ABOUT THE BOOK
He’s a morally gray grump who needs a fake fiancee.
She’s small town sunshine…and the only one he wants.
Simone
I should’ve said no.
Brendan Black is everything I’ve been warned about—grumpy, controlling, devastating in a suit.
But the family farm is days from foreclosure, and his proposal is too good to refuse: pretend to be his fiancée, live in his penthouse, and walk away with enough money to save everything I love.
I can survive the tension. The way he says my name like a command.
It’s fake. Just a job.
Until one real kiss makes pretending impossible.… and suddenly, I can’t pretend anymore.
Brendan
They call me the Black Prince.
Heir to Blackguard Holding, until my father demands the impossible.
No wife, no CEO crown.
So I recruit the perfect fake fiancée: Simone Bishop, the sweet, small-town candy striper who sat by my father’s bedside when no one else could stand him.
She’s soft, warm, too good for the world I live in.
But she needs money. I need her hand.
Four months. One address. Zero feelings.
Simple… until I start wanting to wreck that perfect hair in my bed every night.
Simple… until I start wanting her for real.
MY REVIEW
It was an offer she couldn’t refuse—a fake marriage in exchange for money to pay her family’s debts.
Simone doesn’t have a lot, but she has a big heart and a gift for putting people at ease. She’s patient and gives her light and kindness to people who need her. Especially her family, who don’t appreciate her. She works hard as a bartender, a baker, and a hospital volunteer. No one had ever done something so thoughtful for her until Brendan, who saw her for the good person she was.
Brendan Black, aka The Black Prince, is the kind of man who intimidates and commands respect, but let’s be real – he’s also complicated and a bit of a jerk. As the firstborn of the Black family, the burden of the Blackguard Industries empire rests squarely on his shoulders, and it’s not easy competing against a pack of ruthless siblings determined to claim the CEO title. Then he finds the perfect fake fiancée who can help him secure his legacy. Feelings are foreign to him, but this woman feels like home.
The chemistry between Simone and Brendan is enjoyable to see. Her compassion and his unexpected vulnerability around her are refreshing. Simone might seem naive and helpless at first, but she has a strong sense of honor and loyalty, which matches well with Brendan’s need for love and respect beneath his Black Prince image. Most of all, I admired Brendan’s final action to prove his love for Simone.
Normally, there’s at least one character that steals my heart, but I found it tough to root for Brendan’s nasty family or even Simone’s selfish sister. On the other hand, I couldn’t help but cheer for Kylie, Simone’s adorable four-year-old niece. Her innocence stands out among the chaos.
This is the first Nicole French book I’ve read, and I enjoy her engaging writing style. I have to admit, one scene reminded me a bit too much of the movie Pretty Woman, which pulled me out of the story for a moment. Still, I was drawn in by the character development and the interesting plot.
If you’re looking for a romance that’s both compelling and heartwarming, this book might just be what you need.
Thank you to Ms. French for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicole French is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. She’s also a hopeless romantic, low-key fashion addict, and total bookworm. When not writing, she is hanging out with her family, playing soccer or going on dates with her husband. In her spare time, she likes to go running or practice the piano but never seems to do either one of these things as much as she should.
Follow Nicole on her website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
