Another wonderful book that I loved by this author. This is a fun romcom with the fake dating trope. Alexis is a quiet and introverted librarian that steps out of her comfort zone for one night. A night that causes her and an up and coming Gubernatorial candidate, Logan, to become front page news. To save Logan’s campaign they decide to go the fake dating route. We know what will happen from there. I thought both Logan and Alexis were incredible as was their banter and unfolding romance. This book was well written and had interesting main characters with personal growth and great secondary characters. I love reading about politics so this book was definitely of interest to me. I really didn’t want this one to end. Make sure to add this to your summer reading list.

Have you ever been part of a campaign?⁣
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I am part of the campaign to get you all to read this book. ⁣
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I’m so in awe of how Ashley Winstead can pivot from the dark and disturbing, to the sweet and steamy - and back again. But she writes both genres so deliciously well, and she’s also responsible for me enjoying books about Texas politics… Say Wut?!?!?! 😆⁣
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And that’s why she’s the best candidate for the next author to put on your TBR. ⁣
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In particular - The Boyfriend Candidate - a follow up to Fool Me Once (but can be read as standalone for sure!) this time following Lee’s sister Alexis - a shy school librarian daring herself to have her first one night stand that turns into a fake dating, political partner situation. It's full of hijinks and hilarity, steam and scandal, and such an enjoyable read about taking chances, stepping out of your comfort zone, and remembering to never forget who you are - because you should always endorse yourself before anyone else.⁣
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This book is a ballot you can vote YES on!

A definite slow burn fake relationship political rom-com that I found to be an enjoyable vacation read. Alexis Stone is an introverted school librarian who tries to have a one-night stand just to prove she can. She almost succeeds with Logan Arthur before lightning and photographers intervene. Logan, it turns out, is the democratic candidate for governor of Texas and in order to avoid political scandal, he needs Alexis to pretend to be his girlfriend. Against her better judgment and fear of the spotlight, she agrees. While Logan and Alexis set out to win the hearts and minds of Texas' voters, they also learn about the heart and mind of the other. But both are damaged (I mean, aren't we all?) and failure to communicate almost dooms them multiple times.

Despite some obvious plot holes (Alexis' sister is a state senator and we are supposed to believe Alexis has no idea who Logan is? Apparently all doctors are too busy to follow state politics?), this was an entertaining read. Alexis and Logan have obvious chemistry even as the reader wants to shake them for being so completely oblivious to the other's emotions. I didn't love the third act separation and the involvement of a third-party. But I did enjoy the eventual resolution and book conclusion.

4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complementary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.

The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead takes fake dating to a fun, page-turning place of high stakes set against the background of a political campaign.

Alexis is a shy school librarian who decides to shake off her bad breakup and the insult her ex launched at her of being too timid and bad in bed by putting on a phony persona and having a one-night stand. She meets Logan, who is foul-mouthed, filterless, and very handsome, at a bar. The two go to a hotel, but their one-night stand turns messy as all occupants must evacuate when lighting strikes and starts a fire. When they get outside, cameras start flashing, and Logan bolts without explanation. Alexis gets her answer the next day when Logan's campaign manager contacts her with a plea to publicly fake date Logan for two months. Logan is running for Governor of Texas and trying to shed his playboy reputation, so the scandalous pictures threaten to derail his campaign.

The premise of this one really drew me in. Talk about a lot on the line for a fake-dating relationship! And it's sharply written with well-developed characters. Alexis was totally relatable, and I rooted for her as she came into her own. And Logan, oh Logan! He unapologetically said exactly what he thought and was usually right, and just made me laugh! I loved the Austin, TX, setting and the jaunt over to Fredricksburg (in the Texas wine country.) This opposites attract, slow-burn, chemistry-filled, super cute rom-com is an entertaining one to add to your spring/summer tbr!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for the opportunity to review this ARC. I enjoyed it!

This is the first title I have read by this author. I thought the blurb sounded cute and decided to give Alexis and Logan a shot.

