My rules for being a Manhattan billionaire’s fake girlfriend… No kissing. No fooling around. No falling in love. What can possibly go wrong?Note to self: When your boyfriend dumps you on your thirtieth birthday, it’s probably not the smartest idea to drink so much that you wake up in the same bed as the mysterious hottie wearing the gorgeous suit who you noticed sitting across the bar.The only … sitting across the bar.
The only silver lining in my obvious lack of judgment is the promise of never seeing Mr. Suit again, not in a city the size of New York.
Or so I thought, until a story I’m working on about the country’s most sought-after and elusive escort lands me in the same café as Mr. Suit. So I do what any self-respecting woman of my age would do in my shoes… Try to ignore him.
But he won’t let me.
Instead he makes a proposition that leaves me questioning whether I need to have my ears checked. Be his fake girlfriend for a summer of wealth and excess in the Hamptons. In return, he’ll help me win back my boyfriend’s heart.
Juvenile? You bet.
Effective? Could be.
Bad idea? Most likely.
But what do I have to lose?
Apparently, a lot more than I originally bargained for.
Let the games begin…
Dating Games is a standalone modern retelling of Cinderella meeting her billionaire Prince Charming. If you like a sassy heroine, a sinful hero, and a whole lot of laughs, then you’ll love this fake relationship romance.
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Absolutely fantastic book!! It was funny, sweet and sexy all rolled into a very entertaining story. It was one of those stories that once I began I became quickly and completely consumed with it and had a very hard time putting it down.
I would like this book much more if I liked the female character, but sadly, I didn’t. To me, she appears as a constipated control freak who plans her life to the minute and for years to come, not allowing for spontaneity or carefree fun. She’s a brilliant writer who has a magazine column on sex and dating, but she doesn’t live what she predicates. Evie was dumped by her boyfriend because she was a doormat, living life on his terms to make him happy, regardless of her dreams and goals. Naturally, he was bored. He was also a douche. Evie had been with Trevor for twelve years, moved from Nebraska to New York to be with him while he studied at Columbia Law and worked two jobs to support him while he studied. I could already predict what would happen. And how does Evie react to being dumped? Make detailed plans on now to make Trevor realize he made a mistake and ask to have her back. Argh!
What saves the book and makes it a fun read is Julian Gage. There’s a brilliant scene where a drunk Evie proclaims to a whole bar about her breakup. She’s fantastic in this one scene and captivates Julian. He pursues her and convinces her to pose as his fake girlfriend during the summer in the Hamptons.
Julian is kind, considerate, incredibly gorgeous, and incredibly billionaire. They possess incredible chemistry and yet Evie is curt and businesslike with him. Luckily, Julian is a talented ladies man and he works his magic on Evie. He is at times a carefree and fun companion, at others a cold businessman. There’s a secret in his life and a darkness inside him that Evie (and us readers) want to find out, and help him overcome. He was brilliant and attractive.
The one character I liked best was Evie’s friend, Chloe. Very intuitive and smart, she called Evie on her excessive planning and pushed her to live for the moment. She was a great friend to both and I want a friend like her.
Overall, the book was fun and a great read. Evie had her moments where she was a great girlfriend and had fantastic banter with Julian. The problem was that after you get happy with the good banter, she gets uppity and ruins the moment. Even so, it was an entertaining read and I loved all the other characters and found the story intriguing.
When Evie is dumped by her boyfriend of 12 years on her 30th birthday, getting drunk with her girls sounds like just the solution to her pain. But when she wakes up the next morning in a strange man’s bed, she realizes it may not have been such a good idea. Except it actually is, because the strange man shows up with a proposition for her: become his fake girlfriend and he’ll in turn help her win back her boyfriend.
First of all, um yeah, we all know that things will not ever possibly go as planned in romancelandia, so I knew they were in for a ride, but that ride the two took was such fun! Evie and Julian end up being such a great couple – lots of witty banter, and chemistry to spare. But although this is a rom-com, it’s not fluffy, because Julian in particular, is a complicated character with more than one secret, and a difficult past. I loved unwrapping him and seeing Evie fall in love with him and lose a bit of her straight-laced, have a list for everything personality.
I received a copy of this book from Booksprout to review.
I absolutely loved this book!!! I was in need of a romcom and Dating Games was just so good that I did not want it to end. Your going to fall so in love with both Evie and Julian. I have to add too that these two have some serious chemistry going on. Evie has a boyfriend and believes that her life is going just exactly as it should be until he breaks up with her instead of proposing. They have only been dating for twelve years!!! So what’s a girl to do when her man of that many years dumps her? Get wasted. So wasted in fact that she doesn’t have a clue what happened that night. But she does wake up in the bed of one of the hottest men she has ever laid her eyes on. As hard as she tries to find out things about him she doesn’t have success until he shows up wanting her to be his fake girlfriend. The deal is that if she helps him with something he needs then he will try his best to help her win back her ex. However the more time she spends with Julian the more she finds herself forgetting the past and living in the present. What will happen when these two are through with their deal? You will just have to wait and see when you read this book. It is awesome and one that you do not want to miss.
