This was a cute story about 2 people reconnecting many years later and reluctant to share their little surprises with one another. It was a quick read but had me wanting a more.

What a charming debut novel! It gets ALL the stars!! I literally laughed my way through most of this book, it was a such a fun read. There are a few serious moments in the book as well and I loved every minute of it, the serious and the fun. I will be on the lookout for more from Melissa and I am already counting days till her next release!! She has a new fan in me!

This book was so utterly lovely in a way I never expected. I expected this to be a soft silly rom com. It was certianly not that. While there are some funny moments, and some romance, this is so much more. This book gave me ALL the feels. The Dating Charade spends a lot of time talking about found families, and adoption and what an unexpected family can look like, and I just loved it so so much.

Cassie and Josh go on a great date and then each is found with 3 kids thrown into their laps very unexpectedly and neither wants to tell the other for fear of scaring them away - so begins the dating charade.

I thought this book was cute but predictable. And enjoyed the second half better than the first. I think the writing is well done and the characters are great, just a bit too much of the same for me.

It took awhile to really enjoy this book. But about the time Jett entered Cassie’s life, I started loving the storyline. The Dating Charade made me smile and it made me tear up. The happily-ever-after was wrapped up in a short epilogue, leaving some questions but a lot of happy answers. Overall, it was a good book.

It really started greatly and I wished I could love this story more. I really wanted to.
There wasn’t anything bad about this book but I couldn’t connect with the story or the characters. The beginning was quite good, Cassie and Jet were definitely so darn cute. But still I couldn’t feel the chemistry, it felt a bit flat to me.

3/5 stars

*Trigger warnings at the end.

This story appears to be a fluffy, contemporary romance on the surface but definitely covers some more serious topics. I liked Cassie and Jett and their slow burn romance, however I just didn't connect as much as I wanted to. They both definitely had their issues when it came to kids and were trying to work on them separately. The entire story and romance was based on a lack of communication and it really left me wanting more chemistry between the two main characters. The main connection I felt was for each of them with the kids they were taking care of for most of the story.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TW: Fertility issues, adoption

3.5🌟
I found this book to be heartwarming, funny and endearing. But, most of all, full of love.
Main characters are Cassie and Jett who knew each years ago while in high school. Fast track to present day when they get reacquainted through a online dating site. A misunderstanding occurs that makes each one think the other one does not want children which puts a stop to their relationship. Ironically, a situation arises that has both of them becoming caregivers to 3 children each. What follows is lots of laugh out moments as they maneuver through taking care of the children.
I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. The opinions stated are entirely my own.

I wasn't a fan of this novel; I know authors work hard to create their books so I hate to criticize, but the title makes you expect a romance or romantic comedy and it wasn't a romance or comedy at all. It was very serious about many big challenging life problems and not enough interaction between the main characters or romance. How many dates did they go on??? Seemed like not many. It was like reading two different memoirs about two separate people instead of a romance about a relationship. It was also hard to keep track of what was happening and when at times.

The Dating Charade is a cute book, a decent read and I wanted to love it but it just felt flat and a bit unrealistic.

Jett and Cassie are great characters and I would have loved for the book to have been about them but sadly it's more about the situation they are put into when they each find themselves raising other people's children and trying not to let one another known in fear that they other wouldn't want to be with them.

The chemistry between the two characters is great and I wish the focus had been on their relationship. I don't really care to read about raising children and the chaos that ensues as they each attempt to navigate parenthood. I also find it hard to believe that two people would each suddenly find themselves in a situation from having no kids to have kids overnight. It's too large of a coincidence.

There is way too much focus on the kids and not on the relationship which makes the entire relationship seem farfetched. I kept waiting for the Rom-Com to happen but it never did or at least that was the case for me.

As someone who has her doubts about dating apps, I was pulled into Cassie's story immediately, relating to her. She happen to have a little better luck than me (depending on what you're looking at in the story lol) and for that I was glad. Both main characters were sweet and this story was super cute.

What's more, it takes place in one of my favorite places – Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I was so excited when I found that out (it was when I saw Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, someplace I have visited and explored before) that I reread the paragraph like a million times and squeaked with happiness. It didn't take me long to finish reading after that.

The Dating Charade tells the story of Cassie Everson, a woman fed up with online dating, and Jett Bentley, the man who she's been unknowingly ogling through her window at work. When she gives up on the apps, her best friend attempts to set her up with Jett, unsuccessfully. When they finally go on their official first date, Cassie is amazed by how much she likes Jett and wants to see him again. And in the interim between that date and the next, both Cassie and Jett acquire 3 children each.

Yes, three. Despite Cassie's insistence on her apps that she doesn't want children, it's only because of her mysterious accident, so when one of the girls from the youth center where she works is in crisis, she becomes an emergency foster parent for her and her two sisters. Jett's sister has struggled with addiction issues, and show sup at his apartment with her twins and a new baby he didn't know existed, only to disappear into the night. Neither Jett nor Cassie wants to scare the other off, so they decide not to tell each other about the kids (hence, the charade). This leads to a number of comical and some sad misunderstandings.

