Ho, Ho, Ho-usewife

by Jahquel J.

Nicolas Saint is rude, rich, and cocky. His last relationship was over two years ago, and his parents are on him to settle down and marry a good woman. As a top real estate broker in Atlanta, Nicolas has no plans on settling down. He doesn’t have time to date and hasn’t found the right woman who has made it worth his while. As the youngest of the Saint siblings, who are all happily married with children, his parents are determined to get their youngest married. Not excited to spend the holiday defending his decision to be single, Nick’s assistant hires his roommate to stand in as his boss’s fake fiancée for the holidays. The plan is fool proof, and everyone is getting something out of the deal. Nick doesn’t have his parents on his back, Candance is getting generously compensated, and the two will split the moment the plane lands back in Atlanta after the holidays.
Self-proclaimed sugar baby, Candance Kain, has always had to use what she had to get what she wants. Since leaving home, she has been able to live decently with the help of her many sponsors. When her roommate asks her to do a solid for his boss, she isn’t the least bit interested. That is until she hears the amount of money, she could earn by just pretending. What happens when both Nick and Candy can’t tell the difference between pretend and real life?

Genres: Christmas

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 14, 2022

Reviews

[Annette Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ho, Ho, Ho-usewife was not the fake fiancé story I thought it would be. Since his breakup, Nicolas is being pressured by his mama to get married. To get her off his back, Nicolas lies to mommy dearest that he’s already locked that thang down with someone. That someone happens to be his assistant’s roommate. Candance is a bonified f*ck up. She’s a failed Sugar Baby who doesn’t know how to manage or keep money. When she’s late with her half of the rent for the one hundredth time, Luca has had enough and tells Candance he’s moving out when their lease is up. She needs money and Nicolas needs a fake fiancé. Problem solved but, not really. The issue with this storyline is, the author put way more emphasis on Nicolas’ issues with his family and his family’s personal issues than these characters coming together romantically. His parents and siblings marital problems were the real star of this storyline. There are ten chapters in this book and, by chapter seven, there had barely been any flirting between these characters and not a single kiss. They don’t actually share their first kiss until chapter eight and, if you blinked, you missed those stingy sex scenes the author clearly threw in for shyts and giggles. Because, there definitely was no heat. When you wait that long to introduce romance into the storyline, it no longer feels natural. It feels forced and that’s exactly how it came off with Candance and Nicolas. Their, all of a sudden, “attraction” to one another didn’t feel organic at all and when they expressed their love for each other, I just rolled my eyes. How Sway?!!! I saw that plot twist with Candance and Marcus coming a mile away so, it wasn’t shocking at all once it was revealed. Ho, Ho, Ho-usewife did not live up to the fake fiancé troupe at all. There was no real chemistry between these characters and the romance, or lack thereof, felt well...... fake.

[*Ebony I* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fake love

Nicolas and Candance make an agreement to benefit them both. Nico needs a fake fiance to appease his fake family at Christmas and Candy needs money to fund her fake lifestyle.

There was some potential, but it was not realized. Nico keeps his family at arms length because they all seem to be bought into living their lives to please others, while their relationships are a mess because everything is forced. I honestly felt the same with Nico and Candy. While they seemed to be fast friends, I didn't feel a real connection. It just felt forced. I'm talking no foreplay just bam. There were moments of support and they shared a little personal information, but it just wasn't believable.

[Kali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cutesy Christmas Tale

I loved how the characters names were crafted around major Christmas themes. Mr. Saint was rude as ever and I loved every bit of the rebuttal he received from Candace as a result. I also enjoyed how the story depicted the pressures some face when dealing with family and their cutthroat expectations during holiday visits.

Overall, gotta love a HEA with a hint of jolly BDE.

[Wind · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute story. I love a fake dating trope because are they really faking it 😂 Candance and Nico didn’t like each other when they first met. Nico was rude as heck to Candance and Nico felt a way about Candance from hearing all the bad things her best friend/his assistant would say.
But the best friend/assistant did his big one when he suggested Candance be the fake fiancé and it worked. I enjoyed the banter between the two.
Nico’s family except for Joy and Asher were trash.
Another great read by Jah and I do wish this book was longer.

[Keyerra Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

jahquel, i love you and your stories, but GWORL…. the grammatical errors make my eyes cross.

this was a good read though. i wanted an epilogue to show how things went for joy. but i needed to know that SOMETHING, ANYTHING happened to that liar of a brother and their terrible parents.