This was my first TK Leigh novel and I absolutely loved it. Dating Games was engrossing, entertaining and highly refreshing yet it will tug at your heart-strings as it evokes a range of emotions from you.
I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I got annoyed and everything in between. The story grabs you and won’t let you go and in no time you will be invested in these characters and rooting for them.
This Cinderella meets her Prince Charming story was a slow burn but the chemistry and sexual tension between these two characters were intense and scorching and the more time they spent together the hotter it all became.
To say I enjoyed this story would be an understatement. It was a phenomenal read and I would highly recommend this novel to all lovers of Romantic Comedies.
Dating Games is a light and fun romantic comedy with characters so genuinely likeable you can’t help but cheer for them. I’ll admit it took me a couple of chapters to really get into it, but once I did, I found it completely addictive and couldn’t put it down until the end. It was the perfect light romance, sweet, with a bit of heat, a touch of angst, and quite a few laughs. What more could you ask for?
I’d recommend Dating Games for anyone who enjoys a light romantic comedy that’s not shallow but has emotional depth without being bogged down in the angst. This is a perfect escapist read.
Guinevere “Evie” Fitzgerald has just been dumped on her 30th birthday by her long term boyfriend, Trevor, whom she believed was right about to propose to her. Now she is drunk at a bar spilling out her story to everyone in there and wakes up half naked beside the most gorgeous man she has ever seen.
Evie decides to get her life back on track by trying to get a promotion at work to be Assistant Editor at Blush magazine but knows she has to write the story of a lifetime. She decides to write something on the elusive August Laurent, an escort whose identity is under tight wraps.
When Evie comes face to face with the stranger from her birthday he proposes an agreement for the summer she decides to go along with it hoping that in the end she will get Trevor back.
But will Evie get more than she bargained for?
OMG – I absolutely loved this book from start to finish!! There were so many times I was just laughing so hard and other moments where I had to take a deep breath and wonder what could possibly happen next.
My heart just shattered for Evie at the beginning with Trevor not taking her career seriously and didn’t think she was up to “lawyer wife” material. I really thought he had been cheating on her with his new girl and I really felt mad at Trevor and I didn’t think he deserved her!! I loved the scene at the bar and it was so awesome!!
I loved Evie’s personality and how she held nothing back. She was so fun to read about when she was in her element and I loved reading about her coming back into her own skin where she was free to be the person she was.
I loved Julian and how much he cared about Evie. It was so clear that he was head over heels in love with her so certain things absolutely shocked me about certain decisions he made. I had already figured out certain things almost from the beginning but when they dived into his background my heart broke. It was clear how broken Julian was and in a way I was completely shocked as he gave so much to others.
There were so many parts of this book that I just loved and I couldn’t put it down. I completely understood why Evie felt so blindsided after Sonia but I crossed my fingers that everything would come together.
This book puts you through so many different emotions and I wanted to cry at times and at other times I was crying from laughing so hard!!
This author definitely knows how to write an amazing book and I can’t wait to read Chloe’s story next!!
I really loved this story! Evie has one of the best main characters she doesn’t care what people think about her she just wants to succeed be happy with her love and write awesome stories.
After a birthday flop she makes a fool out of herself to a crowded bar and a bunch of strangers. She also meets the man who will make her life so much better.
One crazy night waking up in a strange bed with a stranger changes her whole life. This Cinderella tale with the sexy red headed Cinderella and brooding Prince Charming makes for a fun sweet and sexy read.
I loved this story and can’t wait to read more of her books! A must read for sure.
I love everything TK Leigh writes! This is a fun, engaging, and HOT! You’ll devour this book in one sitting!
T.K. Leigh is always a great read. Love her development of characters and story. I didn’t love Evie, even though I wanted to. She should have kicked her ex to the curb instead of trying to make herself into what he wanted. The author does make it so you can relate and feel like you really know them. Good read. Highly recommend. I loved the pop culture references throughout.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is another wonderfully written from-com by T.K. Leigh. You will find it as not as it is funny.
From the first page the chemistry was explosive between Evie and Julian. Evie always has a plan for everything and lives life to her own beat – until she doesn’t and is at a loss. Julian sees her and is intrigued with the captivating woman who marches to the beat of her own drum. This is their journey of realizing that what they thought they wanted out of life being not what they needed. I loved this slow-burn fairy tale!
I think I fell in love with Julian from the first time Evie saw him. I loved the idea of pretending to date him for the summer. Hanging out in the Hamptons with a gorgeous guy while getting over a heartbreak doesn’t sound all that bad, especially when said ex is watching. I loved Evie. She was sassy, hilarious and wasn’t afraid to take what she wanted out of life. I loved that Julian was there to show her how a woman should be treated and Evie opened him up to not being alone. This was my first book from T.K. Leigh, and I think I need to read more!
“Yes, Julian. I’ll be your fake girlfriend.”
What an astonishingly beautiful love story!!!! Dating Games was the perfect way to spend my night. I’ve read TK Leigh’s work before, and I have loved it, so I jumped on this bandwagon when I saw sign-ups for this book to read it for my blog. And I can’t tell you how glad I am that I did!
