thank you to Netgallery and the publishers for letting me review an ARC of this book. this book was MAGICAL. it gave all the christmas and winter vibes. i’m obsessed with the reverse grumpy x sunshine romance. the growth of the female main character was spectacular. i really enjoyed this book and i would recommend this to any who’s looking for a cute, winter romance read. i truly want a man like lucas.

just a warning that this book does talk about assault.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

Yes I am reading Christmas books already and no it is never too early. I love Christmas and more to the point I loved this book!

Lucas was just adorable and so sweet. I really enjoyed his interactions with Mrs Kelsey they were so funny. I also felt for Sarah with what had happened to her previously in her relationship. Although she was kind of frustrating at times and I wanted to give her a shake. 🤣

This one gave me all the feel good Christmassy vibes and the chemistry between the two main characters is brilliant and really had me laughing out loud at times.

If you love a feel good Christmas rom com I definitely recommend this one. This was my first read by this author but I certainly won’t be my last.

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and the publisher for having me on the tour and for my gifted ebook.

Looking for a festive read. Then look no further. This one in chick a block full of Christmas joy and spirit. I really enjoyed it.

Fun, festive and emotional
4 stars

This is the first book I’ve read from Tracy Corbett but I couldn’t resist a one-month, fake-dating romance to get me into the Christmas spirit.

Sarah is Head of HR at a private hospital in London. Still reeling from being jilted, she has sworn off men and dating. So when the new hospital director takes an interest in her, she does the unthinkable and let’s Dr Lucas Moore pretend to be her boyfriend. American, Lucas, is only in the UK temporarily but he can’t help his attraction to his cute but prickly neighbour, Sarah. Fake dating her is definitely not a hardship but will he be able to walk away once their month is up?

Sarah has had a hard time romantically and not only has it brought her walls up but it’s completely hardened her heart to the thought of love or happiness. She’s even gone off Christmas since her heartbreak. She really is quite standoffish, prickly and awkward - especially to Luke. But I liked her immensely. I definitely saw myself in her and was rooting for her to get out of her own way and let herself be happy again.

By complete contrast, Lucas is the sweetest, happiest and kindest man on the planet. But he’s not annoying with it. Well, he is to Sarah! He’s so cute, and not just because he’s confused about the UK lingo and references - which was hilarious. He’s just an all-round nice guy and I’ve decided that I want him for my very own. He was smitten with Sarah and despite their differences, they really fit well together and he was exactly what she needed.

This is a very slow-burn romance and in the end, we only get a few kisses, some touches and a mention of the couple’s love life in the epilogue. It’s not that the door is closed to us but rather that there are no sex scenes to be had. I would have liked a bit more, especially before the declarations, but it suited the book to not have anything so that’s not a criticism just a personal preference.

There’s a lot of detail in the book that doesn’t really add to the romance but does help build a bigger picture of the world our characters inhabit and who they are as people. I loved the descriptions of London at Christmastime, the trips that Sarah and Lucas went on and the lovely things they bought among others. It really built that lovely, cosy feeling of a Christmas story that made me happy and festive and in need of a cup of hot chocolate.

As well as the burgeoning relationship between Sarah and Lucas, we have other, smaller storylines going on. There’s the grumpy Mrs Kelsey, Lucas and Sarah’s nosy neighbour from their building and her health concerns. We have Lucas’s sister, Harper, who’s going through a horrible divorce with her two kids. And then we have that hospital director and his unwarranted fixation on Sarah. The divorce is unpleasant and the scenes involving Harper and her soon to be ex-husband are heartbreaking and infuriating in equal measure. I would have preferred to hear less of the reasons for the divorce because it didn’t sit well in my nice, cosy romance. Yes, I know it happens in real life but I don’t like real life.

The largest of the other storylines pertains to the unwanted attentions and stalking of Sarah by her boss. It was bad enough when it was just his creepy behaviour in the office but when it escalated, it got super uncomfortable. Nothing overtly scary or overwhelming, but it added interest to our story and, of course, gave Lucas and Sarah a reason to fake date and ultimately fall in love.

