Home for the Holidays

by Lucy Darling

Escaping the big city to go home for the holidays is the only bright light in the year I’ve had. I’m constantly surrounded by people, but I’ve never felt more alone or out of place. Going home had been the plan until a historic snowfall down all air traffic.

Well, not all of it. A handsome billionaire with a private plane can still fly, and when he asks me to accompany him for the holidays and pretend to be his fiancé, we strike a deal.

They say Logan Duncan is hard, brooding, and seemingly cold. But with me, he manages to send hot tingles down my spine whenever he touches me and holds me close. He makes this all feel too real. The closer we get the more I see he’s never been loved. I make it my mission to show him the magic of Christmas.

My holidays started out grounded, but now they’re soaring. The only problem is, what happens when I want this fake fiancé to be the real thing?

Genres: Romance, Holiday, Contemporary, Christmas, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Fake Dating

Unknown Binding

First published December 19, 2020

Reviews

[Flor ❁ (HIATUS) · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was okeyy, insta love, smut.
the drama at the end was poor, I hate the "your life would be better without me" 🙄

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

This one was a pretty okay Christmas novella!! It was fast pace and little steam.

Angel is having a okayish time in the city and her job but she does miss her family so when her flight is cancled and shes stranded she breaks down. This catches the attention of Logan a billionaire who has to go home for the hoilday and his "fake fiance " isn't going to be his fake fiance anymore he has a plan. And Angel agrees with it because she misses her family.

The tension is there and Logan gets to see how a real family acts around eachother and the hoildays only person who has a problem with him is Angels brother because of the past not with one another but Logans brother has problems with Angels brother. Ontop of that they have to deal with Logans mean ass family and he makes sure no one hurts his girl.

Tiny om (h boss and H bro flirts with her she doesnt flirt back)ehh ow drama (unless you count his ex who was a lesbian who was his fake fiance), no cheating, drama, slight secondary character, sexy times, virgin gal and no manwhore

Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐⭐⭐
Heat Level-🌶🌶

Slowinsta
Slight push/pull H
No condom
Safe-ish
Hea
Epilogue

[*CJ* · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Home for the Holidays" is the story of Angel and Logan.

Heroine is travelling home for holidays, when her flight is cancelled and ends up meeting the hero. He offers her a lift in his private plane, if she agrees to be his fake girlfriend. Ofcourse as they end up meeting each other's parents, understanding where her warmth and inhibitions come from, end up falling in love and have their HEA.

Hero was in denial in this one but a good one time read.

Safe
3/5

[Serena Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Había una especie de magia en el aire que nos unió ese día.'




✨🎄✨Home For The Holidays de
Lucy Darling✨🎄✨


Mí humilde opinión:


🎄✨🎄Escapar de la gran ciudad para volver a casa durante las vacaciones es la única luz brillante en el año que he tenido. Estoy constantemente rodeada de gente, pero nunca me he sentido más sola o fuera de lugar. Regresar a casa había sido el plan hasta que una histórica nevada azotó todo el tráfico aéreo.

Bueno, no todo. Un apuesto multimillonario con un avión privado todavía puede volar, y cuando me pide que lo acompañe durante las vacaciones y finja ser su prometida, llegamos a un acuerdo.

Dicen que Logan Duncan es duro, melancólico y aparentemente frío. Pero conmigo se las arregla para enviar un hormigueo caliente por mi columna cada vez que me toca y me abraza.

Hace que todo esto parezca demasiado real. Cuanto más nos acercamos, más veo que nunca ha sido amado. Mi misión es mostrarle la magia de la Navidad.

Mis vacaciones empezaron bien, pero ahora se están disparando.

El único problema es, ¿qué sucede cuando quiero que este prometido falso sea real?✨🎄✨




❄️Este es el primer librito que leo de Lucy Darling y enseguida la agregué a mis autoras por leer.

Este es un cuento navideño rápido, fácil de leer con una mezcla de dulzura, pasión y una pincelada de drama.

