I requested this book over NetGalley and One More Chapter approved the request. The thing that attracted me to the book first was the cover and then when I read the synopsis, I so wanted to read it because fake dating to real love has always been one of my favourite romance tropes.

I wish I had clicked some photos but I was so engrossed in the story that I just could not bring myself to put the kindle down and go for the photo session. But, as soon as I have finished reading it, I want to share what I thought about it.

First, the characters.

Our female lead, Rebecca, is fierce in what she does and has high expectations of herself as she works towards achieving her ambitions. The pull to this character for me lies in the similarities between me and Rebecca. Like me, she is ambitious and has made her career a thing. Her top most priority. That does not mean that she does not take anything else into account or something but she is exacting master.

Our male lead, Hudson, on the other hand has a lot of similarities with my husband. Like my husband is one the very few people who are not intimated by me or my ambitions, Hudson is not intimated by his Beccs high ambitions. He is supportive of her goals in life, standing by her as she goes up the corporate ladder while he keeps to his own pace and it is never a competition.

I love the fact that there is a reversal in the character psyche and the heroine is a commitment phobe rather than the hero. The hero is all fun and ready to take the plunge but the woman here is the cynic. I am not saying that it is a good thing to be a cynic but it plays very well into the story.

For the fake dating trope, it was done very well. The hiring of the contractor was very professionally done.😂

I have read many a fake dating romances but this was a new angle that I read in this one. A contract and the legality of it all made it hilarious and the same kept tying the characters in knots because what if they did something that was not part of the contract and that they were in breach of the contract.

The story is paced a little faster than moderately and the characters – even other than the leads – make their place and hold it because they are all integral to not just the development of the story but the development of the main characters as well. All of them help the two realise what they will miss out on if they let each other go.

It had been some time since I have read a romance that I could characterise as hot but this one was off the charts. The hotness and sexiness of those scenes did not make me feel that those scenes were written just for the sake of including sex scenes or to blacken the page. The scenes fit in with the overall story and kind of helped in character development as well.

Lastly, I’d like to say that while I am not a fan of stories written in the first person narrative but this story being written in first person narrative was not a deterrent for me at all. In fact, the moment I started reading it, I had a hard time putting my kindle down.

A 5 star book that I highly recommend to all romance readers.

4,5 stars! This book gave me all the tingly feelings, butterflies flying around in my stomach! It was fast paced, funny and oh so romantic. Loved every page and really looking forward to reading more from this author! One of the only times were I actually didn’t mind the single POV, it fit the book. Also, I love the Strong family. Please where can I sign up to celebrate christmas at their place?

Tropes: Fake dating, grumpy x sunshine (female grump), rich/poor(er).

Rebecca doesn't want to go to her family's Thanksgiving party especially since it will also be her sister's engagement party to her ex boyfriend. Talk about an awkward situation, especially since she will be attending alone.

After one night with Hudson she get the crazy idea to ask him to accompany her to the party and act like her boyfriend.

Hudson is her opposite but he brings a new, fun side of her out and the more time the play pretend the harder is to see the line between fake and real, especially when their chemistry is hotter than the sun.

It was a fun fake dating romance but it wasn't the best. I didn't enjoy how somethings were left unresolved, they were mentioned once but never again and this left me puzzled. I also found the ending rushed, I wanted a better understanding between them.

* I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

This is the first book I have read by Cassie Connor, which seeing as Love Under Contract is her debut release is no surprise!

I love a good fake relationship read and set around the holidays adds to the allure. I really liked Becca and Hudson and their story reminded me a little of one of my favourite films: The Wedding Date.

I am looking forward to seeing what the author has in store for readers next.

Cassie Connor is a new author for me, but when I saw this book and read the synopsis I was excited to get started!

Rebecca and Hudson are complete opposites in terms of their outlooks, family backgrounds and personalities.

