The Real Thing (Sugar Lake Book 1)

I absolutely adore Melissa Foster books and her writing style. The Real Thing is everything I thought it would be and more. Its a sweet, sassy and sexy friends to lovers/brothers best friend/second chance romance. Willow and Zane love them. They are one of my favorite characters from all of Melissa Fosters books. Timing is everything and with Zane and Willow they finally got it right. I defiantly swooned for Zane. Like where is a Zane in real life. Willow is so full of life and sassy and I want to best friends with that girl. Willows whole family is wonderful. I'm so looking forward to being able to get to know the characters more in future books to come. I loved this book and didn't want to put it down.

My favorite Author of the LIB series has written a story about Zane & Willow who we met in the Wild boys so I was looking forward to reading about her story I thought her story would have her falling for someone on the order of the Wild or Bad boy Billionaires. To me this story had no zing and was all fluff in real life they would be divorced within a year. It's hard for me to believe that Melissa wrote this. Only 3***

Wow - as someone who has loved the Bradens and the Seaside Series, and so MANY of the books Melissa Foster has written, I found this one a total disappointment!!! I found myself wondering if she hired other people to write some of the scenes, because it felt like there was so little plot, so little character development, and so much sex and swearing that I just couldn't find a way to enjoy it. It really made me mad, because there were things I liked and I kept WANTING to enjoy reading it, but then the sex would take over yet again, and I just plain got bored. I liked some of the glimpses I had into Zane, and after meeting him in Jake and Fiona's story, I wasn't prepared to like him, so I had hope. I was looking forward to reading this, and to a new series. But maybe in the end, I'm just not the target market for this series.

This turned out be great a very boring shallow book. It took me forever to finish it because I didn’t want to wast my time. I could not tolerate Willow. I have read nearly ever book this author has written and have loved most of them, so this won’t stop me from reading up coming books.

Zane Walker and Willow Dalton have been friends since they were kids. He is her brother’s best friend. Zane is also the man she gave her virginity to, he was 20, and she was 18. Willow went on to college and Zane went on to Hollywood and became a famous actor. They continue a strange, quirky, texting friendship. It’s 10 years later and Zane finds himself in a position where he needs to improve his playboy image. He tricks Willow into meeting him, otherwise, she never would have shown up, and convinces her to play his fake fiancé.

I had so many issues with this book.

Zane convinces Willow to be his fake fiancé but immediately leers at a buxom leggy blonde when they step off the elevator together.

He convinces her to lie to her family who practically raised him, encouraged him and whose house he spent more time at than his own growing up.

Saccharine sweet romance. They fell back together rather seamlessly. There’s no conflict or drama anywhere or with anyone, no working for it. I struggled to finish, not sure I would because there just wasn’t anything to keep my attention.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher

I have read all of Melissa Foster's books. There's always so much emotion in every story. I always feel like I'm right there. I've loved each one for different reasons. But this one....I did not want it to end!!! I want to read more about Willow and Zane. I want to know if the bookstore happens...I want to know if they make changes in the house, etc. I don't want to put any spoilers out here...but I want to know!!! Omg...I want to read this whole series...I want to pre-order the whole thing. I'm so thankful I found such an emotional author!!!

Implicate vulgar language used describing sex scenes., my opinion of vulgar. The storyline could have been OK without all the descriptive sex scenes, again, my opinion. It is not the type of book I thought I was getting. Will watch out for authors name to avoid another such type of book.

The Real Thing, Sugar Lake Book 1, Melissa Foster

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance, general fiction (adult) 

I was in the mood for a simple easy romance and this was all that but, it was also that was all...no big drama, secrets, revelations. I really enjoy those in a story, the stuff that keeps me thinking "how will/can they/ what about? " 

The sweetness isn't just in the bakery treats either, the characters are - and I can't think if one that wasn't- sweet, nice, kind, so much so that my teeth ached at times.
I love good characters, but I do like some unpleasant ones for balance too, and here the only ones were Zane's family who we didn't meet but just got an edited view of a difficult childhood.
Zane was nice, his friends and employees were nice, Willow was nice, her family was nice...you get the picture?
For lots of readers that's perfect, and will make this into a five star read, and I'm happy for them and the author but for me I need a little more drama, angst, emotion. I need the characters to have to work for the HEA not just for it to unfold easily. 

I loved Zane and Willow, but the friends to lovers transition was almost seamless, and there just wasn't any conflict to keep me engrossed.
There were secrets, but the reasons for them were pretty thin and they really made mountains out of molehills, I had to reach, really stretch my imagination to find actual drama from them. There just wasn't any conflict - anywhere, nothing hiding, its an all-out-in-the-open romance. 

I did read it all, did enjoy it as a straightforward, romance but to be more than just 3 star "good" for me it needed more edge. 
 
Stars: Three, a good story but one of those which for me was just too light in drama and emotion

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

This book grabbed me from the beginning. The interaction between the two characters started right away and didn't keep you waiting. Zane, famous playboy actor who I fell in love with right away, propositions his best friend's little sister Willow, to pretend she is his fake fiancé. Agreeing to this engagement has opened the door to how they truly feel for each other, and what they could miss out on by trying to protect their hearts. This was my first book by Melissa Foster, and I loved how she incorporated so much of Zane's and Willow's past into the book. Though this 'relationship' is new, they each remember so much about each other that they've experienced throughout the years. I also liked how she included so much of their families, they each played an important role. Though this was part of a series, I believe it could be read as a stand alone. If you're looking for a cute and fun romance, pick this one up!

***this ARC was provided by author/publisher through NetGalley

The latest novel by Melissa Foster made my heart soft, soft like butter you put into cookie dough.

The Real Thing is the sweet story about Willow Dalton, a young woman running her own bakery and her older brother’s best friend, Zane Walker.
Zane is a famous actor with a trail of broken hearts behind him. But he was also Willow’s first and only love, and they haven’t forgotten about each other, even though it was a decade ago.
Now Zane needs Willow to help him. His reputation as a woman’s man is interfering with the next movie he is in, and he needs to signal stability and the ability to love one woman. He needs a fake fiancé, and all he can think about is Willow, to play that part.
Willow tries to say no to Zane, and she struggles for a while before she surrenders to him and his killer smile.
The game gets serious when she realizes that being Zane’s fake fiancé means she has to lie to her family.
Soon both Willow and Zane succumb to the love that has been between them for so long.