Dating games is a fake relationship, billionaire romance that deserves full recognition for being a truly outstanding read. While I usually prefer a dual POV story, there was something so perfect about this one just coming to us from Evie’s perspective. TK Leigh excels at many aspects of writing. Her characters have scorching chemistry, the sexy is way seXXXy and the books are exceptionally entertaining. All of that was true of Dating Games. And while I always think she masters the chemistry between her characters, Dating Games had my stomach in knots it was sooooo well done. It’s nearly tanagible and wow… so delicious and captivating that I couldn’t but it down to save my life. Of the many TK Leigh books I have now read Dating Game is my favorite. The story was gripping, the pace was spot on—no slowing down or speeding up and losing my interest—and Evie and Julian were my very favorite characters TK has written. Evie is spunky, sassy, and genuinely an awesome heroine. I loved her and TK Leigh did an excellent job of showing her character’s progression… so much so that I was genuinely heartbroken for her at one point. Julian is swoon-worthy central! Like straight up sex on a stick hot!!! Although I was confused at turns with how he would turn on and off his emotions, that did nothing to diminish my enjoyment of Dating Games or him as the hero. Once you read the story, you’ll understand why I just could not help but love him. Overall, I felt the story was perfect and I wouldn’t change a thing. The fake girlfriend/boyfriend spin has been done, but the story itself was very fresh in my opinion. Ever since I first discovered TK Leigh’s work, I have jumped on opportunities to read for her and Dating Games reminded me all over again why I loved her writing so much. Pickup this spectacular book today and get to reading!!!!
Quotes:
“There are other ways to demonstrate your desire. Kissing is the easy way out. There’s nothing suggestive about one mouth pressing against the other. No. Desire is in the way your bodies find each other , the way your eyes darken with unmatched hunger, the way a shiver runs through you at the promise of what’s to come.”
Julian Gage is the most potent drug known to man. He should be regulated and come with a warning to all females… and perhaps a few men. Side effects include wet panties, labored breathing, and irregular heartbeat. May cause multiple orgasms upon even the slightest touch. Consult a doctor prior to repeated use.
We may not know each other well, but the instant I saw you, I knew you were the only person who could do this with me. The only woman I’d want to do this with.” … “So bury your doubt. Your unabashed confidence is what caught my attention. Don’t let the idea that you’re not good enough, like Trevor made you think, take it away. You are good enough. Hell, you’re better than most people can ever dream to be.
I loved the romantic comedy part of the book, but found myself getting depressed reading the last quarter of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters snarkiness, sense of humor and interaction.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When I started to read Dating Games, I thought it would be like any other chick flick story. But I soon changed my mind. First, it’s amazingly written! Second, I loved the storyline! And third, Dating Games has some seriously kick ass characters!
“Because life isn’t a fairy tale. If you wake up missing a shoe, you’re not a princess. You simply drank too much. There won’t be a prince showing up on my doorstep, a glass slipper in hand, promising to make all my dream come true. This is the real world, I have to chase my dreams myself.”
This book is for every woman (and guy) who loves to get lost in a romcom movie, who loves the idea of a happily ever after, who loves and believes in fairytales.
Dating Game has the best from both worlds.
“Life sometimes doesn’t go as planned. It’s how we handle the unexpected that determines our strength. Do you go on to fight another day? Or do you give up because it’s too hard?”
Evie Fitzgerald, so sassy and bold. Yet so vulnerable and real! Major girl crush!!
On her 30th birthday Evie has her whole life planned out and ready to get married to Trevor, her third boyfriend and the love of her life. But then the unplanned happened. Trevor breaks up with her. Evie is shocked, devastated and angry so what does a girl do to forget? Drown herself in tequila. But when the tequila fog has left her mind, she is still without her boyfriend. So with a little help from her new friend Julian, Evie plots a plan to make Trevor realise he has made a mistake and she is the woman for him. This story is humorous, emotional, romantic and the attraction between Evie and Julian palpable. Evie is quirky, intelligent and witty with quirks and comments that will have you laughing out loud. Julian is caring, passionate and such a gentleman. Fantastic romantic comedy and a must read!
5 planned stars – this is perfect romance!
This book gave me everything I have been looking for in the perfect romance novel. All the feels! I cried, I laughed, I felt the heartbreak and could easily connect with the characters. Characters which I loved from the first page. The scene in the bar is epic! This book is hilarious and very refreshing. Loved every single sentence and can’t wait to read more books of this author, this was my first. What really kept me reading was the slow burn romance between Evie and Julian. The chemistry between them was almost palpable and I was very much invested in their journey. Nothing was rushed, everything what happened had it’s perfect timing. Sexy, steamy, funny, entertaining, easy to read – just fantastic!
I just loved this book. It was so well-written that it captured my mind and I was dragged along for the ride. Once I started reading I could not put it down until I read the last page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dating Games is a fantastic rom-com filled with witty banter, humor, secrets, angst, twists I didn’t see coming and a sweet romance. The writing is great, the characters are believable, and I rooted for them every step of the way. Julian and Evie are such a perfect couple. I loved this book and highly recommend it to everyone looking for a fun, sexy read.