Jamie and Coral were just the perfect opposites attract for this story. I loved Coral's whimsical but sensible and rational side , especially considering her line of work. Her down-to-earth outlook worked wonders in loosening up Jamie's uptightness while his over protective alpha-ness was swoon-worthy and made him more attractive to get to know better. With this being one of my more favorite tropes, where there is a Cinderella like start to the relationship, then they meet again only to be anchored to each other made this one an enjoyable read. Highly recommend, looking forward to David's story.

I absolutely ate up the banter in this book. It was amazing. The connection and chemistry between the two were spectacular. I also loved that Jamie’s sister was supportive of the relationship and there was no “forbidden” drama related to that. She wanted Jamie and Coral to be happy and was so supportive of their relationship! There was really good representation of Coral's chronic illness, and I appreciated the way that Jamie respected and considered her celiac disease before eating certain foods. The only issue was that it took me about 15 percent of the book to actually get into the story, the beginning just felt a little dragged out.

I love it when a romance comes with reader warnings, and One Night Standard absolutely delivers on its promise of spice, sass, and sizzling chemistry! Jamie and Coral’s whirlwind Vegas encounter turns into a delicious fake-dating trope with high stakes, irresistible tension, and just the right amount of emotional depth. The backdrop of luxury hotels, real estate drama, and mermaid performances makes this story unique and utterly entertaining. With plenty of heat, witty banter, and a romance that feels just as fun as it is heartfelt, this book is a must-read for fans of open-door, steamy love stories that keep you hooked from start to finish.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

a sweet romance that was written well just not my favourite tropes! definitely see it being favourites for others

It took me a little while to settle into this read but once I did I loved it. It was great to have two strong leads, both career focused and unwilling to settle for less than their worth. The focus on coeliac’s disease was a wonderful addition to raise awareness for those of us who also have it and let’s not forget the added bonus of a few steamy chapters for those who like them. Thanks netgalley

I really enjoyed Jamie’s and Coral’s adorable love story! It was such a fun, easy read for me. The plot was different from the norm (professional mermaid everyone!) although I think the author told the story really well!

The characters are so fun and you can't help but become invested in them. I also loved the fake dating trope which worked really well in the book.

Overall, I would recommend One Night Standard if you're looking for a steamy, romantic read with a bit of a twist.

Vegas Mermaid Romance!

Coral Triton (an elite romance character name), is a professional mermaid moving to Vegas for the job of a lifetime. She kicks off her trip with a very sexy one night stand and then prompted finds out her bed partner is the brother of her new boss. Oops!

Jamie Standard is running away from his problems on the other side of the country. Before his visit with his sister kicks off, he spends the night with a woman he meets in a hotel bar. Then finds out she is the star of the show his sister is masterminding.

One viral video later, these two hotties are fake dating for the publicity of the show AND to heal Jamie's image. But how fake is it really?

I really appreciated how self-aware Jamie is from the start here. The article about him is clearly a wake-up call, both about his job and his personal life. Even in the early scenes, he is thinking about what was said about him and considers if his current actions mean he is falling into the same patterns. That and his defense of Coral to her shitty family make him a top tier romance hero.

I also love that Coral has a weird job! As someone who has had a weird job, I love it!

This was a lot of fun overall and I will definitely be checking out more from this author!

I thoroughly enjoyed this lighthearted romance!

One Night Standard contains:
🧜‍♀️MERMAID rep. Loved that our FMC was an actual REAL LIFE MERMAID!
🥪BRUNCH DADDY MMC. I had never heard this term before reading this book and BOY am I glad I did! 😅
💖Well adjusted, mature characters who had their flaws and issues but were able to have grown up conversations and deal with things and that was SO REFRESHING! 🍹
🌶️SPICE! A whooole heap of spice! Sex scenes went on for like 5% of the book and if that's your thing you'll love this! 😅
😌Low stakes and not a lot of conflict. Perfect for those times you need a book that's going to keep you hooked but not stress you out! 🥰

Fab romance read. Highly recommend to anyone who's into mermaids and brunch daddies!! 😅

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Standard’s Siren

Jamie and Coral were mer-mazing together. Talk about slipping in their first meeting. They really brought the spicy boil to the desert. A Siren calling a Sailor into the sea. Jamie quickly became a rock for Coral that she had been missing out on.

Get ready to grin throughout: Celiac representation, candor and care was sweetly represented. A Professional Mermaid and Developer Human that make it work.

I received a free copy of this book from E.F. Dodd and Sugar Beaver Books. I am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.

I loved Jamie’s and Coral’s story! I totally fell in love with Jamie and Coral was brilliant as a sparky girl who knows what she wants.
I would definitely recommend One Night Standard, it was a steamy, romantic read which I couldn’t put down.

Coral just got the job of her dreams, starting as a full time mermaid at a new Las Vegas that just opened. And the best way to celebrate? Drinking and someone to spend the night. The next day she learned that the guy she had an amazing time with is the brother of her new boss. Apparently, he's in a pickle too, and it seems like faking a relationship is beneficial for both of them...

This was an adorable story The meet cute was flirty and cute, their whole dynamic was really good, and I really like their chemistry. As we go into the fake dating aspect of the book, that chemistry definitely continuous. I also really like the way they respect each other through out the book.

The beginning was a slow one for me. And I really didn't like that the characters tend to be so cliche. But as we get into the last third of the book, we actually get decent stories, emotions, and characteristics from them.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. It was entertaining and the character development was something to stay for.

Coral is a professional mermaid who’s just landed her dream job in Vegas while Jamie is there visiting his sister trying to lay low after an article has painted him as a a modern day rake.

Coral and Jamie decide one night together is the ideal way to start their stay in Vegas, however Coral’s one night stand with Jamie threatens to ruin her biggest gig ever when she finds out Jamie is her bosses brother.

This was such a fun read! There was lots of humour, the spice was spicy and the ending wrapped everything up nicely. Highly recommend if you like feel good love stories!

- billionaire romance
- fake dating
- age gap
- forced proximity
- opposites attract

In the glitzy, over-the-top world of Vegas, where the extraordinary is everyday, "One Night Standard" by E.F. Dodd offers readers a spicy romance with fake-dating tropes, professional mermaids, and a dose of corporate drama. It's a lighthearted romp that thrives on its playful premise but stumbles when trying to anchor itself in reality.

The story kicks off when Jamie Standard, a Boston real estate mogul, seeks refuge in Las Vegas to escape a scandal that could tank his career. At the same time, Coral Triton (yes, the author wants you to believe that's a real name), a driven and confident professional mermaid (yes, you read that right), lands her dream job headlining and designing a live mermaid show at the chic L’Atelier hotel. Their paths cross at the airport and spark instant chemistry, leading to a steamy one-night stand.

Their fling takes a complicated turn when Jamie’s sister (and Coral’s new boss) proposes a fake relationship to repair Jamie's image while promoting the hotel’s upcoming show. What begins as a transactional arrangement quickly transforms into something deeper—but not without its share of complications.

What works: The book is undeniably fun. Coral is a refreshing lead—ambitious, unapologetic, and fiercely independent. Jamie, while embodying the "business bad boy" archetype, has moments of vulnerability that make him endearing also. There are spicy scenes a-plenty. Las Vegas doesn't show up in too many romance novels, so it was a nice change of setting.

What doesn't work: While the premise is engaging, the execution occasionally strains credulity. The novel’s portrayal of industries—hotels, media, business negotiations, and even professional mermaid performances—often feels cursory or outright misinformed. We hear a lot about silicone tails but how does Coral breathe? Is she holding her breath or is there an oxygen feed? Plus, the gossip scandal that sets the plot in motion feels overly contrived, the proposed solution of fake dating as PR damage control stretches believability, and the creep Coral rejected in a bar immediately getting on the local news to expose the fake relationship is beyond farfetched. Additionally, anyone who's ever been to Searchlight, Arizona, will be calling the author's bluff on that depiction.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I'm not sure what drew me to this book initially but the mermaid on the cover was intriguing. it sounded like something that I'd enjoy but my interest diminished so I couldn't finish this book. I may try again at some point but thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I wanted to read this in one day I enjoyed it that much. One Night Standard sets the ‘standard’ for how a man in love should treat his lady. Coral is the usual untrusting daughter of a “me me me” mother. Jamie is the bad boy will never settle down type. Joselyn has a plan for them both. And man was it a good one.

A while ago I ended up on mermaid-tok and became kind of obsessed, so jumped at the chance to read a book looking into mermaid careers! It definitely hit that spot and I think I enjoyed that side of it more than the romance.

I think the characters were developed nicely, but the ending was a little frustrating for me.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc. 🫶🏻

Boston real estate developer Jamie Standard is about to close one of the most important deals of his life when a gossip rag releases an article painting him as a modern day rake. The bad press threatens to torpedo the deal and tank the largest green building project his company has ever undertaken. With the deal circling the drain, his business partners advise him to escape the limelight and visit his sister, Jocelyn. She happens to be the hospitality manager of L ’Atelier, a hot new resort hotel on the Vegas Strip, so as exiles go, it’s top tier. Especially when he runs into a gorgeous redhead at the airport.

Coral Triton has reached the pinnacle of her career as a professional mermaid by landing a new job at L ’Atelier. Not just to headline a live action mermaid show, but also help create a vision for everything from set design to choreography. Things are on a definite up-swim for her, and only get better when the hot blond guy she bumped into at the airport turns up at her hotel. But, she’s in Vegas for a job – the job – not a guy, so anything beyond one night is out of the question. With a brief note and one last look, she bails the next morning. An interesting romance book filled with sweet and spicy moments!

Couldn’t get into this book…it was a bit odd but overall a quick simple read. I did love the aspects of the mermaid career.

This was my first adult read with a mermaid. Coral finally lands a spot in her career after years of pursuing what she loves. No strings attached, no names, nothing…and accidental run in to one night with Standard. Coral & Jamie’s first time catching the love bug, they couldn’t even fake it if they wanted to.

4 stars because I felt some parts towards the end were a drag.

oral is headed to Las Vegas to star in a mermaid show. At the airport, she meets Jamie who is in town to lay low from an article that paints him as a playboy. they meet again when he saves her from a bar fly. It leads to a night of passion.

E.F. Dodd is a great author who brings a lot of passion and spice to the writing but also gives the characters depth. Coral has a history that makes her not want to be in a relationship. Jamie seems more about work than wanting to commit to a relationship. They unlock something in each other that is very nice.

This book has a ton of spice and a little conflict in the end but not a real break up since they were really just faking.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sugar Beaver Books and EF Dodd for the e-ARC. This review is my own opinion.