It took me a little while to settle into the story, but once I did, I found it to be such a heartwarming read with characters that were easy to care about.

Personally, I would have loved a little more detail in the ending. I felt like a few things wrapped up a bit quickly, but it didn’t take away from the heart of the story.

One thing to note is that commitment issues play a significant role in the plot, so if that’s a trope you tend to avoid, it’s worth keeping in mind. As well as the miscommunication trope.

Ethan completely stole my heart He was such a precious addition to the story, and every scene with him made me smile.

And all of the Princess Bride references? Absolutely loved them

Overall, this was a sweet, cozy romance with heartfelt moments and a message that lingered long after I finished reading.

Tropes
Best Friends to Lovers
Fake Dating
Slow Burn
Faith Themes
Lake Cabin Setting
Wildlife Photographer MMC

: Kisses Only 
: None

BLURB: Aspen won’t put down roots, and Mia is afraid to fly.

By-the-book Mia has every moment of her life laid out in glittery color-coded ink. Her world is neat and tidy, and she knows exactly what she wants. The one thing she can’t seem to keep organized is her travel-happy lifelong friend. Aspen—restless and endlessly chasing the next adventure—is building his career as a nature photographer, and spends his days anywhere but home. Each goodbye is chipping away at something Mia can’t quite put her finger on.

When Aspen announces he’s leaving on his longest assignment yet, Mia realizes she’s tired of waiting for a someday that never seems to arrive; tired of post cards, phone calls with bad reception, and emails in the place of real connection. When she decides it’s time to call it quits, a desperate Aspen tells one small lie: one that lands him an invitation to Mia’s family lake cabin for the week.

The catch? Everyone thinks they’re dating.

Now, surrounded by family, cozy bonfires, and a lake cabin that holds memories around each corner, Aspen and Mia must pretend their love story is more than fiction. With Aspen’s departure looming and Mia’s patience stretched to its breaking point, they have one week to figure out the real reason hurts so deeply to let go.

Because pretending to be in love seems easy, until real feelings get involved.

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The post Love Is For The Birds by Halli M. Castro appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. Between the charming banter, the growing romance, and the suspense woven throughout the story, I found myself saying, “Just one more chapter” long past my bedtime

Luca completely won me over. The way he cared for Charlotte and made her feel seen, valued, and loved was one of my favorite parts of the story. Their relationship developed so wonderfully.

The mystery added just the right amount of intrigue without overshadowing the romance, creating the perfect balance of heart and suspense.

This was such a wonderful addition to the series and once again Laura Beers delivered a story I couldn’t put down I think I found one of my new favorites

Tropes
Historical Fiction
Hidden Identity
Fake Engagement 
Suspense & Mystery
He Falls First
Enemies to Lovers Vibes

: Kisses Only
: 3 uses of d*mn

BLURB: Unmasking the truth means risking everything—even love.Miss Charlotte Winslow may be the diamond of the Season, but beneath her flawless exterior lies a secret—she writes for the Society pages. Years of hiding behind her carefully crafted mask have left her doubting her own worth and believing happiness to be a luxury meant for others. That is, until she crosses paths with Lord Luca Dexter—an infuriating, perceptive man who sees far too much and refuses to be ignored.

Luca may be the younger son of a duke, but unlike most men of his rank, he earns his living as the owner of The London Gazette. When he discovers Miss Winslow’s secret talent, he’s determined to recruit her to write for his newssheets. But Charlotte refuses to be reduced to mere gossip columns—if she writes for him, it will be for something that matters.

Luca and Charlotte agree to have her write something of substance. When their investigation uncovers a dangerous conspiracy, Luca finds himself torn between his growing affection for Charlotte and his desperate need to protect her. But Charlotte is not a woman who wishes to be saved. And as tragedy looms, Luca must risk everything—including his heart—to rescue the one woman who taught him that love is worth unmasking for.

As the seventh novel in the Courting the Unconventional series by author Laura Beers, Unmasking the Debutante continues the series. This is a light-hearted, clean and wholesome romance set in the Regency era. All books in this series have their own Happily-Ever-After and are best enjoyed in proper order.

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The post Unmasking The Diamond by Laura Beers appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

The enemies to lovers dynamic was so well done because they spent so much time walking that fine line between frustration and affection. One minute I was swooning at their interactions, and the next I was completely rooting for them to make up

And can we talk about Mags? She completely stole my heart.

The only part that wasn’t quite my favorite was the miscommunication trope. While I understood why the characters reacted the way they did, I found myself wishing for more communication along the way

That being said, Tenny absolutely won me over. He was so thoughtful, caring, and easy to root for, and I loved watching the relationship develop as the story unfolded.

Most of all, I appreciated the way these characters did eventually work through their challenges and found their way back to each other. And that epilogue? Absolutely perfect.