There were emotional bits in the story, too. I’m not much of a fan of sad-crying in my romances and this one did it to me twice. First for Fred. It was fine - but I still cried. And secondly, just in Sarah’s sadness about where she was in her life. I could relate and so I cried. I suppose I can’t blame the author for that last one although anything that draws emotion has to be applauded!

I really enjoyed this story and very much liked reading about Lucas, Sarah and how their relationship started and grew. The writing style made this a book that was easy to read and always one I wanted to pick up and read after a break. The epilogue was also lovely and really made me all warm inside. All in all, this is a great book to pick up and read in the run up to Christmas to get you into that festive and cosy mood. 4 stars - but very nearly 5.

Only for Christmas is a wonderful festive romance, full of heart, humour and Christmas spirit. It has some of my favourite tropes in it, grumpy/sunshine forced proximity and fake dating. This is a thoroughly entertaining read , it is full of heart and fun as I mentioned, but also touches on themes of controlling behaviour and bullying.

Sarah is a beautiful character, she has tried to protect herself by cutting herself off from love and possible hurt, she is lonely despite the front she gives off. Lucas i couldn’t help but love because he was kind , dependable and generous , everything you wanted for Sarah and what she deserved I loved watching their friendship develop. I can’t not mention Fred, I adore a dog in a story, such a character.

Only for Christmas is a delightful and festive read, it will warm your heart so much you’ll feel it in your toes, it’s such a gorgeous story to spend your evenings by the fire with, thoroughly recommended for those with a heart.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A really fun fake dating to love holiday romance that draws you in and keeps you entertained. It’s a funny, heartwarming rom-com that hits so many workplace dynamics that readers can relate to. Perfect real for the holiday season!

Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book!!! I love all the characters, the romance, the character development and cuteness of this book. This is such a perfect christmas read and I could not put it down!

Only For Christmas by Tracy Corbett

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

One month to pretend... or one month to fall in love?
How do I turn down an overly keen colleague I have zero interest in dating? Should I:

Stammer and bluster my way through every excuse in the book
Accept and then immediately turn in my resignation letter, change my number and leave the country
Allow my hot, new, doctor neighbour to step in and pretend to be my boyfriend

The answer: there are no right answers.

But option 3 is happening and I’m fake dating Lucas just to survive my work Christmas party without any further unwanted advances.

My Opinion

Firstly, have you seen this stunning cover? If that isn't enough to pull in the reader then I am not sure what is.

Tracy Corbett has written a lovely festive novel that will whisk you away. This is a relatively short book that I devoured in one sitting, I couldn't face the thought of stepping away even for a short time. Whilst reading this I could just imagine watching this on my TV, the plot would make for a good Christmas fil.

With a fake couple and festivities this makes for a highly entertaining festive read. If you haven't read a Christmas book by Tracy Corbett yet, you are missing out!

Rating: 4/5

I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for my honest review.

This book is a fun and romantic festive romp and was such an easy book to read too. I read this book really quickly and devoured it in a couple of sittings.

It was such a wonderful, feel-good story and i honestly felt as though i was in the middle of a lovely Christmas movie, it was wonderful!

I loved the two main characters, Sarah and Lucas and loved going along for the ride and seeing how their friendship blossomed.

There was a wonderful Christmas atmosphere and it was such a heartwarming story and i honestly found myself thinking about this book long after i had finished it……..

As a big sucker for Hallmark Christmas movies, I really enjoyed this book! It had the perfect amount of festive cheer to it. Sarah, the main character, was maybe a little over-zealous in her commitment to remaining single and not letting people into her life, but it honestly kind of worked. And Lucas was the perfect guy. Sweet, sensitive, and knew how to ensure Sarah always felt safe with him. There was also a main antagonist that was basically Lucas’s foil. Steven was super entitled and thought he deserved to get anything he wanted, which gave Lucas the opportunity to be the hero, and we love that in an MMC. Lucas’s family were also a big part of this story and I loved his sister and her kids. If you love Christmas, this is a great book to help give you some holiday cheer!

