The Love Scam by MaryJanice Davidson is a lighthearted, quirky romantic comedy that delivers some fun moments but doesn’t quite hit all the marks. The plot follows Rake as he tries to put the pieces together and figure out how he ended up in Venice and who the little girl is who is claiming to be his long lost daughter.

I found this book a little too trope heavy (con-artist, drunken memory loss, surprise child, etc) which took away from the romance. The pacing felt uneven at times, with some sections dragging while others seemed rushed. The story’s plot, while entertaining, sometimes felt too contrived, making it hard to fully immerse in the it. Additionally, I found it hard to relate to the characters.

While I loved the premise of this book, I don’t think it was for me. It offered a fun, escapist read with its unique premise and playful tone, but it fell a bit short of being a standout in the romantic comedy genre. If you’re a fan of Davidson’s humor, you’ll likely enjoy it, but it may not leave a lasting impression.

I liked it. It didn't blow me away or anything. Had no clue this was a second book in a series but it can be read as a standalone and not get lost, so that was good.

The Love Scam is a romance that promises a blend of humor and suspense. Unfortunately, the execution falls short, with a distracting reliance on wordplay and stilted dialogue that undermines the story's potential.
The excessive use of puns and wordplay quickly becomes tiresome. The constant barrage of remarks and turns of phrase tries too hard to be funny, but it doesn't land, distracting the narrative and undermining character development.
The dialogue in The Love Scam is equally problematic. The characters' conversations often feel forced and unnatural, lacking the spontaneity and authenticity to make them believable. The dialogue is filled with cliches and awkward phrasing, further detracting from the overall reading experience.

I didn’t find myself rooting for the main character like I wanted to. This also didn’t have the romantic overtones I expected.

The Love Scam is a great fit for readers looking for a heartwarming story about unexpected parenthood, friendship, and finding love in unexpected places.

What a fun romantic comedy. This is a quick and fun read that is sure to satisfy - or break you out of a reading slump!

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

A predicament he could solve by tossing money at it will have him spinning out of control. The slow build up will have you anxious to see what happens next but I got lost waiting for it.

A man with too much money used to throwing it at problems finds himself in a predicament it won't solve. Hungover, without his cash and a new found daughter at his heels he sets out to find answers. It just so happens the woman who brought the child to him is pretty and might like a bit of adventure.

I could not make myself finish this no matter how hard I tried. I also feel like the description wasn’t exactly correct and was a little misleading.

The Love Scam offers an all-in-one experience that encompasses everything you desire in a book: mystery, adventure, comedy, love, and passion. The author's writing style makes it nearly impossible to set aside. Certain descriptions evoke a delightful mix of queasiness and humor, such as Rake's comparison of vermouth to the devil's urine or the taste of vermouth-induced barf. Additionally, Rake's hangover dilemma, questioning whether his pounding headache is a mere headache or if his brain is attempting to escape his skull in self-defense, adds to the fun and excitement. Overall, The Love Scam is an enjoyable and captivating read.

Quick and dirty. That was the purpose of Claire Delaney mission. Introduce Rake Tarbell to his daughter. Soon it becomes clear that these two have unfinished business. It’s fun and belongs in your beach bag.

A different and quirky take on a contemporary romance. The tone and plot of this romance were somewhat out-there and unusual, which wasn't for me. However, I think there are plenty of romance readers who would enjoy this one, if this is to their tastes. There's a bit of a mystery at the heart of it and it involves international travel as well, which could be a big selling point for some readers.

This story has more twists than a pretzel. Since this is the second book in the series we meet the 'evil twin.' Our hero wakes up in Venice with no idea how he got there from California. And the story just gets crazier from there.
A fun story with lots of romance and unexpected surprises.
#NetGalley

I was super interested and had high hopes for the concept of this book.

This book got a three star rating from me because of the story, it wasn't really something I had read before. It had a super promising start, but quickly fell off. I kept going to see what's going on, but to classify this book as a romance was honestly crazy & I didn't understand how this randomly turned into a romance. It was almost like the snap of a finger, and that was definitely not my favorite thing.

Overall, I read Truth, Lies & Second Dates by this same author and gave that 2 stars, so I'm grateful that this one was a little better!

I missed the first book in the series, so I was a bit lost. It took me awhile to get into this book. It was pretty quirky which I don't usually read, so there is that.

This second in the series is best read after the first. I love Davidson’s humor, but this one didn’t quite hit for me.

This was entertaining, but I didn't really care about anyone the characters. I just wanted more depth from the story/characters.

This book drips with sarcasm and being that is my first language I enjoyed that just a little. I do think I missed a bit having not read the first book in the series but that is my issue and not the author's. I do think it had great potential that was not quite reached.

Apologies for the late notice, but I have decided not to review this title. While I am certain it's obvious by now, I wanted to also clear this off NetGalley, so it's not showing as open for either of us.