The things about this book that worked for me: Cassie's connection with her girls, the conversation her friend has with her about the trauma of foster care, the palpable discomfort has with his neighbor. I was disappointed that the author didn't do more to discuss the concerns with interracial adoption. The romance didn't really work for me, maybe because the main characters are lying to each other about something so huge the entire time. This was unfortunately influenced by the fact that The Dating Charade is the second book I read in a short period of time that featured a hero who works in a fire station and a heroine struggling with infertility.

Sweet but ultimately not for me.

2.5 stars

***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Cassie is tired of dating, and never finding the right match. When she finally meets Jett, and sparks fly, unexpected circumstances develop IN both of their lives. While afraid to be honest with each other over their changed experiences, misunderstandings abound. Just okay for me, although the handling of some serious topics as drug abuse and adoption add dimension to the story. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I really liked this book. I loved the characters and how they overcame their obstacles. I really loved how the two main characters were so selfless and did the right thing. I read this in one sitting, it was just really good.

I devoured this debut novel! It was all a sweet romance should be; a bit of drama, a bit comedy, twists, and lots of love. I really enjoyed that Melissa brought out a topic that is close to my heart: fostering. I was right there with both Jett and Cassie when they found themselves parents overnight.

The kid antics are incredibly realistic and hilarious (because they weren’t happening to me), and a couple hit a little too close to home. It’s true that kids really do say the darndest things. But, if you don’t have children, don’t think you won’t relate. Melissa does a great job of pulling you into the story of a couple trying to retain normal in a topsy-turvey situation.

I cannot wait to read her next novel.

I was provided a copy of this story but was not required to post a positive review. All opinions are my own!

What I think you should know:
The Dating Charade is a romantic comedy by Melissa Ferguson, it is her debut novel.
Cassie Everson has given up on Dating when a guy who went to high school with her finds her dating profile. When her friend gives her an unexpected push she decides to give dating one more chance, until what she has been longing for, a family falls into her life.

What I think about this book:
Although the Dating Charade was called a romantic comedy I would not necessarily classify it as either one, however that does not mean that it is not a good book. I will admit I am a sucker for books with settings that I know, and this one is set in Gatlinburg, TN, a place near and dear to my heart. As a former teacher I had students that I would have taken home in a heartbeat so I was able to relate to Cassie and her love for “her” kids. Jett is a guy that every girl wants, one who will go out on a limb for you, one who will fight for you. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, but I felt like the story and details got lost at the ending I wanted more information, more time in the story. Even with the rushed ending I enjoyed the book and will happily read the next book by Ferguson.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

Title: The Dating Charade

Author: Melissa Ferguson

Pages: 336

Genre: Christian Fiction, Rom Com

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

I’m not going to lie the first thing that drew me to this book was the Brady Bunch feels. Cassie and Jett have an awesome first date but when they each end up with three kids each they hide the kids from each other. Thinking that the other didn’t want kids.
They go through the charade pretending that nothing’s changed. But like any rom com chaos happens. I didn’t know how would feel about this book because Rom Com’s in book form have been a miss for me here lately. But after reading this one I’m willing to get back into reading them. The Gatlinburg setting was neat and not something that I remember reading in books before, and it was neat to read a book set in the place that we went on family vacations when I was child. I also look forward to reading future books by Melissa Ferguson.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Dating Charade was an interesting debut novel by Melissa Ferguson.
Lady has bad dating past and is about to give up on the marriage and children dream. A firefighter finds her profile and they really hit off. An additional twist is waiting for them at the end of the date.
I give this one, 3.5 stars out of five.

Was really cute and was surprised at how the romance developed. It was cute that Jet had a crush on Cassie when they were younger. The plot ends up up being crazy, heartfelt and very crazy again. I believe that is what we all want in our Romance novels though. The story I found more focused on the side plots than the romance which was interesting. Though you could definitely see why these two fit so well together!

This was such a fun story! I loved that Cassie was an independent woman with a dating escape plan. She was such a wonderful character, so caring about the teens she worked with and a fun, competitive person. I loved Jett, too, I mean who doesn't love a firefighter?! Plus how down to earth he was and how much he cared about the people he helped at his job and about his sister and her kids. There were a lot of funny, laugh-out-loud moments in this story and some wonderful quirky characters, including some funny antics by Jett's brood. I loved that they both wanted the other to love the kids for themselves and not just put up with them. There were a couple moments where they each lied about something and while I understood why they did it, it still bothered me. There were some cute romantic moments and a little bit of action. This story also dealt with some hard things but in a lighter way as Cassie dealt with kids who were in foster care and the girls she took in were abandoned while Jett's sister had a drug problem. They both attended church so there was a faith element to the story. I highly recommend this wonderful romantic comedy!

I received this ebook from Thomas Nelson Publishers. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.