Mr. Grumpy's Christmas Date

Betting on Christmas #2

by Cat Johnson

He's a grinch, she's full of cheer. Can fake dating turn into something sincere?

He’s a rich and grinchy workaholic. She’s one of his merriest and most annoying coworkers. They couldn’t be more opposite. But when he needs a plus-one for a friend’s yuletide wedding, he’s betting on Christmas to lure her into being his last-minute date.

What he doesn’t count on is her demanding his quid-pro-quo performance as her fake boyfriend for her matchmaking family over the holidays… or them both enjoying fake dating so much.

Pure grumpy, sunshiny fake relationship fun! The boss-employee dynamic gets a festive twist in this must-read romantic comedy.


The Betting On Christmas Collection
A big city billionaire with a bride from a small town. A high society New York City wedding with a momzilla being bossy boots. And one crazy bet. Will the bridesmaids and groomsmen find their own dates to the wedding of the century this Christmas, or will they all fall victim to Momzilla's decree? Find out in 10 standalone romances by ten bestselling authors: Zee Irwin, Cat Johnson, Delancey Stewart, Amy Stephens, Tracy Broemmer, Peggy McKenzie, Megan Ryder, Sofia Aves, Kim Law, Harper Cross

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Romance

241 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2023

About the author

📚Find Series Reading Order and Book Lists at Cat's site CatJohnson.net

🎥 For Film/TV Inquiries Email Cat@Catjohnson.net

It all started in first grade when Cat Johnson won the essay contest at Hawthorne Elementary School and got to ride in the Chief of Police's car in the Memorial Day Parade...and the rest, as they say, is history. As an adult, Cat generally tries to stay out of police cars and is thrilled to be writing for a living. She has been published under a different name in the Young Adult genre, but released her first romance in 2006.

Today, she is a NY Times & USA Today best-selling, award-winning author of contemporary romance. A promo ho, she's sponsored real live bull riding cowboys and promoted romance using bologna.

--from the author's website

Reviews

[Dana zamora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ba humbug

Xander wasn't a fan of Christmas, Merry is all about and over the top about Christmas, co-workers in the same office, secret fantasies about each other, totally opposite in every way, each needed a date for a wedding and family function, the deal is made, and oops but Xander learns to loosen up and go with the flow, Merry teaches him to have fun, experience life, family, can they be honest about their feelings for each other before it's to late, such a fun loving, family values, heartfelt story, Cat Johnson this is amazing, thank you, Dana Zamora

[Pam Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely perfect! Xander and Merry were totally awesome! Between his grumpy demeanor and her cheerful outlook on life and the holidays what could go wrong. Enter a fake date plan that makes them both wonder and then realize that life could be offering them more. She is his date to a rehearsal and wedding and he’s her plus one for a weekend at home to stop her meddling Mom and ex boyfriend. Enjoyed this book thoroughly. Enjoyed their fake weekends together as well as their shopping excursions. Merry’s family helped them both on their journey. Well written and a wonderful holiday story. 5+ stars.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh. That was just so ridiculously adorable. I can’t quite make up my mind whether this story gives me more of a feeling of “A Christmas Carol” or “The Grinch” with the way Xander opens his heart to the magic of the holiday and goodwill to his fellow men. Merry is simply the sweetest Christmas angel, and I loved watching her teach Xander how to embrace the season. They’re out of their element with one another, but I think they both needed a bit of shaking up in their lives. The book was so stinking cute, and I desperately don’t want to let go of these characters.

[Jenny From The Bog · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This was very cute. It had great characters (both main and secondary) , a scroogey holiday theme, and a happily ever after.

[Valeria Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for a light Christmas romance and I found it. Very light.

[Cat]

🎄Grumpy Sunshine
🎄Opposites Attract
🎄Fake Dating
🎄Christmas Romance
🎄Big City / Small Town
🎄And he falls first!

Available in eBook & Paperback
Amazon US https://amzn.to/42aeMbj
Amz Intl https://bit.ly/3LFlU8H
Apple https://apple.co/3LG2i42
Books2Read
https://books2read.com/christmas-date
BN https://bit.ly/3AWyXxu
GooglePlay https://bit.ly/3NKt0vm
Kobo https://bit.ly/3AXZ4nL
BookBub https://bit.ly/3VIkgYA
WebSite https://bit.ly/3pbf2sa

[Michele Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

groomsmen Xander

This series is turning out to be quite fun. This story is a continuation of the bet from the first story and we get Alexander (Xander) and his fake girlfriend, Merry. They have a great “fake” relationship, starting out by him going home with her. She has some over the top items that he can’t quite figure out given her more entry level job, but doesn’t think too much about it. He is ALWAYS working and glued to his phone. She doesn’t think too much about it when he isn’t on his phone while visiting her family. When they finally open up about their feelings, it is so sweet! Their banter flowed so well, and the other characters fell right into it. It was a really good story, i am looking forward to the next one.

