Love Me

Elites of Cheshire Shore #2

by Caroline Masci

Prepare to be seduced by the luxurious secrets and scandalous affairs of the elite inhabitants of Cheshire Shore. In this steamy second installment of the "Elites of Cheshire Shore" series, follow the lives of the rich and powerful as they navigate a world where ambition knows no limits and rules are made to be broken. If you crave the drama and passion akin to Meghan Quinn and Lauren Asher, then this tale of opulence, lust, and ambition will leave you craving more. Welcome to a world where status is everything and the Elite always get what they want.

Genres: Fake Dating, Romance

422 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 29, 2024

Reviews

[ellie]

work book

[☆Laura☆]

2⭐️



Fue un libro extraño; todo el tiempo sentí que me estaba perdiendo de algo, como si me hubieran dado fragmentos del libro y tuviera que adivinar lo que la autora intentaba transmitir.

[Little Book Blog · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to LoveNotes PR for the ARC. I really liked the premise of this book, and I love a friends to lovers trope. I think Flo and Rome had really good chemistry, and I was definitely rooting for them. The pacing of this book (especially toward the end) was confusing. I can usually look past grammar and spelling errors, but it was more difficult with this book as the plot and pacing didn’t really do it for me. This one just didn’t hit for me, and that’s okay - I think it probably will for a lot of other people! 🩵

[em · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off a thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for giving me the opportunity to be on the ARC team🩷

Gosh I absolutely loved this book. Caroline Masci did the “he falls first” trope RIGHT!!!! Rome was head over heels for Flo the entire book and I ate it up. Not to mention Flo was such a girlboss.

One thing I particularly loved was how the conflict wasn’t rushed to the resolution. Caroline Masci took the time to actually resolve the issues instead of just brushing over it in the epilogue.

Anyways Nanai has my heart and I’m in a book hangover now xo

[Abby May · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review 3.5 ⭐️
Was this the best written romance I’ve ever read? No. But it was really fun, I enjoyed the characters, especially Nanai who may be one of my favourite side characters of all time, and I probably would read the others in the series if I was in the mood for an easy romance. It took me a little while to get on board with Rome and Flo as a couple and I wasn’t necessarily rooting for them to get together at the start, but once we got there, I loved them together.

I did feel like we could have gotten a bit more “world building” like WHY Flo has sworn off love, and a bit more of a look into to her past with the Venuccio’s (it felt like we were thrown straight in to their group dynamic, with a brief explanation about Luca being there for her when her dad died). I also thought the business sub-plot could have been a bit better, I was interested in that plot line throughout but once the big reveal happens it fell a bit flat for me. Upon reflection I think the reasoning just felt a bit juvenile and I wanted more from it.

I hadn’t read the first book in the series before reading this and while I don’t think it hindered my understanding of the story, I think I would have enjoyed having the background on Livvy.

[Ali Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Me
Caroline Masci

4.5 stars — so good!
3/5 spice

* CEO/Doctor
* Fake Dating
* Friends to roommates to lovers
* Best friends brother
* He falls first

Love me follows Rome and Flo (Florence) in a cute billionaires/romantic comedy full of banter and spice and best friends brother goodness *chefs kiss* fans of Kat Singleton and Sarah Adams will EAT THIS UP!

Flo is best friends with Rome’s brother, Luca, who is fully supportive of their budding relationship. What starts as friendship, moves to roommates and eventually lovers. Watching Rome prove himself to Flo and their relationship blossoming so naturally was such a cute read. Oh my gosh and there’s a meddling grandma WE LOVE HER!!! Meddling grandmas are probably one of my absolute favorite things and you will throughly enjoy this one :)

I absolutely cannot wait for the next series by Caroline Masci! Thank you to Love Notes for introducing me to this book and author <3

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for giving me the opportunity to be on the ARC team. When I first started reading the book, I was like this is gonna be. He falls for her first trope and I was right. I eat this book up from beginning to end. I’m in love with Rome and don’t get me started on Florence or Flo, to see her being like a girl boss and her being so kind and loyal, and also the chemistry between her and Rome was to die for. I really enjoyed the plot to be fair I was hooked from the start. I give this book 4 out of five and you guys should really put this into your wish list of books to read.

[Kylie Rhoden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I got chosen to be an ARC reader for this book and I was so so happy. I read the first one and loved it and the second one was just as good. Florence is such a queen and I loved her so much. I also loved Rome and his protective personality. I love that he always put his family first regardless of what was happening. Also, Nanai was such a queen and everyone needs a grandmother like her.

[kaylaschapterchats · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have this strange feeling that each book in this series is just going to get better and better because I absolutely loved Flo and Rome...

Florence or Flo, I love her so much. She has such an amazing heart. Flo is loyal, kind, caring and to top it off, she is an incredible doctor.

Rome, he is the best. He is such a big teddy bear for Flo. He is driven, stubborn, loving in his own way and I think has always been in love with Flo but has been too scared to act on it.

The plot was amazing. From the start, I was hooked. Poor Flo doesn't really believe love is in the cards for her because of what happened to her mother and has always kept things casual. But when a business meeting with her best friend Luca's company gets out of hand Flo jumps in to save it by pretending to fake date her bestie's brother. Things become complicated quickly when it's obvious Rome is obsessed with everything Flo. I loved that Rome didn't rush Flo in any way, he understands her so well that he knew he couldn't do that to her. It's so cute that slowly (kind of) Flo let's her walls down with Rome and she could be herself. I liked that their relationship bloomed from friends to more, I personally love this trope because you always have an amazing foundation to start with. There is a bit of drama both with Flo and Rome but it is all resolved by the end of their story.

Shout out to Flo's girl besties, Luca (her ride or die bestie) and Nania! They are everything!!! ♥️♥️♥️

Highly recommend this series!!! You will not be disappointed.

Thank you so much to Caroline and the wonderful team at Love Notes PR for giving me a chance to read this story. I am forever grateful 🙏

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶

🍭 dual pov
🍭 fake dating
🍭 best friends brother
🍭 "it's always been you"
🍭 he falls first and hard
🍭 strong fmc
🍭 so spicy...

[Clare-Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Read
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶🌶/5
📚Fake Relationship
📚Friends to Lovers
📚He falls first
📚Best friends, Brother
📚Childhood friends
📚Booknerd Dr X CEO
📚Pierced MMC
📚Interconnecting standalone

✒️"Prepare to be seduced by the luxurious secrets and scandalous affairs of the elite inhabitants of Cheshire Shore. In this steamy second installment of the "Elites of Cheshire Shore" series, follow the lives of the rich and powerful as they navigate a world where ambition knows no limits and rules are made to be broken. If you crave the drama and passion akin to Meghan Quinn and Lauren Asher, then this tale of opulence, lust, and ambition will leave you craving more. Welcome to a world where status is everything, and the elite always get what they want."

✨️I really enjoyed this book. It was a sweet read. I love the he falls first trope.
Flo is a doctor in residency dealing with an ass of a boss who doesn't believe in or have time for love. Rome is the CEO of his family business, who has loved Flo from afar for years. To help save his company, Flo decides they should fake date to show the world that Rome can be a family man, which then turns into fake dating with spicy benefits.

BUT... Rome wants more and has to figure out how he can show Flo that she can have love in her life.

Both characters are sweet, hard-working, and family orientated. Flos grandma is probably my favourite character in the whole book. I love the friends and family relationships going on around the main characters and that Lucas (the best friend/brother) is actually rooting for them rather than fighting it like you normally find.

Thank you, Love Notes and Caroline, for choosing me to read this ARC

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰

This is Book 2 of the Elites of Cheshire Shore Series!

Caroline Masci brings a tantalizing mix of luxury, forbidden romance, and undeniable chemistry in Love Me. This fake-dating romance takes the classic trope and raises the stakes with high-society drama, ambition, and a best-friend’s-brother twist that will leave readers swooning.