Melissa Foster is the Queen of feel-good romance. She just grabs my heart and holds onto it all the way through her books.
Willow and Zane’s story was no exception.
I fell completely for this sweet and spunky couple. The constant banter made me laugh out loud. The love made me want to swirl and laugh from joy like a complete idiot, that’s how happy it made me.

Willow is a strong-willed woman who knows what she wants until Zane confuses her priorities. Suddenly all she wants is Zane even though she tries to hide it because he is a womanizer and she is not sure she can trust him with her heart.
Zane is a real Melissa Foster hero. He is not by any means a stereotype, but he just makes me swoon and drool a little. He is just perfect, and I can’t get enough of him.

To the fans of Real Love, The Real Thing is a must read. It gave me a huge crush on both Willow and Zane and I’m just coming down from Cloud Nine.

Thanks to Melissa Foster and Beck Valley Book Tours for this spellbinding advanced copy.

Bestselling author Melissa Foster's latest offering is the first in her brand new contemporary romance series entitled Sugar Lake, and it's quintessential Foster from start to finish, offering fans and new readers nearly everything they could want in a love story. We're welcomed to the town of Sweetwater, New York, and meet frenemies Willow Dalton and Zane Walker. She was the girl he was secretly crushing on, a fact that Zane couldn't let his best friend know, not with Willow being the guy's younger sister. He was her older brother's best friend--the very same guy she begged to take her virginity. Since then, they've kept in touch, mostly via text messages. He's now an A-list actor with a reputation for being a manwhore, erm, playboy, and she owns a bakery. It's that reputation of his that leads Zane to insist that Willow help him out in cleaning it up. How? By becoming his fake fiancée, of course! The public will eat it up and it'll make him look squeaky clean and more palatable to producers. Convincing her won't be easy, but she owes him, after all. It's fake, and no one could possibly ever get hurt. Right?

My use of the term "frenemies" to describe Willow and Zane may not be entirely correct. It's not as if they hate each other. Let's just say that their relationship is rather...complicated. Of course, that added texture makes for a hell of more entertaining read, especially since she doesn't hesitate to put him in his place and he doesn't mind pushing all her buttons. But is the much-needed chemistry there? Why yes. Yes it is! These two were fun and flirty and goodness, they were far from boring. I liked how their engagement may have been fake, but the undercurrent of attraction was very much real, more so when old and forgotten feelings are stirred up once again. She was nearly eighteen and he was more than two years older than her when they slept together, but instead of it leading into awkwardness, they ended up having a weird sort of friendship. Said friendship is still on display, even with more intimate goings-on and romantic feelings entering the picture, and it's the evolution of that friendship while remaining true at its core that I loved most about The Real Thing. This gets five stars and I can't wait for book two. ♥

This book starts a new series but it totally stands alone and does NOT end on a cliffhanger. There is both cursing and on-screen sex so if those things will cause you to leave a bad review you should skip this one.

This was my first Melissa Foster book and I absolutely adored this story and the characters in it. I will admit that at first I wasn't sure what to expect from Zane – his introduction is, uh, 'unique' to say the least – but I really liked him. And Willow was hilarious. She might have allowed herself to be talked into a ridiculous relationship, but she wasn't a pushover and she wasn't weak. I loved that about her. Their deeply loving and slightly antagonistic relationship was perfect, and I was sad when I reached the end not because the story wasn't fleshed out perfectly or it didn't come to a beautiful conclusion, but because I wanted more of these two. Their personal chemistry was ridiculous from the first time they share a page together and it didn't get any less intense as the book went on.

The only two little things that I didn't enjoy about this story was that many characters were described using famous people rather than a quick physical descriptor which would allow the readers to use their imagination. I know that is a personal preference and it isn't a huge deal, it was just disappointing because Ms. Foster has such a talent for descriptive writing but didn't use it for those purposes. The other thing that I didn't particularly care for was Zane's snobby disdain for his parents because he grew up “poor”. I was hoping he would show a little personal growth during this book and learn to not look down his nose at his parents for 'living paycheck to paycheck' - like most people in the country do - but that never happened. Instead of appreciating how hard they worked or that he didn't have an abusive, horrible home life, he still talked about them as if they were dirt to him but Willow's family was great because they were upper class. There is nothing wrong with working hard, with not being rich, and his snobbery in that regard was a total turn off. Not enough to cost the book a star, but still annoying to this reader who works very hard and has a very fulfilled life but still lives paycheck to paycheck just like his 'unfulfilled' parents.

If you enjoy a book about two people who are crazy in love with each other but who fight like crazy for that love, or if you just enjoy a full-on love story with a ton of crazy sexy scenes and a ton of emotion, you should read this book. After getting to know Willow's siblings, I very much look forward to books that will round out this series.

I requested and was generously granted an ARC of this book via the publisher and NetGalley. I was under no obligation to write this review, I did so because I adored this story.

There is nothing like diving into a new novel. The Real Thing is the first book of a new series, especially when its one written by Melissa Foster!

Bad boy actor, Zane Walker needs to clean up his questionable reputation. A plan's hatched that should be the perfect material for the film studios PR reps to spin. Only he needs the co-operation of his friend Willow Dalton in his home town of Sweetwater to pull it off. He's confident she'll assist him, but forgets to inform her that his ulterior motive is far from temporary, as he sets his sights at a permanent future with the only woman he's ever loved.

Willow Dalton's bakery is thriving but ambition means she's looking to further build on her success. So when she's offered an opportunity to further expand her business, she jumps at it. Only the offer isn't what she expects and spins her life in an unexpected direction.

Devious, arrogant but with the best of intentions, Zane is a man on a mission as years of pent up feelings finally surface. Even though his actions are questionable, his objectives are well placed even though his approach is off. I love his strong determination to get the woman he wants and his admittance that rules Willow laid years earlier he adhered to because that's was she wanted...not him!

An independent, sassy woman, Willow will forever remember the man who changed her life forever. In the preceding years, she's built a thriving business but her heart has never forgotten Zane Walker. Now, he's back in Sweetwater with an agenda she never foresaw even in her wildest dreams.

Together, due to their complicated past, sparks fly instantly between the protagonists as deep buried feelings and desires surface. Their strong personalities clash in a positive way as they come to the realisation they belong together, although the path they follow is far from smooth. Melissa ensures the sexual tension is ever present and complimented with banter and entertaining conversations as the adorable pair fight their personal internal battles as well as their attraction for each other. To push, coerce and object to their inevitable coupling are an adorable assortment of family and friends who bring the small town setting of Sweetwater alive. Thus, creating a firm foundation for future novels in what promises to be a wonderful, romantic and sexy series.

