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Doves of Destiny #2

The Holiday Boyfriend

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Can love develop from a situationship? Asking for a friend.

Austin Wood
There is nothing worse than being in love with your best friend. Scratch that. There is nothing worse than living with your best friend whom you are madly in love with and had an accidental one night stand with. What is even more confusing is the fact that Jim seems to not understand what a one night stand is. He thinks we're in some kind of friends with benefits situation, and I don't know if I'm in heaven or hell.

Jim Walker
I love my best friend. Not in that way, but I consider him one of the most important people in my life. I'll do anything for him, even helping him relieve some tension when he needs it. Now, I just have to ignore the weird pang in my chest every time he leaves right after.

The Holiday Boyfriend is a situationship-to-lovers, MM romance about two best friends who are a bit clueless. It features a ton of sweet moments, sneaky kisses, and a holiday love that will break the bounds of friendships. It is the second book of the Doves of Destiny series and can be read as a standalone but will be more enjoyable when read as a series.

198 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2023

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About the author

Rye Cox

12 books81 followers
Be sure to follow to stay updated on latest release: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rye-cox

Rye is an M/M Romance author who is a romantic at heart. She believes that love conquers all, and that's why her stories are guaranteed to always have an HEA. When she's not writing, she escapes to the world of books or daydreams about becoming a future cat lady.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
Profile Image for Zuzu.
1,053 reviews31 followers
September 10, 2023
3.5 stars
Cute friends (BFF's) to lovers/GFY story.

Austin is gay and loves Jim who's straight but "loves" Austin as his BFF. One night when Austin gets drunk, he somehow gets Jim to fool around. Suddenly Jim thinks it's okay to "help" Austin as his friend and they turn it into a friends-with-benefits situation and put a deadline on it. However, Jim starts to have feelings for Austin.

It was a cute story but I thought Jim's turnaround was too quick to be realistic so I had a difficult time with that.

Recommended for people who like this trope and low to no angst.

I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Cindi.
1,613 reviews84 followers
December 18, 2023
3.5 stars.

This is a cute friends-to-lovers story. Austin and Jim have been best friends for over a decade, and roommates for a few years.

Austin is openly gay.
Jim is straight.

Well, about that… ;)

Austin’s had a crush on Jim for as long as he can remember. He’s fought like hell to keep that to himself. Unfortunately – or fortunately – Austin gets a little drunk one night and things happen between the two of them that Austin never could’ve imagined even in his wildest fantasies.

The rest of the book is them hooking up, pretending it’s just a friends with benefits type thing, and then finally professing their true feelings to each other.

The story was good, but – and I said this about The Holiday Disaster too – there was so much more telling than showing. Also, certain things dragged on a bit too long.



One thing I didn’t realize until the very end was that Felix (from Ready, Set, Glow!) is the same Felix mentioned in this book a few times. I still have three books to read in the Christmas Falls series, including that one, so I’ll need to go back in The Holiday Boyfriend to reread all the times his name and story were thrown out. I’ve seen him quite a bit in the Christmas Falls books, so I’m more curious now.

Overall, I liked Jim and Austin well enough, though Jim is definitely my favorite of the two. Austin was a little too ‘woe is me’ when it came to his feelings for his best friend. I could understand it to an extent, I suppose, but he took it a little too far.

This is a true GFY book, not OFY. At no point did it appear that Jim was even remotely attracted to any other man but Austin.

