From New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy comes a standalone holiday romance with a grumpy, holiday hating Christmas tree farmer and a woman who embraces the holiday season with her whole heart… donating much of her time and wealth to various charities in the local area.
Charlie Sullivan despises Christmas. Though it keeps his family afloat, considering they own Sullivan Family Christmas Tree Farm, the main provider for Christmas trees on the Monterey peninsula. He’d much rather work among the trees versus have to deal with people.
But Charlie’s parents are taking on more philanthropic projects—and as their oldest child, they want him to be their official public representative. He just has to play nice and convince everyone he’s not a total holiday hater.
When Charlie’s mom asks Candice to accompany him to a variety of holiday parties and events, she reluctantly agrees. She thinks Charlie is a big ol’ Grinch, but is determined to change his mindset and help him spread Christmas cheer. Charlie finds Candice is too chatty, too sweet, too much. Do people like her really exist?
Why yes, yes they do. The more time they spend together—along with a few kisses under the mistletoe—the more they start to like each other. Hopefully Charlie can convince Candice he doesn’t have a heart that’s two sizes too small before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve.
The Dating series are standalone romances with interconnecting characters. Each novel completely stands alone (no cliffhangers!) and can be read in any order, but you’ll enjoy reading them as a series!
Save The Date
Fake Date
Holidate
Hate to DateYou
Rate A Date
Wedding Date
Blind Date
more
Absolute Christmas magic. If Hallmark doesn’t make this movie I may go on Christmas movie strike!
Mistletoe was made for Candice & Charlie! Holidate is a fab holiday read from autobuy author Monica Murphy!
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! If the change in the season and the beginning of October doesn’t start to get you into the holiday mood then this book will. I mean first of all if the cover doesn’t give you the warmth of the holidays, the romance inside will bring you mistletoe in abundance. Candice starts off stating that she thought she was living a Hallmark romance movie, but as I read and found some similarities, I noticed also the uniqueness of this sweet and impressionable story of two unlikely people falling for one another in the most unlikely of ways.
So yeah, a cute and romantic story just like the ones we see on TV but better. Better because Monica bring us characters that are not only relate-able as they are incredible people that you wish you had in your lives.
I read to escape. I read to be transported to some other persons Happily Ever After, I read to have the happy ending that might have eluded me during the day, the week, the month or the year. Holidate gave me all of that plus Christmas trees with boughs of love topped with a bright star for a brighter future. Maybe even another book that features Candice and Charles heading to the chapel…. maybe?
Any way that would be My Holiday Book Wish.
How sweet is Candice? So sweet! I was so happy that she got her book! I really enjoyed her Fake Date. She is always sweet and always doing things for others and very busy with charities. But she keeps busy, so she can get through the holidays without her mom. She misses her terribly and keeping busy helps her deal with her lose. Her attitude, she’s told is how her mom had been. She doesn’t even cuss. While meeting about an event, another woman joins in. And she had a request to make. She wants Candice to help her oldest son be more social and to help promote their tree farms. Candice doesn’t want to, but she doesn’t remember that after an accident she has. Next thing she knows, she’s meeting Charlie Sullivan. Her friends tell her that he’s a grump! And he really is…until she gets to know him. Charlie doesn’t want to go to these events with Candice. But Candice is persistent and won’t give up on Charlie. After spending time with on another, they start having feelings for one another. Candice makes Charlie a better man and more bearable to be around. And Charlie helps Candice by being there for her and not so alone. This book is so sweet and I loved how it just flowed. It even had me in tears at one point, but made me laugh too! This is a great read and it will even be a great holiday book too!
3.5 actual stars…Grumpy, anti-social, anti-Christmas Grinch meets energetic, enthusiastic (read over-the-top), holiday-loving female and they are about to turn each other’s lives upside-down. Holidate is a funny, sweet holiday treat that will leave you smiling through most of the pages.
A sweet, clean Christmas romance. I really enjoyed the story.
High-spirited heroine combined with equal parts stubborn alpha male, a sprinkle of meddling mom, and a dash of holiday cheer is what Murphy uses to create a magical masterpiece even more heartwarming than a gingerbread latte. Holidate is hands down my favorite holiday romance this year! Move over, Hallmark movies. I expect to see this one on Netflix any day now!
The Dating series are standalone romances with interconnecting characters, that’s why I felt a little lost at the start. However, it was easy to get the hand of it, but I suggest to start from book/audiobook 1.
Holidate is an enjoyable and entertaining holiday story great for this Holiday Season. I absolutely loved how the story came to life with the brilliant performance by Teddy Hamilton. Virginia Rose did a good job but I couldn’t connect with her character at times.
Candace and Charlie characters were likeable, funny and I enjoyed their banter. I keep thinking that something was missing, and in the end I realized that I couldn’t felt the chemistry or the sparks with this couple, it may be that the lack of passion, and steamy romance between this couple did a number on me. However, all in all this was a sweet and magical Christmas listen that I really enjoyed.
