Make it Real

Magnolia Ridge #4

by Genny Carrick

“Absolutely not.” Just the words a girl wants to hear when she asks a guy to be her fake boyfriend

Asking Jed Evans to pretend to date me is a brilliant solution to my problem, even if he doesn’t agree at first.

My granny was planning to move to Florida with her best friends, but now she says she won’t go if I’m not happily entangled with a man.

I’m not interested in any entanglements, but I’m no match for Granny’s guilt trips. If it means sending her off to enjoy her golden years on the beach, I’m willing to date a dud or two.

But when her attempts to set me up are all duds, I take matters into my own hands with Jed.

The Army veteran is gorgeous, funny, thoughtful—and since short-lived relationships are kind of his whole thing, I know neither of us will get the wrong idea here.

This is just to get my gran off to Florida and his dad off his back about settling down. We’re just temporary. This fake relationship has a very real expiration date.

Does that stop me from falling for my fake boyfriend?

Absolutely not.

Make it Real is a dual POV sunshine-sunshine closed door romance without implied intimacy.

Genres: Romance, Fake Dating, Clean Romance, Grief, Found Family, Fiction, Contemporary

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 7, 2023

About the author

Genny Carrick is a sucker for an HEA, especially if there's a whole lot of laughter along the way. She writes romances and rom-coms about stubborn women and the men who fall for them.

When she's not lost in swoony reads, she's probably up to something crafty or trying to get her dog and two cats to love her.

Genny recently moved to Texas from the Pacific Northwest with her brilliant husband and two hilarious kids.

Reviews

[Suzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You’ve never dealt with four insistent grandmas skilled at emotional manipulation, have you? They named a whole wing after my granny at the University of Guilt Trips. If I could just avoid the set-ups, I wouldn’t be sitting here asking you to pretend to be my boyfriend.”

Callie’s granny and her three best friends are planning to move to Florida, but she refuses to leave if Callie doesn’t have a man to take care of her.

Wanting her grandma to enjoy her golden years on the beach, Callie agrees to some dates that the grandmas line her up with. All of them are flops, so Callie decides to ask Jed Evans to pretend to date her.

Jed is an Army veteran who is funny, sweet, and thoughtful—and a man who doesn’t do long term relationships or make commitments. He initially says no to Callie’s “proposition” but after seeing her on one of her horrible dates, he agrees to help her out.

Fake dating should be easy, right? But what happens when you realize that what you really want is forever with someone?

This is my first book by Genny Carrick and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Well, I absolutely loved this story and her writing style! It was sweet, funny, and swoony, while also dealing with heavier topics like grief and PTSD.

Jed and Callie were both sunshiny characters with great chemistry. The way they genuinely cared for each other was really sweet. The four grannies were a hoot and had a fun Golden Girls vibe. I also really enjoyed Jed’s supportive siblings and the razzing they gave each other. They felt like a realistic family.

Make It Real is the fourth book in the Magnolia Ridge Book Series, but I didn’t feel lost by not reading the previous books. I can tell I’ve missed some awesome stories though, so will definitely be reading the first three books now!

TW: Jed and Callie’s moms both died of cancer (past occurrence).

Many thanks to the author for an eARC. All opinions are completely my own.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my new favourite fake dating romances!

-A peach farmer and Army veteran + a sweet kindergarten teacher = an unlikely pair, but one you can't help rooting for
-Grumpy/sunshine
-Fake dating
-Age gap
-The family you're born into + the family you make along the way
-Super swoony kisses
-Grief rep that tugs at your heartstrings
-A group of grannies who give the Golden Girls a run for their money

[Madeline (bookswithmadi_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved! Every single book of Genny's has blown me away. I think I've finished all of them within 24-hours of starting them- they're that addictive.

Jed and Callie's romance was so sweet. It was clear from the beginning that they had great chemistry and watching them fall in love after both swearing that they wouldn't was SO CUTE. I loved all their flirty banter and little moments together. All the characters of Magnolia Ridge are so enjoyable to read about and I love getting to see past characters make reappearances.

This book is for you if you like:
- Sweet, low-angst romcoms
- Flirty banter
- Fake dating that turns real
- Characters with depth that will have you rooting for them
- Small towns

Spice Level: Closed door
Content warning: PTSD, death of parents

Full review on my

[Becky Hankins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this one was my favorite out of the entire series. I literally couldn’t put it down.

