A good slow-burn fake relationship romance

I like the way this author writes, my favourite book is Code of Conduct which I recommend if you like sports romances. I also like the fact that there are always Australian influences in her writing though not that much in this book.

Sarah Santoro is divorced and fully devoted to her daughter Noa. When her former in-laws start a custody battle, Sarah asks her friend Andy – a commitment-phobe and overall clueless about children – to pretend to be her live-in partner. What can go wrong with this plan?

I admit that what made me curious about this novel was the fact that it is a fake relationship and, as far as I know, the first time Cheyenne Blue uses this trope. The reasons behind the fake relationship sounded a bit far-fetched in the beginning but somehow the author makes it work.

The book is written in third person from the point of view of both main characters and one of the villains so the reader gets in her headspace to understand the reasons behind her behaviour. I wasn’t very invested in the villain’s point of view but I get that it helps to make more sense of the story.

The romance itself is opposites-attract and slow-burn, Ms. Blue builds their chemistry gradually which is believable but there is a good amount of will-they won’t-they that tested my limits.

Noa, Sarah’s 7-year-old daughter, is too smart for her own good and I loved the relationship established with Andy. For me, that was the best part of the book.

If you are looking for a slow-burn fake relationship romance with a small kid who steals the show, then this one is for you. 4 stars.

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.