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Milford College #4
Secret Santa
The last thing I want for Christmas is a brand new case of smoking hot attraction for my best friend, Jeremy. I don't think about him that way. I never have. And I can't risk ruining the best relationship in my life because I can't seem to keep my hands off him lately.
I need to focus on safer things, like my secret admirer who keeps sending me romantic Secret Santa presents. Jeremy has always been a grump about Christmas, but someone is clearly into me. I'll have to try to think about him instead.
Secret Santa is the fourth book in the Milford College series, novellas about the faculty and staff of a small liberal arts college.
I need to focus on safer things, like my secret admirer who keeps sending me romantic Secret Santa presents. Jeremy has always been a grump about Christmas, but someone is clearly into me. I'll have to try to think about him instead.
Secret Santa is the fourth book in the Milford College series, novellas about the faculty and staff of a small liberal arts college.
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2019
137 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Noelle Adams
136 books2,642 followersNoelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn't stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.
She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.
She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
February 18, 2024
5 Sterne, aufgerundet. Es ist einfach mein Favorit aus der Reihe!
"Aus besten Freunden wird mehr" überzeugend und sweet erzählt (ohne unrealistisch plötzliche Anziehung, mit nachfühlbarer Angst vor Veränderung).
"Aus besten Freunden wird mehr" überzeugend und sweet erzählt (ohne unrealistisch plötzliche Anziehung, mit nachfühlbarer Angst vor Veränderung).
December 28, 2021
Reread:
What a great book to reread for the holidays! I loved May and Jeremy so much. Their relationship was written in such a way, it made this trope feel fresh and new. I think I actually enjoyed this book more so this time than previously.
Original:
Now this is what I’m talking about when I’m looking for a friends to lover romance!
May and Jeremy have been best friends since high school. For twelve years they’ve been each others everything. Well, almost everything. May never felt a physical pull towards him, although she’s always found him attractive. But lately she’s been having thoughts that are completely inappropriate to have about your best friend.
When things start to quickly change between May and Jeremy, she’s lost in a sea of tears and grief. She doesn’t want to lose him and yet he’s insistent that things are changing. The evolution of their relationship was at times gut wrenching and while I hurt for May, it was actually Jeremy’s feelings that broke my heart.
Written entirely in May’s point of view, the fact that I could easily feel Jeremy’s pain is a tribute to Ms. Adam’s ability to pull me into the story and the characters with just a few simple words. Words that hold a wealth of meaning behind them. That is one of the main reasons I love her books so much.
This is a fast paced read filled with emotions, plenty of hot steamy moments, and a beautiful friendship. All of that with the magic of Christmas as its backdrop made this a perfect read to put me into the holiday spirit.
Heroine POV
Safe
Triggers
What a great book to reread for the holidays! I loved May and Jeremy so much. Their relationship was written in such a way, it made this trope feel fresh and new. I think I actually enjoyed this book more so this time than previously.
Original:
Now this is what I’m talking about when I’m looking for a friends to lover romance!
May and Jeremy have been best friends since high school. For twelve years they’ve been each others everything. Well, almost everything. May never felt a physical pull towards him, although she’s always found him attractive. But lately she’s been having thoughts that are completely inappropriate to have about your best friend.
When things start to quickly change between May and Jeremy, she’s lost in a sea of tears and grief. She doesn’t want to lose him and yet he’s insistent that things are changing. The evolution of their relationship was at times gut wrenching and while I hurt for May, it was actually Jeremy’s feelings that broke my heart.
Written entirely in May’s point of view, the fact that I could easily feel Jeremy’s pain is a tribute to Ms. Adam’s ability to pull me into the story and the characters with just a few simple words. Words that hold a wealth of meaning behind them. That is one of the main reasons I love her books so much.
This is a fast paced read filled with emotions, plenty of hot steamy moments, and a beautiful friendship. All of that with the magic of Christmas as its backdrop made this a perfect read to put me into the holiday spirit.
Heroine POV
Safe
Triggers
December 13, 2019
3.5 stars-- I appreciated that this was a slightly different plot structure for a friends to lovers romance. Usually, these books have the climax being the friends getting together, but the central conflict here is more around if the heroine is truly IN love with her BFF vs. just loving him + good sex. I think that variant on the typical plot beats really worked, and I continue to enjoy this series
July 21, 2020
Und plötzlich ist dein bester Freund nicht mehr nur dein bester Freund ...
Die Story wie aus Freundschaft Liebe wird, fand ich toll. Es war gut, das nicht alles auf einmal anders war, das beide Charaktere Ängste hatten.
May fand ich toll und konnte mich gut in sie reinversetzen, das sie nicht auf einmal alles aufs Spiel setzen wollte und Angst hatte ihren besten Freund zu verletzen und womöglich zu verlieren.