It was nice to see Ethan and Kingsley again from the last book. I didn’t love The Holiday Disaster, but I always like revisiting characters I’ve seen in other books.
Profile Image for Monica.
413 reviews19 followers
September 9, 2023
This is one of those books that are easy to read and very enjoyable. I loved the friendship, the connection and everything involving these two guys.
Austin and Jim have been best friends for most part of their lives and Austin has been in love with Jim since they met. Jim is straight so Austin has never acted on his feelings as he's afraid he might lose his friend if he tells the other guy about his love. But they live together and Jim starts seeing Austin in a different way, then a situationship changes everything for them.
I loved, loved, loved this book. One of my favourite tropes is best friends to lovers and this story was perfect, because these guys already loved each other so much that it felt like the most normal thing for them to fall into bed.
I liked how Jim embraced his attraction for his friend. At first, he didn't consider himself not to be straight, he just thought he was helping out a friend. Eventually, things changed and I loved seeing how he realised that there was so much more between them. He was so sweet with Austin, always worried about how much his friend worked. Then Austin knew things would eventually end between them, but he was so in love he didn't want to stop.
This book tells a story that makes the reader feel good. It portrays a friendship between two guys that is strong, solid and special. Their connection and trust in each other made me long for them to overcome their issues and confess their feelings. I could feel how much they loved each other and the conflicted emotions they both felt. Jim turned out to be such a romantic guy and I enjoyed how their friendship evolved into a beautiful and endearing relationship.
This story is heartwarming, with the right amount of spice, very sweet and full of the holiday spirit.
Profile Image for Riina - huono_lukija.
16 reviews9 followers
September 17, 2023
I have to say that while I'm more of enemies to lovers kinda girl, this book was so sweet I might be warming up to this best friends to lovers trope. I'd been waiting Jim and Austin's story since The Holiday Disaster and it was as heartwarming as I hoped and expected it to be. Despite of the few 'just open your goddamn mouths and talk to each other!' moments, it was very low angst, but spicy enough to keep my interest. Can't wait for Levi's story!


*I received an eArc in exchange for my honest review*
Profile Image for Bkwrm24.
1,269 reviews9 followers
September 16, 2023
Austin and Jim ❤️

3.5 Stars ⭐️

✅Friends to Lovers
✅Sweet
✅Sexy 🔥

Adorable!! This book was so much fun, I love the Friends to Lovers trope, it gets in the feels every time. Lots of pining, some angst and drama but it only added to this really sweet relationship and story. I would definitely recommend.

* I received an ARC, this is my open and honest review *
Profile Image for Marian..
690 reviews36 followers
September 24, 2023
Oh God, I didn't think this book would be so spicy, since it's short I thought it would be all fast paced and I was wrong about that too.

Austin and Jim's story is one of those friends to lovers where you can see it's going to happen from the beginning. Austin has always been in love with Jim who is his best friend for a decade and they live together but since Jim is straight he doesn't do anything until one night everything changes and they start this "vacation" relationship so to speak but God the tension these two had, how nice they treated each other, the things they said to each other, while reading I just said "friends realize you love each other", how Jim realized his sexuality and wasn't ashamed of it, no drama at all, just two friends finding love for each other and that was a winner for me.

A story full of that Christmas spirit, with charming characters and a town to fall in love with.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review!!

---

Oh god no pensé que este libro seria tan spicy, como es corto pensé que seria todo rápido y también me equivoque con eso.

La historia de Austin y Jim es de esos friends to lovers que ves que va a pasar desde un principio. Austin siempre a estado enamorado de Jim el cual es su mejor amigos desde hace una década y viven juntos pero como Jim es hetero el no hace nada hasta que una noche todo cambia y empiezan esta relación de "vacaciones" por así decirlo, pero dios la tención que tenían estos dos, lo bonito que se trataban, las cosas que se decían, mientras leía solo decía "amigos dense cuenta que se aman", como Jim se dio cuenta de su sexualidad y no se sintió avergonzado, no tiene drama para nada, solo dos amigos que encuentran el amor entre ellos y eso para mi fue un ganar.

Una historia llena de ese espíritu navideño, con personajes encantadores y un pueblo que te enamora.
Profile Image for Elley Murray.
1,192 reviews145 followers
September 5, 2023
Rating: 3.5 stars

Austin has been in love with his best friend Jim basically forever. Meanwhile, Jim is like "eh, I don't really need a girlfriend, I've got Austin - he fulfills all my emotional needs that a girlfriend would do, there's just no sex." And also "It's totally normal for two bros to help each other get off, even when one of them is gay and one of them is (supposedly) straight." Okay, sure Jim. *eye roll*

ANYWAY, despite Jim being a total idiot, and everyone in their small town already thinking they're dating (the surprise from one of their parents when they're like "We're not dating, Mom, we're just best friends" and the Mom is like "Whaaaaat, really?!" Hahaha. Big dummies - gotta love them.

