Fake girlfriend. Real sizzle. What could possibly go wrong?Sam Ngata has the talent of creating something out of almost nothing in his successful wood carving business, Kauri Whare. That talent doesn’t extend to producing a serious girlfriend out of nowhere when he implies to a huge overseas investor that he’s a one-woman kind of man. Big on domestic bliss and honesty, the investor is due to … the investor is due to arrive in less than ten days time with a deal that’d provide Sam’s family-operated business with invaluable future security. Now Sam just has to find a woman willing to fake it until they make it—the deal, that is—with no strings attached.
Single mum Vee Sullivan needs a man in her life like a flightless kiwi bird needs wings to soar. She has a precocious little girl to provide for and she’s in the middle of expanding her clothing business—with an eye on Kauri Whare’s newest retail space. Unfortunately, it’d take a small miracle for her to afford the lease. So when childhood crush, Sam, offers her a one week only role of pretending to be his ‘serious’ girlfriend in exchange for three months waived lease, Vee is sorely tempted. But saying yes to fake girlfriend means she might not be able to say no to real passion. Someone’s going to get their heart broken…
BREAK YOUR HEART is the fifth story in Tracey Alvarez’s Bounty Bay series, set against the stunning backdrop of Aotearoa, New Zealand. If you like heartwarming, sexy and sweet small town romances, you’ll love sharing the journey with these authentic men and women struggling to find their special someone. Welcome to Bounty Bay, where the reward of true love is a price only some are willing to pay.
Download your copy of Break Your Heart today and uncover the secret lives and hidden passions simmering in New Zealand’s sultry, subtropical Far North.
Intended for mature 18+ aged readers who enjoy their feel good romance on the sensual side.
Praise for the Bounty Bay series!
“Reading a book by Tracey Alvarez is like taking a mini vacation to my imagined little happy place in New Zealand.”~ Spellbound Book Reviews
“Tracey now is included among some of my fav authors from the Southern Hemisphere. Rosalind James and Natalie Gayle fans will love Tracey’s books.”~ Retailer review
“Tracey Alvarez has written a finely crafted, well written romance. Sexy and delightful and full of family values.”~ The Book Date
“Her writing style will keep you hanging on to every word and feeling the characters’ heartbreak right along with them.”~ Rach Lawrence Books
Don’t miss any of the Bounty Bay books!
Book 1: Hide Your Heart. Featuring Lauren and Nate.
Book 2: Know Your Heart. Featuring Savannah and Glen.
Book 3: Teach Your Heart. Featuring Gracie and Owen.
Book 4: Mend Your Heart. Featuring Natalie and Isaac.
Book 5: Break My Heart. Featuring Vanessa and Sam.more
I love visiting Bounty Bay. The characters are all wonderful and you feel like you are visiting family, the Ngata family in fact, and the story is heartwarming. Sam and Vee are so cute. They don’t want to admit the truth but it is obvious to all that they belong together. Turbo was a great addition to their pretend family and I found the description of him hilarious. There are some scary moments in the book first with Julia and then with Sam’s parents, but they all come through and everyone gets a happy ending.
From the beginning, you could see that Sam and Vee were prickly around each other, similar to a high school romance. So it wasn’t surprising to discover they had an attraction that started back in school.
Sam’s womanizing was played up, so when some of the reasoning behind that came to the forefront, I expected more conversation; not just an honorable mention.
I also thought Kimberly and Vee’s ex would have made more of their presence known. But, that’s what happens when you write the book in your own head, and the author decides to write it her way. Lol!
I always enjoy the sense of family and friendship in this series. I loved Ruby. She was so sweet. This is a standalone that I would absolutely recommend.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book that I received via Booksprout.
Frenemy, sister’s best friend, long time antagonist—Vee does not in any way seem to be the woman Sam would end up madly, happily in love with forever. Which is exactly why he asks her to be his pretend true love. But he is surprised that his feelings are hurt when she flat out turns him down. Their relationship can only go up from there, right? Ms. Alvarez has once again brought us people who are multidimensional, who don’t stick into the categories others, and they themselves, have stuck them into. What seems like a somewhat hokey premise, a modern day “forced relationship” actually seems reasonable to Sam. As the story progresses I began to realize that Sam was subconsciously falling into the role—and in love—much harder than the outside circumstances called for.