Rome Venuccio is a man on a mission. To protect the empire he’s built, he needs a partner who can help him project the perfect image of a stable, family-oriented man. Enter Florence Liu-Savino—brilliant, guarded, and utterly off-limits. Florence is more than just his brother’s best friend; she’s also the one woman who makes Rome rethink everything he thought he knew about love.

Florence is a fiercely independent character, whose vow to stay away from love stems from past heartbreak. Watching her grapple with her feelings for Rome—her sworn no-go zone—creates a delicious tension. Rome, on the other hand, is every bit the confident, ambitious hero, but seeing his softer side emerge as he falls for Florence is pure magic. Their chemistry is sizzling, and their banter is sharp, making every interaction between them addictive.

Masci expertly weaves themes of family loyalty, ambition, and emotional vulnerability into this fast-paced story. The glamorous Cheshire Shore backdrop only adds to the allure, setting the stage for an intimate romance that feels both larger-than-life and deeply personal.

With its blend of high-stakes drama, forbidden romance, and heartfelt moments, Love Me is a must-read for fans of Meghan Quinn and Lauren Asher. Florence and Rome’s story will steal your heart—and leave you eager for the next installment in this tantalizing series.

[Rosie | xo.rosiereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be sure to check the trigger warnings, as this book includes mentions of parental loss.

What to Expect:
🍭 CEO x Doctor
🍭 Fake Dating
🍭 Pierced MMC
🍭 Best Friends’ Older Brother
🍭 Friends to Roommates to Lovers
🍭 He Falls First
🍭 Meddling Grandmother

Love Me by Caroline Masci, the second book in The Elites of Cheshire series, was my first read from the author—and wow, I’m hooked! This book was so good I’m ready to dive into book one ASAP. Masci absolutely nailed the “he falls first” trope, and I’m here for it!

Let’s talk about Florenc! She’s a total girlboss—loyal, compassionate, and an incredible doctor with a heart of gold. But poor Flo doesn’t believe love is in the cards for her, thanks to her mom’s experience. She’s kept romance casual, convinced it’s safer that way.

Then there’s Rome. Oh, Rome. The man is a human teddy bear, completely smitten with Flo from page one. He’s driven, stubborn (in the best way), and quietly devoted. You can’t help but love how deeply he cares for her, all while giving her the space she needs to find her footing. Their romance, from friends to lovers, was everything—I ate it up.

The plot? Utterly addictive. From start to finish, I was captivated. The friends-to-lovers journey is a personal favorite of mine because it lays such a strong foundation. I also loved how the drama unfolded. The conflict wasn’t rushed or brushed aside with a quick epilogue fix; the resolution felt earned and satisfying.

Thank you to the author, Caroline Masci, and the Love Notes PR team for the ARC opportunity.

[Dani Salinas · Rating 4 out of 5]

These characters are way too much fun and have such a unique connection with one another. I loved the connection between Flo and Rome. It was clear they held a special place in their hearts for each other, but both were too afraid to make a move over the years. So, having them finally be in a position to fake date was perfect for them both to test out their feelings.

Rome and his brothers clearly have a strong bond. I laughed often at their antics and banter. Luca was absolutely the baby of the family, and he made me the laugh with his dramatics. The characters within this story are clearly close and used to the antics of one another.

The love story between Flo and Rome was beautifully done. I will admit both characters were stubborn and afraid of the wrong reasons to avoid love. So having them finally confront their avoidance and make a connection was fantastic. I loved how the chemistry built between them and finally have it combusted. The craziness that Rome was willing to go through for his business investment was intense. But having the freedom to finally go after Flo was what Rome really needed. And they both needed the reassurance that it would not affect the relationships with the rest of the family, aka Rome's brothers.

Overall, the story was fantastic and just a lot of fun. The banter throughout was some of my favorite that I have read this year. There are a lot of characters in this book which I hope means more books in the future. It was fun and easy to read.

