BOOK REVIEW: Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday

Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Once upon a time teenage Aurora Evans met a hockey player at the Mall of America. He was from Canada. And soon, he was the perfect fake boyfriend, a get-out-of-jail-free card for all kinds of sticky situations. I can't go to prom. I'm going to be visiting my boyfriend in Canada. He was just what she needed to cover her social awkwardness. He never had to know. It wasn't like she was ever going to see him again...

Years later, Aurora is teaching kids’ dance classes and battling panic and eating disorders—souvenirs from her failed ballet career—when pro hockey player Mike Martin walks in with his daughter. Mike’s honesty about his struggles with widowhood helps Aurora confront some of her own demons, and the two forge an unlikely friendship. There’s just one problem: Mike is the boy she spent years pretending was her “Canadian boyfriend.”

The longer she keeps her secret, the more she knows it will shatter the trust between them. But to have the life she wants, she needs to tackle the most important thing of all—believing in herself.

Review:

The audiobook of Canadian Boyfriend was beautifully done! I loved that we alternated between the two main characters within each chapter. That they spoke their own parts. It was how I wish all audiobooks would play out. It made the story effortless to listen to. Plus, Mike’s voice?! Sigh. He easily swept me under his spell!

Canadian Boyfriend was a lot of fun, while also having a deeper emotional side. With panic attacks, healing from the death of someone you love, and more, this story packed an emotional punch. And I even found myself crying when Olivia, Mike’s daughter, confided why she was doing something. But on the other side of the coin, there were so many moments that had me constantly smiling and laughing out loud. I loved Mike and Rory together. The steamy moments, the dancing, even mealtime rounded out this story so wonderfully!

As this pages unfolded, it felt like there was a second chance for so many of the characters. My only hiccup was how many times Aurora said the full name of Mike Martin lol. I wish I had an ebook so I could look that up! But I’m so glad that I listened to the audiobook, it was fabulous to listen to! So if you adore the single dad trope, sports romance, and forced proximity, then definitely add this one to your tbr!

*I voluntarily listened and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEWS: A Princess for Christmas (Christmas in Eldovia #1) & Duke, Actually (Christmas in Eldovia #2) by Jenny Holiday

A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
From USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday comes a modern fairy tale just in time for Christmas about a tough New Yorker from the other side of the tracks who falls for a princess from the other side of the world.

Leo Ricci's already handling all he can, between taking care of his little sister Gabby, driving a cab, and being the super of his apartment building in the Bronx. But when Gabby spots a "princess" in a gown outside of the UN trying to hail a cab, she begs her brother to stop and help. Before he knows it, he's got a real-life damsel in distress in the backseat of his car.

Princess Marie of Eldovia shouldn't be hailing a cab, or even be out and about. But after her mother’s death, her father has plunged into a devastating depression and the fate of her small Alpine country has fallen on Marie’s shoulders. She’s taken aback by the gruff but devastatingly handsome driver who shows her more kindness than she’s seen in a long time.

When Marie asks Leo to be her driver for the rest of her trip, he agrees, thinking he’ll squire a rich miss around for a while and make more money than he has in months. He doesn’t expect to like and start longing for the unpredictable Marie. And when he and Gabby end up in Eldovia for Christmas, he discovers the princess who is all wrong for him is also the woman who is his perfect match.

Review:

A Princess for Christmas was an adorable Hallmark story, with steam. I loved the small town that Princess Marie of Eldovia was from. It had all the charm. And I loved watching how easily Marie friended Leo Ricci and his sister, Gabby. There was this instant connection between them that felt real. For the characters, I adored how feisty Marie could be when she found herself and what a swoon worthy man Leo was. I loved his sense of humor. With snowball fights, ice-skating, steam, and lots of Christmas cheer, I had a lot of fun listening to this audiobook. I laughed out loud when Leo asked Marie – “Hey Princess, you wanna see my chimney up close?”. Cheesiness at its best lol!

Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
There’s a royal wedding on, and things are about to get interesting.

Meet the man of honor

Maximillian von Hansburg, Baron of Laudon and heir to the Duke of Aquilla, is not having a merry Christmas. He’s been dumped by a princess, he’s unemployed, and his domineering father has sent him to New York to meet a prospective bride he has no interest in. In the city, he meets Dani Martinez, a smart (and gorgeous) professor he’s determined to befriend before their best friends marry in the Eldovian wedding of the century.

Meet the best woman

Newly single, no-nonsense New Yorker Dani is done with love—she even has a list entitled “Things I Will Never Again Do for a Man”—which is why she hits it off with notorious rake Max. He’s the perfect partner for snow angels in Central Park and deep conversations about the futility of love.

It’s all fun and games until their friendship deepens into attraction and, oops…

Falling in love was never part of the plan.

Review:

Duke, Actually should definitely be read after A Princess for Christmas. Story-lines are not only connected, but we get an attachment and understanding of Dani and her dog. I LOVED her dog, he stole the show again and again! And we get to see the characters in the first book get their happily ever after.

With this second book, I realized that Jenny Holiday is so talented at creating friendships. In this story we got to watch again as a friendship was formed between the two main characters, and it felt so real. This time it was Max, whose backstory hurt my heart. He showed the world only so much, and when he started letting Dani in, oh my heart. It was impossible not to fall in love with him and want to hug him at the same time. And then with Dani, she was so easy to like and adore. Her voice was fun, and her love for her little dog was just so endearing. Max couldn’t help but fall for him too. What unfolded were adorable moments like dirty dancing, McDonalds, office work parties, and so much more. This story was so easy to listen to and was again filled with steam and lots of cheesy moments. It was exactly what I was looking for!