Merry Little Kissmas

De: Lauren Blakely

Narrado por: Vanessa Edwin, Connor Crais, Carlotta Brentan, Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke, Adam Gold, Teddy Hamilton, JF Harding, Erin Mallon, Soneela Nankani, Evan Parker

A full-cast holiday romance extravaganza performed in duet by Connor Crais and Vanessa Edwin, and with a full cast of your favorite narrators including including Carlotta Brentan, Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke, Adam Gold, Teddy Hamilton, JF Harding, Erin Mallon, Soneela Nankani, and Evan Parker.

Wanted: A fresh shot at love for the holidays. But fake dating my brother’s grumpy best friend? He’s my new client, for Santa’s sake!

As a professional matchmaker, my biggest job this holiday season should be simple: find a date for the sexy single dad hockey player—aka my brother’s best friend—for his team’s fancy Christmas Eve gala. Sure Rowan’s hot as a crackling fire and spicier than a gingerbread man, but he hasn’t just sworn off romance. The Christmas hater has made a bet that I can’t find him a holidate.

What’s a matchmaker to do?

Win, of course. Even if it means fake dating the grinch myself to get him ready for the real thing.

Only…these fake dates at Christmas tree farms and hot cocoa competitions in the snowy small town of Evergreen Falls start to feel a little too real as I get to know the man behind the scowl. Somewhere between kisses under the mistletoe and a snowed-in night in his cabin curled up by the fire (where the stockings aren’t the only thing hung), I realize I’m in over my elf-loving head.

And when Rowan opens up to me at last about his painful past, I’m determined to give my brother’s best friend the holiday he deserves.

But what if the only gift I want him to unwrap this season is… me?

Tropes: Holiday romance, brother’s best friend, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, small town, Christmas competition, matchmaker romance, workplace romance, hockey romance

©2025 Lauren Blakely Books (P)2025 Lauren Blakely Books

Loved Rowan & Isla's story

This was a classic Lauren Blakely romance with Christmas cheer. I thoroughly enjoyed the audio with the full cast of narrators. Some of them had multiple characters they were voicing, but you could never tell. They are all so incredibly talented. Lauren really does cast the perfect narrators for her stories.

I love the brother's best friend/fake dating trope. Isla is a matchmaker who is determined to help Rowan find the perfect match. Rowan has been anti-relationship since his girlfriend and the mother of his daughter walked away from them years ago. He also lost all his Christmas cheer because it happened on Christmas morning. So, he agrees for Isla to use her matchmaking on him. But he also convinces her to help him get back into the dating mindset by fake-dating.

Isla has no idea that Rowan has had interest in her for a while, but he kept that to himself so that his agent (also Isla's brother and Rowan's best friend) didn't know. Soon their fake dating turns all too real. Isla fits right into his life and family. But Rowan is still so scared that she would up and leave him. If that happened, Rowan wouldn't be the only one hurt, his daughter would be as well.

I loved the banter and chemistry between these two. Lauren has the perfect mix of sweet and heat with Rowan and Isla.

Lauren Blakely does it again!

Even though this book was long, I still didn't want it to end. I read it in two days and hated to have to pause it for...well life. The cast of narrators are among my favorites although I thought Mia's voice was a bit annoying at times. Still, I give it five stars for a job well done. It will put the grumpiest of grumps in a holiday spirit.

Great Audiobook!

This was a very christmasy read! We get the grumpy anti-christmas Rowan and the holiday loving matchmaker Isla. I love a good grumpy/sunshine, and loved seeing Isla melt Rowan's grumpy side. There was just enough christmasy fun to work for this time of year, but not an overwhelming amount. This was a really cute read, I adored the two of them working through traumatic dating pasts and find happily ever after. Bonus the audiobook has a full cast too, which makes it all the better!

My Favorite Holiday!!

Nothing better than a juicy love story full of romance and fun!!! Lauren doesn’t disappoint at all. Excited for her next love story! PS - keep the guys you have voicing the heroes! So 🫣♥️🫣

Date Coaching Turns Real

Audiobook Review Full Cast of Narrators with Connor Crais and Vanessa Edwin in duet
Date Coaching turns real
Isla is a date coach. She's asked to help Rowan learn to date but the problem is he's her brother's friend. Now they have to fake date for the hockey team's Christmas gala. I really liked this story it's not only about fake dating turning a little too real but both Isla an Rowan learn to trust and love again. Rowan's daughter is so cute an helps with trying to make Isla part of their family. This is a wonderful holiday story that can be listened to any time of the year.Audiobook Review Full Cast of Narrators with Connor Crais and Vanessa Edwin in duet
Date Coaching turns real
Isla is a date coach. She's asked to help Rowan learn to date but the problem is he's her brother's friend. Now they have to fake date for the hockey team's Christmas gala. I really liked this story it's not only about fake dating turning a little too real but both Isla an Rowan learn to trust and love again. Rowan's daughter is so cute an helps with trying to make Isla part of their family. This is a wonderful holiday story that can be listened to any time of the year.

Start the Holiday season early!