The pining is strong with this one, with Jim doing things that make Austin like him more but also really hurt him because he know Jim is coming from a place of just friends/best friends/friends with benefits/situationship, whereas Austin has been head over heels five-ever. My heart, it hurts, ack! Really love the chemistry between Austin and Jim, but this one had some similar issues to the first book with the pacing and it dragging a bit. Still, a fun read and if there are more in the series I'll likely pick them up too!

This is the second book in the Doves of Destiny series, and can be read as a standalone.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.

Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter

Profile Image for Amanda Glaeser.
176 reviews9 followers
September 6, 2023
This was such an adorable story of two best friends finding their HEA with each other.

Austin has been in love with his best friend Jim for years. He knew how to hide his true feelings and was doing a great job at it. Until he makes a move on Jim after a night of drinking.

Jim has never been attracted to men but he always thought his best friend Aistin was the most handsome man he had ever seen. When Austin made a move however, he never stopped him. In fact he'd never been so turned on in his life.

I enjoyed how their relationship starts. Friends with benefits that takes it one step further by being boyfriends with an expiry date. It was sweet how Jim came to realize his feelings for Austin and I loved how pretty much everyone knew except for Jim.

This is a sweet Christmas story that everyone needs to read.
68 reviews1 follower
January 5, 2024
8/10 ⭐

~^~

In the second book of the Doves of Destiny Series we're back in Wintertown with BFFs Austin and Jim. Austin has had a crush on his best friend for years but has kept it hidden for fear of ruining their friendship. Jim is obvious to the fact that his feelings are not bromantic. One drunken night changes everything. Idiots in love featuring a cameo from the first book, a meddling younger sibling, and a beautiful love confession.

Tropes: small town, best friends to lovers, GFY

Angst: 💔💔
Story: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶🌶
Profile Image for DLB2572.
2,178 reviews20 followers
September 7, 2023
From Friends to Lovers

This friends to lovers story is a sweet continuation of this series. I enjoyed following along as Austin and Jim's relationship transformed from their best friends status to much more.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
Profile Image for Angel_2822.
103 reviews3 followers
December 17, 2023
The Holiday Boyfriend by Rye Cox is the second book in the Doves of Destiny series. I loved The Holiday Disaster and I was waiting for Austin and Jim’s story. I’ve loved every bit of it.

Austin and Jim are two inseparable best friends who share a deep connection. Austin, openly gay, has been in love with Jim since forever. Jim identifies as straight and remains oblivious to Austin’s true feelings. Their friendship is solid, built on trust and mutual support. They live together and they’ve created a unique routine of shared meals and cosy nights.

The story takes an intriguing turn when, after a night of drinking, Jim and Austin find themselves drawn into a passionate encounter. Jim’s realization that he might not be as straight as he believed adds depth to the story. The book delves into their journey from friends with benefits to something more meaningful, all while dealing with the complexities of their emotions. The chemistry between them is palpable, and I was rooting for them to overcome their obstacles and finding their HEA.

It is an enjoyable read, offering a sweet and heartwarming friends-to-lovers, bi-awakening story that explores the transformative power of love.

Although it can be read as a standalone, I recommend to read The Holiday Disaster first. You’ll meet them there and it’s an awesome book.

I received an ARC from the author for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation. 
Profile Image for Natalie.
259 reviews9 followers
September 18, 2023
Austin & Jim

Rating: 4.3 ⭐

- Friends-to-lovers
- Roommates
- Bi-awakening
- Small town romance

Austin is gay and has been in love with his best friend forever. Jim is straight but loves his best friend and would rather spend time with him than anyone else. This is a sweet, fun and steamy read that showed their friendship, a deep connection and adorable cluelessness. The ways they show love and care for each other will give you all the warm fuzees.

Austin has never acted on his feelings for Jim and has locked them down as best as he can. They have been living together for a few years and now Jim is starting to see Austin in a different light but not really sure how to feel about these changes. One night Austin gets really drunk and Jim has to come pick him up from the bar. That night was the first time they fooled around, even though Austin thought it was a dream, and began a situationship that changes everything. Jim easily embraces his attraction to Austin but it does take him a bit to realize how deep his feelings are for Austin. Poor Austin is living his dreams out during the holidays with Jim as his "holiday boyfriend" but he's also dying inside because it's not permanent.

