Christmas Honeymoon (For One)

Sweet Paradise Resort Christmas #1

by Hope August

Her ex-fiancé took everything except the honeymoon package.

Kate had it all planned out. A beautiful wedding and a perfect honeymoon with the man of her dreams. But when her fiancé dumps her for someone else, he leaves behind nothing but the non-refundable honeymoon package. Left with a shattered heart and barely a cent to her name, Kate goes on the trip. Her best friend said it would be cathartic.

Besides, it wasn’t like things could get any worse.

Liam, burdened by his own loss, arrives at the idyllic, snow-kissed resort on a solemn quest—to honor a promise made to his late girlfriend. This was supposed to be a journey of final goodbyes and the closure of a love chapter, not the start of a new one.

After a meet-cute fail, an unexpected couple's competition with the potential to solve Kate's dire financial struggles throws her and Liam together again.

Can Kate navigate her growing feelings for Liam while pursuing the prize she desperately needs?

Will Liam let the warmth of new love mend his broken heart before their Christmas retreat concludes?

Christmas Honeymoon (For One) is a 30k-word novella, book one in the Sweet Paradise Resort Christmas series.

This clean and wholesome romance is the perfect holiday escape. If you like Christmas ornaments, freshly fallen snow, and crackling fireplaces, then you'll love this kisses-only, happily ever after holiday romance from Hope August.

Each book in the series stands alone, but each slow burn story is best enjoyed when read in the following

Book 1 - Christmas Honeymoon (For One)
Book 2 - Merry Mistletoe Wedding
Book 3 – Christmas Cookies and Coworkers
Book 4 - Maid for Mistletoe Mix-up
Book 5 - A Sweet Paradise Holiday Reunion

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Novella, Clean Romance, Contemporary, Ebooks, Holiday

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2023

Reviews

[Elaine and Tess the Springer. I won’t be on GR for a bit. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable story.

A Christmas read in June but I love Christmas books and this felt good enough to keep on reading. Kate and Liam, our main characters, have been dealt a hard time and who could imagine going on your honeymoon alone or your other half passing away and you had promised that you would keep the booking and go on your own. It's a lovely story to read I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Caitlin Coska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spice: 0/5 🧼

Listen, don’t tease me with an enemies to lovers and instead give me a mild stranger dislike to lovers. 😅

Overall, this was short and sweet. I liked the idea but a lot of it felt very unrealistic. I cannot imagine people talking to each other the way these characters did.

It’s a fast read and had a good holiday escape vibe happening. Just not really a love!

[Greet · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

[Hippo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok I’m not sure where to start with this review.

This is NOT enemies to lovers. It’s mild dislike for a chapter to lovers.

The FMC is self centred, annoying and doesn’t listen and the MMC is arrogant and annoying.

One minute she has ice skated when she was a child and fell over a lot and the next he asks her again a few pages later if she can ice skate and she’s never skated.

Also her BFFs name is Ansley which is just an odd name.

All in all I made myself finish this book on the hope it would improve. It didn’t.

[Demi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was promised enemies to lovers, and this was not it.
They mildly disliked each other for a chapter, and then they were in love.

[Jamie Humphreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Christmas novella

[Claralit · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐

Une lecture sympa et rapide pour les fêtes mais il ne faut pas s'attendre à grand chose je dirai 😅 L'histoire est très peu réaliste parce que ça se passe sur une semaine et que nos deux personnages tombent fou amoureux mais c'est une histoire de Noël donc on accepte.

J'ai eu du mal avec certains dialogues par contre que j'ai trouvé assez bizarres pour des dialogues entre presque inconnus.

[Lyn Brownlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really sweet novel by Hope August featuring Liam and Kate.
Liam and Kate meet, both heartbroken and trying to deal with their own losses.
Both single and for their own painful reasons are staying at the Sweet Paradise Resort.
Kate broke and wanting her trip refunded wants to join the competition but unable to as it’s for couples only.
Liam feeling sorry for her offers to help her and become her partner.
Sparks fly and they both fall fast.
A misunderstanding has Kate reeling and running away.
Can they work this out?
I enjoyed this short story and look forward to reading more in this series.

[Celeste Langley · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I can be a romantic if the timing is right.”