La historia de Ángel y Logan era como las galletas con glaseado que no puedes dejar.

Ellos eran divertidos juntos, disfruté de sus interacciones. Ella era todo azúcar e inocencia y él todo un alfa amargado, ambos polos opuestos con una gran química. Me gustó cómo ella le enseñó el significado del amor y la familia que él nunca tuvo. Me pareció gracioso que él no reconociera el amor cuando le desmotró a Ángel con acciones desde que se conocieron.

Me encantó que tuviera muchos toques navideños, ese final con tensión no lo vi venir y ese epilogo fue adorable.❄️

[Fiona Fog · Rating 5 out of 5]

With each new book by Lucy Darling, I fall further in love with her stories. She delivers a sweet and sexy read with her latest book Home For the Holidays.

When our lead Angel's holiday plans are left in disarray due to the weather she's beyond heartbroken. All she wants is to spend Christmas with her family. When she encounters Logan at the airport it's like a Christmas miracle or in her words a Hallmark Movie moment waiting to happen. She wasn't expecting him.

Logan spotted her instantly, some thing about her he couldn't ignore. She stirs something in him. These feelings are not something he's used to. All he knows is he wants to keep her close. Offering her a ride home in his private jet their Hallmark Movie is already in motion.

Expect over the top because it wouldn't be a story without it. The sexy times are a given but it's also a sweet happily ever after that hits the spot.

It's a YES from me.

[Alba M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Angel está deseando volver a casa para pasar la Navidad, pero lleva años sin nevar y justo este día nieva y cancelan su vuelo.
Logan está a punto de volver a casa, a donde no quiere, y necesita una prometida falsa para que su madre deje de intentar emparejarlo. Seran Angel y Logan la solución el uno del otro?

Que mejor manera de acabar el año que con libros cortos para estar relajada y sin drama!.
No os digo nada que ya sabéis cómo van!

[Babel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a charming little story. It's filled with warm feelings, passionate insta-love, and all the Christmas sweetness to make us feel good right now.

The opposites attract theory is in full display as the characters go from total strangers to fake engagement between a rich business man and an innocent good girl. I had a great time reading this adorable romance. There are cookies, xmas decorations, loving family get-togethers, and a whirlwind love story with lots of steamy times.

Logan is that man with a cold family and no knowledge of what love is. Angel is the kind and sunny soul who will show him all the good things that he's been missing.

I liked the stages he goes through as he is bewildered by his sudden need to spend time with her and her family, then smitten and needy and then completely head over heels in love with her. He's convinced he cannot be what she deserves but still doesn't want to give her up.

The dynamics of the story are sweet and hot, and the dialogues are as entertaining as the inner thoughts of the couple. Lovely Christmas romance to enjoy with a cup of hot cocoa.

[Lynn Thinking out loud · Rating 5 out of 5]

The was a great holiday love story. Proving Christmas miracles do happen.
Logan and Angel find love where and when they least expect it.
Great little Christmas read.

[Astraycat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although H was a jerk at the beginning, as he got closer with h and her families, he realized that he can have a normal family, and the ability to love.

[♡Tonya♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I love when a fake relationship turns real. They met by chance but Logan knew that Angel was something special

-no cheating
-om drama a random incident with her boss that really didn’t fit into the story. Came out of nowhere. She had never been with the boss
-ow drama none (hero was in a fake engagement with a friend to keep his family from trying to set him up. The friend was a lesbian and the arrangement worked for both of them)
-virgin heroine/no mention of hero’s past but he didn’t come across as a manwhore
-no violence of a sexual nature
-not a lot of steam until around 80%-ish
-epilogue 5 years out

[Chalice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot: Both Angel and Logan are headed in the same direction for the holidays. Angel is distraught that she can't get back to her family for the holidays, and Logan has a private plane which he is quite happy to share with her, after he sees her and experiences a strange phenomenon he can't really explain (insta-love!). In fact, in exchange, Logan convinces Angel to pretend to be his fiancé. The plot continues from that premise.

Character development: Angel is well-named, something that everyone comments on at least once. Logan, on the other hand, is the one who changes throughout the story. Logan has to learn a few things: the value of work v. the value of people, the unbounded love of family, and how to fully commit to someone.

Would I read more from this author/in this series: Yes!

As is typical of a Lucy Darling story, this one was incredibly sweet. Of course Angel seems impossibly naïve and well, angelic, but she's one of those people that makes everyone around her better without even trying. Logan was one of those people who became better, and that formed a sort of harmonic as they took care of each other. I enjoyed this as a sappy, sweet, well-written fun holiday story!

[Amyb1975 · Rating 4 out of 5]

She’s my heaven on earth.

I have to admit that I wasn't sure I was going to like this one much in the beginning but I continued on and ended up really enjoying it. The H, Logan was engaged to another woman and that's part of what gave me pause. But I quickly found out their relationship wasn't as it first seemed and they were only friends. I was also worried that the h, Angel would be this shy, sheltered virgin and he was this cold, high handed, jerk with a lot of experience. I was pleasantly surprised when there was no talk about his past with OW. I loved that she walked away from him when he started to pull away from her. She didn't stay and beg and become a doormat. We actually saw a pretty good grovel from him. No abuse, dual POV, epilogue at 5 years.

[Birdie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did I decide to read a Christmas book in July? I'm not sure, but I'm not mad about it. Really enjoyed this story about Angel and Logan.

[Denice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Home for the Holidays by Lucy Darling ⭐⭐⭐

HERO - Logan Duncan. CEO of Duncan Imports and Exports. Tall and muscular. Short hair, dark green eyes.

HEROINE - Angel Meyer. Works at EG Images. Has a design degree. Height-wise, about a foot shorter than Logan. Dark hair, blue eyes. Dimple in her left cheek.

OVERALL THOUGHTS - The story was a so-so read for me. As with many of this author’s works, I ended up with a bunch of questions that didn’t get answered.

What I Liked

Angel’s family. I’m including her best friend Carey in that category.

The main characters. They were both likeable though I could have done without Logan’s “I can’t give her what she needs” mentality. You don’t know what a person needs unless you communicate with them.

What I Disliked

Inconsistencies. Things like saying that it was Kelly’s idea for the fake engagement, but then later saying that Kelly agreed to it, as if he was the one to suggest it.

Lack of details. For example, why didn’t the author just tell us the characters’ ages? Because not doing so led to an inconsistency regarding side characters’ ages. At one point Logan says Beau is younger than him, but then later implies he’s the same age. Why not just tell us exactly how long Angel’s lived in L.A.? What exactly is Kelly and Logan’s background together? It’s hinted that they’ve been friends at least since college, but we don’t learn much more than that. He says she’s like a sister to him, yet she stays a stranger to the reader.

Dropped characters. One second, Kelly’s on the plane with Logan and Angel. The next, they’re getting into a car and Kelly's nowhere to be found. Did they just walk away from her without saying anything? Kelly is mentioned a few more times, but doesn’t appear. Considering she’s supposedly like a sister to Logan, and flew into the same city as them, you’d think she’d have shown up more since family was the main theme running through this book.

Random OM drama. The stuff with Angel’s boss...why? What did it add to the story other than filler?

It doesn’t make sense. As Logan’s POV opens, we learn he and Kelly have been in Los Angeles for a week on business and are driving to the airport to return home. The plan is that Kelly is going to be attending family events as his fiance. However, she waits until they’re in the car to tell him that she’s fallen in love and can’t be his fake fiance anymore. So...when did this happen? While they were in L.A.? Before? Why wait until the most inconvenient moment to tell him that? This one scene sets up the whole rest of the book and it makes no sense to me.

Neutral But Noteworthy

Holiday vibes. In my opinion, this would have been better as a Thanksgiving book. There’s a heavy family-oriented theme, but overall it didn’t feel very Christmas-y.

Connected book incoming. Beau and Carey are getting their own book early in 2021 according to the author’s note.

