The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely

The Real Deal (Kushiel's Legacy)

by Lauren Blakely

April Hamilton wants you to know she hasn't been on GigsForHire since that time she sold her futon after college. She doesn't even spend that much time online. And even if she did, she would not be looking up personal ads. But going home alone for her family's summer reunion is an invitation for every single relative to butt into her personal life. She simply can't handle another blind date with the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker from her hometown. So when she finds an online ad for a boyfriend-for-hire, she's ready to pay to play.

Heading Home and Need a Buffer? I'm the REAL DEAL.

Theo Banks has been running from the past for years. He's this close to finally settling all his debts, and one more job as a boyfriend-for-hire will do the trick. He's no gigolo. Please. He's something of an actor, and he knows how to slip into any role, including pretending to be April's new beau: the bad boy with the heart of gold.

Even if it means sleeping in close quarters in that tiny little bed in her parents' inn. Even if it means spinning tales of a romance that starts to feel all too true. What neither one of them counts on is that amid the egg toss, the arm wrestling, and a fierce game of Lawn Twister that has them tangled up together, they might be feeling the real deal.

Reviewed by Leigha on

4 of 5 stars

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A woman hoodwinks her family by bringing her "boyfriend" home for a family reunion.

April and Theo are the perfect combination of sweet, fun, and forgettable. I enjoyed spending the time with them, and surprisingly bought into their five day romance. It's hard for me to believe in an emotional connection between people when so little time has passed in the novel, but it worked for me here. These two are involved in several shenanigans, including some steamy moments. The ending packed an emotional punch without being too intense. I honestly don't think this story is memorable, but perhaps it will surprise me. It's like bubbly champagne - enjoyable in the moment, forgotten in the next. I'm okay with a champagne read once in a while. 😉

tl;dr A cute, yet forgettable, romance with sweet characters and fun shenanigans.

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  • 20 August, 2018: Reviewed