[The Sewist's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐
3🌶️
Tropes: fake dating, it’s always been you, alpharoll MMC, protective MMC, friends to lovers
Dual POV 1st person

So to start off, this is the second book in an interconnected series that focuses on the elite “five families” of Cheshire shore. It can technically be read as a standalone, but I really think it’s better to start at the beginning of the series (I didn’t). I felt like there was a lot of context missing from Rome and FLo’s attraction to each other that was probably explained in the previous book. It was like there was nothing about them being interested to suddenly they’re interested in each other. That’s not a big deal, just something that stuck out to me so I wanted to suggest not reading this by itself.
For the most part I enjoyed the story. Rome is this deliciously protective alpharoll who is tired of sitting on the sidelines waiting around for Flo to be interested. And Flo is mostly strong and confident without being over the top who refuses to get into a relationship because of the impact her father’s death had on her and her mother.
I also enjoyed the love story, but it felt a little whiplash-y to me. Maybe that’s because of Flo not wanting to be in a relationship? I often didn’t understand how the MC’s got to a certain point in the story and the miscommunication was slightly too unbelievable though. I think part of it is that after having read three books in a row now of FMCs who don’t “do” relationships because of the death/abandonment by a parent I’m kinda sick of this trope. I get it but eh. It’s not how I would react so I find it hard to relate to.
Despite sounding like I didn’t enjoy read it, I think this is a solid book definitely would recommend it

[Samantha Dooling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put "Love Me" down, and honestly? My only regret is not having a friend group like the one in this book! Caroline Masci's latest addition to the Elites of Cheshire Shore series had me alternating between grinning like a fool and fanning myself with my kindle.
What really got me was how the romance unfolds - it's like watching your best friends finally realize they're perfect for each other, but with way more sexual tension and glamorous parties thrown in. The friendship dynamics are just chef's kiss - we're talking ride-or-die loyalty that'll make you jealous of fictional characters (I'm still not over it).
Sure, there were moments where I wished for a deeper dive into some backstories, but the sizzling chemistry and laugh-out-loud banter more than made up for it. And can we talk about how refreshing it is to see conflicts actually get resolved properly instead of being magically fixed in the last chapter?
If you're in the mood for a romance that feels like gossiping with your best friends while sipping fancy cocktails, this is your next read. It's got all the luxury and drama of Cheshire Shore's elite society, but with enough heart to make you genuinely care about these characters. Fair warning though - you might develop an unhealthy attachment to certain side characters (looking at you, Nanai!).
Perfect for when you want to escape into a world where the drama is juicy, the romance is steamy, and the friendships are everything. Just maybe don't start it right before bedtime - I learned that lesson the hard way!

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed everything this book had to offer: the comedy, the romance, the TENSION, and most of all, the family and friendships each character had. I love reading a book where the FMC and MMC have such good friends and family relationships, it just makes me love the characters even more. The friendships in this book made me wish I had this in my life 😭 like the relationships they all had with each other, not just the FMC and MMC, but with their best friends/siblings was just so sweet and like ugh, I was jealous LOL. That's just how much I enjoyed reading the book and the family relationship despite them all being friends 🥹🥹🥹

Rome and Flo are friends as Flo is best friends with Rome's younger brother, Luca. And basically it's friends to roommates to lovers and AHHH it's just perfect. Luca is supportive of them and he's even rooting for the two to get together which of course, relieves Rome and Flo as they don't want to ruin anything. But Rome proves himself to Flo that he's the one for her and I love it. He's so considerate and knows everything about her that benefits her in any sort of way. And they just understand each other and know each others quirks, ugh my heart!!

I found myself laughing just as much as I was "awe"-ing throughout the book. As well as the spicy scenes 🤭 those were good. I give the spice rating 4/5 just because I've read spicier books and feel that this one had plenty of spice but it's not like over the top spice, iykyk 👀 👀 .

