Like It's Christmas

Winterstorm Village #1

by Diana A. Hicks

When the Mayor of Winterstorm has an unfortunate accident and ends up in the hospital, Rhett is left hanging with the proverbial Santa gift sack. To make matters worse, the only one who can help him save their money-making tourist season is his office nemesis, Ms. Christmas cheer in a bottle, Parker Cruz.

Parker Cruz, the Mayor's daughter, is determined to save Christmas now that her dad isn’t there to make it all happen. The only person standing in her way is the town’s Scrooge, the newly appointed Mayor, Rhett Parker.

She's willing to do whatever it takes to make good on her promise to her dad. So, when a series of unlucky events strike, and the residents start talking about canceling Christmas, Parker does the unthinkable. She agrees to a fake date with her new boss.

Love is always in the air during the holidays at Winterstorm Village. So what if this year it’s all pretend?

Or is it?

A note from Diana: This is a standalone romance with explicit sensual scenes, happily ever after, no cheating, and no cliffhanger.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Adult

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2024

About the author

Diana A. Hicks is an award-winning author of contemporary romance that's sometimes dark, sometimes suspenseful, but always steamy. Her upcoming release, Empire of Ache & Ruin coming May 6, 2025!

When Diana is not writing, she enjoys hot yoga, kickboxing, traveling, and indulging in the simple joys of life like wine and chocolate. She lives in Atlanta and loves spending time with her two children and husband. Connect with Diana on social media to stay up to date on her latest releases.

Available now:
The Crime Society Series
Lost Raven (FREE)
King of Beasts, Book 1
Queen of Beasts, Book 2

Wolf's Lair (FREE)
Big Bad Wolf, Book 1
Big Bad Red, Book 2
Once Upon a Christmas (FREE)

Dark Beauty (FREE)
Wings of Ruin, Book 1
Wings of Silence, Book 2

Wicked Seduction, Book 1
Wicked Temptation, Book 2
Heartless Vow (FREE)

Steal My Heart Series
Entangle You
Unravel You
Ignite You
Release You

Cole Brothers Series
Unleash You
Defy You
Provoke You
Escape You
Escape My Love (FREE)

Cocky Hero Club
Irresistible Bastard


Follow her on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dianahicksauthor
Follow her on Amazon: amazon.com/author/dianahicksauthor
Follow her on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/diana...
Follow her blog: https://dianahicksbooks.com/
Like her Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianaHicksAu...
Join her reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Diana...
Follow her on Twitter: @diana_hicks

Reviews

[Grace Btrs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas Miracle that feels like out of the blue but is a miracle✅️
THAT COVER ✅️
Peppermint mocha ✅️
Christmas tree decoration✅️
Snowstorm ✅️
Grinch and Ms Christmas✅️
Chestnut roasting✅️
One bed ✅️

This is exactly the kind of book you read to start up your Christmas mood reading.
Light, Easy, Quick(I wish it were a tad longer), Christmasy (honestly, I just needed to play jingle bells, and it would have been a Hallmark movie), and miracle love story unfolding.

I wish we got more details and some characters were on page more.
I wish we got more of their background story on page too.
And I also wish she said "omigod" wayyyy less (like none at all would have been great).

BUT, guess who's ready to go put up the Christmas tree now? This girl 🙋🏻‍♀️

I have received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
--
Guess who is gearing up for her favourite season of the year? 🎄

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟺 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐! ⊹
╰ ✦ •

“Yes, I’m in love with you. And not just since the last few days…or months. Parker, I’ve been in love with you for a very long time.”

If a Christmas Movie was a book this would be it, but with less cringe, way more sweet moments, and good smut. I'll be honest holiday books aren't something I would usually read, but it's a Diana A. Hicks book, and I had to read it.

Like It's Christmas is a fun, quick, heartwarming read with two amazing mc's who share so much electric chemistry. Plus some town drama, juicy gossip, a meddling royal aunt, and a few shocking twists!

