Ollie Word of advice: don’t come out to random guys in public restrooms. Even if they’re charming and adorably nerdy and offer to help.My family believe I can’t be happy if I’m not out to the world. I have a bitter ex-boyfriend and an unstable NHL career to show for it. A fake boyfriend seems like an easy and quick solution to get my family off my back, and this guy is volunteering. I take him … volunteering. I take him up on it without asking his name.
I really should’ve asked for his name.
Lennon
Word of advice: learn how to introduce yourself properly.
In my defense, I don’t recognize Ollie Strömberg right away. I cover football, not hockey.
I’m not supposed to see him again, and he’s never supposed to find out I’m a reporter.
That all changes when my editor reassigns me.
It’s a lesson I should’ve learned by now. Nothing’s changed since high school. Jocks still hate nerds. But even worse, athletes hate journalists. Especially ones who know their secret.
Deke is a full-length MM novel with a HFN/HEA and no cliffhanger
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I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK
Each book in this better than the previous one! Ollie is an NHL hockey player who is proud but out only to his family. His family is absolutely supportive of him and maybe a bit too supportive. They want him to come out to the whole world but he isn’t ready for that yet. It doesn’t help that they think he’s ashamed of being gay when in reality he just doesn’t want to be the only gay player in NHL.
Lennon is sports reporter and when a stranger in a bathroom comes out to him and tells him about his family he helps him out by pretending to be his boyfriend.
Lennon is an amazing character, funny and witty, one of my absolute favourites! Oh, and dare I say, they are fucking hot together!! The scenes with Ollie’s family where they think he’s Clark cause he looks like Clark Kent (Superman) were just gold!
We also have appearances from previous books- Matt and Noah & Damon and Maddox. And Jet! Gimme more of him!!! I can’t wait for Talon and Miller!!!!!(exclamations are directly proportional to excitement)
I obviously LOVED this book and you will too!
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for honest and unbiased review
I love the entire fake BF series, but this is for sure my favorite of the set. Well, maybe it’s tied with book 4, but still…
Love Lennon and Ollie! Both characters are so sweet, I was so happy they got their HEA with each other. I love all the books in this series. Absolutely a must read!
I listened to the audible version of the story and although I didn’t enjoy the narrators voice, I did enjoy the story. Ollie and Lennon had chemistry from the very beginning and their story was one that was funny, steamy, sweet, had a little bit of drama and a sweet ending. I loved Lennon. Ollie’s family was a little “clueless” to Ollie’s true feeling about coming out but they were sweet and caring. I was happy that Ollie came out for himself and to support another hockey team player. The ending was good and I look forward to listening to the next book in this series.
There are stories whose quality decreases with sequels by sequels and others that only improve. Eden Finley’s latest book, Deke, is in this last category. This book is the third installment of the Fake Boyfriend series which I really liked the first two books. They were not perfect and I found fault on a few points. I loved the style of the author. I also liked the characters and the universe that the author had created.
Deke is the meeting between two men, Ollie and Lennon, that everything, apart from their sexuality, seems to separate. Ollie is a professional hockey player at the peak of his career who has just been transferred to another team. Lennon is a sports journalist who until recently only covered football.
It is by a fortunate coincidence that the two men who did not know each other will meet and, in order to relieve Ollie, family discussions about his love life are going to pretend to be a couple. They will meet again several months later when Ollie realizes that Lennon is the journalist who had written many articles that had crumpled his ego.
One of the things I had regretted in the first two books was that I had found a frank and quick break between « fake boyfriends » and boyfriends. Here the transition is very fluent which makes the reading very pleasant. After their second meeting, Ollie is resentful because of Lennon’s articles and he really struggles to part with them. I appreciated the character of this character and the caustic situations in which he finds himself because of it.
This is a little more than deke has compared to its predecessors, humor. It is certainly light, but I found some of the interactions between the two characters quite funny and I found myself at several moments with a smile on the lips. More than the interact between Ollie and Lennon, their relationship is just very touching. I liked to see them evolve. I was touched by the uncertainties and fears of Ollie about his coming out publicly. I liked the protective side of Lennon who will not hesitate before standing up in front of the whole family of the hockey player to explain how their behavior could be hurtful.
In the end, Deke is a bit like a culmination of this series. A little as if the first two volumes were only essays to allow the author to create the perfect book. When we know that two more books are still planned, we can only rejoice in advance of our next readings.
