Prescribed Passion, Faux Love

by Jenni Gray

We are total opposites—instant enemies.
I never saw it coming, this commitment-phobic heiress,
Spinning my world into the most delightful chaos.

Stranded and desperate in my small town, Sophie proposed a deal-
A fake romance to escape her parental shackles.

As we tangled in our charade, it became an enticing play,
Wrapped up in a dance of pretend and excitement,
We tiptoed between fiction and passion.

Our pretend romance blossomed into something real,
Yet, with curious town eyes always watching,
I'm faced with a spill the truth or risk losing the woman who turned my world upside down.

Will the revelation of an unexpected twist shatter the love we pretended to have?
The game is on, and I'm unsure if I'm playing to win or lose it all.

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 12, 2024

Reviews

[Rachel Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down! I had to keep reading about Sophie and Ethan. Set in a charming small town, this pair unexpectedly develops feelings for each other as they start spending more time together. Sophie is taking a chance at a new life as Ethan is overcoming his past. They start off as a cover relationship, but that can turn in to something so much more. This story has some tender moments as well as some very HOT ones.

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

[Angie Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenni Gray has written a 5-star book. This is the story of Sophie and Ethan. Sophie's parents have arranged a marriage to Henry for her to help the business. She doesn't like Henry. She is at a dress fitting and Henry shows up. She asks him to leave but he tells her that she is his and she can't get away from him. He tries to kiss her but she kicks him in his privates and runs out of the store in the wedding dress. She gets on a bus just to get away from Henry. She ends up in Cedarbrook. The town is a small town and it is the Annual Cedarbrook Foundation Day. She is walking around and runs into a hard wall. She looks up and sees a man. The man makes her spill her coffee on the wedding dress. He tells her to watch where she is going. Sophie walks around checking out the different booths. She is just standing around when a woman says to her "Can you believe the turnout this year?" She said that she was Lizzy. Sophie gives Lizzy her name. Sophie asks if there is a place that she can stay and Lizzy gives her the B&B directions. On her way to the B&B, she stops at a store and gets some clothes so she can get out of the wedding dress. She goes to the B&B and gets a room. She gets calls from Henry and her parents but she doesn't take them. She decides that she is going to do what she wants instead of what they want her to do. She goes back out and something happens and she has to see a doctor. This brings her to Dr. Ethan. They do not get along at first since he thinks she is stuck up from the things she has said to him. Sophie doesn't know what she is going to do about the wedding and her parents. She knows she doesn't want to marry Henry. She is out looking around when Henry shows up and tries to take her to his car. She tells him that she is not going with him. He grabs her arm and pulls her to the car. She tries to fight him but he is stronger than her. She is yelling for him to let her go hoping someone will come and help her. Just before he puts her into the car, Ethan yells for him to let her go. Henry lets her go and she runs behind Ethan. Henry said for him to stay out of something that doesn't concern him. Henry goes after Sophie again but Ethan hits him in the nose and Henry goes down. Henry tells her that she owes him for the wedding dress. Since Henry showed up, she now knows that she can't stay in Cedarbrook. The next morning, she goes to check out and finds that her credit cards have been canceled. She is told that she can't leave until her bill has been paid. She tells the desk clerk what is going on and is told that maybe the owner would be able to do something to help her. When she meets the owner, she is shocked to see Ethan. He tells her that she can help out at the clinic until her bill is paid and stays with him. She is not happy about what he has her doing at first. Things change when she starts to enjoy working. The more time she spends with Ethan, the more she likes him. Things happen and they become friends. They end up talking about their past and he tells her about his fiance who passed away. She tells him about the arranged marriage to Henry and how she is not going to let her parents run her life anymore. Sophie gets a call from her parents and they tell her to come home but she says that she is not going to do that. A few days later, her parents came to Cedarbrook to make her go back home with them. When she sees them she lets them have it for always controlling her. Her mother gets upset with her over Henry and her staying with Ethan. She just opens her mouth and things come out about her and Ethan being a couple. Ethan goes with it and puts his spin on it. Things are going fine for Sophie and Ethan until Keisha comes to town. She starts flirting with Ethan and ignores Sophie. Keisha tries to get Ethan to pay attention to her by bringing up their past together. Ethan tries to show Sophie how he feels. Keisha is not happy with how things are going. Keisha wants Ethan to go out with her and have drinks but Ethan tells her that they are headed home. Keisha tells him that it is just a short walk grabs his arm and says "Let's go." Ethan asks Sophie if it is okay. Sophie didn't feel like she had a choice and said it was alright. On the walk through the woods, Keisha kept bringing up the past with Ethan. Sophie was getting upset and Ethan saw this. Ethan finally tells Keisha that it is time for him and Sophie to get back. Ethan enjoyed talking about the past with Keisha but noticed that Sophie was quiet. When they get home, Ethan goes inside and this gives Keisha time to say some things about him to Sophie. After Keisha leaves, Sophie knows she can't stay there any longer. She calls Lizzy and asks if she could come and stay with her. She is told yes. Ethan has to go and see a patient and while he is gone she packs up and leaves. She leaves Ethan a note. While she is at Lizzy's her parents come to see her. She wants to know how they knew where she was. They tell her that they went to Ethan's first and he told them that they had broke up. She talks with her parents and lets them know the truth about her and Ethan. Sophie had been working on getting things done for the new Wellness Center that Ethan is building for the town. She had been behind the success of all that was going on for the grand opening. Ethan works at the Wellness Center since he doesn't have Sophie with him. It is the day of the grand opening. He is looking around for Sophie but he can't find her. Ethan is waiting for his turn to speak and is shocked when Sophie's father comes up behind him and says that Sophie is there. The speech that Ethan has he says is for the town. As he reads it, Sophie realizes it was for her. After his speech, Ethan gets stopped by the people of the town. Sophie starts walking toward Ethan. When she gets to Ethan, they have a talk.
Will Sophie give Ethan another chance?
This was a wonderful book and I would recommend it to anyone.