The story follows Parker, the town’s ray of sunshine, who won’t be deterred from her Christmas dreams. Her goal is to capture the Christmas magic that her mother once created for their family, and she’s intent on sharing that joy with everyone in the small town of Winterstorm. But as usual, Rhett, the deputy mayor, and her self-appointed nemesis seems determined to make things as difficult as possible. Rhett has other ideas for Christmas a small budget for the town's Christmas festivities and an escape to Cancun for vacation. However, when an unexpected incident lands him in the role of acting Mayor, the two embark on a hilariously chaotic battle of wits and wills. To bring back the Christmas magic in town, they devise a fake dating plan but Parker has no idea what she is in for.

I wasn't sure if I liked the whole arranged marriage part of the story, but I did like how it ended and I loved their chemistry/dynamic! I loved all the side characters, they really brought the small town to life.

I can't wait to read Thor and Briar’s story in the next book!

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

⊹ 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 ⊹
❥Christmas/Holiday Romance
❥Small Town
❥Enemies-to-Lovers
❥Fake Dating
❥One Bed
❥Forced Proximity
❥Grumpy x Sunshine
❥He's from a Royalty
❥She's the Mayor's Daughter
❥Office nemesis
❥Kissing the town Scrooge
❥Hot Chocolate & Spearmint Mocha
❥Irresistible desires

Thank you for the ARC, Diana!
_________________________________
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook

[BookAddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker Cruz the mayor's daughter and works for her father in the mayor's office. Rhett Parker is the deputy mayor and fills in for the town when the mayor has an accident and can’t work. It's the Christmas season in Winterstorm Village, a town that goes overboard for the holidays.

 

Parker wants to keep all the town's holiday traditions alive while Deputy Mayor Scrooge wants to severely limit the town's festivities due to budgetary restrictions. But the town still needs to believe in the magic of Christmas. There’s a blizzard on the way, and local lore says that means someone will fall in love, so Parker and Rhett come up with a scheme to fake date.

 

There are several problems with this plan. Parker and Rhett are complete opposites. She loves Christmas and he seems determined to ruin it. And they can’t be in the same room together without bickering. Except somewhere along the way, fake begins to feel real and things get very complicated.

 

I'm new to this clever storyteller’s work and Parker and Rhett’s romance is a fantastic introduction to it. I loved the small-town charm, the quirky characters, and the holiday festivities. Enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, second chances and a scary, iron-fisted great aunt who just may not be as awful as she seems all make for a delightful, lively, entertaining romance that's guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit.

[Erin Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Star Review Like It's Christmas by Diana A. Hicks

Diana A Hicks is a relatively new author to me and I cannot believe I have not read more from this author.

I love any story set around Christmas, it’s my favourite time of the year. Although a not a long book I quickly became invested in the story she wove about Parker Cruz and grump Rhett Parker’s story.

Agreeing to fake date her boss Rhett, Parker had no idea what she is in for. I really enjoyed the chemistry that Ruby and Maddox share. When Ruby becomes free he steps up to support her.and let her know he is there for her.

These two are so different, she loves Christmas and he is a Scrooge. I enjoyed their journey as these two opposites came together. Like It's Christmas was a witty, sweet story which ticked the boxes for me.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is also available on my blog for the Xpresso Book Tours promotional tour! Check out the tour to enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card, which is open until 12/19/24! Click here

“I do care, Parker. I’ve always cared. It’s why I came back.” (p. 120)

Spice Level:
🌶🌶

Tropes:
holiday romance, Christmas, romantic comedy, fake dating, small-town, work romance, arranged marriage, childhood friends to enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, billionaire

When a blizzard plays cupid, even rivals might find their HEA

Parker Cruz has been planning to go all out with Winterstorm’s Christmas celebrations, but her father, the town’s mayor, is swayed by her arch-nemesis, Deputy Mayor Rhett Parker. Without any warning, her approved budget for the festivities is slashed. Not only has Rhett Parker stolen her coffees (repeatedly) and even her name–insisting on being called by his new last name, leading people to obnoxiously refer to her as “Parker Girl” after his surname was legally changed to Parker–but now he is intent on dimming the light of the season. Even worse, a major blizzard leaves the town in shambles, but Parker is intent on preserving the magic of the season. The town and its tourists believe in the town’s slogan, “Love is always in the air,” and what better way to prove it true than for two high-profile and very public rivals to fall in love? So begins a fake dating scheme that just might turn out to be Christmas magic in action…until Rhett’s royal fiancée shows up in town.

