Publisher: Forever Publishing, July 12th, 2022

Format: ebook

Pages: 355

Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Pretty Woman meets the Bridgertons in this witty, vivacious historical take on 90s romcoms by USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard:

“Refreshing, steamy, and stocked with characters you don’t normally get to see in the genre—Her books are a must-read for me” —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Lord Lysander Blackstone, the stern Duke of Montcroix, has only one interest: increasing his considerable fortune. After a series of betrayals, he keeps his emotions buried deep. Money, after all, can’t break a man’s heart—or make promises it can’t keep. But when his reputation for being heartless jeopardizes a new business deal, he finds himself seeking a most unusual—and alluring—solution…

Once an up-and-coming ballerina, Miss Geneviève Valery is now hopelessly out of work. After refusing to become a wealthy patron’s mistress, Nève was promptly shown the door to the streets. When she accidentally saves the life of a handsome duke, she doubts the encounter will go any better than her last brush with nobility. But instead of propositioning her, Montcroix makes Nève an offer she would be a fool to refuse: act as his fake fiancée in exchange for fortune enough to start over.

Only neither is prepared when very real feelings begin to grow between them. They both stand to win… but only if they’re willing to risk their hearts.

My Review:

Thank you to Forever Publishing and Netgalley for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: fake dating, close proximity.
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Described as Pretty Woman meets Bridgerton, this was a fantastic historical romance. Neve needs to find a job in order to provide for her sister, but she is struggling to find work as a ballerina. When she meets Lysander, who is trying to close a business deal with a man who wants to sell to someone more of a family man, the two pretend to be engaged in order to help each other out-Lysander will look like he is willing to be a family man, and he will pay Neve so that she can support her sister.
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I loved Neve and her descriptions of her love of dance. The banter between the two main characters was fantastic and I loved the buildup of the romance.
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CW: sexual harassment, assault, sexual content, sexism, classism and violence.