Holidate

By: Monica Murphy

Narrated by: Virginia Rose, Teddy Hamilton

Candice Gaines loves Christmas. Not only does she bask in the twinkling lights, sing Christmas carols, and go crazy with the decorations, she’s also in the giving spirit - donating much of her time and wealth to various charities in the local area.

Charlie Sullivan despises Christmas. Though it keeps his family afloat, considering they own Sullivan Family Christmas Tree Farm, the main provider for Christmas trees on the Monterey Peninsula. He’d much rather work among the trees than have to deal with people.

But Charlie’s parents are taking on more philanthropic projects - and as their oldest child, they want him to be their official public representative. He just has to play nice, and convince everyone he’s not a total holiday hater.

When Charlie’s mom asks Candice to accompany him to a variety of holiday parties and events, she reluctantly agrees. She thinks Charlie is a big ol’ Grinch, but is determined to change his mindset and help him spread Christmas cheer. Charlie finds Candice is too chatty, too sweet, too much. Do people like her really exist?

Why yes, yes they do. The more time they spend together - along with a few kisses under the mistletoe - the more they start to like each other. Hopefully Charlie can convince Candice he doesn’t have a heart that’s two sizes too small before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve.

©2019 Monica Murphy (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

Sweet “hallmark” christmas story

This was a feel good story without the typical Monica Murphy steamy scenes. I loved the main characters and Teddy Hamilton as narrator for Charlie. Candice is supposed to be early 20s and I didn’t think her narrator sounded young but otherwise I enjoyed the performance.

Feel Good Listen!

Holidate is the absolute perfect feel good holiday book! I enjoyed this book so much and it definitely kept me in the holiday mood! I love both characters Candace and Charlie! Their connection is what sweet romance is made of!

Virginia Rose and Teddy Hamilton’s performance of Candace and Charlie is perfection! They both delivered these characters so well!

Holiday Love Story

This is an interesting mix of two people trying to cope through the holidays in completely opposite ways and end up helping eachother. Cute.

You’re missing the point

For everyone complaining about the lack of sex in this book, you’re missing the point of the continuous reference to Hallmark movies. The heroine of the story is a sweet ‘Hallmark-like’ character that isn’t even supposed to have her kiss until the final scene…like in a Hallmark movie. This is one book in a series and this particular book isn’t focused on the physical but rather the heart of a young woman who lost her mother at a very young age who finds the right man to help her heal from the loss and embrace the memories she has tried so hard to run from. Embrace this story, I’m sure there will be plenty of steam in book 4 of the series :)

good

I haven't listened to Teddy Hamilton I love his voice..I loved him in Birthday girl. and am looking to find more audiobooks with him 📚

So touching and heartfelt - SPOILERS ***

This one really got to me. I have a close relationship with my mom and breast cancer runs in my family (my nana/her mom passed from it😢) So this story hit close to home. It made me feel for Candace and how she copes with missing her mom throughout the holiday season. The relationship between Candace and Charlie was so funny at first because it didn't exactly make sense. He's a tree farmer guy with apparent lacking social skills, while she's a social butterfly, going from event to event throughout the holiday season - on purpose.. because she likes it. Lol. Anyway, as the story goes on and they spend more time together, it becomes apparent just how much they do actually have in common. It's really cute how soon they start to like each other. Honestly, the best part for me was the very end where Charlie gives his Christmas present to her. It was really what urged me to write this whole review. The Christmas tree with picture frame ornaments was such a heartfelt present that took time and effort of multiple people to pull together and it honestly brought tears to my eyes. The picture ornaments were the best part. Helping Candace bring back memories of her mom was such an excellent Christmas gift.. it was the best gift he could've given her, if you ask me. ❤️

Great Holiday or Anytime Romance

This is a great Hallmark-esque romance. I love the Candace and Charlie characters. it is too bad the remaining books in this series aren't on Audible. You must read the first two books of the Dating series.

good clean romance

clean romance. very sweet ending. Hallmark styled. loved the whole thing! two main characters had depth and growth. happy ending. LOVED IT!

Cute and Fun

So this is a super low angst and super low steam with adult fun times only mentioned three times and they don’t actually have adult fun times in the book.

Now if you are still here I will tell you my thoughts on the story! lol

The story was fun! Super grumpy/sunshine and her sunshine is infectious lol

She gets him to come out of his shell some by attending so holiday events with her and she also just burrows her way into his heart.

He does the same with her as she gets to know him and understand where his grump tendencies come from and she learns it’s just how he processes things.

They are super cute together and their chemistry is described to be off the charts with the whole sparks shooting up the arms and such that I except if the author had written any open door adult fun times scenes they would have been explosive lol

Now on to the narrators!!

Virginia Rose and Teddy Hamilton are so talented and I just adore them both!

narrators were perfect

Absolutely loved the narrators. They made the audiobook very good. The female narrators sounded older than the character age but it didn't bother me. The male narrator had the perfect voice. the story was good