Like It’s Christmas is my favorite holiday read of the year. Told in dual points of view, Diana A. Hicks digs deep into the backgrounds of the main characters, allowing the reader to bond with Parker and Rhett beyond their dating experiment. Rhett is torn between duty to his family and his betrothed versus following his heart. The contract of his arranged marriage is ironclad, but he would do anything to find a way out of it. All of the tropes in Like It’s Christmas are among my favorites, but the childhood-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope is by far the one that made me swoon, desperate for their happily-ever-after. Consider me a Christmas romance convert–I can’t wait to read about Thor and Briar’s story in the next book in the Winterstorm Village series.

[Claudia |✨Cushin Violeta's Bookish Realm✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖 & 𝕄𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕞𝕒𝕤 🎄

🆆🅷🅰🆃 🆃🅾 🅻🅾🅾🅺 🅵🅾🆁🆆🅰🆁🅳 🆃🅾:
🎄 Christmas Holiday Romance
❄️ Small Town
🎄 Enemies-to-Lovers
❄️ Fake Dating/ Relationship
🎄 He's from a Royalty
❄️ She's the Mayor's Daughter
🎄 Hot Chocolate & Spearmint Mocha 😋 ❄️ Irresistible desires

💕🅵🅰🆅🅾🆄🆁🅸🆃🅴 🆀🆄🅾🆃🅴🆂 💕

“𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒂𝒕 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝑽𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔.”

𝑳𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒓, 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔.

🅼🆈 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆:

Get in the mood of the Holiday spirit with this fun ride that has two people with insane chemistry who love to hate each other and always love to 𝖻𝗎𝗍𝗍 heads with each other.

We are taken into the small town of Winterstorm where Christmas is celebrated with much gusto and the entire office of the Mayor goes all out to ensure that it becomes a time to remember for the town's folks.

Parker has big plans for Christmas but her Enemy No.1, Rhett - the deputy mayor as always makes this another impossible task.

Parker is an adamant one though as all she wants is to celebrate the spirit of Christmas on a large scale so that everyone can feel the magic just like her mother used to make their family feel.
She's the town's Sunshine as everyone likes her and she's of the mind that she will make things happen irrespective of Rhett.

But an unfortunate incident lands Rhett in the main role and as these two go to war, it's so hilarious and crazy to watch Rhett and Parker fight, they also will have to remember what's more important.

A mad scheme of bringing the magic back after they face another setback this time from mother nature, Parker and Rhett join together in this Unbelievable plan to make things right.

I was here for the holiday spirit and especially these two having the chemistry they have like the way they fight but you can also see the sparks flying between them and honestly watching this entire process was such a fun-filled and Heartwarming experience.

We also have some drama, lots of gossip, and the royal family games together going along with making sure that the people of Winterstorm do have the best Christmas as they always do.
Add to this, a scheming aunt from the Windsor royal family, hidden secrets and some angst and you have a ride that will leave you surprised.

I'm really craving some Hot Chocolate and Spearmint Mocha after reading this one. Looking forward to Thor and Briar's story next. 🎁🩷