Once Jim realizes that he wants Austin forever, he does everything he can to show how much he appreciates him. I wanted them to just confess to each how they felt so many times instead of spinning their wheels and stressing out over nothing. Their connection and trust in each other were felt on every page and Jim became the ultimate romantic when it came to keeping Austin.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

HEA: Yes
Profile Image for Lady Macbeth.
577 reviews15 followers
September 7, 2023
3.5 stars
Lovely second book of the Dove Of Destiny series.
Austin and Jim have been best friends for ages and they also live together: they know and understand each other very well, they have a strong bond and support each other.
But while Austin is gay and definitely in love with his best friend, Jim is straight and totally oblivious about his roommate's feelings.
Jim's past relationships never lasted, he's been accused to be too clingy and, despite his handsomeness, he cannot find the One. He actually is more comfortable in his "relationship" Austin: he worries about him, he helps him whenever he can; together they established their own routine of shared meals, cozy nights and sweet gestures.
Jim is also jealous of Austin and despises his past boyfriends, especially Jared. One night, when Jim has to "rescue" a drunk Austin, he finds himself so attracted to him that they hookup.

There were several things that didn't make me enjoy the story completely:
- Jim's attraction to Austin, that seemed quite sudden and fool around with him when his friend was very drunk (he thought he was dreaming the entire time) wasn't very appropriate;
- Austin's pattern of ghosting Jim everytime things got too much and leaving him alone with his own insecurities;
- the non communication between them, that was dragged until the end and was a little frustrating.

The love declaration was very very beautiful and swoony and I loved it!
it was also very nice to see Kingston and Ethan again.

Recommended, if you want a fluffy story of best friends to lovers with a bit of pining.

I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Kristy Lynn.
218 reviews3 followers
September 13, 2023
The Holiday Boyfriend by Rye Cox is everything you want in a friends to lovers holiday story. But, not only does Jim realize he is in love with Austin he is supposedly straight. How do you do that and not lose your friendship?

Jim is a sweet guy, fun, loving, and has always been close to Austin. At 25 they decided to get an apartment together and have only gotten closer in a strictly platonic way. Jim works at Snowfield Farm as the animal caretaker. Big Boss is a hilarious addition to Jim's day.

Austin is an out gay man who has been in love with his best friend for years. When the chance to become roommates with Jim he jumped at the chance even knowing that being closer to him would be hard on his heart. But, Jim's friendship is too important to him to lose if Jim doesn't return Austin's feelings. And, how could he when Jim is straight?

Friends to Lovers is seriously my favorite trope. Add in that one has a bi awakening and I'm sold. As a queer woman I love when people are able to recognize their feelings and understand them. It is empowering to know yourself and live authentically. Communication is always the key in any relationship and watching these men fumble through it is equally hilarious and frustrating. But, as a human, I know the difficulty in expressing your wants and desires knowing what rejection might look like. Sometimes being quiet really does seem like the right way to go.

Rye Cox is a wonderful storyteller and sweet love stories are definitely in her wheelhouse. I know I am going to enjoy a sugary hea and believe me, I'm here for it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
24 reviews6 followers
September 14, 2023
The Holiday Boyfriend
Doves of Destiny Book 2
By Rye Cox
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶


I agreed to be holiday boyfriends with my straight roommate. What could go wrong?


Can a spicy book be a slow burn? Rye Cox answers the question with The Holiday Boyfriend. Best friends and roommates, Jim and Austin, agree to be boyfriends through the holidays. The first hurdle the encounter is that Jim is straight, and Austin has been harboring a crush on him for ages.

As their "situationship" unfolds, we witness a rollercoaster of emotions and steamy encounters that leave us wondering if they will end up together. What I especially love about Rye Cox's writing is their ability to blend the cozy sweetness of a holiday romance with the tantalizing heat of spicy situations. Throughout the book, Cox keeps us on our toes, eagerly turning pages to discover the ultimate fate of Jim and Austin's relationship.

"The Holiday Boyfriend" serves not only as an exquisite addition to the Doves of Destiny series but also as the perfect story to get you in the mood for the upcoming holidays. Whether you enjoy slow-burn romances or crave the excitement of unexpected twists, this book offers a delightful blend of both.