[Ems · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an amazing story with a strong, smart mouth woman with a lot of sass, trying to prove she is more than just her last name and by accident needs to fight of her attraction to her childhood friend; and a strong Golden retriever alpha who is trying to prove to everyone he can manage and drive the family business forward to great success, while also fighting to get the woman who always have had his heart in her hands, even if she didn't know it.

This is such a good book! The story is easy to follow and the text easy to read, there is a red thread through the entire book and you get a clear picture of the characters and their different personalities. And god do i love Luca and nanai! They are both hilarious and the bond Luca has with Flo is amazing! I love the family ties and heartfelt relationships the story gives, and even the characters i dont like (because they are sneaky evil bastards) is written in such an amazing way, you really feel annoyed by the people 😂.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, because there were some sentences that for me, was written in a strange way that I lost a bit of the message in the text. But otherwise this is an amazing story with lots of fun and reeeally hot interactions ;)

I can recommend this book to anyone into romance with fun and sexy time.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review!

A solid 3 stars.

Love a good ‘he falls first’ and spice filled story!

We meet childhood friends Rome and Florence (Flo). Both had an allergy to relationships and love. Rome is running his family business along with his brothers and Dr. Florence Liu-Savino is doing her residency at the hospital where her parents are legendary. She is determind to prove that she deserve her spot.

I must say that this is book two in the Elites of Cheshire Shore series. As I didn’t read book one, I was a bit confused with all the side characters and some of the overall plot. There was a lot of details explained for the characters of the Founding Five Group and the women (side characters) of the group.

Again, I assume I would’ve understood better by reading the first book (maybe it’s something to add in the description of the book). Also, I found that both main characters just... fell in love. We could tell while reading that there was (good) tension between both characters though.

However, overall, I could follow the storyline of the main characters. I absolutely loved that he fell first. The spice scenes were great!

I also LOVE that Livvy is an F1 driver (is it my favourite sport? Yes.) and Nanai is amazing. Protect that woman at all costs.

[Kris Ty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Me | ARC review ✧˖°.

✰: 4/5
✉ : fake dating, he falls first, pierced mmc, ceo x doctor, best friends older brother, friends to roommates to lovers, meddling grandmother
✎ : @author_carolinemasci

Publication Date: November 29, 2024

Thank you so much to @author_carolinemasci and @lovenotes.pr for sharing this book's ARC with me! I'm really honored to read this book and am genuinely thankful for the opportunity!

Review:

This book was so cute, as were the characters in the story. My favorite scenes were the family dinner gone wrong and the apartment moving in. I kept laughing out loud on the first scene and was touched by the second scene.

I really loved the male main character in the story. I think that he's just so sweet to her. He's been kissing her forehead at the beginning of the story, and I loved it so much because forehead kisses are my weakness.

For the writing style, it was good, to be honest. There's just some times or scenes where it kind of reminded me of Wattpad because of how the words are laid out and by how the characters were acting. But it was good nonetheless; I still enjoyed and devoured the book.

That’s it for today's review! Thank you for your time and attention! 

[Ashtyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

*arc review*
4/⭐️
2/🌶️

This book was so much fun to read, because it was obvious from the very beginning that these characters were all great friends that actually have a very close bond and it’s very obvious in the story.

Rome, goodness this man loved his family hard and Flo, being his little brother’s best friend, really fit into his protective bubble. Sure there were “unrequited” feelings under there but he also didn’t do anything in respect for his brother. But what made this different and I LOVED, was Rome helped Flo, and literally told his brother to suck it cause he’s doing what he wants-because this man wanted his girl. Finally.

Florence, I need this woman to be my best friend. She’s loyal, fierce, smart, funny, and loves a good smutty book. Her friendships were her family and she made sure they knew that. Of course she didn’t want love but we all know what happens when the man you definitely didn’t want at all (😜) all of a sudden becomes your fake boyfriend-to help his company though.

I haven’t read the first in this series but other than the large group of friends kinda getting confusing to keep up with, it was a very easy story to read as a standalone.

