This was sent to me to review and unfortunately it wasn’t for me. The story didn’t draw me in, I didn’t love the old school writing and I was bored. DNF. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free preview in exchange for an honest review.

This had so many laugh out loud moments! I just gobbled it up (insert happy face). It is a pretend relationship that wings so far out of control that you just know their house of cards will come crashing down on their heads by the end. You can see it coming and the reader has a ridiculous smile on their face! It does not have a large cast of characters but the one that are there are well formed and perfect. Apparently Virginia Heath has been wanting to write this story for a while and you can tell it's been plotted in her imagination over the years. It was absolute perfection!

Hugh Standish, Earl of Fareham has written himself into a dilemma as his best friend Giles Sinclair, Lord Bellingham points out. Hugh's matchmaking momma, now married to American businessman Captain Teddy Peters is on a ship home to meet Hugh's imaginary fiancé. He's going to have confess to her or find someone fast. He is a rake, never settling into a serious relationship because of his Standish blood that he sees as tainted to be a philander as all of his predecessors were. He has such a noble character we see throughout the story. He sees himself wrongly and is truly a knight in shining honor underneath it all. When he stumbles on Minerva Merriwell late one night trying to collect her payment for advertising services from a stingy man, he comes to her rescue gaining the money for her. She obviously needs it shivering in the cold dressed in fraying mismatched clothing.

Minerva Merriwell has raised and supported her two younger sisters since their wastrel father deserted them five years ago. Their mother died years ago. She barely makes a living selling her woodcut engravings to newspapers & individuals for little money. When Hugh steps up helping her finally getting payment for her work on an advertisement she's grateful & they strike up a conversation. When he finds her name is Minerva, the same as his made up fiancée he offers her a job pretending to be his fiancée while his mother visits. When he offers 40 pounds for two weeks she jumps at the chance to have funds that will last them for two years! The more time they spend together the closer they get and the inevitable happens, they fall in love. This was so much fun to watch.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A historical fiction rom-com where a handsome earl hires a fake fiancée to keep his meddling matchmaking mother at bay.

I enjoy the fake romance trope and this had some fun antics, in particular, scenes involving Minerva's "mother".  I agree with other reviewers that the ending seemed a bit rushed but I do look forward to reading about Diana and I hope book 2 does just that!  

Thank you to @netgalley and @smpromance for the digital arc.

This is one of those this is so crazy you have to enjoy and read it, he makes up a Fiancee for two years for this mother but then she is coming back from Boston- so Hugh has to think fast and find him a Minerva and to his luck he runs into one. She is fighting for some money and needs it to support her sisters, and in comes the set up she will become his Fiancee for his mothers, until his best friend runs off with her. He also hires an actress- to play her mother and her two sisters come long for this journey. Its more banter- family drama- crazy stories- the sisters steal the story in a way then romance.

It took me a bit to get into this and the middle was too long, and then at the very very end too fast the actual romance- chemistry part at the end. The chemistry also just felt off for this one.


Thank you to St. Martins Press for the ARC via NetGalley for my honest review.

This book is a ride! Hugh receives word that his mother will be arriving from America to visit. He loves his mother so this is great news except for one small detail....his mother believes him to be engaged to a woman named Minerva. Hugh doesn't know what to do until he comes to a woman's rescue only to find out that she is name Minerva and is willing to help him by acting as his fake fiancé during his mother's visit for a fee. They see this as a win-win as Minerva is in desperate need of funds and Hugh needs a fiancé without the "troubles" of an actual relationship.

I have read so many books where the hero is resistant to love and marriage, believing he is unworthy and that it's not for him but I have never read a hero who is quite so final on that idea. Hugh truly falls into a relationship and love with Minerva without noticing it at all and it is delightful. Minerva is so kind and witty and you just want her to win in life. I loved the two of them together. The side characters are so funny and loveable and the setup is just plain fun. I loved the twists on the fake relationship trope and that the relationship felt very balanced despite their class differences because it was written so well.

I had not read a book by Virginia Heath before so am thrilled to have found this one. It's a quick, entertaining read that is great for any historical romance fan. I wholeheartedly look forward to more in this series!

Thank you to @StMartinsPress and @NetGalley for the gifted copy of Never Fall for Your Fiancée! All opinions in this review are my own.

Never Fall For Your Fiancée is the first book in the Merriwell Sisters series. Hugh Standish has been avoiding his mother's matchmaking skills for years by inventing a fake relationship. Now that his mother is coming to visit, Hugh needs to find a woman to play his fake fiancée. When Hugh meets Minerva Merriwell, who conveniently has the same first name as his fake fiancée, he hires her on the spot. Minerva has had to care for her sisters ever since her father left them and jumps at the chance to make some extra money. Neither one of them is prepared for how much of a disaster this whole situation becomes.

