The word that comes to mind is.... cringeworthy. I know that the author wrote this because she wanted to play on beloved rom com tropes, but it comes off more as someone making fun of the genre by throwing everything imaginable into one book and calling it a romance. It was offensively bad at times; over the top to the extreme at others. And while I loved that there was humor, about 90% of it fell flat. Pair that with a writing style that is downright odd at times, and... well, you can see that I didn't like it.

I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking about storyline details on this one, because I really don't recommend the book. If it had been pared back a little or edited differently, I might feel differently, but as is it just doesn't work. There's potential in the story and there were times when I liked Rake, but mostly I just found it kind of offensive. There's a difference between playing up common tropes and making fun of them. This straddled that line in a big way. I honestly have trouble believing that this is coming from a major publisher, because it was really a hot mess. I appreciated receiving an ARC (and am voluntarily leaving a review), but this just wasn't for me.

I absolutely love MaryJanice Davidson’s books, but this one did not work for me. It seems her writing style changed for this books and I felt all over the place. It is a RomCom, the characters were interesting but not something I would read a follow up book on.

This book sounded fun so I’m sorry to say it was horribly written. I actually liked the charming playboy Rake who would have made a great character in a better book. Unfortunately this book has about no plot. As the story dragged on and on nothing happened. After the setup where Rake meets Claire and Lilith they just stay at a hotel for most of the book. That’s really it. It’s just some POV shifts between Rake and Claire and they talk. That might have worked if it had been interesting or funny but it’s not. Lilith is adorable but even at her precocious best there’s not enough to save this book. Claire is a pretty flat character with no emotions but heavy baggage in her past. Her narration just did nothing for the story. The author makes little use of the location in Venice which is a disappointment. This book was a chore to finish and it feels like the author felt the same way. Most of the chapters are really short and feel like no effort was made. There are some cute footnotes but they were not clickable on my digital galley so I couldn’t read them until the end of the chapter which made the translation of the Italian useless by then. There is a lot of references to what must be the first book in this series but it didn’t feel like it had to be read to follow along but again I’d recommend you not bother to read this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rake Tarbell is in trouble. When the fabulously wealthy and carefree bachelor wakes up horribly hungover in Venice, it's not something that would normally be a problem . . . except he has no idea how he got there from California. Or who stole his wallet. Or who emptied his bank account of millions. Or who in the world is Lillith, the charming little girl claiming to be his long lost daughter.
Claire Delaney finds Rake's problems hilarious and is not in the least bit sorry of adding to them by bringing Lillith into the mix. A pretty Midwestern girl with a streak for mischief, Rake is not the kind of man Claire hangs around with. When adventure-filled days turn to romantic nights as they search for answers, and someone starts following them through the streets of Venice.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & I found it to be a well written book which took me into a genre I don’t normally read but I must admit after I got passed the start of the book (I nearly gave up) I found it to be an enjoyable romp. The characters have depth & whilst I did like them I didn’t love them. For me it was an ideal beach read the could be dipped into over a few days & whilst I did eventually enjoy it it wasn't a captivating read for me
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance reader copy of this story.

The Love Scam, by MaryJanice Davidson, will be available at booksellers on 8-4-2020. Scam is the follow up book to Danger, Sweetheart published in 2016. Scam follows the story of Rake Tarbell, the useless playboy twin of Blake from Danger. It's important to read the author's note, it tells about how the story is set up and who the female lead is based on, yuck. It colored my view of the entire book. I think every trope in existence has been used, on purpose, and it doesn't benefit the story. The only character in the entire story I cared for was Lillith, the little girl. There's supposed to be a big mystery but by the time it was reveled it made no sense. I'm giving points for Rake's snappy dialog, he's actually very funny.

#MaryJaniceDavidson #Netgalley #StMartin'sGriffin #Macmillan #contemporaryromance #romance

I really enjoyed this one. Rake and Claire were great main characters. This was a sweet romance that had me laughing at times. I will definitely read more from this author.

This was a pretty good story and had some funny moments. I had a hard time getting into the story at first and had a hard time liking the characters, except for Lilith. I liked her right away. Rake seems like a ne'er do well. He seems to spend his life going from place to place having fun. He wakes up in Venice and doesn't remember a thing. Along comes Delaney with a little girl and announces to Rake that Lilith is his daughter. Then just leaves. Lilith is far older than her years. She seems more responsible than Rake. Once Rake finds out that his bank account has been wiped out, he can only think to go to Delaney for help. She helps, but seems to have some kind of ulterior motive in doing so. Along the way, Rake learns about charity and thinks about changing his ways. Is Lilith really his daughter? Can he keep Delaney?

This was a little far fetched. From a millionaire playboy winding up hungover in Venice Italy, not remember anything to Claire the woman charged with providing his unknown daughter to him to claim. He wakes up finding his accounts have been wiped out and not having a phone he is lost as to what to do.

After tracking Claire down, she is willing to help him for a cost, mostly free labor. There is a fun and flirty relationship and Lily is a hoot, and smart as a whip. Nothing is as it seems.