***arc generously received courtesy of Montlake Romance via NetGalley***

This is my first book by this author, and overall I’m pretty impressed. The characters were all great, and I liked the dual POV quite a bit in this one. The voices have to be distinct, otherwise multiple POV really irks me. But it was nice that we got to see inside both of their minds, giving us a glance at where they were at mentally and emotionally. Thank you Netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for a honest review. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.
 
It was a little slow sometimes, but then the romantic parts would kick into high gear and I was hooked again. And let me tell you, there was quite a bit of romance…and sex. I haven’t read a ton of second chance romances (send me your recs!), but I really love the trope. Plus the small town vibe is usually adorable in books, and this one was no exception. Small towns are not so cute in real life. At least not the ones I’ve lived in.
 
Zane is total book boyfriend material. Where can I find a guy like him? *sighs* He was so caring, thoughtful, etc. I’m not going to tell you all about the things, but he does a lot for Willow. I absolutely adored Willow for the most part, and her family is definitely up there in my favorites. There were so many cute moments, which I don’t want to share, because it would spoil the fun.
 
It’s a pretty short book (less than 300 pages), so if you like second chance romance, sweet treats, and super cuteness overload, read this ASAP. I can’t wait to read more from this author. I’m off to check when book two of this series comes out, and what it’s all about.

I'm passionate about the writing, the characters and the stories of Melissa Foster but in The Real Thing she got over it, bringing a delightfully romantic plot with an engaging hero and passionate plate full to many sighs and muffins. She created a chocolate-coated frosting-flavored cutout and right-wing cream on top. OMG !

I love books with fake engagements especially if the couple has known each other since childhood because I already expect a lot of romance and melted hearts.
Zane and Willow have no idea what awaits them with this engagement or better thinking they have an idea and so everything happened so quietly, love took its course towards the deep waters of the commitment and in the end I only could float.

As they coexist more with each other, they rediscover themselves, getting to one side that they did not know each other very well now and that got me into the book, I could not quit until I knew how they would face her family with all this little lie.

I loved too much and I can not stop talking about Willow's family, highlight for her sister Piper and her mother with her sweetness and love portions. In addition to several references and analogies to candies throughout the book .... A sweetheart love story!
Narrated in third person from the perspective of each protagonist, it was a delight to accompany this journey towards the Happily Ever After with a prince charming a princess in love.
I loved the cover full of references of the book . I only wanted a point of conflict a little more enthralling of those that leaves people tense.

4,5/5 stars
kisses, Myl

This book was fun, sexy, sweet, and seriously hot. Zane is utterly swoon worthy, and Willow is the strong, sassy, and funny woman I love to read about. If you're a fan of romance, this is a must read!

Willow and Zane have officially become one of my favorite couples. This book was a friends to lovers, second chance, and fake fiancée all rolled into a sweet, seductive package that I ravenously devoured. I couldn't put it down for needing them to find their happiness. My favorite thing about this book was the depth and history that Melissa gave these characters. The way she tied in Willow and Zane's past was essential to understanding their love and the heartbreak they endured all the years they were apart.

The closeness between Willow and Zane was undeniable. Their chemistry was explosive, but I could also sense more than that in regard to how truly connected they were. No matter how much time had gone by, they seemed to just fall into the ease of their life-long friendship. But there was always that undercurrent of passion and love. I felt it in every look, word, and touch. I'm glad we didn't have to wait too long for Willow and Zane to finally admit their long buried feelings and give in. Little did we know just how deep those feeling went. I loved everything about their story and how adorably sweet Zane was once he bared his soul.

Now I'm excited to get to know all of Willow's siblings in the coming books! They added so much personality to this story. I can't wait for them to have their own happily ever afters.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Readers Copy of this book.

This book grabbed me from the beginning. The interaction between the two characters started right away and didn't keep you waiting. Zane, famous playboy actor who I fell in love with right away, propositions his best friend's little sister Willow, to pretend she is his fake fiancé. Agreeing to this engagement has opened the door to how they truly feel for each other, and what they could miss out on by trying to protect their hearts. This was my first book by Melissa Foster, and I loved how she incorporated so much of Zane's and Willow's past into the book. Though this 'relationship' is new, they each remember so much about each other that they've experienced throughout the years. I also liked how she included so much of their families, they each played an important role. Though this was part of a series, I believe it could be read as a stand alone. If you're looking for a cute and fun romance, pick this one up!

***this ARC was provided by author/publisher through NetGalley

The latest novel by Melissa Foster made my heart soft, soft like butter you put into cookie dough.

The Real Thing is the sweet story about Willow Dalton, a young woman running her own bakery and her older brother’s best friend, Zane Walker.
Zane is a famous actor with a trail of broken hearts behind him. But he was also Willow’s first and only love, and they haven’t forgotten about each other, even though it was a decade ago.
Now Zane needs Willow to help him. His reputation as a woman’s man is interfering with the next movie he is in, and he needs to signal stability and the ability to love one woman. He needs a fake fiancé, and all he can think about is Willow, to play that part.
Willow tries to say no to Zane, and she struggles for a while before she surrenders to him and his killer smile.
The game gets serious when she realizes that being Zane’s fake fiancé means she has to lie to her family.
Soon both Willow and Zane succumb to the love that has been between them for so long.

Melissa Foster is the Queen of feel-good romance. She just grabs my heart and holds onto it all the way through her books.
Willow and Zane’s story was no exception.
I fell completely for this sweet and spunky couple. The constant banter made me laugh out loud. The love made me want to swirl and laugh from joy like a complete idiot, that’s how happy it made me.

Willow is a strong-willed woman who knows what she wants until Zane confuses her priorities. Suddenly all she wants is Zane even though she tries to hide it because he is a womanizer and she is not sure she can trust him with her heart.
Zane is a real Melissa Foster hero. He is not by any means a stereotype, but he just makes me swoon and drool a little. He is just perfect, and I can’t get enough of him.

To the fans of Real Love, The Real Thing is a must read. It gave me a huge crush on both Willow and Zane and I’m just coming down from Cloud Nine.

Thanks to Melissa Foster and Beck Valley Book Tours for this spellbinding advanced copy.