Workplace Romance 
Golden Retriever MMC 
Sports Romance 
Reporter FMC
He Falls First 
Millionaire MMC
Meet Kiss
Splash of Fake Dating 
Enemies to Lovers

: Descriptive Kisses 
: None 

BLURB: Their banter is relentless. Their chemistry? Even better off-screen. 

Behind our dazzling interview smiles, Tenny Jackson and I bicker nonstop—especially when our long-ago meet-cute kiss revealed he’s as much of a player off the field as he is at first base.

Tenny insists I’ve got him all wrong, but I won’t let sculpted forearms and a swoon-worthy smile distract me from the facts…or my professional goals. Even if he weren’t my enemy, dating a player would sink my credibility faster than the wave that wiped out my surfing career. 

Then my eccentric grandmother shows up, and Tenny and I have to fake it off-camera too. Private dinners, family movie nights, and his hands-on fixer energy push me toward the unthinkable—calling a truce.

Between squashing Tenny’s pre-game superstitions and him encouraging me to get back on a surfboard, it’s getting hard to deny we’re rounding first on something real. But when a disastrous game-day fiasco turns us into a headline, it’s not only my job on the line—it’s my heart.

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The post Love Between Innings by Laura Langa appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Dustin was an easy favorite from the very beginning. He’s the definition of a golden retriever hero—kind, caring, and impossible not to love

And can we talk about Dustin’s mom? Her 70s slang had me laughing the entire book. She brought so much charm and humor to every scene she was in.

This story was filled with so many sweet moments, but the one that completely stole my heart? He sings her to sleep I don’t think I’ll ever recover from that.

Between the baking competition, the cozy small-town feel, and the lovable cast of characters, this book felt like wrapping up in a warm blanket with a favorite dessert and settling in for the evening.

By the time I reached the last page, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters. I already can’t wait to read more in this series

Golden Retriever MMC
Baker FMC
Fake Dating
Forced Proximity
Only One Bed
Baking Contest

: Descriptive Kisses
: None

BLURB: Talk about making a bad first impression.

The rookie at Waterford’s fire station literally hauled me out of my own home—over his shoulder. Was my kitchen on fire? Yes. Did I have it nearly contained? Also yes.

And now he’s been tasked with making up for his overzealous rescue attempts by showing up to my bakery to grovel daily. And beg for my donuts.

Don’t get me wrong, the man is built like a redwood, has the personality of a golden retriever and eyes you could get lost in for days.

But I’m not dating. Not after my last serious boyfriend left town without looking back. I’m devoted to three things: my hometown, my bakery, and my friends.

That is until an opportunity to enter a baking contest catches my eye. And I need a partner. Enter the rookie. Yes, the same one who easily lifted me and slung me over his shoulder. My best friend and business partner, bless her heart, suggests we fake a relationship—just for the sake of the contest. It seems like a simple fix.

Don’t worry. It’s not like I’m going to fall for him. I’m immune to his charms. Mostly.

Fire and Icing is a sweet, closed-door romcom with kisses that might require a fire extinguisher. This stand-alone story is the first in the series The Firemen of Waterford TN.

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The post Fire and Icing by Savannah Scott appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Micah completely won me over. His patience, kindness, and steady support of Harper as she worked through her faith journey and her feelings made him such an easy character to love. I especially appreciated the way he gave her the space she needed while still encouraging her along the way.

One of my favorite parts of this story was watching Harper grow in her faith and confidence throughout the book.

While the pacing felt a little slower at times, the heartfelt character development and meaningful themes made it well worth the journey.

And that ending? So sweet
I immediately wanted to pick up A Season to Fall as soon as I finished.

Tropes
He Falls First
Faith Themes
ADHD Representation
Fake Dating
He Takes Care of Her
Golden Retriever MMC
Slow Burn

: Kisses Only
: None

Content Warnings:
Brief Mentions of Alcohol
Emotionally Distant Parents
Past Relationship Hurt
Faith Struggles and Spiritual Doubt
ADHD Rep

BLURB: My friends just dared me to ask the most annoyingly decent man I know to be my fake date to the gala.
One night. Show up, smile, make my ex jealous. Go home.
The plan is simple. He plays the part, I get closure, and we both walk away like nothing happened.
Except nothing about him has ever been simple.
He’s steady. Faithful. All dimples and thick-framed glasses, the kind of man who shows up when it matters—and somehow sees more than I ever say out loud.
And the longer we pretend, the harder it is to remember what’s real.
I’m so busy trying to make the wrong man jealous, I almost miss what’s happening right in front of me.
When I thank him for this favor, he answers like he’s teasing. “You’ve found my weakness.”
“And that is?” I ask, but I can hear the truth behind it.
“You.”
It was supposed to last one night—a fake date, a favor, a friend I was never supposed to fall for.
It doesn’t.

Because some dares remain forever.

