Fake (West Hollywood) – book review

Fake
by Kylie Scott
Release Date: May 18, 2021
Publisher:  Independent/Self Published
Book #1 in the West Hollywood series
Number of pages:  260
Kindle Edition
Source: Amazon Purchase
Contemporary Romance
Ages 17 and up
CW: stalking

He walks the red carpet. She’s more familiar with vacuuming one.

When a scandal tarnishes the reputation of hot as hell A-lister, Patrick Walsh, he needs a reputation rescue, pronto.

Enter waitress Norah Peers–a nobody who’s average with a capital A. She’s available, dependable, and has sworn off men for the rest of her natural born life. In other words: the perfect match for a no-strings fake romance.

For the right amount of money, she can avoid waitressing and play the part of his dependable down-to-earth girlfriend. What she can’t avoid–dammit–is the growing steam between them.

But being hounded by the paparazzi and having her life dissected on social media is a panic attack in the making. And while Patrick might be a charming rogue on screen, in real life he’s a six-foot-two confusing, gorgeous, brooding grump, who keeps her at a distance . . . but also makes her feel like this bond between them might be more than just an act.

Being dumped on cue should be no big deal. Except being fake with Patrick is the realist relationship Norah has ever had. What’s a girl to do, but flip the script, and ask for a re-match made in Hollywood?

I did not want to put this book down. Fake fiancée, intense chemistry, sensitive characters with tough facades, what’s not to love?

Norah is a very hard-working woman. She never complains; just puts her head down and does what needs doing. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t have an active fantasy life. Yet she’s a bit out of her element when one of her fantasies asks her to help him out and be his fake fiancée. Norah has a good head on her shoulders, but even she knows this is an opportunity she cannot pass up. It’ll help her to care for her grandmother and ease so much of her financial burden, there’s no way for her to say no.

From the outside, Patrick has it all. He’s a famous Hollywood star who everyone wants a piece of. He can have any woman he wants any time he wants. Of course, all this fame comes with a loss of anonymity and privacy. After a very public relationship scandal, Patrick needs to clean up his act. The added bonus to the fake fiancée scheme is an easing of the pressure of everyone who wants a piece of him.

There is great chemistry between Norah and Patrick from the start, but the more they get to know one another the hotter their connection gets. Beneath the fire and heat are very obvious tender feelings from both parties. Both characters are afraid to open their hearts and have so much to overcome. Time and time again they prove through their actions that they care deeply. And time and time again I fall more in love with this couple.

As it always seems to be in a Kylie Scott book, the peripheral characters are just as intriguing as the main characters. This is the first in a series so I’m hoping to see some of these side characters become main characters and find their HEAs.

5 stars