It's a shorter story, based around a magical Ski Slope Holiday Resort, where a Soccer Player brings her best friend of two years along as her plus one, and as a fake girlfriend. To meet her team-mates, and give her a buffer for socialization.
Sweet times ensue.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you love a fake dating trope, you will probably love this! It's a shorter story, based around a magical Ski Slope Holiday Resort, where a Soccer Player brings her best friend of two years along as her plus one, and as a fake girlfriend. To meet her team-mates, and give her a buffer for socialization.
Sweet times ensue.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 21, 2022
I'm not much of a romance reader, but this fast-read novella was just my jam.
Chuva has a flowy voice in her writing and I found myself rooting for the wonderful women, Charlotte and Dani.
Being a novella, it was quickly read, and I find I need there to be more. I could even be talked into reading way more of the Denver Defiants.
If you like cute women, the snowy outdoors, romance, and the holiday spirit Reindeer Games is a title for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Chuva has a flowy voice in her writing and I found myself rooting for the wonderful women, Charlotte and Dani.
Being a novella, it was quickly read, and I find I need there to be more. I could even be talked into reading way more of the Denver Defiants.
If you like cute women, the snowy outdoors, romance, and the holiday spirit Reindeer Games is a title for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 7, 2023
3.5/5
Cute!
Cute!
December 27, 2024
This was cute. Overall, there wasn’t much to it; it’s a short little novella that spent a disproportionate amount of time on the set-up and is a bit underwhelming on the romance/tension/pining/etc. That said, it was cute and fun and well written. It’s a low-angst/conflict story that was an easy read. This was a story about some friends having a fun ski trip together, with a mild dash of fake-dating. There were a handful of particularly fun moments sprinkled throughout.
I said there wasn’t much to this, but it was also so short and easy to read that I feel I might as well recommend it to anyone looking for a fun bite-sized Christmas story.
My Rating: "B"
GoodReads: 4-stars
I said there wasn’t much to this, but it was also so short and easy to read that I feel I might as well recommend it to anyone looking for a fun bite-sized Christmas story.
My Rating: "B"
GoodReads: 4-stars
June 19, 2023
This was so wholesome and made my chest feel warm. Their friendship was absolutely beautiful and Dani was such a golden retriever (in my eyes)
Very easy quick read, loved it
Very easy quick read, loved it
December 6, 2022
I received a free copy from the author through Booksprout and voluntarily reviewed it.
Reindeer Games is a sweet romance story set around the holidays. Charlotte is usually a honest person, but when her team mates ask her to join them for another hangout she lies about having a date. This leads to a fake romance with her best friend Dani when Dani joins her on an all expenses paid skip trip pretending to be Charlotte's girlfriend.
This romance was so sweet! I had fun reading it and it was a quick read. I am not a fan of the fake dating trope, but thought it was handled well here. Although I would've loved to see a bit more of them after they were no longer fake dating, but dating for real, as most of the book only covers their fake dating. They already are close friend before the book starts and Charlotte has a crush on Dani that she never acted on until this fake date scheme. I liked the friends to lovers trope and the way these two already knew the other so well. There are plenty of fun and sweet scenes and I liked these two.
The holiday theme was well done with the skip trip and a nice ski lodge they at. The epilogue was a nice way to wrap up the book. This book is set in the Denver Defiant series, I haven't read the first book, but easily could read this as a standalone as the couple from book 1 only gets mentioned in one scene. I am curious about book 1 now and hope to read that too eventually.
To summarize: This was a nice and sweet romance set around the holidays. While I am not a fan of the fake dating trope, I thought it was handled well here. And I liked the friend to lovers theme and the way these two already knew each other well until this fake romance brings them closer. I did wish we would've seen a bit more of them as a couple or before/ after the fake dating as now they spend most of the book fake dating. The ski resort set around the holidays made for a fun setting. I would definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a sweet and quick romance story.
Reindeer Games is a sweet romance story set around the holidays. Charlotte is usually a honest person, but when her team mates ask her to join them for another hangout she lies about having a date. This leads to a fake romance with her best friend Dani when Dani joins her on an all expenses paid skip trip pretending to be Charlotte's girlfriend.
This romance was so sweet! I had fun reading it and it was a quick read. I am not a fan of the fake dating trope, but thought it was handled well here. Although I would've loved to see a bit more of them after they were no longer fake dating, but dating for real, as most of the book only covers their fake dating. They already are close friend before the book starts and Charlotte has a crush on Dani that she never acted on until this fake date scheme. I liked the friends to lovers trope and the way these two already knew the other so well. There are plenty of fun and sweet scenes and I liked these two.
The holiday theme was well done with the skip trip and a nice ski lodge they at. The epilogue was a nice way to wrap up the book. This book is set in the Denver Defiant series, I haven't read the first book, but easily could read this as a standalone as the couple from book 1 only gets mentioned in one scene. I am curious about book 1 now and hope to read that too eventually.
To summarize: This was a nice and sweet romance set around the holidays. While I am not a fan of the fake dating trope, I thought it was handled well here. And I liked the friend to lovers theme and the way these two already knew each other well until this fake romance brings them closer. I did wish we would've seen a bit more of them as a couple or before/ after the fake dating as now they spend most of the book fake dating. The ski resort set around the holidays made for a fun setting. I would definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a sweet and quick romance story.
December 17, 2022
This is a quick read that is perfect for an evening. It is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone.
