“Readers will…read this book from cover to cover…and then read it all over again.”—RT Book Reviews for Just the Thing Five Stars GOLDWhat do you do when a “fake” relationship is so much better than the real thing? Hope Donnigan is finlly getting her life together. She’s working a job she likes, has some amazing friends, and is steering clear of Mr. Wrong. Now if only she could get her mother … likes, has some amazing friends, and is steering clear of Mr. Wrong. Now if only she could get her mother to understand that. Maybe a hot tattoo artist from the other side town is just the ticket to teach her mom a lesson.
J.T. Webster fell for Hope months ago at his sister’s wedding. So when she propositions him to be her fake boyfriend to get her mother off her back, he’s all in. The only problem is J.T. had no idea their pretend relationship would be better than anything real he’s ever had…
The Donnigans Series:
A Sure Thing (Book 1)
Just the Thing (Book 2)
The Only Thing (Book 3)
What People Are Saying about Just the Thing:
“A sexy romance that…tempers intense emotionalism and sensuality with sweet and comedic elements.”—Kirkus
“Another exceptionally red-hot romance by Marie Harte with a strong yet sweet hero!” —Fresh Fiction
“A must read.” —Night Owl Romance Top Pick!
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There was nothing ‘fake’ about this stellar read!
Hope and J.T. were everything in this funny, romantic, full of all the heat, story! I’m not a fan of pretend or fake relationships at all. They are usually awkward and feel forced yet these two… They were awkward and anything but that. Natural, warm and completely engaging, they, and their author, have made me a convert…
Hope was in a good place really. Giving up on dating, steady employment, nothing was wrong. Well, except for her mother who couldn’t see anything right in her daughter’s life, or the choices she made. In matchmaker mode, she was relentless so Hope didn’t have a choice really. She had to rope J.T. into her plot… J.T. was in a very good place too. His shop was doing well, his family was too. The spark he felt for Hope didn’t go against his casual approach to dating, he could help her without endangering his heart. Of course he could…
I LOVED everything about this story. It was full of witty, witty banter and all the heat that these two could generate – and that was a lot! There were in jokes, family frivolity and sexual innuendo that had me smiling the whole way through. J.T. was charming personified, with a warmth that made him totally lickable – I mean likable 😉 – and completely irresistible. Hope was his match in every way, even as they both refused to admit it.
Funny, sexy, warm and absolutely one of the best reads of the year. The Donnigans and McAuleys are sensational and I will be catching up with all of them while hoping for more!
*Reviewed for 1-Click Addict Support Group
**Thank you to NetGalley
A sweet quick romance, the next Donnigans novel is a romance gone wrong then right. Hope has sworn off men; after disastrous exes and failed chances at love, she’s focusing on herself. But her mother’s got higher expectations and it seems no matter what Hope tries, she’s never enough. fed up she claims that the risqué tattoo artist she met at a family wedding (and can’t stop dreaming of) is her latest boyfriend and challenges her mother to accept him. J.T. now has to go along with her ridiculous scheme. But when these two fake a romance then end up falling for one another when neither had planned for it.
J.T. is one hot man! I loved watching him push Hope’s buttons on what qualified as their fake romance and their true friendship. There’s and obvious chemistry between the two of them and I found myself just wanting to slap Hope upside the head and realize how much J.T. loves her. There aren’t a lot of your typical romance trope of “how will they ever get back together” due to some climax of a breakup. J.T. and Hope are a true slow burn romance filled with sweet moments, funny as hell moments, and moments of clarity that these two are a perfect match (for each other AND a readers).
Oh lordy, I’ve been looking forward to JT’s book for a while and, as I suspected, Marie Harte did not disappoint!!!
The Only Thing is the third book in the Donnigans series and we finally get to find out more about Hope, the only girl of the four Donnigan siblings.
Poor Hope, she had so much to live up to when it came to her mothers expectations and her older brothers achievements!!! So much so that when her mother starts interfering in her love life and telling her what kind of guy she needs in her life, she comes up with a fake relationship with JT, who caught her attention a while ago at her cousins wedding….
JT (wait ’til you find out what that stands for!! 🙂 ) is a great guy. For all he’s big, tattooed and looks like a badass, he’s loyal, caring, attentive, supportive and more than happy to help Hope out with her situation – that could well also have something to do with Miss Donnigan having caught his eye and the attraction he has to her.
This pair, even in their ‘fake’ relationship were fab. The fact that the pressure was off gave them the chance to get to know each other and both definitely liked what they found. I loved JT’s determination to move things forward and get Hope to admit what he knew – that they were more than pretend and had a really great thing together.
Even when they were trying not to be, this couple were all in, they were great for each other and I was rooting for them the whole read through. Complete opposites when it came to thoughts on relationships, JT couldn’t see himself even considering marriage, while Hope was all for the white picket fence, husband and kids….. but maybe meeting the right person could change both their ideals?
As ever, I loved that Marie had the crossover of characters from previous series involved in the story – catching up with old favourites is always fun. The book was well written, engaging, funny, sweet and hot. It really pulled at my emotions and was a great way to end the Donnigans series!
I cannot wait to see what is next from one of my favourite authors, whatever it is, I know it’s gonna be great!
My rating, 5* <3 <3 <3
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Lee’Anne –
I really enjoyed this super-hot, humor-filled book! J.T. and Hope’s story is interesting, funny, and will have you unable to put it down!
Hope is happy with life, she’s finally figuring things out and has made a decision to stay away from guys for a while. Her mother has other plans, she wants to see Hope settled down with a “nice young man” and still stop at nothing to make it happen. Hope winds up scheming a way to keep her mom off her back – she winds up in a “fake” relationship with J.T. Webster, a man whom she knows is the opposite of everything her mother wants for her. J.T. has been crushing on Hope since he first saw her at his sister’s wedding. The two aren’t able to keep their hands off one another long but Hope remains in absolute denial that they’re in a real relationship, while J.T. is fighting tooth and nail to get them to “real” status.
I was back and forth on my feelings about J.T. and Hope’s denial about being in a relationship. At some points I was frustrated because I just wanted it to happen, but the author does such a great job keeping the storyline flowing that the frustration didn’t last long. Other than that, this is a fantastic read and I can’t wait to see more from The Donnigans!
Avid Reader –
M/F Romance
Triggers: Stalking, Assault
This is a sweet story and I enjoyed it more than book #2. This was more of a love story and kept you guessing as to where it was going to go.
J.T. is a hardworking, honest guy who loves what he does. He is also dedicated to his family and friends but knows that something is missing. He can’t quite figure it out, but when his friend Hope, whom he is wildly attracted to, asks for his help in tricking her mom, he is all in.
Hope is loving her life right now. However, the constant nagging by her mother is making her feel both inadequate and like a failure. When she hatches a plan with J.T. to show her mother up – who is very judgmental – everything goes the way Hope believes it will… until it changes.
Hope is getting strange messages, flowers, and feelings. J.T. wants nothing more than to protect her. In order for both of these characters to stop running, they have to decide if love is worth the risk. It was a sweet story about trusting in your feelings and taking some risks.
Mary Jo –
What’s better than a real relationship? A fake one with a guy who knows the score. What Hope doesn’t realize is that J.T. is all in and he’s willing to play Hope’s game to get what he wants. And he wants Hope.
Hope’s tired of her mother setting her up with guys or being on her case for not dating at all. So she invents a boyfriend and when her mother wants to meet him, she convinces J.T. to play along. What she doesn’t realize is that she’s not as good an actress as she thinks she is.
Ruthie –
I must admit that this is my first read of a book in this series, so I had less invested than many readers I am guessing. However, I loved it and have added all the others that fit with this story to my to-be-read shelf!
From the first dinner Hope has with her parents, and she tries the shock tactic of the inappropriate boyfriend, to the very end, this is a fun, sexy, and very enjoyable read. The writing style is easy and just entices you to turn another page, and then another!
I had to laugh at their denial of anything meaningful, even when it was blatantly obvious how much they cared – I felt that Ms. Harte wanted to see just how far she could push them, and she timed it to perfection.
Whilst I may have missed some of the nuance, I found this to be a very good stand-alone read too.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Only Thing (The Donnigans #3) by Marie Harte to read and review.
Delightful telling of a fake relationship turned real. Marie ALWAYS tells a fabulous story and this one made me smile over and over.