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

[Susan Carrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie is looking at herself in the store mirror, dressed in the prettiest wedding gown she had ever seen. As much as she adored the gown she felt overwhelmed but not in a good way. The man she is engaged to is not very nice! He started caressing her arm and she recoiled in disgust and stepped away. He tried to kiss her causing her to panic and then slapped him hard. He rubbed the upcoming marriage in her face and mocked her, telling her there was 'nothing you can do about it'. She was so angry she yelled at him to watch her! She grabbed her things and ran. She was forced into this engagement by her parents to save their business, but she cannot go through with it. She got a cab to the train station and woke up at the last stop....yes, still in the wedding dress. She arrived in a small town, in the middle of a dress up festival! People seemed friendly until she bumped into someone while she wasn't paying attention and ended up with coffee on the expensive dress. Even though it was her fault, she was very rude to the man and stomped off. This won't be the last she sees of him. She looks around and decides to get a few clothes. She changes in the dressing room and takes the gown to the laundry for cleaning. She meets a nice woman named Lissy who guarantees it will be better than new! She also points her towards a B&B. Sophie checks in and falls in love with the place and the people. She tried making s'mores for the first time, but burned herself, just as Dr. Ethan arrives. After another round of battle, she stomps off to her room. She is so upset she decides she will leave the next day. She's getting some breakfast and the doctor shows up again and they exchange more barbs. She leaves to get her things and to check out. What more can go wrong? Well it appears she is not going anywhere and she is going to have to stay a while longer. It turns out her parents cancelled her cards and, even worse, the owner of the B&B is none other than the good doctor. She has to stay to work off her debt. He has spare rooms and she moves in as she cannot afford to stay at the inn. She gets into her job and starts to enjoy herself. There are some important and rather large projects they are fundraising for the town and she gets into the swing of things. She and Ethan get closer as she learns his story. Just as things start to go well, her parents show up trying to drag her home. She very loudly tells them what she thinks and also how her ex treated her. They insisted that she still go through it because they need the marriage. Will she submit to their demands? Will she and Ethan have a future? There is so much more to come! This was another good book by the author and very well written. I could not put it down. Susan C.

