Hideaway Christmas: An Age-Gap, Fake Marriage, Single Dad, Small Town Insta-Love Romance Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
Hideaway Christmas: An Age-Gap, Fake Marriage, Single Dad, Small Town Insta-Love Romance by Eliza Rockwood follows Noelle, a dedicated middle-school English teacher, who’s drawn back into past ties when her student’s widowed, small-town dad—Shane—rescues her from a dangerous encounter involving mob ties. To ensure her safety and offer her a holiday haven, Shane asks Noelle to pose as his wife for the season at Hideaway Mountain. As they live under this guise, Noelle connects with Shane’s daughter Gracie and his close-knit family, while she begins to feel deeper for Shane. Amid festive settings and protective instincts, their forced arrangement warms into something real and lasting.
Why I Love This Book
I love the way the small-town setting feels cozy and real, like I could live there too. I love Shane’s quiet strength—the way he protects Noelle and cares for Gracie. I love how Noelle is brave and giving, teaching with heart even when her past tries to pull her under. I love the fake-marriage set-up and how quickly it sparks something more. I love the tension that rises from danger, the mafia threat that keeps me turning pages. I love the family vibe—Gracie, grandma, the whole warm clan. I love how the story balances heat, heart, and suspense.
Who Will Like This Book
If you like holiday romances with age-gap sparks, single-dad heroes, fake marriages that turn real, and a dash of suspense in a cozy small-town backdrop, this will warm your heart.
⚠️ Trigger warning: This book includes kidnapping and violence tied to organized crime. It may be unsettling if you’re sensitive to those themes.
Tagged As
small town, holiday romance, fake marriage, age gap, single parent, protective hero, teacher heroine, mafia suspense, insta-love, slow burn, HEA, novella, steamy romance, family, second chances
Steam Level
There’s real heat and intimacy in the relationship, growing from a pretend setup into something tender and intense. It doesn’t go overboard—there’s emotion, connection, and enough steam to warm a winter night.