Loved it and the whole series 🙂
The hockey player and the sports reporter
Can I just say I fell in love with these two from the moment they met? Ollie and Lennon are a match made in heaven. The nerd and the jock *swoon*
But for real, I adored their story. Everything about it. Their ups, their downs, the steam and getting to see my other favourites? Yup. Ticked all the boxes! This series is fast becoming a favourite of mine
Deke was my favorite book of the series the first time I read it.
Deke is my favorite book of the series once I’ve reread it.
Yes, I know there are still two books left, one not even out yet, but trust me. Ollie is way too much for me. His relationship with Lennon is way too much for me. I’m writing this from hell.
– The plot –
So, we have this perfect hockey player, full of muscle and tats (biased here, sorry) that has to deal with a family dinner that he is quite tired of deal with. Because it never ends. Since he broke up with his long term boyfriend for being closeted, his family hasn’t stop forcing him to come out so he doesn’t have to face a breakup like that one again. But Ollie is not ready to face the world’s opinion and, even less, hockey’s one. So, even if his family only wants the best for him, he has to hide. And even if he hasn’t forget about what happened with his now ex boyfriend, a cute and nerdy guy appears on the bathroom in the perfect moment.
Family waiting on the outside of that restaurant bath, and this cute guy offering himself to act as his fake boyfriend for the night so his family can chill a bit in the coming out topic. May look easy, even more when they both can’t deny the attraction between them, but Ollie should have asked for this guy’s name before telling their family that his new boyfriend is called Clark. Because once they will meet again half a year later unexpectedly, he will know his real name and he will discover that his nerdy fake boyfriend is actually Lennon Hawkins, that journalist that he hates and writes horrible articles about him and could be trying to out him to the world.
Even if Lennon only started reviewing his higlights after getting a crush on him after meeting that night six months ago. Even if Lennon only knew who he was once that dinner was started. Even if Lennon clearly still likes him and never wrote a single bad word about him and never tried to out him.
It will take Ollie some time to realize he was overreacting. And maybe his also huge crush on that nerdy fake boyfriend he called Clarck half a year ago will have a thing to do with it.
The evolution of their relationship, how they face their careers, and how they discover their feelings, is my favorite thing on Earth because I swear to Rihanna they are the cuttest thing on this world.
– The characters –
I’m going to start talking about Lennon simply because I find it easier. A sweet, fun, and gentle sports journalist that may have a thing for jocks. He hasn’t had good experiences with sport guys, but still, it’s a thing he can’t control: he is always attracted to those muscles. And, of course, someone like Ollie will be no different. Especially if he is that kind, nice, funny, and adorable.
The problem is, Ollie is also closeted. Like all the old crushes Lennon had. And even if he is not a guy who would force another to come out, he doesn’t feel like risking another man tearing his heart after two jocks already breaking it… and his cheek too. But Ollie is not like them. Ollie may keep his orientation in secret, but he acknowledges him in fron ot his family, and close friends. And he treats him like the most precious thing on Earth.
And he has never been that desired and cared before.
It won’t be hard for Lennon to fall for Ollie too. For someone that knows that only Lennon has make him feel desire after his ex boyfriend. And it won’t be hard for Ollie to fall for Lennon. Someone that stands next to him, for him, and with him. Someone that defends him even in front of his family and that always supports him no matter what.
Ollie will show Lennon that he is not the old crushes he had in College. And Lennon will show him that there is no rush, and that he will be by his side whenever he needs him.
– Final Thoughts –
As always, if there is any spoiler, I will warn righ before.
> I love the whole plot of this book. As much as I loved Trick Play’s one, I think I enjoyed Deke way too much. Because, as well as in the second book, this is not only about the romance. But, in a better way than in the second book, here we get to see more of the world behind them. How working on the media as a gay journalist works. How being a gay hockey player works. And the pressure from family members, and how to deal with the fact that the one you thought it was the love of your life, can disappear simply because the world is not ready for you to come out.
> I loved way way way too much Ollie’s character. He was my favorite character from the whole series the first time I read it, and he still is. How he faces his fears, how he never denies them, and his mistakes. How much he wants to learn, and improve, and help others. How brave he is. Lennon is such a great character to pair with him, and I love him way too much too, but…. Ollie is out of this world.