[Fatima Munroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

DO NOT READ WHILE AT WORK

Cause you ain’t gonna get nothing done.

I love Candance and Nick’s love story. The way they tried so hard to not fall and fell anyway was so sweet. Noel needed a life, nine times outta ten her mama would have to tell her how to do that too. Papa Saint could learn the precious trait of forgiveness, and Maaaaaah-cus know he was trifling for throwing rocks at sis when he lived in a whole glass castle. The way Nick stepped when it came to his girl though…*chef’s kiss*

Another good one for the books, Jah. Glad to see you’re back. 💛

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good story!

This was such a good story and written very well. I read it non stop because there was no way I could put it down! Candance was the light at the end of the tunnel that Nico didn't know he needed, and he was her muse! All the crazy family drama but Love still won!

[Dannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

All imma say is everybody in the Saint household besides Joy and Nicholas need to see help and seek it immediately lmfao. That mother was something else, I see why he didn't want to deal with her she's too dag on much. It started out as a business arrangement for Nico and Candance but ened up becoming much more.. when opposites attract.

[Dawn Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

Even in a short story Jahquel J knows how to touch all of your feelings. There was so much to unpack that I forgot this wasn’t a full novel. If you’re looking for a story that will give you all the feels in less than 200 pages then look no further. This is just what you need.

[KayBee's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review

This was a drama field quick Romance story set during the Christmas holiday. The author packed enough action and activity into the story to make it an entertaining one. She also managed to squeeze in a quick life lesson.

[Azvelyn Poulard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ Short but cute holiday book. Wouldn’t mind diving more into Candance & Nicholas. I would have given it 5 ⭐️ if there weren’t the usual Jahquel J. grammatical and spelling errors. Nothing a final edit wouldn’t cure. But I digress. Still enjoyed the book and the characters.

[Lisa Mayers-McGruder · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Love for Christmas

Ok now I understand the title. Great story!!! Candance just needed someone who believed in her and Nicolas did too. I’m glad he stood up to his family and didn’t take it out on Candance. Now I can only hope to find out if this wedding gonna happen in February lol!!! So he can turn her into a housewife!!!

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved Candance and Nicholas. Hated Adeline. Joy should have punched her in the mouth!

[Amanda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

That mama was annoying 🥴

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to dnf this. Confused on the point of the book. No real transition into friends to lovers. Terrible writing confused on the characters none of them make sense in the slightest. Disappointed.

[Miah Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one right here!!!!! Love it down. The way they loved each other before they even knew, chefs kiss. I love how they both showed this protection and respect that it turned from fake to real without there being a loop/plot whole. It seems so genuine. I love when an author can pull you in and that’s exactly what Jah did.

[Mz_MELLO YELLO from the BAY · Rating 5 out of 5]

When You Know You Know!

Someone past should decide their future. Everyone deserves to find their person. Everyone deserves to be loved and give love. Let’s chat!

I will not make this a long post but the way this story was written was top tier🥰. It displayed real life issues within family. We all have a side of the family that feels the poop always smell like roses, when in reality it stink worst than most😷. We all have that person in the family that is judgmental and have secret in their own closest.

In this read the author implemented all that. From family being judgmental, bluntly showing favoritism and an attitude that just stinks. Nickolas mother was a hot mess and so happy he finally stood up to her. I disliked his mother and she irritated me throughout the read. Like I just wanted to pinch her 100 times🤣! Then when she talk down on her daughter. Yeah I was ready to go there with her🤭! Then the sister Noel, had me wanting to go there with her. Ole girl to worry why her husband always M.I.A🫣! She irked me throughout this read 😒! His father was just selfish and only thought of self and his trifling son Kris or Marcus whatever his name is 🤭. Joy, was my favorite sibling, she was more like Nickolas and I was so happy she stood up for herself, Nickolas and Candance.

When Candance secret came out, I feel that all side should’ve been told. As we know the saying - there 3 sides to the story🤔. But what had me all smile was when Nickolas decided to think of himself and what was best for him, then stood up for himself ☺️. I don’t think my guy care if he sees his family again. The way this man stepped up for his sister Joy, his niece and Candance was straight love and I was here for it. Like he stated, it’s time to Mae their own traditions and I loved it.

As always, Jahquel did disappoint and as time goes on, I plan to read her complete catalog. At least that’s my goal🤭.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read overall. Jahquel J delivers a holiday-themed fake relationship romance featuring Nicolas Saint, a successful but single real estate broker in Atlanta, and Candance Kain, a self-proclaimed sugar baby who agrees to pose as his fiancée for the holidays to get his parents off his back about settling down.