Lauren Blakely had me at Kissmas! Christmas is my favorite holiday romance trope and I was all in from the start of this one. Grumpy Rowan has no interest in getting married again, but pressure from teammates has him signed up with Isla, Jason's little sister who is a matchmaker. Her reputation precedes her, but he is just doing this to shut his friends up. How to get around the fuss? Convince Isla to take him on dates and begin a fake relationship. But is it really fake? As Isla gets closer to Rowan and his daughter, things begin to change. How you ask? Well, I can't tell you, it's something you will have to listen for. Romance, trees, fun dates, sneaking kisses, and did I say trees? This is just all around fun with just the right amount of Christmas spice! A fabulous way to start my holiday season(and yes, I like to start early!)

An all star cast tells this story, but the main characters are Rowan played by Connor Crais and Isla by Vanessa Edwin. These two are in my top listens, both so talented that each time I can't help but fall for their characters and just root on the sidelines. The voices fit their characters perfectly, like Blakely had them in her head when she was writing the story. Add in Carlotta Brentan, Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke, Adam Gold, Teddy Hamilton, JF Harding, Erin Mallon, Soneela Nankani and Evan Parker with reprisals and extras, this is a present all in itself!

Fun holiday romance

Merry Little Kissmas was a sweet, forbidden romance that will put your heart in the holiday spirit. Rowan and Isla were the complete opposite, he’s the grumpy, single dad and a hockey player who dislikes Christmas and Isla is the matchmaker who loves the holiday season. I loved these two from the start and loved seeing their attraction grow to love. There is the forbidden element with Isla being his best friend’s younger sister. I loved seeing the relationship between Isla and Rowan’s daughter also. These two were a lot of fun and I enjoyed their romance.

The audiobook is full cast lead by Vanessa Edwin and Connor Crais who brought to life the chemistry and romance for Isla and Rowan. I loved the full cast, some returning favorites and new to the series. I had a lot of fun listening. Thank you Lauren and her team for an early listen.

Sweet and spicy holiday romance!

I really enjoyed this sweet and spicy holiday romance! Isla and Rowan’s story is entertaining, hilarious, heartfelt, and sizzling hot! When Rowan receives a gift of Isla's matchmaking services from his teammates, he is determined to sabotage her efforts. This grumpy single dad has bad memories and heartache tied to this season and he only wants to focus on his sweet daughter, Mia, and playing Hockey. He doesn't need the complication that being close to his friend's sexy sister brings. Isla loves a challenge and she is determined to prove to Rowan that he can find true love while enjoying all the magical traditions of the holidays. As they spend time together, and she teaches him how to listen and connect with his date, their feelings for each other heat up as well. They decide to fake date through the holidays, shopping, train rides and fun winter competitions, that lead to some passionate times as well. But as the end gets closer, and their hearts become invested, can they walk away before not only Mia gets hurt, but they do as well? I loved Isla and Rowan together as they helped each other overcome their fear to open their hearts to love. I really enjoyed all the creative and fun activities they participated in, allowing them to really connect and fall hard for each other. I also loved their family and friends who are so hilarious and supportive, adding so much fun and heart to this delightfully sweet and spicey romance. This holiday story will warm up those cold winter nights and definitely add to your holiday cheer!
I loved Vanessa Edwin and Connor Crais' performance as Isla and Rowan, and the voices of Carlotta Brentan, Samantha Brentmoor, Evan Parker, Jason Clarke, Adam Gold, Teddy Hamilton, J. F. Harding, Erin Mallon, and Soneela Nankani round out this full cast narration beautifully. They are all perfectly cast and their humor, chemistry, and easy ability to make this holiday story bring laughter and joy as it warmed my heart.

Sweet Grumpy/Sunshine Romance!

Rowan and Isla's slow burn romance is sweet, passionate, fun, and heartwarming. I love holiday romance! Rowan, a single dad, hockey player is handsome, caring, and sexy. Isla is beautiful, sassy, and supportive. Rowan's daughter Mia is adorable. The characters are well developed and interesting. The supporting characters are great. This is a great small town Christmas grumpy/sunshine hockey romance. This audiobook is performed in duet by Vanessa Edwin and Connor Crais, with a full cast of talented narrators: Carlotta Brentan, Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke, Adam Gold, Teddy Hamilton, JF Harding, Erin Mallon, Soneela Nankani, and Evan Parker. They did an excellent job bringing this story to life. This audiobook is very pleasant to listen to. I really enjoyed it.

Steamy Holiday fun!

As usual with Lauren Blakely, I loved it. Spicy, full of laughs, and great banter. Listening to the audio makes it that much better when it's done in a duet style, with a full cast.

Rowan is the MMC, and he hates Christmas & love. Isla is the FMC, a matchmaker/dating coach who doesn't trust love. And also Rowan's agent's sister. His team & agent gift him a matchmaking session with her (whom he's had a crush on for more than a year).

Full of fun, spice, and love, this one is fantastic, and it also has a lot of cameos from LB's other books.

The narrators are perfect and bring the best to this one.

5 stars with 5 star spice