This quote spoken by Kate's best friend is a perfect example of how I feel about this book. I too, can be romantic if the timing is right, this book just isn't timed right.
First off they are only "enemies" for a hot second, so calling this novella and "enemies to lovers" is a stretch. Secondly, the book itself is very bare-bones. It is comparable to the Hallmark movies I watch while I wrap Christmas presents. Lastly, Liam is not perfect, far from it. I personally think he's a guy who puts on a good face but is actually pretty arrogant.
Exhibit A -

“Change the song,” he demanded. The man stared at him, baffled. “What?” “I said we’re changing the song, buddy. Start this one.” He jabbed his finger at the paper within a plastic sheet protector. “But she didn’t request—” “Just do it.”

Exhibit B -

“Back at the resort, you got it all wrong.”

Back to my comparison to Hallmark movies. Just like those this book is a "clean romance". I have read plenty of clean romance books. The issue I have with many of them is they tend to get VERY cheesy. I'm not sure why but a lot of books like this one are very unrealistic. Just some of the things both Liam and Kate say and do really just took me out of the story and made it much less enjoyable of a read for me.
If you're looking for a quick holiday read that is clean (both language and sexual content) and doesn't have any surprises, I'd recommend it. If you looking for something that is different or smutty, definitely skip it.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely holiday escape...

I really enjoyed this novella and provided a lovely holiday escape. I especially liked how the relationship between Kate and Liam developed after a few heated moments of misunderstanding at the beginning to falling for each other by the end. Both characters had suffered heartbreak and were coming to terms with their own and each other's reasons to coming to the Sweet Paradise Resort is snow-sprinkled Colorado.

I found the setting really magical and felt like I was there in the resort with them witnessing their story unfold. I enjoyed this one so much that I ended up buying, and have now read, the rest of the series. Just couldn't wait to see what happened.

If anything, there were a few spelling mistakes throughout and one or two minor inconsistencies with plot and dialogue. I also wish, not to try and spoil too much, I wish Kate had not left before the conclusion of the competition. I feel there could of been more to the story with more moments of added tenderness.

Overall though, I really enjoyed this novella and loved reading the whole series.

[Lena Duke · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Christmas Honeymoon (For One) is such a sweet strangers to enemies to lovers story.

Kate is headed to Paradise Resort in hopes to get her money back after catching her boyfriend cheating. Liam is headed to Paradise Point to fulfill a promise to his late fiance. Neither of them are ready to date, much less ready for love. Through the course of the week Kate and Liam both find themselves catching feelings for the other but immediately pushing it in the back of their mind. The week ends on a sour note leaving both of them aching.. again.

Paradise Point sounds like a lovely place to visit during the winter holidays. Kate and Liam are both great characters, both riddled with heartbreak and pain. I loved their banter and chemistry.

If you're looking for a quick Christmas read, grab this and dive into Paradise Point to see what transpires between Liam and Kate.

I will definitely be reading book 2, Merry Mistletoe Wedding.

[Donna Feibusch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read!!!

I enjoyed reading Christmas Honeymoon(For One): (Sweet Paradise Resort Christmas Book 1)!!! All about Kate Lloyd a distraught bride, that was jilted by her ex and is In her mid-twenties & Liam Harper a single who just lost his fiancé to cancer a few weeks before their wedding is in his mid-twenties. Kate & Liam are on the same flight, so far she has not left a good impression on him what so ever! She’s stepped on his shoes while checking in at the gate and has hit him in the head twice putting her luggage above her seat, and taking it out of the cupboard. Now it turns out she’s at the same resort as him! Both had signed up and paid for a couples retreat for their honeymoons and it’s not refundable. Read about Kate & Liam and see if they can get thru this week without killing each other! Lots of emotion, that will have you laughing out loud and shaking your head more than once!!! Definite Read!!!

[Kirsty (KayBeth Bookish) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay so, I have a few thoughts (most in a vlog I've been recording on winter romances), but in summary my feelings are:

- This is NOT enemies to lovers in any way, shape or form
- There are multiple inconsistencies in this and continuity errors in their attitudes and what they say
- I came out of this learning virtually nothing about these characters other than she can sing and he dictates every micro-aspect of his life on what his deceased girlfriend would want
- His eyes are about 6 different shades of green. Jade Green. Light Green. Pine green. Did I mention they were green?
- I really didn't like the characters and I felt the whole thing read like a first draft that needed a lot of refinement.