Dare to Fall is a clean, slow-burn Christian romance filled with fake-dating tension, friends-to-lovers longing, achingly honest faith questions, and swoon-worthy almost-moments. Perfect for readers who love protective heroes with terrible dad jokes, heroines learning the difference between striving and remaining, and love stories that lead you straight back to grace.

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The post Dare To Fall by Amber Nicole appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

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MY REVIEW: It was a cute read fake dating/workplace romance. Both MCs had a lot of emotional trauma from their parents that they worked through together well! And I loved the epilogue that sets up the story for the next book in this series! The FMC was definitely “lusty” towards the MMC and is constantly ogling his physical appearance which did get a bit tiring at times.
The coffee thing Owen did was the cutest thing ever though, I loved that

One dislike/thought while reading:
Okay everytime she describes him(a lot) it’s always “his bedroom eyes”, “his bedroom gaze”, “his bedroom lips”, and it’s kinda annoying how much it’s used over and over!

Workplace Romance
Grumpy/Sunshine
Forbidden Romance
Boss/Employee
Opposites Attract
Temporary Neighbors
Fake Dating

: Kisses Only, mild innuendo
: None

Content Warning: Alcoholic father shown very drunk in multiple scenes, the MC gets drugged

OVERVIEW: Keeping an eye out for corporate espionage is hard enough when you’re not falling for the boss…

The gig of fake secretary is simple: find the mole trying to sabotage my grumpy boss’s tech company while simultaneously keeping his mother off his back. In the meantime, I get to collect a tidy sum which I desperately need.

Piece of cake.

Or, it would be, if he wasn’t so attractive and he didn’t also happen to be my best friend’s brother…

But I can be professional. I’m terrible at long-term relationships anyway and besides that, I signed a contract.

Unfortunately, nowhere in that contract did it say I’d be going on an overnight trip with him.

It also didn’t say we’d be pretending we were in a real relationship.

And for sure there was no warning or clause or stipulation for how to conduct myself when I accidentally see my fake boyfriend/boss in just his briefs passed out on my bed.

Worst of all?

No one said falling for him would hurt so much.

The Relationship Clause is a best friend’s brother, fake dating, romcom with forced proximity set in the South. Expect closed-door sizzling chemistry and plenty of laughs.

The post The Relationship Clause by Emily Evermore appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

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MY REVIEW: I loved this book so much! Lucas is the biggest green flag out there this book is full of sizzling chemistry, mutual pining, witty banter, and some heart-melting moments
That weight room scene has my cry laughing it’s giving Monica and Chandler before anyone knew about them

PS: I would love to see a book with Jake’s “redemption story” in the future
PPS: I would also LOVE to see Logan’s book next

Fake Dating
Sports Romance
Forced Proximity
Golden Retriever MMC
He Takes Care Of Her
Forbidden Love
Slow Burn

: Kisses Only
: None

OVERVIEW: She’s fake dating the wrong guy. Enter Mr. Right.

Scottie

I’ve spent my whole life cleaning up after Jake Rodgers—the bad boy of Major League Baseball. So when his latest PR disaster threatens to send him to the minors, agreeing to fake date him feels noble. Temporary. Manageable.

Then hot young pitcher Lucas Fischer shows up—with coffee I didn’t ask for and a smile that doesn’t quit—and suddenly none of it feels manageable anymore. Especially when I’m assigned to be his handler.

Now I’m pretending to be in love with the guy I’ve never wanted while trying not to fall for the one I can’t have.

Lucas

I’ve been bringing Scottie Quinn coffee for ten months. I’ve never once guessed her order wrong–no small feat, considering the woman orders coffee based on vibes.

I’ve also never once told her that I know she’s fake dating Jake Rodgers, that she deserves better, or that I’m in love with her. I’m a patient guy. I can wait. What I can’t do is watch her disappear to make everyone else comfortable.

But Jake and I are on the same team now, and our GM has one ironclad rule: no clubhouse drama.

Easy enough. All I have to do is keep showing up until she stops pretending… without blowing up both our careers.

Yeah. Maybe I’m not that patient after all.

The Setup Man is a swoony, closed-door sports romcom with fake dating, workplace romance, banter, forbidden feelings, black cat/golden retriever vibes, and a deliciously slow burn—all with no explicit content. Books in the Catching Feelings series standalone and can be read in any order.

The post The Setup Man by Kate Watson appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

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MY REVIEW: This was a fun, mostly lighthearted hockey romcom! If you love fake dating and second chance romance this is the book for you! It is part of Perfect Crush Hockey Romance Series which can be all read as standalones or in order of release! 

