Fake It Till We Break It

Resort Romances #1

by Tyla Walker

How do you stop a forced wedding? Get fake married to someone else!

Josephine has a mom whose hospital bills are mounting and a coffee shop whose sales are tanking. When she meets Aiden, he offers to take care of all her troubles if she helps him with his. And what does he need?

A fake wife.

See, Aiden is trying to stop his dad forcing him to marry his ex and needs a fake engagement and fake wedding planned at a fabulous resort should do the trick.

But his ex is a vicious Becky and isn't letting go.

She'll snoop and sneak and try to break up their fake engagement. These two better work closely to keep their secret. But will they work too closely and...

Really fall in love?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2023

About the author

Tyla Walker has always been a writer, ask anyone who’s ever met her. Growing up in Georgia, she spent every summer barbecue weaving wild stories. Her momma always encouraged her, and she couldn’t have done it without her.

Tyla writes hot and fun romances, inspired by her own relationship. Her husband reads all her stories and helps her figure out the spice and action.

Reviews

[SassafrasfromAmazon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ Nothing remarkable about this story. I am neither happy nor sad that I read the book. It was a bit boring, but I never saw the connection, whether it is the the fake one or the real one. It just did not resonate with me on any level, and I especially wish that Josephine would have eventually grown a backbone— she never did. Therefore, what we have is a story that centers on a wimpy hero and an even wimpier heroine.🙄

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book but definitely left more to be desired. Couple of continuity errors that bugged me and the timeline was all over the place. The book has good bones, just needed a bit more realism.

[Jaclyn Hillis]

I liked this okay. I enjoyed the characters but would’ve loved more development. Also the pacing felt choppy.

[Desma Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why does everyone have a backbone but main characters

Josephine is a Weak ass b. She very Indecisive And every Decision has to have a freaking Soliloquy about it. And when she made a decision it was forced upon her. And main male character (Aiden) was weak MF but at less he made decisions. The story was dragging on, the Dialog was repeating itself with different phrases Especially when Josephine gave soliloquy and her head about in the decisions she didn't even make. And For some reason Aiden see being nice as a pushover. And why Why did no one standup or not let this b****have access. There so much more I had HARD time read with the development of the story . Development of all of the characters. The story sometimes seemed very disjointed hard to follow Repeated itself And Main villain had no real motive.

[R Nedrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

disappointing

This story tried to push trauma so badly that it messed it all up. Both characters had issues using their big boy and girl words to communicate. Aidens father was an abusive ass and the suddenly he wasn’t??? The same with the ex Ada, she was volatile, childish and nuts then toward the end in less than a paragraph she wasn’t. Josephine was written with the traits of an emotionally stunted abuse victim. I actually used the words “lily livered” ya know, like a pirate. Aside from the first love scene every thing was disappointing. It’s almost like the author forgot what kind of characters they wrote in the beginning and try to wrap it up super fast towards the end contradicting the characters set… on a scale of 1 to 10. I read this book a “nah son”

[Steph's Romance Book Talk · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @41% /1.5 Stars / 0 Steam Fans

I was willing to overlook all the inconsistencies but when the characters talked about an oven and NOT having intimacy on the wedding night, I had to tap out!! I found zero chemistry between the characters. The flow of the story was clunky and frustrating. The reasons for the fake dating/marriage felt like a trauma bond instead of something cute or funny.

Overall, this story needs to be reworked, edited and developed.

Video review available in Week 32: Aug 6 – Aug 12, 2023, weekly book reviews on Steph's Romance Book Talk (https://www.youtube.com/@stephsromanc...)

[A Bull In A Bookshop · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two marshmallows. Graham crackers and chocolate bars were left at the grocery store.

This meh for me. I needed a touch more spice and for both of them to have backbones.

