December 2024 First in a Series BOTM - Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison

[Jamie]

Two best friends fake date to reach their holiday happily ever after in this first romantic comedy in the Lovelight series.

A pasture of dead trees. A hostile takeover of the Santa barn by a family of raccoons. And shipments that have mysteriously gone missing. Lovelight Farms is not the magical winter wonderland of Stella Bloom’s dreams.

In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid, Stella enters a contest with Instagram-famous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the $100,000 cash prize, Stella might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on her application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only…there is no boyfriend.

Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just stopped by for some hot chocolate and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process. But fake dating his best friend might be the best Christmas present he’s ever received.

**This BOTM thread will be open until January 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapters 1 - 7

(view spoiler)[ I’m kind of surprised with how much I’m enjoying the characters, the humour and the writing so far. The only things I’m a bit worried about are how the lie is going to come out and how Stella and Luka’s relationship is going to change.

Although I think that the friendship between Stella and Luka is really well done, there are some moments where it feels like it might be over exaggerated (for example, Luka not knowing that Stella wasn’t in a relationship anymore, or him not knowing about Stella’s feelings about the fake Thanksgiving thing). On the other hand, I guess it could make sense since they live three hours away from each other.

I’m really curious to see what really happened when Stella thought that Luka was taking women home if he says that he’s never done that in front of her. Also, I want to see what the dinner is going to be like and Charlie’s character.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapters 8 - 12

(view spoiler)[ I really wish Luka and Stella would just talk about their feelings. It’s so obvious, even to them and yet they’re not doing anything about it. That’s a bit frustrating.

Why was Mr Hewett rude? It seems like he’s the only suspect for the vandalisms on Stella’s farm but maybe that’s too easy.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapters 13 - 18

(view spoiler)[ I thought that the contest was going to be a bigger part of the book, but I’m not mad that there was more time with just the main characters.

Has Dane found the culprit?
(hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Chapter 19 - Epilogue

(view spoiler)[ I really didn’t understand the conflict and it kind of ruined Stella’s character for me. Luka tells her that he loves her, she wants everything to go back to how it was before the faking started (which made absolutely no sense to me), but she’s open to a relationship after seeing the video? Why?

I think that the idea of fake dating between friends made sense, but I didn’t like how they were dragging their feet about admitting their real feelings, not to mention the conflict.
(hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Chapters 1-9
(view spoiler)[ This is cute so far, a nice eats read. I love fake dating and I'm enjoying the depth the MC has. It's so obvious that he is as into her as she is to him but she is so oblivious. I'm wondering how long it will take her to figure it out. I'm not going to lie, I didn't think this was going to be any good and I'm very happy to have been wrong. Small town Christmas romances are not usually my jam but I quite like this so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessie (Saffity)]

Chapter 1
(view spoiler)[I will be very slow going through this book as I have two very young children and I am attempting to actually read this rather than audiobook it. That being said, just finished Chapter 1 and it is a very Hallmark Movie beginning "We're going to lose the farm!!!" While it looks to be predictable (and honestly I hope it is, not all books need twists), I'm very much looking forward to curling up in the evenings after bedtime with this book. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

Started this today! Getting a cute, nothing too wild festive read vibe from it and I love it. It's shaping up to be exactly what I need right now, hoping that continues.

1-8
(view spoiler)[I'm enjoying it way more than I thought I would. I'm really enjoying both of the MCs and I like their dynamic. I typically enjoy the fake dating trope and this is no different.

I'm kind of hoping it doesn't turn into both of them not admitting their feelings and a lack of communication situation but we'll see. I just read a very drawn-out version of this trope so I think that's where this feeling is coming from haha. He's clearly into her and she hasn't figured it out yet. I hope it doesn't make their relationship weird.

Excited to see where this goes! (hide spoiler)]

[Jessie (Saffity)]

Chapters 2-6

(view spoiler)[
"Apparently there is an Inglewild phone tree" had me laugh out loud. The feel of the small town gossip mill is in full force here. I kind of love the sheriff and his protectiveness. I wish these two would actually talk! They've been friends for a decade and they may have a lot of words come out of their mouths, but neither of the actually SAYS anything. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapter 7: (view spoiler)[ I love their friendship and you can totally see that they have feelings for each other but neither one will say it. I also love this little tree farm and hope she can turn it around. I do believe someone is sabotaging her though - it does all seem a little fishy. Also, her dad seems like a piece of work. Ditches her and her mom with nothing but goes off with his other family. Classy. It's amazing that she's so close to her half brother. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

Ela (Mouse333) wrote: "Chapters 8 - 12

I really wish ..."

(view spoiler)[This was incredibly frustrating. They just needed to talk about their feelings. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapter 14: (view spoiler)[ well dang, they're definitely trying on this couple thing for size arent they? I love how theyre both just going with because of how natural it feels. Lukas mom is adorable. Also beckett with the kittens - yeah, pretty sure this guy gets his own book cauae damn. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

Finished

(view spoiler)[Well this went how I thought it would. The spice comes in about 50% and within the last 10% we have this issue and then they come back together because the problem was stupid.

I really enjoyed the characters and it was a fun read however, I was disappointed in the end. Luka tells her exactly what he wants and she just decides that he must be making it up and it's just how he's feeling in the moment. I would maybe get it if they weren't long time friends but this felt different. He admitted to always wanting to be with her and this fake dating situation just made it happen. Unfortunately, it made me kind of irritated with Stella in the end. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapter 19: (view spoiler)[ Whoa, did not expect Evelyn and Beckett to know each other but definitely makes for an interesting time. I'm glad Stella finally told everyone about her money issues with the farm. I agree with Layla and Beckett, she should have shared that info as it was happening. Who knows what they all could have done. And also, knew it was that neighbor guy causing trouble. But would never have guessed it was to open an alpaca farm lol (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ Well i wasn't a fan of the 3rd act break up even though i knew it was coming and even if it was only for like one chapter. I get that Stella was scared but I feel like she could have handled that conversation a lot better than straight up calling Luka's feelings false. Overall, this was a super cute read and I'm excited to read the rest of the series (hide spoiler)]

[Ela (Mouse333)]

Brittni wrote: "Finished..."

(view spoiler)[ I completely agree, especially because as you said they're supposed to be great friends and trust each other.
(hide spoiler)]

[Brittni]

Ela (Mouse333) wrote: "Brittni wrote: "Finished..."

(view spoiler)[Yes! I assumed it would be like so many other romance books out there but it was so odd. I was really hoping that this would end differently. They would confess to having long-time feelings for each other and go from there. The weird little issue and her completely invalidating his feelings was not it. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Finally listening to this now!

[Jessica]

Chapters 10-13
(view spoiler)[ God, these two are exasperating. He's into you too Stella just talk to him and you'll see. I normally love idiots in love but this could be solved so easily and his feelings are so obvious that I just can't. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 14-18
(view spoiler)[
I liked what happened with the business, having them all in together like that just makes sense. If only she'd said something sooner, but that seems to be the theme of this book. Beckett and Evie have me so intrigued. I thought the contest would take up more of this, but I like that she came clean. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ This did get me in the holiday spirit (I read this like three weeks ago and forgot to come back and add these). But my god Stella was aggravating. While she was aggravating I did enjoy this book, it was a light read which was nice and what I was looking for. I am very intrigued by Evie and Beckett and will be continuing on. I really could have done without that dumb third act break up. She didn't believe him, like come on. (hide spoiler)]