[E.L. Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

THOROUGHLY enjoyed this one! Oh, who am I kidding?? I love EVERYTHING Genny writes! Callie and Jed are fantastic and so swoony. Love the side characters, too. Also, now I want peaches.🍑

[Anastasia Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just fantastic! Callie and Jed are the absolute cutest. The banter, the flirting, the heartbreaking backstories, all of it is perfect. Not to mention the swoony kisses and just-as-swoony hugs!
I loved everything about this story and couldn’t get enough!!

[Moni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is the first book of the author's that I've read and it certainly won't be the last. I already have book 1 of this series on my kindle ready to read when I have more free time. This is book 4 of the Magnolia Ridge Series but can be read as a standalone. The book's blurb lets you know what to expect. It's a great fake dating dual pov romance.

Although Callie isn't interested in being set up on dates, she finds it difficult to say no to her grandmother. Her grandmother is the only family that Callie has & she wants to give her mind some peace. Asking Jed to fake date her seems like the perfect solution, except she didn't take into account actually developing feelings for him. While they weren't necessarily friends before fake dating, they were friendly enough for her to know he's a good man but fake dating made her realize just how much of a good man he really is. Because of his companionship, Callie is able to truly be herself & she learns to accept what others saw as her faults as something that she shouldn't have to hide. I found her rambling endearing & she was such a sweetheart who is impossible not to love.

While Jed has been out of the army & settled in Magnolia for three years now, he doesn't envision anything permanent for himself. He has not interest in having a serious relationship or having a family of his own but rather his focus is on taking over his family's peach farm. He doesn't think Callie's plan to fake dating is the best course of action yet, when she finds herself in a situation, he cannot stop himself from agreeing to fake date. As they spend time together, the small things he noticed about her before cannot be ignored & he begins to see she's the woman for him - even if he doesn't admit it as such. In her company, he's also able to open up about things that he hadn't before & find someone that could understand his pains. I loved how even before he admitted his feelings for her to himself he didn't hesitate to comfort her doubts about herself & make her feel special.

Because they are fake dating, their romance is a sweet & clean slow burn. However, their flirty & playful banter won't make the wait too bad. They were so cute together that I couldn't stop smiling. You will enjoy seeing them slowly get to know each other better & love how they complete each other with their similarities. Of course, I loved seeing their feelings for each other grow but I loved seeing them both come to realizations about their own individual problems. As for the conflict, aside from developing feelings for each other while fake dating, there isn't much & it's very low stress. Beside their growing friendship & romance, readers will enjoy the side characters. Overall, there is nothing to dislike about this story. Personally, this was a great introduction to the author's writing & she definitely made a fan of me. I can't wait to read more from her!

[Manee Contreras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance level: kissing🔥

That coffee meeting was it something else! First of all, I love the courage she had to ask him.

I love his small nickname for her🥺😍 he's too cute. I love how the friendship started working out for them. It was just amazing seeing Jed's feelings evolving around Callie.

Each date was better than the last one. Jed was so sweet with her, how he dealt with her fears & insecurities was so special. He was a total gentleman & considerate. I loved when he called her "Darlin' "

It was super cute seeing them getting close to each other, trusting, confiding & comfortable friendship. They had such amazing chemistry, flirting & banter🧡. They just had this ease around them, complementary, just meant to be. The Staff Sergeant line, my oh my🔥.

I loved their first kiss! Callie was so bold. The tension in this book was so good! That's how it's done! Those almost kisses were killing me.

Jed was such a sweetheart 💕 This man showing his vulnerability to her was🥺😍. He had a lot of things to deal with, but I loved when he came to realize he was not alone. Callie was so kind, selfless & sweet. The support they had for each other was outstanding 👌🏻

The drama & tension in this story was so good! It had you reading until you had to finish it in one sitting. These two had me going crazy 😍🍑 the plot had you intrigued! You just wanted them to communicate their feelings already! But in a way, they did the best they knew how to.

I love the "Golden girls" crew! they're just the best, supportive, fun & mischievous. Gran is an MVP!

I loved the final chapters & epilogue 😍 I would not change a single thing of how everything turned out 🧡. I will definitely go back & read the first books in this series! I loved Genny's writing. Count me in for whatever she writes next.

My favorite scenes:
📚 Classroom scene🔥
🚜The ATV scene
🍑 The field
💐 The wedding
🖌️ Their hobbies

⚠️TW: abusive ex; loss of a friend; military; a few swear words; health problems.

* I was kindly gifted an ARC from the author. This doesn't influence in any form my review/opinion of the book*

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pretty much loved everything about this book. It was so good! I like fake relationship stories but, truthfully, I often feel like they are stretching credulity too far. I think it’s challenging to really justify them believably. I thought this book did an excellent job of making the case for it, and I kind of loved that he refused her initially. Callie and Jed were wonderful characters, fully developed and layered. Their banter was so entertaining, and their flirting so fun! Jed is definitely a flirt, but he is also so tender with Callie on multiple occasions. I enjoyed all the moments that added together to build the relationship. It felt like Callie and Jed were given the time and room to breathe while their feelings grew. It didn’t feel rushed. I also liked that, regardless of attraction, they both grew into their feelings instead of one or both of them pining away before or during. There were so many beautiful, swoony moments. The romantic tension was fantastic. Game night, the ladder, his nickname for her, and so on. Even the seemingly inevitable late-stage pitfalls, many courtesy of Jed’s fear of commitment and future due to past losses, of a fake relationship story were addressed in a way that felt authentic. I loved every minute of this book. Definitely recommended! There are many great characters that carryover from previous books in the series, so it’s a good idea to read them all in order, but it absolutely works as a standalone read. It is closed door with slight innuendo and some light language.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make It Real is the fourth book in the Magnolia Ridge series. I had not personally read any of the previous books but found this one read just fine as a standalone. That said, I enjoyed this one so much that I will absolutely be going back to reread them all and anything else the author writes in the future too.

Seriously, I absolutely adored this book. The chemistry between Callie and Jed was absolute perfection. I loved their flirty banter back and forth, and they were generally just wonderfully written characters that I couldn't help but like. Of course, fake dating has been a favorite trope of mine recently too, so that certainly didn't hurt things either. There's also something about a meddling granny that I absolutely love in a story and this one certainly had that going for it too. From start to finish, I couldn't put this one down and wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to the characters after the end...in the best way possible.

This is a closed-door romance with lots of flirty banter and swoon-worthy kisses, but nothing beyond that. There was some language throughout the story, but it was not an overwhelming amount and was pretty minor, so it didn't affect my enjoyment of the story.

Overall, this was a fantastic book and has me looking forward to checking out more from the author!

**I received an ARC for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Cma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Make it Real
Author : Genny Carrick

This is a typical fake dating, close proximity, friend’s brother, found family, small town kind of romance..

Jed- adorable, and has my heart. He is an ex army with his own backstory who is back to his hometown to look after his family farm. He is such a sweetheart and knows how to pamper and love a women.

Callie- Single child raised by her grandmother. She is now 25 and a kindergarten teacher, now want to spent her life her own way. But her grandmother wants her to settle down first so that she can go and spent her last years with her friends in Florida. So to make this arrangement quicker Callie approaches Jed to get into Fake dating so that her grandmother can be assured that Callie will be taken care of.

I loved the whole setup and everything that came in this book. A story so simple where two people are just finding each other every day and embracing each moment that they spent.. this fake dating actually brought out the real feelings for the characters. The importance of that one special person in your life and their presence can mean the world to you.

You can finish this in one sitting.. a light read with no pressure and no heavy feelings.. just pure love..

#kindleunlimitedromance #magnoliaridgeromance #romancereader #sunshinehero #sweetromance

[Larissa (That Baker That Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis:
Callie’s grandma keeps arranging blind dates so Callie won’t be alone when she moves out to Florida. But Callie is tired of this, and that’s why she asks Jed, the town heartthrob, to pretend to be her boyfriend until her grandma leaves.

