4⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Series ~ Under Kansas Skies #1 Setting ~ Kansas Publication date ~ June 18, 2021 Est Page Count ~ 237 (p+ 29 chapters +e) A4⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Series ~ Under Kansas Skies #1 Setting ~ Kansas Publication date ~ June 18, 2021 Est Page Count ~ 237 (p+ 29 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 6 hours 48 minutes Narrators ~ Shaina Summerville, Kyle Mason POV ~ dual 1st, present tense Featuring ~ caring for parent after stroke, fake relationship, forced proximity, no steamage
Congressman needs a wife to look relatable + Daughter needs money to take care of her ailing father = a marriage of convenience.
Odette (28) & Madden (28) went to high school together, but he had no clue who she was at their 10 year reunion. To save face she pretends she doesn’t know who he is, but then when she shows up for a dinner at his parents house he realizes she is the perfect candidate to be his fake wife. It doesn’t hurt that her background is in political science and she’s gorgeous to boot.
Odette is back home to help her mom take care of her ailing 75 year old father after a stroke. Turns out they are up to their eyeballs in debt, so Odette agrees to marry Madden to help them out.
Overall, cute and predictable with likable characters. There was something heavy hitting towards the end with a side character that I wasn't expecting that made me tear up. I can see myself reading the rest of the series.
Narration notes: I thought they both did a wonderful job.
4⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Setting ~ North Carolina Publication date ~ November 19, 2024 Publisher ~ Dreamscape Media Est Page Count ~ 237 (12 chapter4⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Setting ~ North Carolina Publication date ~ November 19, 2024 Publisher ~ Dreamscape Media Est Page Count ~ 237 (12 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 6 hours Narrator ~ Melanie Mendez POV ~ dual 3rd Featuring ~ grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, enemies to lovers, no steamage
Daphne & Tristan Daphne's dream is to open up her own bakery, but in the meantime while she gets enough cash she puts up a pop up bakery in an office building in November and December.
A certain someone, aka "Grinchy Grincherson", is not too thrilled that his building hosts these pop ups every year. They are just so tacky, especially the one that looks like a gingerbread house. But when he needs a caterer for some holiday parties last minute he has no choice but to ask Daphne to help. And then he's asking her for more help when his mom assumes they are together, so she pretends to be his girlfriend.
The grump/sunshine and enemies tropes were well done. I almost thought I was never going to warm up to Tristan, but he eventually won me over. Daphne is full on sunshine all the time, but when she's upset she's not afraid to show it. The support of her parents was phenomenal.
Overall, a cute, festive read that'll satisfy your sweet tooth if you have one, if not then you might just develop one. This totally gives Hallmarky vibes.
Narration notes: Another dual POV with only one narrator, grrr. I’ve listened to many of Samantha’s books, so I just know it's how it always is, but this was someone new. Overall, she did fine, but I wasn’t overly in love with her voice.
4⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Series ~ Love in Mirror Valley #3 Others in the series ~ The Next Worst Thing, The Right Wrong Match Publication date ~ Ju4⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Series ~ Love in Mirror Valley #3 Others in the series ~ The Next Worst Thing, The Right Wrong Match Publication date ~ July 6, 2023 Est Page Count ~ 348 (35 chapters) Audio length ~ 10 hours 48 minutes Narrators ~ Justis Bolding, David Bendena POV ~ dual 1st Featuring ~ fake fiancé (duh), best friends to lovers, he falls first, small town, no steamage
Dee & Noah have been best friends for ages, so it was only natural that she blurted out his name as her fiance to her boss when she's trying to save her job.
Book boyfriend alert! Noah, Noah, Noah! Loved him so much. Of course he goes along with the plan since he's been pining after her. Can he make Dee see what she's been missing all this time?
Overall, love their banter and cuteness. My only gripe with friends to lovers stories is that they've wasted so much time. If they had just spoken up about their feelings sooner they could've been together longer. Also, hated the 3rd act breakup, no surprise there.
Series notes: I accidentally skipped book 2, ahhh! Books 1 and 2’s characters do make appearances, so there are tiny spoilers about how their lives are going.
Narration notes: They both did great. No complaints.
Since the GR bug wanted to let you know I read this series ages ago I figured I'd share my reviews again with my new format.
3.5 ⭐ Genre ~ contemporary Since the GR bug wanted to let you know I read this series ages ago I figured I'd share my reviews again with my new format.
3.5 ⭐ Genre ~ contemporary fiction Series ~ Little Black Book #3 Others in the series ~ The Problem with Playboys, Black Tie Bachelor Bid Publication date ~ June 28, 2022 Est Page Count ~ 185 POV ~ dual 3rd Featuring ~ fake dating, brother's best friend, best friend's sister, steamage
Alex is busy helping her bff, Chloe, plan her wedding, but is unsuccessful in securing a date to the wedding. She recently broke off an engagement and the tabloids are calling her 'the trust fund tornado.' Her brother, Daniel, suggests she take his bff, Ryder. Unbeknownst to Daniel, Alex has had a crush on Ryder for years and slept with him a few months ago.
Ryder has always had a thing for Alex, but she is deemed off limits. He doesn't want to risk his business partnership or friendship with Daniel. Typical brothers best friend/best friends sister, fake dating romance, with Daniel being over the top protective, but I liked how Ryder FINALLY put him in his place.
I love that although each book follows a new couple the couples from the previous two books are involved in this installment. Alex, Chloe and Taylor are friendship goals. I really liked how Alex/Ryder and Geoffrey/Katrina eased into a new friendship seamlessly.
Honesty alert ~ this was my least favorite book in the series. It could be because the whole conclusion to who little black book was, and why they did what they did, seemed a little lackluster to me. I never got a curvy vibe either. And (view spoiler)[she never wanted to marry Henry to begin with, so why was she so sad about it and being at a wedding? (hide spoiler)]
This was a quick and easy read and I'll be ready for Karen's next book.
Series notes: This is the conclusion to the Little Black Book series ~ definitely not a standalone.
*Thanks to Karen Booth and Booksprout for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
3.5⭐ Genre ~ billionaire romance Series ~ Faux Love Billionaires Publication date ~ book ~ June 28, 2023, audio ~ March 5, 2024 Est Page Count ~ 330 Audio3.5⭐ Genre ~ billionaire romance Series ~ Faux Love Billionaires Publication date ~ book ~ June 28, 2023, audio ~ March 5, 2024 Est Page Count ~ 330 Audio length ~ 6 hours 24 minutes Narrators ~ Tor Thom & Maeve York POV ~ dual 1st Featuring ~ struggling small business owner, billionaire, age gap, fake fiancé, single dad, accidental pregnancy, 3rd act crap, some steamage
Felicity (26) & Cooper (42) She has a struggling business that needs an investor. He's a billionaire that needs to stop his ex-wife from trying to take his daughters. He'll fund her business and she'll pretend to be his fake fiancé.
There will be no hanky panky, just cohabiting. Yeah okay, sure. That agreement lasts like 16 seconds. Their chemistry was pretty great I do have to say. There is a good amount of steamage.
I am not a big fan when kids are involved in a fake relationship plot because I don't want their little hearts to be broken, but the girls were adorable and handled it pretty well. Also, not a fan of accidental pregnancy, especially at these ages that should know better.
The side characters were fine, except the ones that aren't suppose to be, like Felicity's father, who is not supportive at all and also a close friend to Cooper, and the ex-wife.
Overall, I enjoyed it well enough that I'd give this author a go again.
3⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Setting ~ California Publication date ~ May 19, 2023 Est Page Count ~ 236 (p+ 29 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 6 hours 33 min3⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Setting ~ California Publication date ~ May 19, 2023 Est Page Count ~ 236 (p+ 29 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 6 hours 33 minutes Narrator ~ Monica King, David Brenin POV ~ dual 1st Featuring ~ the worst sister ever, British rockstar , fake relationship, some steamage
I love the way it started with Scarlett getting her revenge on her cheating fiance. Guess who he's been cheating with? Her sister. Man, what an awful person she was. Not just with the cheating itself, but just an all around awful person in every aspect.
