Rule #1: Don’t fall in love.As a single dad, my life revolves around my daughter. No complaints…until my ex-wife forces my hand over custody.I needed a cover story. In steps Katharine Morello. My best friend’s sister is ready and willing to be my fake fiancée.Overnight we’re engaged. A temporary arrangement.No sex.No strings attached.No complications.Easy, right?Not quite. The last few months, … complications.
Easy, right?
Not quite. The last few months, I’ve been doing dirty things to her in my imagination. But that’s all they’ll ever be. Fantasies.
Rule #2: Don’t give in to temptation.
Neither of us is looking for a relationship. Been there. Done that. Even drank the Kool-Aid.
So, you see, I can resist beautiful, sexy Katharine. It doesn’t matter she’s hot as f*ck with an amazing personality to boot. All I have to do is NOT touch her.
I’ve got this.
Spoiler Alert…One night make-believe merges with reality. Sparks fly—and burn.
Now I want her. All of her.
Rule #3: See rule #1—don’t fall in love.
Man. Hindsight’s a bitch.
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A fake engagement, what can go wrong?! Well, usually you fall for the person during the time of the fake engagement… but what happens if you fell for her way before you needed the fake engagement? Lucas and Kate have been friends for years, and he has been crushing on her for a while. His ex-wife (who is easy to dislike) is suing for full custody, which will leave Lucas devastated should she win. Lucas needs to, at the very least, appear stable. Granted, he is stable, but it’s easy to paint a picture that says otherwise. In steps Kate, who has her own drama to deal with and get over. It is no easy feat, to say the least. Can she see Lucas in a new light? What I enjoyed was the flirtation and the back and forth banter between Lucas and Kate. The story is written from Lucas’s perspective. You do get a bit of Kate’s perspective with her blog post (I particularly loved the entries), but it would have been awesome to get more of her perspective, and not from blog posts. This was a sweet love story with an adorable child. As far as I can tell, this can be read as a standalone, which is great since this is the third book in the series!
Absolutely loved this story!
This is a great story and definitely worth reading. It’s a great story with a single dad who ends up in a fake engagement with his best friend’s sister to keep custody of his daughter. This is a slow burn friends to lovers romance and I loved every minute of it.
Lucas is such a good dad! He had my ovaries exploding. He’s such a sweet and sexy man. Kate is perfect in her role as a fake fiancé. I adored this friend to lovers’ story. The story flowed easily and was relatable. Mika Jolie has given us a fun, flirty and entertaining story of two people trying their hardest to fight their attraction. I really enjoy how this author creates characters that you easily fall in love with.
I loved the way Lucas was trying to do what every single parent does and tries to keep his little girl. I’m so happy that he forgave himself for the past and realized he wasn’t the only one to blame and that he deserves to be happy. And Kate is so strong and so resilient to be open to love again after what happened to her. It’s even better when you call for one of your good friends who knows pretty much everything about you
I was totally engaged in this book from the very first page! The storyline was well written and the characters were well written with great detail and depth which kept me totally glued to my kindle until the turn of the very last page!
Wow! What an amazing story! I have enjoyed Mika Jolie’s past stories but this may be my favorite! This story was so much more than a potential friends to lovers tale and includes beloved characters from past stories although may be read as a standalone. Lucas is a divorced dad who is ever so protective of his young daughter even from her own mother who seeks to use the girl as a pawn. Kate is Lucas’ long-standing childhood friend and sister of his bestie and business partner which makes Kate a “no-go” even though she wants to jump in feet first offering to be Lucas’ fake fiancé in order to help Lucas with his ex. Lucas is faced with the dilemma of a lifetime. I loved this line which says it all: “’What do I do about Kate?’ The question hovers like a fire-breathing dragon.” I also loved how each chapter is entitled with a new rule for consideration which added an extra dimension and something else to look forward to. Definitely a must read, feel-good romance!