Sooo hard to review this one. First and most importantly, there's no paranormal here. Second, the characters, with the exception of Lilith (and even she can be annoying) are not wholly likable. The basic plot line- that Rake, an incredibly rich man, wakes up in Venice with no wallet, his bank account drained, and no idea how he got there and discovers via Claire that he might be the father of Lilith, a precocious child if ever there was one. Claire knows what happened and while she romps about a bit with Rake, she's not entirely sympathetic because of her own background. A lot happens right off the bat and then it slows down. There's a twist (no spoilers). This is a rom com that might have been better as a movie, in part because then we would see Venice in the background. Thanks to the publisher for the ArC. Not my favorite of Davidson's novels but it made for a light read on a hot pandemic day.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. You can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Scam-MaryJanice-Davidson-ebook/dp/B0818MSXVQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=love+scam&qid=1595979971&s=digital-text&sr=1-1
My serial series mid-starter continues. This is the second book in the Danger series. I failed to read the first book. This book begins on such a high note. Um, seriously-the author talks about her inspiration for this book has SNL (Saturday Night Live for those of you who do not know) references. Kirsten Wiig played a character with absurdly small doll hands. I LOOOOVE those skits! Kirsten Wiig can deliver without cracking a smile. She has so much talent! I can be funny and deliver, but I tend to crack and not sure if I were to do half the things that she does, if I would ever be able to deliver like her! The author’s note is a SNL skit in itself with random references to things like polyglots, polymaths, lardo, Venice, Colombia di Pasqua and some definitions from momjunction.com. How can you not want to hop right into this book ready to laugh and discover what all of this means.
My seatbelt was not fastened, even after the Author’s note! This book begins with Rake waking up, thirsty and in pain, thirsty pain. Did he eat a dead bird? Sure tastes like one. ..YUM! He realizes that he is in a T-shirt that he has never seen before-uh oh. Oh the nausea. We soon learn that Rake has a twin named Blake. He finally realizes that he is in a hotel and then he realizes that he is in VENICE! Oh the profanities, I love you MaryJanice Davidson! THIS IS WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW! Can I just wake up in a hotel room in Venice? Wait, my media knowledge is lacking at this juncture because of so much propaganda and nonsense, if Venice is COVID free right now, please may I wake up there? There are many places I would like to wake up in not knowing how I got there right now! Rake is from Las Vegas. There are a million places he could have woken up in Vegas and they would have been great- even fake Venice in one of the casinos, but he wakes up in the REAL VENICE! We find out that Blake is a finely polished gentleman, next to his twin Rake, maybe they are not twins, but evil doppelgangers or as the author refers to them – Before and after pictures-LOL! I have a vast vernacular, but the word troglodyte pops up-this is a word that I had to actually look up! Thank you AGAIN, Ms. Davidson. I LOVE YOU! Oh, I won’t leave you in suspense, it means a cave dweller! Why did I miss that word when I was waitressing or bartending? I had so many troglodyte customers! Just when I think we are going to get on with the story and carry on with things, we get the quote- “I’ve gotta take this from Slutty McJudgypants? Blow it right out your a$$, Benjamin Tarbell 2.0” Really? Where is the warning on this book- Must wear DEPENDS-ALWAYS! I am dying here!! Again, just when I think we are getting into the story, she throws dumba$$ery and jagoffs at us! Why can’t this author be my bestie? I would love for someone to refer to my antics as dumba$$ery and entertain her with my antics! I do not have an evil twin or even a twin, but I can be your obsequious sidekick and hopefully inspire you to write another pee in your pants book! I want to be your next muse! I am not as wonderful as Kirsten Wiig with small hands, but I can do my fair share of fat man in a little suit skits. I try on my kids’ clothes and attempt those-lots of fun! I may even have a pair of white tight pants and I can do a dance with my tight pants on for you! Please give me some chocolate, I will be hypoglycemic and hyperactive! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE be my bestie! I LOVED this book so much! If you are looking for some levity during these drastic times, you found it in this book! Unfortunately, this book is going to have me chasing the dragon for several weeks, looking for a book that can even come close to amusing me as much as this one. I will have to just hit the next book, as the reviews call!

Sorry DNF at 33%

I tried for several days to read this It just wasn't pulling me in. I read 6 book in between picking this up and putting it down in a 8 day span but I have no doubt this book is for someone else just not me.
Give it a try I hope you enjoy.
Even though I didn't like this one I will still read others by this Author.

My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found it entertaining and engrossing. It's an easy and fun read that kept me hooked.
I liked the characters and the setting.
The plot flows and I read it in an afternoon.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

A terrifyingly hilarious story. Rake wakes up drunk and broke in Venice. The author spins a tale of how his week unwinds with his rescuer Delaney, and maybe daughter, Lilith. As he tries to figure out what happened to him and who is after them they get into all kinds of out of this world conversations. The verbiage of the story is laugh out loud outlandish as Rake constantly has conversations with himself as he tries to figure out what the hell is going on. Lilith is a delightful character who always pops up with the best comebacks. In the end Delaney and Rake fall into bed and a insta family is formed.