I really wanted to like this book but apart from a couple of moments that gave me slight enjoyment, I just couldn't get behind their story and the ending felt far too rushed. It's unfortunately a no from me.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was so cute when it was working and then just annoyed me when it wasn't.

Enemies to lovers, but they're completely strangers and he was never once rude. She clumsily hit him with her suitcase on the head twice putting her bag in the overhead storage and all he did was apologies to her. Then when a weird guy was trying to talk to her he interrupted and pretended to be her husband and said that she'd prefer to sit in silence on the plane. But then she has this random grudge against him later and says he's nothing but a rude person who's had an attitude with her the whole time.

The miscommunication trope at its worst is here too. He even tried to have a conversation with her about it and literally said "can we just talk about this like adults" and she kicked him out.

At the good parts, I'm giggling and kicking my feet. Them working together to win this competition for couples and falling in love while doing so???

[Nicola Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a enemy to lovers story but it doesn't really fit that brief.

Kate and Liam are both going to a couples retreat just before Christmas without their significant other for various reasons. Kate's fiancee has dumped her and Liam's girlfriend has died.

Kate is broke after paying for a wedding and honeymoon and just wants her trip refunded. There is a chance of this but she has to join in with the competition but unable to as it’s for couples only.
Liam reluctantly agrees to become her partner, but having already met on the plane to the resort he is intrigued by Kate.
Both don't want to be looking for love and cannot believe it is possible to love again but both fall fast. But then a misunderstanding has Kate running away from Liam believing she cannot trust and is not worthy of love.
I enjoyed seeing how they work this out
I enjoyed this short story which is well written by Hope August.

[Linda Beliveau · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a full blown enemy to lovers storyline. More like the fates (namely Liam's deceased fiance) putting two people together who need to be. From the beginning every time Kate turns a corner she runs into Liam. Things in Kate's life seem to be going in the wrong direction starting with a scam bag fiance. What could goes wrong does, the rule of three, as she travels to the resort. Many people would consider the trip jinxed and turned around but not Kate. She keeps going. Something seems to urge her on. Enters Liam. The chemistry between these two. They push each other's buttons from the start. If you find yourself in the dumps and in need of a nudge with some positivity during this holiday season, I urge you to pick this one up. It's light. It's a quick read. For me I found it at the right time. Enjoy!

[Karen Brasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Honeymoon (For One)

Kate had been dumped by her ex-fiance. He decided that a co-worker was the woman he wanted in his life and ditched her. Now she is stuck with a non refundable honeymoon, all of the wedding expenses and a broken heart. Her friend convinces her to take the honeymoon trip alone and maybe she could find some closure. She did not intend to have another relationship. Liam lost his love to cancer but she had made him promise to go on the trip they had planned without her. So he is keeping a promise by going to Colorado. He did not count on meeting Kate. Neither of them are looking for love but when the resort throws them together for the couples activities they can’t help but get close. Will a misunderstanding be able to keep them apart?

This is a new to me author but I will be looking for more of her books.

[Kerry Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate is ditched by her ex and Liam's wife has passed these two find themselves on the same flight headed for the same resort. Then they have to pretty much fake date to try to win so Kate can get a refund. It's cute and cosy and I liked Kate and Liam, however this isn't really enemies to lovers. They're both overwhelmed and don't want a relationship yet are instantly attracted to each other.
It's a quick, sweet romance definitely with Christmas vibes. I quite enjoyed it and though there were a few inconsistencies it doesn't detract from a cutie romance and on that score, Hope August delivers
Kerry Kennedy Author

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, romantic story of two people being thrown together quite by chance. Both having suffered terribly with recent loss of loved ones. The setting is a winter resort hosting a special event for couples, but both of them, Kate and Liam, have arrived alone. Well, fate must have brought them together for a reason, and soon they began a friendship that was becoming more than that. Then something happened to spoil everything, and I was heartbroken as a reader.