[Dauntless_Bookdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has such a full circle moment at the end, and I ended up in tears 😭 Florence (which is a beautiful name by the way) and Rome (again loving the Italian city theme 😍) are so head over heels for each other, the best part…they don’t even know it…okay he does, but she won’t admit it. When Roma finds himself and his family’s business in a spot of trouble, Florence comes to the rescue, as a fake girlfriend. Which of course escalates into something much more as their time together continues. Rome is such an angel in this book on so many levels!! The way he pays attention to Florence is in and of itself such a strong statement of love! He even grows to love her homemade lollipops and ginger shots. Florence on the other hand, opposes love like a cat opposes water. However, Rome is just the person to break her walls…as long as she doesn’t run away first lol. I highly recommend this sweet (and spicy) book, it would be a great present for the holiday season for any romance reader!! ARC Review.

Tropes:
💕 Best Friends Older Brother
💕 Pierced MMC
💕 Fake Dating
💕 He Falls First
💕 Friends to Roommates to Lovers

[Lilian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Florence is best friends with Luca Venuccio since young and she has always been considered as one of the Venuccio family members. Rome is Luca’s older brother and also CEO of Ven Industries. Unknown to Florence, Rome has always been attracted to her.

When an issue at work requires Rome to seem more family-oriented, Florence steps in as his fake girlfriend. Both Florence and Rome are workaholics who are entirely focused on their respective careers. An unfortunate event leads them to spend more time in close proximity and soon the fake becomes more real day by day.

Surprise surprise! Dear Rome turns out to be so attentive to Florence that he knows her favourites – from drinks to food to candles. I loved how protective and caveman he became when she was in danger. Swoon…

We all need some meddling friends or one meddling grandma in our lives. The deliveries which Florence receives are over the top and I loved it! The drama at work was a little over the top but overall this was a good fake dating and spicy read.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rome and Flo are what “best friend’s older brother and fake dating” trope dreams are made of. They were so fun to read. The banter, the adoration prior to the fake dating, along with all the chemistry made it such a fun and flirty read. And when they “practice” being a couple- the fire they light that burns throughout this book is 🌶️🌶️🌶️- and I love it. Also, what is it about this particular kind of piercing and tattoos with MMCs? I mean, 🥵🔥🌶️… i love that there were multiple branches to the storyline. Both Flo and Rome fighting their own battles and then fighting them together after finally diving in made it go by so fast while reading. The only downside is I wanted more of it. I wasn’t ready for it to end. Now, I know we will get more of them in the other stories but the book hangover is real after this one. (Also, That Epilogue has me so eager for the new series!)

Also, I cannot do a review without giving Nanai some love. Meddlesome, matchmaking grandmas for the win y’all! I love her so much. She needs her own POV book to accompany this one! Lol

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good ‘he falls first’ trope and this book does the trope justice. What starts as fake dating for Rome and Flo soon turns to something real but the realness was always there.

When Flo’s apartment is catches fire, she moves in with Rome. He’s her best friends brother, and he’s secretly always had a thing for her. Add in some forced proximity, fake dating and a meddling grandmother, it all adds up to a good read.

I highly recommend reading the first book in the series to really get a grasp of the characters, and their history. It may be hard to follow for some without some of that context. That said however this is a complete standalone and can still be enjoyed without reading Book 1 in the Elites of Cheshire Shore series, Make Me.

Add this one to your TBR asap. Due for release 29 Nov. Thank you @author_carolinemasci and @lovenotes.pr for the e-ARC of this story. I loved the characters and their love for each other.

[Fluff & Smut · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
3.5/5 🌶️

Read as standalone, don’t feel I missed out on much by not reading the first other than maybe understanding friendship dynamics a bit more.

Was a solid good read. Was missing the “feeling” the story, it felt like it was being told instead of shown. Like the depth behind Florence’s “loves not for me” stance that she wrestled with but you could not see/feel her truly wrestle beyond the superficial sense.

The third act conflict felt a bit out of left field, didn’t seem to flow. Particularly her friend just accepting what Flo said and not lovingly challenging it in the slightest seemed, odd?

The business mystery was cool bit of story!

Lastly there was a few sweet moments of Rome’s loving actions towards Flo. And lots and lots of spice. Towards the end it felt like it was almost every other chapter - I started skipping through it at that point, it was too much.

Overall solid read! Room for improvement in depth and world / character building.

[Amelia Lawniczak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book swept me off my feet with its perfect mix of humor, romance, and heartwarming moments! Rome and Flo’s journey from friends to roommates to lovers was pure perfection. Their chemistry was undeniable, and watching Rome fall so hard and so fast for Flo gave me all the feels. He’s the epitome of a down-bad MMC—thoughtful, attentive, and so in tune with everything Flo needs. And Flo? A strong, independent FMC who’s so easy to root for. Together, they balance each other in the best way.

The friendships and family dynamics added so much depth—I found myself wishing for a group like theirs! Luca’s support and the meddling grandmother were standout highlights that made the story even more delightful.

With tropes like “he falls first,” fake dating, and forced proximity, plus a healthy dose of spice 🔥, this book had me hooked from start to finish. Caroline Masci nailed it, and I can’t wait for the next in the series!

[Lou Li Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a little bit in love with Rome myself! Rome and Florence grew up together, and Rome has always loved Flo from afar. Flo has always friend zoned Rome and his brothers, with her bestie being Rome’s brother. Both families are incredibly close and when a business deal is going pear shaped for the brothers, Flo and Rome find themselves in a fake dating/ living together situation, much to the delight of Rome. He does everything he can to show Flo he’s not faking any of this and is just waiting for Flo to catch up on her feelings. All the swoon for Rome and I loved the sass and banter back from Flo, they were just perfect for each other. A really enjoyable read and looking forward to the next in the series!

I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own

[Casey Emanuelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rome is the CEO of Ven Industries. He runs the company with the help of his two brothers, Dante and Luca. Ven Industries has been trying to buy a port from Brian Deeter for years. They end up inviting Brian to their family dinner to prove that they’re a family oriented company. When Lucas best friend Florence (Flo) has a hand in ruining a business dinner she offers to help in any way she can to fix the problem. That leads her to blurting out that her and Rome are in a relationship in front of Brian Deeter.

I loved this book. It kept me entertained and guessing the whole time. I loved that everything was wrapped up well at the end too. Rome is so protective and caring. I love how much he cares about Flo even before he realizes he has feelings for her.

Rating 4.5/5

🌶️3/5

Tropes -he falls first -brothers best friend -fake dating

[Christian Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so cute, I love both the FMC and MMC.
Their story is really sweet, he’s loved her always and she didn’t believe in love. And guess who’s falls in love😍.

The ending part at the hospital meeting made me tear up and I loved how it ended for her. I just love a good HEA book and this is definitely one.

I would definitely recommend this book to my friends!

Rome is so sweet and loving. Reading a man who just loves her so much from the beginning just gets me right in the heart 😍

Flo was such a good FMC and strong.
I hated that one part because she was just waiting for the ball to drop and she thought it did but it happens so much in real life, you don’t expect things to be real because of thinking you can’t have it for so long and I loved that part even though it killed me.

Great job Caroline!

[Poorvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Flo’s apartment got caught in fire. She moves in with Rome, her best friend’s older brother. Fake dating him to help with a business deal was not what she thought would happen. Adding in meddling grandmother and a secret crush he has on her for years.
I love how the story line developed , their Little teasing and banter.
I love Flo and she is such a badass and kind woman plus an doctor. Rome is clearly head over heels for her and would do anything for her. I love how he know little detail of how she like things. Plus how to take care of her and was so considerate.
Not only the romance but the friendship too was so good. I love their friends and how supporting they were. I love Luca. The small scenes of Ryder and livvy make me wanna read their book so badly. It is such an amazing read would defiantly recommend it.