[Valencia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m going to be honest with you: This book didn’t really go as I expected. I had high hopes for it, but there were some issues I could not get over. Josephine and Aiden’s love story was supposed to be a fake relationship/marriage story. The premise is promising, with both of them instantly attracted to each other. Aiden is being forced into an arranged marriage with his ex-girlfriend, Ada, for business reasons. His ex-girlfriend was a cheater and just seems vindictive and bitter.
His domineering father doesn’t care what Aiden wants and is abusive to Aiden.
This young man just seems weak willed, and his only redeeming quality is that he’s handsome. (Ok, he’s also kind of nice).
Josephine helps run her family’s coffee shop, but they are in financial trouble due to her mom’s medical bills.
When Aiden sees Josephine at her coffee shop, he comes up with the idea to give Josephine anything she wants in exchange for her pretending to be his wife.
The narrative seems to skip over major events in their story. It mentions dates they go on, however those dates aren’t detailed. There’s nothing about how/why they’re falling in love. The beginning of one chapter repeats the ending of the previous chapter, but from the other character’s perspective.
The writer makes a point of noting that they are from two different worlds: he’s rich and she’s a small business owner. Yet the reader wouldn’t be able to tell who’s chapter it was because they both sound the same. They’re both insecure about whether or not the other person likes them, both going through great lengths to be self-deprecating. For me, it got to be too much. It’s supposed to feel like angst, but it just feels redundant.
The story jumps from one event to another in the attempt at a slow burn, but they don’t bother to even ignite the flame.
Their first kiss happens at the alter and it’s little more than a chicken peck. They spend so much time apart, and I’m guessing it’s supposed to make their hearts grow fonder. It works, but it fuels their individual insecurities.
Ada, the Ex, does the typical stuff conniving women do in these stories - tries to seduce him, tries to embarrass Josephine, but Ada’s cruelty is out of balance with how their relationship ended. She cheated on Aiden. She’s just there to be mean.
The climax of the story seems to get resolved too quickly given all that’s happened. Even the storyline with the hateful Ex is tied up in a couple of sentences. There’s no growth of the characters. Aiden’s dad even accepts Josephine and shockingly ends up supportive of a son he constantly calls a disappointment.
There were a few, very sweet romantic moments that I really enjoyed, and they gave me hope, but in the end, these characters (and the reader) deserved better.

[GYJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF

Wasn’t a big fan of main characters. Didn’t like how the story seemed to revolve around the mom but we never actually got to know her. Barely got to know the father. It was meh…the writing was lovely but the storyline and character development was just blah.

[Jj · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf at about half way. the lady mc, josephine, had no backbone. her "husband's" ex gf poured coffee on a magazine she was excited to see and she just SAT THERE? It was also taken from her store's mailbox like atleast sue.. that is a crime. i stopped reading shortly after that part. I disliked josephine from the jump, just bc of how she acted when she catered at aiden's engagement party and she said "Never has one (*an engagement party*) struck me so deeply, like an arrow slicing through my heart". lady u had only met that man 3 times, and 2 were just yall smiling at each other. get over it.

Aiden's character was nothing special either. he was caring ig but he lacked a backbone when it came to his dad, which really annoyed me. he got slapped in the face by the man, was called a disgrace, then i think his dad threatened to disown him?? sir u are going on 30 years old and all u did was tell him u aren't his puppet and u will marry the woman u love?

i didnt really like either of the mcs so 🤷🏾‍♀️

[Adalle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars of A Read-tastic Beginning

This is definitely a different look at a beautiful getaway. I would certainly enjoy this book even more with a slightly stronger leads. But there’s nothing wrong with knowing your feelings and the things that make you, you.
Now, this book did make me want to get my sneakers and my petroleum jelly and catch a case.

I enjoyed reading this book and I am looking forward to seeing the next.


Any suggestions, recommendations or opinions expressed within this review, are solely and uniquely made by me and I am learning this review. I originally voluntarily received an advanced copy of this book via bsprout.

[Charlene Silvernail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

Very overpowering characters in this book. Ada- Aiden’s cheating ex who just wouldn’t let go. I believe that if readers could reach through this book and strangle her, it would be our pleasure! Then his father, who controls him, his work and relationship with Ada, all for the GOOD of the company…money. Finally, he realizes that Josephine is the love of his life and he needs to make it real and do away with the contract…(that Ada steals) although they were really truly married. He’s going to make it real; a church wedding for all to see and know that his blue eyes are truly in love with his green eyed woman…Josephine!

