Review: The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely
Note: An advanced reader copy (ARC) was provided by St. Martin's Press.
But even though we started as a made-up couple, concocting fables and telling tales, that spark between us was always real. And then, as I got to know you, it turned into something more. It turned into the real deal. That's what you are to me, and that what I want to be for you.
I honestly wonder if Lauren Blakely has ever written or could possibly write a crappy romance novel. The later is something I can't really attest to, not when I have yet to work my way through the author's back list pre-Big Rock, which is how I discovered her writing. It's not as I'm actually hoping Blakely releases a bad book; of course not! Heck, as a reader, I'm the one who reaps the rewards of her awesome writing. But ignore me and my tendency to digress. Basically, what I'm trying to point out at the beginning of this review of mine for The Real Deal is as simple as this standalone romance was everything I could have hoped it would be, with a hilarious cast of characters, too!
April Hamilton is headed to her hometown of Wistful, Connecticut for a family reunion, but she isn't exactly brimming with excitement. Some of her family members have a bad habit of playing matchmaker, and April doesn't appreciate their efforts. When one of her friends is unable to accompany her, he recommends someone he knows to play her fake boyfriend. One look at Theo Banks's Craigslist "bad boy" advertisement, and April knows her fellow twenty-eight-year-old is the perfect guy to take home. Sure he's hot, but this is nothing more than a business arrangement. All it takes is a few days for a done deal to feel like the real thing, but will satisfaction be guaranteed?
I'm not going to go into why Theo has a boyfriend-for-hire gig or the deeper reason behind April's refusal of any matchmaking from her family. There's quite a bit of history on both their ends, but what I will stress is that April's experience with an ex-boyfriend who lied to her has left her refusing to become entangled with anyone who isn't upfront with the truth. And while one of Theo's sources of income happens to involving making up stories, he's all about honesty...or is he? Aaaaand I'm leaving it at that. These two had bantering down to a science, and with the other characters along with a lighthearted story with a bit of angst, The Real Deal is the five-plus-starred real deal. ♥
Release Date: 10 July 2018
April Hamilton is headed to her hometown of Wistful, Connecticut for a family reunion, but she isn't exactly brimming with excitement. Some of her family members have a bad habit of playing matchmaker, and April doesn't appreciate their efforts. When one of her friends is unable to accompany her, he recommends someone he knows to play her fake boyfriend. One look at Theo Banks's Craigslist "bad boy" advertisement, and April knows her fellow twenty-eight-year-old is the perfect guy to take home. Sure he's hot, but this is nothing more than a business arrangement. All it takes is a few days for a done deal to feel like the real thing, but will satisfaction be guaranteed?
I'm not going to go into why Theo has a boyfriend-for-hire gig or the deeper reason behind April's refusal of any matchmaking from her family. There's quite a bit of history on both their ends, but what I will stress is that April's experience with an ex-boyfriend who lied to her has left her refusing to become entangled with anyone who isn't upfront with the truth. And while one of Theo's sources of income happens to involving making up stories, he's all about honesty...or is he? Aaaaand I'm leaving it at that. These two had bantering down to a science, and with the other characters along with a lighthearted story with a bit of angst, The Real Deal is the five-plus-starred real deal. ♥
Release Date: 10 July 2018
Date Read: 09 July 2018
Learn more about Lauren Blakely.
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