Love Me Like It's Real (Love In Maplewood) by Rhys Everly


Love Me Like It's Real is a single dad fake dating small town romance. As part of the Love in Maplewood low angst combined universe.


From the blurb:

It was all pretend... until it wasn’t.

I don’t have time for dating. I'm too busy making Maplewood my home after everything I've been through. But when my daughters decide I need a boyfriend, I do only thing a desperate single dad can do… I lie.

Enter professional dating expert, Jack Hayworth.
He's a cynic. He's emotionally unavailable and he doesn't believe in love. He's even got a club whose entire purpose is to sabotage the Season of Love festival. But he agrees to play along.

Turns out pretending to love Hayworth is way too easy. The real problem? Sleeping with him feels even easier. And once I get a taste, I can’t stop.

I swore I wouldn't fall. I swore I would keep this casual.
Too bad my heart doesn't listen.

Love Me Like It's Real is a low-angst spicy MM romance with a love cynic who loves a good time, a single trans dad who no longer believes in love, fake dating and two little girls determined to give their dad a happily-ever after.

With the highest percentage of LGBTQIA+ residents in Vermont, Maplewood is a town where everyone belongs. And with festivals year round, there’s always something fun happening! This multi-author, low-angst queer series features ten standalone romances—each set against the backdrop of a different festival. Come for the celebrations, stay for the happily-ever-afters!



Molly Otto's review:

With the premise of a single dad faking a relationship to stop his meddling kids from hooking him up with a man who doesn't believe in love after be burned in the past this was a no brainer for me to give a go. Felix & Hayworths chemistry is off the charts where you could see why they fall for one another. Some of the story feels like it was rushed or not completely planned out, however, taking me from overall loving the story. Rhys does pull you back into the story, and it is a fun read overall, just not as strong as it could have been. The town of Maplewood sounds like a dream place to live and/or visit. Each of its residents has me intrigued to try more from this combined universe. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, just not as strong as it had the promise of being from such a strong blurb.


Heather's Review:

This book delivers on it's promise of being a low-angst spicy romance and has a fun, fake dating premise, but honestly it gets real pretty quickly and I would have loved to see just a squidge more angst to give us some tension to go with the spice, but it was definitely a fun, quick read and a nice addition to the growing Love in Maplewood series!   I'm definitely loving the town and wish that there were more places like it!


Love Me Like It's Real is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription

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