Rebecca is a career focused lawyer. I quite liked her at the start of the book but found myself really disliking her as the story went on. For such an intelligent woman, it took her a long time to acknowledge her own feelings but also the impact of her behaviour on others. I found her rude and understood why she was written as having no real friends.

Hudson was a brilliant character, albeit maybe a little too nice putting up with Rebecca’s u-turns throughout the story.

I loved the story, but wish some storylines were followed up…Rebecca’s relationship with her sister and mother, Hudson’s family, what did Rebecca buy Hudson’s family for Christmas? Small things, but these elements were introduced and not tidied up. The biggie for me is who was Hudson with at the exhibition? Rebecca saw him kiss a woman - how can this be left?

I really loved this story, but the ending left me a bit confused.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 📚

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Some of my favorite quotes:

“Unbutton me then.”

“ I’ve never done anything reckless and suddenly I want to. F$&! being the sensible, good sister.”


Rebecca is an uptight lawyer who’s in desperate need for a date to visit family for her sisters engagement celebration… to Rebecca’s ex. She just so happens to run in to a handsome woodworker named Hudson that fits the bill.

This story attempts to unwind the FMC by means of showing her the relaxed MMC.

It reads like how I’d picture a new age Romance movie. This could easily be adapted to the big screen.

It falls short for me a little in the story telling. It’s slow going, could be a little shorter. And there’s a place in the ending that just… falls flat.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper UK and One More Chapter for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
Can I give this more than 5 stars? I had a smile on my face the entire book. Entire. Book. So fun, so funny, loved the references to the movie The Wedding Date. Great characters, new book boyfriend in Hudson. You couldn't ask for more in a rom-com! I can't believe this is a debut novel. Really hoping there will be another book from this author. Well done, Ms. Connor! Highly recommend.

I was provided this book as an ARC from Netgalley. Typically I can handle smut in books, but this one was pretty much reading the script for a porno movie. Just not my kind of thing.

This book was everything I needed this year! It popped me out of a bit of a reading slump with its perfect blend of romance, wit and coziness. I really appreciated that the typical rom-com formula, if you will, didn’t play out how I expected. There are certain tropes that I have read again and again over the years; certain characters patterns and traits, but this time our characters broke the mold and were refreshingly less drama and more normal. It’s hard not to go into details without spoilers, but let’s just say that I was happy to see a functioning relationship without a huge crazy misunderstanding play out. Bravo!

UNASHAMEDLY, UNAPOLOGETICALLY PORN 😅

This was a case of lust at first sight. And normally that botheres me. But not in this instance. What normally bothers me is when romance novels have nothing to do with romance. But this wasn't a romance novel. This was just porn. And I enjoyed it. Yes, there was hardly any plot. Yes, the characters were not that great. Yes, the romance was mostly replaced by carnal pleasures. But because this book didn't try to be anything but porn, I was okay with it. I'll probably not remember it, but it was enjoyable while it lasted.

3.5/5 Rounded up
2/5 Spice

Hudson is a sweet, lovable golden retriever playing games with Rebecca - a cutthroat, no nonsense lawyer. Their opposite energies and personality are what lead you to believe they just might be perfect together.

I liked the set up and pace in the first half of the book. Cassie really gets down to business and gives enough information to set an appropriate understanding of the main characters. I did, however, find it a bit unrealistic that Hudson was Rebecca's first thought for the arrangement, but overhearing his phone call helped give that validity.

The juxtaposition of both MCs with the added background of their families helped further the plot, but I didn't feel like we got quite enough from the alone time the MCs spent together. It felt like they were basing the entire relationship on having good sex..but then they fell in love.

Despite needing a bit more from the two MCs the theme and plot work well together. I think the pacing changes toward the end to kind of rush a conclusion. I was hoping for more a resolution between the MCs and their families since that was a pretty heavy plot point.

I would read another book by this author & overall recommend this as a lighthearted Contemporary Rom Cam.

Love under contract was a cute book. It definitely has a The Proposal vibe to it. I didn't like the main character much at first..

In the end it was a good storyline and I liked all of the family dynamics.

