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Falling For the Mark: A Sapphic Con Artist Romance
"Falling For The Mark... is a new adult, contemporary romance that will have you rooting for a con artist!" - The Lesbian Review
A mother-daughter con artist duo have finally met their match.
Maya is the daughter of Nicole, a cunning grifter who has been deceiving people since she was a teenager. Together, they have perfected the art of scamming people out of their money without guilt.
Their most successful con sees Nicole duping affluent men into wedding her. But when the time is right, Maya lures the mark into her bed, getting them to break their prenuptial agreement. The duo then disappear with an impressive divorce settlement. Never to be heard from again. What should be another routine con soon turns out to be anything but.
Kennedy, the daughter of their new mark, is skeptical of the pair upon their arrival. She suspects they are after her father’s money and she's determined to find proof of it. Matters are further complicated when Maya and Kennedy begin to develop feelings for each other. Though both have their reasons for why they shouldn’t cross the line, their growing attraction is too strong to be denied.
But when the truth is revealed, both stand to lose more than they ever could have imagined.
A mother-daughter con artist duo have finally met their match.
Maya is the daughter of Nicole, a cunning grifter who has been deceiving people since she was a teenager. Together, they have perfected the art of scamming people out of their money without guilt.
Their most successful con sees Nicole duping affluent men into wedding her. But when the time is right, Maya lures the mark into her bed, getting them to break their prenuptial agreement. The duo then disappear with an impressive divorce settlement. Never to be heard from again. What should be another routine con soon turns out to be anything but.
Kennedy, the daughter of their new mark, is skeptical of the pair upon their arrival. She suspects they are after her father’s money and she's determined to find proof of it. Matters are further complicated when Maya and Kennedy begin to develop feelings for each other. Though both have their reasons for why they shouldn’t cross the line, their growing attraction is too strong to be denied.
But when the truth is revealed, both stand to lose more than they ever could have imagined.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2023
50 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Dominique Davis
24 books18 followersNo matter the genre or time, Dominique Davis writes affectionately about unapologetic out-of-the-box women and the people who love them. From a mother-daughter con artist duo to a revenge-driven college student, there’s always something special about her characters, as she believes that all great stories should feature remarkable yet flawed female leads. Writing has been her passion since she could hold a pencil, and nowadays she divides her time between devouring books, fine-tuning manuscripts, and embracing her love for all things pop culture. You can learn more about her by checking out her website and following her on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 17, 2024
(rounded up from 2.5)
This was fine. Honestly, I'm underwhelmed. The writing could be better, but hopefully it does improve in future books because I know there is at least a follow-up in this series, if not more books by the author. I appreciate that both the main characters in this are women of color, at least.
What I didn't enjoy about this one was the inexplicable characterization. When you know you're running a con and will have to seduce your love interest's dad to get around a prenup in a few weeks, why push your love interest to get over her fear of abandonment in a relationship by pushing her to be in a relationship with you? Astounding for a professional con artist and a 23-year-old adult to make these decisions. The characters are also rather shallow, but hopefully, that too improves as the author gets more books under their belt.
This was fine. Honestly, I'm underwhelmed. The writing could be better, but hopefully it does improve in future books because I know there is at least a follow-up in this series, if not more books by the author. I appreciate that both the main characters in this are women of color, at least.
What I didn't enjoy about this one was the inexplicable characterization. When you know you're running a con and will have to seduce your love interest's dad to get around a prenup in a few weeks, why push your love interest to get over her fear of abandonment in a relationship by pushing her to be in a relationship with you? Astounding for a professional con artist and a 23-year-old adult to make these decisions. The characters are also rather shallow, but hopefully, that too improves as the author gets more books under their belt.
June 6, 2024
I was very excited for this novel as it had a very interesting premise. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed and ultimately disliked it quite a bit. There were absolutely some good elements to this novel; the plot was fairly original, there were some good scenes or moments scattered throughout, there were some great characters. I’m giving it 2-stars because despite all that I disliked about this novel there was some good parts. I think that some solid editing and a few key tweaks could turn this into a good novel, so it deserves better than 1-star.
Also, any novel that sends their characters to therapy to deal with their issues gets immediate points from me!
There are a lot of little things I disliked, but in the interest of brevity ill just hit the main points:
-Overall, my main issue is this: I hated Maya, and given that she was one of the main protagonists that essentially ruined the novel.
-Continuing the point above:
-The writing left something to be desired. Someone else called it stilted, and I think that’s a great word for it. There was a lot of telling instead of showing, and I never quite felt the emotions (might be why I couldn’t get onboard with the relationship). There were some strange or unrealistic parts for me, such as a bunch of broke college kids all carrying around $100 bills (no one carries around $100 bills!). Or Maya showing Kennedy that in an early scene that she is skilled at conning people?? There a bunch of unrealistic moments peppered throughout the novel.
Also, any novel that sends their characters to therapy to deal with their issues gets immediate points from me!
There are a lot of little things I disliked, but in the interest of brevity ill just hit the main points:
-Overall, my main issue is this: I hated Maya, and given that she was one of the main protagonists that essentially ruined the novel.
-Continuing the point above:
-The writing left something to be desired. Someone else called it stilted, and I think that’s a great word for it. There was a lot of telling instead of showing, and I never quite felt the emotions (might be why I couldn’t get onboard with the relationship). There were some strange or unrealistic parts for me, such as a bunch of broke college kids all carrying around $100 bills (no one carries around $100 bills!). Or Maya showing Kennedy that in an early scene that she is skilled at conning people?? There a bunch of unrealistic moments peppered throughout the novel.
June 9, 2023
I'm always up for sapphics being messy, so when the author offered me a review copy of this one, I was happy to accept!
While the concept promises a dramatic and angst-filled story, the actual narrative has a much more sweet vibe. While there's nothing wrong with a more saccharine romance, it felt like a lot was left on the table with the premise. The actual reveal wasn't nearly as messy as someone interested in the premise might be hoping for. There's even a moment where Nicole tells Maya that it's time to move to the next stage of the con and up the ante, but it never happens. There's so much tension possible in the premise, but most of it never materializes. Even the reveal of the secret fell a little short for me. The resolution at the end felt less earned, because it never felt like the plot had actually gone the distance with how dramatic everything was.
Aside from the plot, the writing style was a little stilted. All the characters spoke formally, even when they were meant to be falling down drunk or so emotional they were near tears. It made them sound similar to each other and hindered the more emotional moments. Many of them would simply speak their motives or have them stated flat out in the narrative, which made it harder for me to connect with the writing on an emotional level. I *knew* how they were feeling, but I never *felt* it. The narrative also added a lot of redundant information, as if it didn't trust the reader to understand why characters were doing or saying things.
That being said, I did appreciate a lot of the moments between the protagonists. The scene in the indie bookstore was sweet and the steamy scenes were also pretty well done. Kennedy's ongoing struggle with grief was heartfelt. And while I never came around on liking Nicole, I did like the themes of Maya struggling with the con. If they hadn't been hampered by the writing style, there probably would've been a lot of tear-jerking moments for me.