J.T. Webster is the owner of Tull Paint & Body Shop, a tattoo studio, is the son of Liam Webster, mechanic and garage owner, of the Body Shop Bad Boys Series, and has talent oozing from his delicious body. He is half black on his mother’s side and a real feast for the eyes. He notices Hope Donnigan at his sister Del’s wedding, from the McCauley Brothers Series, but hasn’t acted on it since he’s been warned off by the brothers. I love the twining of the 3 series’. I don’t have to say goodbye to favorite characters and get to see more of what happened after the end of their stories. Hope is a “good girl” who is lost, according to her mother. She has moved from job to job trying to find her niche, and from one bad relationship to the next. She currently is working for her cousin, Cam and loving it, though it is a dead end with nowhere to advance. She never feels like she gains acceptance from her ever successful, perfectionist mother. Mom is always trying to “fix her up” with a wealthy man and Hope just wants to choose her own guy, even if she can’t seem to pick “good guys”. In desperation she fabricates a real “bad boy” for her mother and Mom invites him to dinner. Since he was made up, Hope has to find someone. She modeled this guy from JT with embellishments, so she contacts him asking to be in a “fake relationship” to get her mother off her back. JT agrees because he can spend time with Hope, yum.
These two have CHEMISTRY in spades. They have such a hard time keeping it fake. They go into it with ground rules that don’t last long. They discover while getting to know each other, to make the relationship believable to mom, that they genuinely like each other. That’s never happened to JT and Hope has been burned so many times she’s sworn off relationships. Surprise, their priorities change as they spend more and more time together. JT gets real close when it becomes apparent that Hope has a “secret admirer” that’s warning others away from her because in his mind she’s taken.
I loved watching these two fall in real love. I wanted to savor this story and not let go. I seem to do that with every Marie Harte story. I’m so glad her different series’ weave together so I will be seeing more of Hope and JT. Thank you Marie and Sourcebooks for the ARC of this book for my honest review.
Marie Harte is a new to me author, I have to say what a perfect way to be introduced to a new author!
The Only Thing is a story based upon a fake relationship, that in fact doesn’t seem fake at all.
Hope Donnigan is a woman on the verge of insanity thanks to her control freak of a mother. Living a life in the shadow of someone else’s objections is a difficult journey. After a series of hit and run relationships Hope is on a mission to live the single carefree life. That is why Hope has devised a plan to bring home a fake boyfriend who meets below her mom’s standards. Little does Hope know, this plan is about to blow up right in her face.
J.T. Webster is the epitome of bad boy. He’s tall, dark, and handsome with a players vibe and muscles for miles. But there is more to J.T. than what meets the eye. J.T. is a tattoo artist who also happens to own his own business. He’s charming, charismatic, and an all around good man..but that’s the side of him he only allows his close friends and family to see. Hope Donnigan has been on J.T.’s mind since the moment he watched her bring her sleazy ex boyfriend to his knees. Now he’ll do anything to spend just a moment’s time with her, even if that means following along with her plan to get even with her mother.
Often times when I read a novel involving a fake relationship, it doesn’t end well for me due to one simple fact, the content feels staged. I look for real situations in these types of novels and real connections between characters. I also love when an author shows similarities between the two characters that are obviously so different. Marie Harte nailed this trope!
I freaking adored Hope and J.T.!! These two are dynamic and even though this was technically a ‘fake relationship’ you could tell from the beginning these two had chemistry that was soon going to ignite! I loved how Hope and J.T.’s friendship evolved and grew into something much more.
Hope and J.T. are the perfect example of how opposites attract. These two are complete opposites, from their skin tone to their different personalities and ambitions. I loved watching the two opposites meld and form on unique love story.
Not only is this novel full of romance, it also has a mysterious vibe when Hope finds she has a stalker. Which brings me to the only reason I had to drop a star on my rating. I loved the whole situation with the stalker. I loved the buildup but the big reveal was sadly a let down.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Only Thing by Marie Harte! I loved the steamy scenes and the emotional scenes. I loved the fact that even though this trope can be all about the drama, this novel didn’t thrive on drama. J.T. and Hope are an epic match!
4.5 Stars
The Only Thing, is the third title in The Donnigan’s series, and features Hope Donnigan and JT Webster. I’ve read quite a few of Marie’s previous titles including several from The McCauley Brothers series, Body Shop Bad Boys and The Donnigans and as such I was quite familiar with this pair and eager for their story.
Hope is sweet, kind and stubborn, endearing and relate-able. She loves her family, despite her mother’s need to push, ridicule and nag her at every turn. She has a tendency to attract the wrong men. Although she wants the white picket fence, kids, the whole nine yards, she’s quite happy with her life as it is. In order to distract her mother from her constant need to set Hope up with a suitable man, she invents a fake boyfriend and in steps JT to save the day.
JT likes women and he’s not afraid to admit it but he’s not a player. He’s intelligent, artistic and successful as a tattoo artist. Although he doesn’t see commitment in his future, he’s inexplicably drawn to Hope.
