by: Jody Holford
Series: Kendrick Place
Genre: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Release Date: December 5, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Publishing ~ Bliss
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Owen Burnett planned on a quiet, easygoing Christmas, hanging out with his best friend and neighbor, Gabby Michaelson. So when his mom pressures him to come home for the holidays, he tells a little white lie…that he’s spending the holidays with his new girlfriend. But when his family shows up unexpectedly, Owen pulls the best friend card and asks Gabby to play his fake girlfriend.
Gabby’s been hopelessly in love with her best friend Owen for what feels like forever, but playing his "fake" girlfriend when the entire boisterous Burnett clan visits is easier said than done. The more she tries to deny the attraction between them, the more obvious their chemistry becomes. But even though she's not the only one feeling it, putting their friendship on the line is a risk she can’t take.
I’m a huge fan of Jody Holford’s cozy mystery series. However, she started out her writing career as a romance writer. More Than Friends marks my first time reading one of Jody’s true romance stories. I love friends to lovers stories. More Than Friends was right up my alley. The fact that the story centers around Christmas made it all the better.
Gabriella Michaelson is all alone in the world. Her parents both died when she was sixteen, and her grandparents who raised her have also passed away. Gabby loves Christmas but this time of year is always hard for her since it’s just her.
Owen Burnett is something of a recluse. He likes to spend time alone. He isn’t a fan of crowds or loud people. He is the polar opposite of his theatrical family who believes in the more the merrier, the louder the better. Owen hates Christmas and thinks he can get out of having to spend it with his family by telling his parents he has to work. To his shock, his family consisting of his parents, sister, and aunt decide to spend Christmas in Boston with him. He might have also mentioned to his mom that he met someone and wanted to spend Christmas with her.
In a panic, Owen walks across the hall, to his best friend Gabby’s apartment, with the goal of asking her to pretend to be his girlfriend for the time his family is in town. To prove he’s desperate and serious, he offers up the one thing he knows Gabby really wants. His apartment. Gabby has had a crush on Owen for a while now. However, in typical Owen fashion, he is totally oblivious to her feelings. A practice kiss blows both their minds and soon they each start to wonder if playing pretend could turn into the real thing.
I LOVED More Than Friends. Gabby and Owen are really great friends and that made them falling in love with each other all the sweeter. They are truly a fun-loving couple. The secondary characters are just as likable. I love that at least one character has this mystery about them that feeds the storyline a little. What’s even better is that the secondary characters have their own stories. I’m definitely reading the other books in the Kendrick Place series.
~ Favorite Quotes~
“There isn’t anything about you I would change.”
“I see you, Gabby. You’re everything to me.”
“Sometimes the best things are the ones you don’t plan on or for.”
**Received a copy of the book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed.**
Rating: 4.5
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This is a new to me author and the story sounds good thanks Kim!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. As I said I LOVE her cozy mystery series, Britton Bay. If you like Christmas romances, she also has a new one which released recently.
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