Faking With My Brother's Best Friend

by Ava Wakefield

After jumping ship on my wedding day, I never thought I’d be in a relationship so soon.

Only, the relationship is FAKE, and the new guy is Aiden Reeves. AKA my childhood nemesis.

Aiden may be my brother’s best friend, but we’ve never seen eye to eye. In fact, I’m pretty sure he’s the biggest grump to ever hit this tiny Florida town.

That doesn’t stop me from kissing him in front of my ex and his new girlfriend, though.

I thought pretending to date Aiden would put an end to all my relationship problems.

That is… Until I met Kaylee, his adorable daughter.

Now, after seeing the softer side of this insanely hunky firefighter,

I’m not so sure I can keep pretending.

I’m in trouble with a capital T,

And with hurricane season in effect, my feelings aren’t the only perfect storm brewing.

I think I’m gonna need a bigger boat.

Note to

This book is a sweet, non-steamy, small-town contemporary romance and is free of profanity and explicit content (unless you count the occasional smoldering kiss). While this particular book addresses the topic of grieving the loss of a loved one, you can rest assured that there is a HEA (happily ever after) ending in store. This book is also a stand-alone. There will be no cliffhanger ending or unanswered questions. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Genres: Romance, Clean Romance

129 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2023

About the author

Hi, I'm Ava-- A native Texan living in Salt Lake City, Utah with a serious sweet tooth for small-town romance.

When I'm not writing, I enjoy all that the great outdoors has to offer. From concerts in the park and trips to the ballpark to car camping, hiking, and fishing, you're likely to find me daydreaming of adventures that include hunky mountain men with dad bods.

When I'm not out exploring, I love curling up on the couch with my laptop and a hot cup of herbal tea, listening to Cozy Hobbit Coffee Shop music on YouTube, and working on my next book.

Want to read one of my ebooks for free?

Sign up for my newsletter to snag your copy of My Best Friend's Grumpy Brother: An Enemies to Lovers Romance here --> https://dl.bookfunnel.com/pvj6jzicye

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice, easy read. Predictable but still enjoyable.

[Eli · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was probably a good book, I just couldn't get past the AI narrating. It was terrible.

[Guadalupe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
"I want everything with you, Care.”

Wow, una de las mejores novelas que he leido, amé cada uno de los tropes: Firefighter, single dad, brothers best frien, runaway bride, small town, fake dating and grumpy-ish-sunshine.
Senti que la historia tuvo ritmo, siguió una buena sucesión en las escenas, nada muy forzado, como fueron enamorándose, amé cada escena que compartieron. (Cuando bailaron en la cocina del coffe, en su primera cita, en el lago, etc) los personajes secundarios fueron demasiado tiernos y muy bien escritos.
Seguramente reelere esta historia.
Aiden+Coraline

Quotes:
There’s a vast and promising future for us, and I see it every time I gaze into Caroline’s eyes.

My relationship with Aiden may have started fake, but nothing feels more real than my love for him now.

That’s my girl.

I want to tell her how I’ve fallen in love with her, how I want her in my life forever, and how she’s made me so happy, even after I was sure I'd never be able to feel this way about someone again.

“I told you that you’re the most amazing person I know. Even that description doesn’t do you justice. I’m lucky to know you and to have you in my life. And I don’t want you ever to leave it, I never thought I could feel as happy as I do when I’m with you or when I see you with Kaylee. You’ve rocked my whole world, Care, and I love you more than words can describe.”
“I love you too, Aiden. So much, I was running around blind, looking for love, but you’ve been in front of me the whole time. You’re all I want. All I’ve ever wanted.”

We both have everything we need, and together, we can give each other everything we've ever wanted.
With her in my arms, the future looks bright, and the best part is that we’re only getting started. This is only one happy moment out of the thousands that I can’t wait to share with her.We both have everything we need, and together, we can give each other everything we've ever wanted.
With her in my arms, the future looks bright, and the best part is that we’re only getting started. This is only one happy moment out of the thousands that I can’t wait to share with her.

“With this ring, I promise to love you until the end of our days. My heart is yours, and your heart is mine. There’s no other person I want standing in front of me today,”
The man in front of me today is the one I've been searching for all along.
“With this ring, I promise to love you with everything I have. My heart. My soul. Everything. I’ve never been so happy before, and I look forward to every day we have together.”