The premise had a lot of potential - the fake fiancée trope during the holidays with a generous financial arrangement should have been fun and engaging. There were definitely some steamy scenes that kept things interesting, and I appreciated the holiday vibes throughout. However, the execution fell a bit flat in places and the character development felt rushed. Some of the plot points felt predictable and the pacing was uneven - certain sections dragged while others seemed to rush through important moments.

The writing itself was decent but could have benefited from tighter editing. There were moments where the dialogue felt forced or the situations felt contrived rather than organic. I wanted to love this more than I did, especially given the fun holiday concept, but it just didn’t quite deliver on its potential.

If you’re looking for a quick, light holiday read and aren’t too picky about depth or character development, this might work for you. It’s not bad, just average - the kind of book that’s fine to pass the time but probably won’t stick with you long after you’ve finished it.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[India Jones-Tanner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short Christmas story follows a wealthy young man who brings home a fake fiancée to impress his high-expectation parents during the holidays. With a father still bitter that he chose a different career path and a mother who has perfected the art of meddling, you can feel the tension the moment they walk through the door.

Even though the entire plot unfolds quickly, the pacing actually works in its favor. The story moves at a rapid pace — no slow, drawn-out scenes or unnecessary filler. Every chapter pushes the fake-dating chaos forward: secret glances, holiday traditions gone wrong, and the growing realization that maybe this fake relationship doesn’t feel so fake anymore.

There’s plenty of Christmas charm sprinkled in — twinkle lights, family traditions, awkward mistletoe moments — and the romance develops just enough to leave you smiling.

Final Thoughts:
It’s a light, fast, and festive read perfect for anyone looking to escape into a quick holiday romance. The family drama is amusing, the chemistry is sweet, and the fake-fiancé trope delivers exactly what you expect from a cozy Christmas novella.

[Moneaka Redmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful, Addictive, and Full of Heart!

Ho, Ho Housewife by Jahquel J was an absolute five-star ride from beginning to end. What stood out most, beyond the sizzling chemistry between Nick and Candy, was how powerful it was to watch both Joy and Nicolas finally stand up to their families for what truly makes them happy. Their journeys felt raw, real, and incredibly empowering.
Watching Nicolas face down the pressure of his picture-perfect family while slowly letting Candy into his guarded world was so satisfying. And Candy? She shines. A self-proclaimed sugar baby with grit and vulnerability, she brings warmth and depth to every page.
The fake fiancée setup is fun, but what makes this story unforgettable is the moment the pretending stops feeling like pretending for them and for us as readers. By the time they choose their own happiness over everyone else’s expectations, it feels like a triumphant exhale.
Jahquel J delivers passion, humor, and heart with flawless balance. I couldn’t put it down. A must-read! 💕

[Rosetta Edwards-Ham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nico and Dancey 🥰

Okay Jahquel with a fire, quick Christmas read. Nicolas finally answered his mom’s call and ended up engaged. He had to find a fiancé with the quickness to take home to his judgmental family. His assistant, Luca, came up with the bright idea to use his bestie/roommate as the fake fiancé since she needed money after her last sugar daddy dropped her. Candace needed the money so she did it. They go and she stands up to Nico’s mom and bonds with one of his sisters, Joy. She helps Joy come to terms with leaving her cheating husband and stand up to her own mother. Candace finds out right before Christmas that one of her sponsors is Nico’s brother. That family had all kinds of issues. They wanted her out the house and Nico said they are out lol. Of course, Joy and her daughter, Peace go back to the A with them. They start their own Christmas tradition as a little family. The fake relationship becomes a real one of Christmas when Nicolas actually proposes to Dancey! This was such a cute read!

[Vasaunti Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the type of fake fiancé story I’m all here for. Now both Candance and Nicolas are living life the way they want and are not apologizing for it. However, both are forced to face the music for different reasons. Candance is a sugar baby that lost her sugar now falling on her face and Nicolas is no longer able to run from his family but doesn’t want to go home without his moms down his back, so he brings candy on his arm. Shit gets real when they get to his home and feelings start to form and lines are blurred. Their chemistry was everything and the banter was cute. I loved how Candance and Joy bonded and showed to be locked in. I wish we got more from her story. I hate their parents and hope them and the liar of a brother and brown nose of a sister all chock on the dry ass life they have built. I loved that Nicolas had Asher as well. All in all, Lucus is still my favorite character he is the best friend that everyone needs and deserves his flowers and so much more. Their names with the Christmas play were corny but cute at the same time.

