A fun read, the story of Daphne and Calvin. I liked how it.was told.from both points of view, and the characters like grandma Mabel were great.

This was an enjoyable and very entertaining book. I liked the main characters and really enjoyed their bantering. I felt for Daphne at first since she feels like the odd one out being "boring" in her family of very outgoing personalities but it got old after a while. Also the story with the crockpot was a bit over-the-top for me. Still the book was very entertaining and romance was sweet and I rooted for Daphne and Calvin to have their HEA.

Loved this book couldn't put it down read with in a day and a half.
This story is very well written. The two build a beautiful relationship.

Daphne’s life hasn’t gone according to plan, loosing her job and jilted by her ex, she decides to return to her home town of Fernley Island. Once again she feels like she does’t fit in there either, Daphne is a rule follower and her family are more animated!
She makes a hasty escape from her sister’s engagement party only to get pulled over by the sheriff who turns out to be her high school nemesis Calvin Flint.
To make matters worse she will also be working for him, to find any financial irregularities following the last sheriff departure. A series of mishaps throws them together, the chemistry between them is evident but Daphne has her guard up high when it comes to him. Calvin finds himself in need a fake date he’s surprised yet relieved when Daphne agrees, little does he know she’s on her own quest to hunt down her grandmothers stolen cast iron pot.
I really did enjoy this book, it’s a slow burn enemies to lovers. When Daphne opens up to tell Calvin how is taunting and teasing at school affected her he was gutted, his own childhood without a doubt shaped his behaviour. I thought it was handled really well, the author allowed the characters to be open and vulnerable which i really appreciate as their growth felt much more believable.
I don’t want to give any spoilers but let’s just say the spice is good 😊 and the side plot around the cast iron pot adds a layer of mystery. Daphne’s grandmother and her friends are hilarious!
Thank you NetGalley, Lilian Monroe and Montlake for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

I thought this was great! This book made me chuckle and cry! Daphne and Calvin were great, along with the other characters. You will laugh out loud. But also shed a tear when you hear both Daphne and Calvin share secrets with each other. These two made a sweet couple! I couldn’t help but cheer them on! You will keep rooting for them too!!

Four Steps To A Perfect Fake Date by Lilian Monroe was an entertaining rom com but it will surprise you some really deep feels. Daphne and Calvin is the match no one saw happening but they make the most amazing one. It was hilarious, full of small town cuteness and awkwardness. It was slow burn with the spice taking it's own sweet time making the entrance.

- good girl / Reformed bad boy
- they were childhood nemesis
- small town romance
- second chance romance
- office romance ( sheriff + the accountant. hired to do departmental audit)
- fake dating

Daphne Davis always walked the straight line. The good girl. The rule follower. The perfect planner. And she is wondering if it was all a big mistake after losing her job, her house and her good for nothing ex. She comes back to the quaint island to her home and her family, pretty beaten down. She has been hired by the sheriff Department to find financial irregularities afte the last sheriff was caught for corruption. The new temporary one has been her tormentor in high school. Calvin Flint has changed but Daphne doesn't believe it. She is done with the good girl act though and Calvin is the one who is pushing her to be impulsive. Why else would she go along with her grandmother's wild plan to retrieve their old bread oven pan by agreeing to be Calvin's fake date to his mother's vow renewal?

My heart was aching for Daphne. She always thought being good and straight is the best but all it did was to put her in a corner in her wild family. She was invisible and underestimated. But not to Calvin. In school, he was dealing with a lot of family issues and volatile feelings and little goody two shoes Daphne was the person he took it out. But over the years, he has cleaned up his act. And Daphne doesn't know what to think about this protective straight faced alpha hero who is trying to save her from herself at every step. The fake dating situation brought them closer and Calvin was more and more enticed by the hidden fiery vixen inside Daphne. He didn't stop till he could make everyone accept that she is brave and sassy and beautifully reckless. That's what made her fall in love with him. Because he saw and believed in the real Daphne.The small town definitely has some interesting characters. The grandmother and her friends were some of the most colorful there. The accidents and incidents kept the story moving at a steady pace. I liked how the chemistry was built slowly.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

Thank you to Netgalley, Montlake and Lilian Monroe for this ARC.

I have been a long time fan of Lilian and binged her entire Heart Cove series. I do enjoy MCs in their 30s and 40s.

In 2023 I read Four Steps to the Perfect Revenge, which was meant to be a standalone novel, and really enjoyed it. But I am glad Lilian decided to bring us back to Frenley Island

I will not repeat what is already mentioned in the blurb, so here are the things I really enjoyed:
1- I don’t consider this a second chance romance because Calvin & Daphne were not in love during high school; they were nemeses. Each of them lashed out on the other because of their own struggles and insecurities. It was lovely to see them get a chance to know each other better 18 years later.
Watching Calvin slowly explore his feelings towards Daphne was just delicious. One of my favorite quotes “He was taking whatever scraps or attention he could get, even though he knew it would end badly.“ Calvin is mostly a green flag, and green flag guys are my favorite MMCs.

2- Daphne is struggling with how being put in the Good Girl box is ruining her life and mental health and she tries to break out of her shell and catch up with her vivacious family. This leads to a chain of bad decisions. Questionable decisions seem to be in the Davis DNA… I’m looking at you chapter 20 lol.

3- The crime subplot carries on from book 1 and I liked how Daphne, who functions as a forensic accountant, is the star of the investigation, not the sheriff.

4- The third act conflict is short lived and thankfully Daphne and I liked how both characters dealt with it.

5- Stellar cast of side characters and family dynamics that were as interesting to examine as the main romance plot.

I really loved this story; it was charming and comforting.
Some people may not like the internal monologues but I like them, I’m an anxious woman with a tendency for overthinking and i like characters that I can relate to.

If Lilian ever decides to return to Fernley Island I will there for the ride.

Rating: 4:5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 5)
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️ (few explicit scenes).

Daphne and Calvin were undeniably a perfect match, but it took them over a decade to truly become the people—and the couple—they were meant to be. Their journey was filled with tension and complexity, especially Calvin’s character, which kept me hooked from start to finish.

However, I found Daphne's struggle with her “good” persona a bit contrived. At times, her choices felt odd, yet I understood the author's intention behind them. The drama surrounding Grandma's cast iron pot seemed unnecessary; it felt trivial to create such an uproar over it. Honestly, that moment showcased a degree of immaturity on Daphne’s part, especially considering how their relationship had deepened by then. I really think she should have just come clean.

On a positive note, I really appreciated the dual point of view—it added depth to the story and enhanced my connection with the characters. Overall, I’d recommend this book, but with a caveat: it's best suited for readers who don’t mind seeing a main character undergo a personality shift that, at times, doesn’t feel entirely authentic or captivating.

The story centers on Daphne Davis, the quiet and responsible one in her lively family. After losing her job, her home, and her fiancé—who left her for being “too boring”—she decides to take more chances. This leads to frequent run-ins with Calvin Flint, the town’s acting sheriff and her semi-co-worker. Daphne still sees him as the reckless guy from high school, but when they agree to fake date to stop Calvin’s mother from setting him up at her vow renewal, their dynamic begins to shift.

The book delivers classic rom-com elements—small-town charm, quirky family drama, slow-burn romance, and lighthearted mysteries. While the relationship between Daphne and Calvin doesn’t feel as compelling as some other romance pairings, the novel is still an entertaining read, filled with heartwarming moments, character growth, and fun twists along the way.

Daphne Davis has a long history of following the rules, living by the book. But life has handed her some tough times and she finds herself back on the island where she grew up. She's hired by the sheriff's department to sort out a mess after a department scandal and she's working under her high school nemesis, Calvin Flint. During her time there, she slowly discovers Calvin isn't quite the jerk he was in high school. She also finds herself involved in a scheme with Calvin to fake date and another one with her grandmother to recover a stolen pot from years before, all during the renewal of vows between Calvin's mom and stepfather.

This was a really good story and there was so much growth for both main characters. Daphne learned a lot more about herself and also how she fits into her family and her hometown. Calvin learns quite a bit too. He is also a returnee who is starting to readjust his view of his childhood and his relationship with his mother. Not to mention there's a romance brewing between the two as they discover they have more in common than expected.

Overall, a great read that I rate 4 solid stars. I would like to thank Netgalley and Montlake for the free advanced reader copy. This review reflects my opinion only and is totally voluntary.

Daphne is back home after a series of bad things and now she's working with local law enforcement to sort out their books after the last sheriff embezzled. And guess who her new boss is - Calvin. Calvin who was her nemesis but who has well, matured. A heist leads them into a closer working relationship and to, well, more. The dialogue is good as is the storytelling. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A pair to root for.

This story had my emotions on a tilt-a-whirl, and I love when I can lose myself in a storyline so easily.

