ABOUT THE BOOK
Reclusive entrepreneur Hayes Icefall needs a pretend wife to buy the only place that ever felt like home. The current owners insist on selling to a married couple, and his bitter rival just made an offer on the Scottish farm too. His only option? Convince Joy Campbell to play his spouse.
The usually high-spirited Doctor Joy Campbell isn’t thrilled to hear Hayes’s offer. She hates him. Of course she won’t lie for him. But her stalker ex just found her in Scotland (can she pick men, or what?), and Hayes makes her a deal she can’t refuse. All she has to do is fake being in love with the man who betrayed her…how hard could it be?
But with the two now trapped on a bee farm in the stormy Scottish Highlands, their sham romance is starting to feel like an unexpected honeymoon. Do they nip their newfound feelings in the bud…or learn to believe in love again?
MY REVIEW
She’s sworn never to trust him again. He needs her more than anything. This second-chance, fake marriage is a treasure of hostile banter and smoldering glances that will have you rooting for Hayes and Joy’s sham to become real.
The author kicks things off with a bang in the opening scene, where Joy is hiding from her ex, and Hayes refuses to leave her side and passes her off as his wife for a business deal. Sure, he’s using her for another one of his schemes, but there’s a vulnerable side to him that she can’t ignore. He’s keeping her safe from her ex while dealing with his own issues—talk about messy!
I’m a sucker for a good grumpy sunshine trope, and this pair nails it. Hayes is the epitome of hot and cold…think chilly exterior with a simmering intensity underneath. Joy’s kindness and honest demeanor play off Hayes’s awkwardness perfectly. The chemistry is palpable, and I couldn’t get enough of the tension with every interaction.
Hayes comes off as a manipulative guy who thinks money can fix everything, but underneath that cold exterior, he’s a man hurt by love, trying to put his life back together. Joy is smart, brave, and fiercely loyal, but she’s struggling with the pressure of pretending to fit into Hayes’s world. Being a pastor’s daughter adds to her inner conflict as she lies to Hayes’s friends. When these two finally form a real connection, it’s totally captivating!
What really grabbed my attention was the characters’ depth and their flaws, especially how their lives are all connected through their siblings. This story isn’t just about a quick romance; it dives into loyalty, emotional baggage, and a messy web of lies and possessiveness that the characters have to deal with.
Overall, if you’re a fan of sharp dialogue, flawed characters, and a plot that offers everything from tension to tenderness, then you absolutely need to add this book to your reading list.
Thank you to Ms. London for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
A Very Scandal Series
- A Very French Scandal (2024)
- A Very Italian Scandal (2025)
- A Very Scottish Scandal (2025)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anya London resides in California. When she’s not writing, she enjoys running, hiking, reading, and traveling. A Very Italian Scandal is coming this spring.BLOG TOUR ORGANIZED BY:
