Logan and Alexis's story was delightful to read. As a librarian and an educator, the plot was perfect for me. I loved the premise of the story, and the character development felt pretty natural and not forced. I loved the fake dating trope - it's always a favorite of mine! I can't wait for more from this author!

An entertaining fake dating romance featuring a hot, grumpy and foul-mouthed Texan gubernatorial candidate with a British accent and a shy librarian who’s content to live behind the shadows!

Caught in a potentially scandalous situation that can destroy Logan Arthur’s chances of winning the Governor position, his campaign propositions Alexis Stone to pretend to be his girlfriend until the election is over after which they can stage a public breakup and go their separate ways. As with most fake dating tropes, what follows is far from what they’ve initially plotted.

While this trope is honestly my least liked one, this can work for me if high stakes were involved, and what could be higher staked than a young Democratic candidate vying for the highest seat in the State of Texas against a behemoth Republican incumbent.

Let me just say, I’ve enjoyed this book a lot! I had too much fun with this for a book that’s fraught with political topics that are laid out in an unsubtle way. I guess that could be expected given the blurb. And it’s quite obvious where Winstead leans between the two sides of the political coin so I wasn’t exactly bothered. I loved Logan and Alexis’ chemistry and I was rooting for them all throughout. However, I thought this book could’ve been some pages shorter with some parts I could do without (like that love triangle).

I understand this may not be for everyone given the political nature of this book, but I’d still give this book a try if I were you. Definitely something to be missed if you’re out looking for a romance with a bit of heft into it.

Thank you to Graydon House, NetGalley and the author for my copy. All opinions are honest and my own.

I love Winstead’s thriller books and this is my first romance read of hers and it was delightful! I loved Alexis and Logan, they were perfect, flaws and all. I need to go back and read her first romance book but this was super enjoyable, I flew through it in one sitting and was smiling the entire way. I highly recommend this one, even if you don’t read romance, it is so good.

Thank you to Grayden House for the digital copy to review.

A nice, quick easy read. Kept me completely captivated throughout. The story was well written and flowed nicely.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters, the romance, the storyline. It kept me hooked. Plus, I loved how likeable characters and entertaining the characters were. I really enjoyed this book.

Romance and politics- two of my favorite things ❤️🇺🇸

Alexis decides she needs a one-night stand after her boyfriend cheated on her and breaks up with her for being too timid in bed. She ends up meeting Logan at the bar, and charms him with stories of her “adventurous life”. Quite different from her current life as a librarian. They decide to get a room at a hotel, until chaos ensues. The fire alarm rings and they have to escape the building, and of course the paparazzi are outside to capture photos of the couple. Who is Logan really?

I loved everything about this plot and the chemistry between our two main characters.

Read this if you like
❤️Fake dating
🧪Believeable chemistry
🇺🇸Love and politics

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute book! I do really wish this was dual pov though. Would have been so much better! A little predictable and heavy on the politics but still good.

I loved this book so much. Gave me Jasmin Guillory meets Abby Jiminez vibes. I loved the situational comedy sprinkled throughout, but also, the over arching story of two people figuring out who they want to be or maybe already are. So cute and the romance definitely sizzles.

This was a fun fake dating romcom with two extremely likeable characters, with a backdrop of the current political climate. As a librarian, I wasn't too keen on how the book dismissed the importance of librarians and the library degree in school libraries, as well as the tendency for school libraries to prefer paraprofessionals (which this book also does).

The chemistry of this one was so hot. And the plot line I loved the resolution of the midpoint conflict. Loved this

Alexis Stone is a school librarian tending to her crushed self-esteem after a breakup. When she meets handsome and charming Logan at a local singles hotspot, what fails as a one night stand, succeeds in creating a scandal for Logan’s gubernatorial campaign. Working together to save Logan’s political aspirations, the two find they have more than just physical chemistry. With an endearing, and extensive, cast of supporting characters, Winstead has created an underdog romance that everyone is rooting for, even if it is behind in the polls.

