Connie Toler
I received a complimentary copy of this book and I also purchased a copy. This was an enjoyable story to get away from everything at the moment. I enjoyed reading how childhood friends Mateo Ortega and Ava McKenna reunited after she left the area when her mother passed away. Now Mateo's abuelo (Joaquin) is dying of cancer and he needs a favor. Joaquin would love to see Mateo happily married. The problem, he isn't seeing anyone. The only woman who comes to mind is Ava. He approaches her with asking for a favor, can he tell his abuelo, that he is engaged to be married. Ava is stunned! She hasn't seen Mateo in years. The Ortega family as a whole had helped Ava and her mother many, many times of the years before Ava's mother passed away. She feels like she owes them this. One condition that she asked for though, to get married for real! Mateo is stunned. Ava mentioned that she doesn't want to lie and she knows Mateo would hate to lie to his family. Again this is charming. I enjoyed the dual POV format that the story is written in. The story flowed very nicely and kept me interested throughout. There was no long drawn out angst in this story and it wasn't a complicated plot. This is a clean romance. The author did a fade out on the sexy scene after the removal of clothes. There was no bodily details given so I really don't think it should offend young readers BUT that is up to the parents to decide.
Emily Pennington
This was a cute story. Ava McKenna had left the community where she lived when her mom died of cancer. The Ortega family next door still lived next door to her old home and, when Mateo Ortega’s grandfather is dying of cancer also, Mateo wants to grant his wish and hope to see Mateo married before he dies. The first person who came to mind who might help Mateo with this was Ava who had been his neighbor. He asked her if she would pretend to be his fake fiancée and told her why. He thought she would be the best one to ask since their families had been close and interacted with each other as they were growing up. Ava agrees to actually marry Mateo to make the “wish” really true. Will they stay married once they no longer have to pretend for his grandfather? Has the marriage become real for both of them, or will they choose to divorce as planned and walk away without saying anything? This book has a good story line. I would like to have seen more of a relationship developing, as it seemed fairly “low key”. But the end result was what I hoped for. Grab your copy and see how it all worked out for them.
4 people found this review helpful
Betty Kriener
A story that had a great opportunity to be a 5+star = but the ending was anything but "satisfying" - It definitely had so much left to be told to leave the reader with a Happy Life going forward. Not recommended