Daphne found herself back in her hometown, much to her displeasure. Her engagement, which she perceived as stable and blissful, was far from it, prompting the need for a reset. One aspect I love about this author is her creative characters; this book showcases that perfectly. The local sheriff’s department hires her temporarily for forensic accounting work, which she loves, but the close working conditions with a childhood acquaintance make this situation particularly challenging for Daphne.

Being the acting sheriff is a demanding job for Calvin, requiring him to show trustworthiness and reliability to overcome past misperceptions. His attraction to Daphne and her calming effect make it increasingly challenging for him to stay away from her.

This has an addictive mystery aspect to the storyline, and some laugh out loud situations. Her interactions with her grandmother and her search for the heirloom pot made for a very entertaining story. It’s engrossing and entertaining, with great chemistry, steam, and humor, making it one of my favorites. It was difficult to pull myself away from these pages, and I recommend this story.

I was fortunate to receive my ARC from Netgalley, and happily leave my review.

Why haven't I stumbled on this author before? This book was amazing with all the banter and some lol scenes and the whole fake dating plot was brilliant. Just enough angst but not too much to want you to throw the book.
Honestly this is my favorite read so far this year.
Monroe creates swoon worthy male leads and hysterical and smart female leads in this upbeat book.
A lovely romance with fun side characters especially Daphne's gran, who needs her own Golden oldies book imo.
Kerry Kennedy Author

Four Steps To The Perfect Fake Date
Pub Date: March 11
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
After being away from her hometown for quite sometime, Daphne Davis the good daughter returns to her hometown jobless,homeless, broke, and alone.
Daphne is an accountant who thought of her self as boring, insufficient, and not worthy of love. So when she got offered a job at the sheriff's department, she accepted thinking that a change of place and being back near her family might make her feel better. However, she didn't expect to run into Calvin Flint her nemesis the guy that drove her crazy back in high school and for him to be the Island's sheriff meaning her boss. Together they are working on solving issues surrounding the department which is going to lead to a lot of unexpected opportunities and adventures for both Daphne and Calvin.
If you love:
Rivals to enemies to lovers 🫣
Fake dating 🫠🔥
Getting back her family heirloom / secret heist 💃🏼
Adventures🙂‍↔️
Mistery 👀
Forced proximity 😍😍♥️
Small town romance ☺️
Sexy banter 😉😗
You're going to love this book sooo much.
I was literally obsessed with the story. It had everything I needed in a romance and I honestly couldn't put it down.
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of #FourStepsToThePerfectFakeDate in exchange for my honest review.

Xoxo😘

Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date is a laugh out loud feel good story with characters that are quirky and likeable with a interesting plot twist to add a little action and suspense.

I received a advance reader's copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Since moving back to her hometown, the responsible, quiet, even boring, Daphne Davis hardly recognizes herself anymore. Maybe it was because her fiancé dumped her, and she lost her job and home in the city all in just a couple years, but she’s gone rebellious. Okay, maybe rebellious is too strong of a word for it. But she did steal some ice cream from her parents’ house and duck out of her sister’s engagement party with it. And something about being around Calvin Clint, the mean troublemaker from high school who has turned himself around become the acting Sheriff only feeds the rebellion. As does acting as the sheriff’s department’s temporary accountant to, along with Calvin, work out what strange, potentially criminal things, had been happening in the department while the last sheriff was there. So, when Daphne agrees to pretend to be Calvin’s date to his mother’s upcoming vow renewal, she starts to feel out of control. Is this version of Daphne a fake or is this who she’s always been?

I did not have a good time with this book.

For one thing, the male love interest, Calvin, is a whole collection of red flags for the at least the first third of the book. He insists on calling the other love interest, Daphne, by a high school nick name that she hates, no matter how many times she tells him to stop. At one point he tries to pressure her into letting him into her apartment (not for sex, thank goodness), even though she doesn’t want him there. He even plays into local rumors, suggesting to Daphne’s family that they’re having sex, in order to manipulate her into pretending to be his girlfriend for an event.

In addition to that a lot of things that I would consider sexual harassment or borderline sexual harassment happen. For example, rumors spread throughout the small island that the two main characters are being sexual with each other (I’m being vague to avoid important spoilers), which is horrifying in itself, but Daphne’s friends and family – even her beloved grandmother – make her deeply uncomfortable teasing her about sex and her supposed relationship. Daphne also does a couple of major things without warning (again, being vague to avoid spoilers) to Calvin that could have been absolutely horrible had he not, for some reason, been okay with them.

The book also includes a forgiveness moral that is both cliché, and in my opinion, harmful. Pressuring people to forgive those who have seriously harmed them sets them up to minimize their own pain and potentially position themselves to be harmed again.
I also felt very little chemistry between the main characters.

The book does have strengths, of course, though. I enjoyed the relationship between Calvin and his half-sister, CeeCee. They are adorable together, and Calvin’s love for his sister is the best thing about him. I won’t say much to avoid spoilers, but I also enjoyed the very end in which a long-standing question is answered. It was legitimately clever and funny.

Overall, though, I really don’t recommend this book.

Thanks to the publisher, Montlake, for providing an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

Tw: sex, sexual harassment, neglect, parental death, physical violence

Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date is a high school nemesis, small town, co-workers, fake dating book about Calvin and Daphne and is told from both of their points of view.

Daphne is going through a hard time and ends up back in her hometown, where she feels she doesn't compare to her sister. She runs into Calvin and they end up working together. She has some upset feelings for how he treated her in high school.

When Calvin's mom has a wedding renewal, he doesn't want to play her games, so he convinces Daphne to be his fake girlfriend for the wedding. Daphne has other motives for being his fake girlfriend.

With them working together, and doing this wedding stuff feelings are getting stronger between the two. This book had so many funny moments with Daphne's grandmother. Will Daphne and Calvin get their happy ending? I enjoyed this story, and would love to read more by this author.

It’s a common trope in romance novels for the heroine to suddenly lose their fiancé, job and home all in one fell swoop, which is exactly what happened to Daphne Davis and she is anything but pleased to be back living with her family in Fernley Island. To add insult to injury, she gets pulled over by the Sheriff who turns out to be her high school nemesis, Calvin Flint. She is about to start a new job investigating financial corruption in the Sheriff’s office which would make him her boss.
Daphne was always the “good girl”, someone who followed the rules, but seems to be acting out of character since her return as a series of mishaps throw her and Calvin together and sparks fly. As you would expect, they are not the same people they were in high school. They hatch a plan to fake date so she can accompany Calvin to his mother’s wedding vows renewal ceremony and stop the annoying matchmaking; Daphne is hiding an ulterior motive and plans to recover her grandmother’s heirloom cast iron pot at the same time. What could possibly go wrong?
I liked Daphne and Calvin, despite her internal monologue getting a bit repetitive at times. The secondary characters, especially Daphne’s grandmother and her two cronies, bring humour to the story which turns out to be a mixture of cosy mystery and romance. By the time we got to the third act breakup, they both overreact. The unresolved issues from their childhoods had affected them deeply and they found it hard to trust anyone even themselves. I enjoyed reading Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date, and will definitely search out other books by this writer. Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

What a cute story! Calvin and Daphne have so much chemistry together. Both of them returning to Fernley Island after both leaving because they did not feel like they belong. They knew each other in high school and hated each other … or did they? Calvin comes back as an acting sheriff after a scandal with the previous sheriff, that Daphne’s sister Ellie (from Lilians 1st book in this series “Four Steps to the Perfect Revenge”). Daphne comes back after a broken relationship and being laid off from her job. Calvin pulls Daphne over during her one of her first nights back. Oh boy… sparks fly from the beginning! Both characters are broken and discover each other again and they find the people who they thought they hated as kids, were not the people that they were. This was a sweet and touching story. Lots of steamy, sexy chemistry and funny quirky family and friends! I always feel like I walk away from Lilian’s stories feeling like I made new friends. I love her stories! They are always a guaranteed good read, great story line, and funny hot romances!

Lilian Monroe delivers a fast-paced and engaging small-town romance packed with tropes that romance fans love: fake dating, enemies-to-lovers, and a swoon-worthy hero who falls first.

The story follows Daphne Davis, a “good girl” whose perfect life falls apart when her fiancé dumps her, leaving her jobless and homeless. Moving back home, she lands a job as an accountant at the police department—only to find her new boss is Calvin Flint, her high school nemesis. As they investigate missing funds and grow closer, sparks fly despite their reluctance to admit their feelings.

The fake dating plot comes into play when Calvin needs a date for his mother’s vow renewal, leading to humorous and heartfelt moments. The addition of a stolen heirloom adds intrigue, while the chemistry between Daphne and Calvin keeps the romance fresh.

With interesting side plots, lovable characters, and no dull moments, this is a delightful read. I’ll definitely explore more from Monroe!