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Love in Fine Print

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What happens when a retired NFL quarterback who doesn't believe in love inherits a matchmaking business and has a meet-cute that ends in the emergency room with a high-powered divorce attorney who is a secret romantic?

A fake marriage, of course.

The Matchmaker

When retired NFL quarterback Ben Whitaker inherits his grandmother's business, Ever After Matchmaking, he assumes his life will be smooth sailing, setting up eager singles. He’s wrong. No matter how hard he tries to follow in his gran’s footsteps, he is failing miserably.

Ever After isn’t the only thing left in Ben’s care. A ninety-year-old well-meaning/nosy neighbor and a rambunctious two-year-old golden retriever are also in the will, and both are giving him premature gray hair. After the aforementioned golden retriever tackles a gorgeous blonde, resulting in a broken wrist and sprained ankle, Ben is sure his chances with the amber-eyed stunner are toast.

That is, until he finds out she needs his services.

The Maneater

Divorce attorney Olivia Bradshaw has been passed up for partner at her law firm, Walters, Chen, Katz, Cline & Associates, twice. When news spreads that another opening will be announced in the spring, Olivia knows she is the best man for the job; correction, the best woman for the job.

There is just one teeny-tiny problem: to join the ranks of her contemporaries, she needs the one thing money and hard work can’t buy: a husband.

Author’s note: Love in Fine Print is an opposites-attract, fake relationship, one bed, forced proximity, “that’s my wife” energy, steamy, standalone, contemporary romance.

398 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 18, 2024

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About the author

Shawna Renae

10 books82 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
Profile Image for Heather.
1,642 reviews25 followers
January 28, 2024
I'm a big Shawna Renae fan and Love in Fine Print is my favorite title that she has penned! This fake marriage story hit all the right notes for me and engaged me from the very beginning.

Ben Whitaker has recently retired from the NFL and also inherited his grandmothers matchmaking business when she passed away. He knows nothing about matchmaking, but per her wishes, he's going to keep the business open for a certain period of time and give it his best shot.

Olivia Bradshaw is a lawyer at a family law firm and she specializes in divorce. She has been passed over for partner and that is all she is focused on attaining. What she has come to realize is that she really needs a husband if she's going to be chosen. She doesn't want that to be true, but she fears it is. She's headed to the park that is near the law office and the last thing she is expecting is to end up flat on her back with an injured ankle and wrist courtesy of Ben's dog Dolly, that he inherited from his grandmother as well.

What begins as Ben helping Olivia find a suitable husband through the matchmaking business, quickly turns into Ben and Olivia entering into a fake marriage for a year to help both of them out. To help Olivia make partner and to keep Ben from getting hit on by the women who are coming to Ever After for help finding a mate. Will feelings really stay out of the relationship? Or will the marriage actually become a marriage?

There was so much to love about this story! The way it unfolded between Olivia and Ben was absolutely perfect. It wasn't too fast and it wasn't too slow. I also really enjoyed all of the secondary characters including Ms. B, the sisters and Olivia's assistant. The chemistry between Olivia and Ben leapt off the page and the romantic things that Ben did for Olivia were really fantastic as well. I would absolutely recommend picking this one up!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**
Profile Image for Courtney.
273 reviews
February 1, 2024
This was such a cute book. It is well written, easy to read.
It was an interesting storyline. A divorce attorney and a match maker. Not a combo that should work - but absolutely does in the end.
The characters were great - both the main and the supporting characters. They have their own personal hang ups, but in their relationship together, they grow and move past those hang ups.

