As with the first book in this series I sadly did not love the writing style and this affected my overall enjoyment.

This was overall a cute story and a very light read but a lot of it left me puzzled. The story definitely has potential but so many of the conflicts and interactions were really shallow, sometimes disingenuous and felt like a checklist rather than something to help character arcs.

I would have loved to see some more focused concentration and detail on the stronger plot points and I think that would have helped the pacing as well.

The one ‘detailed’ intimate scene felt very unnatural in this story. I think the author could have made a bigger impact describing the emotion of the moment and then had it fade to black.

Overall, I think less would have been more in this story. There were too many side things going on that we really lost the building chemistry between the main characters.

Loved it! Cute and humorous and sexy. The characters were great and I loved their banter and chemistry. This was so fun. I definitely want to read more.

How To Fake Date a Vampire is a paranormal, fake dating tale and the second book in the Charming Cove series.
The novel was light hearted and evenly paced and is Emma and Alaric story. They were both complete opposites but were sweet together and I liked them both. I also like Alaric's grandmother and Emma's skunk familiar who both stole the show at times.
The third act breakup and make up felt very rushed though and there was very little known about Vampirism.. which made Alaric's personality seem ordinary.
This was a fast paced read with an HEA ending and I will recommend it for those looking for an easy read.

You guys, this was just so so adorable!
This book was like a warm hug. Take a little magic, add in a cute lord-y vampire and a dash of fake dating and voila, you get to have an awesome time for 300+ pages.
I loved following our lovebirds' journey through self-discovery and to each other.
Oddly enough, I read this one during the holiday season, when I needed something cozy and sweet, and it totally delivered.
Charming Cove is somewhere I'd love to live, but for now, I'll settle with reading this series! And now I'm off to get the third book!!

Thank you NetGalley, Bonnie Doon Press and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The tropes, the title, and the synopsis of this book sounded damn good, but when I actually started reading, I was left a little disappointed by the whole thing. The third act break up and miscommunication just didn't hit like it was supposed to and the fake dating trope wasn't done that well either.

I think that I would have enjoyed it more had I been in the mood for it, however I wasn't able to finish this one so its classed as a DNF for now! But I'm hoping to buy a copy soon and finish it up!
I want to thank NetGalley for the eARC, much appreciated!

Emma is a witch who over-promises in a bid to plan a ball for her coven.Alaric is a vampire, and the only one who can help Emma out of this sticky situation. Lucky for Emma Alaric is in need of some help of his own, and Emma might be the perfect person to lend a hand.

So this is a weird one for me.
It's called How to fake date a vampire, but it really should be called - 
'Witches Plan a Ball '
The ball is the main character of this book, and unfortunately I did not care about the ball, or the planning of said ball.
Also this is not a book about dating a vampire, its a book about dating a duke, other than saying he's a vampire, and a brief mention of spiking his alcohol with blood, there is literally nothing vampirish in this book.
It had potential, but it fell flat for me.

Linsey Hall's ‘How to Fake-Date a Vampire’ is an enchanting foray into a world where the lines between reality and fantasy blur. Set in the magical locale of Charming Cove, this novel brings together the whimsical elements of witchcraft and the alluring mystique of vampires in a story that is both heartwarming and engaging.

The protagonist, Emma, a dedicated yet struggling witch, finds herself entangled in an unexpected ruse with Alaric, a vampire duke. Their accidental meeting, born out of a comical mishap, paves the way for a deal where Emma must fake-date Alaric to secure her position in her coven.

The romance between Emma and Alaric unfolds beautifully. It's a classic tale of fake dating with a magical twist, where the lines between pretense and genuine feelings blur. The gradual build-up of their relationship is heartwarming, and Hall does an excellent job of keeping the reader invested in their journey.

However, the book is not without its flaws. The transformation in the characters’ attitudes towards the end feels a bit rushed and unexplained. This sudden shift can left me a bit disoriented, longing for a more gradual and believable development.

The secondary characters, especially Emma's best friend Holly and Alaric’s grandmother Vivian, add depth to the story, showcasing the importance of found families and supportive relationships. Hall’s inclusion of these characters enriches the narrative, offering a refreshing departure from the often solitary journey of the female protagonist in similar stories.

This was a cute and fun read. I really enjoyed the characters and the plot. I found the third act slightly frustrating but did enjoy the fake dating theme. I read this as a stand alone having not read the first book yet. I do plan on going back to read book one.

I’m a sucker for fun familiars in books and this one has a doozy- Penelope the skunk. 🦨

She’s mouthy & sharp & don’t be confused by her bright pink bow she will spray you if she has to. 🎀

You didn’t think this review would be about a skunk did you? Well it is.

And if these videos of skunks don’t make you want to read this then I don’t know what will.

I really like this series that takes place in a cozy, magical English seaside village. These books do not disappoint and I need you to read them.

Emma is a witch living in a small town full of all types of paranormal folks. In hopes of becoming an official member of the coven, she’s putting her coven membership on the line by nominating herself to plan the annual Beltane Ball. Now she just needs to get Alaric, a local vampire and duke, to let her host the ball at his estate…

One of my favorite tropes is fake dating, so of course I was all over this book. We follow Emma and Alaric through their rotating perspectives as they allow their fake relationship to lead the way. Emma is planning the Beltane Ball, and the location alone should help her pull off one hell of an event. Meanwhile, Alaric is willing to fake date Emma if it means his possibly dying grandma will think he’s on his way to getting married. It’s a really cute premise.

Unfortunately, Emma and Alaric don’t have any chemistry, and much of the book is spent on planning the Beltane Ball. Alaric’s grandma had more chemistry with a male suitor she briefly interacted with than they did. It’s sad because I really liked both Emma and Alaric! They’re such kind, thoughtful, and sweet characters that I really wanted to root for them. They just didn’t have an ounce of chemistry, and some of their interactions were very procedural when they were supposed to be falling for each other. They both came to life around other characters, though, so that was enough for me!

Actually, I loved almost all of the characters in the book. I particularly loved Penelope, Emma’s familiar, who was an absolute delight. However, most of the characters are wonderful in different ways. I even looked forward to seeing Emma’s competition, who wasn’t exactly nice most of the time. That said, I’m a little sad about how vampires appeared in the book. The vampire characters were delightful, and I loved Alaric’s grandma to pieces, but there was hardly anything vampiric about them. The only thing that really made them different was their longer lifespans and the need to drink a few drops of blood here and there. Other than that, I honestly forgot they were supposed to be vampires.

All in all, it’s a cute book. The characters are cute and fun, and the overall premise is great. However, Alaric and Emma lack chemistry, and I’m still confused about this version of vampires. I had a great time reading it, but I wish there was more romance in the story and less ball planning. I will check out the first book in the series, though. It sounds fun and I didn’t realize this was the second in a series when I started it. I can confirm that this works well as a stand alone.

So, "How to Fake-Date a Vampire" by Lindsey Hall? It's a delightful mix of romance and supernatural fun that kept me thoroughly entertained. Imagine a quick-witted witch striking a deal with a charming vampire duke: she gets his fancy Cornwall estate for a magical event, and in return, she plays the part of his girlfriend. But here's the kicker - no flirting, no emotional involvement, and definitely no bedroom activities. Sounds straightforward, right? Not when the vampire in question is practically dripping with irresistible charm. Lindsey Hall puts a fresh spin on a familiar setup, infusing the story with humor and a dash of suspense. The characters, especially our clever protagonist and the devilishly attractive vampire duke, spark off each other brilliantly. If you're up for a romance with a sprinkle of magic and a pinch of vampires, this book is a playful escape that'll leave you with a smile. In "How to Fake-Date a Vampire," Hall weaves a world where love, laughter, and the supernatural blend seamlessly for an entertaining ride.

3.75 🌟

This was such a sweet second book in the Charming cove series, I absolutely adored the first book & thoroughly enjoyed this one too!

I can never go past a cozy witchy book, so as you can imagine this one was right up my alley!

Tropes
- fake dating
- vampire/witch
- small town
- grumpy sunshine

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-arc of this book.

This book was really well written and the narrative and plot were easy to follow. I couldn’t connect with the characters and that is what made this book unfortunately fall short for me.

Still a good read, overall.

How to Fake-Date a Vampire by Lindsey Hall is a wickedly fun blend of romance and supernatural antics. Picture this: a witch making a deal with a vampire duke to fake a relationship, all for the sake of appearances. The catch? Strict rules: no flirting, no emotion, no sex. Simple, right? Well, not when the vampire's charm is off the charts.

The story takes unexpected turns, keeping things spicy with a mix of humor and suspense. The characters are a riot, especially our witty protagonist and the infuriatingly sexy vampire duke. Their banter and chemistry make this a page-turner.

Sure, the premise might feel a bit familiar, but Hall adds her own spin, making it feel fresh and entertaining. If you're into romance with a dash of magic and vampires thrown in, this one's a charming escape that'll leave you grinning. With "How to Fake-Date a Vampire," Lindsey Hall crafts a delightful world where love, laughter, and the supernatural collide in the best way possible.

Ohhh. I loved being transported back to Charming Cove 💕

I loved everything about the book. It started with Emma being a witch that hasn’t really proven herself to her coven yet, bumping into the well known vampire duke who came back at Charming Cove recently. Of all the things Emma heard about the duke, she is determined not to like him. However, fate has other plans and because of that she will have to accept the deal he’s offering so she can become an official witch of the coven. They decide to stage a relationship and start fake dating. But ofcourse, things aren’t always as easy as they seem. Just like this so called fake relationship. So, will Emma pull it off to become an official witch? And how will this fake dating influence the connection between the two?

Besides that the story has a lot of things I like. It is written in an easy way, which makes it a fast-paced story. I love how the characters develop, I love the plottwists and the cute stories of the side characters. I adooooore the familiair, which in this case is a skunk, called Penelope. She’s super sassy but oh so adorable. Also, I loved the fierce character of Alarics grandmother. She’s an absolute treasure. Just like the rest of his family. It doesn’t even matter how bad things get, they are just wonderful.

The story tells a wonderful story about the true meaning of family and friendship. It also shows you that if you set your mind to it, you can pretty much do anything.

I also really loved that the characters from the first book in this series appeared in this second installment. Even the side characters of the first book did. This makes me wonder how all the precious characters will come back in the third book and I can’t wait to read that one too! I really hope the third book won’t be the last in this serie because I think it’s safe to say that this serie has become one of my favorites this year! 💕✨

Thank you netgalley for this in exchange for an honest review.
This was a nice easy read with likable characters and a fun story. Sometimes it's nice where it all goes right but my mystery loving brain was looking for something more. It was really enjoyable read with many laugh out loud moments, perfect if you just want a cosy read where you can flow with the story and not think too much. For me it fell short on scenes that I felt deserved more time instead of "we tried didn't go as plan let's do it again tomorrow ". That being said I was left with a smile on my face.

This book was so sweet and cozy. It was a perfect read for the spooky season without it being scary. The romance was also very cute!

3. 5 stars rounded up

This book is one of the cutest reads that I have enjoyed. It is a dual perspective following Emma and Alaric. It is a supernatural romance with a fake dating trope (which I am sure most got from the title). If you need something light, fluffy, and romantic: then this one's for you. It was just so uplifting and fun, with some small obstacles that the characters needed to work through, but it was just an easy read that puts you in a happy mood. Emma was just an upbeat witch, who did not let much get her down, while Alaric was a grumpy recluse and a couple hang ups but definitely could not help but be drawn to Emma’s bright and caring nature. There were some great laugh out loud moments that I enjoyed. While I did enjoy a lot of this story, the romance was a bit quick for me and missing the angst and tension that I really enjoy in my romance. This is also lower on the spice scale, this is not a completely closed door but very quick and not a lot of details. Overall, a very fun time, relaxing and just made you happy.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.