I highly recommend "The Holiday Boyfriend" to anyone who enjoys heartfelt tales filled with passion, friendship, and the promise of love. Grab a cozy blanket and a hot cup of cocoa, because once you start reading, you won't want to put it down.
Profile Image for Mat Mansfield.
304 reviews16 followers
September 14, 2023
This book was a joy from start to finish! It’s everything I want in a holiday book but also just everything I want in any book. Best friends to lovers, a sexual awakening, drunken confessions, an idiot in love, meddling friends making an idiot in love jealous, small town nosiness, grand romantic gestures… it’s all so good.

Rye does friends to lovers so well, and Jim and Austin are the sweetest best friends. I couldn’t wait to see their love story when we first met them in The Holiday Disaster, and it was every bit as enjoyable as I thought it would be. The bond between them is strong right from the beginning, and their friendship is all about support and making each other’s days better. When they shift their friendship into one with benefits - a situationship, if you will - it becomes even better. Sexual tension and flirting and the complete inability to keep their hands off each other.

This is a complete standalone novel with a cameo from the couple from book 1. It takes place over a large holiday season encompassing Thanksgiving and Christmas, and there’s all kinds of yummy food, holiday festivals, and winter activities. If you’re the type who only wants to read holiday books during the corresponding season, definitely kick off the holiday with this book! It’s low angst sugary sweetness will get you in the Christmas spirit.
Profile Image for Marion.
997 reviews
September 13, 2023
This is book 2 in the Doves of Destiny series and it can be enjoyed as a standalone. This is the story of Austin Wood and Jim Walker. Austin and Jim are best friends for years. Austin works as a taxi driver and Jim works at the Snowfield Farm with the animals. They have an established routine and try to have meals together when they can. Lately they have been missing each other. Austin is gay and has been in love with Jim for as long as he can remember. He pines for him. No other boyfriends or dates surpass the bar that Jim has set without knowing. Jim has been accused of being clingy in past relationships. He is straight and gets all his relationship needs from Austin except for sex. Things change when Jim brings a drunk Austin home from the bar. They move to a friends with benefits relationship along with a boyfriend with an expiry date. Jim just wants to keep Austin happy. Austin finally has what he wants but for how long? This is their story. It is a well written book that is easy to read. Very low angst. Though it was a little too sweet for me at times, I enjoyed the book. This is a light and sweet holiday read.

I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
361 reviews3 followers
September 15, 2023
Since I read book 1 of this series, I have been waiting for Jim and Austin’s book. I can’t believe I have been as patient as I have been since last year and it’s finally here. And absolutely worth the wait.

I can’t imagine a sweeter pair of characters than Jim and Austin. Definitely low on the angst scale and exactly what I look for in a best friends to lovers story. Jim and Austin are best friends, roommates and are always there for each other. Austin has been holding onto feelings for Jim but constantly pushes them back because Jim has only pursued women. The events of one night cause a chain of events and Jim eventually comes to a realization that his feelings for Austin are more than he initially thought. While Austin tries to remind himself there is a time limit on their arrangement, Jim feels the need to show Austin that he wants more from their current time together than just holiday boyfriends.

The swoony ending was straight out of holiday movie. My first romance read years ago was a holiday story and they always hold a special place for me. This was such a wonderful sweet read to start off the season of holiday reading for me. I read a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and fair review.
605 reviews6 followers
September 5, 2023
Jim and Austin have been best friends for years. Austin has had unreciprocated feelings for his best friend for.. a while. Austin has had to watch Jim being with several different women over the years of their friendship, while he's pining over Jim. There is no way Jim will ever look his way, right?

Never say never! I feel like that should be the tagline that embodies this story. Jim has always believed that he's straight, but after Austin gets drunk and they engage in some spicy times together, he realizes he's not as straight as he thought he was.

I thought this book was really cute, I read through this story in one sitting. It's such a cute best friends to lovers romance, that started off as a friends with benefits arrangement. But overtime Jim realizes that he has actual romantic feelings for Austin, he has to gain some courage in order to tell him how he feels.

I thought the writing was good, I'm pretty sure this book hinted at a certain holiday series that's releasing this December. I liked the characters, I love how food played a part in their love story. Food is the way to a person's heart after all. Overall a good, cute, and sweet story.
Profile Image for Yvonne.
1,000 reviews25 followers
September 7, 2023
3⭐️ 2.5🌶️

It's always been you. Only you. Why can't you see that?