And not really a spoiler alert, Ms. Alvarez again pulls every emotion out of me, sometimes in one paragraph. Fortunately, that is why I love to read her books!
Sam and Vee are characters I came to love through earlier books in the Bounty Bay series, and their story does not disappoint. Neither one thinks they want a relationship, but each has been attracted to the other for some time. When Sam needs a fake fiancee in order to make an important business deal, he asks Vee to pretend with him, and she and her adorable little daughter move in with him temporarily. As in all good fake romances, their efforts to stay physically distant when out of eyeshot of their audience are soon defeated by a series of circumstances that push them closer and closer together. Eventually they give in to their mutual physical attraction, and of course, before too long both of them are realizing that there’s more to their relationship than just great chemistry. What I loved about this book, in addition to the gorgeous setting and the inclusion of Maori culture, was the humor and the very accurate and sweet way that the author portrays Vee’s daughter and her growing attachment to Sam. This is a very satisfying and truly lovely book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When I saw the blurb for this book, I was a tad disappointed having just read another book with a similar plot. I should’ve known my fav romance writer wouldn’t let me down. Another fab Bounty Bay book to add to the series.
I’ve known for awhile through her other books that Sam wasn’t what others perceived so I found the story quite believable. It is romance after all. Kids always add to the heart tugging and Ruby, Vee’s daughter was wonderful. The usual cast of characters were all there and I just want to live in Bounty Bay and hang with all of them.
This book was fresh from beginning to end especially in the writing. Series can become repetitive but I found this one even better than Issac’s book. Each one I read is suddenly my fav.
As always, Alvarez’s writing is spot on. Loved the plot, loved the unexpected twist, and can’t wait for Tui’s story. Will it be next?
Sam needs a fiancé in less than then days so Kauri Whare can close a very important contract with an American businessman. So when he ask Vee to fake it in exchange for Bountiful to move into Kauri Whare, it seems harmless for him to have Vee and her two year old daughter Ruby to move with him. But past crushes, insecurities, commitment issues and pride can tear them aparto bring them together for a happily ever after? A hot sweet love story.
Wonderful 5th book in the Bounty Bay series. Sam and Vee’s friends to lovers/fake fiance story is heartwarming, entertaining and sexy to boot. Tracey Alvarez brings the residents of Bounty Bay to life. While each book can be read as a standalone, they’re also tied together with the recurring characters in each of the books that makes the reader feel that they’re visiting a familiar place with each book in the series.
I want to say I absolutely loved this book as I have the books by this author I have previously enjoyed. This one didn’t grab me and make me get emotionally invested with these characters. It’s the first time I was blindsided with cliché after cliché which even this author couldn’t write her way out of. I love the fact that this wasn’t an insta love and that what they had, although denied on his part for years, had background and so did they. That in itself is why I love this author’s books normally. Her characters are passionate, broken, independent, strong, and when they fall they fall hard. So I take this as a one off and yes I will continue to read her books because I love her style. I can tell I am one of few that wasn’t as enthralled with her books as normal but I’ll be back.
Break Your Heart by Tracey Alvarez
Bounty Bay #5
Remember that guy that got all the girls in high school and never stayed with any of them very long? Some of those guys are not meant to settle down and one of them happens to be Sam Ngata. Now, Sam is considered a player but mostly he just doesn’t see himself in a permanent relationship…not at only thirty-three so when he finds himself in need of a “pretend” fiancé the person he asks just happens to be Vanessa Mae Sullivan “Vee”. Well, Vee is busy taking care of her toddler Ruby, making money stretch and getting her business off the ground. She is NOT in the mood to take on pretending to be Sam’s fiancé…not unless the right incentive is provided.
This is a fun story set in a place I would love to one day visit. Sam is not the hound that many consider him to be and actually a fairly nice guy even though he has a bit of foot-in-mouth disease and can’t see the truth right before his eyes until almost too late.
That said, some may think this is a bit predictable but I found it delightful and liked the way things were lighthearted, for the most part, and the way the HEA was finally achieved.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Will I read more books in this series/by this author? Definitely!
Do I recommend it? Yes
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars