3.5/5 Stars

Sometimes you just want a cozy low stakes fantasy, and this is it!

I admittedly went into this book not knowing it was a second in a series, so the world building was a bit confusing for me - but that was totally on me.

This story follows Emma, an ordinary witch who is hoping to be a full member of her coven. In order to become a full member of her coven, Emma plans to throw a successful ball at the Duke of Vampire's Alaric's property. In order to get him to agree to hosting on his property, Emma enters a fake dating scheme to trick Alaric's grandmother that he is happy in a relationship.

This book is great for any one who loves Urban fantasy and is maybe easing their way into paranormal romances. The magic system and even the qualities of being a witch or a vampire aren't explored too much that it would be overwhelming to the reader. I did want to see a little more of the vampire aspect to Alaric as I felt the story was more focused on Emma being a witch. The pacing in this book is really good, and I enjoyed Emma and Alaric learning about one another.

The third act "break up" wasn't probably the one thing I didn't enjoy about this. I'm not a huge fan of miscommunication - and it was resolved in a few pages, but it just didn't feel fully fleshed out for the two to even break up.

If you're looking for a good book to start your spooky season or just want an easy read / palette cleanser - this is would be such a good pick up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnie Doon Press for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This delightful, light, fluffy read blends fantasy, romance, and magic into this sweet story.

The seaside setting of Charming Cove is… well, charming. It gives you a small town feel and is very warm and inviting. We don’t get to meet too many people in this town, but those who we do meet are likable characters. I would’ve enjoyed for the town and its residence to play more of a role in the story. I also would’ve liked more description of the setting and events. We got a little bit, but I wanted more. I wanted to be fully immersed in this fantasy world but felt like I was only able to dip my toes in it.

Emma and Alaric are easy characters to like, relate to, and ultimately root for. It's a dual POV, so we’re able to understand each of their points of view. However, we get more of Emma’s POV, and at times, when I was reading in Alaric’s POV, I had forgotten that and thought it was Emma’s until I read a sentence that didn’t fit quite right, and then I remembered it’s Alaric’s POV. I don’t know if I learned that much more about Alaric from being in his POV. I think the book could’ve just used Emma’s POV, which would’ve worked for the entire story.

The romance between Emma and Alaric is very cute and sweet. There is some language and one spicy scene, but it’s not too graphic. I thought they made a really cute couple, but it does lean on the insta-love side quite a bit. They fall pretty soon and quickly for each other, ignoring the rules they set when they first planned the fake dating scheme. At times, it was obvious they both were falling for each other but wouldn’t communicate their feelings, which was a bit annoying. I also wished we saw more of them together, trying to fake date, but much of the story is about Emma preparing for the town’s ball. It’s very predictable, but that didn’t ruin anything for me. Overall, I enjoyed their romance.

I also loved the found family element in this story. Emma just wants a family of her own, and she finds it within her coven as well as Alaric’s family. I love the relationships she builds with Alaric’s family members. I also really enjoyed Emma’s skunk familiar, Penelope. She’s sassy, caring, witty, and humorous. She brought some funny scenes throughout the story. She was a nice touch, and now I want a skunk familiar! (lol)

One big problem that I had was that Alaric is supposed to be a vampire, but he hardly acts like one. All of the traits we know about vampires do not apply in this story. He can be out in sunlight; he can eat and drink normal food and beverages; he doesn’t attack people for their blood, he gets it in a bag; he doesn’t sleep in a coffin…and so on. So, what makes this guy a vampire? I would’ve liked more evidence that he actually was a vampire!

Overall, the story was engaging and compelling. I think the pacing was great and didn’t really slow down too much. I wish it were a little longer so we got more time at the ball at the end, but it’s a pretty quick read. I’ll admit, it’s a little cheesy and a bit too fluffy at times, but this was exactly what I needed and wanted when I read it. It’s overly sweet, verging on too nice without a lot of conflict, but it was still a fun read. It’s light, whimsical, and magical, though I wish we had a bit more magic in it. It’s perfect for a fall read or spooky/Halloween feel-good read with some supernatural elements.