SAFETY

Age: Angel - 22-ish*; Logan - 32-ish**

*Angel’s age is never mentioned, but we do learn that she’s graduated college, making her at least 22. She got a job right out of college and based on a comment made by her boss late in the story, she’s only been there for a few months, so my best guess is she’s between 22-23.

**Logan’s age is never stated, but we get a couple of clues. First, we learn that his father ran their family business nearly into the ground 10 years ago, right around when Logan was graduating from college. That would place him around 32. At another point, Logan thinks to himself that he can’t shame Angel’s brother Beau for wanting someone 10 years younger than him because he’s in the same boat. So 22 and 32 seems to jive.

Sexual History: Angel is a virgin, but has dated in the past, though not very actively. It’s unclear whether she’s been in a relationship before - she has a framed photo of herself with a boy in her childhood bedroom that’s pointed out in Logan’s POV, but he doesn’t ask her about it and she doesn’t offer an explanation. Was he a boyfriend, or just a date to homecoming or prom? We’ll never know.

Logan isn’t a virgin, but his history is never touched on. He says several times that he doesn’t have time to date, nor was he ever photographed with any woman other than Kelly, and that was only during their fake engagement. He does say at one point that he’s never shared a bed with a woman, which I guess means he’s slept with women, but hasn’t slept with women. There was no mention of when his last time was.

Condoms: Not used with Angel and she’s not birth control. I assume he used them in the past.

Heat Level: Hot - 3/5 → Things do heat up to a scorcher level late in the book, but that’s not until around 80 or 85%.

Push/Pull: Yes, slightly Initially, the push/pull is what you’d expect out of the fake relationship trope. They’re both attracted to each other, they get physical pretty early on, they’re falling for one another, but neither wants to be the one to admit their true feelings because of how it started out.

There is one true instance of pushing away near the end at 85%. The whole story, Logan has been convinced that he can’t give Angel the love that she needs and worries he’ll ruin her. So after they have sex that involves some dirty talk and he realizes she liked it, he interprets that as he’s corrupted her. He tells her he needs to let her go. She tries to convince him otherwise. He doesn’t budge. She asks what he’ll do if she’s pregnant and after he replies saying he’ll provide for her, she gets upset and leaves him, telling him they both need time to think.

Within several hours, Angel decides she needs to go back to L.A. to clear her head and heads to the airport. Logan, who’s still got a security detail on her, sees this and goes to her, catching her on the plane where they make up. He finally tells her he loves her at 91%.

Separation: No, but check out push/pull.

Cheating: No

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: OW - not really, but Logan was engaged to another woman until minutes before meeting the heroine. The engagement wasn’t real, but a fake one to get his board of directors off his back. It was an open relationship, though he didn’t care to date anyone else because he was too busy. There was never anything romantic between them. They didn’t even pretend to be touchy-feely at public events. He only sees her as a friend, and she’s a lesbian. He also says they never planned to go through with getting married.

There was no animosity between Kelly and Angel, though Angel did initially worry that there may have been something physical between Logan and the other woman, not knowing that Kelly prefers women. ; OM - yes, slightly So this came out of nowhere - it turns out Angel’s boss, Mr. Canon, has the hots for her. Around 67%, he starts sending her texts after seeing a photo of her with Logan, asking her personal questions that she doesn’t respond to. Her BFF Carey compares him to a jealous boyfriend while Angel brushes it off as him just being a jerk with control issues.

At 88%, we learn that after Angel turned in her letter of resignation, Douglass called her offering more money as well as to send a private plane to get her. I can’t say whether she was going to accept the pay increase, but she did accept the plane ride, wanting to leave her hometown and head back to L.A. to clear her head. As she boarded, however, she was surprised to see her boss. Turns out, he’d already hopped on a plane over there as soon as he’d received her resignation. He makes some suggestive comments, grossing her out. As she turns to leave, she runs into Logan, who heard what the boss said, and punches him. That’s the last we hear of him.