[Rebmay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives readers not only an endearing romance, but also a story of personal reflection, growth and healing. Sophie is a spoiled rich girl who flees the fiancé her parents have arranged for her to marry in a ridiculously expensive wedding gown. She ends up in a small town where the townspeople show her nothing but kindness even as she criticizes the amenities, the food and the town itself for not suiting her expensive tastes. Though others may not have noticed or paid attention to her criticisms, Ethan, the town’s doctor and philanthropist certainly does. When her parents cancel her credit cards, Ethan, who is also the owner of the inn where she stays, insists that she pay off her debt by working in his clinic. Not only does he want to teach her a lesson, he also wants to spend more time with the woman who sparked something within him he never thought he would feel again.

Their first encounters are tense, awkward and confrontational. Then Ethan begins to notice a change in Sophie. She is determined to show him she can do a good job. She is capable of hard work and learning something new without complaining or resorting to insults and rudeness. In short order, Sophie’s kind, generous heart and spirit make an appearance and the townspeople fall in love with her, as does the handsome doctor, though he is not ready to admit it even to himself. Ethan protects her from her vengeful ex fiancé and her parents, then finds himself in a fake relationship with Sophie. The fake relationship will help him keep the matchmaking biddies at bay, so Ethan agrees to play along. Only there are real feelings involved, as well as real fears and his burden of guilt for finally moving on after the death of his beloved girlfriend years before. Their relationship becomes a series of advances and retreats, leaving them both hurt and confused. Could the city girl and the country doctor really have a chance at a happily ever after?

This book was an entertaining and engaging read.

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness this was awesome! Great storyline and very well portrayed. Sophie has to be the only runaway bride who not only didn’t get as far as the altar while wearing the dress but the bridal shop before her fleeing….still wearing it! She runs all the way to a small town after grabbing a taxi then a train to its final destination. Forced into the loveless engagement by her parents to save their business but she struck out and fled. Ethan a doctor was bumped into by a vision in white and had coffee spilled all over him for his trouble….then promptly gives him short shrift and stomps off! He keeps on feeling her wrath when he meets her a few more times at the B&B in which she is staying. When she has yet another run in she goes to her room and packs in order to settle her bill and move on , only her parents have stopped all her credit cards and she must work off her debt to the B&B owner….Ethan the doctor owns it and when she can’t afford to pay for the inn , he says she can move to his rooms and work to clear the inn debt. She gets into the work and Ethan himself and things are looking good …then her parents turn up to drag her away but will the doctor prescribe her a better solution ? ….. highly entertaining story.

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

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie & Ethan
*
A brat that turns into a decent human being and a grumpy doctor.
*
She runs away from the guy she's supposed to marry while trying on the wedding dress. She hops on a train and ends up in the smallest town - Cedarbrook. She gets herself a suite in the local hotel, which she is not able to pay due to her parents blocking the credit cards - surprise, surprise. The receptionist suggests she talks with the owner to work something out. Obviously, the owner is the infuriating man she keeps bumping into and fighting with.
Ethan is the town cardiologist and a bachelor. The town's old ladies and huge gossips keep on trying to find him a woman and are sending him on dates. Little eavesdropping and some lies turn these enemies to fake dating to lovers.
I liked the progress Sophie makes as a person. You see her grow with the community and blossoming in her so-called freedom, away from her parents.
I wasn't a fan of them giving each other the silent treatment. Every single thing that happened, they just don't talk and avoid each other. Even though they have a happy ending, I'm not convinced that they would actually talk when something else happens .
* I received an ARC via Booksprout of this book and gave my honest opinion.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable story to read that is about Sophie Thompson a city socialite and Ethan Mitchell a doctor. Sophie trying her wedding dress finally had enough of her fiancé's advances, hits him and runs away and ends up in Cedarbrook, Ohio. Walking to the town's center, she finds a party with people in costumes that's celebrating their Foundation Day. Walking around the booths she bumps into Ethan who spills coffee on her, this makes her angry and starts their bickering. When they keep bumping into each other and Sophie's runaway is blasted in the papers and media, and her credit cards are cancelled by her parents and now she owes money for her hotel room she stayed at, Ethan is her only chance. What happens afterward is an engaging story that entertained me to the end. Both characters are likable: Sophie learns to embrace the simpler things in life as she works off her debt and Ethan learns to let go of a past hurt in this romance story. I volunteer to read and review this enjoyable copy I'd received.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This contemporary romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building and characters that are captivating and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with prescribed passion, faux love, mature explicit romance that is consumed by steamy sizzling passion, lust, desire, and spice with all the feelings, enemies-to-lovers, grumpy billionaire doctor, small town romance, fake fiancee, a runaway, forced proximity, total opposites--instant enemies, commitment-phobic heiress, turning my world upside down, dance of deception and desire, secrets, revelation if a happily ever after, will there be an unexpected twist that shatters the love we pretended to have?, heartfelt emotions, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with prescribed passion, faux love and explicit romance that is sure to take readers on an exhilarating roller coaster ride that is emotional and unforgettable.