Killian is the musical entertainment that's playing at her wedding. After she ditches the venue they hang out for a few hours and that's pretty much it on that front.
Flash forward a year or so and we're off to the sisters/ex fiance's wedding. A little car trouble has her hitching a ride with Killian since he happens to be at the same place she broke down at and he's on the way to the same wedding. Convenient. So she doesn't look like a loser they pretend to be dating.
Overall, I did enjoy the banter and felt their chemistry, but as far as everything else this was just okay for me. I hated how people just expected her to forgive and forget, unforgivable and unforgettable in my eyes. I did get a chuckle with her having a pet turtle named Chuck Norris that she dressed up though..
Narration notes: No complaints with either of them.
4⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Series ~ Falling for Summer Others in the series ~ Falling for Summer series Setting ~ Sunset Harbor, an island off the co4⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Series ~ Falling for Summer Others in the series ~ Falling for Summer series Setting ~ Sunset Harbor, an island off the coast of Florida Publication date ~ July 17, 2024 Est Page Count ~ 324 (p+ 29 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 9 hours 8 minutes Narrator ~Rylee Kuberra, John Rogers POV ~ dual 1st Featuring ~ small town, island life, forced proximity, marriage of convenience, fake marriage, enemies to lovers, dead brothers best friend, dead best friends sister, no steamage
Phoenix & Holland (27) go way back. Her brother was best friends with Phoenix until he died in a car accident when they were in college. Now Holland is desperate for money, so she agrees to marry him for a pretty penny.
I never understood how a fake marriage works when it's for career purposes. Like all of the sudden showing up married is believable to the one that made the demand? The grandmother making the demand was a pretty awful person. I like my grandma's sweet. Anyway, not hard to figure out they'll fall for each other. Enemies to lovers is not my favorite, but I do like when the characters have a history together and these two certainly have a history full of heartbreak, since they were both in the car for the accident. They had great chemistry and that good enemies to lovers banter.
I'm officially done with the series. Overall, they were all pretty cute and I recommend them.
Series notes: The timeline is the same for each book meaning the characters from other books in the series are in the background, but haven’t necessarily had their story told yet. I like this way of doing things since it doesn’t make it absolutely necessary to read them in order, but it’ll be better if you do.
Happy publication day! 2⭐ Genre ~ contemporary fiction Setting ~ Benson Beach (near NY, or in it, I think) Publication date ~ August 13, 2024 Publisher ~ SHappy publication day! 2⭐ Genre ~ contemporary fiction Setting ~ Benson Beach (near NY, or in it, I think) Publication date ~ August 13, 2024 Publisher ~ St. Martin's Griffin Est Page Count ~ 320 (26 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 9 hours 18 minutes Narrator ~ Natalie Naudus POV ~ single 1st Featuring ~ viral breakups, childhood friends, fake dating, second chance, slow burn, minimal steamage, back in the day micommunication
June (27) & Levi were broken up with publicly and decide to fake date after not seeing each other for 10 years.
I don't mind fake dating at all, but only when it's for the benefit of career purposes or something to that nature. I am absolutely not down with it when it's up in the air that one of them might or might not want to get back with their ex. Which is what happens for most of the book. That's really mean and I don't like meanness. Therefore I did not like them together at all, not one bit. I would've preferred they just stay friends who like to compete with each other.
Usually I like dual POV, but I'm happy we didn't have Levi's because it probably would've made me dislike him more.
So with that said I do think it was written well for what the author was trying to do. Also, really enjoyed June's friendship with Matteo, her brother's fiance. But, overall, I was not a fan.
3.5⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Series ~ Maple Creek Romantic Comedy #1 Setting ~ Virginia Publication date ~ book ~ December 6, 2020, audio ~ July 28, 3.5⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Series ~ Maple Creek Romantic Comedy #1 Setting ~ Virginia Publication date ~ book ~ December 6, 2020, audio ~ July 28, 2023 Est Page Count ~ 104 (9 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 2 hours 10 minutes Narrators ~ Mari Bee, Jon Brattin POV ~ dual 1st Featuring ~ police chief, floral shop owner, small town, fake engagement, no steamage
Layla & Will had a smooch when they were in 7th grade, but nothing ever came of it. Now they're in their 20's. He's fresh off a divorce and she doesn't do commitments, so what was she thinking telling her mother they were engaged?
