A hockey playing single dad who's always lived as he pleases finds himself doing his father's bidding one last time in a fake relationship that soon becomes all too real. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Faking It With #41 by Piper Rayne, along with getting my impressions of it, then add this third installment in the Hockey Hotties series to your bookshelf too!
Fake.
Being the heir to Jacobs Enterprises, I’ve been around fake people my entire life. I promised myself a long time ago that I wouldn’t change for anyone. Which is the only reason I’m a professional hockey player who lives on the beach and does as he pleases without answering to anyone—except my father.And now, my daughter.
Being a single dad wasn’t in the plan but after a one-night stand who took off after the baby was born, this is my reality.
My dad’s been harping on me to quit hockey and join the company for years and now that I’m a father, he’s only intensified his efforts. Until he makes me a deal I can’t refuse.
Insert Lena Boyd, the Jacobs’ family PR rep. She’s beautiful and intelligent and not at all the woman for me—ask anyone.
My dad needs us to act happily engaged and sell the idea that we’re in love. If we’re successful I won’t have to join the family legacy—ever. Of course, I agree.
That’s when things get complicated. I thought I had her all figured out until I found out there was more underneath her judgmental sneers and eye rolls. It feels like everything is coming together for the future I really want—with Lena—until my past ruins everything.
BUY here.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
The theme of fake relationships has become a favorite of mine courtesy of the sizzling interactions of the couples involved, the crackling banter, and the sexual tension of the push/pull involved in sustaining these relationships. This latest installment in the Hockey Hotties series is a delightful example of all this and more as a rich, hockey playing playboy, becomes an unexpected single dad who finds himself paired with the one woman to push him in a fake relationship that soon becomes all too real.
Ford Jacobs comes from a family of money with all the pressures and obligations that go with that. To buck the plans of his father he became a hockey star, an arrogant star who fully enjoyed the attention of various puck bunnies...until the day he found himself a single dad with a baby girl he's now solely responsible for. Overnight he becomes a different Ford, one who actually cares about someone else for a change, a less self-assured Ford who has to learn the ropes of fatherhood. His father doesn't like the optics of his being a single dad though and once again intrudes by sending PR extraordinaire Lena Boyd to act as his son's fiancée. The relationship between these two has always been adversarial so what ensues is a sizzling journey to a surprising HEA...with a few bumps along the way as their pasts come back to put their future in jeopardy.
Ford was a bit arrogant at the start, but once he took on the role of single dad readers discovered a charming and endearing side to him. That's the side I fell for, the man trying to be a better father than the one he grew up with and is still being judged by. Ford becomes a perfectly imperfect hero once his daughter enters his life and their interactions warmed my heart and put a smile on my face. Lena's the perfect woman for him...though he doesn't realize it at first as he sees her as the enemy, sent by his father to try to control him. She's a strong heroine, bold but with a caring heart. She's got a lot of patience and fortitude which brings out a drool-worthy side to Ford. She's got trust issues of her own though that weigh on this fragile relationship and it kept me rooting them on to overcome their pasts and new roadblocks sent by his father and others.
On a whole this was a fun and flirty read full of crackling banter and teeming with sexual tension. The main couple evolved throughout their time together, revealing vulnerabilities that made them even more likable and that had me even more invested in their HEA. Their scenes together were both sweet and sexy, nicely balanced with moments of heart and soul as close proximity brought out their real selves. Ford especially became an unforgettable hero as he shed his arrogant exterior to show his big heart and protective nature in scenes with his daughter that were utterly delightful! Sports fans will find this an entertaining read too with it being set in the hockey world and will be left impatiently waiting for the next hockey player to find his HEA in this well-crafted series!
My rating for this is an A.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we’re not one author, we’re two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have "Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle" (okay...you caught us, that's our tagline). A little about us...We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We're both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We're both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.
