Brooks Johnson’s Words To Live By:
When returning to Licking Thicket, TN, for the first time in ten years to reunite with your nosy neighbors, heart-broken ex-girlfriend, and matchmaking mama who never quite believed you were gay, it’s best to bring a fake boyfriend as backup…
Just don’t be surprised when your ex-girlfriend does the same.
And when her incredibly hot fake boyfriend becomes … her incredibly hot fake boyfriend becomes the one island of calm in a sea of bovine-based insanity, it’s best to exercise caution… especially when he pushes you up against the rough barn wall to check you very thoroughly for splinters…
Just don’t be surprised if you fall head-over-hooves in love with him.
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4.5 stars Brooks and Mal
I loved the way this story started, it gave an impression about Brooks life in New York.
So different from where his roots are, the town where this story takes place.
Brooks Johnson, VP of Storms Marketing in New York is ‘forced’ by his mother to help out his father who is sick. He has to perform as the head Licker of the Great Centennial Lickin event in Licking Thicket, Tennessee.
The event will take a week, A WEEK. Horrible that’s what it is.
A decade ago he left home suddenly and never returned, now he’s back with a fake boyfriend to convince his mum he’s still gay.
For Mal, an artist, it’s the same story, only he’s Ava’s fake boyfriend. Ava is the ex of Brooks, that same decade ago.
Surprise surprise Mal and Brooks are both gay and they like what they see.
That shouts ‘complicated’
“This town is a parody of itself”
Learning more about both men was everything, a look behind their walls where vulnerability lived and hearts kept safe from the hurt people had given them. Between all the lighthearted moments there was time for deeper feelings, I was so satisfied with them.
The intensity where Brooks and Mal came together was sky high, so palpable.
The story was quite silly ridiculous at times, all the people busy with anything and everything.
Brooks and Mal were extremely lovable.
The whole Lickin’ event was chaotic and exhaustingly funny.
Even though the town was full of crazy people, they were all the best. Home, family.
Wonderfully written story, entertaining, and dynamic.
You know how you come across something and you have no idea just how much you needed it you already have it? That’s what Fakers was to me. It’s the end of the month–the end of the first half of the year–and with so much going on in my offline life, I desperately needed a break. Something to take me away, if even for a couple or so hours, from the hustle and bustle of my daily norm. Well, Lucy Lennox and May Archer came to my rescue by way of a book that made snort laugh more than once and snicker like someone who knows the polite thing to do is to look away but where the heck is the fun in that? Another great bonus? This book is a complete standalone.
I’ve read some of Lucy Lennox’s books, and the same goes for those of May Archer, and I must say that their writing styles melded impressively well in this first foray as a writing duo. I adored the story they came up with, and with a slew of quirky characters whose antics had me either laughing or smiling, I had no problem finishing this book in one sitting and with a rather satisfied grin on my face. There’s a teeny bit of angst in there as well, enough to make the angst addict in me quite happy (ironic, I know), plus there’s another couple I’m now super curious about that I’m really, really, REALLY hoping will get their own book soonish. Five stars go to Fakers
This is Rom Com in book at it’s best!
I just loved experiencing Brooks falling in love with his ex girlfriends fake boyfriend while parading around his colleague as his own fake boyfriend.
The small town, the people, the funny bovine nods and the double entendres are just fabulous.
So please read the book to have a Lickin good time!
When Brooks is called back to the hometown he left a decade ago, he knows he has to bring a fake boyfriend with him, to fend off his mother’s insinuations, and to save face in front of his ex. Luckily for him, his ex has the same brilliant idea and brings her own fake boyfriend, the gorgeous artist Mal, whom Brooks falls head over heels for, immediately. Now Brooks just has to convince Mal he’s not a bad guy, to give Brooks a chance.
Oh God, this freakin story had me laughing my ass off. I mean the town’s name alone had me going, come on, who really names their town Licking Thicket?! I wonder if the authors were watching old episodes of Cheers or something, and were inspired by Woody’s and Larry Bird’s rivalry, and Woody’s contempt for Larry’s hometown of French Lick. Anyway, back to this hilarious, sweet, and sexy story – I loved it. Brooks is an awesome guy, who just had to come home finally, to appreciate what he had left behind. And Mal finding how well he fit there, and was welcomed? It got me in the heart a little. Like I said, Fakers is sweet and sexy, but it’s also got huge doses of heart, and that’s the best part of this story.
Amazing Book! I stayed up all night to finish reading it,I so did not want to put it down. A small town where everybody knows each other and their business,nice but annoying in a way… I laughed and I cried. It was sweet ,steamy and a little sad,but was it ever good. I loved Brooks & Mal. A Must Read!
Fakers is the first collaboration between Lucy Lennox and May Archer.
I’m a fan of both authors, and was excited when they announced this book.
Fakers is a fun, easy read featuring fake boyfriends x2 and small-town tropes.
This book was enjoyable, with both likeable main and secondary characters.
If you’re looking for a quick no-angst read, then I definitely suggest you read this book .
I have read and enjoyed everything written by both authors, so I HAD to get this one.