Bestselling author Melissa Foster's latest offering is the first in her brand new contemporary romance series entitled Sugar Lake, and it's quintessential Foster from start to finish, offering fans and new readers nearly everything they could want in a love story. We're welcomed to the town of Sweetwater, New York, and meet frenemies Willow Dalton and Zane Walker. She was the girl he was secretly crushing on, a fact that Zane couldn't let his best friend know, not with Willow being the guy's younger sister. He was her older brother's best friend--the very same guy she begged to take her virginity. Since then, they've kept in touch, mostly via text messages. He's now an A-list actor with a reputation for being a manwhore, erm, playboy, and she owns a bakery. It's that reputation of his that leads Zane to insist that Willow help him out in cleaning it up. How? By becoming his fake fiancée, of course! The public will eat it up and it'll make him look squeaky clean and more palatable to producers. Convincing her won't be easy, but she owes him, after all. It's fake, and no one could possibly ever get hurt. Right?

My use of the term "frenemies" to describe Willow and Zane may not be entirely correct. It's not as if they hate each other. Let's just say that their relationship is rather...complicated. Of course, that added texture makes for a hell of more entertaining read, especially since she doesn't hesitate to put him in his place and he doesn't mind pushing all her buttons. But is the much-needed chemistry there? Why yes. Yes it is! These two were fun and flirty and goodness, they were far from boring. I liked how their engagement may have been fake, but the undercurrent of attraction was very much real, more so when old and forgotten feelings are stirred up once again. She was nearly eighteen and he was more than two years older than her when they slept together, but instead of it leading into awkwardness, they ended up having a weird sort of friendship. Said friendship is still on display, even with more intimate goings-on and romantic feelings entering the picture, and it's the evolution of that friendship while remaining true at its core that I loved most about The Real Thing. This gets five stars and I can't wait for book two. ♥

This book starts a new series but it totally stands alone and does NOT end on a cliffhanger. There is both cursing and on-screen sex so if those things will cause you to leave a bad review you should skip this one.

This was my first Melissa Foster book and I absolutely adored this story and the characters in it. I will admit that at first I wasn't sure what to expect from Zane – his introduction is, uh, 'unique' to say the least – but I really liked him. And Willow was hilarious. She might have allowed herself to be talked into a ridiculous relationship, but she wasn't a pushover and she wasn't weak. I loved that about her. Their deeply loving and slightly antagonistic relationship was perfect, and I was sad when I reached the end not because the story wasn't fleshed out perfectly or it didn't come to a beautiful conclusion, but because I wanted more of these two. Their personal chemistry was ridiculous from the first time they share a page together and it didn't get any less intense as the book went on.

The only two little things that I didn't enjoy about this story was that many characters were described using famous people rather than a quick physical descriptor which would allow the readers to use their imagination. I know that is a personal preference and it isn't a huge deal, it was just disappointing because Ms. Foster has such a talent for descriptive writing but didn't use it for those purposes. The other thing that I didn't particularly care for was Zane's snobby disdain for his parents because he grew up “poor”. I was hoping he would show a little personal growth during this book and learn to not look down his nose at his parents for 'living paycheck to paycheck' - like most people in the country do - but that never happened. Instead of appreciating how hard they worked or that he didn't have an abusive, horrible home life, he still talked about them as if they were dirt to him but Willow's family was great because they were upper class. There is nothing wrong with working hard, with not being rich, and his snobbery in that regard was a total turn off. Not enough to cost the book a star, but still annoying to this reader who works very hard and has a very fulfilled life but still lives paycheck to paycheck just like his 'unfulfilled' parents.

If you enjoy a book about two people who are crazy in love with each other but who fight like crazy for that love, or if you just enjoy a full-on love story with a ton of crazy sexy scenes and a ton of emotion, you should read this book. After getting to know Willow's siblings, I very much look forward to books that will round out this series.

I requested and was generously granted an ARC of this book via the publisher and NetGalley. I was under no obligation to write this review, I did so because I adored this story.

There is nothing like diving into a new novel. The Real Thing is the first book of a new series, especially when its one written by Melissa Foster!

Bad boy actor, Zane Walker needs to clean up his questionable reputation. A plan's hatched that should be the perfect material for the film studios PR reps to spin. Only he needs the co-operation of his friend Willow Dalton in his home town of Sweetwater to pull it off. He's confident she'll assist him, but forgets to inform her that his ulterior motive is far from temporary, as he sets his sights at a permanent future with the only woman he's ever loved.

Willow Dalton's bakery is thriving but ambition means she's looking to further build on her success. So when she's offered an opportunity to further expand her business, she jumps at it. Only the offer isn't what she expects and spins her life in an unexpected direction.

Devious, arrogant but with the best of intentions, Zane is a man on a mission as years of pent up feelings finally surface. Even though his actions are questionable, his objectives are well placed even though his approach is off. I love his strong determination to get the woman he wants and his admittance that rules Willow laid years earlier he adhered to because that's was she wanted...not him!

An independent, sassy woman, Willow will forever remember the man who changed her life forever. In the preceding years, she's built a thriving business but her heart has never forgotten Zane Walker. Now, he's back in Sweetwater with an agenda she never foresaw even in her wildest dreams.

Together, due to their complicated past, sparks fly instantly between the protagonists as deep buried feelings and desires surface. Their strong personalities clash in a positive way as they come to the realisation they belong together, although the path they follow is far from smooth. Melissa ensures the sexual tension is ever present and complimented with banter and entertaining conversations as the adorable pair fight their personal internal battles as well as their attraction for each other. To push, coerce and object to their inevitable coupling are an adorable assortment of family and friends who bring the small town setting of Sweetwater alive. Thus, creating a firm foundation for future novels in what promises to be a wonderful, romantic and sexy series.

***arc generously received courtesy of Montlake Romance via NetGalley***

This is my first book by this author, and overall I’m pretty impressed. The characters were all great, and I liked the dual POV quite a bit in this one. The voices have to be distinct, otherwise multiple POV really irks me. But it was nice that we got to see inside both of their minds, giving us a glance at where they were at mentally and emotionally. Thank you Netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for a honest review. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.
 
It was a little slow sometimes, but then the romantic parts would kick into high gear and I was hooked again. And let me tell you, there was quite a bit of romance…and sex. I haven’t read a ton of second chance romances (send me your recs!), but I really love the trope. Plus the small town vibe is usually adorable in books, and this one was no exception. Small towns are not so cute in real life. At least not the ones I’ve lived in.
 