I like the set up for the next in the series - and the incorporation of a previous series.
75 reviews
January 21, 2024
Olivia is a family law attorney who specializes in Divorce. She has been on the fast track to Partnership however her lack of spouse seems to be holding her back. All the Partners in the firm are married and the Partners don't seem to take any single people into serious consideration.
Ben is a retired NFL Football Player who took over his Grandmother's Matchmaking business when she died. She insisted that he spend 18 months giving it his all before throwing in the towel. He realizes quickly that he doesn't seem to have the knack for Matchmaking nor does his being single help in his plight. Either the men are worried he is competition for the females or the females think he is on the available bachelor list for them to be matched with.
What starts out as Ben helping Olivia find her match in time for the partnership announcement turns into a fake marriage that is anything but fake.
Olivia is a private person who when allowing glimpses into her personal feelings and ideals makes Ben fall hard. Ben vows very quickly that even though the contract is for a fake marriage, he is going to spend the next year making Olivia fall for him just as hard as he fell for her.
Both of these characters are showing their softer sides as well as their protective sides. I love the vulnerability and how they both realize that they must give a little in order to make the relationship work for them. While they began with limitations, soon the limitations become reasons to maintain the charade and both are unable to help the spell they cast on each other. I loved the vulnerability that was shown as most characters don't show a lot. I also loved that at certain parts of the book I found myself laughing at loud causing my family to look at me funny.
Profile Image for Samantha (Millennial Life Crisis Bookshelf).
1,445 reviews25 followers
February 12, 2024
What a cute read! Olivia is a lawyer who specializes in divorce law and is well-known in the industry for successful divorces, but she is continually passed up for partner because she doesn’t have a husband. Her assistant signs her up for a matchmaking service, and unbeknownst to her, she meets the person running it on accident at the park. Ben is a retired NFL player who recently took over his grandmother’s matchmaking business after her death and isn’t sure what he is doing. He is struggling to make matches and isn’t sure that he can do this job for the rest of his life but owes it to his grandmother to keep it successful. While he is attracted to Olivia, he wants to make sure he does a successful job at matching her to help promote the business, but after multiple bad dates, Olivia propositions Ben to be her husband to help resolve both of their issues. I loved how these two morphed into a true relationship and marriage, and we even see Olivia realize that partner isn’t actually what she wants in life, and in the end these two get the HEA they deserve, and we get to see Ben back in the NFL where they are both following their dreams! I can’t wait to see if anything else comes from these characters!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Profile Image for Eileen.
2,739 reviews
January 31, 2024
Olivia and Ben’s fake marriage love story in Love in Fine Print by Shawna Renae is an amazing, emotional, heart wrenching yet touching book that will grab your heart and not let go. Olivia and Ben had difficult childhoods, causing them to struggle with commitment. Finding that a marriage of convenience was the perfect solution to their problems made for an interesting story. These two had electrifying chemistry which could not be ignored; making it difficult for them to not fall in bed with each other. So much for that contract they signed, laying out the rules and expectations for this marriage. Both of them exposed their softer sides as well as their protective sides. I love the vulnerability and how they both realize that they must give a little in order to make the relationship work for them. Spending time together allowed them to get closer, but until all their secrets were revealed they would not be able to find the forever love dangling between them and teasing them. This story was wonderful; making you laugh, cry, swoon and unable to put it down.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Profile Image for Becky Claxon.
2,293 reviews19 followers
January 30, 2024
Olivia did not have the Ward and June Cleaver upbringing and resented her mother. She was devastated when her father passed away. I felt bad that Olivia’s circle of trust was not very wide. Olivia’s assistant Trevor was the main person she trusted. I must say he was a hoot and brought so much laughter to the story. I hated that Olivia worked for a law firm that handled high end divorces, and the good old boys made fun of her. She knew she should have been promoted to partner a long time ago, and Trevor felt like she wasn’t promoted because she wasn’t married. You will love how she meets Ben, an ex football player and now running his grandmother’s matchmaking company that she had left him. Olivia had never met someone she had such an instant attraction to before, and I think Ben felt the same way! It was so much fun watching the two get to know each other better, even with the “contract” they signed. I loved Ben and he was such a great guy. For me, Ben was a dream come true for a husband. There was some sadness, secrets revealed, hearts healed, and laughter. I strongly encourage you to read the book.
Profile Image for Kari.
655 reviews2 followers
January 28, 2024
Love in Fine Print by Shawna Renae is an amazingly cute and sexy story about The Matchmaker and The Maneater.

I really enjoyed this story about fate, love, and searching for what you want. Doing the unconventional to get to what you think your ultimate goal is, only to find out that may not be what you truly want anymore.

I absolutely loved Olivia. Independent, strong-willed, and misunderstood. Titled The Maneater, Ben quickly finds out that name couldn't be further from the truth.

I loved Ben as well. Retired from the NFL, trying to find out what comes next for him and also honoring his grandmother's wishes.

The chemistry and headstrongness of the two main characteristics, but at the same time their internal understandings that their world is changing.

I cannot wait for the next novel in the series!!
204 reviews4 followers
January 31, 2024
Loved this story! Two very independent and goal oriented characters, who have no interest in forming an emotional connection, have one of the best meet cute encounters. Olivia has a pro and con list that she uses when going on a date. Most dates don’t make it past the first 30 minutes. Ben has been focused on his career since age 5 and doesn’t think he has what it takes to fall in love and get married. Fate sure has a sense of humor and shows these two that they don’t have all the answers. The little twists in the story line that adjust their childhood perceptions of their parents is insightful and reminds us that how we see things as children are different that how we see them as adults. Knowing the truth, or full story, has a powerful effect on their adult perceptions and relationships.
Profile Image for Tina Buchberger Oase.
169 reviews7 followers
January 29, 2024
Just as Olivia and Ben have decided that real love wont come to them, they need to have a marriage out of convenience. Who better to get together than a "Maneater" of a divorce attorney and an ex-football player turned matchmaker. Olivia needs to have the relationship to help her make partner and Ben needs it to help his matchmaking business.
They agreed on a year and signed a contract with all the I's dotted and the T's crossed. In that year, they agreed that in public there would be public displays of affection.
At the end of the year, would they be able to say goodbye and leave the other? Or would a year become a lifetime?
1,665 reviews11 followers
January 21, 2024
Olivia and Ben’s story was spectacular. From the very first page I was drawn into their story because let’s be honest who doesn’t love a fake marriage story. Their story is fabulous. It will make you laugh; it will make you cry, and it will keep you awake until the wee hours of the morning. The chemistry between these two was HOT! When you add in all the secondary characters it just gives the book that much more. Five star read. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
690 reviews6 followers
January 27, 2024
This was such a great book! I love a fake marriage trope and this one was well down. Olivia and Ben are completely and utterly meant for each other and watching them fall is great.