I definitely got cozy fantasy vibes from this book. Now, I want to read the first book in the series. I believe this is the type of series where each book can stand on its own without reading the others. Definitely recommend if you like warm, fuzzy rom-coms with a bit of enchanting magic and love!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

First if all, I loved the idea of this! Vampires, witches AND fake dating? Sign. Me. Up.
Unfortunately I felt a little underwhelmed by the delivery. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed reading about Emma and Alaric and I liked their story, but their romance as well as the other conflicts that Emma had to face all felt a little… shallow? I would have liked a little more depth to everything because a lot of the resolutions to Emma’s problems felt a little too easy which resulted in the plot feeling rushed.
In addition to that some parts just didn’t make sense to me. The most prominent one being: Why did Alaric and his family have to be vampires when they basically have none of the traditional vampire traits? They can walk around in broad daylight without any consequences (not even a little of a sparkle of their skin), you can take photos of them and see them in mirrors, they’re far from being monstrous (you never find out where they get their blood from), they don’t seem to feel ANY bloodlust (grandma just likes to have a little droplet of blood in her Martinis for fun) so they’re clearly not a threat to anyone ever, they eat normal food, they don’t even have a stupid garlic allergy! I could go on and on about how they’re basically just normal human beings with shit ton of money. Like I said, I still enjoyed this book. But the overarching question why the hell it was marketed as a vampire romance was the part that actually bothered me throughout the entire story.

How to Fake-Date a Vampire is a magical tale of romance, stunning displays of witchcraft, and familial love. Emma and the Duke (Alaric) enter a proposal - she’ll fake-date him to convince his grandmother that he’s happy, and he’ll let her host the Beltane Ball at his estate.

Emma and Alaric have an easy relationship that is fun to read about. At times, it does seem too easy, as they fall in love quickly, completely ignoring their rules of “no emotion”. Most of the secrets are revealed within the first few chapters, and forgiveness takes less than a page after a major argument. Whilst this made for a nice story, the lack of tension meant that the romantic get-back-together scene didn’t have much of a payoff.

The world building and surrounding characters were a highlight of the book! The Duke’s grandmother is incredible, with exuberant energy, great outfits, and a possible romance with a ghost. It was heartwarming to see how Emma craved a family, and the Duke’s grandmother wanted the same. The magical gardens, skunk familiars, and ghostly apparitions are a wonderful hallmark of Lindsey Hall’s Charming Cove Series!!!

I am always a sucker for vampire books and this one was a fun one! This is my first Lindsey Hall book (I think) and it was a pleasure to read. I'll definitely pick up more by her.

I really enjoyed this witchy romcom and a little different take on vampire lore. I absolutely loved a Modern Girl's Guide to Witchcraft and this was a great next piece to the series. Emma and Alaric were adorable, Emma's familiar was so fun, and the found family dynamic for Emma was heartwarming.

Grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, found family - can't go wrong! A fun, light fall read.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a cosy fantasy with hints of rom-com set in the modern world. Charming Cove seems like such a lovely place and I really wish it existed in real life. What brings the rating down for me from a solid five star read to a 3.5 is the fact that the book was supposed to be about fake-dating a vampire. But there's nothing indicating that the person is actually a vampire except for it being mentioned and that they spiced their alcohol with a bit of blood. That was very disappointing to me since I'm a huge vampire fan. It really felt like the duke was just a "regular" bloke with a titel and money. The other thing that kind or irked me was the fact that the book was more about Emma and her preparations for the upcoming event than it was about actually fake-dating the duke. But except for that it was a really cosy read and I did enjoy it. I just wish it could have been a bit more.

This was such a fun book! I loved every second of it! I’m a sucker for vampires and witches… the charming cove series is a fun series and I have enjoyed reading the books so far!

Special thanks to Net Galley for providing me with this ARC!

Fake dating for the win! This book was incredibly cute! Vampires and witches make for a romance story to make your heart melt! Loved the fake dating troupe and then supernatural aspect just made it even better! With October around the corner it’s the perfect book to put you in a festive mood! I definitely wish I could have had more about being a vampire or a witch but it was such a sweet romance!

I cannot wait to read more magical books by this author too!

#fakedating #witch #vampire #romance #lindsayhall #howtofakedateavampire #bookreview #netgalley

A fantastic cosy paranormal romance that I devoured in no time at all.

Definitely what I needed following a few serious reads beforehand. I adore a witch/vampire romance and always appreciate when authors make these magical beings “original” to their stories. For example, Hall’s vampires can come out in the day, don’t drink from humans and so on.

This was a fake dating/opposites attract with a dash of miscommunication story and it was spooky perfection. Penelope the familiar was the cherry on the cake!

I need to get my hands on the next book in the series asap!

I loved this sweet witchy rom com with my whole heart. It was just what I needed. Emma, Alaric, and Penelope are lovable and endearing. I especially loved the world building and magical humor that gave this book extra sparkle. Highly recommend for a feel good romance read!

Emma is a witch who is relatively new to Charming Cove. She's working on securing a spot in her coven, and when given a task, she makes a deal that could change everything.
🌙
It's time for the Beltane Ball, and the person who finds the best venue gets the chance to host it. Emma suggests Blackthorn Hall, but the Duke who lives there isn't interested. Alaric is a vampire and Duke of Blackthorn. He wants his private life kept private, but when a witch with big ideas comes calling, he realizes they could help each other. He needs a fake girlfriend to fool his interfering Granny, Emma wants to use his family home for the ball. Win/Win. As long as no one finds out, of course...
👻
Linsey Hall knocked it out of the park again with the cozy vibes. The second book in the Charming Cove series has even more of the good feels. The cozy seaside village, crazy found family, quaint shops, and magical hijinks all add to the atmosphere. I also can't forget the ridiculously cute familiar that steals the spotlight in these books. Penelope the skunk was a fūcķing delight, and I'd love to share some bacon sandwiches with her any day.
🦇
Overall, the story was a good one, but it was a little *too* similar to book one. A magical challenge, sabotage, FMC hates the MMC for an easily explainable miscommunication, FMC doesn't know her powers, the outdoor §ex. It's all done well, but it's a copy of the first book. I enjoyed Emma and her exploration of her powers, but Alaric was kind of left swinging in the wind. Nothing really made him a vampire besides the fact that he put blood in his cocktails. It was like the author just needed another supernat to check a box. I will say he got some points back for having his very own Beauty and the Beast library. But then he lost more again for instigating that ridiculous 3rd act breakup.
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Even with those complaints, I had such a fun time reading this. It's the most cozy, ease in to spooky season type of book. And the humor and comraderie alone keeps you interested. Big thanks to NetGalley and the author for this ARC, I had so much fun being back in Charming Cove!

(3.5 stars rounded up.)

I absolutely loved this trip back to Charming Cove!! It would work well as a standalone, but I enjoyed cameos from Aria, Boris and Catrina from Book 1.

This was the cutest little feel-good story. My fav character has to be Penelope 🦨 so sassy and fun! 🥓 I would love a side story of Pen and Boris 🦡

So glad I received this eARC, I can’t wait to see whose story is next in this series! 🔮

If you love fairy tail type stories this is the one for
you .I very much enjoyed this story . I would love to read more of this type . I think you will enjoy it as much as I did . Was such a wonderful love story also.

How to Fake-Date a Vampire by Linsey Hall is a paranormal rom-com and the second book in the Charming Cove series. We alternate first-person points-of-view between our two main characters.

Emma wants nothing more than to become an Official Witch so she can finally have the family she's desired her whole life after jumping around between foster homes. When the coven announces the apprentice who has the best idea for their Beltane Ball will become Official, she lobbies for hosting at the manor of local vampire duke, Alaric. They strike a deal to fake-date one another so Emma can put on the ball of her dreams and Alaric's grandmother can finally meet his "significant other."

This was really cute, like the first book in the series. Though characters from the first book are referenced a few times, you can likely read it as a standalone.

Similar to the first book in the series, I really liked the vast majority of the characters here. I especially loved Emma's skunk familiar, Penelope. The magic system is still cool, especially with the addition of revelation sticks and joy batteries in this installment.

There were a few parts of the book that were pretty weak in my opinion. Firstly, the third-act breakup (miscommunication, one of my least favorite tropes) was very milquetoast and Emma forgave Alaric way too easily. Secondly, the ending in general felt way too rushed. Finally, we didn't get much world-building here about how vampires work in this universe and I'd love to have learned more about them. We are mostly just shown that they spike their alcoholic drinks with blood, which wasn't enough detail for me.

If you're looking for something light and charming, try picking this one up! It's a cozy fantasy romance that's a quick and cute read.

Tropes in this book include: grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, found family, forced proximity

CW: light stalking (by papparazo)

3,5/5 Stars

This book was nice. That’s probably the best way to put it. It was entertaining and fast-paced, and very easily readable in one sitting, but I don’t think it’ll really stick with me. Which is fine, not every book has to be groundbreaking, but I had hoped for a little more.

That being said, I love the fake-dating trope and this book definitely delivered on that front. I also like the two main characters, and while I’m not a huge fan of miscommunication as the main conflict between love-interests it kind of worked in this one and while they fell in love very, very quickly it was still really sweet.

One thing that I found to be a bit of a let down was the vampires themselves, because they could’ve been replaced by regular, rich humans and it wouldn’t have made any difference in my opinion. I just think that if an author puts vampire in the title then there should be at least some fangs and maybe a bat or two, not just a squirt of blood in a martini every now and then.

Overall, a fun and very quick read, but nothing very new or groundbreaking. I’d definitely recommend it to people who are trying to get into fantasy and fantasy romance, or if you just really like the genre in general.

This is the second in the Charming Cove series, but it can be read as a standalone. Again, we are back in the sweet, small, witchy, costal town and we meet one of the newest residents, Emma, with her friends. Even though she is still known as the "new girl," she has lived there for two years. She is focused on finding her place within the community when she has a run in with the town's celebrity, you guessed it! The Vampire. This fake-dating romance was so fun, and I was definitely in the mood for the dynamic. Along with the Found Family Emma keeps acquiring it really is one of those books that puts you in a better mood. Of course, there are a few challenges to overcome in the relationship and their lives. We watch our characters grow and open their hearts in the delightful anticipation of a Happily Ever After.

The Charming Cove series is absolutely adorable. I have my eye on the third in the Series, "Romance Rules for Werewolves." I am going to try to save it for when I need a strong dose of dopamine. It comes out Dec 7th.

Thank you to Linsey Hall, Quill and Bonnie Doon Press, and NetGalley for a digital copy of How to Fake-Date a Vampire.

I started off enjoying this and towards the 50-page mark it fell flat for me.
Emma was a pretty irritable character and Alaric was meant to be a vampire? I know this is a cosy romance novel, I just kind of expected more from a vampire.
Every page I kept having to drag myself through, nothing was gripping me.
It was very cliche and predictable Also I was expecting more of a build-up.
There was a lot of explaining in this book and I got lost trying to keep up!
Maybe this style isn’t for me.
3 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC so I could write this honest review!

How to Fake-Date a Vampire is an adorable paranormal rom-com. It has some truly absurd laugh out loud moments. I loved Emma and her precious familiar Penelope. Aleric could have been human except for the blood drinking out of a glass. But even with that this was a fast paced romp that I truly enjoyed. Though this is part of a series it can be read stand alone just fine.

i really liked this book, it's a perfect light-hearted romcom with just the right amount of magical elements. i especially loved penelope, she's just so funny and sarcastic. the main characters in this book were pretty likeable, and i did enjoy reading about their love story. emma is so cute, and alaric is definitely boyfriend material. as a loyal fan of the fake dating trope, i was not disappointed. the reason that caused them to started fake dating was also quite heartwarming and not unbelievable like in some other books. all in all, i think this is a great read and i'd definitely recommend it, especially since its fall now. 4/5 stars!