Zane is total book boyfriend material. Where can I find a guy like him? *sighs* He was so caring, thoughtful, etc. I’m not going to tell you all about the things, but he does a lot for Willow. I absolutely adored Willow for the most part, and her family is definitely up there in my favorites. There were so many cute moments, which I don’t want to share, because it would spoil the fun.
 
It’s a pretty short book (less than 300 pages), so if you like second chance romance, sweet treats, and super cuteness overload, read this ASAP. I can’t wait to read more from this author. I’m off to check when book two of this series comes out, and what it’s all about.

I'm passionate about the writing, the characters and the stories of Melissa Foster but in The Real Thing she got over it, bringing a delightfully romantic plot with an engaging hero and passionate plate full to many sighs and muffins. She created a chocolate-coated frosting-flavored cutout and right-wing cream on top. OMG !

I love books with fake engagements especially if the couple has known each other since childhood because I already expect a lot of romance and melted hearts.
Zane and Willow have no idea what awaits them with this engagement or better thinking they have an idea and so everything happened so quietly, love took its course towards the deep waters of the commitment and in the end I only could float.

As they coexist more with each other, they rediscover themselves, getting to one side that they did not know each other very well now and that got me into the book, I could not quit until I knew how they would face her family with all this little lie.

I loved too much and I can not stop talking about Willow's family, highlight for her sister Piper and her mother with her sweetness and love portions. In addition to several references and analogies to candies throughout the book .... A sweetheart love story!
Narrated in third person from the perspective of each protagonist, it was a delight to accompany this journey towards the Happily Ever After with a prince charming a princess in love.
I loved the cover full of references of the book . I only wanted a point of conflict a little more enthralling of those that leaves people tense.

4,5/5 stars
kisses, Myl

This book was fun, sexy, sweet, and seriously hot. Zane is utterly swoon worthy, and Willow is the strong, sassy, and funny woman I love to read about. If you're a fan of romance, this is a must read!

Willow and Zane have officially become one of my favorite couples. This book was a friends to lovers, second chance, and fake fiancée all rolled into a sweet, seductive package that I ravenously devoured. I couldn't put it down for needing them to find their happiness. My favorite thing about this book was the depth and history that Melissa gave these characters. The way she tied in Willow and Zane's past was essential to understanding their love and the heartbreak they endured all the years they were apart.

The closeness between Willow and Zane was undeniable. Their chemistry was explosive, but I could also sense more than that in regard to how truly connected they were. No matter how much time had gone by, they seemed to just fall into the ease of their life-long friendship. But there was always that undercurrent of passion and love. I felt it in every look, word, and touch. I'm glad we didn't have to wait too long for Willow and Zane to finally admit their long buried feelings and give in. Little did we know just how deep those feeling went. I loved everything about their story and how adorably sweet Zane was once he bared his soul.

Now I'm excited to get to know all of Willow's siblings in the coming books! They added so much personality to this story. I can't wait for them to have their own happily ever afters.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Readers Copy of this book.

The Real Thing is a deliciously sweet and sexy second chance romance for childhood friends that mixes small towns, Hollywood movies, fake relationships, and even best friend’s sister themes to make this one of my favourite books ever by Melissa Foster and one of my top reads so far this year! It’s one of those easy to read and follow fun romances that captures everything a light-hearted escapism book should and therefore I would not hesitate to recommend this standalone book!

Told from dual perspective, the chemistry between Willow and Zane sizzles off the pages from the moment they find themselves crossing paths again in person. Willow and Zane are two feisty characters who can both give as good as they get, making them a perfect match. What I loved with the relationship between these two is that as the book evolves and secrets are revealed and history re-looked at, the love between these two is the kind that sweep you off your feet and really engrosses you into it as a reader. I loved all the secondary characters in this book and cannot wait to read stories on some of the others.

If you enjoy fake romances or second chance romances with plenty of heart, humour and sizzling hot scenes, definitely give this a read - you won’t regret it!

*I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Friendship taken to the next level is not something new to romance stories but Zane and Willow are new to romance stories. They have been friends forever, they have an amazing history, and a hope for a future together. It all starts with a fake engagement just so Zane can change his playboy image. Willow goes along knowing that she has never gotten over him.

While Zane isn’t a bad boy there are times that he has that vibe to him and he is trying so hard to be good for Willow. The funny thing… I think Willow really likes that bad boy part of Zane she just is making him jump through some hoops to make him prove he is worthy of her heart. Of course, Zane was willing to prove himself without any grudges to Willow just to win her trust again.

As with all of Melissa Foster’s books, the characters Zane and Willow along with their families and friends are wonderful. They are real, true to themselves, loyal to those they love, and have the hugest hearts ever. The relationships they have are not perfect but they are perfect for them. They put themselves out there to show their worth and prove they are worthy of each other.

I definitely recommend picking up your own copy ASAP. It is a must read from Melissa Foster.

I received this book through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

The Real Thing (Sugar Lake, #1} by Melissa Foster. Willow is a small town baker who goes to a meeting in hopes of expanding her business. What she does not know is that the meeting was a hoax. When she got there she comes face to face with her brother’s best friend and the man who took her virginity Zane. Zane is a very famous actor and man whore. He needs Willow to be his fake fiancée to clean up his act. At first she is furious with him for bringing her to a bogus meeting but then she decides to help him with his rouse. Heck he only needs her to pretend for 2 weeks than they can break up. The problem was they both still had the memory of that one night years ago when Willow gave her virginity to Zane. She still has feelings for Zane and he does as well. That night was only supposed to be her losing her virginity before college but it met so much more. The problem is that Willow doesn’t know if Zane is acting that he want to be with her or if he is for real. How can he be serious about Willow when he is such a man whore? I really liked this story. I could not put it down and read it in one day. I enjoyed the characters and Willows family dynamics was truly funny. A very sweet and funny story that kept me hooked from beginning to end. I really enjoy this author and read her every chance I am given. I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book and give it 4.5 star.

"We're good at crossing lines, remember?" "Cross this line with me, Willow."

"If alpha male had a scent, it would smell like Zane Walker, rugged and musky, with an underlying hint of come-hither and a dash of panty-melting lust."

"Zane didn't just kiss Willow; he possessed her with his arms, his hands, his wicked tongue. He delved into the recesses of her mouth, unleashing a surge of heat that first flooded, the consumed her from the inside out. She had almost forgotten what a real kiss felt like."

This was such a fun, fun book! I am such a sucker for those friends to lovers/fake relationship type romances and this one totally takes the cake. The Real Thing is wonderfully written, entertaining and is the kind of story that will leave you smiling while pulling at your heartstrings.

