by: Belle Calhoune
Series: Mistletoe, Maine
Genre: Contemporary Small Town Clean Romance
Release Date: June 28, 2022
Publisher: Forever
A faux summer fling seemed like the perfect solution . . . until they start falling in love for real.
Teacher Stella Marshall’s summer break has just began, but the gossip is already sizzling: Luke Keegan’s back in town! Stella’s high school crush is all grown up and smolderingly sexy. She might even consider a fling with the former Navy SEAL, if she hadn’t already sworn off all romantic entanglements. But there isn’t a single thing she can do to stop the rumor mill whispering about her and Luke being together—unless . . .
A showmance! Luke never thought he’d propose a fake relationship, but it’s the only way to stop the runaway speculation about their love lives. Pretending to date a woman as stunning as Stella is easy. Not actually falling for her is the hard part. Luke isn’t sure he deserves a hometown happy ending, when members of his SEAL team never made it back at all. But there’s real attraction buzzing between him and Stella . . . and he knows she feels it too. Could their faux summer romance lead to true love?
It’s been two years since Rafe broke up with Stella a mere two days before their wedding to reconnect, marry, and start a family with his high school sweetheart. During this time, Stella has had to endure pitying looks and multiple attempts to set her up with “eligible” men. Stella, a second-grade teacher, is just looking forward to summer so she can relax and maybe even take a girls' trip.
After an explosion ended his military career, Luke is back home in Mistletoe trying to figure out his next steps. He isn’t prepared for his younger brother Nick to be inundated with multiple calls to have him set Luke up on dates. After rescuing Stella from an epically embarrassing situation, the two decide to pretend to be a couple, in order to keep the well-meaning townfolk of Mistletoe off their backs. As is always the case, a fake relationship produces real feelings.
Stella and Luke are afraid to take the step to becoming a real couple and risk their hearts. But when Stella’s ten-year-old sister Tess, and Luke’s eight-year-old nephew Miles join forces, they have no choice but to face their fears and admit their true feelings. I really loved these two together. They are just what the other needs to put their lives in perspective and learn about themselves.
If you like/love Belle’s Love Inspired books, you are definitely going to love this sweet romance. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, which features Nick, a widowed single father.
~ Favorite Quotes ~
“Perspective was a funny thing.”
“Life isn’t any fun without surprises.”
“Happiness is something to rejoice about.”
“No one’s life is perfect.”
“Trust your instincts.”
“Love is terrifying and amazing and powerful.”
“I’m a work in progress. I’m not finished. Not by a long shot.”
“With love, anything was possible.”
**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.**
Rating: 4.5
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The Mistletoe, Maine Series:
No Ordinary Christmas ~ Review
Falling in Love on Sweetwater releases February 21, 2023
Belle hopes her books will provide readers with inspiration, entertainment and an escape from day to day life.
Places to find Belle Calhoune:
looks like a great book, fantastic cover, ejoyed the review
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
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