When Ava McKenna left the neighborhood she grew up in, she never planned to look back. And for ten years she didn’t. Not until Mateo Ortega, the handsome and charming boy next door, showed up to ask for her help. Mateo needed a favor, actually he needed a pretend fiancée, and he thought Ava would be the perfect woman for the charade. Ava knew that she owed the Ortega family a favor but when she … she looked into Mateo’s gorgeous brown eyes she realized that repaying an old debt might jeopardize her heart.
Heat Level: Sweet Romance
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Loved this sweet romance with Ava and Mateo. She and her mother lived next door to his large family so when her mother passed away from cancer she moved away but kept the house. When she finds out he wants to buy the house and wants to meet for dinner and has a totally different plan. His grandfather is dying and he wants Ava to pretend to be his fiancee which turns into a wedding. The plan goes astray when they both fall for each other but does not know the other feels the same way. Loved the story and the characters were so real.
This is a sweet and touching love story between Ava and Mateo. The author does a beautiful job building their story and pulls you in with all the emotions both happy and sad and delivers a heartwarming read. It’s well written,moves fluidly and I enjoyed reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
THE WEDDING FAVOR is the first book in the Your Invitation to Romance series. Each is a stand-alone, fake marriage – to – love romance.
When Mateo tells his Abuelo (grandfather) that he is engaged, the only woman who comes to mind is Ava, the girl from next door whom he hasn’t seen in ten years. To me that shows that he is already half in love with her before he even proposes the ruse to present themselves as engaged in order to provide his abuelo with happiness in his final days.
Ava already admitted that, after the generosity, kindness, and care shown to her family when she was a child, she has always wanted to be in the Ortega family. Of all of the Ortegas, when told that someone from the neighborhood wanted to meet with her, her first thought was Mateo. Those two facts tell me that she was already infatuated and when she agrees, and one-ups the proposition, I’m convinced that she is showing her secret desire to build a real relationship with him.
Their relationship may be rushed (on the surface) in the beginning, but ultimately love has to win. I believe this with my whole heart. I love sweet love stories – such as this one – that reinforce that concept.
The majority of what I have read from Caroline Mickelson has been paranormal romance, but she writes contemporary sweet romance beautifully, as well. I look forward to reading more!
Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Title: THE WEDDING FAVOR
Series: Your Invitation to Romance #1
Author: Caroline Mickelson
Publisher: Caroline Mickelson
Publish Date: 01.30.2014
Category /Genre: Sweet Romance
Recommended for: 18+ due to fade-to-black romance
Grammar/editing: A – near perfect
Received from: Caroline Mickelson (as a gifted copy)