Loved it! The hero was unusual but lovely. I loved how the couple clicked. The family theme makes the book come alive and I just had so much fun going on this ride. My first from this author but may not be the last. ( )

The Real Deal
Lauren Blakely

April Hamilton needs a buffer for the annual Hamilton-Moore Family Reunion. Every time, April comes home, someone from her family sets her up on a blind date trying to lure her back home to Wistful, a small town community on the edge of Long Island Sound. Everyone knows everyone. But April loves her job as a body painter. She makes a comfortable living working on commercials, magazines, and movies. April is one of the best. Why would she want to leave New York City for the humdrum of small town living where she would be limited to face painting at the ice cream social. What's a girl to do? She bribes her gay best friend to pretend to be her boyfriend. But Xavier is a male model who gets a last minute modeling gig--two days before the reunion. Xavier doesn't leave her in a complete bind. His neighbor is a bartender with a side gig--boyfriend for hire.

Theo Banks is not the boy next door, but he can be if need be--for a price. His Craigslist ad lists a number of things that he can do. All of it is completely platonic. No, kissing which has never been a problem...well until April. The moment he meets her. He wants to throw all his rules out the window. He has to remain focused. He needs to pay off his brother's debts to ensure that Heath stays on the straight and narrow. Heath needs and deserves a second chance after spending the last two years in prison for fraud and bond scams. Theo hasn't always been a boy scout either. Both brothers have had to hustle their way through college. Life hasn't been kind to either of them. That's another reminder to Theo to keep his business deal with April completely professional. But the more time April and Theo spend together the more both of them develop true feelings for each other. How can they survive with so many lies and other people in their path? ( )

Lauren Blakely is such a comfort read for me. Her books are always good and manage to be funny and sexy at the same time without being over the top. I kind of wanted April's family to adopt me and really wanted more time with them rather than the main couple which is the reason for my 3 star rating rather than a 4 star as usual. Definitely a good, fun read and perfect to snuggle up with right now as the days get colder. ( )

I was sent an advanced copy of The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely. I have to say I had a lot of fun reading it. The humor and connection between the two main characters was so entertaining! My favorite books are the ones that can keep you laughing from beginning to end and of course have it's serious moments to keep it real. I hope Lauren Blakely comes out with another one soon! @HeroesandHeartbreakers #BlindDateWithaBook #HeroesandHeartbreakers #LaurenBlakely ( )

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I was really in the mood for a great romance and I love fake dating, so this was definitely what I needed right now. This was just one of those love stories where I found myself smiling the whole time I was reading. However; I did want a little more.

I like to have a little more around the romance than just the romance. We get a little of that here and there, but not enough to set this apart from other stories. It was a little slow in some places and a little too predictable. It is also very insta-lovey. I do love the fake dating aspect, but they were obsessed with each other too quickly.

Overall, a fun and quick romance. ( )