I would definitely advise any readers going in to expect a much sweeter story than you'd think by the premise. But messy sapphics will always be worth the read.
While the concept promises a dramatic and angst-filled story, the actual narrative has a much more sweet vibe. While there's nothing wrong with a more saccharine romance, it felt like a lot was left on the table with the premise. The actual reveal wasn't nearly as messy as someone interested in the premise might be hoping for. There's even a moment where Nicole tells Maya that it's time to move to the next stage of the con and up the ante, but it never happens. There's so much tension possible in the premise, but most of it never materializes. Even the reveal of the secret fell a little short for me. The resolution at the end felt less earned, because it never felt like the plot had actually gone the distance with how dramatic everything was.
Aside from the plot, the writing style was a little stilted. All the characters spoke formally, even when they were meant to be falling down drunk or so emotional they were near tears. It made them sound similar to each other and hindered the more emotional moments. Many of them would simply speak their motives or have them stated flat out in the narrative, which made it harder for me to connect with the writing on an emotional level. I *knew* how they were feeling, but I never *felt* it. The narrative also added a lot of redundant information, as if it didn't trust the reader to understand why characters were doing or saying things.
That being said, I did appreciate a lot of the moments between the protagonists. The scene in the indie bookstore was sweet and the steamy scenes were also pretty well done. Kennedy's ongoing struggle with grief was heartfelt. And while I never came around on liking Nicole, I did like the themes of Maya struggling with the con. If they hadn't been hampered by the writing style, there probably would've been a lot of tear-jerking moments for me.
I would definitely advise any readers going in to expect a much sweeter story than you'd think by the premise. But messy sapphics will always be worth the read.
May 31, 2023
Great story!
Maya and Nicole are a mother and daughter con artist team, who become involved with rich men, then Maya seduces them so Nicole can break off the marriage and benefit in the process. It’s never been a problem for Maya until Kennedy, the daughter of their latest target becomes more to Maya than just someone she is trying to win over in the process of their scam.
This was a really exciting premise for a story, and I enjoyed every second of it. For more than anyone, it was a journey of becoming emotionally involved then compromised by conflicting feelings for Maya. In a way, getting to know Kennedy better ended up distracting to her to the point she hadn’t really considered what would happen after her mother had married Kennedy’s dad and her part of the plan would begin. It was great that something as simple as becoming romantically involved with Kennedy was enough to have her questioning if she really wanted to carry on what her and her mum were doing, although all of that was second thought and unconscious, other than her worrying about how Kennedy would react and what would happen to them.
Because the marks that Nicole and Maya target there was such luxury in this story, and the descriptions of such things really hit home what a different type of world all the characters lived in. That also highlighted just what a journey this was though, for them all, with high stakes and traumas that had led them all to the situations in which they found themselves. When we really got a more intimate glimpse into Maya and Nicole’s lives, it was easier to understand why they had started doing what they did.
A really enjoyable story that draws you in from the very start and has a slightly Hollywood feel that makes it exciting and different.
Maya and Nicole are a mother and daughter con artist team, who become involved with rich men, then Maya seduces them so Nicole can break off the marriage and benefit in the process. It’s never been a problem for Maya until Kennedy, the daughter of their latest target becomes more to Maya than just someone she is trying to win over in the process of their scam.
This was a really exciting premise for a story, and I enjoyed every second of it. For more than anyone, it was a journey of becoming emotionally involved then compromised by conflicting feelings for Maya. In a way, getting to know Kennedy better ended up distracting to her to the point she hadn’t really considered what would happen after her mother had married Kennedy’s dad and her part of the plan would begin. It was great that something as simple as becoming romantically involved with Kennedy was enough to have her questioning if she really wanted to carry on what her and her mum were doing, although all of that was second thought and unconscious, other than her worrying about how Kennedy would react and what would happen to them.
Because the marks that Nicole and Maya target there was such luxury in this story, and the descriptions of such things really hit home what a different type of world all the characters lived in. That also highlighted just what a journey this was though, for them all, with high stakes and traumas that had led them all to the situations in which they found themselves. When we really got a more intimate glimpse into Maya and Nicole’s lives, it was easier to understand why they had started doing what they did.
A really enjoyable story that draws you in from the very start and has a slightly Hollywood feel that makes it exciting and different.
April 8, 2024
dnf
the synopsis of the book instantly grabbed my attention and i was super excited to see how the story unfolds. i guess that's why it kinda sucks that it was disappointing.
the author did have a vision for this novel and it's a plot that i personally haven't seen before, i suppose the fall through was the execution.
my biggest appreciation for any book, good plot or not, lies in the writing. there were just too many icks in the writing that continously made me stop and question what i was reading. (this is also totally subjective and i wouldn't object if someone said that the writing is good). it sounded a little repetitive at times and like it was run through a thesaurus. i noticed some words were just weirdly used maybe in an attempt to not sound a certain way but that sort of had an adverse effect. the conversations were bland and some things were unnecessarily descriptive. i just could not bring myself to continue reading it.
overall, props to the author for the storyline. i hope that i can come back to this book to see how things end but for now it takes a seat on the dnf shelf.
the synopsis of the book instantly grabbed my attention and i was super excited to see how the story unfolds. i guess that's why it kinda sucks that it was disappointing.
the author did have a vision for this novel and it's a plot that i personally haven't seen before, i suppose the fall through was the execution.
my biggest appreciation for any book, good plot or not, lies in the writing. there were just too many icks in the writing that continously made me stop and question what i was reading. (this is also totally subjective and i wouldn't object if someone said that the writing is good). it sounded a little repetitive at times and like it was run through a thesaurus. i noticed some words were just weirdly used maybe in an attempt to not sound a certain way but that sort of had an adverse effect. the conversations were bland and some things were unnecessarily descriptive. i just could not bring myself to continue reading it.
overall, props to the author for the storyline. i hope that i can come back to this book to see how things end but for now it takes a seat on the dnf shelf.
freebies
June 2, 2024Available as a freebie until June 30th, 2024 at Prolific Works' "Love is Love" LGBTQIA+ Romance Group Giveaway.
April 29, 2023
For fans of Ginny and Georgia, this surprisingly sweet book starts out with mother-daughter con-artist duo Nicole and Maya moving in on their next victim- I mean mark, Eric and his daughter Kennedy.
A nice quick sapphic read, with subtle themes of love, loss and improving yourself as a person.
I was provided this one as an ARC for an honest review, it was a nicely paced enjoyable read, it has promise but needs some editing at this point.
Very inclusive with Black characters, lgbt characters, Latina and mixed characters, with a few mentions of curly hair care as well. Cute explanation/discussion on sexualities, especially uncommon ones. Also mentions non-binary, Demi-sexual, pansexual etc.
Deals with loss, grief, trust and fear of relationships/getting hurt, on dealing with our issues and going to group meets or therapy/counselling.
This is written in the dual perspective of Maya and Kennedy, which was done well, I enjoyed both perspectives especially when you get to see them hiding things from each other, their secret suspicions, worries and perspectives.
