A delicious and all new reimagining of Lauren Blakely’s original fake fiancé romance!I don’t mean to just blurt it out. “Why, yes I’m engaged!”But once I say it to a potential client, there’s only one logical thing to do — cast the role of my fake fiancé.Easy enough. As a casting director, my job is to find the most talented players for every part, so I choose dreamy, edgy, sexy, sarcastic … sexy, sarcastic Reeve.And I sign him up for one week in the role of mine.
It’s not as if I’ll fall for him in five nights even if we get a little cozy one night at theater. It’s not as if I’ll want more even after a scorching afternoon in the stacks of the New York Public Library.
I can’t let myself fall because on Friday at midnight the curtain drops on our fake romance . . .
The Pretending Plot is a reimagining of the 2013 story Pretending He’s Mine (no longer available for sale). The Pretending Plot has been rewritten in first person and expanded from a novella to novel length!
In this swoony, new reboot of the contemporary romance series, “Caught in
Love,” dive into four interconnected standalones that will make your heart
happy, starting with The Pretending Plot, Lauren Blakely’s original fake
fiancé romance!
1: The Pretending Plot (previously called Pretending He’s Mine)
2: The Dating Proposal
3: The Second Chance Plan (previously called Caught Up In Us)
4: The Private Rehearsal (previously called Playing With Her Heart)
more
The Pretending Plot is the first book in Lauren Blakely’s new Reboot of her Caught Up in Love series! I absolutely loved Reeve and Sutton’s story when I read it back in 2013 as Pretending He’s Mine. And now, I love it even more. There is all-new material mixed in with the original swoon and sexiness.
Sutton needed a fiancé. Reeve needed a break. It’s a win-win.
One week was all they needed. If Sutton landed the casting director for the next big movie then she would have more pull in getting the audition Reeve wanted. One he needed so badly. One that could give him his big break in the acting world. And really, acting as Sutton’s fiancé wouldn’t be so hard since she was smart, witty, and beautiful woman. As for Sutton, it wouldn’t be hard to pretend to be in love with a man who made her knees weak with every touch and every word that comes out of his wicked mouth. And it definitely won’t be hard to walk away. She didn’t date actors. One week. Less than one week. Five days. No way they couldn’t pull this off and walk away, right?
So wrong! Each day was a surprise. Each date was more confusing then the last. Hot and cold. Was it all an act or was it real?
Awe! It’s been years since I read their story and it felt like the very first time. It was everything I remembered and so much more. The characters. The story. The twists. The chemistry. The banter. The kisses. And the connections! It’s so fun to see characters from other books and Lauren is the queen of cameos. Next up…The Second Chance Plan!
Quotes:
“Do you, Reeve? Do you make them scream your name out loud?”
I raised an eyebrow playfully. “Every. Single. Time.”
“I feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman,” he joked.
“Think of this as a dress rehearsal. We’re prepping for the big kiss scene that makes the audience swoon and totally believe we’re in love. Got it?”
“The Pretending Plot” by Lauren Blakely was a fun combination of the fake relationship and older woman/younger man tropes that I really enjoyed. The age difference between main characters Sutton and Reeve wasn’t all that big (she was 28 and he was 24), and Reeve came across as rather mature for his age, so it wasn’t as much of an obstacle for them as it could have been. I also appreciated that even though their chemistry was obvious from the start and most of the story took place over the course of just one week, Sutton and Reeve’s relationship never seemed like it was based on insta-lust or insta-love. Their emotional connection grew right along with the physical one, and the way their feelings developed seemed both realistic and believable to me.
Reeve and Sutton were very likeable characters, and the story was full of amusing situations and banter. They made a very cute couple when Sutton allowed herself to relax and enjoy being in the moment with Reeve. However, as Reeve pointed out himself, she had a tendency to run hot and cold. I found that to be somewhat frustrating at times, especially because she didn’t seem to have a very good reason for pulling back from him. I might have believed that Sutton was trying to maintain a professional distance from Reeve since their relationship was supposed to be a business arrangement, but instead, she kept expressing vague concerns about getting involved with an actor because it was difficult to tell what was real and what was pretend with them. Maybe she dated an actor in the past and their relationship ended badly? A past bad experience would have provided context for her concerns and made it easier for me to understand and empathize with them.
At any rate, “The Pretending Plot” was an enjoyable story and I would recommend it.
*ARC provided by the author via Candi Kane PR. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Pretending Plot (previously published as Pretending He’s Mine) is the first book in the Caught Up in Love. Sutton and Reeve’s story is a fun and flirty fake relationship/older woman and younger man romance/and slow burn romance. I loved their story. Joe Arden and Vanessa Edwin are the perfect narrators as Sutton and Reeve. I enjoyed it.
This was a great fake-relationship story. Sutton and Reeve were really cute together and I loved seeing their feelings develop.
