Tuesday, September 5, 2017

The Real Thing by Melissa Foster


Bakery owner Willow Dalton’s friendship with Zane Walker has always been a bit complicated. Now a scrumptiously hot A-list actor, Zane’s always had a reputation as player. He’s arrogant, and he’s definitely not boyfriend material. Sure, he did Willow a favor by agreeing to take her virginity before college, but is that reason enough to go along with a fake engagement a decade later—even if it comes with a real diamond ring?

Zane should have known better. Nothing involving Willow has ever been easy. Still, he knows her better than anyone, and becoming America’s hottest new leading man means cleaning up his reputation. An “engagement” to curvy, sass-mouthed Willow is the perfect PR move... provided no one gets hurt.

Now Zane and Willow’s little white lie has turned into an irresistible recipe for sweet temptation. And soon no one will be able to tell the difference between their fake engagement or the real thing—including them.

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Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary☆☆☆☆☆
Willow Dalton is headed to what might be a catering job and she is running late. When she arrives, she sees him, Zane Walker, the boy from her past that was her brother’s best friend and also Willow's first. And she has loved him forever. But since that one night before she left for college, she has stayed away from him because she knows that Zane can break her heart and she cannot let that happen. So it is best to stay away from him.

Zane Walker is a big time action hero movie star and has the reputation to go along with it. He tells Willow he needs her to be his fake fiancée to help with his image so he can get a movie part in a romantic suspense movie. She knows this is a bad idea but she can't say no to him. Zane knows that being this close to Willow will not be easy on his heart and he will have to tell her the truth, which is he has been in love with her since her first saw her.

Will they tell each other the truth about their feelings? Can Willow trust him to tell her the truth, he is an actor after all? Will Zane choose his career over Willow when it is time to leave for LA? Will their love for each other win out in the end?

I am loving this new series and I can't wait for the next sibling. Melissa Foster did not disappoint and I hope you will enjoy this one as much as I did.


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
Always a cause for much celebration... a new series from Ms. Foster! And once again a fantastic read, with lots of hints at who deserves, or is bound to get their moment of glory in the future – which for me, always raises a smile!

The story of love gone awry and a second chance being offered is not new, but Zane takes a very unconventional approach to winning over his childhood love, Willow. He suggests a fake engagement to help get him out of a jam, and then when he is sure that she is still the one, goes all out to make it come true.

It cannot be denied that in the beginning his behaviour is less than gallant, and one has to question Willow's decision, but soon enough we get the magic being woven by Ms. Foster's crafty mind, and are all in before we know it. There are some totally classic lines between these two which will definitely lift your mood and raise a smile. And some absolutely wonderful scenes which will have you jealous of the relationship that they are almost unwittingly forming.

The rest of Willow's family are fascinating, giving us plenty of treats in the future, and also providing an excellent foil to the madcap adventures of Willow and Zane here. And, whilst there are plenty of hints at what might happen with whom, there are a few distractors there too.

Ms. Foster, thank you for giving me a totally enjoyable and decadent Saturday treat.


Lee’Anne☆☆☆
I think this book would have been a lot better were it not so sickeningly sweet. These two are almost too lovey dovey together, it was marginally unbearable. Other than that, it was a good read and I’m giving three stars.

Willow has been in love with Zane since childhood and though they’ve kept in touch throughout the years, she doesn’t expect him to ever be more than a good friend. She’s tricked into a job interview of sorts for her bakery and upon arriving finds out Zane tricked her and actually wants her to pretend to be his fiancée to better his image. The two quickly realize that faking it isn’t going to be an option as both of their hearts are involved and they decide to at least date while being “pretend engaged.” Zane is only in town to film his next movie and when the paparazzi gets ahold of Willows name, they begin digging up her past and come across some racy photos she took in her teen years, almost ruining her and Zane’s newly formed relationship. (I will say her reaction to these photos coming out was very juvenile.)

The bickering between the two main characters was pretty funny most of the time and I love Willow’s snarky attitude. The story had a strong plotline and I loved all of the characters – as always, with Melissa Fosters book I was left wanting more and can’t wait for her next release!


Mary Jo☆☆☆☆
Zane is in need of some serious help and the only person he can think of to ask is Willow. He's been in love with her for years and when he needs to clean up his reputation, he begs her to be his fiancée.

Willow has loved Zane since she begged him to be her first years ago. She doesn't like the man he's become and agrees to help him by being his pretend fiancée. Except she doesn't want it to end.

Only time will tell if they will overcome their differences and admit what everyone around them knows. Love can overcome.


Shannan☆☆☆☆
I love a good friends-to-lovers, second chance read and Ms. Foster delivers. Zane is Willow's brother's best friend. They've known each other most of their lives. He was her first and now, ten years later, he's a big-time actor with a bad reputation. He needs someone to pretend to be his fiancée. He's always had a thing for Willow, so it isn't a hardship to pretend with her. The relationship that develops is obviously one that was meant to be.

Zane and Willow are overly sweet but just as sexy, for them it makes a good combination. It's an over-the-top romance but so worth the read. I am a fan of Ms. Foster's writing and can't wait to see where she takes this new series.




Melissa Foster is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than sixty-five books. Her novels have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown magazine, the Patriot, and more. She has also painted and donated several murals to the Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC.

She enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and she welcomes an invitation to your event.

Connect with Melissa

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads


https://www.netgalley.com


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Real Thing (Sugar Lake #1) by Melissa Foster to read and review.

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