The author does do a really good job of building the dread for Kennedy/Eric inevitably finding out that it’s all a lie and a con. You know exactly how it has to end and just pray it won’t be too painful and that it can be resolved in the end, you just can’t see anywhere at all that this can go that isn’t going to be awkward as hell. There is no obvious solution.
The writing is not terrible but it is very straightforward and direct, simplistically written with a lot of short sentences.
A lot of it was very basic, just telling it all at you with a lot of overused phrases and very little descriptive or world building techniques.
Although perfectly readable it just doesn’t quite flow properly, reading more like typical fanfiction or teen books. Everything was very direct with no decoration- ‘He had salt and pepper hair and was of average height.”
It also kind of jumps to emotions with no build up or gradual development, giving it a bit of an unfinished feel.
This is in need of some serious editing, a lot of very basic mistakes in spelling, grammar, sentence structure, wording etc. (I mean; ‘What would are ulterior motives be’ oof)
Although it may be revised yet as this is only an ARC, so benefit of the doubt there!
Good on Kennedy for holding her ground, being smart, cautious and protective, and realistic. Even if a little overly so at times.
Kennedy is easy to love and Maya is easy to forgive, both develop really well and I loved both characters pretty quickly. Eric also just seems like such an amazing guy, you can’t help but feel awful for him.
Which brings me to the biggest issue I had- there is no way I can like or forgive Nicole, fair enough if she was targeting assholes, people that got their money in dirty ways, spent it on even dirtier things. People that wanted her as a trophy wife, beat her and actively went after her daughter. But people like Eric? A genuinely great guy that has only just began to get over losing his Wife to cancer, who earned all that money through being a Doctor; literally saving people.
A guy willing to take them in, help them in any way he can etc. Who clearly fell head over heels in love with her…
Both women were still going ahead with the con despite knowing that they were good people and despite Maya genuinely growing feelings for Kennedy…
You can’t expect readers to like these characters, Maya maybe as she was forced to grow up in this game and clearly changes her ideals and realised how immoral it is, but Nicole is awful. Making her daughter unable to have basic friends, romance or any relationship except with her mother. Growing up completely alone.
Targeting grieving, good people and playing on their hearts for monetal gain. I will not change my mind on her. All the way through the book and to the end, I didn’t change my mind on Nicole.
I wish she had also realised the errors of her past, developed as a character and apologised/changed.
A nice quick sapphic read, with subtle themes of love, loss and improving yourself as a person.
I was provided this one as an ARC for an honest review, it was a nicely paced enjoyable read, it has promise but needs some editing at this point.
Very inclusive with Black characters, lgbt characters, Latina and mixed characters, with a few mentions of curly hair care as well. Cute explanation/discussion on sexualities, especially uncommon ones. Also mentions non-binary, Demi-sexual, pansexual etc.
Deals with loss, grief, trust and fear of relationships/getting hurt, on dealing with our issues and going to group meets or therapy/counselling.
This is written in the dual perspective of Maya and Kennedy, which was done well, I enjoyed both perspectives especially when you get to see them hiding things from each other, their secret suspicions, worries and perspectives.
The author does do a really good job of building the dread for Kennedy/Eric inevitably finding out that it’s all a lie and a con. You know exactly how it has to end and just pray it won’t be too painful and that it can be resolved in the end, you just can’t see anywhere at all that this can go that isn’t going to be awkward as hell. There is no obvious solution.
The writing is not terrible but it is very straightforward and direct, simplistically written with a lot of short sentences.
A lot of it was very basic, just telling it all at you with a lot of overused phrases and very little descriptive or world building techniques.
Although perfectly readable it just doesn’t quite flow properly, reading more like typical fanfiction or teen books. Everything was very direct with no decoration- ‘He had salt and pepper hair and was of average height.”
It also kind of jumps to emotions with no build up or gradual development, giving it a bit of an unfinished feel.
This is in need of some serious editing, a lot of very basic mistakes in spelling, grammar, sentence structure, wording etc. (I mean; ‘What would are ulterior motives be’ oof)
Although it may be revised yet as this is only an ARC, so benefit of the doubt there!
Good on Kennedy for holding her ground, being smart, cautious and protective, and realistic. Even if a little overly so at times.
Kennedy is easy to love and Maya is easy to forgive, both develop really well and I loved both characters pretty quickly. Eric also just seems like such an amazing guy, you can’t help but feel awful for him.
Which brings me to the biggest issue I had- there is no way I can like or forgive Nicole, fair enough if she was targeting assholes, people that got their money in dirty ways, spent it on even dirtier things. People that wanted her as a trophy wife, beat her and actively went after her daughter. But people like Eric? A genuinely great guy that has only just began to get over losing his Wife to cancer, who earned all that money through being a Doctor; literally saving people.
A guy willing to take them in, help them in any way he can etc. Who clearly fell head over heels in love with her…
Both women were still going ahead with the con despite knowing that they were good people and despite Maya genuinely growing feelings for Kennedy…
You can’t expect readers to like these characters, Maya maybe as she was forced to grow up in this game and clearly changes her ideals and realised how immoral it is, but Nicole is awful. Making her daughter unable to have basic friends, romance or any relationship except with her mother. Growing up completely alone.
Targeting grieving, good people and playing on their hearts for monetal gain. I will not change my mind on her. All the way through the book and to the end, I didn’t change my mind on Nicole.
I wish she had also realised the errors of her past, developed as a character and apologised/changed.
August 1, 2025
4 1/2 ⭐️ I LOVED THIS BOOK. I cannot believe this book is free on the Amazon store. It was SO good. We’ve got grief, WLW, con-artists, and a lot of twists. It was spicy. It was funny. It had representation. It had pretty much everything I want in a romance. I just love the idea of con women… and also the fact that they were a mother daughter duo. So fun. I look forward to reading another book by this author very soon.
June 20, 2023
2.5 I'm sad to say, but this was not for me.
I was pretty excited for it, and at the beginning I saw that Davis was touching on some interesting themes such as grief and the way it can look very different from one person to another, meeting your parents' high expectations for who you become, the difficulties of navigating the world as a woman of colour. So I thought it would be the perfect balance between romance and women's fiction for me.
However, Davis doesn't really delve very far into these conversations. There are a few scenes or poignant passages here and there, but not enough for me to become truly invested in the discussion or feel very deeply about the message. Of course, maybe that just wasn't Davis' intention, and she sought out specifically to write a pure romance story. Which would have been fine... if I had been able to root for the main couple.
What I'm really sad about is that I think there was some great potential to explore Kennedy's grief in the story. And while Davis does touch on it from time to time, I wanted so much more, because it was the only part of the novel in which I was actually really invested.
I concede that some people may enjoy this novel. I'm sure there's a big portion of readers out there, romance-lovers especially, for whom this kind of set up wouldn't be an issue; people for which the twisted aspect of their relationship is something that would be interesting to explore, instead of something dubious and unrealistic to the point of distraction. So maybe I'm just not the target audience for this. As I mentioned, there were some moments of flirting and teasing between the MCs during which I was in fact enjoying myself. But my brain just couldn't get past the grander scheme of the context of their relationship.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was pretty excited for it, and at the beginning I saw that Davis was touching on some interesting themes such as grief and the way it can look very different from one person to another, meeting your parents' high expectations for who you become, the difficulties of navigating the world as a woman of colour. So I thought it would be the perfect balance between romance and women's fiction for me.
