💍 💒 💕 "Her Surprise Engagement" (City by the Bay Stories) (2020) 💕 💒 💍 - Book Review #HSEPrism

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Her Surprise Engagement

(City by the Bay Stories #6)
By Cari Lynn Webb
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages
July 1, 2020 by Harlequin Heartwarming


A football star and a single mom…

Teach each other to trust again


To impress the executives buying her app, Nichole Moore enlists the help of old friend and pro quarterback Chase Jacobs. A pretend marriage is the perfect ruse: Chase’s celebrity status will impress the executives, while likable, hardworking Nichole could fix his fading career. But as their fake relationship plays out under the glare of the public eye, Nichole realizes her feelings might be the real deal…

(Affiliate links included.)

Other Books in the Series


About the Author


Cari Lynn Webb lives in South Carolina with her husband, daughters and assorted four-legged family members. She's been blessed to see the power of true love in her grandparent's 70 year marriage and her parent's marriage of over 50 years. She knows love isn't always sweet and perfect, it can be challenging, complicated and risky. But she believes happily-ever-afters are worth fighting for. She loves to connect with readers. Visit her at her website.


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and the Return of the Blackwell Brothers Continuity Series with a book tote bag. (5 Print Books & tote bag to US Residents only, E-copies to anyone outside the US).

Ends July 22, 2020

Grab Our Button!


My Review


Thank you in advance to the author, Cari Lynn Webb; along with Prism Book Tours for providing a complimentary review copy. A positive review was not required or requested and all words are my own.

This is the second “City by the Bay Stories” book I’ve read by Webb. The first one was “In Love by Christmas”.

Even though these are technically a series, they are EASILY standalone titles. I was able to open this one and get through it without wondering who was who – what the connections were. With some “series”, the reader – at least I do – wonders about every one’s connection. With these books? I don’t usually have to worry. If there’s one I’ve missed, I know it won’t be a big deal. Though, honestly, I do prefer to have the entire collection.

Anyway …

The great thing about Harlequin’s Heartwarming line, besides being larger print? They’re absolutely clean reads. No foul language or descriptive sex scenes. While these are categorized as “hope and inspiration”, they do not have Christian/or Faith themes in them. For those who are looking for a cleaner romance read without the Christian/faith tones – these definitely suit the need. They really are wholesome stories with a lot of goodness in them.

This latest offering in the “series” involves a tricky little plot. My take? Fake marriages are my least favorite plot device. Right off there is an intent to deceive to get something, and it REALLY kills the romance.

Now, with that said …

Webb really tries to make this work with her candid and realistic writing style – and for the most part, she does. So, how can we not want to grab this book and cheer for a happily ever after for this sweet, Hallmark-like couple on the front? Especially with this couple knowing each other since high school? I really wanted to see how this was going to play out, and for the most part I liked it. I like where Webb took the story and it was easy to see Chase and Nichole as a couple.

Getting to the characters …

One that makes an appearance from “In Love by Christmas” is Josie. Her boyfriend Theo doesn’t make an appearance until the end of the book. There is no information regarding their relationship or how it is progressing since that novel.  As far as the others? I haven’t read the other books in the series to know how they connect.  

While seemingly on the outside, Chase looks like a wild guy, he certainly is the hero of the story for me. His antics really didn’t seem so bad at all, and add in a kitten rescue … this guy could be perfect. Well, except for the mind always on football deal.

It was interesting how much he did care for Nichole, and the history they had played a great deal into the fake marriage deal. I loved how Chase wanted to step right up and be all the things he was pretending to be, especially a father for Wesley. Wesley’s father was briefly mentioned and that was a bit of a sad tale in this otherwise happy story.

I didn’t like Nichole’s parents at all and thought what happened to her was pretty sad. They don’t even make an appearance at the end, so I have to say that Nichole was honestly better off without them. I was a bit peeved with Nichole who started the ruse then seemed to get upset when Chase went with it. I would’ve liked to have seen her be a bit more appreciative of what Chase was doing since the scam marriage was her idea, in addition to how much he’d been there for her in high school.

While I wasn’t sure what to make of Chase’s “Nonna”, I dearly loved Nichole’s grandparents more. I have a special place for “Grandma Marie”. My name Marie is from my grandmother’s middle name. Incidentally, it is Nichole’s middle name as well.


Webb realistically writes about Chase’s injury and age factor in football. One really doesn’t consider their age until something happens. Today’s 30+ isn’t as old as it was in say the 1970’s, yet that is what Chase is facing – old age and an injury that will take him out of the only life he’s known. I have to honestly say this is a jarring fact that some of us don’t realize.

Watching Chase and Nichole navigate the fake marriage is at times fun and other times, for me, heart-breaking. It was interesting to see if they were both going to get what they wanted from the fake marriage. It was also interesting to see that most of their friends went with the ruse, and some didn’t even bother to question them on the details.

I would’ve liked to have known more about Nichole’s app “IN A PINCH”. I’m not entirely tech savvy, but I would’ve liked to have seen more to what it was supposed to do. It would’ve also been nice to see it come to fruition.

I loved the message of seeing beyond appearances, as well as loving harder, and love is always enough in this sweet, feel-good read. Webb clearly knows how to write a story that touches on what we all want from life – whether it be a career or family, even a second chance.

There are a lot of football terms, but I am sure that fans of the author and the series will likely enjoy this book.


RATING:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

🛻💐 “Forever Free” (Forever Series #4) (2024) 💐🛻 – Book Review

🛩️ "The Ack Ack Girl" (Love and War #1) (2021)🛩️ - Book Tour & Review

"The Forever Sky" Cover Reveal