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bah, Humbug to Ho Ho Ho

This is a standalone, steamy, fake dating, enemies to lovers, boss/employee, grumpy/sunshine, holiday romance. This one has tried and true tropes and an interesting and engaging plot that makes for an enjoyable read. Winterstorm Village is a delightful backdrop for this story and it adds a bit of Christmas magic. I could just picture the town, the decorations and the activities happening. I cared about the main characters (Rhett and Parker) and couldn’t help but root for them. The side characters added a bit of depth to the story and were a nice addition as well. While there was much to enjoy about this one, I didn’t enjoy all of it and would rate this story 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. I didn’t feel like there was a smooth segue from the fake dating to love. The relationship change was too abrupt. While every good story has a bit conflict, I didn’t like the conflict here. I thought that Rhett acted selfishly. He knew he had family obligations and still started something that he might not be able to commit to with Parker. After rejecting said obligations for the first part of the book, he finally just acquiesced and left Parker high and dry without fighting for her. Rhett’s actions didn’t always match his words and even when the conflict was resolved, it wasn’t due to his own actions. Sweet, sunshiney Parker was just too understanding in my opinion about Rhett choosing between her and his family obligations. Still, I believe that Rhett’s intentions and love were pure and he even had the “receipts” to prove it. In addition, there were a few questions and details that I felt were never answered or clarified. In the end though this story had heart, heat and an emotional and satisfying HEA that made for a pleasurable read.

[Daisy Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

More reviews posted at Tales of Love, Life, and Murder

This was the perfect book to kick off my holiday reading. The characters are instantly likable and they’re already at odds when Parker’s father, the mayor, drops a last-minute bomb on her, courtesy of Rhett: the town doesn’t have the budget for this year’s Christmas festivities, so she’ll only be receiving about one-third of the amount. It’s impossible to pull off the plan with such huge budget cuts but had they given her more notice, she could have made alternate plans. With just days to go until the start of the holiday season, Parker is wracking her brain, desperate to find a way to make up for the loss. Christmas tourism is what makes their town thrive so they can’t just present a dismal season without proper decorations or activities. The town needs to make money this year in order to fix the historic clock tower, so a successful tourist season is critical.


Word of an impending blizzard gives Parker an idea. The town believes that couples fall in love during these big snowstorms so if she and Rhett pretend to be in love, the town will still believe in the magic. To her surprise, Rhett agrees, but his motives are completely different from her own. Parker is trying to save Christmas, but Rhett just wants Parker. This is a fun story with a lot of heart and plenty of heat. I adored these characters and loved every minute of their story.

[Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Like It’s Christmas” by Diana A. Hicks is a heartwarming contemporary romance set in the charming Winterstorm Village, where Christmas is celebrated with unmatched enthusiasm. The story revolves around Rhett Parker, the newly appointed Mayor, who despises Christmas, and Parker Cruz, the Mayor’s daughter, who is determined to keep the holiday spirit alive despite her father’s unfortunate accident.

When a record-breaking blizzard threatens to cancel the town’s beloved Christmas festivities, Parker proposes a fake dating arrangement with Rhett to save the season. Rhett, known as the town’s Scrooge, reluctantly agrees, leading to a series of humorous and heartwarming events that challenge their preconceived notions about love and Christmas.

The writing is engaging and filled with humor, making the characters relatable and endearing. Rhett’s transformation from a Christmas-hating Mayor to someone who embraces the holiday spirit is both touching and believable. Parker’s unwavering determination and warmth bring a sense of hope and joy to the story. Winterstorm Village, with its festive decorations and close-knit community, adds to the book’s charm.

I wholeheartedly recommend this Christmas romance that weaves romance and holiday magic, creating a delightful read that captures the essence of Christmas. The chemistry between Rhett and Parker is palpable, making their journey from fake dating to real love a joy to follow. It is a perfect read for the season, filled with warmth, laughter, and the promise of new beginnings.

[Eclectic Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Scrooge comes back to town, Parker is determined to change his mind and she got even more in the bargain.

Parker Cruz is a is a breath of fresh air—a rambunctious, unapologetically honest young woman and Rhett Parker Windsor knows that better than anyone. I couldn't quite catch why she was so mean to him because the whole name thing in high school was just petty. Parker gradually warms up to Rhett, moving past her initial dislike. Just when it looks like their connection could turn into something special, she finds out he’s been hiding a big secret and he leaves her hanging. 