I am glad I did. I really enjoyed this one, I liked the characters, I thought their meet cute was fun. I really liked that this was more of a slow burn and that even though they meet in a way that makes you think there is going to be sex throughout the book, it's clear pretty quickly that there isn't going to be and that this is a relationship you are going to watch build from a friendship.

The criticism I have for it is that it was a little predictable, but that is true of any book that you go into knowing how it's going to end, so it's really not a fair criticism...although I did feel like I knew a little more what was going to happen in this one than I do usually, but it really didn't end up ruining my enjoyment of the title, so it doesn't matter.

I don't always love books that add in politics, although as Logan is literally running for Governor of TX, it's hard to skip that part, so it worked in this one. I can also say, as I tend to agree with his stance, it didn't bother me that there was a decent amount of political world happenings. I am not sure if I would have felt the same were it to be politics I disagreed with, but that's a decision for someone else to make in their own review of this book.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

The Boyfriend Candidate was witty, laugh-out-loud funny and I couldn't put it down! Fake dating is my current favorite trope, so sorry not sorry if this post is gushing a little too much but I loved every second!

Literally, all the boxes were checked off:
*Initial deal
*Promise to keep things platonic
*Sexual tension
*Lying to friends and family, awkward situations
*More sexual tension
*Admitting feelings
*Sex
*Crash and burn
*Reunion

What more could a girl ask for?

Logan is the perfect book boyfriend, without the over-possessive attitude that most romantic male characters have ingrained in their actions. His driven attitude, mixed with roguish charm and a loyalty streak was perfection. Logan was clearly split in two throughout the entire book, trying to balance his dream of enacting change for people through his run for governor with his growing love for Alexis. Sure, there were times he didn't put her first, but with all the pressure he was under and people counting on him, I didn't hold it against him.

Alexis was a down-to-earth introvert who thought she needed to change who she was because she let someone's careless words get inside her head and fester. Been there before...! Watching her tackle things that made her uncomfortable was admirable and she has such wonderful character growth. I had so much respect for her ability to face her fears of public speaking, all for the greater good because I would have thrown up. Alexis was almost too nice, unwilling to be selfish at times because she was trying to be understanding and put people above her own wants and needs.

I was rooting for Logan and Alexis the entire time, they were such a good fit together, and the chemistry between them was evident from the beginning. I'd say the book was more sweet than spicy, there was more emphasis on heavy make-out sessions and sexual tension than anything else.

Because I've seen the topic come up in some negative reviews, a fair warning that progressive politics do make an appearance in the story and factor into the overall plotline. If you don't like the "real world" creeping into your romance novels, this story may not be for you.

I'd highly recommend The Boyfriend Candidate to anyone who loves fake dating and shy female characters finding their voice. Although this story can be read as a stand-alone, Alexis's sister Lee was featured in a previous book by this author so you might want to read "Fool Me Once".

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity.

In "The Boyfriend Candidate," Ashley Winstead takes the popular fake dating trope and gives it a fresh spin. Alexis Stone, a middle school librarian, catches her boyfriend cheating on her and decides to have a one-night stand. She meets Logan, a man who is running for governor of Texas, and they spend the night together. However, when photos of them appear online, Logan convinces Alexis to pretend to be his girlfriend for the next two months until his campaign is over to avoid a public scandal. As they navigate their fake relationship, they start developing feelings for each other, leading to the question of whether their relationship is real or not.

Winstead does an excellent job of developing the characters, and the setting of Austin and the political background add to the story's depth. The author also works in important topics, such as the state of education in the country, in a well-done and topical manner. Watching Alexis find her voice politically and as a woman looking for a relationship that values her is empowering. Overall, "The Boyfriend Candidate" is a terrific story with a healthy dose of humor, and I highly recommend it to romance fans.

Sooo cute! One of my favorite reads this year. You will absolutely love the couple, the banter, and everything about the romance! Pick this one up immediately! *big hear eyes*

Book: The Boyfriend Candidate
Author: Ashley Winstead
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Graydon House, for providing me with an ARC. This is another case of where I picked the right book up at the right time. I’ve been in a mood for a fun, fluffy read. I got that out of this book.

