Decoy Date

Mira Lyn Kelly

Dec 2018 · The Wedding Date Book 4 · Sourcebooks, Inc.

About this ebook

Fake relationship. Real feelings. Big problems.

To say I'm cynical about happily-ever-afters is a huge understatement. I am the last guy any woman would want as their wedding date. Not only do I think love is mostly bunk, I'm more than a little tired of watching my friend Gwen Danes get all swoony over a guy who treats her like garbage. But just because I'm jaded doesn't mean I don't want Gwen to be happy, and if there's something I can do to help show this guy what he's missing, then I'm all in. At the very least, the clueless tool will be able to see how my gorgeous pal Gwen should be treated.

Only when things go too far and Gwen and I end up sharing a passionate kiss, I'm at a loss as to what to do. What do I know about cherishing a woman? I'm supposed to be the fake boyfriend, but suddenly everything feels a bit too real...

What People Are Saying About Mira Lyn Kelly:

"This page-turner has it all: fantastic characters, witty banter, and sizzling chemistry. I absolutely loved it!"—GINA L. MAXWELL, USA Today bestselling author of the Playboys in Love series, for May the Best Man Win

"Outstanding...Kelly proves that she's an author to watch."—Kirkus Reviews for May the Best Man Win

"The perfect balance between sweet and sexy."—RT Book Reviews for The Wedding Date Bargain, 4 Stars

"Delightfully frothy."—Heroes & Heartbreakers for The Wedding Date Bargain

"A perfect light and very romantic read."—Booklist for The Wedding Date Bargain

Ratings and reviews

Gwen has plenty of things going on, and usually fairly astute, she’s just not seeing that her best friend Ted, the one she’s been in love with for For-Ev-Er isn’t all that, and really hasn’t done anything to deserve (or warrant) her undying admiration. Brody sees all of this, and really can’t get it: sure people fall in love for all sorts of reasons, but after all of this time with zero encouragement and, really, her consideration of Ted as her best friend – it’s just weird. Brody knows that Gwen deserves more, and well, he’d like to show her that – even if he’s not necessarily the guy who gets her heart in the end. He’s not altruistic in the least when the idea that he and Gwen go to the wedding as a “couple” to hopefully encourage Ted’s jealousy and (in Gwen’s world) make him see that they are perfect for one another. In some ways, this plot device was juvenile and cliched, and yet, it worked (who knew?). The fake relationship that turns real is usually rather straight-forward and clear, with most of the drama coming from the characters and their hangups. But here, we add in a third person – rather more than oblivious and certainly unaware of the underlying potential for drama as Gwen is near-fixated, but it doesn’t overwhelm, and we see (as Brody does) that Ted really isn’t worth the time. Brody, on the other hand, is perfectly suited for Gwen – starting with the fact that HE actually WANTS her to find love and be happy – he sees all of her, faults and all, and appreciates it – not using her friendship and good heart against her to fob off unwanted attention, only to move on at the first opportunity. Kelly managed to create a story that felt fresh even with an oft-used trope and the heroine feeling rather immature and untested at first. Gwen is determined to schedule and control her world to the best of her abilities, until and unless it involves Ted. Fortunately, much of that control seems to be a direct result of the lack of control she has regarding her feelings for Ted, and it takes a Brody, to loosen her up and challenge her reasons for staying in the one little box – to great effect. I clever little romance that is easy to read, low angst and sure to please fans of fake relationship stories. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

LOVED this friends to lovers story!! I enjoyed the interaction between Brody and Gwen as they begin their fake relationship in the hopes Gwen's long time crush will finally sit up and take notice. Problem is it works too well. About the same time Brody realizes his feelings for Gwen are changing, Teddy (the crush) seems to be realizing the same thing. Now Gwen has a serious decision to make! This is the fourth book in the Wedding Date series and it can easily be read standalone. Do yourself a favor though, read them all! I'm certain you'll love all these characters as much as I do.

About the author

Hardcore romantic, stress baker, and housekeeper non-extraordinaire, Mira Lyn Kelly is the USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen sizzly love stories with over a million readers worldwide. Growing up in the Chicago area, she earned her degree in Fine Arts from Loyola University and met the love of her life while studying abroad in Rome, Italy...only to discover he’d been living right around the corner from her back home! Having spent her twenties working and playing in the Windy City, she’s now settled with her husband in rural Minnesota, where their four amazing children and two ridiculous dogs provide an excess of action and entertainment. When she isn’t reading, writing, or running the kids around, she loves watching the Chicago Blackhawks and action/adventure movies, blabbing with the girls, and cooking with her husband and friends.