An interesting read, if you can ignore the constant internal dialogue in our main character . Yes I know it’s a fake relationship but why does she have to go on and on about it, then to believe what the papers say, knowing they will write anything to sell copies. The Duke is no better he believes the words from a reporter, talk about gullible.

Super cute story. I loved the dual POVs, I'm a big fan of getting to see things from each character's perspective. I also loved the characters of Emma and Alaric.

This book was light, funny and didn’t need much thought. I really like the magic elements and Penelope. The romance was fluffy and the relationships between all the characters in general was very wholesome.

The only thing I didn’t like that much was the stile of the writing. The writing was a bit repetitive at times and the author did more telling than showing but in general the story was enjoyable.

If you like fluffy, romantic and light stories that don’t need a lot of thought then this is perfect.

4.5/5

I unexpectedly LOVED this book!

I picked it up thinking it would be something light, silly, and easy. And it *was*, but in a way that I somehow just adored so much more than I was expecting.

It's about a bit of a hot mess of a witch who has to fake date a vampire-duke in the cute little magical British village they live in. And it is just COSY as heck.

The MC is just enough of a hot mess to be relatable without falling into being irritating. There's adorable themes of found family, both with the dude's family and the witches' coven. The romance is super cute. Even the mean girl storyline took a turn I wasn't expecting, in a good way.

Oh and there's a skunk familiar 🦨

It's fade to black which suits me perfectly and honestly any more would have felt out of place to the tone of the book.

Also, the fact the MC is a vampire is extremely incidental and kind of barely features in the story, so if you go in wanting gothic blood-sucking vibes, you're barking up the wrong tree. There's lots of cute and cosy witchiness though.

This is actually the second in the Charming Cove series but they are standalone.

I adored this, and if cute, cosy and feel-good with a dash of magic sounds good to you, you might love it too.

How To Fake-Date A Vampire has vampires and fake-dating (of course) both things I love! I enjoyed the paranormal world and the mix of witches added in too. The characters were well-described and the story was cute and funny. Alaric and Emma are different but so sweet together and they're determined to help each other out. This book is fast paced and it was a great rom com.

This story was adorable. It was a cute and cozy little romance I used a palette cleanser after reading a high fantasy book. I loved it. I would have finished it in a day had this month not been so crazy busy.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Linsey Hall

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

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.