Alexa is trying to move on from a rather ugly breakup. She decides to do something rather unexpected. She is going to have a one night stand. She goes to a bar and comes across a brash man who will do the do. However, the hotel ends up catching on fire. As soon as the press arrives, he runs away, leaving her alone. She wonders what she did wrong. Then, someone reaches out to her and asks her to come by the office. She learns that it is Logan Arthur, a Democrat who is running for the governor of Texas. In order to keep up his appearance, his campaign decides that they should pretend that they are dating. From here, Alexa finds herself cast into the spotlight-a role that she did not want. However, she uses this as her chance to find her voice. She is an elementary school librarian and the state is cutting funds. She becomes a voice for all educators.

I loved the role that education played in this book. I am a teacher and everything spoke to me. The author is right about how we are the ones who suffer from budget cuts and low pay. It is a big issue and the author did a great job at handling it. Maybe by having this in a romance book, it will get more people talking about the issue and maybe get more people on the side of educators. It shows how much of an issue there is and how little say educators have in the whole affair.

I loved the main characters. I thought, really, all of the characters did an amazing job at fitting into the story. The author did a good job at making them fit into the story. It wasn’t forced, but a natural fit. Logan and Alexa have great chemistry, but they have enough of a difference to make them their own person. I loved seeing how their very different personalities come together. It made for such a fun story and fun read. Having these two as a lead gave me the romantic feeling that I wanted.

The book does tackle political issues. However, there is still this romantic feeling. It has its fluff, but there are serious tones. There are political topics and it is a Democratic stance on things. If you don’t want to read about that, then you may want to skip it. I loved getting to listen to the political side of things and seeing it all come together. I loved getting to see the behind the scenes of the campaigns.

Overall, I am happy that I read this one. This book comes out on May 9, 2023.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/wDaRWr8nNzQ

Alexis Stone has been unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend Chris, with a final kicker telling her she's boring in bed. Alexis may be a shy school librarian, but she's not boring.... is she?! She decides to do herself a favour and do something completely out of character - a one night stand.
Foul-mouthed Logan seems to be just what she needs, but disaster strikes before they can get down to business, with the hotel being evacuated. Logan runs - which Alexis finds odd, but the next day realises he had good reason to disappear: he's Logan Arthur, bright young politician running for Governor.

Logan already has a bit of a reputation as a ladies' man, so his team have a proposal for Alexis: if she agrees to pretend to be in a relationship with Logan until the election, she can have whatever she wants. And with her school library in danger of losing staff, or even worse - closure - Alexis agrees.

I love a good fake relationship, I love a slow burn, and I love a grumpy/sunshine (as long as the MMC isn't aggressively grumpy, 'tis a fine line) - Logan was great, Alexis was charming, and I really liked that the author also addressed topical issues like book bans in conservative states and libraries being underfunded.

I wasn't as keen on Alexis's sister poking her nose in, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the main storyline. If you like your men cursey and your burns slow, then this is for you.

Thank you to Justine for granting me eARC access as part of the HTP Summer Blog Tour Programme.

A romantic rendezvous turned scandal plus… a fake relationship? IMMEDIATELY YES! And I absolutely ate this one up without feeling disappointed! Although a politician hero/main character is not my thing this quirky new romcom had those negative feelings/thoughts in the back of my minds. Alexis and Logan were not two peas in a pod and couldn’t have been more different from each other but that was the best part and it worked perfectly. Opposites can attract and the differences between the two filled up the missing pieces to their own puzzles. I thought this book was really cute and with a good amount of romance and and interesting plot. This should be part of the tbr lists of everyone who likes opposites attract and fake dating.

One of the most popular tropes in the Romance book genre is the Fake Dating trope. Ashley Winstead elevates this in her latest novel, The Boyfriend Candidate.

The story opens with middle school librarian Alexis Stone who has just caught her boyfriend cheating on her again and for the last time. He of course blames her and says some cruel things to her that undermine her confidence. On this night Alexis puts on her sexiest dress and heads to a local Austin bar to pick up a guy and have a one night stand, something way outside of her comfort zone.

