this was just a delightful romcom that brought all the smiles and swooning. I loved the first one in the series and couldn’t wait until I got Sam’s story! Identical twin switch >>>> best trope. Cooper is THE perfect cowboy and I loved him so much! I think I liked the first book more, so this one is 4 stars for me, but I would definitely recommend as a sweet rom com with a fun and creative storyline :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Kay Marie for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Love Lie was a satisfying romance / comedy and I will be coming back to it when I want a comfort read. In a world of lots of romances I love the unique premise and the writing and love story were done so well you can’t go wrong picking up this book.

Sam decides to fill in for her twin, Emily, on a bachelorette like reality show - but just for the finale. Her initial aim is to let Cooper, cowboy and all around good guy and heart throb, down gently to extricate herself and her twin from the show and bring some press attention - in the right way - to her sister’s jewelry line. That plan doesn’t quite go as envisioned to the delight of this reader. This was a part destination romance (I loved my visit to the Maldives and was initially drawn to recapturing that, which I did, with this book), part still waters run deep. This isn’t just about the romance but Sam’s own discovery of what makes her happy while Cooper proved himself to be more than just a cowboy.

Highly enjoyed! I won’t say this will shake up romances for anyone, but it shines amongst its sisters and brothers in the genre.

Title: The Love Lie

Author: Kay Marie
Genre: Romance

Rating: ★★★★


A city girl. A country boy. A fake engagement in front of 10 million viewers. What could possibly go wrong?….Well a lot!

To some, a proposal in the Maldives is the stuff of dreams. For Samantha Peters, it’s a certifiable nightmare. Why? Because she’s pretending to be her identical twin sister on a wildly popular reality TV show, and her potential fiancé is an infuriatingly sexy cowboy named Cooper, who never lets her win an argument. When a moment of temporary insanity leaves them accidentally engaged, they're stuck figuring it out together.
Their plan? Simple. Spend a week in paradise sharing the same bungalow to keep the producers from discovering the truth. Break up as soon as the cameras go down. Then live happily never after.

There’s only one problem: between jet skis, yacht tours, romantic dinners, and sunset parasails, these two opposites start seeing each other in a new light. Maybe Sam is more than just a workaholic with an iron heart, and maybe Cooper isn’t just a cocky cowboy with a restless spirit. But no matter how big the attraction grows, the rules are clear.

What I Loved:

Kay Marie’s The Love Lie is an absolute delight for fans of romantic comedies and fake engagement tropes, tropes that I love!

The chemistry between Samantha and Cooper is electric from the start, making their constant bickering as entertaining as it is sizzling. The setup of pretending to be someone else on a reality TV show adds a fresh twist to the enemies-to-lovers trope, keeping the readers hooked.

The exotic setting of the Maldives provides a breathtaking backdrop for this whirlwind romance. The vivid descriptions of their adventures—from jet skiing to romantic dinners—transport you right into the heart of paradise, making the story even more immersive.

I also appreciated the dual POV format, which gives readers a peek into the minds of both Sam and Cooper. It’s fun to see their misconceptions about each other unravel as they start to see beyond the facades they’ve built. Their character development is well-paced, and by the end, you’re rooting for them to break the rules and give love a chance.

Kay Marie masterfully combines humour, heart, and heat in this second instalment of The Love Match series, making it a must-read for romance enthusiasts. If you’re looking for a fun, lighthearted escape, this book is definitely for you!

Thank you to The Author Kay Marie & Netgalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 stars - fun while it lasted but cliche in a lot of ways.
I really loved the plot, characters, the writing style wasn't my favourite but it made for quick easy reading.
There were a lot of interesting tropes that could have been utilised more, such as the fake engagement only really played into very few scenes.
He was a cowboy so naturally the hat rule made an appearance (iykyk) but even that would have been nice to see more understanding stem from it.
It felt very rushed and shallow - the plot could have been drawn out more and maybe more tension would have been built, mentions of struggles and grief did appear but however natural they also felt like they were skimmed over and inserted in to give more depth.
It was entertaining and I kept reading but didn't give me much more than that.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good romcom. I enjoyed it greatly. I think most romcom readers will enjoy it and I recommend it highly.

The Love Lie is a fun and light romance with great main characters. It's definitely a spicy love story in the making in am amazing setting. And, I love that he knew it was Sam immediately, and the connection they have.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of The Love Lie by Kay Marie

A wonderful follow up to the love rematch. The main characters banter and chemistry were off the charts and stayed the way until the end! I really enjoyed their journey from start to finish! This series is filled with romcom goodness and feels! X

A delightful contemporary romance that flawlessly combines fake engagement, enemies to lovers, and cowboy charm. The writing style is engaging and heartfelt, capturing the tension and chemistry between the protagonists with finesse. I loved how the author skilfully navigated the forced proximity and opposites attract tropes, creating palpable sparks and emotional depth. Every page of this novel radiates warmth and authenticity. A must-read for anyone who enjoys sweet and steamy love stories.