But the story continued and things eventually became much better for both of them. It's a quick read so I will let you find out for yourself what happens.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate, left at the altar decides to take her winter honeymoon proceed as planned (without a hubby!)
Liam fulfilling a promise to his dead girlfriend, is also heading for the same venue.
They meet in the airport, get seated side by side on the plane, and keep bumping into each other at the resort.
Kate wants to get at least some of her money back but the only way is to take part in various competitions. Only they're all for couples only.
You can guess what happens next, and where it leads.
But there is a fly in the ointment which threatens to derail their plans.
It's a nice read but not really special or memorable.
3 Stars.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun-filled, Christmas read! Kate's had her heart broken by her cheating fiancé who practically dumped her at the altar - and the honeymoon was already paid for! Liam's sweetheart died after a quick battle with cancer. Neither is ready for a new relationship, but they are both interested in getting a refund on a trip that neither one wants to be on anyway! Surely, they can tolerate each other through a few couple-mandated activities to win a trip refund! Who knew there would be sparks between them? Christmas Honeymoon is a quick, relaxing, and joyful read. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

[Althea Hillier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truth or Misunderstanding

Kate and Liam both know that life can be messy sometimes. All is not rosy, but they discovered that life can turn around. We must take the good with the bad. It is so easy to miss what God has ordained for us. That was certainly the case for Kate. Read this beautiful, clean story and enter into the feelings - the ups and downs of life as this couple struggles to move pass the hurts and disappointments of yesterday. I highly recommend this novel to all who enjoys a good story.

[Pat Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toe-curling romance

What an adorable , clean romantic story. I could feel Kate’s pain and angst like it was my own. The meet up between her and Liam was very witty and I adored how he helped her from the very first with “sleazy”. The descriptions were very easy to visualize and though I was upset with how Kate treated him, I understood where she was coming from. The climax was well hidden until it came about….good plot line there. An adorable, feel good , story. First time reading this author…I will be back for more!

[Lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story was pretty contrived. Weak characters who were constantly flipping on their attitudes and emotions. If I’d been Liam, I would’ve let Kate go when she left and moved on to someone who wouldn’t make crazy assumptions about a person she loved without giving him an opportunity to explain. I finished this book, but it was a frustrating read. And even though there was a happy ending, it was a pretty big disappointment because the characters were made to be inconsistent to force a conflict. I would not recommend this book.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a clean, romance novella. I loved the setting (Wintertime, snowy resort). I liked the book enough to finish it and I did love that it had the epilogue at the end. The epilogue tells you what happens a year down the road. It was a predictable story line, but sometimes that is all you need along with a cup of tea..... ( I did get tired of the many descriptions for the eyes of the main, male character (green as pine needles, green as pine trees, etc...... OK, I get it - His eyes are very green !! Ha Ha)

[Linda DuPont · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liam and Kate booked a couples retreat at a ski resort with their fiancée and fiancé, respectively. Unfortunately, Liam’s fiancée died, and Kate’s fiancé left her for someone else. Liam’s Sarah insisted he take the trip even though she knew she wouldn’t be with him whereas Kate’s friend Ansley insisted Kate needed to go so she could get over her ex.
Kate and Liam pair together to try to win the couples competition so Kate can get a full refund. That puts them in close proximity, which means opportunity for love to sneak in. Can they overcome their past loves?

[Will Decker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought I would enjoy a Romantic story that didn't include some seriously hot spices, but I did. This one hits all the feel good spots without the spice of graphic sex. Well developed characters, good dialogue, fast pace, and clean editing make for a very enjoyable read. It did leave a few questions unanswered, such as what the male MC does for a living. Of if the female MC got her finances sorted. Just simple background filler to make it all feel more real.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good quick little Christmas romance! It’s a new to me author, and I enjoyed the story. I’ll be looking at her backlist of books. This was a second chance, enemies to lovers, for both after the situations they found themselves in from past relationships. Their initial run ins with each other had them frustrated, but soon they started to enjoy each others company being the only two at the resort not in a couple. I would recommend this as a good Christmas love story.

[Laura Gimbel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A growing romance between two people who end up at a couples retreat single due to separate situations.
Liam is everything a woman wants in a relationship. Good looking, honest, funny. He is at the retreat as he promised his wife he would still go after her death from cancer.
Kate was duped by her ex fiance and she’s only at the retreat single due to not being able to get a refund.
A fun romantic Christmas story.

[Connie Alderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Feel Good Romance

Kate is recovering from an unfaithful fiance. Liam is trying to move on from his love's death six months ago. They both are thrown together several times and then they join forces at a honeymoon resort. Can they both look past their pain to see the love that's waiting for them with each other?