Fake Date

Monica Murphy

Jun 2019 · EM Publishing

About this ebook

Sarah Harrison is used to strange customers.

Working at a lingerie store, she helps bored housewives, spicy sorority girls, repentant husbands -- and everyone in between. Yet no one sparks her interest more than Jared Gaines, the ultra-rich, ultra-sexy businessman who frequents her shop, buying delicate little "gifts" for the women in his life.

But one day, Jared sends her a gift from Bliss. Then another--and another. It doesn't matter how thoughtful he is, or how well-chosen the gifts are, or how sexy he is. It's inappropriate, and Sarah is determined to put a stop to it. Or at the very least, she wants to know why.

It's the oldest one in the book, of course. He needs a fake girlfriend for the weekend while attending his brother's engagement party. It's a terrible idea. She's certain it could even get her fired. So she absolutely takes him up on it.

Next thing Sarah knows, she's in San Francisco, pretending to be in love with Jared. Not that it's a hardship.

Except that the real feelings in their pretend relationship soon have her in over her head. Is he just faking it, or do they have their own shot at bliss?

Ratings and reviews

Fake Date is unusual in the way in which our loyalties lie mainly with the male protagonist rather than the female. While Sarah is a wonderful character, she is also far more self-aware than Jared and as a result able to analyse and understand her emotions, as well as discerning the right path for her happiness. Jared suffered the loss of his mother at a young age, not able to deal with his grief, he internalised it and withdrew from those closest to him. Adding to his self-imposed distance following first heartbreak has ensured his negativity toward himself has been continually fuelled. Although Sarah and Jared interact initially via business transactions, rather unconventional ones at that, they do have an incredible chemistry that fuels their banter. Sarah’s integrity also captivates Jared who is so used to everything being easy for him. Sarah and Jared have a lot in common, which aids the connection between them. Sarah is able to understand Jared in a way that no-one else has ever been able to. As a result, allowing Jared insight into his own actions and interactions. Fake Date isn’t really about a faux romance becoming real as the relationship between Jared and Sarah is ‘real’ even when they pretend it is merely for show. Fake Date is about finding the one person who is able to understand you and accept your flaws and all while making you want to be a better person because of them 💕❤

Fake Date by Monica Murphy is the second book in her Dating series. This is the story of Sarah and Jared who first met at the high-end lingerie store where Sarah works. Part of her job at the store is to meet with clients and help them choose their lingerie purchases. Her meetings with Jared are guaranteed to be tense, filled with innuendo, and a frustrating turn-on. Not that either one will admit that. When Jared starts sending Sarah gifts she calls him out on his inappropriate behavior and gets invited to his brother's engagement party in San Francisco. What ensues is intense chemistry, mixed feelings, self-doubt and wonderful romantic tale. Enjoy!

I was surprised by this story. On the surface it's a billionaire romance but as I got to peel back the layers, I met two amazing characters that deserved to find love yet wouldn't allow themselves. Sarah suffered an incredible tragedy but she stepped up to raise her teenage sister with the help of her younger brother. They had to forge a new family without their parents. She works at Bliss selling lingerie and has a most interesting client, Mr. Jared Gaines, who comes in to buy lingerie for his many mistresses. The one problem she finds him very attractive and struggles to maintain her professionalism then one visit, Jared, gets more personal. Jared is an up-tight, jerk, at least that is what he portrays. He had his heart broken several years ago shortly after his mom died so he decided to ban all emotions and not let anyone in. When he meets Sarah, she causes a shift inside him and he finds himself visiting Bliss more frequently. When his brother wants him to attend his engagement party, he takes advantage of this opportunity and convinces Sarah to be his fake date. Now these two had been doing the ultimate tap dance around their feelings, will a weekend together as a fake date force them to realize something real is possible? I enjoyed their journey. Jared gave Sarah a stability she didn't know she needed and Sarah pushed Jared to deal with his grief.