[Cathy Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Really Enjoyed this Story: Fake it Till We Break It

This is the first time I have read a book from this author, Tyla Walker. It turned out to be an amazing book 📚📖. This story of a rich billionaire and a young black woman. Josephine works at her parents bakery and everything is fine until her mother gets really sick. Then we have the billionaire Aiden, whose father is trying to make him marry his ex Ada who is the daughter of one of his father's investors. Aiden refuses and the universe brings these two young people together. It is a good read. Buy this book 📚📖 it's a good read.

[Lyric · Rating 4 out of 5]

didn’t think I’d like it, turns out I loved it

I started reading this book because I needed something to read in between books. So I chose this one, just as a cleanser. and ended up adoring it. The only thing I didn’t like about each character was
Aiden - that he was too weak to stand up to his father and chose the easy way all the time
Josephine - she cries ALL THE TIME. Please stop making FMC’s so emotionally unstable.
Other than these two things this book was phenomenal. I wish it came in paperback. I would instantly purchase it.

[Dawn Scurry-Thomson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took awhile to finish because it wasn’t particularly compelling. Pretty formula and not well put together. Wondered if there was a translation mishap or something. I love a good interracial romance but felt the characters weren’t well written, little depth, needed more substance. Never really knew what illness the mom had, going from getting into an accident to getting engaged, the ex-girlfriend getting away with what she’d done and then disappearing with no consequence….it was more than a little choppy.

[Tasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rushed storyline

The premise of the book seemed pretty good. However from the beginning of the story you feel a sense of urgency to hurry the storyline from the author. The chapters were rushed and it didn’t allow for much character development. We see Josephine and a sorely bashful woman who never seems to evolve, Aiden a rich business man that fell in love at first sight that doesn’t seem to know how to be communicate and a vindictive ex (Ada) who suddenly changed her tune in the last 15 pages without any moral event that shows us why she changes her psychotic time.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aiden and Josephine are both in need of help. Her mother is in the hospital and her coffee shop isn't doing well in sales. Aiden's father is pressing him to marry his ex. He presents his plan to Josephine, and it starts them along their journey. Along the way feelings blossom and his ex is making waves. Will Aiden and Josephine get their chance to find happiness.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melody Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very confused with this book. There was no heart in it, the main characters (names already forgotten) had such little chemistry, the plot was hanging on by a thread, and the writing was so robotic, I wonder if it was written using AI? Tyla Walker is a prolific and well loved writer of Black romances and I have been meaning to give her books a try for a while not - it's unfortunate that this was my first attempt. I will give another one of her books a go.

[Char · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute read

Based on the low rating and the reviews I thought this wasn’t going to be very good but honestly there weren’t any major issues with it. It’s like every other romance novel. Also people were so angry over the female mc not fighting back against the ex but what was she gonna do ? Slap her and catch an assault charge at her place of work ? Anyways this was cute. And easy read to get you out of a slump

[Culandra Sells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dedicated Reader

I was dissatisfied about this read. The main characters are such wimps. No backbone at all. I hate to see a bully always getting the best of people when all they have to do is stand up for themselves.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

juvenile

This story was a bit juvenile at first. Slow. She has no backbone. He was soft. Then it started to get interesting. Ada should have been held responsible for something, a menace.

[Toocutebae · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's was not bad

It's a good book, I just wanted more.....
I was not a fan of her being bullied by his ex and her just standing there taking it, there we too many misunderstandings and unsaid words, I would have also liked to know what he said when he was on the talk show...

[Hilda H · Rating 1 out of 5]

Difficult Read

She is a Coward and he is, well how to describe him, a spoiled boy man who is scared of daddy. It was a difficult Read and boy can she cry. Are there women who act like this? All she ever does was cry.

[Princess Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 like I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it. I think the fake marriage thing just isn’t for me. I yawned a lot but I did smile at some points… idk I’ll give another one of her books a try but I won’t be continuing on with this series I think… 😩

[Gia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise but failed to pull me in.

[Grace Gardner · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF’d - i couldn’t find it in me to enjoy the characters or the writing all that much.

[Kiela Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like the part where the ex girlfriend revealed thier secret.

[Alexandria Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good read. Kept my attention.

I would have liked more development at certain parts in the book.

[Joyce Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of Disappointed

This book had its good parts, but it read like the harlequins novel. Yeah there was a true vixen, but it was to much.

[Kyra · Rating 1 out of 5]

no… just no.