The Pretending Plot
Caught Up in Love, Book 1
By: Lauren Blakely
Narrated by: Joe Arden, Vanessa Edwin
I have to admit, I didn’t listen to the original version of this, Caught Up in You, so I don’t have a comparison. I just know that I was “caught up” in Reeve and Sutton’s romance from the start. Sutton is up for a new role when she blurts out that she is engaged! Now rushing to find the perfect man for the part, she hires Reeve. But what he wants in return isn’t money! He wants his chance to audition. Now as they play the part, will they fall for their own plot? I love this trope and Lauren Blakely nails it. She has that fun and flirty banter she is so well known for with passion and steam adding all the feels. I loved the small age gap with Sutton a little older, the personality of both characters and found this feel good story to hit all my buttons.
Narrated by Joe Arden and Vanessa Edwin, we are given the total package. This treat is delicious, with Arden portraying Reeve with all his charm and Edwin playing Sutton to a ‘T’. It’s a fantastic listen.
https://adbl.co/39s9g8E
I just loved this renewed version of Sutton and Reeves’ story and all the steamy fun that happens in their fake relationship romance! Sutton is a successful casting director who is in negotiations for a huge new opportunity. When she gets cornered, she hastily admits to having a new fiance! Now she needs to find the perfect actor to help her close the deal. Reeve is a down on his luck actor who is recommended by a mutual friend, and he jumps at the chance for this big break. They are complete opposites with Sutton being all business and Reeve with his easy charm. As they spend time together, their attraction heats up and they are powerless to resist each other. Soon the lines are blurred and it is impossible to tell what is an act and what is real. This was so cute, funny, and sizzling hot! Narrators Joe Arden, and Vanessa Edwin make this story even more sweet and sexy with their flawless performance. Their chemistry as Reeve and Sutton is off the charts as they deliver all the witty banter, passion, and emotion beautifully. I really enjoyed this sweet, sexy and swoony romance!
I listened to the audio version of this book. It was a fake fiancee romance. It was short and sweet. It was ok.
Sutton and Reeve were ok. I got no great chemistry vibe from them. No buildup of sexual tension. The steamy scenes were ok.
I’m sad that this book didn’t make me feel anything in particular. I guess I could say it was cute, or sweet, but I didn’t even feel that. I can say that it was a quick listen.
It was a very solid OK for me.
We got a taste of Sutton and Reeve in Pretending He’s Mine (novella). Now we have all the nitty gritty details and some extras in The Pretending Plot. When you think there can’t be more to tell about a couple, Lauren Blakely comes in and steals your heart all over again. BRAVO!!!
4.5 star review of The Pretending Plot (Caught Up In Love #1) by Lauren Blakely
If you are looking for a quick, hot read then The Pretending Plot will be right up your alley. This is an extended and updated edition of Pretending He’s Mine.
I could not wait to read this book. As a very proud Australian, I so appreciate the fact that all of the pre order proceeds are going to the Australian Bush Fire Relief so for me this was a win/win.
This is Sutton Brenner and Reeve Larkin’s story and is an entertaining read that had me hooked from start to finish. As I have come to expect from Ms. Blakely, the story was funny with characters you cannot help but like.
The chemistry between Sutton and Reeve sizzles as pretence morphs into reality. I was intrigued by this story and couldn’t put it down.
Funny, steamy and full of sweetness The Pretending Plot was a fake fiance romance that made for an entertaining read. From the start I adored Reeve and could totally see why he was Sutton’s first choice when she found herself in need of a fiance. I loved how these two clicked right from the start and the dynamic between them was rather interesting. Sutton definitely kept Reeve on his toes but he didn’t let that deter him from going after what he wanted. Their witty and flirty exchanges kept me smiling and laughing out loud the whole book through and I adored the Artful Dodger. All in all, The Pretending Plot was a fun, flirty and enjoyable read.
The Pretending Plot is a reboot of Lauren Blakely’s older novella, Pretending He’s Mine. This is longer and told in first person. I did not read the novella and it is no longer available, so I cannot speak to how much it has changed but I thought this was a quick, sweet, and swoony romance and I enjoyed it so much. It’s a fake relationship trope. Sutton is a casting director and trying to secure an incredible job opportunity, so when her potential employers mention her engagement, she goes along with it, and decides to just cast the role of her fiancé. Immediately, Reeve comes to mind, as she cast him in a small role in a previous movie. Reeve is a struggling actor and desperately needing a job, so he agrees to Sutton’s proposal, and as you can imagine, sparks fly between them. These two had so much chemistry and were so great together. Sutton did get on my nerves with her hot and cold routine, but I adored Reeve! This is a super quick, cute contemporary romance and I would recommend it.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Pretending Plot was a taste of what you can expect from a Lauren Blakely creation. It had sharp wit and endless humor. It had steam and sweetness balanced perfectly. It’s the kind of romance that warms you to the core and make you feel every single good thing!
Reeves is a struggling actor in New York city and Sutton is the hotshot casting specialist in Hollywood. Don’t worry, it has no casting couch scandal. But Reeves is fresh out of luck and Sutton needs someone to pose as her fake fiance to score the casting contract with the next erotic romance blockbuster. It is a good deal until their chemistry starts to blur lines.
