“Mia Sosa delivers wish fulfillment with off-the-charts sparks…” — Entertainment WeeklyFor Hollywood agent Julian Hart, representing his best friend—megastar Carter Williamson—means it’s nearly impossible to keep his personal life and career separate. To make matters worse, Carter’s younger sister has been starring in Julian’s wildest fantasies more often than he’d care to admit. He knows … he’d care to admit. He knows she’s off-limits, but when Ashley shows up on his doorstep, needing a place to crash… suddenly his greatest temptation is sleeping down the hall.
Free-spirited Ashley Williamson doesn’t do commitment. Jobs, apartments, men… why let herself be tied down? But she’s had a crush on her older brother’s best friend for years and she’s committed to making Julian want her, one towel-clad midnight encounter at a time. But just as things start heating up, their steamy flirtation is interrupted by Carter’s east coast wedding. Ashley has no desire to go home and face her reputation as the family disappointment. But living with—dare she say dating?—a successful, sexy film agent could give them something else to talk about.
Julian can’t believe he agreed to fake a relationship with the one woman he can never have. And it’s going to take more than a little willpower to remember it’s all pretend. Or is it?
“Sosa deftly combines her flair for nuanced characterization with snappy writing imbued with a deliciously acerbic sense of humor.” – Booklist
“[A] refreshingly modern and funny spin on the traditional idea that opposites attract.” – Kirkus Reviews more
This book is fabulous. Laugh out loud moments, witty banter, and scorching heat between the hero and heroine. A great take on the classic “Best Friend’s Little Sister” trope and it expertly sets up for the next book. I was entertained throughout the entire book, and the ending was very satisfying. A must-read for lovers of smart, sexy, witty contemporary romance.
Loved the characters in this book! They challenged each other, laughed with each other, and shared smokin’ hot chemistry! It was a fun read that I’d recommend to all!
Pretending He’s Mine by Mia Sosa is book Two in the Love on Cue Series. This is the story of Julian Hart and Ashley Williamson. I haven’t yet read the previous book, so for me this was easily a standalone book.
Ashley has always had a crush on Julian her brother best friend and manger. But she thinks Julian sees her as as his best friends little sister and nothing more. When she has a fallen out with her roommate whose boyfriend got handsy she goes to stay with her brother. But Ashley brother just got back from being away from his lady love so she felt like a third wheel and goes to stay with Julian. While there she tries to get him to see her in a new light as something more. Julian wants Ashley as a women but he doesn’t want to loose his best friend nor his best client.
Loved watching these two come together.
Pretending He’s Mine is a handful of sunshine on a cloudy day. Mia Sosa never loses her sense of humor as she opens her heart to readers. To be open to love, one has to be willing to risk the consequences. Julian and Ashley had a bit of wreckage to work through, but watching them muddle through was the fun part. Ashley’s looking to find herself. Julian’s trying to keep his sanity. A relationship of convenience is the answer to both their prayers, unless their hearts end up being collateral damage. Ms. Sosa will help find your smile, even as she confiscates your heart.
**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**
“Being overworked has been my drug of choice for years, leaving me no time to think about my nonexistent love life. Enter Ashley, and I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Where do I start with Pretending He’s Mine? The first page. Which let me just tell you, dives right in. I wont spoil anything but, Ms. Sosa certainly hooks you right from the beginning.
Overall I really, truly enjoyed this book. Ms. Sosa writes a clear story with well defined characters. Ashley’s zany-yet-lovable personality keeps you rooting for her. Julian’s workaholic tenancies and rigid temperament made me want to kick him in the butt sometimes but overall, this book kept me smiling.
The only thing that kept me from giving this five whole-hearted stars was the multitude of tropes that kept popping up in this book. They almost made my head spin. It started solid friends to lovers then changed to relationship of convenience and then finally to best friend’s sister. While the multitude of twists and turns kept the novel from dragging, I was ready for the story to settle in.
One of my favorite aspects of this novel is that I feel like both characters grew personally and professionally through their relationships with each other. I think that a true partnership should push both individuals and that idea was explored in this book in-depth. I like that Julian and Ashley (for the most part) clashed over real relationship issues. It added weight to this fun romance.
At the end of the day, this is a light and fun read. Ms. Sosa crafted a richly colored world and a satisfying HEA which is what I really need from a romance novel.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie –
This is the second book in the series, and I think it would be richer for having read them in order. Whilst this is a new romance, it follows on closely from book one and the friendship and working relationship between Carter and Julian is first explored there.
It is often fun to read about the ‘fake’ boyfriend at the wedding stories, but this one is, to say the least, complicated. Both Ashley and Julian are attracted to each other, but he is resistant. His life is so stressful, mainly due to the walls he has built between his personal and professional dealings with Ashley’s brother, Carter. Add in his attraction to Ashley, his father wanting him to return to help run the family business and Julian is nearing a meltdown.
Just as Julian is having a bit of a work crisis, he also questions why Ashley is denying her musical talents. As the story progresses, I enjoyed how they challenged each other about their values and their priorities. It added some depth to the chemistry between them.
I enjoyed how this story gave us more of Carter and Tori – the preparations for the wedding, and especially the girls’ evenings out gave some lovely comedic moments. There were some lovely hints of future romantic interests too!
Avid Reader –
3.5 stars
M/F Friends to Lovers
This is a story about acquaintances who become friends who pretend to have a relationship. I found that despite the premise of the story, this seemed to be much more young adult than a romance novel.
Julian is working for Carter as his Hollywood agent. Carter and Julian have been friends a long time and despite that friendship and their working relationship, Julian has kept strict lines between friendship and work relationship.
Ashley feels like the black sheep of her family. Despite her amazing talent of singing and playing her guitar, she feels like everyone always measures her against her very successful brother. When she finds herself in a tight roommate situation, she leans on Julian for help.
What follows is an unimaginable attraction and a story that will help her get through her brother’s wedding. There is a conflict between main characters – within themselves. They each are finding their own path.
In the end, this is a sweet story about friends who become more. However, it was highly predictable, and I believe geared towards a younger audience.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Pretending He’s Mine (Love on Cue #2) by Mia Sosa to read and review for this tour.
I am always up for a book with a plot that involves a younger sister and her brother’s best friend. Throw in a fake relationship, and sign me up!
I really liked all the characters involved. Julian and Ashley were well-developed characters and you could definitely feel their chemistry! The plot was good, as well.
Overall, this was a success for me. I haven’t read the first book in this series, but I will be going back to check it out!
Good story and characters.
Great read, a little slow at times but was still an entertaining book
The romance was perfect and hot—and this book actually made me laugh out loud, which almost *never* happens.