Why did Rhett really come back? Was it really for Parker, or for his family duties? Man up and stop stringing her along, Dude. Rhett comes from a family fortune and royal name. At first, he ran from it because he didn't care, but now he has changed his mind to the detriment of his love for Parker. As far as their fake relationship is concerned, it really backfired on Parker when his secret comes to light and her favorite holiday is ruined. My heart broke for Parker and, personally, I think she could have done better. Rhett needed to grovel SO much more than he did.

By the end, most characters seem to have found their paths. However, Parker's resolution is lacking. She deserved more than what she got after Rhett broke her heart, and the quick way she got over that did not resonate well with me.

Parker's sweet dad, and her lovely friends, give depth to the story along with Rhett's rude Aunt Gretchen and other family and friends.

The story might feel a bit all over the place at times, but the witty banter and chemistry between Parker and Rhett really shine through, making it hard to put down.

Thank you to Ms. Hicks for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute Christmas story

Like It's Christmas is a cute little Christmas story. It waa a bit of a surprise for me since all I've read from Diana prior to this were mafia-type books. I kept waiting for that element to pop up LOL

The story had a Hallmark movie feel to it - small town holiday celebration, school play fundraisers, winter storms, and a real life Scrooge. There are a couple spicy scenes that you definitely wouldn't find on the Hallmark channel though.

This is enemies to lovers, fake dating, billionaire romance with a bunch of family drama. While I enjoyed the overall story, parts of it were very rushed. The getting together and subsequent breakup happen just days apart.

The town is super charming. I could see future novellas for her friends. The gossipy old ladies were cliche but fit perfectly in this town.

I thought Parker and Rhett started off great. The way they snarked at each other was fun. And the fake dating was fun too. It just felt a bit rushed to me after that point.

Solid writing but knowing the intense and crazy story lines that Diana has in her mafia books, this was a bit of a let down for me.

[Reading by Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A snowstorm is getting ready to hit and a blizzard in Winterstorm Village was a thing of magic that was said to bring couples together and she couldn't wait to get the decorating of the town's square completed into her vision of a snow globe.

But the tree that was just delivered was not what she had ordered. Storming to the mayor's office she finds out that Rhett, the deputy mayor, has taken a sledgehammer to her budget. She would just have to implore her father, the mayor, to give her more decorating funds.

But when her father lands in the hospital and Rhett becomes acting mayor she has to get creative. With the imminent storm and no one falling in love, Parker has the perfect solution to save their Christmas... a fake romance.

I loved this book! It is very well-written and the characters are fully developed and relatable. Parker loves Winterstorm Village and doesn't understand Rhett's problem with Christmas especially since his family founded the town.

This book is full of angst, surprising twists and combustible chemistry. But everything explodes when Parker finds out Rhett's secret and the reason he wants nothing to do with his heritage. Highly recommend!

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous enemies-to-lovers romance with a holiday theme!

Like It’s Christmas is a new enemies-to-lovers romance set during the days leading up to Christmas and is the first book in author Diana A. Hicks’s Winterstorm Village series. With an engaging main character, a vulnerable leading man, and a close-knit small town that believes in the magic of Christmas, I quickly fell under this story’s spell, and it is the perfect way to kick off some satisfying holiday reading.

Parker Cruz is the assistant to her father, the mayor, and she plans to make this Christmas season the biggest, best, and most successful ever for Winterstorm Village, which depends on the profits from the holiday tourist trade. But when her father is injured putting the Christmas light up on her house, she finds herself having to work with the deputy mayor and local Scrooge, whom she has despised since high school. Rhett Parker has a secret in his past that has estranged him from his illustrious family, whose ancestors founded the town. All he wants is to make Winterstorm Village prosper through his efforts and not because of his family’s reputation, even if that means cutting back the overly generous budget earmarked for Christmas decorations and activities and annoying the mayor’s spoiled daughter.