— I received an advance complimentary copy of this book and am delighted to offer this review.
Fantastic storyline, hot steamy chemistry and a second chance at love. Kate has been friends with Lucas since she was nine. Her brother Dean is one of his best friends. Lucas is a single father, divorced and going through a very nasty custody battle. He closed his heart and bricked it off to love. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
This is one of the first fairly realistic friends to lovers books I’ve read recently. Lucas is Kate’s brothers best friend so he doesn’t want to cross that line. But both Lucas and Kate know exactly how they feel about each other, they do what they must to be together and the journey Mika takes you on to get there is really great. The characters were well developed and fun to read, the love and passion was there throughout the whole story, the writing was captivating and fun to read. I would def recommend this book.
I have been looking forward to Kate and Lucas’ story ever since I read The Boy Friend. The chemistry between them just jumps off the page. I also enjoyed reading about Lucas and his daughter- their relationship is so sweet.
I read the entire story in one sitting- I couldn’t read fast enough. I really appreciated the chapter with Kate’s blog post about female masturbation. As someone interested in Gender Studies, I find it frustrating that talking about female sexuality is still often considered “taboo”. We shouldn’t be so afraid to talk about female sexuality, and I am incredibly happy that Mika Jolie included this topic in her book.
Mika Jolie is quickly becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance writers. I highly recommend this book: it’s sexy, funny, and all around a delightful read. I look forward to reading more of Jolie’s novels in the future.
in rules of engagement single dad lucas finds himself in a bind when his ex-wife accuses him of neglecting their daughter for a series of one night stands. the truth is he hasn’t had a fling in months, because his thoughts are consumed by the one person he’s sworn to never touch.
katharine grace morello is his best friend’s younger sister, he’s known her forever and she’s always been beyond his touch. except lately every time he sees her, he ends up fantasizing about what it might be like between them.
when she proposes a fake engagement to get him through the court date, she corners him into saying yes. he doesn’t want to take advantage, but he also wants to explore everything they might be to each other. they swear there’s a deadline.
but the way the chemistry burns between them, it’s obvious there will never be enough time. not unless they want to take the chance on forever. but they’ve both been burned. and they both want more. and it’s only a matter of time before they figure out how to get it.
**rules of engagement will publish on january 25, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of candi kane pr in exchange for my honest review. keep reading for more information on the book.
I absolutely loved that this entire story was written from Lucas’ perspective. His commitment to being a great father, attempting to co-parent with his ex and fighting his attraction to Kate (his best friend’s sister) makes for an engaging story filled with fun exchanges and real characters.
Rules of Engagement is magical! Lucas and Kate have known each other since childhood, he is best friends with her brother. So when a custody battle arises over his little girl Emma, Kate agreed to be his fake fiancee to make Lucas appear more stable and family oriented.
OMG the sexual tension and sparks between these two even before the “engagement.” They had both begun having feelings toward each other since a party last year, and Lucas had built up walls since his divorce that he would never have a relationship again. Kate had a cheating fiance so she was just turned off men but still had a hope that her Lloyd Dobbler was out there waiting for her.
These two were just so cute together, and watching their relationship that started out as fake grow and blossom, would they take the step to make it real? This book was such a jewel, the first I have read by this author, but I will be checking out more from her!
This book was FIRE.
The chemistry between Lucas and Kate will have you panting with your tongue hanging out for most of the book. I fell hard for them both and hated to see this book end. A scorching hot yet emotional, beautifully written story!
Single divorced dad Lucas is done playing with his ex wife. Having custody of his daughter Emma, whilst his jet setting model wife lives her life has always made sense to him. They co-parent well.. or at least he thought they did..until Lucille decided she wants full custody of Emma and has decided to fight dirty.
Lucas is not one to lie, is done with the hurt and pain that his divorce continues to bring… his one focus is his daughter and her wellbeing….but when it looks like his daughter will be taken from him to France his childhood friends step in to help… along with their sister Kate.