The Real Thing is told from dual points of view and is the first book in an exciting new series from author Melissa Foster. From the moment I picked up this book, I couldn't help but be drawn to Zane and Willow. The connection between these two was strong and undeniable. The tension just oozed off the pages and begged to be explored. Add in one of my favorite troupes, a fake relationship, and you have the recipe for one delicious read.

The Real Thing was absolutely everything that I wanted. It was fun. It was sexy. It was entertaining. The chemistry was real and I loved Zane and Willow together. Sure they weren't perfect and they made their fair share of mistakes, but that's the beauty of love. When you find the real thing, you fight for it...No matter how long it may take before it's finally yours.

Author Melissa Foster has once again delivered a wonderful and unforgettable read. From a fun story-line to a sinful alpha male to the importance of family and an unforgettable love...This book has it all. The Real Thing kicks off a fabulous start to the Sugar Lake Series and I can't wait to read more!

Melissa Foster has created a hit with her latest book ‘The Real Thing’. This is the first book in the new ‘Sugar Lake ‘series. I wholeheartedly enjoyed this sweet contemporary second chance romance. I love these type of stories, so I was eager to dive into this book, and I am glad I did. It was everything I expected and more.

What the story is about.
In ‘The Real Thing’ introduces us to Willow Dalton, the owner of Sweetie Pie Bakery, and Hollywood actor Zane Walker. Zane and Willows’ relationship has been a complicated one, which went as far back as their high school years. For Willow, Zane was the one man she never got over and it did not help to know he was the one she gave her V card.

Zane has returned to Sweetwater to film his latest movie, a romantic suspense, which is very different from the gritty action movies he usually stars. To prove that he could be a romantic hero he had to clean up his playboy image, and this involved being in a steady relationship. To accomplish this task, he approached the one woman he believed he could trust with such a task. He convinced Willow to act his fiancée for the time he would be in Sweetwater filming. Will they be able to maintain the pretence, or will their fake relationship become the real thing?

Willow is one of those characters you will love but at times find her actions frustrating. I did not agree with her behaviour towards Zane over the years when she was the one who had made the rules regarding their relationship the night when she gave up her virginity. She made the rules so why be upset when he did what she wanted? In spite of I enjoyed the role she played in the story. She displayed a level of strength and bravery, but when it came to Zane, she struggled with insecurities. Doubts and insecurities clouded her judgement, and she believed every emotion displayed by Zane was an act.

I could totally see myself with a guy like Zane minus the paparazzi of course. A hunky and famous movie star who cared about others. The way he treated Willow and her family was a testament to his caring nature. Zane thought his current file would provide with his biggest role to date. However, he would come to realise that his biggest role would be convincing Willow that what he felt for her was the real thing. Along the way, he would discover his purpose.

It was good to see them work at resolving the issues from their past and coming to terms with the mistakes they made. Dealing with those issues makes it easy for them to handle their romance on a mature level.

I loved the secondary characters. They helped to make things interesting. The information provided whetted my appetite and I am eager to see what Ms. Foster has in store for them.

I enjoyed the romance, which was hot and sweet. I liked that this was not an instant connection. Their feelings for each other have been building over the years and it only grew stronger as time went by. There were a lot of swoon worthy moments. Family and friendships featured strongly in this book, which came as no surprise. If you are familiar with author’s contemporary romance, you will understand what I mean.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall, I enjoyed this installment. I am looking forward to the next book, which centres on one of Willow’s sisters. I would recommend this to fans of sweet romances and second chances.

The Real Thing is the first book in Melissa Foster’s Sugar Lake series….and it’s AMAZING! Set in the small town of Sweetwater, New York, the story features the Willow Dalton and Zane Walker. The characters, small town setting and the author‘s fabulous dialogue quickly drew me into the story.
At first, I was not thrilled the ‘fake engagement” trope in this novel. But, I quickly discovered that The Real Thing isn’t about a fake engagement; it’s about two people coming to terms with their long standing feelings for each other. The writing is rich in detail and the characters are so likeable that it’s easy to forgive Zane’s fake engagement idea and Willow’s sassy comebacks because it is apparent that these two people are meant to be together. Their sexual chemistry is off the charts and kudos to Ms. Foster for the sexy, steamy, fun, tender bedroom, bakery, blanket and car scenes! The novel is beautifully written and each word, each scene between Willow and Zane captivated me. Enjoyed reading how the couple sorts out theirs feelings for each other as desire changes to love.
Loved Willow’s relationship with her sisters and her mom. Zane won me over when Spiderman arrived at Willow’s nephew’s birthday party. Zane went out of his way to make a little child happy and showed Willow he truly cared for her. This scene had all the feels. It was hysterical, emotional, loving and poignant. Ms. Foster does a fabulous job weaving in Willow’s family members, bakery regulars, friends and Zane’s assistant and coworkers into the novel. These minor characters added a lot of fun and depth to the story line. Can’t wait to see if the next book features Piper or Bridgette Dalton. The smart, snappy dialogue between Zane and Willow drew me into the story. Zane used the fake engagement ruse to connect back to Willow, his heart’s desire and that’s what makes this story so romantic and special to me.
Melissa Foster has the ability to write an honest, relatable, entertaining romance—and I can’t wait for book two in this amazing series!

I literary jumped at the opportunity to read a book by Melissa Foster that would be the first in a series. I have read some others by her, but I always got involved in the second or last book. It’s ok, just that I hadn’t had that feeling of knowing everything there is to know about the characters, be those main or not. So here I am, reviewing the first book of the “Sugar Lake” series.

Zane and Willow come together by means of a lie. Zane is back collecting on a favor he did for Willow in college, when she asked him to take her virginity. And how could he refuse her? She was his best friend’s sister, a pretty hot sister I might add. Now he’s back asking her a favor in return. Zane has become this big actor, hunting for a role in a romantic comedy and looking to clean up his reputation. The best way to do that is to show the media he is a serious guy, involved in a serious relationship, with a nice girl from a small town. But what to do when the lie becomes truth?

Willow has trusted Zane even since college, when she decided he was the one to offer her the lovely memories of the first night with a boy. Their invisible bond has always been there since that time and once they are united again, sparks become full flames. Still, when Zane realizes she is the one for him, he must fight for her trust with all his weapons. There are issues no be solved between them, she is not willing to leave her bakery, he has a successful career in Los Angeles. The way they connect, their interaction, this is what kept me reading this book until the end.