Fake dating is my favorite romance trope so from the start I knew I would love Never Fall For Your Fiancée. Despite being terrible at scheming, Hugh and Minerva are pretty funny together. I like how developed both them were too. The novel followed both of them equally so I felt like I got the full story of their romance, even when they weren't communicating with each other about it. Minerva's sisters also have their own distinct personalities. I can't wait to read the next book featuring one of them!

Hugh Standish made up a fake fiancée in order to escape his mother’s rampant matchmaking. When his mother announces her return from America, where she lives with her second husband, Hugh takes the desperate step to hire Minerva Merriwell, who happens to have the same first name as his imaginary fiancée, to pose as his future bride so he doesn’t have to tell his mother the truth. Minerva, who is struggling to supper herself and her two younger sisters from her engraving business, cannot refuse the money Hugh offers. She and her sisters, who are both highly suspicious of the entire situation, travel to Hugh’s county estate to prepare for their roles. Of course, ir doesn’t take long for Hugh and Minerva to develop real feelings for each other, further complicating a plan already headed towards catastrophe.

▪ Fake dating trope. It’s one of the best romance tropes out there. It is complicated in the Regency era by all the rules of conduct, chaperones, the presence of servants, etc. This is odd to say, but as outlandish as High’s plan is, it is made entirely believable by the quality of the set-up.

▪ Meddling friends and family. This is an element I absolutely require in a romance novel, without the presence of a quirky group of characters who get too involved I feel romances fall a bit flat. This book has such a variety of characters who hinder and try to help in their own specific ways that it is just perfect. Special mention to the sassy butler who not only goes along with the ridiculous plan, but shows kindly support to the Merriwell while mercilessly mocking his employer.

▪ Misunderstandings. I don’t want to go into details, but the core misunderstanding is so well done. Sometimes, characters just willfully misunderstand each other to create drama, but here one character says something super ambiguous that they believe to be very clear, and of course the other character gets the wrong end of the stick, but it is so believable it hurts.

▪ Good bit of heat. There is a lot of very lusty thoughts, as well as a bit more. It is not super explicit, but it is not closed door. (I happen to enjoy both ends of the heat/explicitness spectrum, but if you prefer closed door, or very explicit, this may not be for you. Or you could just skip those bits, I guess.)

There are two more Merriwell sisters, which is very good news as we can expect two more novels in this series. The three are very different so it will be interesting to read how the other two fall in love. Hopefully the process will be as delightfully convoluted as this one!

A regency rom com with high stakes antics, intense sexual tension, complicated family dynamics, and a fake relationship? This novel lived up to the premise for me. It was silly, sexy, and between all the shenanigans impossible to know what near disaster would threaten to uncover Hugh and Minerva's elaborate ruse. Never Fall for Your Fiancee also deals with the underlying class structure and patriarchy of Regency England and the precarious reality that women in "reduced circumstances" faced at the time. Hugh and Minerva have delicious chemistry and a bit of an enemies to lovers arc as well, which I always am here for. Very excited to know that this is the first of a series as well--I am eager to return to this world. 3.5 stars.

There's nothing exactly wrong with Never Fall For Your Fiancee, but there's nothing extraordinarily right with it, either. A historical romance full of hijinks and shenanigans, it relies mainly on the fake engagement trope that I usually thoroughly enjoy. I don't mind the fairly contrived stretches it occasionally takes to get this fake engagement set up (Hugh's entire drama about his 'tainted blood,' for example, is a little too absurd), or to set up other situations for comical or romantically tense moments; that's par for the course, and nothing was so strained as to beggar belief. But Fiancee feels a little paint-by-numbers, like we're going down a checklist for this kind of novel: the characters consist of your typical plucky heroine, a dashing hero hiding his secret goodness beneath a veneer of debauched bachelordom, sparring B couple who are obviously being set up for a sequel, and an assortment of over-the-top side characters. The plot goes through the motions, doing exactly what you'd expect at every moment, and not in the satisfying way of a story following the tropes and structures you want it to, just in a slightly boring way. I was never surprised, tickled, or intrigued by any twist in the usual plot or unique turn of phrase, and had a hard time caring about the characters and their relationship. It's a fast read, breezy and light, at least, and though lacking in the witty banter you'd expect from this kind of book, it's mildly funny and romantic enough to entertain, though not memorably so.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those fake dating stories with a predictable plot but not less entertaining and fun with good humor, steam and a great cast of characters.it’s the first book in the Merriwell Susters series and I can’t wait for the next one.