Some internal thoughts while reading:

• No, no, no!! Tell me it’s not a miscommunication trope
• If they would just have one actually conversation literally everything would be fine and there wouldn’t be all these hurt feelings and problems 
• The carnival scene was my favorite! I was giggling and kicking my feet
• Oh I totally know what his tattoo is and means!!!!! I was RIGHT
• I loved the Marco women, or at least most of them

Fake Dating 
Hockey Romcom
Second Chance Romance
He Yearns For Her
Forced Proximity 
Only One Room

: Kisses Only(some suggestive dialogue, nothing explicit)
: 1 use of h*ll

OVERVIEW: He needs a girlfriend for his sister’s over-the-top wedding week. She needs a miracle for her struggling cafe. Now they’re pretending to date—and neither is ready for what comes next.

Scarlett never planned to fake date her brother’s best friend, Brendan Marco. But when the grumpy hockey coach needs a girlfriend for a week of wedding events, she suddenly finds herself playing the part at his hockey games and a long list of lavish family events.

In exchange, Brendan agrees to help her land the arena vendor contract that could save her cafe.
It’s the perfect arrangement—temporary, harmless, and completely fake.

Between a dreamy week at an extravagant estate and wedding week shenanigans, their pretend relationship starts to feel dangerously real.

Scarlett is determined to keep things professional, which should be easy, right?

Except Brendan Marco has always been her weakness—ever since that kiss they shared back in high school that neither of them has ever mentioned again.

Now he’s looking at her differently.
Not like a friend.
Not like a teammate’s sister.
Like she’s the best thing that’s ever walked into the room.

The post Perfectly Pretend by Grace Worthington appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

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MY REVIEW: Magnolia made me laugh so much! I love her spunky, sassy attitude and her genuine care for people
Alexander/Grandpa, absolutely loved him
The banter between MCs was phenomenal and the friendships in this book were amazing if you are looking for a cozy, fake dating, fun read look no further

Only dislikes:

• Nash clearly has some commitment issues which is understandable after what happened but it got a little old how many times he tried to “break up” is Magnolia.
• It is a slow burn but it almost felt a little too drug out and too long.

Fake Engagement
Small Town
Meddling Grandpa
Major Family Drama
Protection Cinnamon Rolls
Forced Proximity
Found Family

: Kisses Only
: 1 use of a**, 1 use of smart-a**, 2 uses of h*ll

OVERVIEW: All Magnolia wants is to find love. Is that too much to ask?! Apparently so, because now she has a fake fiancé and it’s all based on a lie.

Magnolia Hawthorne has been struggling to find her place in this world. Sometimes she worries that her dreams are too small. That wanting to find love and settle down isn’t enough, except even those dreams seem out of reach at the moment.

When a stranger asks Magnolia to pretend to be his fiancée to fulfill his Grandpa’s last wish, she figures she has nothing to lose. And so she’s introduced to the dying man as Nash Whitlock’s fiancée.

What was supposed to be a short deception becomes something much bigger when Nash’s Grandpa makes a miraculous recovery and wants to spend more time with his grandson’s fiancée.

Magnolia is pulled into a completely different world of inheritance-hungry family members, all while pretending to love a man she just met. But Nash doesn’t make her feel like her dreams are too small. He makes her feel like they’re just right, and that maybe he can make them come true.

And maybe, Magnolia is exactly what Nash needs as well. Because it’s about time he found someone willing to fight for him.


*Miss Magnolia’s in a Mash is a closed door romance with mild swearing.

The post Miss Magnolia’s In A Mash by Carina Taylor appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

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REVIEW: This was a really cute book and I loved it! It gives off some “The Proposal” vibes which I love! I really enjoyed how it delves into the process of Meredith losing her mom and feeling like she also lost her dad to the grieving process and how the resolve those issues and once again have a thriving father/daughter relationship!
My only dislikes with the book is…

The ending — definitely felt ike it ended very abruptly, leaving several things still open and unfinished. I wish it would have went into more of how their relationship develops, how the job situations work out, and how Claire’s family relationships improve.
Overall I really enjoyed this book <3

The swearing–this is just a personal preference and I prefer no swearing in my books. It is kept to minimum but I just feel like it is no necessary.

OVERVIEW: A fake relationship with my boss, the devastatingly charming silver fox professor, was definitely not on my career bucket list.

But when my dad tries to hitch me up with his best friend’s son, I needed a plot twist.

Enter Michael: my professor, my neighbor, and now, my pretend partner for Grammy’s birthday bash.

He’s a widowed single dad—handsome, smart, and frustratingly off-limits. Yet, as our ruse unfolds, I’m drawn to him in ways I never saw coming.

The idyllic town of Lavender Ridge thrives on whispers, where rumors spread like wildfire, and our charade becomes the center of speculative stares.

When Michael suddenly fires me, my world is turned upside down. Is it his reputation or something deeper driving him away?

Caught between my dreams and the man I’ve come to admire, I stand to lose everything—unless I can uncover the real story hidden in his heart.

The post Fake Dating The Professor Next Door by Kelsey Reid appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.