This was a sugary sweet best friend gay awakening story. Austin has been in love with his straight best friend Jim, forever. The story picks up as they are in their late 20’s and roommates. Life and work have been busy and Jim realizes he’s missed seeing and spending time with his friend.

The writing, while not bad, isn’t really my style, definitely more telling than showing. I liked the first part of the book where there’s the attraction on Jim’s end and stolen touches and yearning. Then once they actually move on to a sexual relationship, the spice was quite nice 👌🏻 Good low key angst about their situationship and the timeline for it’s inevitable ending 🥹

I had to remember that. Jim and I would never truly happen. By some miracle, I was able to have him like this for a bit of time, but all good things had to come to an end.

But this lost me towards the end went it went too overboard and sappy once Jim realized he was in love with Austin. Like awe shucks small town cheesy. 🙈

This was cute, but not really my jam.
Profile Image for Sheena.
604 reviews11 followers
September 8, 2023
This is the second in the Doves of Destiny series but can easily be read as a standalone.

Jim and Austin are best friends, although Austin has been in love with Jim for years, and Jim is the most oblivious person on the planet. Seriously, I've rarely come across someone so dense when it comes to realising what he has in front of him. There was more than once when I wanted to just tell him - and it appears the whole town, his colleagues and family felt the same 😂.

This is billed as a situationship, which is really the best way to describe how they start out with each other. I did like how Jim was so quickly willing to explore his sexuality with a minimum of fuss, even though he kept denying it was anything more than a friends with benefits situation. I liked these two together, even before they got together I liked their best friends dynamic, they were so caring towards each other and was a great basis for a relationship (which they already had without realising 😂).

Wanting to tell Jim to wake up repeatedly aside, this was fun, light and sweet and I really enjoyed it.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
January 13, 2024
All the pining! Austin and Jim have been best friends for years and Austin has harbored a giant crush on him for nearly as long. Unfortunately for him, Jim is straight ... or so he thought. One night at the bar, Austin is hanging with his friend Levi, the one person who knows about his unrequited crush. He's feeling down so ends up getting so trashed that Levi has to call Jim for help. Austin is so drunk, he thinks he's dreaming when Jim carries him into their shared apartment, so he makes a move on him. Jim is torn and tries to get him to stop since he's so wasted, but Austin takes control and the two share an intimate moment before crashing.

Jim has no regrets and is surprised he was so into it, but he thinks it was just a friends with benefits situation. The pair decides to keep up the situationship for the holidays, but Austin of course wants more. Luckily, Jim's feelings for Austin grow during the holidays and it turns out they both want more, thinking the other is only in it for the benefits. Hoo boy, talk about communication issues!

When these two get together, it's plenty steamy! Their scenes are full of desire and lots of graphic details. No kink, but the scenes are pretty drawn out and full of heat.

There are cute laughs along the way as these two try to handle their new normal. No tears, but plenty of holiday sentimentality!

Overall, this was an enjoyable light read with so much pining! Plenty of Christmas spirit, but it was also still fun to read after the holidays.
561 reviews4 followers
September 3, 2023
Jim and Austin story had a bittersweet beginning as we see the hopelessly in love way Austin is with his straight best friend. After a drunken night and what he thought was a dream things start to change but not in the way he hoped or so he thinks.
Miscommunication, and fear of rejection lead to a couple of interesting events where jealousy makes it presence known and exes are trying to get between them.
I liked how sweet they were and the way Jim tries to convince that what they have is real and it doesn't have an expiration date.
I liked the support friends and family give them, and Jim confession was so sweet and endearing.
I also liked seeing old friends and I liked their double date, as well as the love and caring they shown.
I liked the story and I'm looking forward to see what happens next.
Profile Image for Heather Duff.
1,054 reviews29 followers
September 7, 2023
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My first-holiday book of the season! I can’t wait for more, but this one gave me all the sweet wintery romance vibes I could want.

Two BFFs, plenty of pining, lots of romantic moments, and of course a swoony HEA.

I love a bi-awakening without freakouts. And when Jim discovers he has feelings for his best friend and roommate he throws himself into this friends-with-benefits holiday fling in a really adorable way.