Fakers is a sweet, funny book. There is quite a bit of over the top humor. When I was almost to the point where I was going to throw my kindle if there was one more Licking or Johnson or Thicket (or any combination of the three) joke, the authors eased off of them. Thank the gods, too, because I would have been heartbroken to miss the rest of this book.
I am a fan of stories set in small towns. I was not disappointed in Licking Thicket. The environmental descriptors were spot on, and I found myself transported into the South’s thick, hot, mosquito-laden air. The townsfolk are portrayed accurately if a bit overly exaggerated. The town festival has some exciting and funny (and weird) scenes, and the amount of sweet tea consumed in this book almost gave me diabetes.
The story concept isn’t a new one. Still, the authors built upon that and peppered a strong premise with exciting characters, outrageous humor, super-steamy sexy times, angst, familial disdain, and distrust and a baby. And let’s not forget the cows that are absolutely everywhere and, oh yeah, a guest room in a tree.
The first time Brooks and Mal met was perfect. I melted reading that scene, and it only got better from there. I became invested in these two very quickly. Their passion and love are strong, and their HEA is believable and satisfying.
I could go on and on, but then I would take time from someone reading this when they could be rushing off to buy it.
I look forward to more from these authors.
I loved this romantic comedy set in the small town of Licking Thicket, Tennessee. Brooks and Mal are adorable opposites who struggle through a lust-hate relationship, as each pretends to be part of a couple with someone else. I loved these men, as well as their pretend partners. The story was fun and funny, sweet and sexy. There were lots of over the top moments, but that was part of the story’s charm. I enjoyed every moment, and I’m thrilled that the authors plan to revisit this world. Wonderful story, lovable characters, and eye-rolling belly laughs.. I highly recommend this romance!
I absolutely fell in love with this sweet, funny, sexy, sometimes emotional read. Fakers was the perfect book to spend an afternoon with. The cast of characters in this somewhat zany town of Licking Thicket, TN will grab your attention and then your heart. I fell in love with Mal and Brooks as they fell in love with each other. These two may seem like complete opposites but are in fact a perfect match for each other. Their love and connection grows organically as they discover just how right they are for each other. Get ready to laugh out loud, fall in love and then want to start the whole thing all over again!!!!
Fakers by Lucy Lennix and May Archer had me laughing, smiling and loving every word. Well written and entertaining story filled with fantastic characters full of personality and charm. Not only am I completely enamoured with Brooks and Mal, but the secondary characters were so fun and had me completely wrapped into this story and wanting even more of this wonderful small town.
Fakers is a stand alone M/M romance by Lucy Lennox and May Archer. This is my second book by Lucy and my very first by May. First, just let me get this out of the way: I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! I want to move to this crazy town and live there forever. I want to be besties with all of these characters.
Brooks Johnson left Licking Thicket, Tennessee ten years ago right after high school, and has not gone back. He ran away after breaking his girlfriend’s heart when he came out as gay. She has never forgiven him and his family still doubts him. Brooks lives in New York and works for an advertising agency. He’s in the middle of trying to win his biggest account yet when he is called home. His father is under the weather and they need Brooks to take over as head licker of the annual Lickin’ Festival. And of course, his ex, Ava will be there. So, Brooks decides if he is going home, he’s going to need to prove once and for all that he really is gay. So he takes his very straight co-worker with him as his fake boyfriend.
Malachi (Mal) Forrester is a metal artist in Los Angeles. He takes pieces of junk he finds and makes them into beautiful art. He is best friends with Ava, Brooks’s ex. Mal is also gay. Ava has convinced Mal that if she has to go home and see her ex again, that she needs her best friend to go with her for support. She also wants him to pose as her fake boyfriend. Mal can’t say no.
The first time Mal and Brooks see each other, sparks fly, the chemistry is strong, and some flirting might have happened. But then they figure out who each other is. And the battle lines are drawn. Only, they both find it really difficult to dislike the other.
“I felt out of control and I didn’t like it one bit. But also…I kind of liked it. A lot.”
As the crazy week with all the Lickin’ Festivities progresses, so do the feelings between Mal and Brooks. They are in their Licking Thicket bubble, enjoying what is happening between them. But in a few days, Mal will return to Los Angeles and Brooks to New York.
“Just being around the man was like riding a Tilt-A-Whirl, horrible and exhilarating and wonderful.”
Mal was also from a small town, a town that left him with painful memories, a town that never accepted him. In Licking Thicket, though, he finds all the things that were missing from his life, friendship, family, and yes, even love. And Brooks sees the town he ran away from all those years ago in a whole new light. He never felt like he belonged when he was a kid. But now, he feels like he doesn’t want to leave. The place you ran away from and vowed never to return, turns out to be the only place you really want to be.
“I felt like I’d been sleepwalking for years and I could finally see the world in vivid Technicolor, alive with possibilities.”
This book was just everything. It was so much fun. Of course it’s filled with crazy innuendo! I loved both Mal and Brooks so much. But I also loved every single other character in this town. There are stories here to be told, especially one junk yard owner, Diesel Church. So you can imagine my excitement when at the end of the book it was announced that they will be revisiting this town with new stories. I am beside myself with excitement. This book was sexy, silly, sweet and just plain wonderful, in every way. So, stay tuned. I’ll be meeting up with you all again in Licking Thicket.