The plot has a nice push-pull, back and forth between the two main characters, and Parker the girl (a differentiation she’s always hated) has a fun posse of girlfriends looking out for her best interests. But I thought the most fun was the townpeople’s traditional belief in love magically blossoming during a holiday snowstorm. When a bad storm hits the village and damages much of the downtown decorations, including the big tree, Parker and Rhett try to capitalize on the superstition and stage a fake relationship, a relationship no one would ever believe otherwise, to keep up everyone’s spirits as they try to recover and salvage the tourist season just until the holidays are over. But will the magic actually prove to be real, and are they headed for their own Christmas romance?

I recommend LIKE IT’S CHRISTMAS to romance readers looking for a great holiday story to get into the Christmas spirit.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Xpresso Book Tours.

[Jackie Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have only read one previous book by this author and I’m really struggling to understand why I haven’t read more of her works. I love Christmas and I love small town so I was excited for Like It’s Christmas book one in the new Winterstorm Village Series. All I need to say is I loved grumpy Rhett Parker and ray of sunshine Parker Cruz’s magical story. This isn’t a long read but it really brings you into the holiday season and its feels like a real hallmark movie moment.
When budgets are cut from the holiday season in Winterstorm, Parker is not happy and she blames Rhett. Things go from bad to worse when her father collapses and Rhett takes over as Mayor. What follows is a magical enemies to fake relationship to lovers journey.
I loved this Christmas story and I loved watching Parker get to know the real man that she feels stole everything from her even her name. The story is magical, the characters adorable but it was the witty banter that really made this a special read. Looking forward to reading more from the very talented Ms Hicks.

[Celina Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like It's Christmas is a fun, quick grumpy/sunshine romance that follows Parker and Rhett, coworkers for Parker's father the mayor. The mayor has an unexpected accident which forces Parker and Rhett to spend more time together and save the holidays for the small town of Winterstorm Village. Parker loves Christmas and Rhett is definitely a Scrooge and in a small town with lots of history the holidays mean a lot. Rhett's family is the founding family of the small town and with funds being low Parker and Rhett decide to fake date to try and access more funds. Rhett's family will pay just about anything to break them up especially since his family has arranged for him to marry someone else, but unexpected feelings start to come into play causing Parker and Rhett to have to make some tough decisions.

This story is the perfect romance to get you into the holiday season with its witty banter, strong friendships, meddlesome family, lots of emotions, steamy spice and unexpected surprises. This is definitely a story you will not want to miss this Christmas.

[Kelly Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parker and Rhett have known each other most of their lives, living in a small town that is a tourist attraction around Christmas time. Parker is the mayor's daughter and is in charge of the Christmas festivities. Rhett is the mayor's assistant and has just cut Parker's Christmas budget significantly. Parker's dad has an accident which makes Rhett the acting mayor. Parker and Rhett need to put their differences aside and work together as a team to make everything work. After a huge snowstorm does some heartbreaking damage to the town, Parker comes up with an idea to spark up the Christmas spirit and get the town back in the spirit, her idea? Her and Rhett start ‘fake dating’ to make the town think that they are together, and the spirit of Christmas has pushed them together. The problem? Feelings. Feelings are the problem. Oh, and a marriage contract that Rhett can't find a way out of.

Can they work together and save Christmas, and themselves, before it's too late?

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure with this 1, I usually stay away from historicals but I loved the cover & was in the mood for Christmas and here we are. The main female lead who in the being , the story line was very scattered (I thought was a male) which is perfectly fine except the book never mentioned it anywhere. it slowed down some in the next few chapters. Parker girl is the mayor's daughter, loves Christmas and Rhett Parker the assistant Mayor to her Dad hates it. Baa Humbug. this story captured me from the beginning the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was that it jumped to much featured Christmas romance started with that , then added in alot of other events along the way to the point that Christmas and romance were nonexistent. It is a very sweet read I just wanted more storyline follows instead of walking away thinking., what happened 😕 😳
I received this book free as an ARC & am voluntary leaving my review.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like It’s Christmas" is a delightful holiday romance that wonderfully captures the magic of the season. The story follows Rhett Parker, the newly appointed Mayor of Winterstorm, who finds himself in a tough spot when the previous Mayor has an accident. Determined to save the town's festive tourist season, Rhett teams up with his office nemesis, Parker Cruz. What starts as a fake dating arrangement soon blossoms into a heartfelt romance, filled with unexpected feelings and challenges.