They of course suck at talking about their feelings, but it makes the moment when they do all the sweeter.

If you love small-town holiday romances, this book will get you in the holiday spirit.
265 reviews5 followers
September 7, 2023
My first holiday read of the season and it did not disappoint. it has everything I need in a good book--romance, steam, humor and a HEA. Austin and Jim were perfect for one another even if they did not know it, well Jim did to know it. Of course Austin and Jim are bestie and roommates, and Austin has pinned for years for Jim, who is straight..or so he thinks. A funny one night of adventure changes everything. For Austin is opens up possibilities, for Jim it was just helping out a friend in need. not about love or relationship. But it seems Jim's heart says otherwise and he realizes he has feelings beyond friendship for Austin and he is bi. It warmed my heart to see Jim's acceptance and him find the confidence to embrace and share it with Austin filling Austin life long love for Jim. A great fun and easy to read (I read in one sitting). I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.
2,135 reviews17 followers
September 19, 2023
Jim and Austin are too cute as they slowly figure out after being best friends for years and living together for years that they really are each other's forever person. They are a couple in all the ways that count already and they just needed a catalyst, a push to get Jim to wake up and realize that he is not as straight as he thought and that Austin is not just his bestie but his forever guy. Poor Austin who has known for years that he is in love with Jim with their holiday arrangement gets to be with the one he loves. I kept wanting to shake them both and wanted them to say something but timing is everything and some things take time. Like Jim and Austin. But in the end they are even sweeter together than their extremely close but platonic friend phase was so it was worth it!
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Heather MMRomanceReviewed.
1,280 reviews58 followers
September 7, 2023
Our first Holiday romance of the season! Rye Cox is sneaking in another visit to Wintervale early in the season to get us in the holiday mood in September - it feels a little like the holiday decorations that are already backfilling Halloween decor in some places... but I digress - let's talk about Jim and Austin...

I hadn't ever considered a situationship before...but it's apparently what you get when you cross one drunk and one bi-curious roommate with a lack of direct communication... this book was sweet, spicy and just a little frustrating as the couple battle against themselves before surrendering to happiness.

The Holiday Boyfriend is a quick and engaging friends to lovers read and a great way to kick off the holiday season.

Rating: 4.5 Stars
1,561 reviews4 followers
September 14, 2023
A sweet and heartwarming story!

I loved this book! The story of Jim and Austin is sweet and wonderful and an absolute joy to read! Best friends for years, Jim soon finds there may be more to his feelings for his best friend than just the friendship they share. Austin has had a crush on Jim for years but has never said a word. One drunken night will change everything and soon they are pretending to be boyfriends for the holiday season. But as time passes, Jim finds he wants more than just a few weeks. The ending date to their arrangement is coming quickly and Austin finally decides to try to convince Jim to give a real relationship a try. Good thing Jim already had that very same idea!

I read an ARC copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.
2,650 reviews42 followers
September 14, 2023
This was such an adorable story of two best friends finding their HEA with each other.
This friends to lovers story is a sweet continuation of this series. I enjoyed following along as Austin and Jim's relationship transformed from their best friends status to much more.
Rye Cox is a wonderful storyteller and sweet love stories are definitely in her wheelhouse. I know I am going to enjoy a sugary hea and believe me, I'm here for it.
This is a complete standalone novel with a cameo from the couple from book 1. It takes place over a large holiday season encompassing Thanksgiving and Christmas, and there’s all kinds of yummy food, holiday festivals, and winter activities.
The Holiday Boyfriend was a fun story to spend the afternoon with.
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1,309 reviews16 followers
September 29, 2023
THE DOVES 🕊️ OF DESTINY STRIKE AGAIN!

In the second book of the series we get a deeper insight and backstory to the taxi driver Austin and his best friend Jim.

“We'll be holiday boyfriends and go back to our normal in time for the new year,”

Two clueless, sweet best friends who have been in love with each other for years decide after one wild night to become friends with benefits but with a time limit… until the last dance….

Let’s hope the Doves of Destiny helps them along as even the townsfolk and their family knows more than them!…

This is their sweet, steamy sometimes funny love story that will put a smile on your face and warm your heart!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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