However, Davis doesn't really delve very far into these conversations. There are a few scenes or poignant passages here and there, but not enough for me to become truly invested in the discussion or feel very deeply about the message. Of course, maybe that just wasn't Davis' intention, and she sought out specifically to write a pure romance story. Which would have been fine... if I had been able to root for the main couple.
What I'm really sad about is that I think there was some great potential to explore Kennedy's grief in the story. And while Davis does touch on it from time to time, I wanted so much more, because it was the only part of the novel in which I was actually really invested.
I concede that some people may enjoy this novel. I'm sure there's a big portion of readers out there, romance-lovers especially, for whom this kind of set up wouldn't be an issue; people for which the twisted aspect of their relationship is something that would be interesting to explore, instead of something dubious and unrealistic to the point of distraction. So maybe I'm just not the target audience for this. As I mentioned, there were some moments of flirting and teasing between the MCs during which I was in fact enjoying myself. But my brain just couldn't get past the grander scheme of the context of their relationship.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 11, 2023
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
This book was not a particularly evocative read that sometimes veered into the flat out uncomfortable. The sweetness of Maya and Kennedy's interactions was the biggest draw for me, but the surrounding world and characters are given so little development it creates a generally disembodied feeling. This results in a book that is well-paced and quite easy to read, but without a solid enough throughline that can hold up to its own challenges.
"Falling for the Mark" begins as a heist book, where the wealth of doctor Hayes and his daughter Kennedy is being targeted by the mother-daughter con due of Nicole and Maya. While Nicole's successfully started and maintained a relationship that will only be broken by a pre-planned breach of prenup, Maya's struggling to separate the mission from her feelings for Kennedy. Kennedy's immediate distrust of the pair along with her unhealed trauma from her mother's death greatly affect her own ability to draw the line between justified doubt and fear response, which is made even harder by her and Maya's chemistry.
At the heart of it this is Kennedy's story, as she is the only one of the cast who goes through truly transformative growth over the course of it. Nicole doesn't change at all, Eric's depression over the con is resolved almost as soon as it shows up, while Maya's revelation that acting is a solid substitute for running cons is something she was already familiar with as an option. Kennedy's growth takes her through the debilitating, ugly parts of her grief and the uncomfortable reality that trauma doesn't disappear overnight, with it posing real obstacles to her ability to extend trust and accept emotional intimacy. Her experiences and thoughts on the guilt of moving on and the wish for things to remain the same are some of the most poignant moments of the book and where the author's understanding of the emotion shines.
Parenthood and in particular motherhood are prominent themes in this story. Kennedy's mother Camilla and Maya's biological father are fully absent, while Eric moves in to fill in as father figure to Maya. Nicole does not assume a similar role to Kennedy because of her distrust and then betrayal, but the rest of her actions is never properly examined as damaging and Maya takes all responsibility for internalizing the only lifestyle she's ever known. Her view of herself as decidedly not innocent even since childhood is chilling and puts moral responsibility on an isolated child with immense fear of abandonment and endless need for her only present parent's approval. Maya remarks multiple times on Nicole's double expectation of her to both have friends and not get too close to anyone. However, when pondering her lifestyle all Maya has to say is that she chose it anyway without acknowledging how that was the only choice she was given, even in adulthood. While money may no longer be an issue for Maya and Nicole, the enmeshment certainly is.
Eric is on the other end of the spectrum, an infinitely benevolent man whose entitlement shows up only to rush his relationship with Nicole at the cost of keeping Kennedy out of the loop and is sorted within a few apologies. For the better part of the book he is unexamined, comfortable and supportive, morally protected from being one of the bad millionaires by having inherited his wealth from his parents, who in turn got it... somehow. Finally, it becomes Kennedy's job to make sacrifices for him and endure the con even longer.
The most surprising part of the book to me was its imbalanced progressiveness. Maya is Black and Kennedy Latina, but while her mother taught her Havana-style eggs and her hair is curly, her ethnicity does not receive the same amount of explicit definition via culture and verbalization that Maya's does. The pair bonds over having to endure microaggressions without showing emotions and how much trouble simply existing could bring for them, yet at the end of the book Kennedy is actively attempting to call the police on Maya. Even if it were simply a symptom of her privilege and removal from those particular consequences of racism, said privilege isn't examined at any previous point and the actual danger the police poses to both of them not given any weight considering other forms of racism were brought up.
The second major point of discomfort were the sex scenes. This is a romance novel, and as such passion peaks into undernegotiated, physically uncanny contortions. Consent is absent after intimacy is initiated and any further penetration, positions and even toys simply appear and are immediately agreed to despite both characters' established trust issues and histories of both sexualization and inexperience. No one has preferences and everyone's anatomy can handle it without preparation, while the language used is distinctly informed by porn and the male gaze. While Kennedy and Maya's above the belt interactions included moments of genuine understanding and connection that were sweet, emotional and fulfilling, the sex seems to undo it and does not match their other interactions.
Finally, the book's language is simple, detached and steeped in repetition. The narrative misses so many chances to develop its elements that it flows into the language itself. Neither Kennedy nor Maya have a distinct voice, and the narrative depersonalizes them further by providing almost all introspection and emotion through inner monologue and rationalization. Eric, Camilla and Nicole are thought about in first-name terms even at emotionally charged moments, while other named characters get so little development aside from assigning them diverse identities that they might as well remain in the background. This emptiness continues as many relevant conversations are summarized rather than used as opportunities to build connections and context, and Maya's plays don't even receive a title, let alone quotes or an examination of what parts resonate with her. Different viewpoints are accepted with minimal discussion, emotional breakthroughs come easily with barely any consequences, and support is given in exactly the ways the recipient needs it, sanitizing all conflict aside from the predetermined ones. Philly's local flavour is nonexistent and difficult to differentiate from any other place mentioned. All in all, the end result is a story that sits on its tracks and doesn't bother to look at the scenery.
However, this book does have its standout features. The pacing is impeccable and the scenes are focused and concise. Kennedy's grief is written in detail, which enables the reader to relate easily to its magnitude and impact on her life, while Maya's wisdom and readiness to communicate ensure that the most tired of misunderstanding tropes are smoothly avoided.
This book was not a particularly evocative read that sometimes veered into the flat out uncomfortable. The sweetness of Maya and Kennedy's interactions was the biggest draw for me, but the surrounding world and characters are given so little development it creates a generally disembodied feeling. This results in a book that is well-paced and quite easy to read, but without a solid enough throughline that can hold up to its own challenges.
"Falling for the Mark" begins as a heist book, where the wealth of doctor Hayes and his daughter Kennedy is being targeted by the mother-daughter con due of Nicole and Maya. While Nicole's successfully started and maintained a relationship that will only be broken by a pre-planned breach of prenup, Maya's struggling to separate the mission from her feelings for Kennedy. Kennedy's immediate distrust of the pair along with her unhealed trauma from her mother's death greatly affect her own ability to draw the line between justified doubt and fear response, which is made even harder by her and Maya's chemistry.