Reeves is a typical Lauren Blakely man. Seriously these guys are a category of their own. A charming, courteous and nice gentleman who can turn on and off his devious and sinful ways with alpha edge so easily. Sutton is a sweet and sassy charcter who does not give control easily and can hold her own against Reeves’ magnetism. But the chemistry is so deliciously hot! I could not help but squirm a lot whenever they were in the same space.
The Pretending Plot was a soft yet intense rom com from Lauren Blakely. I had a blast with all the fun filled, sexy as sin and heartwarming moments!
Received ARC for honest review
I liked this rewritten version, it has more to everything. It made me laugh and have those swoony moments just Lauren Blakely knows how to write. This pretend fiance that evolves into more is one I usually enjoy, this story about Reeve and Sutton is a fun one and I suggest you give it a go, I will be checking out the audiobook as well.
I liked Reeve and Sutton’s story. Reeve is a struggling actor looking to get better parts and move up in the business. Sutton happens to be a casting agent in need of someone to play a part not in a new project but as her fiance in order to land a job with a company she believes only works with people who are family oriented. Sutton decides to look at actors who she has worked with before who could play the part of a devoted fiance. Reeve knows he can help her and in turn all he wants is a chance to audition with the company Sutton is trying to prove she is the right choice for the job. Both agree to handle this arrangement as a job. Problems arise as both realize the attraction and chemistry the have for one another. Sutton wonders at times if Reeve is truly attracted to her or is he just that good of an actor? This was such a great read and I was hooked from the very first page. I absolutely loved the HEA.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
4.5 Stars for The Pretending Plot
If you are looking for a quick, hot read look no further than Lauren Blakely’s latest novel which is a reimagining of her 2013 novella Pretending He’s Mine add in the fact all preorder proceeds are going to the Australian Fire Relief Fund and you get yourself a must one click.
Sutton Brenner knows her job and is an expert when it comes to casting some of the hottest men for movies but she struggles to find a man for herself and now it seems the potential clients she is meeting with for her latest venture what her to be settled so she blurts out she is engaged…… enter trying to find a fake fiancé ……Reece Larkin is the perfect man for the movies and for the role of fiancé after all he is Sutton’s ideal man, problem is Sutton is his ideal woman so what happens when feelings and chemistry come into play and how long does this relationship stay platonic……
This is an entertaining read with a great story and adorable characters, it’s got the Ever present witty banter that we have come to expect from this very talented author and I’m sure all fans of Lauren Blakely and romance lovers will adore this fun flirty read.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
What happens when fake becomes real.
The Pretending Plot is a wonderful reworking of an older novella by Lauren Blakely, it’s been expanded to a full length if short-ish book-length read. I never got around to reading the older version, so Sutton and Reeve were a completely new couple to me, although, I have seen their names come up in other books. Almost all of Lauren’s book series have a winding, whirly connection in them somewhere, be it a place, a building or the couples and the family or close friends.
Sutton and Reeve were perfection in a snapshot. We only spent a few weeks with them, but the chemistry was palpable. Hot and steamy, and with some almost kinky moments- hint-see the library scene.
There was plenty of witty banter and sassy comments. Reeve was just the sweetest, nicest guy and he knew what he wanted. He just didn’t think he’d ever have the chance with Sutton until she opened the door for him and he was sooo swoony with her.
Fake fiance, real love.
This is a One-Clicker for me and I can thoroughly recommend it.
Sutton and Reeve aren’t pretending anymore!
Reeve has the acting job of a lifetime – he has to pretend to be in love with the woman he’s already falling for. But oh my, if Sutton doesn’t make him work hard for it! This was an awesome book, loads of fun to read with a terrific plot and a few nice surprises. And The Artful Dodger was absolutely adorable! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
4.5 stars
The Pretending Plot is Lauren Blakely’s brilliant retooling of her novella, Pretending He’s Mine.
Sutton Brenner is the expert when it comes to casting the sexiest men in movies. But when a potential job seems to hinge on her being engaged, she decides to hire a fake fiancé for one week. Reeve Larkin is the perfect man for the role. He’s just Sutton’s type… in every way possible. As their undeniable chemistry goes from a simmer to a boil, they’ll have to figure out if their relationship is more real than either anticipated.
This novel is Blakely at her best. Sutton and Reeve’s attraction to each other is palpable, the banter is witty and plentiful, and the sexual tension is off the charts. It’s well-written, adeptly plotted… and, let’s just say, I’ll never view the stacks in a library the same way again.
Devoted fans of Blakely’s work and new readers alike will devour this book the way that Reeve devours grapefruit macarons: wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. Plus, the process from all ebook preorders of this title (as well as The Second Chance Plan) will be donated to help fund Australian fire relief. So it’s a win-win, really.
An ARC of this title was generously provided in exchange for my honest review.