[Jackie Reville · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.
Merry is the holiday loving girl. Ugly Christmas sweater wearing, loving Christmas shopping, family time, decorations everywhere, Christmas mugs kind of girl. She was single and her mother was wanting to change that.
Xander, a not-so holiday liking kind of guy, was not a family guy and was also one of the bosses of the company that they both worked for. He found himself in a situation where he was the best man for a Christmas eve wedding where he was required to have a date for all wedding related events or one would be found for him by the mother of the bride.
Zander and Merry came to an agreement to help each other out. See how her Christmas loving ways rub off on him!

[Mireille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic festive read. This book is a brilliant and lighthearted. Xander is the living embodiment of the grinch and Merry is Christmas on steroids. He needs a date for his best friends wedding and she needs a date to fend off her ex boyfriend. What starts out as helping each other out evolves into so much more. I really really enjoyed this book. It gave me all the warm and fuzzies. I loved Xander at the start and loved him even more by the end of the book.

[slfeissner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!

This was my first book by Cat Johnson, and my first in the Betting on Christmas collection. I loved it! I really enjoyed the original concept of the entire collection. I will definitely read more by Cat Johnson and am looking forward to reading the rest of the books!

Grumpy/Sunshine is one of my favorite tropes, and this book one-upped it by being a fanatical Christmas-lover paired with a Christmas-hater. Xander and Merry were so perfect for each other, and I love how her family and her town helped Merry open Xander’s eyes to the beauty and joy in the simple things.

[GuiltyPleasures · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merry and Xander—she’s the social media new hire and he’s a partner in a NYC company. He needs a plus-one for a Christmas wedding where he’s a groomsman and she needs a fake boyfriend to discourage an ex who her mother has invited to a weekend at her family home. Not surprisingly, they fall in love. They experience a few minor bumps, but the main one is admitting that what was fake had become real. Definitely a HEA in the making.

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining holiday story about a grumpy overworked boss who thinks Christmas is just another day, and an over the top Christmas lover. Merry and her family shows Xander how to lighten up and enjoy the joys of family and the holiday season. Great characters and fun storyline.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Definitely lost a bit towards the end there. Just very anticlimactic ending. Also way too many sexist saying like “acting like a women all worried” and when he’s first at her home she can’t be around her “boyfriend” because it was guy time like gross.

[Bridget Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems to be really cute, but I DNFed because it was so boring for me that it put me into a reading slump. I had to give up when I realized I was skimming and scanning. maybe I'll try again in the future.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun Christmas read! The MCs are well-written, the side characters are funny, and the tropes are well done. I also really appreciate no third act break up. If you're looking for a fun Christmas romance, look no further!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved everything about this fake dating grumpy/sunshine holiday time read. Zander is self-absorbed and really anti-holiday up against the queen of ugly sweaters and holiday mug owning Merry....let the good times roll!

[Quinn Fforde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet

[Judy Neilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this holiday romance. Xander was against Christmas and Merry couldn't get enough Christmas. Enter a fake relationship and it was a perfect setting for a romance.

[Christine D · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 I loved this Holiday romance. So cute. Grumpy sunshine. Xander and Merry are adorable!

[Debby W · Rating 5 out of 5]

meet cute fun at christmas time

Just a fun book for the Christmas season. Loving this series , just can’t wait to start on the next one.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than expected.

[Bethany Troyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Christmasy spirited book which was fun! 1 chapter had more spice than I preferred.

[Loz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute Christmas read! I loved this.

[Lindzanne1_bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute and fun holiday rom com! I really enjoyed it.

[Stefanía Lind · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little romance

[Lacie Rippee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay this was a little cheesy but a really cute and fun read for Christmas!

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love a good grumpy sunshine book! Christmas in NYC made it even better, so cute!

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Christmas story, exactly as advertised. I really appreciated that there was no drama shoehorned in. An easy, relaxing read, perfect for Christmas Break!

[Vikki ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was adorable, a real heartwarming cute Christmas read.