I loved the banter that this pair share it’s fun, flirtatious, witty and full of humor. This pair are in complete denial of their true feelings for each other. Their chemistry and connection is intense and packed full of heat and steam!
The sub-plot of a stalker added an extra element of intrigue and suspense to this title and I had no idea who the perpetrator was going to be until it was revealed.
I will be eagerly looking forward to Marie’s next release, and hope that Heller and Rena will get their story at some point in the future, as I adore this pair and can’t wait to see more of them.
This is a great story! The characters are engaging and the storyline well-paced and entertaining. It will hold your interest from the beginning, give you plenty of laughs and have you rooting for T.J. and Hope the whole way through. They have a great friendship, even though they started out with a fake relationship, and I enjoyed seeing it evolve into more. They are both really gun shy (for different reasons) about the opposite sex and relationships and are complete opposites and they constantly try to justify their hanging out as being for their fake relationship but you can feel the chemistry between these two and you can tell they are headed for more. They are more invested in each other and their non-relationship than either realizes until it is too late. A lot of other books’ characters make appearances in this story and it makes it feel like you are coming home to old friends as you read, enjoying their conversations and laugh-out-loud moments. Also, aside from the romance and fun times there is also a bit of suspense and mystery surrounding Hope as she has to deal with a stalker. That was an enjoyable twist to throw in to their story. And as always, with the other books in this series, the emotions run strong and help make the story and characters feel more real. I have been anxiously awaiting T.J. and Hope’s story and was not disappointed. It was worth the wait.
* I received a copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily providing my honest review.
This was such a cute, fun read about a non-couple who are non-dating. They’re in a non-relationship to trick Hope’s mother but the chemistry between her and J.T. is anything but fake. There is very little relationship drama but a bit of mystery regarding a stalker.
J.T. was a great hero with his teasing ways, his intense desire and his dedication to family. Hope was a pretty great heroine as well. She struggled with her mom, had a history of really poor choices when it came to men, and wasn’t working the job of a lifetime. Together they were quirky, sexy, steamy, and perfect.
This had a nice pace that never got bogged down, terrific secondary characters both from previous books and hopefully future ones as well. The steam was melt your kindle hot and the mystery is completely cloaked and you will not be able to guess who the villain is.
Overall, a wonderful read that I immensely enjoyed!
The Only Thing is more than just another “fake boyfriend to appease meddling parents” (in this case, her mother) trope which seems very popular right now. It is a wonderful story of two people falling in love despite both seemingly uninterested in a long-term relationship.
I enjoyed J.T.’s character the most – funny, smart, able to stand on his own with confidence in himself. Hope, for having just turned 30, was a little too on the immature side for me. She had an abundant amount of self-talk dialogue (or introspection) that became a little tiring. Given her relationship with her mother, however, perhaps her lack of self-confidence was justified. She loves her job and has great friends but she’s also still trying to appease her parents. She’s 30….should she still be trying to fit their mold?
Would I recommend this one? Yes! I enjoy Marie Harte’s writing style, the way she weaves other supporting characters’ stories into the current one and…J.T. is a gem!
Hope is determined to stay clear of love. No matchmaking mother or gorgeous face is going to throw her off course. She has a foolproof plan. So what happens when that foolproof plan starts to unravel her resolve and infiltrate her heart? A sexy guy, a tempting romance and a sassy heroine make for a savory entree. Marie Harte is the go to for all things spicy and her Donnigans series is a repeat offender. The Only Thing is IRRESISTIBLE!
Sexy, witty and fun – a great read! I couldn’t put it down. I love these characters. Not only are Hope and JT perfect together, the other characters within the “McCauley Ecosystem” play fantastic supporting roles. They are so entertaining that you can’t help but laugh out loud at some of their antics.
Hope and JT are two strong people who have a chemistry that can’t be denied but, they’re deathly afraid of making mistakes and getting hurt. Then they find themselves in a “fake” relationship. A relationship that starts off as a friendly plan only to have the lines blurred when Hope and JT really get to know each other.
The romantic part of the story is sweet and touching. The plot surrounding Hope’s mystery gifts adds intrigue and some tense moments to keep you on edge. You won’t be disappointed in this story.
I believe you will get a better understanding and experience if you have read the previous books in the Donnigans series, as well as, The McCauley Brothers series and The Body Shop Boys series. All characters cross over and it helps to know the connections and their history.