This book beautifully combines the enemies-to-lovers and fake dating tropes, with a touch of second chance romance. The narrative is rich with small-town charm and festive cheer. Although there’s a third act breakup, it resolves with a satisfying HEA that will warm your heart. While I wish we had more insight into Rhett's perspective and found Parker a bit whiny at times, the overall experience was a quick, enjoyable holiday read perfect for cozying up with this season.

[Sassy Southern Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like It’s Christmas was such a charming and page-turning book. I enjoy Diana A. Hick’s bills and this book did not disappoint. I devoured this book in one day and might have stayed up to finish it. This book is a contemporary holiday romance. I loved the drama, the enemies to lovers and the spice. The storyline was exciting and had my heart breaking and soaring throughout tors whole book. The characters were complex and had a backstory that will have you laughing and swooning.

Parker was stubborn, a firecracker and loved Christmas and her community. I enjoyed her quick wit and determination to have the most epic Christmas ever. Rhett was broody, conflicted and a filthy mouthed Alpha. I really felt for him because he was torn between wanting to help family and be happy himself. I loved their chemistry it was undeniable and was scorching hot. I can’t wait to devour the next book in this series. 4.5 stars-By Brooke

[Lisa Petty (Book Bangers Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker Cruz and Rhett Parker have known each other for years. Now he's the deputy Mayor and is trying to destroy her beloved Christmas. All she wants is to keep the tradition up and make Winterstorm the best Christmas cheer ever. But they butt heads and well the two of them just do not get along at all. Rhett knows how to get under Parker's skin and he doesn't do it totally on purpose, but sometimes you hate Christmas, and the easiest way to show it is to give up on the holiday. When events start to happen and these two pretend to be a couple well truth and lies are about to surface. What happens when the love you thought you could have is destroyed by another? I loved this story and how it started as a friend to lovers and back to enemies again. The love and laughter jumped off the pages.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun steamy holiday read. I love me a good grumpy/sunshine romance. Rhett and Parker come off oil and water right off the bat. He is the scrooge to Parker's Christmas loving heart. Christmas is so important to this town so Rhett and Parker will bank on the legend of the snowstorm to make sure this town thrives for the holidays. Fake dating it is, but what happens when feelings start to feel all too real. Throw in family obligations that could put a wrench into everything. They say Christmas is a time for miracles so will Rhett and Parker get one? I would love to visit this town during the holidays. It sounds so festive. I love how all the townsfolk like to meddle. Parker has a great group of ride or die friends. Great holiday read.

[Susan Hamann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parker's father has been the mayor in Winterstorm Village for many years. His assistant mayor is Rhett. Parker and Rhett have known each other since their school days but they don't like each other. When Parker's father becomes injured, Rhett takes over running the town at a critical time - just before Christmas. The town has always gone all out for their winter celebration but Rhett says the town can't afford it this year.

Parker and Rhett cook up a scheme for fake dating to help get access to more funds. But the clinker is that they become very attracted to each other and Rhett has already be contracted to marry someone else.

This book has some explicit sex scenes so the book if for mature audiences only

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series and this is Rhett and Parker’s story.
When Parker’s dad, who is mayor, has an unfortunate accident, her nemesis Rhett is appointed acting mayor, which has him working closely with her. Parker is determined to save Christmas, as the town needs tourism to survive. Parker and Rhett know how to push each other’s buttons, can these two work together?
This is a well written easy to read story, with family, friendships, emotions, grumpy / sunshine, fake romance, enemies / lovers, humor, witty banter, engaging and realistic characters, and love, which leads to an entertaining, fun, and heartfelt, small town magical gem.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Shari Jahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhett and Parker”s Story. This story is one of my favorite genre of stories. Enemies to lovers. Rhett wanted Parker’s Dad’s job as mayor but he couldn’t win against the beloved mayor. Parker’s dad thought Rhett would be a great asset to the team so he hired him to be the deputy mayor. Working side by side with Parker, Rhett was a Scrooge. He wanted the Christmas budget slashed to nothing but Parker fought tooth and nail to keep what little funds remained. This book has some really interesting twists like a fiancée that is a princess and totally amazing chemistry. If you would like a really fun escape with a strong Christmas theme this is the perfect book to snuggle up with! I loved the story and the writing was perfect!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I could not get into the story, but I'm so glad I stuck with it because it was so good. And angsty.

