A fun book to read I could not help laughing at some of the things in this book. A quick book to read of 103 pages. I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced copy of this book.

The only case high-powered lawyer Henry Hale has on his docket this Christmas is the bah humbugs he’s trying to fight off. To cope with a houseful of loving but overexuberant family and all the good cheer running amuck in his life, he just might need help from an unlikely source. His star employee, Lorelei Sullivan, jumps at the unexpected chance to join Henry’s family events, even if she has only been invited as a buffer. What better way to cap off a stellar year than with a chance to prove she’s partner material and move her career to the next level? Baking cookies, card games, shopping for gifts—nothing is an imposition if it leads to making her case. But when the relationship between Henry and Lorelei begins to spark from legal to loverly, both of their plans start coming unwrapped. They’ll need more than a little holiday spirit to help them get this court in order.
This was a cute holiday read. No real surprises or twists but definitely will put you in the holiday mood. Both character are likable and the book flows well. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

I loved this book. It was so good I couldn't put it down. Two laywers find each other after a little time outside of work and as a buffer for his family.

Short and sweet. It was cute.

- - Received copy through NetGalley - -
L

This is a short and cute Christmas Romance about 2 lawyers. Henry Hale runs a division of his family’s law firm. Henry’s family recognize that he has become a workaholic to make his division a success, and they believe now is the time he should slow down and get a girlfriend or better yet a wife. Henry wants his family to back off, so he comes up with a plan to deceive the family to thinking he’s involved. He believes that his rising star and another workaholic, Lorelei Sullivan, will fulfill the role especially as she is hungry to become a partner in the firm. Lorelei agrees to play the role over Christmas as she sees it as a way to get closer to the family and hopefully advance her career as she feels she deserves.

As Lorelei sees Henry away from the office, she sees a different side to him! She struggles to determine if she wants to be partner or to be in Henry’s life. When another person is named partner, Henry comes to his senses before he loses Lorelei.

I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more from Dana Volney.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a sweet, quick read. The writing flowed well, and Henry and Lorelei are sweet together. I liked the premise of the book. This is a "clean" book, so this could be read by anyone. This is a first for me from this author, but it won't be my last!

This was a really fun holiday read.A great little holiday romance about two lawyers Henry and Lorelei.She wants nothing more than to become a partner but he is not sure he can give up any control.When he takes her home for Christmas hoping his family will get off his back to settle down these two start seeing each other as more than workmates.This is a really cute read and I enjoyed it

I really did not enjoy this book. I was quiet dissapointed with it. However, there were even and good parts I did enjoy.

4.5 Stars

The December Deception is the third book in Dana Volney’s Christmas in Casper series. The books are all standalone reads. Henry Hale and Lorelei Sullivan first appeared in A Heart for the Holidays. They are the best friends of the couple who found love in that story. But these two have a connection all on their own. Lorelei and Henry actually both work for Hale Law, which is owned by Henry and his family.

Henry and Lorelei are both driven attorneys who hate to lose. Lorelei has worked for the firm for two years and thinks she should be named the next partner. This isn’t news to Henry. While Lorelei is the top biller for the Casper office, he just isn’t ready to give up what control he has. With only days until Christmas, Henry gets the idea to use Lorelei as a buffer between him and his family. Lorelei is happy to do so, as she views the time spent with the family as an opportunity to advance her career.

I liked both Henry and Lorelei as characters, especially when they were just people enjoying themselves and each others company. What I didn’t like was Lorelei’s attitude of if Henry didn’t give her the partnership, he and the firm wasn’t worthy of her.

This was a fun and cute book. I loved watching Henry and Lorelei transition from workmates to romantic partners. I loved that they both went into the family holiday craziness with their own and individual ideas of what they were there for and that in the end they both came out with something so different and definitely so much more. This was a great twist on one of my favorite genres of friends to lovers. Strong character building, tempting character interactions and smooth writing.

This is a really fun story exploring whether a boss and an employee should have an office romance. Watch the sparks fly between lawyers, Lorelei Sullivan and Henry Hale especially when you throw in Christmas and their mothers. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lorelei Sanders is on track to become partner at her law firm. She is by far the best lawyer working at Hale Law Firm and definitely deserves the promotion. The problem is her boss, Henry Hale. He is stubborn and doesn’t want a partner. Lorelei decides to take advantage of holiday gatherings and parties to get closer to Henry in hopes of proving her worth. In the process Lorelei gets a little more than she bargained for, and so does Henry.

I don’t usually read romance novels, but this story caught me right from the first page. The story of Lorelei and Henry was sweet and relatable. I didn’t find their relationship forced, which is surprising as the book is quite short. Volney does an excellent job of fleshing out the characters and story while also keeping things steady and unrushed. For anyone looking for a cute, quick Christmas romance, this is the one to pick up!

Dana Volney reminds me of one of my favorites authors, Lauren Layne. Both know how to set off sparks. The December Deception uses humor to balance out heart and light up the pages at every turn. Add in a holiday theme, an over-exuberant family and a surprise attraction and it's going to be a sassy, sexy and unexpectedly entertaining time. Henry and Lorelei mark my first read of Dana Volney, but not my last.

ARC - I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest!
Lorelei is invited to spend the holidays w/ her boss family.
It might help w/ her chances of becoming a partner.
Henry just wants a buffer from his family.
Lorelei would be perfect as a distraction to this family.
What they didn't count on was the developing attraction that they would feel toward each other?
Should they keep everything professional ? or Should they act on the attraction?
This was a short and sweet story.
Loved the storytelling + the characters!

I had a fun time reading The December Deception. Getting the chance to interact with two very determined, successful, driven lawyers and watching them go from pure workaholics totally devoted to their careers to people who are beginning to see life outside the office quite differently was a fresh outlook on a profession that I rarely think of as fun loving. Perhaps that’s unfair, yet the law is so serious in the fact that the outcome whether it’s corporate, criminal or family affects so many people that one has to be devoted and driven in this field, in my opinion. But outside of the court or office, people can be quite different if they allow themselves and we get a good taste of that in this novella.

Henry has worked very hard in his portion of the family law firm. His drive has brought not only success but complications as well. As in his family believing they can try to get him to slow down and find the time for a personal life… like a girlfriend or even a wife one day. What he needs to get through this Christmas season is someone willing to put themselves between him and his family in a light deception to get people off of his back for a bit. His solution, the rising star of his firm. Lorelei is hungry, he senses that, so she’d probably be willing to step in to help. He’s well aware that she’d like nothing more than to become a partner, but he’s not certain that he’s ready to give up total control… or that she would be his choice. But for now, Lorelei would be the perfect shield from his family – and he’s willing if she is.

Lorelei wants partner in the law firm like she wants to breathe. And if pulling the wool over his family’s eyes for a bit during the Christmas celebrations will enhance her chances, then she’s all for it. Only… in this other atmosphere it’s very easy to see Henry in a different light, and maybe agree with his family that he needs someone in his life. So what is more important – a possible partnership in the firm or a permanent partnership in his personal life.

I enjoyed Henry and Lorelei’s romantic adventure. Moments of fun, misunderstanding, and some fade to black steaminess all combined into a fun romance. The author does often bring characters from other books into her stories as mutual friends and such. It’s a nice touch that triggers my curiosity of course, so now I need to go and do some digging into Ms. Volney’s back list to get their stories firsthand.

I’d recommend The December Deception to any Romance reader who enjoys seeing two workaholics find time for romance. It’s novella length, but it does pack a good story punch.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

4.5 stars Excellent contemporary attorney holiday romance. Henry Hale has worked hard to bring his law firm to where it is. His father and brother run separate offices so this on is his. Lorelei is one of the firm's best attorneys and fights for the clients rights. Henry is very impersonal with everyone and both of them are workaholics. Lorelei is determined to make partner due to her own work ethic but unfortunately she doesn't know Henry's thoughts on taking on a partner. She to circumstances they spend time together over the holidays and realize their may be more to their relationship but neither can foresee what's coming. The author humanized these attorneys and brought out little tidbits of information as the story progresses so readers would understand the characters choices. I received a complementary copy of this book via Net Galley and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by this author.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

This was a quick holiday read that was fun. Lorelei and Henry were both lawyers and she was hoping to make partner in the Hale Law firm that Henry ran. You really feel for Lorelei when you realize that she is worry her butt off for this job and Henry has no plans on making her a partner.

When their families start getting them involved in different Christmas plan, Henry and Lorelei start spending more time together and start to realize that they have feelings. That all comes crashing down when the new partner is announced and it isn't Lorelei.

Fortunately, Henry wises up and there is a nice HEA! I have not read any of the previous books in the series so I am curious about Henry and Lorelei's friends - Fisher and Silver, so I want to read the previous books.

The December Deception is a sweet Christmas novella written by author Dana Volney. Thanks to NetGalley and Adams Media for the advance copy.