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

[Noemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Thompson is a city socialite on the run. Ethan Mitchell is a doctor in the small town she ends up in.

While trying on her wedding dress, she has had enough of her fiancé's advances. She hits him and runs. She ends up in Cedarbrook, Ohio. The town is in the middle of a party with a lot of people are in costumes as they are celebrating their Founding Day. While visiting a booth she bumps into Ethan and spills coffee on her. This starts their bickering.

Sophie's runaway is blasted in the papers and media, soon her credit cards are cancelled by her parents leaving her in debt for her hotel room, Ethan is her only chance. How they work things out leads to an engaging story. Sophie learns to take in the simpler things in life while she works off her debt and Ethan come to terms to let his past hurt go.

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

[Brittany IdealistPages · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was OK. I honestly feel like I’m missing a part of the story but it is really cute and honestly it did have a decent amount of spice in this book so yes it did keep me reading, but was it a page turner for me, no, but would I see myself reading it again probably not however, would I see myself recommending this yes because I do love the fact that it was honestly really different than a lot of romance books that I have read and how different it was, was one of the plot and two the characters and there jobs professions and life’s and how they got together and fighting there selves so we definitely a good treat to read since the emotions gave me a realistic feeling.

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

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due to her parent's business going south, Sophie has been arranged to marry Henry. She has no feelings for him, she does not like him. And when he showed up unannounced at her dress-fitting she panicked and ran. She ran far and ended up in a small town running straight into Ethan and her life takes a turn she never thought was possible or she ever thought she wanted.

This is a fast-paced love story, but it’s not missing depth. The backstories of the characters give a good explanation of why they are both afraid of what is developing. Both are really likable characters as are many others around the small town.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie was escaping from a marriage she didn't want, and ended up in his town, it brightened Ethan's life. Will they end up being the best thing for each other or is it another mistake? Ethan has plenty of love for the town (Cedarbrook) he lives in, can he make room for Sophie in his life. I enjoyed the dramas of this couple, the great supportive town with their quirks and the twists and turns of their romance. They sometimes were a little frustrating with their doubts, but I still liked their tale.

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

[Danee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story. We are glued to the pages from the start. They are the characters Ethan and Sophie. She has to take a different direction in life because what she had or wanted to achieve did not work out. Because she has a high hotel bill, she looks for another way and that's where Ethan comes into the picture. Their story is amazing what started as a fake relationship grows into something more. A real page turner to read.

I received an Advance Reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prescribed Passion, Faux Love by Jenni Gray is a good, and enjoyable grumpy billionaire doctor small town fake fiance age gap forced proximity runaway bride enemies to lovers romance read. The story has a great entertaining world building story line. The characters are great, and they have great chemistry. This story is a very entertaining page turning romance read with a happily ever after ending. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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

[PW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie is sweet young woman who has VERY controlling parents. They have arranged a marriage with a sleazy wealthy man Sophie is repulsed by. Sophie does the unexpected…. She bolted!! She literally ran into Ethan. He is pivotal in Sophie’s journey. This small town turns out to be what she didn’t even know she needed. In this book I enjoyed how Sophie grew to the woman that was dormant inside. This book was so captivating and interesting I just kept reading until the last page.

This Booksprout ARC is a must read feel good book.