This was a quick read for me. I didn’t even know when time flew by. I was right there with the characters, I suffered with them and felt the butterflies again. I am giving this book 5 stars with all the love of reading! And this is my favorite, out of all of Melissa Foster’s series. I think the writing for this one is really amazing! Please give it a go if you are a Romance addict like me!

One thing I love most about Melissa is her ability to write the most sweet & sexy romance novels, and even better second chance romances, and if The Real Thing is anything to go by Sugar Lake is going to be a great series for Melissa to add to her already amazing collection of books.

Willow Dalton & Zane Walker have been friends since childhood, and secretly loved each other from afar all these years. Before Willow headed to collage she enlisted Zane to take her virginity so she could away to collage a “woman” – she said there would be no strings attached and he was more than happy to oblige. Over the years they have kept in touch, with some flirting along the way, but it was always Willow who held back.

Now Zane is back in town with a proposition for Wills – as he nicknamed her – a proposition of a fake engagement to him for a few weeks as a publicity stunt thought up by his PR to gain him more exposure as a romantic actor, then once it over they go back to their respective lives. Willow naturally is against it at first as she is very close to her family and they will raise all sort of questions about the sudden engagement, but Zane seems to have it all planned out.

The lines begin to get blurred between fake and real and you are left wondering just how this is going to play out. It is clear that Zane & Willow want to be together and they he has thought of her for year, but as I said before it was Willow who held back – can this be the prefect ruse to bring them together again for real?

The banter between them both is brilliant and real, there are time when they are annoying and their are time when the lines blur and no one know what is real or fake, over all this is a great story from Melissa and I can not wait to read more from the Sugar Lake series!

I received this book through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

*thank you to the author and publisher for providing an arc**

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first book by Melissa Foster and I was not disappointed. The Real Thing was an awesome second chance novel that had you cheering for the couple. Zane will capture your heart with his sense of humor, flirting and his willingness not to give up on Willow. And Willow will still the show with her sassy attitude and her love for her family. If you are looking for a new read and a author you haven't or have read before The Real Thing by Melissa Foster needs be next on your TBR list.

Willow and Zane have known each other their whole lives. And when Zane needs help cleaning up his reputation, he can't think of anyone more perfect then Willow. He fell in love with her when they were teenagers and now is his chance to convince her that being with him is not so bad. He just needs to get her to agree to being his fake fiancé first.

Willow is on her way to a job interview that could take her small town bakery to new heights, or so she thinks. When she finds out that she is really meeting Zane so he can pitch the idea of them being engaged she is thrown completely off. But a small part of her is screaming yes, and hoping that maybe they could become a real couple. But she just isn't sure if she is willing to risk her heart. She gave Zane her virginity all those years ago and knows that if she spends time with him she won't come out unscathed.

Zane and Willow go back to their small town to convince everyone they are engaged and to film scenes from his next movie. But while they spend more and more time together the truth on how they really feel about each other comes out and Zane is not giving up without a fight. Is Willow willing to give him everything? Or will her insecurities about Zane and his life become too much?

This tender, yet steamy, friends-to-lovers, and first loves romance had me smiling and oohing and ahhing. I’m not surprised. Foster is an expert when it comes to writing magical romances. For those of you who didn’t know, I’ll let you in on a not-so-big, not-really a secret. I’m her biggest fan, and Willow and Zane’s story added some more cement to my status.

They’ve loved each other since they were teenagers, but neither was aware of the other’s feelings. Despite their miscommunication after their first time together (and they were each other’s first), they stayed in touch. Their friendship continued to flourish, despite the heartbreak they both felt, and that my dear readers, is true love. They could forgive each other anything, and didn’t really make any pretenses about whether or not they could. Even though their relationship was introduced to each other as hidden pretense, they really belonged to each other. The transformation was smooth, believable, and memorable. Foster did a great job showing the differences between their lives. She shows the difficulty the small-town Willow has adapting to Zane’s fame- especially the paparazzi. Although they have a great relationship, the struggles are there, and even though there’s a second – just a split second – of doubt from Willow on whether or not she could deal with such a public life, there was never a moment when she actually thought about giving up on their relationship. And Zane was definitely not having it.

I enjoyed their openness, loyalty, and the way they always made time for and enjoyed each other. Willow’s family members are very loving, and each in their own way, very charming. They’re all close, but they all have very different personalities. I just know this will be another great series. Kudos to Foster!

In general I really enjoyed this book – it had all the things I’ve come to expect from Melissa Foster. The characters were detailed and interesting, their interactions popped and kept me entertained, and the story flowed so well that the book was over before I knew it.

But I did have a couple of smallish things. I really wished that we’d gotten a bit more of their history first hand. Foster makes sure that you get that there is a lot between them – they’ve known each other since they were kids, were (unbeknownst to each other) their first love, and have kept a connection to each other throughout the years. I just wish we’d gotten to experience it a little more, instead of through conversations and memories, because I think that it would have helped deepen their relationship.

The other thing is a personal preference … Zane is a bit of a manwhore. He’s a big time Hollywood actor with women throwing them at him and he doesn’t necessarily turn them down. I know that rakes make for great SOs once they find The One (at least in romance novels) but it just kinda squicks me out. We’re supposed to feel this thing between them (see above) and while I understand that they aren’t supposed to necessarily be acknowledging it to anyone, even themselves, the sleeping around just isn’t my personal favorite. Maybe I’m too old fashioned but it just didn’t sit all that right.

Buuuut, not enough for me to dislike the book because they really are cute together and once he makes a commitment Zane is definitely all in. And it is a joy to behold :)

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

Melissa Foster has this way with words. I have never read a bad book by her, and she is one of my top one-click authors, without even reading what the book is about. I just know that no matter what it’s about, the book is going to be phenominal! The Real Thing was absolutely no different. I was sucked in from the beginning and didn’t want to stop reading it. I’m unsure exactly how long it took me to get it done, but I do know that I was 30 minutes away from the end (according to the time thing on the bottom of a kindle) and I fell asleep. I could have kicked myself, because while sleeping over night, my kindle died, so I had to wait for it to charge just to be able to finish the book! I fell immediately in love with Willow and Zane ((aww!! That was going to be my daughters name had she been a boy!)) and I enjoyed learning more about what happened between them 10 years prior to the “now” in the story! Their connection was so strong, I just knew they would have their happily ever after! I’ve read plenty of “fake fiance” or “fake girlfriend” stories, but I’ve never read one that they had such a back story and such chemistry from when they were younger. I felt like those 10 years apart made their reconnecting just that more sweet and perfect. I was in awe throughout almost the whole book at how in love Zane was with Willow! You don’t see many men (or at least I don’t) show their soft side like that. Zane reminds me of how Cody is with Jessica in this season of Big Brother (season 19) but Zane has known Willow for longer than just a few weeks, unlike “Jody – Jessica & Cody”. Guys, I’m so happy that this isn’t going to be the last we read of the people from Sugar Lake!! I can NOT wait for Sugar Lake #2!!!