Ben falls first and cows to make Olivia fall for him just as hard even though all she was expecting was a fake arrangement. I love when the H is completely devoted and pursues the h relentlessly.

I was hopeless to put this book down once I started because I was so captivated.

I can't wait to see what comes next from Shawna Renae.
Profile Image for Brandi Sartin lawrence.
703 reviews6 followers
January 26, 2024
A fake marriage? Olivia is a divorce attorney and on track to be partner, maybe. She is hoping that this is her year. But comes up with a plan to get a husband to help her accomplish her dream job. Ben is a retired NFL player who inherited his grandmothers matchmaker business. He met Olivia one day when Dolly attacked her. He is attracted to Olivia but Olivia is trying to push him away. But what happens when Olivia comes to him with a plan to hopefully help both of their jobs!
Profile Image for Mayas.
2,642 reviews50 followers
January 29, 2024
Romantic

I would have to say that I couldn't put this book down. I enjoyed Ben and Olivia "meet cute" and "arrangement" from the beginning to the end. Their honesty and tension were a breath of fresh air. They held each other down and also picked each other back up. Provided space when that was the last thing either wanted to do or could stand to do.

A must-read for all romance lovers
Profile Image for Michelle.
152 reviews3 followers
February 1, 2024
Can a divorce attorney and a former football player turned matchmaker find true love? Olivia realizes she needs a husband to make partner and Ben needs a wife to be taken seriously running his grandmothers matchmaking business. A meet cute leads these two to a fake marriage - neither of them expected to find something they disnt believe in! I loved Ben & Olivia and all the other characters in this story. Of course we end up with a HEA but lots of little twists and turns and fun along the way
Profile Image for Susanne Scott.
1,547 reviews19 followers
January 28, 2024
Oh wow! We all need a Ben Whitaker! I enjoyed this, it was an easy read with lots of heart. Two strong individuals who think they don’t need anyone, but until they meet they don’t know what they’re missing.

Some interesting twists in the story line that kept me on the hook. Ben and Olivia are perfect for each other in every way.
761 reviews
February 3, 2024
Lovely standalone story

Hero, Ben, is a retired football player who inherited his grandmother's matchmaking business. Heroine, Olivia, is a divorce attorney called the Maneater. Both need a spouse for various reasons. After an injury involved meet cute, they decide to get married to help each other reach their goals.
Laughs abound in this fake marriage romance. Wonderful secondary characters bring the story to life. This story is also the springboard to a new 3 book series.
59 reviews
January 20, 2024
Loved Ben and Olivia’s story. I devoured this book in 24 hours! The back stories of Ben and Olivia are so well told and there were twists I never saw coming. I love Shawna’s style of writing and I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
250 reviews1 follower
January 20, 2024
so cute

This book has everything you didn’t know you wanted.
Meet cute- check
Marriage of confidence Check
Two people who are not looking for love Check
Swoony hero who falls first Check and check

Another great read
1,726 reviews7 followers
January 22, 2024
What a wonderful love story told beautifully. Well written with fantastic characters. Ben and Olivia sure had some back stories which became more interesting throughout the book. Their HEA was a fairy tale come true. ❤️
Profile Image for Cali Jewel.
5,252 reviews41 followers
January 27, 2024
Highly entertaining, emotionally thrilling, sweetly sexy and action-packed romantic adventure filled with desire, passion and laugh out loud fun. An edge of your seat exciting journey from beginning to end and so hard to put down.
Profile Image for Kristy.
1,613 reviews17 followers
January 20, 2024
Ben and Olivia had serious chemistry from the beginning. And it took only six months to morph from a contract into forever. Such a wonderful story from beginning to end. First person dual POV.
Profile Image for Andrew.
79 reviews3 followers
January 22, 2024
Love it

This was such a sweet book. I loved the characters, and the story was great. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Marlene.
898 reviews11 followers
January 28, 2024
A great start to a new series. Ben and Olivia have a definite meet cute and the story moved along a good pace. Enjoyed the development of their relationship
Profile Image for Cara.
1,814 reviews
April 17, 2026
This is my first book by this author. Maybe it’s just her style, but I felt like the book could’ve been edited more and was very slow paced at times. I also didn’t like the choppy transitions between chapters. I would just get interested in a scene, and then the chapter would end.