When the Mayor of Winterstorm has an accident that lands him in the hospital, Deputy Mayor Rhett must step in to make sure the city's festivities continue as planned. And he must work with Ms. Christmas herself Parker Cruz, his office nemesis.

Parker also happens to be the mayor's daughter. The town Scrooge, the newly appointed mayor, is limiting her Christmas budget but she's determined to fulfill the town's Christmas dreams.

When the residents start talking about canceling the festivities, she and Rhett begin to fake date.

She just never expected to fall for him.

Thanks so much to the author and XpressoTours for this ARC to review.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parker’s plans to make Christmas memorable for the town of Winterstorm has encountered one being financial and the other being that the mayor, her father, has had an accident and the other being the Rhett, the deputy mayor, who is acting more and more like the Grinch.

The relationship that Rhett has with Parker could be described as adversarial rather than friendly. Not only do they find themselves working together but now they are fake dating as well, let the fun begin!

Despite all the challenges they had to face I enjoyed seeing Parker and Rhett finally acknowledge their true feelings for each as they discovered the magic of Christmas, love and each other.

[Marlene Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The small town of Winterstorm Village is setting for this cute, sometimes hilarious matching of a grumpy Asst. Mayor Rhett Parker and the head of the towns PR Dept. Parker Cruz who is the spreader of Christmas cheer for the town...and she is the mayor's daughter...so when her budget is cut and the wrong tree arrives along with the normal holiday crowd delayed due to impassible roads from early blizzard...will they be able to work it out and let townspeople believe they are in love or will their fake romance fizzle before Santa arrives??? I voluntarily read this book through an Advanced Reader Copy...

[S Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only a Christmas Miracle can save the town!! That miracle has to be the town enemies becoming a couple, of course. This is the cute premise of Like It’s Christmas and it works. The town Mayor’s Daughter, Parker is the town’s favorite. She is the definition of sunshine. Rhett is the Deputy Mayor and her nemesis. He hates Christmas and Parker loves it so when budgeting for the Christmas activities gets cut, Parker knows just who to blame. When there is a terrible snow storm that threatens to ruin the town activities, Parker decides the town needs a miracle to focus on, enter their fake relationship.

What I loved about this book is the idea that they both are hiding feelings and they choose to just be at odds instead of truly talking about their issues. So for years they let words from High School make their relationship strained. When they fall into a fake relationship for the sake of their town, then for his family, they finally start to break down the walls they have built up. Parker and Rhett both realize they have something special and when faced with an impossible situation, Parker does the noble thing. This books has the typical small town feel with a little royalty mixed in. Great Holiday read. If you like a fake relationship forced proximity holiday themed story, this one checks all the boxes.

[Sara Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This book has me feeling all kinds of back and forth.

I really enjoyed the story plot and felt like there was so much potential. I loved the moments we got between Rhett and Parker but I felt like things went from 0 to 60 constantly.

I wish we got more of their past history earlier on in the story. We do get their full history in the end but I felt like it would have been better in the beginning almost.

Overall, this was a cute, easy quick holiday read. Gave Hating Game vibes but with a Christmas scenery.

[Naughty Nightie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker's father, who is the mayor of Winterstorm Village, has an accident and ends up in hospital. His deputy mayor, Rhett, her arch nemesis, has no Christmas spirit and is cutting all the funding from the budget for her Christmas projects. How will things work between Rhett and Parker when they have to work with each other.
I received an arc for my voluntary honest review for NN Book Blog. If you love a sweet small-town village romance with some twists and turns you don't see coming, you will love this book.