FBI agent Max Carter lives his life by a strict set of rules–rules that don’t allow for distraction, deviation…or a relationship. But tell that to his matchmaking mama. To avoid yet another set-up, he announces he has a girlfriend. And now has to produce said girlfriend at Christmas dinner. Maybe Santa has a suitable actress in that red bag of his… Gina Castillo is about to break her … her building’s iron-clad “no pets” policy to give her little brother the perfect Christmas gift–a dog. Too bad Max, the most inconveniently sexy tenant in the building, catches her red-handed. Gina expects to be evicted, but instead finds herself blackmailed into playing the role of his girlfriend.
Two lies plus one dog should equal a hot mess of a holiday, but attraction and Christmas magic might just defy the rules…
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Very good, cute and funny!
Fun read. Two opposites attract in a pleasant way. He has OCD and she is an artist who functions in a mess. She is staying at her friends apt while she is away and got a puppy for her brother for Christmas. Dogs are not allowed and she gets caught by him sneaking around with the dog. He makes a deal that he won’t tell management if she pretends to be his girlfriend at a Christmas dinner with his family as he wants them off his back. Well written.
In my opinion, this is the perfect example of a quintessential beach read. Although, considering this novel takes place at Christmas time I guess it’s technically a better snowy cabin read. It’s quick, cute, funny, sexy and endearing. You can’t ask for much else. And did I mention there’s a puppy?!?! Squeeee!!! This was such a fun read I found it hard to put down. Seriously, the number of times I considered going in late to work with the excuse of “sorry, I was stuck reading a good book”, was too many times to count. Actually, come to think of it, it happened approximately three times, as I finished it in just as many days.
So let’s start with the premise of the novel; we’re dealing with a fake girlfriend tale here. When Max discovers Gina is keeping a puppy in a no-pets allowed apartment building, he blackmails her into being his fake lady love over the holidays to keep his matchmaking mother off his back. Honestly, fake girlfriend romance novels can really be hit or miss. Let’s face it, we all know how they’re going to end. Playboy guy will fall for said fake girlfriend, and before you know it their phony relationship isn’t so fake after all. But here was the absolute brilliance of this book; Gina fully acknowledges the ridiculousness of the situation.
Gina even warns Max that according to every romance novel ever, if she accepts this ploy they’re bound to fall in love. In my view, the best sure-fire way to make a cheesy story line work is to highlight the fact that it’s cheesy. Don’t hide it people, revel in it! The other positive aspect of how this rather common romance novel trope was handled was the fact that it doesn’t take long at all before both Max and Gina admit they’re not only attracted to each other, but also that their feelings extend beyond the physical. Their continued hesitation to transition from fake to real deals with the mutual assumption that they’re too different to ever fit into the other person’s life. It adds another layer of depth to the traditional fake GF story line.
Now while I really enjoyed the approach to the blackmail story, the absolute standout feature of this novel was the incorporation of Max’s OCD. On the surface, that actually sounds really insensitive, and makes me sound like a weirdo, so let me delve deeper into why I enjoyed this aspect so much. I have read many a romance novel featuring a lead with OCD, and many of them default into treating it like a kind of humorous character trait. Only meeting the love of his life does the male lead magically learn to unwind and not be so obsessive. This novel sort of starts off that way in that Gina’s carefree and colorful nature is at odds with Max’s structured life, and their little arguments over it are kind of silly and quirky.
However, after a while we see how deep Max’s OCD runs, and how it impacts his relationship with not only Gina, but his family as well. He knows that his need for organized structure is on the unhealthy side, and he feels Gina deserves better than that. He doesn’t want his obsessive nature to squash her zest for life, so he draws away from her. But the most heartbreaking moment had to be when Max finally confronts his family for all their teasing about his obsessive habits. He insists that he doesn’t need fixing, and that he’s not some sideshow to be laughed at. During this passionate scene there is one person who fully understands what he’s saying and is willing to stand by his side: Gina. That is why when push comes to shove this book is so much more than a simple fake girlfriend tale.
This was a good read. The writing flowed well, and I thought that Max and Gina made a cute couple. It was hard to read about Max’s OCD and not understand how no one in his family had ever tried to get him help when he was younger. His family, although loving, made fun of him for his tendencies. I’m not sure how they didn’t see it. Gina was completely opposite to Max, and she was messy and spontaneous. I liked that they didn’t try to change each other, just find a middle ground that worked for them. The ending was sweet, and I enjoyed it.
I voluntarliy reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
I loved this book. The way the story progressed was towards the expected HEA, but not necessarily in the expected way. I will read more by this author.
Amazingly fun, witty, and real ride. The main characters were a lot of fun and I loved the natural way their characters blended. The story line was simple, although their feelings were anything but! Lovable story I couldn’t put down! Positive vibes that made me feel when it was tense, sexy, witty, disappointed. I’d definitely recommend it!
Loved it! Charming!
This book gives some depth to the popular “Fake Girlfriend” theme. The leading man is an FBI agent, but his occupation plays very little into the story line. It is Max Carter’s Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that is centered to this plot. The lady, Gina, he selects for his fake girlfriend is a free-spirit Set-Designer/Santa’s Elf/Gift Wrapper Artist. I just loved Gina’s comment when Max first approached or should I say “blackmailed” Gina into fake dating– ” You do realize all the men in those movies marry the women they fake a relationship with”. Gina is the total opposite from Max, and the only thing they seem to have in common is a dog. These two bond over the cute mutt, and their fake relationship is starting to feel very real. However, a real romantic relationship with a future doesn’t look too promising due to their different lifestyles and Max’s OCD. OCD is not a topic often explored in a romance novel, but the author takes a thoughtful and realistic approach to this subject manner, which added value to this book. Over-all Rating 4.5 Stars.
It was okay
Super cute, fun quick read. Max Carter is an uptight FBI agent, who wants to get his matchmaking mom off his back, so he makes up a fake girlfriend. Gina Castillo is his neighbor, who he catches with the against the apartment rules puppy. Max seizes on the opportunity and blackmails Gina into being his fake girlfriend. Problem is, Max’s normal “I don’t do relationships” shtick, conflicts with his growing affection for Gina.
Nice to see a little focus on OCD, without over-the-top stereotypes.
Great read with very believable characters.