Sex scene with OW/OM: No

Abuse: No

Possible Pet Peeves/Triggers: Yes Fake relationship trope - on page. Hero was fake engaged to another woman until minutes prior to meeting the heroine - on page.

HEA/HFN: HEA There’s one epilogue set five years into the future. They’re married and have two children, a boy and a girl. Logan ended up resigning from his own company, leaving Kelly in charge, though he consults occasionally. He no longer communicates with his own family, but is close with Angel’s. He ended up getting involved with Angel’s father and brother’s business. No mention of whether Angel is working.

[♡Tonya♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when a fake relationship turns real. They met by chance but Logan knew that Angel was something special

-no cheating
-om drama a random incident with her boss that really didn’t fit into the story. Came out of nowhere. She had never been with the boss
-ow drama none (hero was in a fake engagement with a friend to keep his family from trying to set him up. The friend was a lesbian and the arrangement worked for both of them)
-virgin heroine/no mention of hero’s past but he didn’t come across as a manwhore
-no violence of a sexual nature
-not a lot of steam until around 80%-ish
-epilogue 5 years out

[Geeky Girl Review Cafe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Hallmark Happily Ever After

It was the cover that hooked me...then to find out it was a fake engagement and a wealthy leading man story, SOLD! I was in.

Angel truly was beyond sweet and really made the story believable. Her kindness and sweetness really can change even the hardest of hearts.

I only wish we'd have seen them have it out with her nasty roommates lol

[Kyareth14 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy never disappoints me, this story is beautiful, very good for Christmas time, I loved that it was longer, the whole plot kept me reading every page non-stop until it was over. Logan and Angel a very sweet but hot couple. Recommended to spend a good reading time and now wait for the next story.

[Liz [reads books] · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little Christmas romance. I think the issue with her boss was unnecessary and kinda just glossed over. Ready for the next book!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet holiday love story. Logan is cranky, and Angel is just trying to find her way. Jealous, OTT alpha. I didn’t like the little bit of push pull, mild angst.

[Laura..devouring books like crumpets · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet feel good Hallmark read!

i enjoyed it, although predictable and cheesy... But we all love cheese at christmas!

Girl meets millionaire pretends to be his fiancé for the holidays and well im sure you can guess the rest.... not the most remarkable read... but for what it is i liked it.

[JaneH · Rating 4 out of 5]

highly enjoyable

Angel and Logan’s story is oh so sweet, very spicy and they are both strong and likeable. His family don’t show any love whereas hers does. It was entertaining seeing Logan adjust to showing love…and he did it very well

[MichelleG · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has all the hallmarks of a a classic insta opposite attract story. Poor down on her luck Angel just wants to go home to her family for the holidays and gets to the airport to discover her flight cancelled due to weather. She breaks down in tears and is approached by Logan who is coincidentally at the same airport, headed to the same small town and is in need of a fake fiancee as a buffer to his family. He has a private plane ready to leave and offers Angel a way home if she will agree to being his fiancee for the the holidays.

Through the course of the next few days, Logan quickly transforms from a disbeliever of love, marriage and family to wanting all of the above due to his exposure to Angel and her too good to be true family. There is a requisite villains in Logan's mother and brother, but they get very little page time. The plot device at the end where Logan briefly pushes Angel away is very quickly resolved as is a pop up villain that came out of left field.

The story was a cute, quick read with very little angst and a nice epilogue

[Viv “BookVixen” Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

steamy Christmas magic❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️

What a wonderful swoon-filled romp!!! I adored every word of this book and I’m my only disappointment is when it ended. The hero is hard, cold and consumed with work—until he meets the heroine who is soft, shy and sweet. Her innocence and gentleness breaks down every wall he has erected around himself. And with a little help from her warm, loving family, he is welcomed and shown what love is. I thought adding the family dynamic into the story just made it all the more powerful and beautiful.

I can’t wait to read the next one from this author.

Heros past isn’t mentioned, except to say he has been celibate for a long time. Heroine is a virgin. No ow, only slight om drama by someone interested in heroine but she doesn’t reciprocate. No cheating or abuse of any kind. HEA with epilogue.