When she draws the attention of an obnoxious man who won't take no for an answer, a handsome man sitting at the bar scares off the creep, and he and Alexis spend the evening getting to know each other. Alexis makes up a name and backstory (one more interesting than her own life) and she and Logan decide to head to a nearby hotel for a tryst.

As things get hot and heavy, the fire alarm in the hotel goes off and Logan and Alexis flee outside in a state of undress. Alexis turns her ankle and Logan carries her outside, depositing her in an ambulance and fleeing without a goodbye.

While Alexis is hurt and upset, soon photos turn up online of her and Logan- who happens to be running for governor of Texas. In order to avoid a public scandal his campaign can't afford, Logan and his team convince Alexis to pretend to be Logan's girlfriend of six months, just until the campaign is over in two months.

What could go wrong? No one can know of their deception, and soon Alexis and Logan are fighting their feelings for each other. As is typical in these types of stories, you wish the two of them would be honest with themselves and each other, but what would be the fun in that?

There were so many interesting aspects to this story. I liked the setting of Austin, and the political background. Nora, Logan's campaign manager, is a great character, as is Alexis' sister Lee, a Texas state representative. The way that the author worked in the state of education in this country (the lack of funding for schools and lack of respect for teachers) was well done and topical.

Watching Alexis find her voice politically as a teacher and as a woman looking for a relationship worthy of her was empowering. The writing is crisp, and Ashley Winstead works in important topics with a healthy dose of humor along the way. My only criticism is that it was hard to believe that Alexis didn't know who Logan was when she met him, but I am willing to overlook that for the sake of this terrific story.

I adored The Boyfriend Candidate, and now I am looking forward to reading Ashley Winstead's 2022 romance, Fool Me Once. I highly recommend The Boyfriend Candidate.

Thansk to Harlequin for putting me on Ashley Winstead's tour.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Publishing Company for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up

I have read ALL of Ashley Winstead's books. Every single book has been 4 stars and above and this book did not disappoint. One of my favorite tropes is fake dating and Ashely did a good job working from a political standpoint. I enjoyed both Alexis and Logan as characters. They were lovable and relatable. I am a teacher so I appreciated the effort put into the educator's side of politics. The only reason I dropped a star was that the ending was rushed. I wish we would have gotten a few more chapters of Alexis and Logan together and happy! Otherwise, I ate this book up and CANNOT wait for Ashley Winstead's next book!

Fake Dating
Forced Prox
MMC Politician
FMC Librarian
Light love triangle
Open Door (light spice)
Slow Burn
Angsty
HEA

Fake dating is absolutely one of my favorite tropes. I loved these two so much. This was such a cozy fluffy read for me. Loved it a lot!

After falling in love with Ashley Winstead's romance writing in Fool Me Once, I was so excited to receive an early copy of The Boyfriend Candidate. I love that Alexis is a school librarian; as a teacher myself, I really connected with her point of view and interests in funding school libraries. Logan is a dreamy MMC, and I fully believed in their chemistry. There are several moments that made me giggle, and a few that made me sad for young Alexis, a person a lot of us could relate to.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

It's just another romance about pretending to be dating and normal girl meets famous person and politicians and shy girl meets rude boy who turns out to be really sweet and loving unlike her previous boyfriends. But it was so entertaining, I'm giving it 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Alexis is caught in a scandal with Logan, candidate for governor, and his campaign manager suggests they pretend they've been actually in a serious relationship for six months already. In exchange, she can add to their campaign her plight against the budget cut the school she works for is about to suffer, which would possibly annihilate her job.

I don't know this author, and I control a lot which romances I'll read, even if I love romances, they do tend to fool you, so unknown author, romance cue more than full, release date approaching (by this time, already passed), I wasn't supposed to be reading this book. And I'm very glad I opened an exception because the cover was so fun to look at.

