His Holiday Pact

Likeable characters, spicy scenes, predictable but in a good way. The character growth gives it the extra .5 stars. Overall a cute story of a relationship of convenience

⭐️Overall 4.5/5
🎧Narration 5/5
🌶️ Spice 4/5
🖤Dark 0/5

“I’m not really a threat to his heart or whatever. One day, he’ll bring home one of the perfect tens he seems to gravitate to and then you’ll get a real girlfriend. I guess I can say that I’m his practice run. At least I serve a purpose.”

If you are looking for a book with Hallmarkish Holiday feels, with amazing narration, believable character, fun banter, sexual tension, laugh out loud moments, second hand embarrassment, realistic times where you wanting to smack the main character and some “HECK YEAH” spice. Then just stop reading this and go get this book!!
Neighbors for 3 years Kayla has seen Carter bring home more models than she can count. With the walls not being soundproof, Kayla also knows…well, you know.

Kayla is a curvy lawyer with a mom who wants her to lose weight and get a man. Carter is a playboy who likes he lifestyle but his mom is dying with cancer and wants her son to settle down. With the holidays around the corner Kayla and Carter make a pact. No sex, fake dating, and make the holidays bearable. With the fun banter mixed in with the friends, and the character development is delivered in a way that makes this book stick out amongst the rest of the Christmas Fake Dating books. The tension that leads up to the steamy parts are well written. The emotional parts of the book flow well and do not feel forced (from happy, sad, spunky, confused, all the emotions given.)

Wow, this is an awesome book, while the story is set around the holidays it can be enjoyed anytime of the year, it is so much more than a holiday story and romance. This is my first book written by Ayla Asher, she is a gifted author, the storylines she created are interesting and original, the book grabbed my attention right from the start and held it captive straight to the end. The characters are realistic, easy to relate and connect with. I adored Kayla Summers, she is a strong and successful career woman, her one weakness is her self image, her mother’s constant insults did a number on her self esteem. She actually got accustomed to writing things off as oh she is not pretty enough or he is out of her league. This included her hot and so swoon-worthy neighbor, Carter Manheim, she sees the type of women who parade in and out of his place and knows she does not stand a chance. Carter is a player and professes to never get into a serious relationship. When his mothers cancer returns he wants to do something to make her happy, that would be to show her he has someone special in his life. He and Kayla got to talking and come up with a pact, to be each others fake boyfriend/girlfriend for when they visit their family for the upcoming holidays. I loved these two together, the chemistry between them was undeniable and smoking hot. I loved how the story plays out, it is nicely plotted and there is never a dull moment with plenty of drama, a touch of angst, some great humor, some heartfelt and emotional moments, some sexy times and a wonderful romance. Ayla Asher, thank you for this great story, the laughs and the emotional rollercoaster ride.

I listened to the Audiobook edition, Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross are fabulous narrators and voice artists. They do an awesome job portraying the characters, bringing them to life, humanizing them, giving each their own voice and personality. Their duet performance enhances the story another level, you could hear the chemistry between the characters as well as their emotions and passion. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another wonderful listen🎧