A Holiday Boyfriend
Olivia Dunkley
Western Romance
Twelve days before Christmas, Katie’s perfect life unravels when her boyfriend dumps her. Heartbroken and humiliated, she returns to her hometown, determined never to show up for Christmas alone again. With a dramatic vow to the universe, Katie makes herself a promise: next Christmas, she’s coming home with a man—the right man.
Enter Binder, the dating app where hope goes to die. Katie, alongside her ever-supportive and hilariously outspoken best friends Valerie and Keiko, embarks on a quest for love in the age of swipes, sparks, and spectacular disasters.
Just when she’s ready to give up, Jacob, a rugged, quiet cowboy who works at the ranch where Katie boards her horse, Charlie, literally rides to her rescue. Grateful and intrigued, Katie finds herself drawn to Jacob’s earthy charm and steady presence. But she has a plan—and he doesn’t fit it.
Still wary of love and skeptical of their differences, Katie proposes a simple, no-strings-attached arrangement: Jacob will be her Holiday Boyfriend—a festive plus-one to get her through the season, nothing more. Jacob agrees, but has no intention of being temporary.
As the snow falls and the holiday spirit works its magic, Katie begins to fall for Jacob. But Jacob’s hiding something -something that could derail everything between them.
When the truth comes out, will Katie see it as a betrayal—or a Christmas miracle in disguise?
A warm, witty holiday romance about second chances, unexpected love, and the magic that happens when we stop searching for perfect and start seeing what’s real.
Uncaged Review: I just love holiday romances to put me in the mood for the yuletide season. In fact, they are my guilty pleasure and this book, about Katie, who gets dumped for the last time by her ex-boyfriend, Michael, hurts. Katie decides to find a holiday boyfriend via a dating app, but everyone she meets is just horrid. Just as Katie thinks she can’t find the perfect man, the stable hand, Jacob, where she boards her horse, fits the requirements for the role. Katie doesn’t know what to think about Jacob, but with his quiet demeanor and his soft ways with the horses, she slowly falls for him. Jacob has been in love with Katie since he met her, but can he convince her to give up the idea of a holiday boyfriend and make him a real boyfriend?
What a lovely holiday romance to put in the mood for Christmas! You know, I just love these types of stories and yes, it did make me want to get out my Christmas tree, start decorating and belt out Christmas songs until someone yells at me not to do that! This tale also made me love the Hallmark Christmas movies that I watch secretly with a warmed-up glass of spiced wine while I indulge in Christmas goodies. That is what this tale is, just a good-hearted holiday story with lovely characters and a beautiful setting to complete the picture-perfect ambiance of a feel-good yuletide story. Jacob is the strong, silent cowboy who is tongue-tied, awkward yet such a cinnamon roll of a hero that I absolutely fell for him! I just love cinnamon roll heroes. They are such wonderful MMC’s that there needs to be more of them! Jacob can still handle his own and will defend what is his, which I also love! Katie did annoy me, especially when she just wanted Jacob as a holiday boyfriend and wouldn’t make enough to support her, but then put him in the friend category. I just didn’t care for her superficial ways. I do hope to read more of Ms. Olivia Dunkley’s stories because she just writes such good books that I, of course, will definitely get more! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst
4.5 Stars