I loved both characters. I wanted to hug Alexis the whole book (though I'm not sure what she really did that was so great for his campaign, all her ideas were actually coming from someone else but well, she did have a great network), and I wanted Logan to hug me even more. He's so good! And yet, believable. It's not a bunch of good features put together so we'll have a good romantic interest. You could feel his interest for Alexis grow. And their moments were so swoonworthy.

Even if it's another romance for these tropes, I barely felt time pass while reading. Highly recommended.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

This book had a great plot and I really enjoyed the general concept of it. Our two main characters, Alexis, a school librarian, and Logan, a gubernatorial candidate, wind up in a fake dating situation. The character development was great, though it went a bit too quick. It seems as though Alexis is shy one minute, and then immediately gains confidence over night. I really enjoyed Logan's character and his development as well. It would have been great to have his perspective, though we were able to completely understand him as a character without it.

This was a Romantic Comedy, though the romance part was epitome of slow burn. Much of the book contained more comedy than romance between the two MC's. Politics was also heavily involved, which I don't mind at all, but think is important to point out for readers.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book, it was just missing something for me personally.

Ashley Winstead's The Boyfriend Candidate is absolutely charming and delightful! Winstead's voice and grasp on a romance genre is perfection, the plotting and pacing is on point, and the characters are interesting and relatable. I have only read one of Winstead's thrillers (The Last Housewife) and really enjoyed that and found that it had some strong romantic elements, so I could not wait to pick up this new romance by her, and I was not disappointed. I will definitely be checking out Winstead's other novels and looking forward to reading future books!

This fake dating, political campaigning novel has the strong undercurrent of a sweet and unrequited love story. I was charmed that this one night stand novel turned into a fake relationship plot in order to drive up the hero's appearance. I found the political issues around book banning to be topical for our time and handled with care and understanding. I was delighted in the small romantic moments, unseen glances, and hesitate touches the really helped to drive home that these two are falling for each other. Winstead has a way of creating some low angst and tension between our couple as they question the others feelings, but overall I really enjoy that the hero and heroine never have a big falling out between themselves. They both want the best for the other, and watching them both try to be understanding and aware of the others needs was really heartening. The chemistry between the hero and heroine is sweet and sensual, Winstead did a really lovely job in developing the physical side of their relationship through gentle touches, passionate kisses and steamy love scenes (in the later part of the novel). Overall, Winstead builds their relationship through respect and understanding, and watching these two learn to care and support the other is really lovely.

If you enjoy Winstead's writing I think you are sure to enjoy this novel! I would highly recommend it to anyone. This novel is a really wonderful example of a contemporary romance that deals with politics and standing up for one's believes and dreams!

I've only ever read Ashley Winstead's thrillers. When the publisher sent this over as one of the book's getting a blog tour, I had to try it. I'm so happy I did because this ended up being a favorite of mine. The moment I started reading this story, I was obsessed. I didn't want to put this book down. I had so many predications. I kept reading to see if it was going to happen or not. Plus the chemistry between Alexis and Logan had me swooning. I just couldn't get enough of these two. I would love a short story or even another book about them. I know Ashley Winstead has another romance book she wrote, I really can't wait to pick that up. This just shows what an incredible writer Ashley is.

This was a very enjoyable, funny, sweet story! When Alexis Stone and Logan Arthur meet each other at a bar, lightning strikes metaphorically, and the chemistry is off the charts. Unfortunately, when they head to a hotel for a one-night stand, lightning strikes literally. They're caught canoodling (sort of) and this turns out to be a Big Deal. Because Logan Arthur isn't just anyone - he's the Democratic candidate for Governor of Texas.

In order to salvage his campaign, Logan's campaign manager approaches Alexis with an offer - she'll pretend to be Logan's girlfriend (to kill any playboy rumors) and in exchange, she'll get one favor. Alexis is a librarian, and what she wants is a robust education policy and budget from Logan if/when he is elected.

So begins the fake-dating. There are the usual miscommunications, missteps, etc, but it's elevated above the normal rom-com tropes with snappy dialogue, interesting character development, and a world that feels authentic and fully baked.

4 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC.