When I made the leap from paperbacks to digital, this author’s books were some of the first to hook me in. I’ve read and enjoyed nearly all of her contemporaries, and I loved the first book in this series when it came out… almost four years ago. I’ve probably read about a thousand other romance novels during the gap between books (seriously), and unfortunately this wasn’t up to the standard that my hazy memory recollects. Beyond the inconsistencies in the storyline, the manufactured drama drags this down. The writing style is devourable though, and I read this in one sitting. I liked a whole lot of it, but there are definitely some issues along the way.
The story follows Summer, a woman who is having a run of bad luck. Her brother’s destination wedding is quickly approaching, and her cheating ex will be in attendance. If spending a week with the man who broke her heart isn’t bad enough, Summer’s apartment was also destroyed in a fire. Heading to her best friend’s place for a few days, Summer has a run-in with an intense (and very sexy) neighbor. As the two get to know each other a little better, Summer and Cullen realize that they both have unfinished business with their exes that could be resolved with a fake significant other. The moody Marine agrees to be Summer’s wedding date and play the role of fake fiancé, but it isn’t long before things start feeling very real.
The foundation of a great fake relationship romance is here, and that’s why I enjoyed so much of it. Cullen is the kind of hero that I love to read about – caring, sexy, alpha, and a little vulnerable. He’s trying to find himself again, and there is so much potential in that storyline. Unfortunately, that’s all sidetracked by unnecessary drama. I’m really not sure why he needed to be going through a divorce, and there are some definite inconsistencies in the storyline. The final chapters cemented this rating for me, and honestly made me consider going even lower. But I enjoyed way too much of this to drop my rating. It’s an easy, steamy read that nails certain elements and completely fumbles others, but I will admit that I liked it the whole way through. I just wish there weren’t so many things that bugged me. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this light, steamy romance.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fQyEuc
Blurb:
“Hey, Mom and Dad, I’m engaged!”
It was one little white lie. What could possibly go wrong?
With my brother’s destination wedding on the horizon and no plus-one at my side, desperate times call for desperate measures. My mother has made it her personal mission in life to get me back together with my ex, who also happens to be the best man and my partner down the aisle. Nobody knows why I abruptly broke off our engagement and fled to Montana two-years ago, and I intend to keep it that way. Wyatt is determined to win me back, and the thought of dealing with him and my mother for a week in Maui would drive any woman to drink. Which is exactly what I did, and five shots of Tequila later, I’ve got the perfect solution to my problem. All I need is a fake fiancé…
I’ve had one goal that’s kept me alive when it would have been easier to give up—recuperate and get back to Afghanistan to complete my mission. What I wasn’t expecting was a petite, sexy-as-hell blonde to crawl through my bedroom window and turn my life upside-down. After a rocky start that involved me pulling a gun on her, we coincidentally find ourselves in need of the same thing—a fiancée.
To be fair, I warned her not to fall in love with me—that I was only going to break her heart. Guess I should have taken my own advice…
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fQyEuc
Some Jeeves history!
The journey we take as readers is fascinating! I’ve been a loyal Nora Roberts reader since my teens, then I transitioned into Julie Garwood’s romantic suspense and historicals. I looked for similar authors at my local library and fell for Lori Foster, who has a big MMA series. So once I made the switch to digital, I was seeking out similar titles – and then came my love for Melynda Price! Her Against the Cage series introduced me to a higher level of heat and more modern tropes, so then I became all about contemporaries. And now, here we are! So I’ve got a definite soft spot for Price’s books.
It’s been years since I read this author’s steamy MMA series and it’s probably all kinds of problematic (a lot of the books written around that time were), but I remember genuinely enjoying them. The Against the Cage series is definitely the author’s most popular, so if her name doesn’t ring a bell, perhaps this title will spark a memory. I don’t know what the Jeeves of 2021 would think about them, but it’s certainly worth a try since they’re in KU. I’ve also enjoyed some of her romantic suspense titles and the first book in this series (though the plot of that one sounds very meh to 2021 me, lol).
Win by Submission on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3igY0n0
About the Author:
Melynda Price is a bestselling and award-winning author of contemporary romance. Her Against the Cage series has finaled in many awards such as the RONE, USA Today BBA, Golden Quill, National Readers’ Choice, and New England Readers’ Choice.
What Price enjoys most about writing is the chance to make her readers fall in love, over and over again. She cites the greatest challenge of writing is making the unbelievable believable, while taking her characters to the limit with stories full of passion and unique twists and turns. Salting stories with undertones of history whenever possible, Price adds immeasurable depth to her well-crafted books. She currently lives in Northern Minnesota with her husband and two children where she has plenty of snow-filled days to curl up in front of the fireplace with her Chihuahua and a hot cup of coffee to write.
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Jeeves Reads Romance 