Review ~ THE STAKES OF FAKING IT by Joanne Rock

The Stakes of Faking It (Brooklyn Nights, #3)
by: Joanne Rock
Series: Brooklyn Nights
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 26, 2021
Publisher: Harlequin Desire
Amazon | Paperback | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Goodreads

Will a fake engagement be the role of a lifetime? Find out in the conclusion of Joanne Rock’s Brooklyn Nights trilogy.

She’s spent eight years running from her past.

And now he’s found her.

Chase Serrano once meant everything to actress Tana Blackstone. He was her first lover—and the last man she’d destroyed. She honestly never expected to see him again. But now Chase has shown up on her Brooklyn doorstep, wanting payback for the pain her family caused his. How can she refuse the chance for redemption? Posing as his fiancée for one weekend seems simple enough. But has the powerful businessman concocted a devious plan for revenge…with Tana’s heart at stake?

From Harlequin Desire: A luxurious world of bold encounters and sizzling chemistry.

The Stakes of Faking It is the third book in Joanne Rock’s Brooklyn Nights series. I’m a little hesitant to say this is a standalone read because couples and events from the previous books are mentioned. The series centers around three women working in creative fields (fashion, cosmetics, and arts) brought together by cosmetic heiress Cybil Deschamps. The women are chosen by Cybil through a lengthy detailed process to live in her rent-controlled Brooklyn brownstone. Cybil’s goal in doing this is to help young women live out their dream of working in their chosen field in prestigious New York.

The Stakes of Faking It is a revenge, redemption, second chance romance. Throughout the series, Tana Blackstone has been a mystery. She’s been a fiercely loyal protector and friend to her new roommates, Sable and Blair, but has managed to keep somewhat of a distance between them, never revealing anything truly personal about herself. She wants to be an actress and has perfected the art of masking her emotions. Finally, readers of this series are able to truly get to know Tana. Her background makes things clearer and really shows what an amazing person she truly is.

To say Tana didn’t grow up with the best people or in the best situation would be an understatement. As an only child, Tana grew up with parents who were con-artists and coerced her to partake in their crimes. That is until she turned eighteen and told them that she was done. Too bad this all happened around the time she and her father moved to Nevada and Tana met Chase Serrano. While Tana and Chase were falling for each other, Tana’s father was working a con against Chase’s mother. Before Tana knew anything, her father had married Chase’s mother and swindled her out of the Serrano ranch and money.

It’s been eight years and as they say, “revenge is a dish best served cold”. Chase has finally tracked Tana down and he now wants the rest of the land her father stole and to see that her father finally pays for his crimes. Chase believes Tana owes him and he plans to use her as bait to lure Joe Blackstone out of hiding.

Reading The Stakes of Faking It felt different from the other books. I honestly can’t explain why. I would really love to be able to pick Joanne’s brain regarding Tana, Chase, and this book. From the start, I loved this story. And I loved Chase as a hero. While he definitely wanted revenge, you could see how he still loved and cared for Tana, even as he struggled with trusting her.

These two make a great couple. I loved that Chase saw Tana when he allowed the walls he built around himself to come down. They have this tender passion between them. It’s easy to see that eight years apart and all the deception and perceived deception didn’t take away their feelings for each other. I loved that the story wasn’t predictable, as I thought it would be. A part of me is a little disappointed that it wasn’t. The Stakes of Faking It was a really good end to the Brooklyn Nights series. Bringing back the past couples catches readers up and sends everyone on their way to their happily ever after.

~ FAVORITE QUOTE ~

“It wasn’t a crime to have love in her heart even for people who hurt her.”

**Received a copy of the book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it. Also purchased a paperback copy personally.**

Rating: 5

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The Brooklyn Nights Series:

A Nine-Month Temptation ~ Review

Ways to Tempt the Boss ~ Review

USA Today bestselling author Joanne Rock turned a passion for writing into a career when imaginary characters kept her awake at night, demanding she tell their stories. The author of over one hundred romances in a variety of sub-genres, she enjoys small-town family sagas as much as high-drama glitz and glamour. Joanne has won numerous awards for her stories including the Romantic Times WISH Award, the Snow Globe, and multiple Cataromance Reviewer’s Choice Awards. Her work has been reprinted in twenty-six countries and translated into twenty languages. After receiving her Master’s degree in Literature from the University of Louisville, Joanne went on to teach writing, film, and fiction at colleges in KY, UT and NY. She enjoys sharing her passion for the arts at creative writing workshops, career fairs and with aspiring writers she meets online.

Places to find Joanne Rock:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest | Amazon Author Page

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