This is my first book by this author and my last too. It was a really hard read for me. If I hadn't received and ARC of this book I would never have finished it. I feel I owe Net galley that much. I hate to give bad reviews but sometimes I just have too.
The details on this book sounded like a really good story, Rich playboy bachelor, gets drunk end up in Venice from California not knowing how. Has lost all of his millions alone with his passport and clothes. Meet woman who seems to know what happened to him. She also has a cute kid with her which might be his or not.. Unfortunately, somehow it all went wrong.
First there are to two prologues one about Rake Tarbell the bachelor who get drunk and finds himself in Venice. The second is about someone else who you don't know or isn't in the book till the end.
There is a lot of Italian quotes in this book, the footnotes letting you know what was said are at the end of the chapter, not under what is being said, so you either have to guess what is going on or flip to the end of chapter to see what was said. It is very annoying.
I read a lot of books on many different types but this one is full, like every page full of cussing and language not fit for anywhere but used in front of a kid. But Rake is sure to tell he is sorry . Lillith the drunks could be daughter was the only good thing in this book. She is smart, cute and wise beyond her years.
The woman who is supposed to be helping him has lots of secrets, and ghosts from her past being in the foster care system. She is either a blackmailer or a modern-day Robin Hood.
There is so much going on with Rake trying to figure out what happened to him. He is always talking to his twin in his head too. Claire Delaney the women who is there for him, who is up to lots of things, the women with her who know more then they say. His mother's story and of course the Grandmother too.
This book is hard to figure out and keep up with. It was supposed to be a funny romance but I just could not find anything funny about everything going on.
If you like cussing, lots of talking about sex mostly in their heads then actual sex scenes and a plot that is hard to follow this is the book for you. I can't believe it has some high reviews. I would save your money and pick another book. This is my honest opinion and am giving it voluntarily.

The Love Scam is a cute read. It is a little bit confusing at first and I found it hard to really get into. Then the story opened up and you get more from Rake and Claire (Delaney). You will giggle at times when it comes to Rake and the situations he faces. I love the added mystery on top of the mystery of why Rake is where he is. There are a few lessons to be learned and it is fun watching Rake grow up finally. I gave this one 3 stars only because it took awhile for me to really get into this one and really enjoy it. I loved this one by the end though so it is worth taking a chance on.

First time DNF-ing an ARC but, I could not force myself to keep reading this.

I wanted to like this. It is set in Italy, sounds like a fun romcom, the cover is super pretty, what’s not to like? Well, everything. For starters, I had no idea this was a sequel to another book.

The writing is meant to be seen as “zany” but it’s all over the place, it repeats things you just read over and over as if the reader is too dumb to follow along. I could not connect with any of the characters: Rake was an immature man baby, Blake spoke like a retired English professor and had a holier-than-thou attitude, Claire reacted like a happy robot and the child seems like decoration.

Since Rake has the emotional depth of a door nail, I really couldn’t find it in me to worry about how he had ended up in Venice or where his wallet was or anything of the sort. And I guess he was supposed to be funny but it just came across as insufferable.

This book just isn’t for me.

The good storyline and the well rounded characters grabbed my attention from the start and wouldn't let me go until the turn of the very last page!

The second book in the Danger series does not disappoint! A fast-paced quirky romance that will have you laughing and crying on this roller-coaster ride of a story. Hidden underneath the romance and comedy is a bit of a mystery that will keep you in the dark under the very end. The mystery unfolds at the end in an intriguing turn of somewhat comical events. I enjoyed reading The Love Scam and plan to read the first book in the series soon.

This story cracked me up with it’s crazy antics. And it had a little bit of everything. It was a fun mix of rom com, mystery and insta-love. The writing style was a bit hard to follow at times and the asterisks a little annoying. But if your looking for some fun and a light read on a lazy day this could be it.

I loved the description of this book and was excited to read it. Unfortunately, the description did not disclose anywhere that this is book 2 in a series, and that this story refers back to that book in multiple places, with footnotes that basically say "go read that book for the explanation." This was my first title from this author, so I don't know if this is her style in all books, but this title is written in third person with first person stream of consciousness parentheses thrown in, along with a bunch of footnotes to either translate Italian conversations or share thoughts that broke the fourth wall (i.e. one is about a t-shirt a character is wearing being available on Etsy). I wouldn't have minded the footnotes as much if they were at the bottom of pages, but they were at the end of chapters. I found the book difficult to follow.
Rake wakes up in a hotel room in Venice, totally hungover and not knowing anything about how he got there. Then Claire/Delaney shows up with Lillith, who may be his daughter. In the first 37%/20 chapters of the book, there were just more questions that came up than anything, with very little explanation, and no spark between the characters other than Rake being physically attracted to Delaney.
This is a DNF for me. After 20 chapters I don't care enough about the characters or really what the answers are to all of those questions to keep going.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.