What a beautiful, festive read this proved to be,
With laughter as well as darker themes for readers to see.
Sarah has had her heartbroken, years before
And hasn't since dated any more.
So a bullying, demanding boss is the last thing she needs
Thank goodness her new neighbour and colleague agreed!

To avoid the manipulative behaviour of her colleague
A fake relationship with Lucas is what they've agreed.
Lucas is only here for a limited time
To fall for him now would surely be a crime?
But as he breaks down the walls around her heart
Will these two really have to part?

A lovely story despite the angst there, too,
As firmly built barriers need breaking through.
With colleagues rooting for her, unaware of trouble,
Can these two singles become a true double?
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Sarah is trying to stop the unwanted attention she is getting at work, but the main way to do that is to fake date her neighbour.

This was a really cute romance read, I loved the character of Lucas and his outsider view, while Sarah had so much growth in this novel, it showed great character development.

This novel was fun, easy to read and funny in places. A great holiday read and an author I would easily pick up again.

This was the first book I have read by Tracy Corbett and i can't wait to read her other books. This was such a cute book. I had so many laugh out loud moments. The characters' growth, the humor, and the warmth of their connection make this novel a delightful read that captures the essence of the holiday spirit. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Canelo for allowing me to read this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.

Tracy Corbett - Only For Christmas.

What’s not to love about a fake dating, festive tale?
Tracy Corbett has captured all the feels of the season perfectly.
The star of the show is Lucas. He’s just lovely. Who wouldn’t want to date him, fake or otherwise?
Sarah was a little more frustrating, but I grew to like her.

There was a darker sub plot running through this book. Tracy Corbett took this to the right level. It had it’s impact, but didn’t drag the feel good factor of the story down.

Over all, a very enjoyable, feel good, festive read.
#OnlyForChristmas ticks all the boxes for Christmas romcom lovers and Hallmark fans.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Canelo and Netgalley for a digital arc of this title.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, sweet and I didn't want to put it down. I liked both main characters and wanted things to work out for them. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

This is an entertaining read which has all the flavours of the festive season, with a touch of humour, but beneath the surface, some darker themes of coercive behaviour and bullying. Sarah has tried to protect her heart by shutting herself off from the possibility of romance but you sense that she is a vulnerable and lonely character despite the veneer she presents to the world. I particularly liked the humour, found in her adopted dog, Fred, and also through the reactions of Lucas' nephews. You also meet Sarah's neighbour, an old lady who is also lonely and vulnerable but who covers it up with bluster.

Lucas emerges as a kind and generous character, with a sense of family ties. Utterly dependable, you recognise that he is just what Sarah needs. Her work colleagues can see this as well. As the fake dating arrangement evolves, you see Sarah and Lucas' friendship blossom. Lucas, as an American in London, sees the country and the Christmas customs through an outsider's eyes which lends itself to the story. If you are looking for a light romcom with a festive touch, you will enjoy this romance.

In short: festive romance with likeable characters

Oh my gosh this book has me feeling like Christmas is around the corner! I absolutely loved it, a fun, fluffy, happy ending romance that was a breezy and beautiful read! A perfect rom-com book to get started both on the Christmas festivities but also a general all round feel good read!
I loved that the story explored both Sarah and Lucas's careers and the passion both had. I also loved that secondary characters like Diana the neighbour downstairs got mentioned more than once. To me I loved this because it just furthered how amazing Lucas was in caring and helping for others!
Black cat and a golden retriever is a perfect combination for a book couple furthering the love I had for this book!

This was a complete miss on all accounts: it didn't feel at all like a Christmas book, and the relationship was barely in the top five topics of this book. Most of it was about his sister and her creepy boss and the whole parade of colleagues in the workplace.

A disappointing read without anything that can keep you hooked. I was barely able to finish it.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Canelo publishing and Tracy Corbett for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is EVERYTHING I want in a Christmas book. Truly magical…cliche but magical and I devoured it in one day. You can only want the best for Sarah and Lucas. The characters around them and plot lines only strengthen it all and you just pray for the happy ending that it needs to be. One of the best Christmas books!!

Loved it!