Seeing Santa’s elf and the Grinch getting together – was too cute. Even though it appears they are opposites in every way – they actually compliment each other extremely well. She got the Grinch to realize he had a heart and it was cute to watch how they fell in love.
Candice really is sweet and bubbly, always giving, especially at Christmas when her heart hurts so much. Charlie is a private person, but comes across as a real grump. It was sweet how these two opposites drew out the best of each other.
A sweet and easy escape read!
I enjoyed this book and it’s sweet love story. This series has been a great one to read and I look forward to the next book. I recommend this book, this series, and this author.
Holidate (Dating #3) was a great read by Monica Murphy. Candice has always loved Christmas and has been donating her time and wealth to different charaties. Charlie’s family own’s a Christmas Tree Farm which leads him to despise Christmas. He winds up being the public representative for the family farm when his parents start philanthropic projects. His mom ask’s Candice to go to holiday parties with Charlie to help his image and spread holiday cheer. I really enjoyed Candice and Charlie’s story and can’t wait to read more by Monica Murphy.
I was definitely underwhelmed. The characters came across as YA to me, including Isobel. Who was supposed to be a grandmother! I ended up skimming a good part of the story and never really felt like I missed anything. Candice and Charlie don’t really get together until almost the end and then the conflict was pretty stupid, IMO. It could have been cleared up in 2 seconds.
4 Stars!
I was so happy when Ms.Murphy announced Holidate. It’s never too early for a Christmas read and oh what a great read this was! This story warmed my heart and I enjoyed it so much!
Candice and Charlie’s journey was one I had to finish in one sitting! I related so much to Candice’s love of Christmas and I really liked Charlie! There was more to these characters than meets the eye and I loved how they kept bringing smiles to my face.
With Holidate, Ms.Murphy has created such a sweet read that already has me looking forward to Christmas! It’s going to be one of my go to books for years to come and I’ll definitely be getting a gingerbread latte as soon as possible.
*I volunteered to read and review a Copy of this book from Social Butterfly PR / the author*
This was a super fun read. The story is filled with lots of Christmasy events and lots of Christmas spirit. The two main characters, Candice and Charlie are very likeable. Candice took some of the grumpy away from Charlie and Charlie took some of the sad away from Candice. I really like the Christmas gift Charlie gave to Candice. Such a beautiful, thoughtful gift.
I’m so in love with this author. Each character she writes ends up being one of my favorites.
Sometimes your mothers choices will either work out so she can gloat, or it will be a complete mess. One simple white lie turns into a cute friendship that’s tipping towards a relationship. Of course there are always twists and turns in the story. This book is entertaining. Great characters.
Perfect read for the holiday season or whenever.
*I was given a free advanced copy of this book by Net Galley in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.*
This was a fun holiday read that made me want Christmas to hurry up and get here!
Candice is “tricked” into helping Charlie get out there more with the public crowd since he will take over the family’s Christmas Tree business when they retire. But the hard part is getting him to commit and corporate because he is broody, rude, and prefers to keep to himself and not worry about trying to chit chat up rich people to keep buying their trees. But what Charlie didn’t expect was to fall hard for the young society girl who is tasked with showing him the ropes around high society and charity events.
This was a fun and easy read. I think my only dislikes were that Candice seemed at times a little too juvenile for her age, but other wise I really enjoyed it.
“If he’s trying to make me cry even more, then he just succeeded.
Who knew Charlie the Grinch actually has a heart?”
Candice loves Christmas. The end of the year is a busy date on her calendar, with countless parties and philanthropic events. This outgoing, chatty, and kind-hearted young woman makes her charity events her primary goal. With the death of her mother, she inherited a huge fortune, which provides her lifestyle. With so much free time, helping others occupies her mind. And soothes her heart.
Charlie hates Christmas. The end of the year is the busiest date in his family business, after all they have a Christmas tree farm. This grumpy, reserved, introverted young man prefers to isolate himself at work and deal as little as possible with others. His family has a nice bank account, but lavish is not something they usually do. With no free time, the trees are his company, and work gives him peace. And leaves him isolated.
When Charlie’s mother decides to ask for Candice’s help, these two very different young people have no idea that their lives are about to change dramatically. Charlie’s family wants him to be the new “face” of business, but for that he needs to improve his social skills. Who better to help him, than the princess of society? And so, Candice meets the Grinch and agrees to help him. Even if she doesn’t remember agreeing.
Observing these two will be very interesting. With different personalities, opposing goals and strong genius, the clash between them will not be easy. With stereotypes getting in the way and pre-judgments formed, finding out that looks can be deceiving will be delightfully shocking. And with the strong attraction between them, succumbing to temptation will be next to impossible.
The other characters in the series appear in the plot. Stella has a big role, and her hatred for the opposite sex made me curious.
With the magic of Christmas overflowing with pages, Holidate is a cute, sweet, funny and romantic book. Candice and Charlie are perfect for each other.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest Review *
So cute and sweet with a push and pull between the hero and heroine that I loved! This is the perfect get-you-in-the-mood-for-the-holidays story! I didn’t want it to end.