Evergreen Falls, Book 1
From the publisher:
A holiday romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, with spice and fake dating that follows a fiery designer who teams up with her charming billionaire boss for a week-long Christmas competition, and their pretend holiday romance soon starts to feel all too real—now with a never-before-published short story.
“Wanted: hot billionaire to pose as my Christmas boyfriend. Must be willing to make my cheating ex jealous by kissing me under the mistletoe at holiday parties. Bonus if you make him cry.”
To Fable’s surprise, her billionaire boss, Wilder Blaine, is more than willing to take on the challenge of playing her holiday boyfriend. The sexy single dad desperately needs a plus one for a Christmas Eve wedding, where he’s the best man and she’s the maid of honor. With her ex also in the wedding party, the two team up as a pair of insta-lovebirds for the holiday season. Their partnership includes participating in the annual week-long Christmas competition leading up to the snowy destination wedding.
What starts as late nights crafting the best popcorn balls for the contest soon turns into a passionate night together, where the sparks between them are impossible to ignore. But when the holidays end, can their winter wonderland romance turn into something real back at the office? Or are they destined to go the way of a Christmas tree on New Year’s Day?
Fable is the creative director of merchandise for a professional football team. The team’s owner, Wilder, is a billionaire, a single dad, and—unusually—quite young. It’s hard to think of a real-life counterpart, so I suspended my disbelief and rolled with it.
When Wilder invites his staff to Thanksgiving dinner at his home, Fable walks in on her boyfriend in a very compromising position with the caterer. Furious and humiliated, she storms back to the party—only to witness her sister’s boyfriend proposing. Despite the chaos of her own love life, Fable is genuinely thrilled. Her sister wants a Christmas wedding, which means a tight turnaround, but the family will be spending the holidays in Evergreen Falls, a picture-perfect small town with total Hallmark vibes and a week-long series of festive competitions—from karaoke to gingerbread house decorating to snowball fights and more. Wilder owns the property, so he and his family will be there, too.
Wilder’s aunt loves to meddle in his romantic life, but as a single dad who co-parents peacefully with his ex, he feels he doesn’t have time for dating. His twelve-year-old daughter, Mac, is the center of his world, and their relationship is one of the sweetest parts of the story. I also loved how he and his ex got along—no bitterness, no drama, just mutual respect between two parents who’ve moved on.
Fable needs a date for the wedding—her cheating ex is the groom’s cousin and part of the wedding party. Wilder needs a date to keep his aunt’s matchmaking schemes at bay. So they strike a deal: a fake relationship for the holidays. They report it to HR to keep things professional, then meet up to learn enough about each other to make the ruse believable.
To his credit, Wilder tells his daughter the truth, while Fable confides in her sister—though she makes her promise not to tell her fiancé – not exactly the best way to start a marriage. Wilder, it turns out, has had feelings for Fable since she joined the team, and he’s eager to show her what being treated well really looks like—with kindness, attention, and thoughtful, sometimes extravagant, gestures. He is also determined to show up her ex during those holiday competitions.
Naturally, the fake relationship starts to feel very real. The chemistry between Fable and Wilder absolutely sizzles, but what makes the story shine is his tenderness toward his daughter and the genuine emotional growth between all three. Fable’s reactions—especially after being burned by her ex—feel authentic and relatable.
While slow-going at times, this book delivers everything you want in a holiday romance; it’s a festive escape full of heart, humor, and a happily-ever-after ending.
11/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
MY FAVORITE HOLIDATE by Lauren Blakely. Atria Books. (October 7, 2025). ISBN: 978-1668208502. 384p.
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