Ashley Winstead writes such fun, smart, feminist romance. Her characters are real and fleshed out and she always situates them within incredibly realistic settings. I'll read anything she writes.

This book was such a fun read! Great mixture of characters who are just innately good. Alexis is learning what it means to make good use of her own abilities, even if they look a little different than the rest of her family. Logan is figuring out how to do his job on his own terms, while staying true to who he is. They are both delightful and have fantastic chemistry. If you like romantic comedies, the fake dating trope, and background politics, this might be a great next read.

This book has every element of successful romance from start to finish. The politics, "fake dating", the fact that there is a librarian as the main character....does it get any betters?! The tension throughout the book was delicious and I cannot think of anyone who enjoys romance that will not devour this book! I cannot wait to introduce it to many readers as I am sure they will feel the same as I do!

Alexis Stone would rather be curled up with a book than in the spotlight. But when she is unexpectedly dumped for being boring, she decides what she needs is a night on the town. At a hotel bar, she meets Logan, who seems like just the escape that she needs. Then, the hotel catches on fire, and, for some reason, when Logan carries Alexis out of the hotel, they are met with cameras eager to take their picture. The next day, Alexis discovers why when she learns that the pictures of the two of them have spread across the interest -- it turns out Logan is a candidate running to unset the current governor. The pictures threaten his campaign and maybe even Alexis's job as a school librarian. So they two agree, reluctantly, to pretend they are in a relationship for the two months until the election. As Alexis and Logan spend more time together, they push each other outside their respective comfort zones -- and realize that may be exactly what has been missing in their lives.

This was a fun and funny novel, with compelling characters and an engaging story.

Highly recommended!

I adored this book. Fake dating, politics, great supporting characters and the MC was a librarian? Sign me up. This was one of those romance books that just nails all the right ingredients to create a perfect story. Loved it.

I loved this book. If you have an interest in political campaigns AND love romance; this book is for you! I loved that the book had a duel POV between the two MCs. When it is hailed as a slow burn...baby it is. However, the relationship you get to dive into is worth the slow burn. As you can imagine in any fake dating someone falls for the other and it changes the trajectory of the relationship.

The author also added sideline stories where women empowerment was the central theme. Which was so awesome to read especially since politics has been wrought with masculine dominance since its onslaught in the country.

Do yourself a favor, sit back and enjoy the slow burn amongst some political especially with the next year we will be having in this country. At least in the end of this political story there is some love.

This scandalous, fake dating romcom had me hooked from the beginning. I'm not usually into political based books, but this wasn't too heavy on the politics. The fake dating relationship between Logan and Alexia was steaming with sexual tension. They were each others cheerleaders throughout the whole book, and their friendship only grew stronger. Definitely a slow burn Book, but worth the read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Winstead and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited going into this because I’ve read this authors thrillers and I gave them all 5 stars so seeing her branch out into romance was super fun!!

I loved the meet cute and one night stand god it was good!! it did get MESSY but it was great!! I like messy 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m an absolute sucker for fake dating and I loved the way the trope was used to create the ultimate tension and ANGST!! 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 for logan, it took me some time to like him but he was hot I couldn’t deny it!! I loved Alexis she was relatable and I ended up really loving the relationship between her and Logan.

Politics. I took some classes in college and it was not my favourite but I do find it interesting so I didn’t mind it!! This author is an auto buy author for me so I will always read her books!!

♡︎ fake dating
♡︎ one night stand
♡︎ forced proximity

I loved Logan and Alexis so much! Ashley Winstead has this unique ability to make you invested in the characters from chapter one. I related so much to Alexis' need to be seen and appreciated for who she is and not who she's related to. I also appreciated how open and honest she was about her past relationship and dealing with the hurts and hang ups of it even knowing her partner was at fault for so much. When you're committed to something, it's still okay to be let down by your experience and its end even if you didn't do anything wrong. Logan's brash confident nature balanced with the softness and vulnerabiltiy he had no problem showing Alexis was the right balance. I loved watching them nurture and challenge each other!