There's a side robbery that being investigated. The culprit was not shocking in the least bit. We're introduced to side characters Onyx and Tanner, our main characters great bffs, who are the focus of the next book in the series.
I'm never a fan of the dreaded 3rd act breakup and my heart was so sad during this one, but on the positive side the reasoning was fully communicated, so at least they know how to talk to each other.
Overall, it was cute and sweet, but I wish it was a little longer. I love the title, too.
3⭐ Genre ~ paranormal romance Series ~ Supernatural Singles #1 Setting ~ NYC Publication date ~ February 8, 2022 Page Count ~ 344 (25 chapters +e) Audio len3⭐ Genre ~ paranormal romance Series ~ Supernatural Singles #1 Setting ~ NYC Publication date ~ February 8, 2022 Page Count ~ 344 (25 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 12 hours 15 minutes Narrator ~ Zura Johnson POV ~ dual 3rd Featuring ~ witches (duh), titled chapters, fake relationship, enemies to lovers, miscommunication, second chance, minimal steamage
Violet & Lincoln had a misunderstanding when they were younger making them enemies. Now due to politics they're thrown into a fake relationship.
I don't read too many supernatural witchy books, but when I do I always wish I had some fun magical abilities. Perhaps invisibility so I can nose around unseen.
This is my first shifter book. Is this what a shifter book is usually like? I was expecting a little more excitement on that aspect, not sure what exactly, but something.
Overall, fine, but I wasn't overly wowed. Love the cover, though.
Narration notes: She did a fine job, but, as always, I wish there was a male narrator when dual POV.
*Thanks to Hoopla bonus borrows so I didn't have to use a credit.*
3⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Series ~ Hooked #2 Others in the series ~ Mr. Hook-up Setting ~ Boston, Massachusetts Publication date ~ April 23, 2024 Pag3⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Series ~ Hooked #2 Others in the series ~ Mr. Hook-up Setting ~ Boston, Massachusetts Publication date ~ April 23, 2024 Page Count ~ 378 (p+ 31 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 11 hours 50 minutes Narrator ~ Andi Arndt, Ryan West POV ~ dual 1st Featuring ~ billionaire, influencer/waitress, fake marriage, age gap, grumpy/sunshine, some steamage
I didn't read the blurb because this author is an automatic read for me. Plus I quite enjoyed book 1, so it wouldn't have mattered anyway if I did because I would have read this one anyway. Unfortunately I didn't like this one as much as I anticipated.
Grayson (30) & Jovana (22) meet at a bar and have a one night stand, he immediately gives her the boot after and she's super pissed, rightfully so. Flash forward 2 months and a scandal has his company, Hooked, needing her help and so they enter into a contract for a fake relationship.
Normally I don't mind the fake relationship trope, but I much prefer both parties to fully be on board with the plan and that was not the case here. I wasn't feeling the reason, or the big push, for it. I am, however, happy with how it played out in the end.
Playboy, anti-relationship, Grayson, is a big time a-hole and I wasn’t feeling him at all. Once he figures out his feelings for her he's all in, though, even if it takes an awfully long time.
I gotta hand it to Jovana, she stuck it out and in the end gets what she wants, but man oh man, he was difficult to deal with. I really enjoyed her relationship with her parents and her bff, Sloane, which showed more of her sunshiny character.
Overall, this was well written and certainly what I've come to except from this author, but I just couldn't get behind the content or the actions of the characters. Although this one didn't fully work for me I'll for sure read the next book (and anything else she writes), which is will follow single dad, Holden. Edit - just found out there will not be a book 3 anytime soon, poor Holden ...more
4.5⭐ Genre ~ contemporary holiday romance Series ~ Christmas Escape Others in the series ~ are from different authors Setting ~ New York and Vermont Public4.5⭐ Genre ~ contemporary holiday romance Series ~ Christmas Escape Others in the series ~ are from different authors Setting ~ New York and Vermont Publication date ~ book ~ November 2, 2022, audio ~ October 3, 2023 Page Count ~ 344 (p+ 27 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 9 hours 59 minutes Narrator ~ Justis Bolding POV ~ single 1st Featuring ~ teachers, enemies~ish to lovers, fake dating, no steamage, no 3rd act breakup
Olive (25) and Miles work together at a high school in New York. They didn't get off on the right foot when he started teaching there, so she considers him an enemy of sorts. I didn't really get much enemy vibes to be honest.
Now it's time for Christmas break and Olive is off to Vermont to spend a week with her family, which includes her mother's new husband, Russ. A man she married just 8 months after Olive's father passed away after a cancer battle only last Christmas. Needless to say she's not looking forward to it. On top of that her mother invited her ex-boyfriend, Glen, who she has no interest in getting back together with. Before she can even stop herself she's telling her family she already has a boyfriend named Miles.
Guess who's parents own the resort they are staying at? You guessed it, Miles. Luckily he's down with the fake dating plan, so they have a fun filled week of doing wintery things. I felt the bitter cold Vermont air coming off the pages.
This was so adorable and fun and sweet and cute and funny. The teasing is good natured and the characters are mature and relatable AND they know how to communicate! I would totally watch this if it was made into a Hallmark movie and that's not usually my jam.
Narration notes: Justis did a great job. I have no complaints.
3.75⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Series ~ Ghosted #2 Others in the series ~ Ghosted Setting ~ Switzerland Publication date ~ February 20, 2024 Est page Co3.75⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Series ~ Ghosted #2 Others in the series ~ Ghosted Setting ~ Switzerland Publication date ~ February 20, 2024 Est page Count ~ 338 (42 chapters) Audio length ~ 10 hours 11 minutes Narrators ~ Kelsey Navarro Foster & James Anderson Foster POV ~ mostly single 1st, one chapter his Featuring ~ one night stand, insta-love, opposites attract, forced proximity, fake dating, slow burn, minimal steamage
Serena & Henry's meet cute was funny when her pants were literally stuck to the booth. She had to wiggle out of them and borrow his jacket since she was leaving the bar sans pants and underroos. They head back to his hotel and get very well acquainted with each other. So acquainted in fact that he instantly falls for her. She feels it too, but since she's career driven and anti-relationship she pushes him away. But it turns out he's her new boss...awkward.
Then we have a time jump to 437 rotations of the earth later. Since they are both physicists it's pretty heavy on science talk, so be prepared for that. They don't seem to get along too well, but are forced into each other's lives when they switch bodies. Of course this is right before Henry's brothers wedding, so Serena has to pretend she is him and then something happens with her family and he has to pretend he's her because who would believe the truth. I'm pretty sure I would not, would you? They each played the opposite quite well. Henry even got to experience having his period ...more
2⭐ Genre ~ romantic comedy Setting ~ England I think Publication date ~ February 6, 2024 Est page Count ~ 329 (27 long titled chapters + one year later) Au2⭐ Genre ~ romantic comedy Setting ~ England I think Publication date ~ February 6, 2024 Est page Count ~ 329 (27 long titled chapters + one year later) Audio length ~ 9 hours 17 minutes Narrator ~ Emily Spowage POV ~ single 3rd Featuring ~ characters in their 30's, ex soccer player, plus size woman, fake relationship, opposites attract, slow burn, some steamage, EXCESSIVE swearing, no communication
*possible spoilers ahead*
Content warning from the author ~ brief references to parental abuse, childhood poverty, and alcoholism, and an incident that includes fat-phobia, plus brief mentions at a few points of the effects that fat-phobia can have.
Mabel & Alfie Mable is ghostwriting Alfie's memoir, but then they find themselves in a fake relationship and obviously fall for each other.
Have you watched Ted Lasso? If not, here's your chance to meet one of the characters, Roy Kent, because I totally believe Aflie is based on him and you can't tell me otherwise. I didn't really find him to be overly grumpy though. I liked how he defended Mabel right from the start when people were talking about her weight.
But...Mabel, really? I'm kind of tired of the whole 'he'll never love me because I'm fat' crap. I could see he was genuine all the way over here in the USA, so open your eyes girl! Yeah fine you're in a fake relationship, so you think he's faking it, but for the love of all that is holy why can't grown adults communicate?! They are in their 30's for Pete's, not F's, sake!!
Okay, so listen, I've been known to swear a time or two or 16, but for the F word to be used 253 times is just overly excessive to me for a 329 page book. Over excessive even if it was a 1,329 or 3,290 page book. It just really turned me off. I did primarily listen to it, so maybe it wouldn't have been as noticeable to me if I had read it.
There were some funny bits, but even the banter got to be too much and I didn't really care for it. There was too much inner monologue and the repeating of phrases was really annoying ~ 'and she laughed, she did laugh,' 'like he had said he would, like he had told her,' 'even though he wasn't, he wasn't at all'...just to name a few. The whole grand gesture was fine I suppose, but one year later....nah, too far in the future.
In conclusion, I wasn't a super big fan if you couldn't tell.
I had both a kindle and an audio copy to review. Narration notes: I guess she was okay, but again when someone is swearing in your ear a bunch you tend to get bugged with them.
Side bar ~ the cover is super cute.
*Thanks to the author, St Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC and audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
3⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Publication date ~ August 1, 2023 Est page Count ~ 331 (17 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 7 hours 3 minutes Narrator ~ Fiona H3⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Publication date ~ August 1, 2023 Est page Count ~ 331 (17 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 7 hours 3 minutes Narrator ~ Fiona Hampton POV ~ single 1st Featuring ~ characters in their 30's, work competition, fake dating, slow burn, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, no steamage
I've never been on a dating app, so I'm not sure how they compare, but I liked the one Marina has created. How great that other people are able to leave feedback on how their date went so you can decide if you want to go on a date with that person. Sounds like a time saver to me.
Marina was pretty set in her ways, which is fine to an extent, but I couldn't really warm up to her. I liked Lucas a bit more. Some of the dates they went on were fun.
Overall, it did have good banter which is what I expect from my enemies to lovers, so woo hoo for that, but really with the 3rd act. A bit slow moving and I would have liked dual POV, too.
And how many times do you think the word 'dealbreaker' was used? I don't have an exact number, but it felt like 100k too many.
Narration notes: Unfortunately I listened to this one like 8 audios ago and didn't take any notes, so I can't comment on the performance.
4.5⭐ Genre ~ holiday Christmas novella Setting ~ NYC & Maine Publication date ~ December 7, 2023 Est page Count ~ 149 (p+ 14 chapters +e) POV ~ dual 1st Fea4.5⭐ Genre ~ holiday Christmas novella Setting ~ NYC & Maine Publication date ~ December 7, 2023 Est page Count ~ 149 (p+ 14 chapters +e) POV ~ dual 1st Featuring ~ grump/sunshine, billionaire, boss/employee, fake relationship, age gap (23 & 32), forced proximity, one bed, some steamage
Presley & Jack All Presley wants for Christmas is a very well deserved 2 weeks off from work, so she can spend it with her family. Jack has other plans that include work work work, so when Presley won't budge he invites himself along with her.
Eek, I loved this one! Jake was the perfect workaholic grump and quite possibly my favorite grump ever. He has a sad backstory, so I really loved how he was included in the holiday festivities with Presley's family. And let me tell you they go all out ~ gingerbread house making contests, ice skating, Christmas movie marathons...the works ~ and each of them truly enjoy spending time together, which was really nice to see.
Presley's mom, Johanna, was so welcoming and just a lovely person altogether. Of course the 3 brothers have to do their brotherly shenanigans to protect their sister. I can’t wait to read each of their books.
Overall, a true delight that'll be sure to get even the grinchiest Grinch's in the Christmas spirit.
Side note ~ the cover is so adorable and I'm pretty sure I know what shade of pink that is, which makes it extra adorable!
*Thanks to Ann Einerson for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Content warning from the author ~ controlling relationship
Megan & Christian Megan has a tough time going home ever since she left her fiance at the alter 5 years ago. The town is not so welcoming of her, so Christian offers to help her get through the holidays by being her fake boyfriend. It's not one sided, though, he's tired of being single around all the couples.