Includes:
✨Fake Dating
✨Age Gap
✨Sunshine/Sunshine
✨Small Town
✨Found Family
✨‘Golden Girls’ Grannies
✨Reformed Playboy

🌶️Heat Level:
Kissing Only
Mild Language
Mild Innuendo
Attraction/Tension:🔥🔥🔥

🛑Content Warnings:
Lost of Loved Ones
Child Abandonment (Past)
Cancer (Past/Not MC)
Grief
Medical Emergency in the Family on page

My Opinion:
I’m completely in love with this book! It’s been a while since I was smitten by a romance, and Genny wrote an adorable couple that definitely is one of my favorites now. This book is sweet, fun, and heartwarming, and I love every aspect of it: the ‘Golden Girls’ grannies, the sweet families, the fun friends, and the cozy farm. Callie and Jed’s character stories and personalities made this book so good to follow, and it got me by my heart until the end. Their tension is top-tier, and their banter and flirting are so good. This is what I look for in a sweet romance, and Genny didn’t let me down.

[Cathi Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good I read it twice.

Fun, well rounded characters. She's the kindergarten teacher, cute, pint-size (or "fun size"). He's her best friend's cousin, seemingly just living for the day now that he's home for good from the military. Her grandmother thinks she needs a boyfriend to take care of her before she will be comfortable with moving to Florida with her friends. (These ladies are a hoot! and they've made getting Callie set up with said boyfriend their mission.) So, Callie decides to ask Jed to help her out by posing as her boyfriend just for the next couple of months while her Grandmother finishes packing and then moves to Florida. His initial response is absolutely not! But, circumstances change (of course!) and they are now trying to sell their fake relationship to not only her family, but his too.

It's fun and swoony as they figure each other out, and eventually see that they might just be made for each other. His family is so great. His brother is pretty merciless with the teasing and it's hilarious. Love Genny Carrick's sense of humor!

[dexter graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Callie & Jed are the cutest couple. Callie creates beautiful works of arts with a needle & Jed creates beautiful works of art with a paint brush. Callie keeps being set up on dates with losers and Jed goes on dates with people he knows will not amount to anything. Callie decides to take matters into her own hands and asks Jake to be her fake boyfriend. He tells her no. A few nights later he sees her out with a jerkwad and changes his mind. Everything that happens after that is truly magical. This book is a must read for fans of HEA. I received an ARC book of this book for free and my review is freely given.

[Katelin Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have I mentioned I love the fake dating trope! I loved this book from start to finish. I was expecting a third act break up and it never came which made it the best ever!! At times I was frustrated at how both of them had the same feelings but never said anything, but it made up for it in the end! I love me a hard working farmer and a sweet kindergarten teacher. Loved reading how this fake relationship grew into helping and supporting each other through their tough losses in life. Mild language that didn’t make me too uncomfortable. Thank you Author Genny Carrick for letting review this beautiful book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

It looks like many people have written nice summations of Make it Real, so I will just say how much I enjoyed reading it. It was engaging, light reading, and I had read the other books in the series previously (you don't have to), but I liked having the background of the characters in this book when I read it. Some of them were the main characters of previous books. I guess in short this is an endorsement not only for Make It Real, but the other books in this series.

I will also say, I am not a person to reread books. However, I am almost finished reading this one a second time. It is my companion on the treadmill at exercise time.

Well done, Genny!

[Wendy Droke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dual point of view, fake dating closed door romcom had me laughing and kept me reading way past bed time. I love the chemistry between Callie and Jed, and loved their mutual care for each other. Callie is sweet in all the right ways, taking care of Jed in ways that everyone wants to be cared for. Jed is respectful, caring, protective and loving as you watch him realize his own feelings. Throw in four meddling grannies and sisters and cousins and you have the recipe for a fantastic book. Check this one out ASAP!

[Shona · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘I have a proposition for you.’ Callie needs to make sure her Granny moves to Florida with her friends. Unfortunately her granny doesn’t want to go until she sees that Callie is settling down with a man. Enter Jed with Callie’s proposition to him - fake date each other until her granny moves. This is a perfect fake date romance which has excellent chemistry and witty banter. Love this series although this book could be read as a standalone. But if you don’t have the others you’re definitely missing out!

[Meg (thyme.for.books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Callie’s granny refuses to retire to Florida until she knows Callie will be taken care of. With all of Jed’s siblings paired off, he’s the last man standing. As a way to console both Callie’s granny and Jed’s family, the two enter into a fake relationship.

Make it Real is the fourth book in the Magnolia Ridge series. It can be read as a stand-alone. This is a non-spicy, closed-door romance with plenty of sweet and swoony moments. The book is dual POV.

Is there any better combination of tropes than fake dating and grumpy/sunshine? No there is not! Both MCs have traumatic pasts that have left them skeptical about long term relationships. The more reluctant a character is to entering a fake dating situation, they are always the one who falls first. This one was a close call though. I love all of the cute little dates they planned for each other. My favorites are the “are they watching, maybe we should kiss” moments.

Genny Carrick continues to impress me with each book she writes. I say each one is my favorite but this one really is. Whether it’s predictable or not, Callie and Jed’s journey really is a special one. I don’t know if this is the last book in the series but I hope to see more of these characters in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Evelyn V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Author Genny Garrick for the ARC! I am voluntarily leaving a review. Fake dating never felt so good! Callie wants her granny to move with her friends to Florida,"Golden Girl" style. She only needs to convince her grandmother that she won't be leaving her alone. Callie recruits Jed to be her fake boyfriend and he is glad to oblige. The more time that they spend together,the less fake things feel. I heart Callie and Jed!

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I want a Jed! Well, at my age, I guess I want him but his grandfather’s age. Genny Carrick drew me in with the kindness of both Jed and Callie but also how much they had really disengaged from close connections. How can you not fall in love with a character that opens by “propositioning” an acquaintance? This book was so much fun as they work to fool others and end up only fooling themselves.

[Lynn Hyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughed Out Loud

I loved this story! I have loved this whole series, but I laughed out loud more times with this one. Jed's experiences are so common after being stationed in a war zone. And both Callie's and Jed's loss of a mother to cancer is so hard. The Grannies were all hysterical, as were all the family dynamics and ribbing. I totally read this in one day because I needed to know how it happily ended. I was not disappointed!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pushy octogenarians trying to force dates on the fmc gave me the ICK in a giant, welcome to 2024 where women don't-need-a-man kind of way. If the fmc was lonely or looking then sure BUT SHE ISN'T. She seems fine with her single status and it's only these old ladies guilting her and her own grandma threatening to give up her own retirement dreams that makes her start this fake dating BS.

Not cool. Not interested. Just... yuck.

[Kayla Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet Fake Dating story. Enjoyed the family relationships and the witty banter. Callie and Jed’s story was perfect! Their reasons behind fake dating were believable and then the trials they faced were made bearable because they clung to each other for strength! There is a little language spattered throughout, but makes it feel more like real life.

[PollyAnna Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's SO real

Good grief. I haven't cried while reading for a while now, but this one got me. Jed and Callie's story hit all the feels in the best way! Genny truly has a gift for analogies! I'd love a list of them just to ooh and aah over! I had to force myself not to share every single one!!

[Raye Verdin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jed and Callie. I have enjoyed the whole series, but I think this one is my favorite. Fake dating is such a fun setup because it never stays fake or even necessarily starts fake. His nickname for Callie was so sweet and I loved their banter and how they took care of each other. This couple was absolutely adorable!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Destination: Magnolia Ridge

I love the people in this town! Jed and Callie have sold me on the fake dating trope. Their reason for it made sense, and I loved their story. If you are not always a fan of the fake dating trope, I recommend this book, it could change your mind like it did for me!

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite of the series. I loved all the banter and flirting and warm fuzzies between Jed and Callie—they were such a great fit with each other. Callie’s grandma and Jed’s dad really needed to step back and chill out, though. I didn’t love how much pressure they were putting on their loved ones rather than being willing to trust them to find their own ways and take care of themselves.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! This small town romance is absolutely the sweetest thing.. It's adorable, cute, funny, and just heart-melting.. Jed might be my favorite guy from Genny Carrick's books.. He's such a giant teddy bear, and so perfect for Callie.. They are perfect for each other for sure..

[Kennie Evvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, yes, yes please!! Jed was precious, Callie was sweet and the banter was 🥰.

I loved Dean and Eliza’s story but this was a pretty close second.

I’m pretty sure I was smiling the entire time I was ready. The whole 1 day it took me to read it haha.