Jeremy brachte mich zum Schwärmen. Was für eine tolle Figur. Seine trockene Art von Humor hatte es mir total angetan. Und wie er May nicht unter Druck setzen wollte bzw. lieber mehrmals nachgefragt hat... oh ja damit hatte er mich.
Alles in allem 4 Sterne. Etwas hatte mir gefehlt im Vergleich zu Band 2. Evan und Beck werden wohl immer meine Favoriten bleiben.
Die Story wie aus Freundschaft Liebe wird, fand ich toll. Es war gut, das nicht alles auf einmal anders war, das beide Charaktere Ängste hatten.
May fand ich toll und konnte mich gut in sie reinversetzen, das sie nicht auf einmal alles aufs Spiel setzen wollte und Angst hatte ihren besten Freund zu verletzen und womöglich zu verlieren.
Jeremy brachte mich zum Schwärmen. Was für eine tolle Figur. Seine trockene Art von Humor hatte es mir total angetan. Und wie er May nicht unter Druck setzen wollte bzw. lieber mehrmals nachgefragt hat... oh ja damit hatte er mich.
Alles in allem 4 Sterne. Etwas hatte mir gefehlt im Vergleich zu Band 2. Evan und Beck werden wohl immer meine Favoriten bleiben.
December 12, 2019
Secret Santa (Milford College #4) by: Noelle Adams
If ever there was a story that could make a heart smile, Secret Santa was it. Jeremy and May are a sweet temptation. Adams keeps the plotline line simple and delivers magic. From life long friends to maybe something more, Secret Santa warms more than just the heart.
If ever there was a story that could make a heart smile, Secret Santa was it. Jeremy and May are a sweet temptation. Adams keeps the plotline line simple and delivers magic. From life long friends to maybe something more, Secret Santa warms more than just the heart.
December 14, 2019
It was okay at first but then as you get to know the characters, it got worse! May was an indecisive little b- who didn't know who she wanted more. Also, a cry baby! Cried at every single time she got frustrated. Seriously? Soooo annoying for goodness sake! Jeremy? May doesn't deserve him. He was too good for her. How can he stand her? I dunno.
August 7, 2022
I didn’t love this one as much as the rest of the series but it was still pretty cute friends-to-lovers. It was hard to believe how dense and oblivious May was about Jeremy having feelings for her, much less who her Secret Santa was. It was so obvious. How did she not figure it out sooner when they’re supposed to be best friends?! I didn’t understand her reservations about trying something more either. But I did like them together so I’m glad she figured things out in the end.
Jeremy grew up in foster care. We don’t get a ton of details and he doesn’t appear to have been abused but May frequently mentions how he felt unloved growing up and always prepares himself for the worst. I didn’t love how she talked to him about this, as if she’s the only person who’s loved him or shown care. He doesn’t really seem to have other friends so maybe that’s true but oof that’s a lot of pressure. There needed to be much more nuance and sensitivity to his backstory. If you’re sensitive about depictions of foster care, I’d probably skip this one.
It’s strange that a college would have a workplace Christmas party. How are they getting away with not recognizing other holidays or religions? Yikes. Like the other novellas in this series, this is also cishet and white. Even with this small of a cast of characters, the author could have diversified the other coworkers or students.
Characters: May is a 27 year old white student life coordinator and a redhead. Jeremy is a 27 year old white director of IT for the college. He has a cocker spaniel named Leo. They’ve been best friends since high school. This is set in Milford, VA.
Content notes: MMC grew up in foster care (mom abandoned him at age 5), unsafe sex practices (no condom the first time they had sex without any discussion of STD prevention; she’s on birth control), pregnant secondary characters, family planning discussion, on page sex, alcohol, “female parts” as euphemism, gendered pejorative, gender essentialism, ableist language, reference to student whose mom recently died
Jeremy grew up in foster care. We don’t get a ton of details and he doesn’t appear to have been abused but May frequently mentions how he felt unloved growing up and always prepares himself for the worst. I didn’t love how she talked to him about this, as if she’s the only person who’s loved him or shown care. He doesn’t really seem to have other friends so maybe that’s true but oof that’s a lot of pressure. There needed to be much more nuance and sensitivity to his backstory. If you’re sensitive about depictions of foster care, I’d probably skip this one.
It’s strange that a college would have a workplace Christmas party. How are they getting away with not recognizing other holidays or religions? Yikes. Like the other novellas in this series, this is also cishet and white. Even with this small of a cast of characters, the author could have diversified the other coworkers or students.
Characters: May is a 27 year old white student life coordinator and a redhead. Jeremy is a 27 year old white director of IT for the college. He has a cocker spaniel named Leo. They’ve been best friends since high school. This is set in Milford, VA.
Content notes: MMC grew up in foster care (mom abandoned him at age 5), unsafe sex practices (no condom the first time they had sex without any discussion of STD prevention; she’s on birth control), pregnant secondary characters, family planning discussion, on page sex, alcohol, “female parts” as euphemism, gendered pejorative, gender essentialism, ableist language, reference to student whose mom recently died
May 23, 2020
Its about romance between bestfriends to lover. The conflict is quite simple, how the h adapted her feelings to H because she see him as a friend but there is some spark sexual between them.