This was fun. They had good banter and I'm happy this was a slow burn as opposed to starting off the fakeness as a friends with benefits. I liked how they slowly eased into their feelings for each other. No 3rd act breakup is always a win in my eyes. It took an awfully long time to get the the title of the book, so I'm not sure what's up with that.
Series notes: I had no clue this was part of a series and that bothers me a little. Molly & Andrew from Holiday Romance are quite involved in this one. I might have to read it one day even though I now know what's in store for them.
Narration notes: No complaints of their Irish accents.
*Thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
3.5⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Setting ~ NYC Publication date ~ August 29, 2023 Page Count ~ 352 (32 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 9 hours 41 minutes Narra3.5⭐ Genre ~ contemporary romance Setting ~ NYC Publication date ~ August 29, 2023 Page Count ~ 352 (32 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 9 hours 41 minutes Narrator ~ Savannah Peachwood POV ~ single 1st Featuring ~ professional costume character actor & line sitter, veterinarian, grump/sunshine, fake relationship, opposite attracts, minimal steamage, family drama
Star & Rafe Star is working 2 jobs and could really use some cash, so when Rafe offers her $10k to be his fake girlfriend she agrees. She's anti-relationship, which you don't see too often with the FMC.
Grumpy/sunshine trope is one of my favs and Rafe was a perfect grump, and he loves dogs so that's a bonus.
Overall, there was good banter and good growth for Star. It shouldn't be a surprise how this will work out if you've read fake dating before and I thought it was well done.
Side note: There is a side polyamorous relationship happening that there was a lot of emphasis on. To each their own I say, but there was a bit too much talk about it IMO.
4.25⭐ Genre ~ sports romance ~ NHL Series ~ Arizona Vengeance, #1 Others in the series ~ #1-11 + a novella Setting ~ Arizona Publication date ~ August 14, 4.25⭐ Genre ~ sports romance ~ NHL Series ~ Arizona Vengeance, #1 Others in the series ~ #1-11 + a novella Setting ~ Arizona Publication date ~ August 14, 2018 Page Count ~ 214 Audio length ~ 8 hours 24 minutes Narrators ~ Lance Greenfield, Kirsten Leigh POV ~ dual 1st Featuring ~ fast burn, one night stand, coach's daughter, fake fiance, steamage
Why do I like hockey romances so much when I know nothing about the sport? Couldn't have anything to do with the looker on the cover, could it?
Bishop & Brooke have a one night stand and the next day find out he is on the team her father coaches, which happens to be the team she's now working for. She accidentally tells her father that they are engaged, which sets forth a fake relationship.
Quite a bit of steamage right out of the gate and throughout and I didn't hate it. Their chemistry was on point!
I loved them both. He had a great relationship with his mom, wasn't all into puck bunnies and shot it down when someone tried to take a shot at him. Brooke was really sweet, too sweet really and had trouble speaking up, but not so sweet in the bedroom ...more
4.5⭐ Genre ~ romance Series ~ Reid Brothers: Blue-Eyed Billionaires, #3 ~ the brothers make some appearances, but fine as a standalone Others in the seri4.5⭐ Genre ~ romance Series ~ Reid Brothers: Blue-Eyed Billionaires, #3 ~ the brothers make some appearances, but fine as a standalone Others in the series ~ Logan #1, Hayden #2 Publication date ~ June 8, 2023 Page Count ~ 121 POV ~ dual 1st Featuring ~ escort service, fake date, model, billionaire, minimal steamage
Thea & Dylan Dylan is my favorite Reid brother! He's been hurt before and is scared of letting someone in for fear they only want him for his money and not him. Needing a date for a charity event has him reaching out to an escort service where he meets Thea. Thea has a heart of gold. She helped her brother (who raised her) out of a jam and needs to pay off a steep debt, so she's working extra jobs to pay that down when she meets Dylan.
They have an insta~lust going on, but I was happy that they kinda took it slow and found out the things they had in common first before hitting the sack. Overall, a great end to the trilogy of the super hot billionaire brothers.
*Thanks to Kaylee Monroe and Booksprout for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
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