The Real Thing (Sugar Lake Book 1) by Melissa Foster

I received and ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sweetwater, NY is a fictional place two hours away from Lake George, NY. Lake George is a place I know well since I grew up south of it and went there many times with friends and family.
Sweetwater felt like coming home to a place you'd like to live, where life slows down enough to know your neighbors, stop to say hello and share a good cup of coffee and of course something sweet at Willow's Sweetie Pie Bakery.

Willow Dalton and A-list actor Zane Walker share a past. He was her brother Ben's best friend and the boy she gave her virginity to before leaving for college. They've stayed in touch over the past decade as Zane became famous and maintained a complicated, if not quirky relationship.

Hollywood's sexy playboy needs to change his image if he wants to move from action hero to leading man. The best way to do that is to clean up his rep and get engaged, but only temporarily. There's only one woman Zane will even consider a fake engagement to.

Zane arranges a meeting with Willow under false pretenses and convinces her to help him. As Willow and Zane embark on their fake engagement, the white lie tastes bitter to them both and have a difficult time remembering it isn't real, but could it be?

The witty banter and sparks that ensue between them has you rooting for them from the very beginning. I really liked Willow's sass and spunk and honesty that drew Zane back.

Temptation abounds and their time together turns into something so much more than pretend, but can it last? The heat is five star, but the sweetness is pure sugar that will melt your heart. There are so many touching moments like Louie's birthday party.

What I love about Melissa Foster's writing is her ability to make you love a hero who was a player. I've heard people say that's not believable, but when a hero allows his emotions to surface, his transition through self reflection pulls at your heart strings. He knows he's not worthy of the heroine, but he does everything in his power to become a better man, a deserving man, and no one writes that journey of self growth better than Melissa!

Zane is no different. Willow makes him want to be the kind of man she deserves. Right from the beginning he agrees to tell the truth when he sees Willow struggle lying to her family. His actions and deeds won me over and had me turning page after page. Sexy and sweet all wrapped up in witty comebacks. You too will fall in love with Wills and Z!

I cannot wait for Only For You!

This book was sheer, fluffy delight. It was romantic and easy and made for a great indulgent read as old friends, Willow and Zane, finally faced up to what they’d always felt for each other. Eventually, after some nonsense about fake fiancées and media attention.

Willow is an independent woman in charge of her own business, baking cakes, being good to the people she knows, but with a snarky attitude that stops her from ever getting too saccharine. She’s feisty and likable and knows Zane far too well to let him get away with most of his games. She also loves him completely and isn’t immune to his charms, especially when he drops the Hollywood Heartthrob persona and is just himself.

Because that’s what these two are together – entirely themselves – and it was so lovely to read. Sure, Zane starts the whole thing off all wrong and he sometimes goes overboard with the big gestures, but the way he loves Willow is beautiful. He’s rich and successful, but he’s also still the boy whose parents weren’t interested in him, who fell for his best-friend’s little sister and really, really hates following certain rules. Yet he tries, because he always wants what Willow wants, and that’s enough to allow me to forgive some of his other flaws.

Basically this is a sugary confection of loveliness, with some hot and sexy scenes, plenty of snarky banter and a couple who are perfect together, even if it takes them a while to work that out. It’s not all plain sailing, but it’s frequently good fun, and I remember now why Melissa Foster is one of those authors I always intend to read more of. Looking forward to the next book already.

(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)

In this first book of a new series, Melissa introduced us to Willow Dalton and Zane Walker.

“Willow [is] the real deal. A smart, funny, no-bullshit, no-frills woman with real curves to prove it.” Zane is an “A-list actor [who has] a sluttier reputation than a prostitute.” What a pair!

We find out early on, that these two have a very complicated history. Before the first chapter ends, I was totally into their story, looking forward to getting to know them, and rooting for them to find their way to a happily ever after.

Zane tricks Willow into thinking that she is interviewing for a job at a venue several hours away from where they both grew up. She is a baker who owns her own shop, and is looking for a way to expand her business.

He has moved away from Sweet Water, where they grew up, and has spent the last 10 years honing his acting skills. However, as part of his career, he has developed a reputation that needs some serious repair. His solution is to ask his friend, Willow, to pretend to be engaged to him, while he is making a romantic film. They have remained friends in spite of the fact that she had asked him to take her virginity before she left for college. He obliged, but feelings were not supposed to be a part of this “arrangement” according to Willow’s rules.

What ensues from their latest meeting, is a fake engagement, the discovery that they had both broken the “no feelings” rule years ago, and that there is actually something deep, and real and true in how they care for and about each other.

Along the way, we meet Willow’s family and others who are part of their lives in their small town. I am looking forward to more stories in which we will get to know some of these people too.

Thanks so much for another great read, Melissa, and for new stories to come.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Willow Dalton right from the start had me wishing this book came with smell-a-vision. Or at the very least some gadgets straight out of the Jetsons or Star Trek. This would put an interesting spin on the future of books. Zane Walker needs a really big favor. Here’s where the story gets interesting and these two got me “hook, line, and sinker”. If Elizabeth Taylor needed a stand in for the role of Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Willow would have been perfect – I love her spirit.

I get so comfortable in reading the other series by Ms. Foster that I forget that she may actually write something new. What a great excuse to get uncomfortable but will have to limit the amount of sweets I eat while reading – since Willow is a baker after all. It’s a story that could be considered a second chance at love since our main characters knew each other prior to our first meeting.

I’ve been reading romance for a very long time. When you’ve been reading a genre for that length of time you look for books that are going to keep your passion alive. This would be one of those books. It’s a book that shows that it just may be possible for love to conquer all. Willow and Zane have a meeting with her family that just seemed to solidify their fate. The story shows that life can appear to be like a fairy tale but when you’re in “the business” reality can hurt the ones you love. Everything that came after was just icing on the cake. And I can always count on a smile when it comes to the ending.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.