> Jet appearing in the book THAT MUCH is simply wonderful. Is Jet my second favorite character of the series? He is. For sure.
> There is literally no thing I disliked about this book. Well, I would have liked more sex, but the one we get is incredibly amazing, so… I’m okay with it. But I could be reading about this pairing forever, to be honest.
> In case there was any doubt, is a clear five stars rating that could get golden stars with shiny sh*t around it if I could gave them to it. Again, thanks Eden for this. Honestly.
This is my favorite book so far in this series. Ollie and Lennon. They were so cute together. They made me laugh and swoon and even tears. I loved seeing Ollie finally step up and do what he was ready to do. He is a true inspiration and an amazing man. I can’t wait to read the next one. I don’t want to give too much away so short and simple review. 4 stars #2OCCJD
I love this series and Deke just made it better! Ollie and Lennon are such a fun couple as they navigate their relationship and Ollie’s coming out. They quickly go from instalust to instahate and back to lust again. Secondary characters can be laugh out loud funny yet perfectly support the MC and their relationship. The plot and characters are engaging through the whole book- there’s no slow time. The dialogue is quick, quirky and clever. The writing style is fast paced and edited perfectly. The steam is off the charts and you just root for this couple all the way through. Ollie’s mom is hysterical but is too busy trying to be “the cool inclusive mom” to see her son and his needs. There are so many feels between all the characters and the resolutions to their relationships. Highly recommend you spend a little time with Deke. Eden Finley has become a must read for me 🙂
I mentioned previously how I’ve been on a hockey-or-murder kick, right? Deke hit every spot I needed. Well, except the murder part. Not only was there hockey, but there was Boston Hockey. The team wasn’t the Bruins, but whatever. (Mmmm… trademark issues…) The hockey player involved came from a family who lives in Milton, which is maybe a five minute drive from here. (Unless there’s traffic, in which case it can be a two hour drive.) There’s even bad blood between my kid’s hockey team and the Milton team, the same team Ollie would have played on at her age.
God, it’s going to be a very long off season, isn’t it?
Anyway, one of the things I love about this book is that there is a very accepting and loving family and not all of the guy’s problems are solved. Accepting and loving families are fantastic. They’re wonderful to have and they do make navigating the world as an LGBTQ+ person easier and better. There are still a ton of issues we face, and family can’t always help.
Watching the family run around trying to manage Ollie’s love life had me laughing out loud throughout this book. It reminded me of my youth. The big dramatic moment toward the end (which is a spoiler) hit me like a punch to the gut.
But – but! – they get their happily ever after. Deke is a fantastic book in which two guys I loved got their happily ever after, a lot of hockey got played, and I didn’t stop grinning from cover to cover. Even people who aren’t into hockey will enjoy this book.
My favorite in the series so far. The main character’s family are the best!
Another great addition to this series. You can definitely read this as a stand-alone but you’d have a better concept of all the supporting characters if you read the first two books in the series. As with the others, it’s a fake boyfriend situation. This book kept me engaged from beginning to end with a wonderful HEA! I cannot wait until the next in the series!
Loved, loved, loved it! Read the whole series! Actually, read all of this author’s books, you will not regret it!
OMFG doesn’t count as decent review, right? Or does it? Because… OMFG. I finished this book in a day (last night basically) and I am still so caught up in Ollie and Lennon, I cannot read anything else.
Eden… I mean… WOMAN. I had so many OMG moments, I don’t know which one to start with. Of course, there was that ASH-thing… #@!’ *grumbles unintelligably*
And then there were your game-reports that basically had me holding my breath (I’m holding my breath right now AGAIN just thinking about them. You made it so exciting, such a rush… Sweet Neil Patrick Harris in a harness….) and that says a lot. Edge of the seat… HELLO!!!
Ollie and Lennon are… I cannot put it into words. Their relationship, their interactions, their feelings… Man, seriously, I love the way you write.
Also, I said it to Eden, too. I feel like I need to sit down and take notes on her sex scenes. NO kidding, she writes them THAT WELL!
All around an incredible book. (And now… GIMME you-know-who and you-also-know-who.)
This book was so good. I loved it. As the title series says, it’s a romance novel with the fake boyfriend trope, but Eden Finley managed to make it a unique story, with some twists that lifted this story above others in the genre. Add in the quirky sense of humor, the snark and sass of both MCs and their friends and family, and the smoking hot sex scenes, and you have an irresistible book in your hands. I was completely engrossed in the book right from the start and couldn’t put it down.