Witty and charming, from the very start of the book, you can tell that this story has all the makings of a historical romance rom-com. I really liked how the author was able to blend the story arc into the time period and that she was able to keep the story going forward with all the lying flying about. I thought Hugh was just the perfect hero, really as he said, a knight in shining armor. He played the typical earl part well yet had a soft spot for the down-trodden and even though Minerva wasn't of his class, he still treated her like gold. With Minerva, you could really feel that she knew the farce was morally wrong yet she was so desperate. Their chemistry was sweet and believable. I also really enjoyed the supporting cast of characters and all their antics. It really was so very relatable.
The ending ties up nicely but I do wish there had been an epilogue, however, there is perhaps a hint that more could come from these two in future books!
This was my first book by this author and I cannot wait to read more from her. Very strong writer, good character development, easy to read, and fun.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my review

Never Fall for Your Fiancee is the first book in Virginia Heath’s new Regency rom-com series and her first foray publishing with St. Martin’s Press. It is a delightful romp, a comedy of errors, with engaging characters and lively action.

Hugh Standish, Earl of Fareham, is determined to avoid marriage because he believes the men in his lineage are unreliable. His mother, however, is just as determined that her only son marry and start a family. While she was living in America Hugh sent letters describing an entirely imaginary fiancée named Minerva. All is well until his mother announces her intention to return to England (for the wedding!). When Hugh literally runs into a poor, beautiful girl named Minerva he concocts a brilliant plan to deceive his mother and rid himself of a fiancée. Minerva Merriwell is struggling to support herself and her two sisters after their father deserted them. When Hugh offers her money to pose as his fiancée she had no choice but to accept. This sets off a hilarious series of events.

Virginia Heath has a marvelous sense of humor and she uses this to terrific advantage in Never Fall for Your Fiancee. One thing that really makes a rom-com work is the secondary characters. We have Hugh’s best friend, Minerva’s sisters, a drunken actress portraying the girls’ mother, the servants, and, of course, Hugh’s mother who arrives with her new husband. All of this adds up to a house full of misadventures and fun. Along the way Hugh and Minerva discover a lot of things about themselves and each other as their attraction grows. Reading the book was pure enjoyment and I can’t wait for the next one in the series.

Historical romance is my favorite genre, so I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, I was left disappointed. There were numerous instances of anachronistic language-- marital fights being referred to as "stinkers", "get her skates on", the vicar is referred to as Revered Lastname instead of Mr. Lastname, as is customary in 19 century Church of England.

The hero's mother talks about a "stinker" in which she threw something at her husband's head which left a large bruise-- this is played for laughs.

Linguistically, the language seems very modern American, which surprised me because the author is English.

Hugh, the hero, was also overly concerned about his bad blood, as if bound by Fate to be a philanderer.

As farfetched as the fake engagement premise might be, it was very charming, and I did like all the characters, both individually and together. Unfortunately, the issues I mentioned above affected my ability to enjoy this book.

I would probably read the next book in this series.

Never Fall for Your Fiancée by Virginia Heath, book one in her Merriwell Sisters series, is the story of Hugh Standish, the Earl of Fareham, and Minerva Merriwell, a struggling woodcut engraver that cares for her two younger sisters, Diana and Vee. Hugh and Minerva pretend to an engagement that would benefit both parties, and hopefully keep Hugh’s mother at bay as she is determined that he marry. Fake engagement is one of my favorite tropes and Minerva and Hugh find themselves in quite the romantic pickle with theirs. The twists and turns, not to mention the ever changing details of their fictitious relationship, keep them on their toes, especially when they have to deal with Hugh's mothers many attempts to trip them up; which creates some hilarious scenes. Hugh's best friend Giles, Minerva's sisters, and Hugh's opinionated, long-time butler all bring additional humor and emotion, to the story.

Ms. Heath wrote a humorous, clever, entertaining and amusing story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with humorous escapades, clever banter, sizzling chemistry and endearing characters giving Hugh and Minerva a chance to fall in love. I highly recommend Never Fall for Your Fiancée to other readers. I can't wait to discover what is planned for Minerva's sisters and hopefully both Giles and Hugh's butler will appear in the books to come.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

The velvet of her gown brushed against the floor as she twirled and admired her reflection in the mirror. Never in her life has she been dressed in such finery. The maid in the room beckoned her to sit so she could finish the final touches on her face and in her hair. Her stomach fluttered with excitement as she anticipated seeing him and being escorted to the dance, but deep down below that excitement she felt the dread of knowing all of this was a charade… a blatant lie.

Never Fall for Your Fiancée is a historical romance telling the story of Hugh and Minerva, two people faking an engagement. He’s been lying to his mother about being engaged and now she’s coming for a visit and he must prove his letters to her weren’t made up. Minerva doesn’t say no because she could honestly use the money… and so their concocted lie begins to spin.