Everything in Hope Donnigan’s life is going according to her plan, with the exception of her love life, she knows Mr. Right is out there somewhere, but he has yet to make his way to her doorstep. Her mom thinks it’s about time she get serious about looking for love, and is fully prepared to line-up some suitors for her, but those men don’t hold a candle to the one she has her eye on. Problem is he doesn’t know she is alive…. or does he?
The moment J.T. Webster met Hope he fell hard for her, but at the time he wasn’t in the market for love, and he isn’t so sure he’d ever be her type anyhow. But then she surprises him one day, when she asks him to help her deter her mother from setting her up with some rich, businessman, so he obliges, and helps her out. And before long, what starts as a fake relationship, quickly becomes something a lot more serious, and a lot more fun!!
In this newest offering from Ms. Harte, her dazzling characters shine brightly, and their beautifully crafted love affair does not disappoint!! I thoroughly enjoyed being a long for the ride on this one, the story was engaging, steamy, and so easy to get swept up in… I love these families so much, they always make me feel right at home! If you have a thing for bad boys, then this one might just be right up your alley, the moment J.T. wanders onto the page he is certain to steal your heart and leave your knees weak! Highly recommend!!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed
THE ONLY THING is the third instalment in Marie Harte’s contemporary, adult THE DONNIGANS erotic, romance series focusing on the Donnigan family. This is tattoo artist JT Webster, and PA Hope Donnigan’s story line. THE DONNIGANS is a spin off from Marie Harte’s THE MCCAULEY BROTHERS and BODY SHOP BAD BOYS series. You do not have to have read the previous series to follow the spin off. The Donnigan and The McCauley siblings are cousins. The reader was first introduced to Hope in A Sure Thing (Book 1).
Told from several third person points of view including JT and Hope THE ONLY THING follows the friends to lovers/ fake boyfriend relationship between tattoo artist JT Webster, and PA Hope Donnigan. Hope’s mother is driving her mad so to stop the accusations, condescending attitude, and numerous arranged dates with men she doesn’t know Hope tells her perfectionist mother that she has a boyfriend-a tattooed, hellion she knows will drive her mother over the edge. Enter tattoo artist JT Webster, the man who stars in all of Hope’s fantasies and dreams, and the man with whom our heroine will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance between Hope and JT, and the ongoing threats against JT and any man who feigns interest in our story line heroine.
Hope’s string of less than stellar boyfriends finds our heroine taking a break from dating but JT Webster continues to star in all of her fantasies and dreams never realizing that JT himself, is struggling with his attraction to Hope. But things go from good to bad when a number of anonymous gifts and flowers escalates into threats against our story line hero, threats that land JT on the receiving end of physical violence.
The relationship between Hope and JT is one of immediate attraction, an attraction that began, months before, at Delilah Webster (JT’s sister) and Mike McCauley’s wedding. The fake boyfriend and girlfriend relationship quickly evolves into something more but something that Hope and JT continue to deny. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including brothers and sisters: Gavin, Theo and Landon Donnigan; Dee Webster-McCauley, and JT’s father Liam Webster, and a varied assortment of cousins from both THE MCCAULEY BROTHERS and BODY SHOP BAD BOYS series.
The world building continues to focus on the Donnigan family including the fractured and struggling relationship between mother (Linda) and daughter (Hope).
THE ONLY THING is a sexy, sassy and seductive story line. The premise is energetic and engaging; the characters are fun, flirty and colorful; the romance is seductive, edgy and provocative.
My only complaint is the identity of who was behind the stalking of our story line heroine, and the threats to anyone who stood in the way-I was totally perplexed; the character came ‘out of left field. An odd connection to the overall story; a bit of a ‘red-herring’ thrown in with an earlier mention.
Great read I feel like I devoured the words off the pages. I’ve been reading this series for a while so this was a nice progression for me. If I did have any complaints or areas I would like improved it would be the ending stalker scene. But I won’t give any of that away.
These two are the most unlikely as a pair yet are the best possible fit for each other.
A lovely, enchanting and fun read where a pretend boyfriend/girlfriend fake relationship is more real than either can see. Everyone else knows what is going on and see they are right for each other but these two fight it nearly all the way to the end.
A great story with a slow build up. Loved all the fake dates that were more fun than any others they had with other people.
Neither JT or Hope are strangers to readers of Ms Harte and I loved them both equally.
Good background story with the stalker.
Even though I have read all the inter-related people mentioned in this book, reading this makes me want to go back and read them all over again.
Wow I remember Hope’s mother Linda being harsh but not quite so nasty as she was at that first dinner.