[Ari · Rating 1 out of 5]

The way the H breaks the h’s heart near the end when they “break up” was unnecessarily CRUEL. The language he throws at the h was so surprising to read coming from a Lucy Darling story.

It really soured the whole story and there was zero grovel from him considering words have power and what he said to her was hurtful/disgusting just for the sake of hurting her where her insecurities lie.

He made it sound like she was stupid for not knowing that he was using her all along and that there was something wrong with her. And to say if she was pregnant that he would help her but nothing else?? He knew she was sensitive to emotional neglect and abandonment. 🙄

[Oriana Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story. A chance meeting at an airport and a fake engagement..... but the feelings got real.😍😍😍😍 Logan and Angel got their HEA despite meddling people and self-doubt. A safe, sweet, romantic and steamy story with a HEA and great characters. 👍👍👍 Can't wait to read the stories about the other couples😉

[Evelyn alfonzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨✨✨✨
Este libro es súper dulce. Lucy Darling no decepciona de las historias cortas más lindas

[kittielovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angel just wants to go home for Christmas. She moved to LA for school and stayed for her job, however she is not happy. Going home is the bright spot right now but when a record snow fall hits she is stuck in the airport with no way home.

Logan Duncan needs a pretend fiancée in order to deal with his family for the holidays. So, when he finds a crying Angel, he offers her the perfect option: get a flight home in his private jet in exchange for Angel being his fiancée for the weekend. The issue is that the more time they spend together the more both want this to be the real thing.

This is a cute Christmas story. As they mention throughout the story, a real Hallmark moment. Author Lucy Darling is so great at making grumpy alphas that will do anything for the woman they claim and Logan is no exception! Turn on the fireplace, cuddle up with a fuzzy blanket and cup of hot chocolate, and fall in love with Angel and Logan. Trust me, you will be left satisfied! 😏

[Leslee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angel just wants to go home for the holidays. What she didn't expect was for snow in LA to destroy her plans. When all-business oriented Logan sees her crying in the airport, he quickly hatches a plan. She is headed to his home town and he needs a new fake fiance. His former fake fiance went and fell in love and he can't face his manipulating family without one. He quickly falls under her spell and that of her family. He doesn't understand his reaction, why he needs her to the point of obsession but he doesn't put up much of a fight. Angel is her state of her mind not just her name. She comes to the realization that while she might have required some help, he truly needs her. I loved this story sooo much. Beautifully written, filled with all the longing for love and home, Logan and Angel's story was just perfect!

[OnTheSamePaige · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean, the set up is the most ridiculous thing ever. I get that. This is supposed to be fluffy, forgetable nonsense and it is. Fluffy doesn't have to mean poorly done.

The main character Angel doesn't make sense. You can't stand up to your roommates AT ALL (which just felt like an excuse to take a shot at models) but you can stand up to the grumpy CEO? She's from the same small town as the CEO, but doesn't know who he is? Their brothers went to school together? How do you complain you two are from different worlds when he literally lives 15 minutes away from your family?

Stop telling us that his family is pure evil, but only show them being slightly annoying.

Stop telling us her brother is a good guy, while only showing him being a total jerk.

The characters compare what is happening in-story to a Hallmark movie at least 3 times. No.

[Danielle Fanello · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I was stranded on an island with only this book, I might be convinced to read it again.....maybe.

They guy was just creepy with the first time he saw the girl, a decade younger than him, she is crying, and he got hard off it. For a while, it's like almost every page he is thinking about being hard because of her. They do a fake engagement at an airport before she even knows his last name, and then she is on a private plane with him in minutes. What girl is that stupid with even the basics of safety. When she is agreeing to the fake marriage, she mentioned no sex and that she is a virgin. Just a few hours later, he has her in bed, but apparently, it's ok because it's just oral. In 24 hours, he wants her to move in with him and really get married. 129 pages of cringe. It also had a lot to it that wasn't flushed out that needed to be.