I really wanted to love this one… the fake dating trope is a favorite of mine, but I just couldn’t get into this one. Miscommunication after miscommunication in this story started to frustrate me and the characters were so selfish and rude to each other. The way Hugh’s mother spoke to him was so disrespectful and the overuse of the word “scoundrel” was completely annoying for me.
The last quarter of the book picked up a little as things started to resolve and the characters became more interesting to read about, but I still wanted so much more from this story.

It had great potential, and I may check out the rest of the series when it releases… but this book was not a favorite.
If you’re a fake dating trope fan, you may want to check this one out!

*As I say with all of the books that I rate low, just because I didn’t like it, doesn’t mean that you won’t!

A simple lighthearted rom com filled with silliness. The cover is fantastically eye catching which is what prompted me to request the ARC from NetGalley. Overall this was just an average read for me, nothing life altering. I was expecting to have some laugh out loud moments and was sadly disappointed. The whole premise of Hugh not wanting to marry due to his “philandering genetics” didn’t make any sense, the little sister drove me nuts and the ending was abrupt. The whole book felt very YA to me, I probably would have loved this as a teenager.

I thought this book was incredibly fun. Hugh and Minerva were very easy to like and I loved them as a couple. Their banter and sparks were excellent. I could really sympathize with the struggles these two. were having. The story while nothing groundbreaking, was quite clever and amusing and it captured and held my attention well. I find myself quite intrigued by the other Merriwell Sisters and definitely look forward to reading their stories in future books. This book was light and effervescent and simply delightful way to get your read on.

This was my first book from this author and it was really fun!
If you like:
-fake engagements💍
-ridiculous hijinks🤭
-dramatic families👩‍👩‍👧
This may be the book for you!

Overall, my enjoyment was a little mixed. I found myself frustrated and annoyed with the hero at times for his kind of childish behavior. I think his issues with marriage maybe went on a little too long, especially since it was such a quick, no problem solution. The heroine I liked no real qualms there. I felt bad for her and her sisters, especially Vee who was having a really tough time. The actress hired to play their mother was really funny. I enjoyed the back and forth between her and the hero’s mom.
I smell a romance brewing between Hugh’s best friend and one of the sisters. So I’m looking forward to reading about it in the sequel.

Never Fall for Your Fiancée is a delightfully charming romantic comedy starring Hugh Standish, Earl of Fareham, and Miss Minerva Merriwell. When Hugh finds out Mama is coming to England to meet his fiancée, he hires Minerva to be said fiancée. You see, he really doesn’t have one. Can they make Mama believe they are a couple, without actually getting married? It will be lots of fun to find out. The characters in this story are marvelous. Personalities jump off the page. Hugh and Minerva are an entertaining couple. I love the snarky banter and the sweet moments between them. Giles, the sisters, the butler, and the actress all added to the fun. The story sailed along nicely and was quite enjoyable. A happily ever after? Well, of course. This is a lovely beginning to a new series. I look forward to the next story.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for a honest review.

The entire premise of this book, a historical rom-com with the fake dating/fake fiancee trope had me hooked. Hugh is tired of his mother's meddling, and so for two years he invents a fake fiancee, Minerva who he is utterly in love with but is very sickly. The "Minerva" Hugh invented is intelligent, beautiful, loves horse riding but the real Minerva who Hugh happens to meet, is a beautiful, intelligent, and impoverished artist named Minerva Merriwell, who is absolutely afraid if horse. She who agrees to pose as Hugh's fiancée and, when the time is right, stage a broken engagement in exchange for 40 pounds.

This book is laugh out funny, from the main characters Hugh and Minerva, the side characters Minerva's sisters Diana and Vee, Hugh's butler Payne, the alcoholic actress Hugh hires to play the girls' mother, his bestfriend Giles who is hiding a secret, loves sweets and just loves watching Hugh's fake fiancee ruse crash and burn. Hugh's mother Olive, is very inquisitive and is definitely aware of his ruse and her second husband is delightful but he had a moment that surprised me.

Hugh and Minerva had chemistry from the start, and soon their fake engagement starts to turn into a real romance, with their witty banter and they are both stubborn at times too. I loved the tender moments they had together especially where Hugh takes Minerva to the beach but I wish they had more of a connection and cue the miscommunication between them.

This story felt like a romance historical novel where drama exploded because of a lie that spun wildly out of control, and how everyone involved tried to keep up their act without Hugh's mother and stepfather finding out the truth. This an absolutely delightful, laugh out loud, and simmering fun roller coaster of a story and I could totally see this book being made into a movie.