Ollie and Lennon are the most adorable guys you can imagine. From strangers to enemies to friends to lovers, they travel all the roads together, and each road is spot on. They come to live on the pages and keep surprising me with their depth in character. It’s full of fun and witty banter, but then they turn a very serious corner that has you thinking. The chemistry between them is off the charts. The sex is intensely hot, but they can also laugh and joke with each other, even during the bed scenes, which is always a major point for me on the enjoyment scale.
And enjoying this book I did. Very much so. I love it when I feel the connection between the guys, and there is no doubt about it in this book. They are supportive of each other and don’t go on the well-trodden path of misunderstanding and miscommunication. There are a few situations they could have gone, but thankfully not. They faced difficulties head on with the other in mind.
This is the third installment in the Fake Boyfriend series and can be read as a stand-alone. However, I recommend reading the books in order as there are recurring characters and Ollie’s family and Lennon’s friends are just too good to pass on.
Ollie and Lennon’s story was a great addition to the series. They didn’t knock Noah and Matt out of my favourite couple spot but Lennon… I do have a huge soft spot for Lennon. I kept reading into the small hours of morning, which I really shouldn’t have, so that just goes to show how good this book was.
I can’t wait for the next books in this series, I just hope Eden manages to write them quickly because the wait is going to kill me.
Deke is book number three in the Fake Boyfriend series by Eden Finley. This is Ollie and Lennon’s story.
I loved Ollie and Lennon’s story. The banter between Ollie and Lennon made this book so much fun.
FYI, contains mature content. This is a M/M gay romance. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
It looks like Deke is going to be the first 5 wine glass read of the year for me, as well as the first addition to my Best of 2019 list! Yes, I loved it that much – so much so that I’ve actually read it one and half times because I convinced myself that I read the last half too fast and went back to read it again at a more sedate pace (and I still gobbled it up). This entire series has been like a bag of Skittles (and I totally intend the rainbow reference) – sweet and delightful and my favorite. I was excited for Ollie and Lennon’s story when they were introduced in Trick Play, but their meet cute was so much more than I was expecting, as was their journey to HEA. How Eden Finley manages to make these stories so sweet and endearing, yet real and poignant, and SEXY I will never know, but she does and if she can just keep them coming I’m all for it. We got the added bonus of not only Ollie’s sweetly supportive, yet overbearing family and also cameos from Damon, Maddox, Matt, Noah, Jet, Talon, and Miller and peek at Jet’s love interest too! I can’t wait for books 4 and 5 and I don’t care if they won’t have the “Fake Boyfriend” trope, I will read books from the world Eden Finley has created in to perpetuity. 5 out of 5 wine glasses.
I have loved all the books in this series, though I have to say that they seem to get better and better with each book. So it shouldn’t be surprising that this one is definitely my favorite…so far !! I had so much fun reading it 😉 And most of it is because of Clark …
Ollie is a hockey player in the NHL. He’s gay, he’s proud, but he isn’t fully out. The only people who know are his close family and they support him 200 %… It’s the 200 instead of a 100 that seems to be the problem here. They are a bit too pushy when it comes to him coming out. They feel he can only be happy if he shouts it from the rooftops…but Ollie isn’t ready for the consequences of being the only gay player in the NHL…
He shares his grievances with a stranger…in the bathroom of a restaurant, while out with the family. Not really knowing who he just laid everything out for.
Lennon feels bad for Ollie. Being a sports reporter, and being gay himself, he knows all about how hard it is coming out in their world… He wants to help Ollie out by pretending to be his new boyfriend. Maybe if the fam sees he is happy, they will leave him be.
And so it begins…
I had an awesome time reading this book. It was funny and snarky and a high Lennon is the best thing ever !!!! It was also sweet and very HOT.
I want to give some major credit here to Ollie’s family. They were great and half the fun I had, came from them 😉
“My whole family has been overprotective of me since my mom outed me to myself when I was fifteen” 😛
There was some drama, with the ex-boyfriend, who I really didn’t care for. What a douche…It wasn’t a very angsty read, I would definitely call this a “feel good” book. Which shows exactly how I felt when I finished it.
I can’t wait to see what’s next and I am dying to read Jet’s story because I have a little crush going on.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review