[Ta'Nisha Gray Yolanda Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfectly Imperfect

I've been going through Jahquel's catalog for months now reading in order of publication dates. I've left a few reviews with words but mostly just give 5 🌟 bc I don't want to keep reiterating the same thing... She's an awesome author.

This is a feel good perfectly imperfect love story that makes you warm and fuzzy inside.

There's somebody for everybody. I'm praying God is getting my perfectly imperfect somebody ready for me and me ready for them.

At my big age of 52 having 6 sons 5 of them adults and the last of them a16 yr old and 16 beautiful glamchildren having never been married and wanting an unbreakable love. These stories give me hope even though the characters are majorly young. Maybe Jahquel will write some stories for us more seasoned readers who are wanting love.

[Brisace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ho, Ho, Ho-usewife by Jahquel J gave me everything I look for in a holiday romance messy, flirty, and a little too real. What started as a simple arrangement slowly turned into something neither of them could ignore. I loved how Candance brought her bold, unapologetic energy into Nick’s world. She wasn’t intimidated by his money, his attitude, or his expectations, and that made their chemistry feel all the more electric. Watching them blur the lines between fake and real kept me hooked, because beneath all the banter and pretending was a story about two people learning to see each other fully.

This wasn’t just a fun holiday read it was a spicy, unexpected love story that showed how sometimes the best gifts aren’t under the tree but right in front of you.

[Priscilla Obie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a super cute Christmas story, and it had everything I love in a holiday romance—spice, charm, and banter that actually made me laugh. The chemistry between the two main characters was on point, and the back-and-forth between them gave the story so much life. On top of the humor and heat, the author dropped some real gems that gave the book more depth than I expected.
This is my second Christmas read by Jahquel J., and at this point I can say I truly love her writing style. She balances romance, humor, and heartfelt moments so well. I’m already looking forward to reading more of her work next year.
Definitely a must-read if you want a fun, festive story with a little extra kick! 🎄✨

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a fake dating/fiance/marriage trope so I was immediately interested in this one. I thought Nick and Candance had a funny introduction and liked their back and forth. If this was a little longer I think I would have been more invested in their relationship. It just felt like everything moved so fast. I get it’s a novella so things do tend to move quickly, I just think a little more could have been put into them to make their feelings more believable. The messiness of the family is what really caught my attention in this. I really want to find out what happens with Joy and what her plans will be and also hopefully seeing someone handle the mom because she was something else. Overall, this was an enjoyable holiday read and I’d read a part two.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreams do come true

Although this was a short book (can't think of the right word) it truly felt like a full blown novel. I did not like Nicholas family and Noel is going to be bitter just like her Momma. Joy is a sweetheart and I am glad she stood up to her momm. Candace although not right did what she was taught from a very young age. Jah you said this was a Christmas story but I hope you plan to visit the Saints around Valentine's Day I want to know how many children they have are they still in love did Joy find true happiness and how is she making out. This was a very good book.

[Ashley Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so freaking cute! Such a quick read, and I genuinely enjoyed the plot. it’s like watching a Christmas movie. You know they are going to fall in love, but it’s still so cute to watch unfold. This book is a reminder for why representation is so important. I am someone who watches Christmas movies everyday during holiday season, and the selection is overwhelmingly white. I would LOVE to watch a black ass story like this on screen! The characters where developed just enough without wasting too much time with back stories. The timing and pace were relly good and believable. And I was not even expecting the small plot twist! So good.

[Lizzy Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

COME ON V’ DAY💘

QUEEN JAH DOES IT AGAIN!!! OUTSIDE OF THE EDITING ISSUES, I LOVE ME SOME CANDACE & NICO🤎.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF JOY AND COUSIN ASHER I COULDN’T STAND NICO’S FAMILY. HIS MOMMA AND SISTER NEED A DANG HOBBY OR SOMETHING CAUSE THEIR BOTH TO INVESTED IN EVERYBODY ELSE’S BUSINESS BUT THEIR OWN. I SAW THAT REVEAL COMING I JUST DIDN’T EXPECT IT TO BE HIS BROTHER😳. BUT THEY TRIED IT WORK CANDACE AND NICO WAS NOT PLAYING ABOUT HIS BAE. THE WAY THAT HIM AND JOY READ THEIR FAMILY TO FILTH👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🤣🤣🤣.

WHERE’S THE FOLLOW-UP CAUSE THIS MUST DEFINITELY ENDED ON A CLIFFHANGER👀👀👀😩😩😩