[Shazzie Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and loved the
characters Ethan and Sophie were amazing. Sophie moves to the town to escape from her life, but little does she know the town and its people will change her. Dr Ethan has many businesses and is popular in the town, but he has a secret passed and has been closed to love and happiness for many years. Will sophie warm his heart, and can Ethan help Sophie. It's such

a wonderful book i highly recommend.

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

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blew my socks right off my feet. :) Sophie and Ethan are to die for in this small-town billionaire doctor romance book. Everything from the spiciness to the romance and not seeing eye to eye will have you hooked. I absolutely give this romance book a 5/5 stars. It deserves that and a whole lot more.

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

[Trina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Loved it. It was a page turner and the suspense was OMG! I was in the edge of my seat and ai couldn’t put it down . Sophie and Ethan physical attraction was on fire but the chemistry was like flames. Medication was the cure of love and romance as he could overcome his past. The passion was spiciness and fun. I highly recommend this book and won’t be disappointed. I received free copy of book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my honest review. Trina Jones

[L KQ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imploding Lifestyle

Sophie and Ethan meet under unusual circumstances that involve a wedding dress, spoiled behavior and parental control. As the life she has known implodes, she must find a new way to cope, starting with paying off her hotel debt. What ensues is a fake relationship and emotional conflict. I enjoyed reading this story until the end.

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

[Chris06 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie is a city socialite that takes off running. She lands in small town America with an upturned nose …

Ethan is a small town Dr with secrets and a past love.

Sunshine vs Grump
Virgin FMC
Secrets and people cause some issues

I’m enjoyed how Sophie grew … and how she helped Ethan grow as well.

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

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good romance with defined MCs. The FMC is spoiled and bratty and needs to resolve issues by growing up, healing, and personal reflection. The MMC helps her out of a difficult situation, and offers her a job. The book has an overbearing family, an arranged marriage, drama, and a possible HEA. I liked this entertaining and enjoyable book.

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

[Mindy Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an opposites attract romance between Sophie and Ethan. These two likeable souls and the unique plot make for an entertaining read. What starts out as a fake romance turns into something more. It is a love story with drama and steam, sexual tension and chemistry, and twists and turns, plus appealing secondary characters to keep the reader interested. An engaging page turner.

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

[Tahnia Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie is getting her wedding dress fitted when the sleaze she is supposed to marry won't stop touching her or trying to kiss her, so she runs. She catches the next train leaving and gets out in the town of Cedarbrook at the end. The first person Sophie runs into (literally) is Dr. Ethan Mitchell, a renowned cardiologist, and the coaster ride begins. This story is full of drama, romance, and steam, ending in a HEA. Very highly recommended.

[Tc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Sophie and Ethan’s story. When they first met there was fireworks, but there is a fine line between love and hate and the more these two are together, the more their feeling for each other develop! There are secrets that need to be revealed and there are twist and turns that will keep you guessing. Will they each discover what they both want? Their HEA?.

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

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ethan and Sophie enter into a fake romance that turns sideways when real feelings get caught in the mix but will secretes prevent Ethan from getting the woman of his dreams in the end. This story kept me glued to the pages.

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

[Linda Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Older man, younger woman story’s is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, lots of emotions, suspense, misunderstanding that lead them to find one another going through the hardships of their own lives. It is a page turner for sure.

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

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read written by Jenni Gray; I can’t wait to read more of her books.

She has written a good stand-alone book. The story is about Sophie & Ethan; they fake a romance to escape her parents.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Paige Pangrazio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. I couldn't put it down. I was entranced by it from start to finish. The relationship between Ethan and Sophie is amazing. Their love for each other is so beautiful. I highly recommend this book.

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

[LA FITCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. Sophie is a runaway bride who has never worked a day in her spoilt life, Ethan is a wealthy cardiologist who has many awards. It takes a small town and a lot of self realization before they get their HEA. Highly recommended reading.

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

[Pernilla Samuelsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie and Ethan meet under unusual circumstances that involve a wedding dress, spoiled behavior and parental control. As the life she has known implodes, she must find a new way to cope.
.
When the bride runs away to avoid an arranged marriage little did she know the small town. Is where she finds happiness