[John Belcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since the Caroline and Aiden have pretty much grown up together, they were constantly at each other until Aiden goes his separate way in college, marries but then just five years later she dies of vicious brain cancer. Between his grief and fear of having Kaylee think he is trying to replace her mom, he refuses to go out on dates or having close company with women. Caroline lost both parents in a car wreck when she was eight years old and has been looked after by her brother Max since. The day of her wedding she sees lipstick and smells perfume from his assistant helper, and quickly realizes he has been cheating on her from day one. Especially after seeing a text from his assistant that she loves him more than Caroline and begging him not to marry her. A few weeks later Caroline calls Aiden after crashing into him while fleeing her wedding, to help get her cat stranded in a tree while moving out of Eric's apartment, promising him a free coffee for his help. They come upon Eric and his girl while leaving the shop after his promised coffee and before cage can think about it launches herself into Aidens arms and kisses him senseless, asking him to play along. As they start to fake date until the community contest it becomes real. Kaylee cheers and loves Caroline to pieces since she makes her dad smile and laugh. I received this book free from Avs Sherwood and I leave this review voluntarily.

[Malu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que linda historia, me ha encantado todo. Me encanto la pareja de Aiden y Caroline y como inician como un fake relationship pero luego crece el amor entre ellos. Además, Kaylee, la hijita de Aiden, es un personaje clave en toda esta historia. También rescato de este libro la solidaridad de todos en el lugar donde viven, ante la llegada de un huracán, me gustó ese sentido de unión y comunidad, primordial en los small town. Es un libro corto y que te atrapa desde el inicio y se lee muy fácil y rápido.
Gracias a la autora y a Booksprout por enviarme un ARC del libro, mi opinión es 100% honesta y voluntaria.

What a beautiful story, I loved everything. I loved the couple Aiden and Caroline and how they start as a fake relationship but then the love between them grows. Additionally, Kaylee, Aiden's little daughter, is a key character in this entire story. I also highlight from this book the solidarity of everyone in the place where they live, in the face of the arrival of a hurricane, I liked that sense of unity and community, essential in small towns. It is a short book that catches you from the beginning and reads very easily and quickly.

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

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really cute and sweet story. Low-angst and a quick, easy read. Written well. I quite enjoyed it. Caroline ran out on her wedding after realizing her fiancé was in love with another woman. “I’d much rather end my wedding day single than with the wrong guy.” She ran right into her brother’s best friend, widowed single dad Aiden. Over time, they encountered each other more and ended up embroiled in a fake dating scheme that started to feel pretty real. As they do, lol. There are points of concern for them, such as how Max, Caroline’s brother, and Kaylee, Aiden’s daughter, will react, as well as events that occur and add some intensity, but overall it is all reasonable and not contrived to add drama. I really appreciated how that was all dealt with in the story. Nothing felt overblown. It was a nice, comfortable read. I’ll be on the lookout for more from this author. This is a sweet and clean romance with no harsh language.

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

[MommyO · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet and enjoyable read about two people who move on from life’s uncontrollable situations to find something positive and full of promise, Caroline is faced with knowledge that her soon to be husband is in love with someone else so she flee’s from her wedding just before walking down the aisle. Her big brother’s best friend, Aiden, just happens to come across an “in flight” Caroline, helping her to escape. Of course the two have known each other forever.

Aiden is a widower with an adorable daughter who’s put any thoughts of romance on the back burner as he raises Kaylee. Through a series of events two very wonderful humans come together to find their HEA. A wonderful and heartwarming story.

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

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful rom-com of a read. Standalone romance that is sweet and funny! Well written with a great, smooth flowing storyline and amazing characters. Our main characters are Aiden and Caroline. Caroline is a runaway bride and Aiden is there to help with her escape. While these two have known each other for years they are not necessarily friends themselves, but I love how their relationship evolves and I adore Max's response. Full of sweet romance and wonderful laughs this book is a delight to read and I can't wait to see what's next in Wakefields wheelhouse!

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

[Angee Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable sweet romance between a firefighter and a runaway bride. He’s also her brother’s best friend. They have known each other most of their lives and she also thought she was reckless and jumped into things without thinking about it. She kissed him in front of her ex-fiancé who was with his new love. They decided to fake date. Ended up with a happily ever after. This story had all the feels and was well developed. The characters were fleshed out. You could feel the tension between the couple as they navigated through the story. This is Ava’s second book. I highly recommend it.

[Tabitha Cagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this brothers best friend to lovers love story! Aiden and Caroline’s banter cracked me up, the way they went from “fighting” to fake dating was just so good! I couldn’t put this book down and had so much fun reading it. I loved Aidens little girl and Max Caroline’s brother too! The characters were just so easy to relate to. I’m glad I got to ARC read this one! I can’t wait to pick up another of Ava’s books! She has a fan for life!

[Suze82 · Rating 5 out of 5]

sweet and funny
I just loved the interaction between Aiden and Caroline, their banter was amusing but still you always felt deep down they care for each other (you just wonder when they´ll finally find out for themselves and admit it). Aiden´s daughter Kaylee is a perfect addition to the warm and cozy atmosphere of this book, a feel good read I enjoyed tremendously.
I received this book as a review copy.

[Brandi Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely a good sweet small town romance. There was absolutely no spice but was a good story to keep you interested. I love how Aiden and Caroline came together and ended up being what each other needed at this time in their lives. The way the author had Max react to the relationship is how I would hope the best friend/brother of the main characters would.

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

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming, sweet, fun, entertaining read. Aiden and Caroline are captivating, relatable, entertaining characters. Their romance is very fitting for these characters. I enjoyed them from the moment they came on page. The secondary characters – especially Caroline’s brother and Aiden’s daughter add to the fabric of the story in poignant ways. Aiden is a good book boyfriend.

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

[K Webz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story captured the emotions of the characters beautifully. From Aiden, a widow raising his daughter on his own, to Caroline, a woman who flees from her wedding as she realizes her fiancé is in love with someone else.
So when a fake relationship starts up when they run into her ex when he is with his new girlfriend, it may be the beginning of a HEA.

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

[Karen Armes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caroline runs away from her wedding only to bump into Aiden, her brother Max's best friend. Single dad and best friend to Max, Aiden has been around for all of Caroline's escapades in life. When Caroline needs someone to save her pride around the ex groom and his new girlfriend, Aiden happens to be there. Can they pull of the fake datin for a month? Find out with this quick but entertaining read.

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

[Charity Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second story from Ava Wakefield was filled with some fun characters. The chemistry level was fantastic and it was a nice story. I for one would’ve loved to see some character growth and conflict between the two main characters. I definitely see great potential in her stories and looking forward to she grows as a writer.

If you’re looking for a fun quick read and like stories about grumpy single dads, then this is definitely the book to pick up.

[Lenerz Reads by Ear · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this on Audible under a virtual voice narrator, and it was kind of boring and confusing because you couldn’t figure out whether it was the male or the female speaking. I think if they continue to use virtual voice, they should start at least using two different voice narrations just so you can distinguish the two characters, especially when the chapters change point of views of the male then to the female and vice versa. The stories just blonde and boring.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book. The story was engaging and the characters were well developed. This is a shorter book, so it is a great book to read if you don't have much time. It is also a clean book, and safe to read anywhere.

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

[Renee Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Caroline runs away from her wedding she bumps into her brothers best friend Aiden. They then run into her ex fiance with his new woman. When that happens Caroline kisses Aiden they start a fake relationship. What will happen when they start having real feelings for each other?.

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

[Rebecca Corsette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down till I finished it! It was a short book 122 pages, but it was such a cute, clean romance story. I loved the plot and the storyline. I only had one part that was a little dramatic for me but still loved the idea behind it!

Definitely read if you love clean, brother's best friend, slow burn, and fake dating romances!

[Lynn Hyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Enjoy This Author

This is such a sweet book! I enjoy Aiden and Caroline and Max and Kaylee so much! There is sorrow from broken former dreams, but the new possibilities are so wonderful. I love Caroline's dreams, ambitions, and huge giving heart. Aiden is a fantastic father and friend. The story feels good from beginning to end, and the ending puts a smile on my face.

[Roslyn Simonin Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava does an amazing job with Caroline & Aiden's story. (And Max, Too)

A great read from start to finish.

I loved it!!!!!.

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

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a super sweet "brother's-best-friend" romance.. I loved it! It is cute and fun-to-read, with adorable characters..

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

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great romance between Caroline and Aiden! Love all the characters! Love the plot and how they were always on the same page.

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

[Bonny Rambarran · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is a baker who is doing amazing!
She wins an award and gives a speech. And she sees a man who she knew as a teenager, And they meet uo - and get to know each other again. This is such an amazing story - how God brought them back together after decades. Loved this book!!!

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love “fake” relationships/engagement stories and this one by Ava Wakefield is a good one. In addition to the fake relationship, Aiden is Caroline’s brother’s best friend. Ms. Wakefield may be a new author, but her story is entertaining, humorous, romantic and has a few surprises along the way. I look forward to more stories from this author.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super sweet and syruppy. Nice palate cleanser but so ridiculously unrealistic in that they fake date for a week or two and jump to ILY and "you'll be a great mom to my daughter"

I wanted more interaction but it was good for what it was.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared for happy tears!

A delightful love story that goes from impossible to the happiest love story ever. Great characters, good pacing, lots of town activities and folks who enrich the story add up to a sweet book that I didn't want to end. Oh so good!!!

[Shannon Godwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awww I loved it

A light happy read that I loved. Caroline was such a sweetheart that didn't deserve how Eric treated her. Aiden was so dang !I able and kaylee.... What a doll! I loved this book

[tired · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading

First time reading this author but will read again sweet romance with great main and supporting characters . Happy ending and not a lot of drama