THE ALMOST ROMANTIC (How To Date 3) by Lauren Blakely -review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 14, 2024

Marry me.”

They were the last words I expected to say to my fake fiancé, but I’m the kind of guy who doesn’t back down from a challenge.

Pretend I’m engaged to my gorgeous and talented business partner to secure a business deal?

No problem.

Agree to a no-touch rule even though she’s been driving me wild since I met her?

Challenge accepted.

Resist grinning like a damn fool every time that same big-hearted, sunshine-y woman laughs with my little daughter?

Done.

So, yeah, when my fake fiancé’s vindictive business rival threatens to expose our make-believe romance, I can handle that too.

I’ll prove our engagement isn’t fake – by marrying her for real.

A marriage with an expiration date at the end of the year.

But that’s when I run smack dab into the biggest challenge ever – not falling madly in love with my wife.

•••••

REVIEW: THE ALMOST ROMANTIC is the third instalment in Lauren Blakely’s contemporary adult HOW TO DATE erotic, romance series. This is thirty-three bar owner/single father Gage Archer, and thirty year old, chocolatier Elodie Starling’s story line. THE ALMOST ROMANTIC can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary .

Told from dual first person perspectives (Elodie and Gage) THE ALMOST ROMANTIC follows in the wake of an almost one-night stand. Elodie loves the French fries at Gage Archer’s bar, and our hero, a man who doesn’t do relationships, see something in our story line heroine but an interrupted date, and a discussion about a business proposal, finds our couple discussing the possibilities of working towards a one of a kind chocolate bar. As our couple realize their dreams are about to come true, they are forced into a fake engagement in an effort to appease their new controlling landlord. What ensues is the building romance and fake relationship between Elodie and Gage, and the potential fall-out their time together comes with an expiry date.

The world building focuses on building a business in the face of competition and some misogynistic attitudes. Gage is a single father who has struggled with the relationships in his life; Elodie has been raising her younger sister in the wake of their parents’ demise. As ‘single parents’ their first priority is the younger generation but as their business takes on a life of its’ own, someone else is determined to reveal their secret in an effort to take them down.

The relationship between Elodie and Gage is one of mutual attraction and similar ideas but their ‘fake’ relationship quickly turns into something more, and Elodie is struggling with the possibility of losing everything if something goes wrong. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters are interesting and fun. We are introduced to Elodie’s sister Amanda , and Gage’s daughter Eliza, his brother Zane, as well as their grandma; Elodie’s assistant Kenji; fellow businessman Sebastian Roberts, and the return of Rachel, Hazel, Juliet and Fable.

THE ALMOST ROMANTIC is a story of secrets and lies, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is captivating and compelling; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic and endearing.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than eighty times, and she’s sold more than 2 million books. In October she’ll release HARD WOOD, a sexy, standalone romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter ** Goodreads