I absolutely loved this book, once I picked it up i couldn’t put it down!
I really enjoyed the characters in this book and how they just felt so real. I would love to read more of her work, I’m hooked!

A cute read about a “fake boyfriend” that turns into more. A little long and slow in the middle, but for the most part, a fun plot with likable characters. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC.

2.5 Stars Love Under Contract by Cassie Connor was a bit of a disappointment, but overall an okay rom com. I appreciated Rebecca being a strong, career-driven woman, but I would’ve liked to have seen more emotional intelligence and growth from her. I usually like first person books, but only if we still get to know both the MCs well. I felt like we didn’t know much about Hudson at all; it was all about Rebecca. The aspect of her making them a contract was a fresh twist for the fake dating trope and perfect considering she’s a contract lawyer.

Okay so this book was a bit different for me with my favorite trope. I absolutely adore a grump sunshine so to have it reversed? I actually loved it. This was such a cute read. I can’t wait to read more by this author. Thank you for allowing ma to read this as an arc.

Love Under Contract by Cassie Conner is a debut novel for this author. I loved the characters Rebecca and Max. When things started going downhill for Rebecca, she meets Max. Max is not doing well in business and agrees to a contract with Rebecca to be her boyfriend to throw off her family. The book was well thought out and kept me engaged and entertained. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!

It has been a long time since e I read a book I enjoyed as much as LOVE UNDER CONTRACT. It’s smart, refreshing and so very romantic even as Hudson and Rebecca try to avoid the semblance of real romance.

This is the kind of romance writing that keeps me turning the pages. The reader can feel the atmosphere electrify when Hudson and Rebecca are together, whether they are resisting one another or giving in. Their chemistry is not just steamy. It feels as if they are not right when they are apart.

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book through NetGalley. It gives me the opportunity to give you my thoughts about the story so you can Decide if it is something you would enjoy.

For lovers of the wedding date! A sweet rom com. Our buttoned up Mc meets carpenter Hudson who is need of some help of his own. They sign a contract for a weekend to play pretend at her sisters engagement party what could go wrong. They find themselves drawn repeatedly into each other's lives and how long can these opposites resist the obvious attraction between them.

Love Under Contract is the debut novel from Cassie Connor. It’s a really fun fake dating novel; one that takes us from London to New York and back again, along with a festive stop in the Cotswolds.

Love Under Contract is the story of hot shot lawyer Rebecca, who finds herself without a date for Thanksgiving. This is something that wouldn’t usually bother her only she is having to face her newly engaged sister, whose fiancée just so happens to be her ex. Following a very out of character one night stand, she decides to proposition the charming and handsome Hudson. Can Mr One Night play the part of Mr Right for holidays? Surly with her ironclad contract there will be no issues, right? But soon enough Rebecca starts to question who she is, who she might yet want to be and with whom.

Rebecca was an interesting character, she’s neither immediately or especially likeable. She’s a cold and snooty type, who is prone to judging others and often unfairly. The more we get to know her, however, the more it becomes clear that this is both a protective shell and a consequence of the relationship she had with her late father. Her hard exterior is in sharp contrast to the absolutely affable nature of Hudson who lit up the pages. And yet the more time Rebecca spends with him the more she begins question which version of herself she most wants to be.

Rebecca does go through her own arc within the novel as she learns that there can be more to her life beyond her sole focus on her career. That said, the one think I’d have liked to have seen more of would have been further insight into the changes that we’d hope Rebecca was starting to implement into her work place by the end of the novel. Particularly given that the epilogue was 6 months on, which was about the time that her work best friend would have been expecting. I also wanted to know who the mysterious woman was at Hudson’s exhibition at the end as this wasn’t explained and didn’t seem to fit in with the story.

I really liked Hudson as the MMC and loved the time we got to spend around his family. His sisters were especially good supporting characters and seemed a real hoot. I also loved the quiet, but significant, insights that came from Rebecca’s mum.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read and a great fake dating romance.