But I am curious the moment when h said " I love you" to H since long time. I mean that word is said between lover. How come the h said that word when they were young and best friends. Although when h said that because the H was rejected by his girlfriend, I still didn't get it.
3 stars
But I am curious the moment when h said " I love you" to H since long time. I mean that word is said between lover. How come the h said that word when they were young and best friends. Although when h said that because the H was rejected by his girlfriend, I still didn't get it.
3 stars
November 24, 2019
The friends-to-lovers trope is one of my favorites and this book does not disappoint. I’ve loved this series so far and this book was just as good and sweet as the others so far. It was difficult at times knowing how strong Jeremy’s feeling for May were and how confused she was feeling but the ending more than made up for that. Great addition to the series and I’m hoping we’ll get Liam’s story next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2020
Cute sweet book
April 5, 2020
Actually I don’t finish this book at all. But I can’t write a review if don’t put it under read. It’s really not for me to not finish once I start reading a book. And I usually like Noelle’s book quite much. But there’s just something about the storyline and the characters I found unsettling. Especially the heroine. I can’t relate to her at all, I don’t find any chemistry between her and Jeremy at all, and often I found her quite annoying. I’m not even halfway before I stopped because I just can’t continue anymore. This has been a disappointment for me 😞
May 23, 2020
Sweet.
A sweet best friends to lovers story.
**spoiler**
The restaurant scene did aggravate me a little, when he said it was their second date. Did that mean they went on two dates in one week or had he been keeping secrets for longer? 🤔
I was left wondering how long those unrequited feelings had been there for. It wasn’t made clear. Kind of sad if they’d been there since high school!
A sweet best friends to lovers story.
**spoiler**
The restaurant scene did aggravate me a little, when he said it was their second date. Did that mean they went on two dates in one week or had he been keeping secrets for longer? 🤔
I was left wondering how long those unrequited feelings had been there for. It wasn’t made clear. Kind of sad if they’d been there since high school!
January 7, 2021
I liked the first three better than this one - while all of them move pretty quickly, there seemed to be a lot of back and forth with May and Jeremy, with each conflict in this story being pretty similar. I also felt these characters were a bit two-dimensional and found it hard to relate to them. With that being said, I did enjoy the adorable take on the friends-to-lovers story!
January 24, 2020
1. The sheer volume of heroine tears is ridiculous and annoying.
2. The relationship has no heat and I’m not buying they love each other more than siblings.
3. I felt like the same conversation happened over and over again.
Big no.
2. The relationship has no heat and I’m not buying they love each other more than siblings.
3. I felt like the same conversation happened over and over again.
Big no.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2020
2.75 stars - My least favorite in this series so far, but still enjoyable. The narrator just seemed willfully obtuse in this one (which, I guess was sort of the point, but it got a little tiresome). It was, overall, a very cute friends-to-lovers tale, just frustrated me more than usual.
May 15, 2020
3.75 stars
May 22, 2020
This was fine. I felt like they kept rehashing the same issues over and over again instead of having a true conflict.
May 24, 2020
Zzzzz
June 1, 2021
4 stars just because jeremy is a big teddy bear and i love him (also because may didn’t turn out to be a dumb blind brat) MUCH LOVE FOR JEREMY BEAR
September 23, 2021
A quick and fun read. A friends to lovers. A great set of characters.
October 21, 2021
I got a little irritated with the heroine being so weepy. Other than, I really liked this friends to lovers story.
August 10, 2022
This was really sweet. No angst, just love, and it never let me down.
January 17, 2023
So much angst. Not my favorite.
November 3, 2023
cute!!
Very cute like usual!! It’s funny that they always get engaged at the end of the books but they are very sweet romantic books!!
Very cute like usual!! It’s funny that they always get engaged at the end of the books but they are very sweet romantic books!!
May 18, 2024
This was so good. Jeremy is such a sweetheart and so is May.
Anyone criticising May needs to be quiet. She was doing her best.
Such a cute, heart-warming read.
Anyone criticising May needs to be quiet. She was doing her best.
Such a cute, heart-warming read.
December 20, 2024
2.5 stars. Too much angst for how low the stakes felt
February 8, 2025
2,5 stars
My least favorite so far.
Why was she crying all the damn time?!
My least favorite so far.
Why was she crying all the damn time?!
June 6, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️
I love a best friend to lovers story! This had me feeling a lot of the feels!
I love a best friend to lovers story! This had me feeling a lot of the feels!
December 30, 2020
Meh - cute but I can’t stand a character who cries constantly. Seriously.
May 14, 2020
I don't know why, but May just annoyed me. Her constant crying about everything grew weary. I did like Jeremy and his backstory. I would have liked more character development for both of their characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews