Pretend to Be Yours: A Small Town Romance

Alexa Rivers

Feb 2022 · Haven Bay Book 5 · Alexa Rivers

About this ebook

Faith needs a fake boyfriend. Sexy single dad Shane fits the bill, but she can’t help wanting him for real.

Faith St. John is mortified when her matchmaking parents turn up in her small town with a blind date in tow. To make matters worse, her high school sweetheart—who broke her heart and her ego—is trying to push her into giving him another chance.

To convince everyone she has her love life under control, she claims to be dating Shane Walker, the gorgeous local teacher. The trouble is, she’s had a crush on Shane for years, and when he goes along with her plan, it’s hard to remember that their kisses are only for show.

It doesn’t help that Shane’s son isn’t interested in having a stepmother, and his ex is determined to get him back. Can Shane and Faith overcome the odds to find love?               

If you loved the zaniness of Schitt’s Creek and the charm of Virgin River, then PRETEND TO BE YOURS is your next must-read book. 

Buy now to start reading this feel-good small town romance today! 

Ratings and reviews

This book was a fun read about a single father and his friend who babysits for him. The book opens with Faith babysitting Shane's boys while he is out playing poker with the guys and her mom calls her informing Faith that they are in town a week early. Faith invites her parents over to where she is babysitting and gets a rude surprise when they show up with a strange man in tow. A man that her mother thinks will be perfect for Faith and can be Faith's plus one at her cousin's wedding. Talk about awkward especially when they will all be staying with Faith at her house. Faith has to decide on a quick course of action, so she claims that she and Shane are dating and hopes that Shane will play along when he arrives home to find a house full. Shane doesn't mind helping Faith as he has had feelings for her for a long time, he has just never felt worthy enough to act on them. He would also love it if their fake relationship could become a real one, however his oldest son does not feel the same way. Things also not helped by the sudden reappearance of Shane's ex-wife and between her shenanigans and those of Shane's kids life gets very interesting. Plus, perhaps all the attraction that Shane feels isn't just his. I know that you will love this story and the way that it ends. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it. This was my first visit to Haven Bay New Zealand. The people are warm, loving and protective of their own. I adored the main and secondary characters (especially Hunter, Shane Walker's youngest son.) It was refreshing to see the typical stereo-type being in reverse here. Shane is a teacher and a single father. His ex-wife abandoned him and their two sons for the flash of fame, fortune and glamour of Hollywood. He hasn't dated in years since his ex-wife left. Faith St. John, on the other hand is loud, boisterous and flirty. She has had some affairs with single men. She was humiliated while in high school due to a bad decision and placing her trust in with the wrong person. This was an enchanting book-cation for me. As the story takes place in New Zealand, there were several words that I had to look up to see what they were. I love being able to learn new things. It really is like going on vacation but not leaving my comfy couch!!!! There were some scenes that were so touching and heart-wrenching, some funny and some sexy ones (but not it too great of detail!) I so enjoyed this story that I really have to go back and visit it again but from the beginning. I hope there are more stories from Haven Bay in the future as I would like to re-visit again and again.

I so looked forward to Faith's story as I just loved her personality and especially the way she made sure she would remember people names who came to her store. Thank gawd her parents came to town early with a surprise for her or who knows how long or if ever she and Shane would have ever acted on how they feel for each other. While I loved Faith and Shane along with his sons Hunter and Dylan, I loathed Shane's ex and the boys mother Diana, I totally agreed with Shane's sisters assessment of Diana. The fact both Faith and Shane have confidence issues was sweet and refreshing while what they have both been through by people who they were meant to be able to trust. You get great characters, plenty of laughs, see familiar faces as well as heart ache, betrayal and romance that makes you happy. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

About the author

Alexa Rivers writes about genuine characters living messy, imperfect lives and earning hard-won happily ever afters. Most of her books are set in small towns, and she lives in one of these herself. She shares a house with a neurotic dog and a husband who thinks he’s hilarious.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys traveling, baking, eating too much chocolate, cuddling fluffy animals, drinking excessive amounts of tea, and absorbing herself in fictional worlds.