Kate.. the woman Lucas has been lusting over for the past year…is also a good friend..he will do anything except damage their friendship… even if it means he looses custody of his daughter.. until Kate steps in and announces that she will marry him…
The problem isn’t pretending to be in love… it’s pretending not to be.
This author is a new to me read and I have to say I was throughly entertained and captivated by this book.
I’ve read many duel POV books but never have a read a romance that is fully set from the Male leads POV… I have to say it turned a well used friends-to-lovers/pretend-engagement trope in to a new and original read. It gave a different dimension to the book and kept me hooked to the words and story.
Lucas is a total dream boat of a main character…thoughtful, considerate, selfless and my god sexy as sin.
I liked that what little insight we got from Kate was from her blog posts….she was a great leading lady…and her and Lucas’ actions were chemistry filled
A throughly enjoyable and unique read by an author I will be checking out further.
It’s a really good story with the traits that you need to love: friends to lovers, and single dads things. If you like those you will go down for this one.
Lucas is a single father and he’s battling his ex-wife for his daughter. Kate is his best friend. Will their relationship survive when we add to it fake engagement where both sides feel something more. Yet are not sure of the other side. Will, that work?
Check it out while reading “Rules of Engagement”!
Lucas is divorced and has full custody of his daughter Emma. He still has regrets and guilt left over from his marriage and is not looking for another relationship. When his ex wages a custody battle for their daughter Kate, his best friend’s sister offers to become his fake fiancée to strengthen his case. Although he knows that it is the best solution for his daughter being that close to Kate and denying his attraction to her is not going to be easy.
Kate has been friends with Lucas for years. She hasn’t given up on finding love but after her last relationship those thoughts have been put on hold. She has always been attracted to Lucas, but she believes he will never see her as more than a friend.
This is a sweet and sexy friends to lovers story. Kate and Lucas have always kept their attraction for each other under wraps but spending time together the chemistry between them ignites however handling the feelings that started to develop were a little more difficult to handle.
When Lucas’s ex wife threatens to take their daughter from him his best friend’s siste, Kate, volunteers to be his fake fiancé to help in the custody battle. I’ve come to love this author’s books there is something in the way she writes that makes the story refreshing. The characters are lovable and romantic. A great book!
I am a newer reader of Mika Jolie and I am so glad I found her! In Rules of Engagement we get a sexy single dad, a fake engagement and a friends-to-lovers romance and I loved it. This was such a sweet and charming story and Lucas was the very best!
Single-dad Lucas loves his daughter and would do anything for her. When his ex threatens him with a custody battle, he fears the worse even if he knows he is a good father. When Kate, his best friend’s sister steps in to help, he is grateful. But suddenly he is imagining so much more with Kate. I loved how sweet, strong and dedicated Lucas is. And Kate was sweet and caring and ready to stand up and help.
I loved the chemistry between Lucas and Kate. They were so great together and Lucas as a dad was one of the best things ever! I really enjoyed reading Rules of Engagement by Mika Jolie. It was charming, sexy and fun read.
4.5-stars! Loved it!
Happy reading!
This my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it, I’m ready for more. It was interesting to read this well-written book all from Lucas’s point of view. Kate’s input was only from her blog posts. Friends to lovers are always interesting because there is always history. Kate and Lucas’s story was a slow burn as their “fake” relationship heats up while trying to save custody of Emma Lucas’s six-year-old daughter. This book had a great storyline as well as wonderfully likable characters with lots of steam.
I really enjoyed this friends-to-lovers romance. I can’t remember the last time I read a love story rotten exclusively by a male point of view. It was very refreshing. Lucas has a complicated life with a vicious ex-wife, an adorable daughter and a hardened heart. And that is even before his best friend’s beautiful sister becomes his fake fiancé. Lucas may have a hardened heart but he has a beautiful soul and deserves to find his happily ever after. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book book.