At the heart of it this is Kennedy's story, as she is the only one of the cast who goes through truly transformative growth over the course of it. Nicole doesn't change at all, Eric's depression over the con is resolved almost as soon as it shows up, while Maya's revelation that acting is a solid substitute for running cons is something she was already familiar with as an option. Kennedy's growth takes her through the debilitating, ugly parts of her grief and the uncomfortable reality that trauma doesn't disappear overnight, with it posing real obstacles to her ability to extend trust and accept emotional intimacy. Her experiences and thoughts on the guilt of moving on and the wish for things to remain the same are some of the most poignant moments of the book and where the author's understanding of the emotion shines.
Parenthood and in particular motherhood are prominent themes in this story. Kennedy's mother Camilla and Maya's biological father are fully absent, while Eric moves in to fill in as father figure to Maya. Nicole does not assume a similar role to Kennedy because of her distrust and then betrayal, but the rest of her actions is never properly examined as damaging and Maya takes all responsibility for internalizing the only lifestyle she's ever known. Her view of herself as decidedly not innocent even since childhood is chilling and puts moral responsibility on an isolated child with immense fear of abandonment and endless need for her only present parent's approval. Maya remarks multiple times on Nicole's double expectation of her to both have friends and not get too close to anyone. However, when pondering her lifestyle all Maya has to say is that she chose it anyway without acknowledging how that was the only choice she was given, even in adulthood. While money may no longer be an issue for Maya and Nicole, the enmeshment certainly is.
Eric is on the other end of the spectrum, an infinitely benevolent man whose entitlement shows up only to rush his relationship with Nicole at the cost of keeping Kennedy out of the loop and is sorted within a few apologies. For the better part of the book he is unexamined, comfortable and supportive, morally protected from being one of the bad millionaires by having inherited his wealth from his parents, who in turn got it... somehow. Finally, it becomes Kennedy's job to make sacrifices for him and endure the con even longer.
The most surprising part of the book to me was its imbalanced progressiveness. Maya is Black and Kennedy Latina, but while her mother taught her Havana-style eggs and her hair is curly, her ethnicity does not receive the same amount of explicit definition via culture and verbalization that Maya's does. The pair bonds over having to endure microaggressions without showing emotions and how much trouble simply existing could bring for them, yet at the end of the book Kennedy is actively attempting to call the police on Maya. Even if it were simply a symptom of her privilege and removal from those particular consequences of racism, said privilege isn't examined at any previous point and the actual danger the police poses to both of them not given any weight considering other forms of racism were brought up.
The second major point of discomfort were the sex scenes. This is a romance novel, and as such passion peaks into undernegotiated, physically uncanny contortions. Consent is absent after intimacy is initiated and any further penetration, positions and even toys simply appear and are immediately agreed to despite both characters' established trust issues and histories of both sexualization and inexperience. No one has preferences and everyone's anatomy can handle it without preparation, while the language used is distinctly informed by porn and the male gaze. While Kennedy and Maya's above the belt interactions included moments of genuine understanding and connection that were sweet, emotional and fulfilling, the sex seems to undo it and does not match their other interactions.
Finally, the book's language is simple, detached and steeped in repetition. The narrative misses so many chances to develop its elements that it flows into the language itself. Neither Kennedy nor Maya have a distinct voice, and the narrative depersonalizes them further by providing almost all introspection and emotion through inner monologue and rationalization. Eric, Camilla and Nicole are thought about in first-name terms even at emotionally charged moments, while other named characters get so little development aside from assigning them diverse identities that they might as well remain in the background. This emptiness continues as many relevant conversations are summarized rather than used as opportunities to build connections and context, and Maya's plays don't even receive a title, let alone quotes or an examination of what parts resonate with her. Different viewpoints are accepted with minimal discussion, emotional breakthroughs come easily with barely any consequences, and support is given in exactly the ways the recipient needs it, sanitizing all conflict aside from the predetermined ones. Philly's local flavour is nonexistent and difficult to differentiate from any other place mentioned. All in all, the end result is a story that sits on its tracks and doesn't bother to look at the scenery.
However, this book does have its standout features. The pacing is impeccable and the scenes are focused and concise. Kennedy's grief is written in detail, which enables the reader to relate easily to its magnitude and impact on her life, while Maya's wisdom and readiness to communicate ensure that the most tired of misunderstanding tropes are smoothly avoided.
May 22, 2023
I won this book in a StoryGraph giveaway and was so excited because, on paper, it's very much up my alley -- a con, a sapphic romance, enemies to lovers vibes. But in reality, I could only get 7% of the way in before stopping. I actually put it down at 5% and then convinced myself to give it another try, because I did win it in a giveaway and I wanted to honor that, but even still, I could only make it 2% more. I had two major problems that interfered with my enjoyment so much that I didn't finish:
1) The writing is very juvenile; it's simplistic and lacks any kind of embellishment, often feeling like a stilted list of facts. Here's an example of the writing style, if you're curious: or . Frequently, the writing is kind of cold but yet melodramatic, passively expressing characters' emotions while not evoking any real emotion in the reader at the same time (ex: .)
2) The writing/narration/plot falls victim to what I call "mind-reading characters", where all the characters somehow manage to know unspoken things (plot points, motives, other characters' emotions, etc). For example, Kennedy is immediately skeptical of her father's new girlfriend -- that alone would be fine, but somehow Kennedy's concern is exactly what is actually going on with her father's new girlfriend (that she's a golddigger). It creates a surreal on-the-nose feeling that always pulls me out of fictional worlds in a book.
I hope other people enjoy this book more than I did! I wish I could leave it a better review, especially since it was a giveaway win.
1) The writing is very juvenile; it's simplistic and lacks any kind of embellishment, often feeling like a stilted list of facts. Here's an example of the writing style, if you're curious: or . Frequently, the writing is kind of cold but yet melodramatic, passively expressing characters' emotions while not evoking any real emotion in the reader at the same time (ex: .)
2) The writing/narration/plot falls victim to what I call "mind-reading characters", where all the characters somehow manage to know unspoken things (plot points, motives, other characters' emotions, etc). For example, Kennedy is immediately skeptical of her father's new girlfriend -- that alone would be fine, but somehow Kennedy's concern is exactly what is actually going on with her father's new girlfriend (that she's a golddigger). It creates a surreal on-the-nose feeling that always pulls me out of fictional worlds in a book.
I hope other people enjoy this book more than I did! I wish I could leave it a better review, especially since it was a giveaway win.
May 4, 2023
I received an ebook in exchange for an review (3.5 stars):
Such a cute, fun and well-adaptive spin on a modern day Heartbreaks. Falling for the Mark debuts an African American mother-daughter (Nicole and Maya) team living from con to con to survive. But things take a turn when a newly widowed mark has been lined-up for them only for Maya to catch feelings for his quirky daughter, Kennedy.
In the 2001 movie about a mother-daughter duo who who run cons on unsuspecting romantic marks was always a favorite of mine. And I’ve craved a revival of it for some time now; Falling for the Mark gives me what I’ve been hopping for and then some!
Some key points that make this book and it’s premise stand out lay in the real bond and openness in the mother and daughter relationship with their “business”, the lovable and genuineness of their “mark” Eric’s character and the love that blossoms between Maya and the mark’s daughter Kennedy.
In true Heartbreakers fashion their past catches up to them when a past Con happens to track them down, but unlike the movie the road to redemption and forgiveness for our conning duo is closer than either of them could have imagined.
I believe Falling for the Mark will have readers in their feels throughout this book but left with a satisfying sense of closure for our young couple Maya and Kennedy.
This book gives us a cute and in-love lesbian couple, a protective and actually not that toxic mother-daughter relationship just off my compassion to the movie with Page and Angela characters who didn’t really act like mother and daughter.
And unlike the movie that doesn’t go in-depth with Page and Jack’s reconnecting at the end, Falling for the Mark gives readers a real second chances romance that our characters work together to make work. Overall, a great pleasure to read.
Such a cute, fun and well-adaptive spin on a modern day Heartbreaks. Falling for the Mark debuts an African American mother-daughter (Nicole and Maya) team living from con to con to survive. But things take a turn when a newly widowed mark has been lined-up for them only for Maya to catch feelings for his quirky daughter, Kennedy.
In the 2001 movie about a mother-daughter duo who who run cons on unsuspecting romantic marks was always a favorite of mine. And I’ve craved a revival of it for some time now; Falling for the Mark gives me what I’ve been hopping for and then some!
Some key points that make this book and it’s premise stand out lay in the real bond and openness in the mother and daughter relationship with their “business”, the lovable and genuineness of their “mark” Eric’s character and the love that blossoms between Maya and the mark’s daughter Kennedy.
In true Heartbreakers fashion their past catches up to them when a past Con happens to track them down, but unlike the movie the road to redemption and forgiveness for our conning duo is closer than either of them could have imagined.
I believe Falling for the Mark will have readers in their feels throughout this book but left with a satisfying sense of closure for our young couple Maya and Kennedy.
This book gives us a cute and in-love lesbian couple, a protective and actually not that toxic mother-daughter relationship just off my compassion to the movie with Page and Angela characters who didn’t really act like mother and daughter.
And unlike the movie that doesn’t go in-depth with Page and Jack’s reconnecting at the end, Falling for the Mark gives readers a real second chances romance that our characters work together to make work. Overall, a great pleasure to read.
July 15, 2023
Maya and her mother are professional con artists. They move to Philadelphia for their next con, getting a rich doctor to marry her mom so she can then seduce him and they run away with the prenup cheating clause money but when Maya starts having feelings for the mark’s daughter the lines between what’s acting and what’s not start getting blurred and no one comes out of it unscathed.
Interesting story, haven’t seen the professional con artist perspective very often but I love it. The relationship building slow-burn and intimate scenes were done very well. Great portrayal and explanation of demisexuality and the relationship as well as issues of race, everything was so well done in the story and their interactions with each other and the world around them. I didn't love the general writing style, it felt chunky. I think it’s because their names are used every two seconds so it is hard to get into the story when I’m constantly being pulled out by orienting it back into the story. Like when it’s from Kennedy’s perspective she keeps calling her mom Camilla and her dad Eric and it pulls me out of the story every time because I think why would she call her mom by her name and not just mom? Or when there’s just too much detail, stuff that’s unnecessary and pulls you out of the rhythm. There are some typos and grammatical errors but not too much. My biggest complaint is Nicole letting Maya take the blame for the con not working, Maya falling for Kennedy is actually what saved them not ruined it. If they hadn't been together Kennedy wouldn't have hesitated at all to turn them in and Nicole didn't acknowledge that or her pain and just let her take the blame. Otherwise I loved the spice and the character development. Lovely stand alone FF demisexual romance.
Interesting story, haven’t seen the professional con artist perspective very often but I love it. The relationship building slow-burn and intimate scenes were done very well. Great portrayal and explanation of demisexuality and the relationship as well as issues of race, everything was so well done in the story and their interactions with each other and the world around them. I didn't love the general writing style, it felt chunky. I think it’s because their names are used every two seconds so it is hard to get into the story when I’m constantly being pulled out by orienting it back into the story. Like when it’s from Kennedy’s perspective she keeps calling her mom Camilla and her dad Eric and it pulls me out of the story every time because I think why would she call her mom by her name and not just mom? Or when there’s just too much detail, stuff that’s unnecessary and pulls you out of the rhythm. There are some typos and grammatical errors but not too much. My biggest complaint is Nicole letting Maya take the blame for the con not working, Maya falling for Kennedy is actually what saved them not ruined it. If they hadn't been together Kennedy wouldn't have hesitated at all to turn them in and Nicole didn't acknowledge that or her pain and just let her take the blame. Otherwise I loved the spice and the character development. Lovely stand alone FF demisexual romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2023
I found it difficult to feel okay about the fact that a mother would be fine with her teenage daughter seducing her husbands. Having said that, I was able to put that aside and enjoy the story for what it was.
Maya was abandoned by her father as an infant and to this day feels that she’s the reason why he left her and her mom, Nicole. As a child, Maya watched Nicole pull small cons to make ends meet and as she got older, she became a part of the cons. Maya didn’t think anything of it when she consistently seduced the men her mom married, enabling her mom to catch them in the act; leading to a quick divorce and healthy settlement for Nicole due to infidelity. Maya, never knowing anything different, does everything her mom asks, never questioning the fact that her mom should be the one protecting her.
Against all odds, Maya is an intelligent, compassionate woman who has a healthy outlook on life. As she gets closer to Kennedy, Maya’s courageousness and bravery really shine through because she’s able to put herself out there and finally let someone in.
Kennedy’s mom passed away two years ago and instead of allowing herself to properly grieve, she’s thrown herself into helping her dad cope and shut everyone out in the process. She’s less than thrilled to have Nicole and Maya living with them and isn’t afraid to make it known. Her dramatics in the beginning really shows her immaturity but as she gets to know Maya, her guard drops, and she’s able to not only grow but also begin to grieve for her immeasurable loss.
Check out my full review on thelesbianreview.com
Maya was abandoned by her father as an infant and to this day feels that she’s the reason why he left her and her mom, Nicole. As a child, Maya watched Nicole pull small cons to make ends meet and as she got older, she became a part of the cons. Maya didn’t think anything of it when she consistently seduced the men her mom married, enabling her mom to catch them in the act; leading to a quick divorce and healthy settlement for Nicole due to infidelity. Maya, never knowing anything different, does everything her mom asks, never questioning the fact that her mom should be the one protecting her.
Against all odds, Maya is an intelligent, compassionate woman who has a healthy outlook on life. As she gets closer to Kennedy, Maya’s courageousness and bravery really shine through because she’s able to put herself out there and finally let someone in.
Kennedy’s mom passed away two years ago and instead of allowing herself to properly grieve, she’s thrown herself into helping her dad cope and shut everyone out in the process. She’s less than thrilled to have Nicole and Maya living with them and isn’t afraid to make it known. Her dramatics in the beginning really shows her immaturity but as she gets to know Maya, her guard drops, and she’s able to not only grow but also begin to grieve for her immeasurable loss.
Check out my full review on thelesbianreview.com
April 28, 2023
I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of the book.
Something I found refreshing in the book is the fact that it took longer than a week for the love interests to get back together and even after they got back together they got therapy, way to often in book the hot love interest does something extremely shitty and it’s just swept under the rug.
That being said I couldn’t find it in me to hate Maya like I tend to do with love interests, despite all she’s been through in her life, including having a not so stable mother (which I hope becomes more likeable in her book) she is kind and understanding of everyone. I did wish there was a moment where she realised that despite everything her mother does for her she was good to her.
Kennedy was a bit of a frustrating character but I could understand why, she was dealt a hard hand in life and her father wasn’t all that supportive in the way he should’ve been. Whilst Eric was a relatively great guy, he failed to communicate with his daughter about important things. Which resulted in her spiralling further and having a big hand in her struggle to cope with the loss of her mother and how to properly communicate the way she feels because she feels as if she is required to be the responsible adult for her father.
All of the side characters I found likeable and only wish we got more of them. Hopefully we get more in the next book but since it’s about Nicole probably not. Mayas theatre friends, whilst not being all that present in the book, truely helped Maya realise her dreams and her true potential. Whilst I liked Michelle she didn’t really have much going on for her. She tended to just appear to offer Kennedy some company or to give her advice.
Something I found refreshing in the book is the fact that it took longer than a week for the love interests to get back together and even after they got back together they got therapy, way to often in book the hot love interest does something extremely shitty and it’s just swept under the rug.
That being said I couldn’t find it in me to hate Maya like I tend to do with love interests, despite all she’s been through in her life, including having a not so stable mother (which I hope becomes more likeable in her book) she is kind and understanding of everyone. I did wish there was a moment where she realised that despite everything her mother does for her she was good to her.
Kennedy was a bit of a frustrating character but I could understand why, she was dealt a hard hand in life and her father wasn’t all that supportive in the way he should’ve been. Whilst Eric was a relatively great guy, he failed to communicate with his daughter about important things. Which resulted in her spiralling further and having a big hand in her struggle to cope with the loss of her mother and how to properly communicate the way she feels because she feels as if she is required to be the responsible adult for her father.
All of the side characters I found likeable and only wish we got more of them. Hopefully we get more in the next book but since it’s about Nicole probably not. Mayas theatre friends, whilst not being all that present in the book, truely helped Maya realise her dreams and her true potential. Whilst I liked Michelle she didn’t really have much going on for her. She tended to just appear to offer Kennedy some company or to give her advice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 15, 2023I received an eARC from the author. All opinions are my own and reviews are meant for readers, not authors.
I had such high hopes for this book. A con artist falling for the daughter of her mark? Well, I was very disappointed.
I really wanted more character exploration, especially from Maya, the daughter of the con artist. She knows what's really going on regarding the relationship between her mother and Kennedy's father, and I wanted more of her thoughts on setting up this temporary life knowing the plans to destroy it all for the money. I wanted more feelings about her and her mother's relationship and really just more conflict there. Maya has used in the cons to seduce the men for her mother's marks since she was 18; what does that feel like? How does that affect her view of herself? We got none of that and it felt like a wasted opportunity.
Kennedy, the daughter of the mark, I really could've taken or left. Her backstory regarding her mother's death fell flat and her investigation into her dad's relationship left a lot to be desired. And often, I was questioning her thought process with the romance. What the summary doesn't give away is that Kennedy and Maya's parents are engaged at a very early part in the book, so much of the romance is set when Kennedy is under the assumption that Maya is soon to be her step-sister, but she still kisses and has sex with her! I can forgive Maya because she knows that their parent's relationship is temporary thanks to the con, but Kennedy doesn't know that! Kennedy is just falling for her soon-to-be step-sister, which really icked me out.
Writing wise, most of it was fine, except for the dialogue. Much of the dialogue felt very stilted.
I'm unsure of my exact rating so I'm leaving it unrated on GoodReads for now, but I did not enjoy this book.
I had such high hopes for this book. A con artist falling for the daughter of her mark? Well, I was very disappointed.
I really wanted more character exploration, especially from Maya, the daughter of the con artist. She knows what's really going on regarding the relationship between her mother and Kennedy's father, and I wanted more of her thoughts on setting up this temporary life knowing the plans to destroy it all for the money. I wanted more feelings about her and her mother's relationship and really just more conflict there. Maya has used in the cons to seduce the men for her mother's marks since she was 18; what does that feel like? How does that affect her view of herself? We got none of that and it felt like a wasted opportunity.
Kennedy, the daughter of the mark, I really could've taken or left. Her backstory regarding her mother's death fell flat and her investigation into her dad's relationship left a lot to be desired. And often, I was questioning her thought process with the romance. What the summary doesn't give away is that Kennedy and Maya's parents are engaged at a very early part in the book, so much of the romance is set when Kennedy is under the assumption that Maya is soon to be her step-sister, but she still kisses and has sex with her! I can forgive Maya because she knows that their parent's relationship is temporary thanks to the con, but Kennedy doesn't know that! Kennedy is just falling for her soon-to-be step-sister, which really icked me out.
Writing wise, most of it was fine, except for the dialogue. Much of the dialogue felt very stilted.
I'm unsure of my exact rating so I'm leaving it unrated on GoodReads for now, but I did not enjoy this book.
October 28, 2025
Good read.
I liked the book and the story. There was some triggers for me to work through along with Kennedy.
Kennedy lost her mum to cancer and her dad moved on with a new girlfriend without her knowing. When he decided to bring the other woman to come stay with them Kennedy was really upset that she was excluded from the decisions.
Maya and her mom survive by being con artists. And basically they were planning to do the same thing to Kennedy's dad. Kennedy found out, but only after she fell in love with Maya.
Wow what a mess that all caused.
I liked the book and the story. There was some triggers for me to work through along with Kennedy.
Kennedy lost her mum to cancer and her dad moved on with a new girlfriend without her knowing. When he decided to bring the other woman to come stay with them Kennedy was really upset that she was excluded from the decisions.
Maya and her mom survive by being con artists. And basically they were planning to do the same thing to Kennedy's dad. Kennedy found out, but only after she fell in love with Maya.
Wow what a mess that all caused.
dnf
September 20, 2023DNF due to the writing style.
November 22, 2024
2.5
In painful need of an editor, I read it because it was free/cheap on kindle, very interesting concept and nice story, but reading it felt awkward and sluggish
In painful need of an editor, I read it because it was free/cheap on kindle, very interesting concept and nice story, but reading it felt awkward and sluggish
November 10, 2025
I enjoyed it but they were forgiven way to fucking quickly
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2023
Dominique Davis makes her fiction debut with Falling for the Mark, a messy sapphic romance that tackles grief and human connection through characters that come from near-opposite walks of life.
Nicole and Maya, a mother-daughter con duo, set their sights on Eric Hayes, a wealthy, widowed doctor as their next mark following an online relationship. Packing up and moving to Philadelphia is all a part of the con, a way to get into the house, create the perfect picture of a relationship, and convince Eric to propose to Nicole. All is well and good until Eric’s daughter, Kennedy, learns of the entire affair, just days before the duo are set to arrive.
Blindsided not only by her father’s secret relationship, but the fact that two strangers will be moving into their home in a matter of days is enough to set her off. Anger has always come easily to Kennedy, but she’s sure that there’s an ulterior motive somewhere, and makes it her mission to learn about Nicole and whatever past she may be hiding. Enter Maya: a product of her upbringing, Maya allegedly lives for the con – that is, until she meets Eric, who appears to be a genuinely kind man, and his daughter, Kennedy, who quickly becomes more than just the daughter of a mark.
Full of pent-up anger, not to mention years’ worth of buried grief, Kennedy pushes back against Nicole and Maya, their attempts to win her favor ignored, criticized, and laughed off until Maya provides unexpected comfort and emotional support following a handful of immature, if difficult situations, including a drunken fall in the pool and a beer pong bet gone wrong.
From then on, a slow relationship unfolds, one that is sweet, wholesome, and thoroughly unexpected on both sides. Kennedy, closed off due to her grief, slowly opens up, trusting Maya even as she questions Nicole’s motives. For someone sworn off of love, Kennedy falls hard, Maya a source of gentle comfort and understanding, one that coaxes her to embrace her emotions, which include the trauma and unhealed grief of her mother’s death.
While the novel has very sweet undertones, and there were a few moments between Kennedy and Maya that I genuinely enjoyed, including their time in a charming little indie bookshop, and a sentimental gift shared between the two later on, their relationship (and the overarching plot of the novel) felt unfinished. Trust is broken and regained (for Kennedy and Eric) quite easily, when Kennedy inevitably learns the truth behind Nicole and Maya’s dealings with her father.
Add in Kennedy’s half-baked attempt at an investigation, not to mention the backstory (or lack thereof, aside from a petty revenge plot against Maya’s father, and all men, due to his abandonment) regarding Nicole and Maya’s cons, and things come across as a little too simplistic. Any attempt to add tension or emotional impact is ultimately undermined, or brought up short, or simply forgotten.
While Davis introduced a fascinating premise in the idea of a mother-daughter con duo brought down by unexpected romance, the execution fell a little short for my tastes, not just in the relative ease with which conflict is resolved, but in the foundation of the story, which is written with very clear, concise, and simple statements. While the narrative style makes for a very quick read, it does come off feeling a bit flat and emotionless with very little character definition or voice. While Kennedy’s grief, and eventual healing, do spark an emotional response and are handled pretty well, I longed to see more of Maya’s inner turmoil, which borders on contradictory at times.
All in all, Falling for the Mark is a short, simple sapphic read that has its fair share of ups and downs. With an interesting premise, and a handful of sweet, wholesome moments, it will certainly appeal to romance readers looking for a quick read that doesn’t take itself too seriously. While it does have shortcomings for those looking for a more emotive narrative style and depth, Davis does a good job tackling themes of grief, trauma, and belonging, while setting an intriguing premise for a sequel to follow for Nicole.
Many thanks to the author, for providing an early copy of Falling for the Mark in exchange for an honest review!
Space Between Pages | Instagram
Nicole and Maya, a mother-daughter con duo, set their sights on Eric Hayes, a wealthy, widowed doctor as their next mark following an online relationship. Packing up and moving to Philadelphia is all a part of the con, a way to get into the house, create the perfect picture of a relationship, and convince Eric to propose to Nicole. All is well and good until Eric’s daughter, Kennedy, learns of the entire affair, just days before the duo are set to arrive.
Blindsided not only by her father’s secret relationship, but the fact that two strangers will be moving into their home in a matter of days is enough to set her off. Anger has always come easily to Kennedy, but she’s sure that there’s an ulterior motive somewhere, and makes it her mission to learn about Nicole and whatever past she may be hiding. Enter Maya: a product of her upbringing, Maya allegedly lives for the con – that is, until she meets Eric, who appears to be a genuinely kind man, and his daughter, Kennedy, who quickly becomes more than just the daughter of a mark.
Full of pent-up anger, not to mention years’ worth of buried grief, Kennedy pushes back against Nicole and Maya, their attempts to win her favor ignored, criticized, and laughed off until Maya provides unexpected comfort and emotional support following a handful of immature, if difficult situations, including a drunken fall in the pool and a beer pong bet gone wrong.
From then on, a slow relationship unfolds, one that is sweet, wholesome, and thoroughly unexpected on both sides. Kennedy, closed off due to her grief, slowly opens up, trusting Maya even as she questions Nicole’s motives. For someone sworn off of love, Kennedy falls hard, Maya a source of gentle comfort and understanding, one that coaxes her to embrace her emotions, which include the trauma and unhealed grief of her mother’s death.
While the novel has very sweet undertones, and there were a few moments between Kennedy and Maya that I genuinely enjoyed, including their time in a charming little indie bookshop, and a sentimental gift shared between the two later on, their relationship (and the overarching plot of the novel) felt unfinished. Trust is broken and regained (for Kennedy and Eric) quite easily, when Kennedy inevitably learns the truth behind Nicole and Maya’s dealings with her father.
Add in Kennedy’s half-baked attempt at an investigation, not to mention the backstory (or lack thereof, aside from a petty revenge plot against Maya’s father, and all men, due to his abandonment) regarding Nicole and Maya’s cons, and things come across as a little too simplistic. Any attempt to add tension or emotional impact is ultimately undermined, or brought up short, or simply forgotten.
While Davis introduced a fascinating premise in the idea of a mother-daughter con duo brought down by unexpected romance, the execution fell a little short for my tastes, not just in the relative ease with which conflict is resolved, but in the foundation of the story, which is written with very clear, concise, and simple statements. While the narrative style makes for a very quick read, it does come off feeling a bit flat and emotionless with very little character definition or voice. While Kennedy’s grief, and eventual healing, do spark an emotional response and are handled pretty well, I longed to see more of Maya’s inner turmoil, which borders on contradictory at times.
All in all, Falling for the Mark is a short, simple sapphic read that has its fair share of ups and downs. With an interesting premise, and a handful of sweet, wholesome moments, it will certainly appeal to romance readers looking for a quick read that doesn’t take itself too seriously. While it does have shortcomings for those looking for a more emotive narrative style and depth, Davis does a good job tackling themes of grief, trauma, and belonging, while setting an intriguing premise for a sequel to follow for Nicole.
Many thanks to the author, for providing an early copy of Falling for the Mark in exchange for an honest review!
Space Between Pages | Instagram
July 15, 2023
I received this book as an early reviewer. I couldn’t get into it. I only made it 14% in before putting it to the side. The story line caught my attention but the writing style wasn’t for me.
September 15, 2023
Kind of sad I didn't enjoy it more. The plot was definitely interesting but there were some pacing issues. I also didn't find the romance itself (which is central to the plot) believable.
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