Charlotte is a professional soccer player who, in the spur of the moment, tells her teammates that she is dating her best friend Dani. Not that she hasn't thought of her best friend as more, but they have never discussed anything outside the friend zone.
When Dani's Christmas plans are cancelled, Charlotte invites her to the team's ski retreat...and then remembers the team thinks Dani and Charlotte are dating. After going over all possible scenarios, Charlotte finally tells Dani abou the fake dating story. To her surprise, Danie agrees to play along. Now all Charlotte has to do is convince Dani to make it a real relationship.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Charlotte is a professional soccer player who, in the spur of the moment, tells her teammates that she is dating her best friend Dani. Not that she hasn't thought of her best friend as more, but they have never discussed anything outside the friend zone.
When Dani's Christmas plans are cancelled, Charlotte invites her to the team's ski retreat...and then remembers the team thinks Dani and Charlotte are dating. After going over all possible scenarios, Charlotte finally tells Dani abou the fake dating story. To her surprise, Danie agrees to play along. Now all Charlotte has to do is convince Dani to make it a real relationship.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 2, 2023
Reindeer Games is a fun, quick read that is thoroughly enjoyable!
Charlotte and Danielle are best friends, but when Charlotte tells her football friends a white lie about Dani, she thinks it will all be fine. Until a holiday of a lifetime comes along that puts Dani in the group with Charlotte and the rest of the football girls.
Charlotte and Danielle decide to play along with Charlotte’s fib to keep the holiday running smoothly, but when pretending to be a couple both girls become even more invested in one another.
I read this in a day and did not want it to end.
Charlotte and Danielle are best friends, but when Charlotte tells her football friends a white lie about Dani, she thinks it will all be fine. Until a holiday of a lifetime comes along that puts Dani in the group with Charlotte and the rest of the football girls.
Charlotte and Danielle decide to play along with Charlotte’s fib to keep the holiday running smoothly, but when pretending to be a couple both girls become even more invested in one another.
I read this in a day and did not want it to end.
February 23, 2023
Cute lil fake dating/HEA novella. Charlotte gets wrapped up in a fake dating lie to get out of social events with her teammates. Little does she realize how deep her feelings really are towards her best friend.
Great connection between Charlotte and Dani, and I was rooting for them from the very beginning.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
Great connection between Charlotte and Dani, and I was rooting for them from the very beginning.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2022
Cabins with stone fireplaces, winter drinks after a day's skiing, this novella is such a sweet romance, fake relationship, friends to more story; a perfect edition to Christmas stories.
Really looking forward to more stories from this author's pen.
Really looking forward to more stories from this author's pen.
September 8, 2023
This was a perfect little comfy, fluffy, no angst holiday novella with sporty ladies and low/no spice. Fake dating, friends to lovers, forced proximity, ski lodge, just lovely. The book equivalent of a snuggle by the fire.
December 2, 2022
Hi! I wrote this book! If you're looking for something short and fun with lots of feels to read while huddling under a cozy blanket and drinking hot cocoa, I recommend it! :)
February 21, 2023
A cute and perfect follow up to the last story. Loved Dani and think, this was just right!
December 31, 2025
It was super cute!! Very short quick novella, perfect for winter time!
January 4, 2026
Cute, yet cheezy. Fun take on a fake romance turned real.
January 4, 2024
A sweet festive fake girlfriend romance.
Charlotte uses the excuse of having a girlfriend to get out of social events with her teammates and friends, but this backfires for a seasonal ski trip where Charlotte invites Dani as her plus one.
Dani is Charlotte’s best friend, but during the ski trip as her fake girlfriend, Charlotte’s feeling for Dani become more romantic. Charlotte is sure that Dani doesn’t feel the same way. That’s why Charlotte doesn’t say anything. This is very much a story that relies on lack of communication to make some of the best moments.
There are some fun parts, especially Charlotte learning to ski, and the lighthearted banter between Dani and Charlotte throughout the story is really cute. As is the way Dani suddenly moves into ‘fake girlfriend’ mode whenever one of Charlotte’s teammates is nearby. But as soon as the danger is over, she reverts to ‘best friend’ mode, leaving Charlotte a bit confused, and the reader frustrated.
This is a sweet story, well written, quite slow burn, as they don’t get together for real until the last few pages of the story. Oh how I wish we could have seen more of them together!
This is ideal as a short read on a cold day, to make you smile.
Charlotte uses the excuse of having a girlfriend to get out of social events with her teammates and friends, but this backfires for a seasonal ski trip where Charlotte invites Dani as her plus one.
Dani is Charlotte’s best friend, but during the ski trip as her fake girlfriend, Charlotte’s feeling for Dani become more romantic. Charlotte is sure that Dani doesn’t feel the same way. That’s why Charlotte doesn’t say anything. This is very much a story that relies on lack of communication to make some of the best moments.
There are some fun parts, especially Charlotte learning to ski, and the lighthearted banter between Dani and Charlotte throughout the story is really cute. As is the way Dani suddenly moves into ‘fake girlfriend’ mode whenever one of Charlotte’s teammates is nearby. But as soon as the danger is over, she reverts to ‘best friend’ mode, leaving Charlotte a bit confused, and the reader frustrated.
This is a sweet story, well written, quite slow burn, as they don’t get together for real until the last few pages of the story. Oh how I wish we could have seen more of them together!
This is ideal as a short read on a cold day, to make you smile.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews