I absolutely love everything from Amy Award, her entire universe is just right down my alley.
This was obviously no exception and I have been waiting for the audiobook version.

I adore the story of Mac and Sara Jayne, how they got their careers started and their cute relationship.
Sir Honkalot has become my favourite Cocky Kingman pet, I would love to have a music-loving goose🪿

I also thoroughly enjoyed finally getting to know April more, she is such a great character 🤞🏼 we will get to know more about her soon.

I listen at 1.5x speed to get a more conversational speed, and the narrators have such great voices, and they really compliment each other. As a decent German speaker, I loved the German elements.

The plot feels a tiny bit rushed, but knowing the publishing reason and everything that is explained in the beginning, it really was not something, that took anything away from the story.

Now I just look forward to getting the next part of the Cocky Kingman universe.

I absolutely adore all of the Cocky Kingman books. This one, since it’s a prequel, kinda hits close to the heart in some parts. If you haven’t read the other books, you wouldn’t realize. But this is a great set up if you’re just dipping your toe into the series.
The story, as always is adorable, sweet, and empowering.
The goose was a little annoying but it wasn’t about the goose for me, it was about the couple, and I loved them so much.
Happy to see my Kingmans make their appearance.
Overall a fun read.
Thank you NetGalley for this audio ARC.

Honkers under the Holly by Amy Award is about Mac, a struggling sports agent and Sarah Jane, a plus-size model.

Sadly this book wasn’t for me, I didn’t like the miscommunication (not between MCs) that happened. I listened to the audiobook, the female narrator did a good job. I had to get used to it though because the male narrator read in a different pace.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Amy Award for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

2 stars ⭐️

Truthfully, this book felt unorganized. I did not understand the family dynamics between characters. While it is a novella, it felt rushed and, as a result, was underdeveloped. It felt like the geese had more chemistry than the main characters.

4 ⭐ 2 🌶️ 4 🎧

Amy is one of my go tos for happy smiley fun in a quirky quick package. From the plus size FMCs (like, big girls!) to the golden retriever MMCs and their insane exotic pets, the Kingmans series never fails to make my worries disappear for a few hours.

This was adorable. I loved the meet cute, the fake engagement, the dang goose who was off his rocker. I didn't love love the other man drama, but honestly it was barely a blip and the overall conclusion was great.

The audio was wonderful, I loved this listen. Allie Shae and Kyle Mason were both fantastic.

I've read all the books in the Kingman series, so I definitely knew what I was getting into. I appreciate the disclaimer Amy Award puts before all her books, and I'm sure it will be helpful for first time readers. There's not a lot of criticism one can lob at a book described as pure fluff, so I'm not going to get hung up on issues of continuity and realism. I guess I would have liked this one to contain a little more... Uh ... Historical accuracy? IDK, that looks goofy already, but I *think* this story is set in like 2010? It felt exactly like all the others in the series, setting-wise. A very minor gripe.
Any other gripes I have with pacing or level of detail have to be explained away by the fact that this is a novella. I think it would have been stronger if it was expanded into a full novel (all the ingredients for a longer story are there...), but at the end of the day, it's exactly what it needs to be: cozy, comforting, funny fluff. I loved it.

I have always seen Amy awards books but not read them because I thought they had silly titles but the fact that Amy acknowledges that this book is meant to be silly and fluffy and overly feel good made me a enjoy it so much. Sir honkalot made the book what it was and I found myself smiling the whole time! Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

This was a short cute and fun novella it has fake dating a plus sized model sports romance christmas and a match making goose it was so funny and romantic with the right amount of spice very enjoyable and voiced so well

What happens when a struggling sports agent and a plus-size model fake an engagement to save a rescue goose? Christmas chaos, that’s what.

This book was amazing!
I absolutely love all the cocky kinsman books and novellas. I always look forward to more!

3.5🌟

Thank you netgalley for the arc!

I requested this not realizing it's a series (not my first time making that mistake) but I'm glad I found this! It's such a fun, fluffy, holiday read. I will likely go back and read at least some of the full length novels, as this was a novella. I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters. The pacing was lovely, and if you're a fan of mushy romcoms this is a must read for the holiday season (or Christmas in July, or anytime you need a pick me up). I'm sure knowing more about some characters backstories would have been helpful, but I will be going back and reading more about them in the full length novels.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

This was just okay for me. I understand its a novella and short, but it was so rushed and not in a very natural way. Because of that, it fell short.

I liked the characters, and the goose. I wish this had maybe been a full story, not a novella, so we could really round everyone out, because they are so likable.

This story just wasn't for me. I had a hard time relating to either of the characters and the story never fully immersed me. While the representation for plus-sized individuals is a great message, I didn't find much else to enjoy about this story. I found the main female character really naive and selfish in her behavior and the main guy just as hard to relate to. For the audiobook aspect, I really liked the female narrator for this character and I think she did a good job, but the male narrators voice didn't feel like the right fit for this character.

I’m just here for the goose. My brain didn’t want to reconcile that this was a prequel to the entire series, so I struggled with that. It’s weird being four books deep into a series, and then try to go back to the beginning. Also, the goose’s POV? Don’t know how I feel about that.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for approving my request for this audiobook!!

This series has become a beloved, fluffy, spicy plus-size heroine romance series that I auto buy. When I got approved for the arc of this book I squealed. While this one wasn't my favorite of the series, I still really loved it. It was so cute and would have been the perfect holiday read. Mac and Sara Jayne had great chemistry from the very beginning, and I was completely invested in their romance. And of course, Sir Honksalot is sassy goose perfection. Was it realistic? No. But was it fun? Yes.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my audio arc!

Love this cute little backstory of Sarah Jane and Mack. The fake dating to get a place to live is so real to today’s climate even if it was supposed to be set in the past. I guess some things never change. I love all the representation in her books and body positivity. The way her characters embrace how they look. And who doesn’t love a chaotic goose hell bent on mischief.

The audiobook narrators were great and really brought this story to life.

𝟯.𝟱 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗨𝗣
"𝕃𝕖𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕖𝕩𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕝𝕪 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕞𝕖 𝕠𝕟 𝕊𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕒'𝕤 𝕟𝕒𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕪 𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕪𝕖𝕒𝕣"

Short & so so sweet! Although this is just a novella in the 'Cocky Kingmans' universe, I think it was the love story I have enjoyed the most thus far. I felt their undeniable and automatic chemistry. I was giggling at their first love declaration. This was exactly what this series needed to get me reinvigorated and excited to read the next Kingman's story.

I’ve loved every Kingman book I’ve read so far and this novella was no different! A romance brought together by a goose made for the perfect fluffy love story. I loved the way Award wrote the characters and the narrators were perfect for the MCs. The pacing was quick, but perfect. The ending had me giggling! Definitely enjoyed.

Amy Award's Honkers Under the Holly is pure sunshine ☀️! It's the perfect cute, fluffy, and totally enjoyable palate cleanser I was craving. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life – their voices were spot on! This book is lighthearted and fun, and while the story is definitely on the whimsical side (hello, stylish goose!), that's what makes it so charming. Sir Honksalot, as you can imagine, was my absolute favorite. Goose love! 🦢💖

This book is a steamy 🔥, fast-paced sports romance with a plus-sized FMC (yes! 🙌). It's an open-door romance with a guaranteed HEA (Happy Ever After!) – all the things I love in a good romance. My NetGalley progress bar even went over 100% because of the extra content at the end! 🤩 Bonus!

Highly recommend for anyone looking for a fun, lighthearted, and feel-good read. Perfect for a cozy afternoon! ☕📚

I received this audiobook from the publisher (@Dreamscapemedia ) via @Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

#HonkersUnderTheHolly #AmyAward #Romance #SportsRomance #PlusSizeFMC #HEA #Audiobook #NetGalley #BookReview #CuteRomance #FluffyRomance #GooseLove #SirHonksalot #MustRead #Bookstagram #Reading #RomanceBooks #AudiobookReview

I have read and enjoyed several of the Cocky Kingmans books, but this one just didn’t hit the same for me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fun little bit of silly sweet and steamy fluff, and if you’re looking for something lighthearted and cute, this might be just the thing for you.
The audio performances by Allie Shae and Kyle Mason were good, especially considering that sweet nothings in German are a bit of a hard sell for me. It’s so harsh sounding, but I’m sure they effectively talk dirty to each other all the time.
While Sir Honksalot is quite the mischievous matchmaker, I can’t help wishing the story was a little less goose forward. I had a hard time getting into it at the beginning with all the focus on the goose. Once things got rolling, it felt like I had barely seen the main characters together before they were dropping I love yous. I know this novella is mostly about the vibes, so I’m not trying to go too deep. With that said, I really want more about Tommy. The last third of the book really made me want his story in full.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Amy Award for the ALC opportunity.

Honkers Under the Holly is a holiday novella and part of the The Cocky Kingsman series. A plus size model and a sports agent both trying to make it are brought together when they rescue a goose at Oktoberfest. Suddenly this comedic meeting is turning into more as they are pretending to be engaged to save them both from being homeless over the holidays. This crazy turn of events has the two of them forced together, but that’s not exactly a bad thing. The connection and chemistry between them is strong and it won’t be long before the fake engagement threatens to turn into something real.

If you are looking for a quick, funny holiday read look no farther. This book is fully of humor, fluff and overall cuteness. The premise of this book was so cute and I loved Sir Honksalot. I loved the chemistry between Sara Jayne and Mac. This story was lighthearted and cute and a great, quick romance read to throw in the mix. This can easily be read as a standalone, but is part of a larger series. If you are looking for a quick, holiday themed romance this is a good choice!