Ben was such a perfect hero, but I just couldn’t get into Olivia and her selfish, standoffish ways. I’m not fond of heroes who just keep coming back and idolize cold women who don’t deserve them. Ben deserve much better than her. He gave her gifts and so many gestures, and all she ever did was be kind to his dog.

This author’s other books sound interesting, but I’m not sure about the writing style and slow pace. I may read more, but I may not.
Profile Image for Jennifer Yohe.
93 reviews3 followers
February 24, 2024
This was such a cute story!! It's no surprise because this author is so great at creating stories and characters that are really easy to become invested in. The way Ben and Olivia's romance evolved felt like such a natural story and it brought out all the emotions. Not only are the main characters easy to love, but the secondary ones are wonderful too!!
Profile Image for Lisa Nedzlek.
651 reviews4 followers
March 10, 2024
This maybe like 3.75 stars. It was a little slow at the beginning. And I got nervous at times that Olivia was never going to be able to put her walls down. But as the story went along it got better and the end was great. I had seen ads for this book on fb over and over and I’m so glad I finally read it. I did enjoy it.
Profile Image for Jessica Robitaille.
13 reviews
February 4, 2024
Good story, needs editing

I enjoyed the story line and decent character development, but this book needs better editing. Lots of run-on sentences or sentence fragments. This became a distraction to the story as I had to re-read often to understand the paragraph.
5 reviews
February 26, 2024
Adorable characters, loved Ben! Funny quips, easy fun read. Following this author to read more.
Profile Image for Robin.
1,088 reviews
March 23, 2024
Great story with an awesome meet cute. Loved this story of Olivia and Ben. Great cast of characters.
1,713 reviews45 followers
January 28, 2024
Officially Love in Fine Print isn’t part of a new series but it introduces the Bliss sisters who will get their own books and there are so many references to characters that appeared in the author’s Single Dad CEO series it might as well be.
Ben Whitaker is a recently retired star NFL quarterback whom due to his beloved late Gram’s request has taken over her matchmaking business. Something he’s totally lacking in any aptitude for. But out of respect for the only adult in his life that gave him any real love and attention he intends to honor her last request that he try and run the business for 18 months before giving up on it. His elderly neighbor who was his Grans BFF whom she also bequeathed to him in her will tells him he needs to find a wife so that the women who come to his dating service aren’t hitting on him and his male clients don’t see him as competition. The problem is after watching his father go to pieces after his mother walked out on them when he was only 5 years old, Ben decided years ago that he was never going to get married and give a woman that sort of power to destroy him.
Olivia Bradshaw “The Maneater” as she’s known by her legal colleagues and opponents is San Franciso’s most in demand divorce attorney. Olivia is the most successful attorney in her law firm with the most billable hours and the most requested attorney by new clients. But her boss is a dipshit, mysoginisitic product of the old boys club nepotism keeps passing her up for a promotion to partner she believes because she’s both female and single. Trevor her executive assistant, and self-appointed life coach tells her she needs a husband so that when the next senior partner retires in a few months she’s in the running for a partnership. Why given her stellar professional reputation she hasn’t decided to just leave the firm and open her own is beyond me. But that’s how this story goes. Olivia is a control freak whom while she is a closet romantic has never been willing to fully let her walls down enough to truly fall in love.
Honestly it took so long for these two to get to the point in the book where they agreed to a temporary marriage without intimacy to satisfy both their professional needs I was beginning to wonder if it would ever happen. Olivia draws up a marriage document for a one year marriage that defines what their marriage will consist of. Hence the title Love in Fine Print. She is an attorney after all. Then of course because they are both wonderful, incredibly attractive people with off the charts sexual chemistry, despite this supposed to be a sexless marriage of convenience they start to get more than lustful feelings for each other. Living together seeing the sexy, kind, and considerate man every day, breaks down Olivia’s walls enough for her hormones to force her to amend their marriage contract to allow sexual intimacy. While I’m not really certain how Olivia’s mother’s behavior plays a role in her fear of giving a man the ability to own her heart since it was her mother who used men not vice versa, she fights to keep her feelings at bay a lot harder than Ben does. But once they begin sleeping together Olivia finds it harder and harder to keep her heart out of the relationship. Still even though they're now living and sleeping together and falling in love, this being a contemporary romance neither is ready to share their true feelings with the other. Not to worry because this is a contemporary romance they eventually do get out of their own way and there's a very sweet H.E.A. But it takes some time to get there.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews