Fake It True

Wild Fire #3

by J.H. Croix

A swoony, small town firefighter romance from USA Today Bestselling Author J.H. Croix!

How we He spilled coffee on me.
First I dragged him into my therapy session. Does that even count?
Spoiler We’re definitely not a couple.

Leo Massie is a smoking-hot firefighter. Literally. He also owes me after dousing me in coffee. But instead of a simple favor, I might have accidentally told my therapist he’s my fiancé. Oops.

Now, Leo—single dad, small-town hero, and the most maddeningly good man I’ve ever met—is playing along. What started as a tiny white lie is spiraling into something I wish were real. The way he looks at me? The way he takes care of everyone around him? The way he makes me feel? None of that feels fake.

I came to Alaska to escape my past. I never expected to find a man willing to stand beside me through it. Maybe we’re just pretending. Or maybe… we can fake it true.

🔥 Perfect for readers who hotshot firefighters, single dads, slow-burn tension, fake dating with real feelings, small-town charm, emotional romance with a touch of angst, plenty of swoon, and a cinnamon roll hero with a fierce protective streak.

*A full-length, standalone romance.

Genres: Suspense, Romance, Small Town Romance, Firefighters

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2025

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author J. H. Croix lives in a small town in the historical farmlands of Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs. Croix writes steamy contemporary romance with strong independent women and rugged alpha men who aren't afraid to show some emotion. Her love for quirky small-towns and the characters that inhabit them shines through in her writing. Take a walk on the wild side of romance with her bestselling novels!


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Reviews

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake It True by JH Croix is a modern romance taking place in Alaska. Casey has arrived in Willow Brook as part of a cross-country/bucket list tour and when she was offered a job and an apartment at her first stop, she realized it was kismet and accepted both. Since she has been happily ensconced as a barista and is now in a therapist’s office. Her mother had suggested it, basically because Casey wasn’t doing what her mother wanted her to, which was marry a man named Nathaniel, who had been their neighbor for years and had dealt the drugs that led to her sister’s overdose. She could not refuse her mother’s calls, but she could ignore Nathaniel’s texts, which were increasingly threatening. Leo is a hot shot firefighter whose busy season is summer. He grew up in Willow Creek but has recently returned there, as have his parents. He lives in a small house on their property with his daughter, Dora, whom he didn’t know existed six months ago, but she had taken over his heart now. He had been at the therapist’s lobby when Casey grabbed him and asked him to be her fake fiance, just for this session. She would think of something else later. He did and what a beginning it was.

Croix always mixes in social commentary with her romances and this time it is drug addition/overdose. Casey’s sister and Dora’s mother. It is a national problem and a sad one. These people both have plenty to carry around without a new relationship, but that seems almost destined to happen. Good characters, both, Croix has told their story as well as those of their families. Little Dora is an especially good character, outspoken and determined. The plot is that of a romance, however clever its beginning. The pacing is perfect, Croix has that down flat, and it was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours, with both new friends and old.

I was invited to read Fake It True by the author and delivered by BookFunnel. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #JHCroix #FakeItTrue

[Jacklyn B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited for the next book in the Wildfire series! Leo and Casey’s story is here!! I really enjoyed this book - it’s sweet and emotional and funny and oh so swoon worthy.

What’s a little white lie to your therapist about having a fiancé? Well it gets a little more complicated when you convince the hot firefighter (who spilled coffee on you) to play along…and he is all in…or is he?

I LOVED that Leo jumped in to help Casey and was all in to help her. She had been struggling with her past and he was perfect for her. They had amazing chemistry and it was fun to see them go from a fake relationship to something more! Leo was understandably cautious….they might just discover they have more in common than they know…

Dora was really sweet and I loved the other side characters too!

✨What To Expect:
🏡Small town
🧯Firefighter
💋Fake Dating
🧢Single Dad
🍭Cinnamon Roll MMC
🏃‍♀️She’s On The Run
❤️‍🔥He’s Protective
🔥Slow burn
💜Found Family
❤️‍🩹Healing
💖Swoon Worthy

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️
📕: Fake It True by J.H. Croix 
Why you’ll love the book!!
Single Dad
Cinnamon Roll Firefighter
Fake Relationship
Hot Chemistry
Complicated x 10
When Running Away Works Out
Small Town Lies & Gossip
Wounded Hearts Mended
It Was Always Going TO Be You

This is my first book to read of author J.H. Croix and it definitely won’t be my last this book sucked me in from the beginning!!
Casey is on the run from her past but she can’t out run it and it catches up to her.. While she with Leo.. I loved Leo and how he was protective and wanted to help Casey.. This book was amazing totally swoon worthy of a couple and I am a sucker for a blue collar man and single dad and Leo checked all the boxes for me!!

[Donna L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 3 in JH Croix’s Wild Fire series about hotshot firefighters in Alaska. Leo is a single dad raising a six year old daughter, and Casey is a newcomer to Willow Brook after her sister dies. It is a slow burn romance that has mild angst concerning the loss of characters from a drug overdose.

The premise of the book is that Casey tells her parents that she’s engaged so that they will stop pressuring her to be with the son of their friends. In order to appease her parents, Casey convinces Leo to go to couples therapy with her as her pretend fiancé. It’s an usual twist on the fake fiancé trope but I can say that it’s a bit original.

I don’t believe a review should be a synopsis or reveal spoilers. It is an interesting book with touching scenes and has a heartwarming ending. I received a free copy through Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Erin Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Star Review Fake It True (Wild Fire #3) by J H Croix

This was a wonderful addition to the Wild Fire series from J H Croix set in Willie Brook, a small town in Alaska.

This is firefighter Leo and Casey’s story fake to real story that ticked all the boxes for me.

From the first chapter I was riveted to the story that Ms. Croix wove.
The secondary characters added an additional layer to the story.

The chemistry between them was intense and it was entertaining to watch their relationship develop as it moved from fake to real.

[Lady M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I debated between 2 and 3 stars. This book just didn't do it for me. I had high hopes based on a couple of my favorite tropes, friends to lovers and fake relationship, but it just fell flat for me. I liked how it jumped right in, and grabbed my attention from the very begining, but it just never fully clicked. For one, it felt like a PSA for drug overdoses. Not fun, I get it's a reality, but it was just too preachy. Two, this book felt like there was swearing just for the sake of swearing, and the bedroom scenes were just meh (I skimmed some) and honestly could have been eliminated. It felt like a clean book trying to be not clean. Then, there were random jumps in scenes. A chapeter would end with a question, and the new chapter was a change in time or place. Also, the word "giggle" was used 15 times, so for a short book, it was just a lot. I had a hard time buying the back story. And Nathaniel coming to Alaska, I just don't see how that ever would have happened. This is the only book in the series that I've read, and I will not be continuing.

[Cheryl Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the wild fire series. We are back in Willowbrook witnessing Leo and Casey's road to happy ever after.

Leo is a hotshot firefighter recently returned to Willowbrook and still getting used to being a single dad. His little daughter is adorable.

Casey is a mature student who is working in a café. Alaska was always on her bucket list, so after exploring the US, she settled down in Willowbrook.

The premise for the the 'fake fiancé' trope is original. The author also tackled a difficult topic with some sensitivity.

"That she got injured in college and that's how she originally got prescribed pain medication. Like so many other people, she got addicted. When they told her she couldn't have it anymore, she looked for it elsewhere."

This was a very satisfying read.

[Elizabeth Mazzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author, and with new to me authors I always wonder if I’ll like the book. This book I really enjoyed reading. Coming from reading a lot of sports romance novels it was nice to read one that wasn’t.

This is set in a small town Alaska and I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where it was set there. A win there. You met local Leo and new to town Casey when you drags him into a therapy session just to get her parents off her back. Turns out, they really are what each other needs, and have very similar pasts. As time goes on they learn more and more about each other, and their trust grows so much.

They have such chemistry and you can feel it when they are around each other. They are not the only ones, the people they work with see it and his new found 6 year old daughter also sees it and wants her to be her new mom.

As time goes on the truth starts coming out, and much to their surprise they have support of their friends when they learn what is happening. There are some tense moments when something from Casey’s past comes out, and keeps her fearful for not only herself, but her parents and she wants to bring some justice for her sister. When the full truth comes out, Leo is right by her side the whole time and is so supportive of her and everything that she needs.

They are a very cute couple, it moves fast, keeps you turning the page. It’s a short story but I feel like it is the perfect length for their story, and because of that I feel like it doesn’t have unnecessary stuff just to fill the pages! If you are looking for a quick read, instant attraction and a cute firefight with his quick whit little girl then this is a story you should check out.

P.S if you like a knee to the balls laugh then hang on for when you meet Casey’s mom…. You might just laugh out loud 🤣

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in The Wild Fire series and it is Leo and Casey’s story and it is definitely a must read. Leo is a hotshot firefighter in Willow Creek and also a single dad to his six year old daughter Dora who had become his world meaning that his life was busy and he didn’t need any complications. Casey arrived in Willow Creek while doing some traveling after leaving her home when her sister died of a overdose and her parents became overbearing and manipulative and while in Willow Creek she found a job and place to stay and now it feels like home but when her mom constantly puts pressure on her to see a therapist she eventually gives in but not expecting it to completely change her life when she asks Leo to be her fake fiancee to keep her mom’s attention off her and trying to set her up with the man that she knows is responsible for her sisters death. Leo and Casey both have a lot of baggage, trust issues and secrets and when they start there fake relationships things start to get really complicated between them because the more time that they spend together the stronger the attraction, chemistry and connection between them grows and suddenly fake starts to feel very real and when they are unable to deny how they feel about each other and eventually come together it is totally explosive but what happens when Casey’s past arrives on her doorstep bring with it a situation that could put someone in danger while trying to hide the truth, will it make Leo and Casey stronger or will it tear apart everything that they have built together. Wow I absolutely loved this book so much as it was really addictive and had you turning the pages because you couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting as it kept your attention throughout the whole book and I can’t wait to read the next book in this amazing series.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake it True in Alaska
I really like this series set in Alaska. This is the third book in this series. The second book ended with Leo, a hotshot firefighter, bumping into Casey, a waitress in a coffee shop, and spilling her coffee all over her. He offers a favor for the future to make up for it. Casey has moved to Willow Brook which was on her bucket list and it comes when she was escaping the grief her sister's death from an overdose. Her mother wants her to become involved with a family friend, Nathaniel, who Casey is sure had a hand in her sister's death. In order to get her mother off her back, she invents a fiance. Her mother insists that she go to couples therapy to make sure that he's the one and not Nathaniel. When Casey is sitting in the therapist's office waiting for her appointment, Leo comes into the reception area. Casey grabs him and asks him to play along this one time. Casey has had a crush on Leo and he likes her, too. He decides to help her as his "favor" payback. Leo has become a single father to a little girl that he didn't know existed until her mother died of an overdose. As the therapy session goes, they get along well. They have an attraction to each other but Leo doesn't want to introduce Casey until he's sure she's staying in his life. I really like the way J.H. Croix researches the situations she writes about in her books. This is a wonderful book. I don't want to give spoilers so this is about all I can review for the book. I was given an early copy to read and review by Booksprout. I'm leaving my honest review. I also have my own copy on order.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book three in the Wild Fire Series surrounding the hot shot firefighters of Willow Brook, this is Leo and Cassie's story. Be ready for an emotional ride as they both work through their trust issues and transition from fake dating to a real relationship.

Cassie was travelling her bucket list and looking for an escape when she left her home of North Carolina after the passing of her sister and the circumstances she didn't know how to deal with. Finding Willow Brook and the wonderful people there was a huge bonus. Finding a job and place to live all at once. When she tells her mother some lies to keep her pushing at bay, she finds herself ready to take couples counselling without a partner.

Leo has worked hard to get his life in order after finding out he had a daughter a year ago. Becoming a dad on the spot and that little girls sole parent. Thanks to his parents and the community closeness he has been able to still keep his spot on the HotShot team. Certain he didn't need any more complications in his life, but when he bumps into Cassie and she asks him for a favor he can't say no.

Grab your copy and watch these two go from fake dating to a real relationship full of emotions and being their for one another when it counts. Enjoy their chemistry, the sweet little girl you can't help but love and some opinionated friends and family.

I can't wait to see what happens next.

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Heidi Sturgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so in love with the cover and having read the previous books I’ve lost my heart to this Alaskan town , Willowbrook and it’s people 🥰

The dedication hit my heart hard “ Things rarely are as they appear . It’s what is in your heart that counts.”
It’s sort of my life motto , because things aren’t always as they seem , someone may seem gruff but they’re actually gentle souls , some may seem happy but they’re breaking on the inside , do tread gently in the lives of others 🥰😉


Casey moved to Alaska from Notth Carolina and left Nathaniel behind , she wants a fresh start but her mom is insistent she goes for counselling to be sure she’s doing the right thing but they don’t know what a nasty piece of work he really is but she goes to placate her mother and that’s where Leo comes to her rescue , he owes her a favour after spilling a copious amount of coffee on her , he goes with her to the session as her fake finance 🥰🤣🤷‍♀️

After the first session they make a deal , he’ll go with her again but neither we’re banking on faking it till you make it 🥰

Leo is a hot shot firefighter and single dad and while he questions himself he’s a real honey and might I add quite the delectable speciMAN 😉🔥


This was my version of an Easter hunt , I simply loved my treat of being in Willowbrook amongst friends🥰 I laughed , I cried , I cheered and just had fun having this read in my greedy little hands 🤣

[lowkeyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently finished Fake It True by J.H. Croix, and I found it to be a charming and heartfelt fake engagement romance set in a small town. The story follows Leo, a dedicated firefighter and single dad, and Casey, who has relocated to Alaska after a personal tragedy. Their slow-burn relationship, built on the premise of a fake engagement, offers plenty of emotional depth and genuine moments.

What I appreciated most about Fake It True was the authentic portrayal of the characters’ vulnerabilities and the gradual development of trust and affection between Leo and Casey. The slow-building tension and the warmth of the small-town setting made the story feel cozy and engaging. Croix’s writing style is smooth and evocative, making it easy to connect with the characters and their journey.

While the plot follows some familiar tropes, the execution felt fresh thanks to the well-rounded characters and the balance between heartfelt moments and light humor. The dynamic between a single dad and a woman healing from loss added layers of complexity to their interactions.

Overall, Fake It True is a solid four-star read for fans of slow-burn romances, fake engagement stories, and firefighter heroes. It’s a sweet, swoony romance that delivers both heat and heart, making it a satisfying addition to the small-town romance genre. If you enjoy stories about second chances and building love from unexpected beginnings, this book is definitely worth checking out.

[Tiffany Readz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars - Low Drama Cuteness

Fake It True is a cute fake-engagement romance between Leo, a firefighter and single dad, and Casey, who’s recently moved to Alaska for a fresh start after a family tragedy.

Casey’s mom keeps trying to set her up with a family friend, Nathaniel, but Casey knows he’s connected to what happened in her past—she just can’t prove it yet. To get her mom to back off, she mentions that she already has a fiancé and isn’t interested in Nathaniel. Enter Leo—and he agrees to go along with the charade. This really took me by surprise, as there wasn’t much build-up between these two, except for some coffee-spilling incident Casey mentions.

Leo was ready to get to know Casey in that way, so it wasn’t hard for him to fake it through couples therapy with her, and we quickly learned the feeling was mutual. While Casey was dealing with her past, Leo had his own little secret: a six-year-old named Dora. I absolutely loved how protective he was of her. He was a fairly new dad and a good one, with help from his parents.

The book is well-written and a quick read at that. There’s not much in the way of angst, but there’s some steam and a little mystery in the background. As the third book in the series, it reads well as a standalone.

Reviewed for Renee Entress’s Blog.

[Kara Quade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leo is a hotshot firefighter who owes Casey a favor after bumping into her and spilling coffee all over her. Leo is also a single father to a cute little girl he didn't know about until her mother dies from a drug overdose. With Alaska on her bucket list and escaping from the grief of her sister's death from an overdose, Casey moves to Willow Brook and finds employment at the local coffee shop. Casey agrees to couples counseling to get her mother off her back with her made up fiance. When Leo walks into the reception area before the appointment, Casey begs him to go along. Will Leo agree to continue going to more counseling sessions with Casey? Will Leo and Casey use their counseling sessions to learn more about each other and deal with issues from their past? Will Leo and Casey's crushes on each other lead to a real relationship? Can Leo protect Casey from a "family friend" who has been threatening her, and she believes had a hand in her sister's death? I loved Fake It True by J.H. Croix. Leo and Casey are a fantastic couple who have great chemistry. I love how they used couples counseling to learn about each other and learn how to deal with each other, their families, and their pasts. I would highly recommend getting Fake It True and the other books in the Wild Fire series by J.H. Croix. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book via Booksprout.

[Mrs R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how these two started their fake relationship, by Leo being dragged into a couples therapy session with Casey.

Casey ended up in Alaska after the death of her sister. Her parents are pushing for her to get together with a family friend and are completely oblivious to how much she does not like the guy.

Leo is a new dad, having only found out about his 6 year old daughter after the mother dies from drug overdose, and these two bond a little as this is how Casey sister also passed.

The daughter, Dora, is cute, and I appreciate that she was portrayed as a 6 year old and not some wise older than her years child.

So I love how these two already had minor crushes on each other, and it doesn't take long for the 'fake' element to be blurred. Even all their friends can see them together.

Casey still has her parents to contend with, and a guy that just won't take no for an answer. I felt sorry for how unsupportive and ignorant Casey's parents were, although they did get a wake-up call, which I was glad to see.

They are a sweet, cute but very steamy couple, so much chemistry that I think these two would have been together regsrdless of the need for a fake relationship.


- single dad
- firefighter mmc
- fake fiancee
- small town
- cinnamon roll mmc

[Sunny Shelly Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fake It True is a really cute fake engagement story between firefighter single dad Leo and Casey, who moved to Alaska after her sister died.

Casey’s mom has been pushing her to date a family friend, but she suspects Nathaniel is dangerous. So to get her mom off of her back, Casey claims she has a fiancé. Leo just happens to be in the right place at the right time for Casey to get him to play along with her, and he agrees. I loved that they were both mutually crushing on one another, so they decide to date for real.

I liked the development of the story, and how slowly Leo introduced little Dora to Casey. There was great chemistry between Casey and Leo, and they balanced each other nicely. I loved how Leo stepped up for Casey during the visit with her parents.

This book is part of a series, and for the most part it is a contained standalone. But the whole coffee-spilling incident clearly happened off-page before the book began (I’m assuming in a previous book in the series), so I felt as if I was missing out on their history right out of the gate. Having not read any other books first, I would have loved to have seen that relationship established.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey and Leo’s story is a poignant and sweet, fake relationship romance. It also includes a bit of angst, suspense and steam. The chemistry and connection between Casey and Leo is intense and keeps growing deeper. Addiction has, unfortunately, affected both of their lives, by taking someone they cared for from their lives far too soon. They are both dealing with not only the loss, but big changes in their lives, as well as the doubts and fears that come with them. They were immediately attracted to each other, though neither acted on it. Leo steps into the role of fake fiancé when Casey asks because he senses she is troubled by something that threatens to overwhelm her. His instinct is to help and protect her. The counselling sessions help them unload some of their emotion burdens and fears while helping them also get to know each other better. They each are supportive, caring and understanding to the other. They decide that dating is something they both want, but they agree to go forward slowly. The sparks they feel whenever they are near each other soon lead to some very passionate interludes. Thy have some troubles and tricky situations to negotiate before they can build a future together.

I give this book my full recommendation.

[Marlene Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey Houston left small-town coastal North Carolina after the drug overdose of her sister. Her family didn't want to believe a family friend could have been the cause of Callie's death. Casey settled in Willow Brook Alaska, working at the Firehouse Cafe for Janet and living in a rental nearby. She had told her mother that she was engaged so they would no longer try to foist their friend's son on her...and because of that lie, after Leo's late visit to Cafe just before closing and his spilling coffee on her, it was serendipity that Casey saw him just before her appointment with counselor before "their" marriage...Leo had secret crush on Casey, worked as hot-shot fireman and found out last year that he had a daughter from an ex, who left him without saying she was pregnant...when his ex died of overdose, he got Dora...and help from his parents who moved back to Willow Brook from Juneau...but will a fake engagement lead to anything more permanent??? You will need to read this story to see what happens...I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written story right here! J.H. Croix will have you swooning, and falling in love with Casey and single dad Leo! 5 Hot Shot stars for this one!
Casey has settled into Willow Brook Alaska for the most part! She lucked out when she stopped in town to grab coffee and scored a job and an apartment! She's trying her best to move on after the death of her sister, and her parents bothering her to come back home to North Carolina and date Nathaniel, but she can't stand him and makes up a fake fiance. When her mother schedules her for couples therapy, she can't get out of it, and while waiting, out walks Leo, and she asks him to be her fake fiance.
Leo found out he was a dad not too long ago to an adorable daughter, Dora, who he loves unconditionally! He's lucky to have his parents available to help him take care of her when he's off doing hot shot firefighter things. When Casey asks him to be her fake fiance, he agrees and this is how their story starts off!
I loved this one so much, these two are meant for each other, add in Dora, and you have the perfect ready made family! Grab this one asap!

[Curtis E Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

When J.H. Croix sets out to steal your heart, she does her homework. Fake It True is the result. And with this story she definitely got to me. Heartwarming, angsty, shocking, liberating and insightful are only the start of the adjectives I could. As you read this more will come to mind, I'm sure.

Cassie and Leo are strong and battling their own demons separately. Both have yet to realize where their challenges will lead them. And both end up having their eyes opened in more ways than imaginable. Sometimes friendships really do bloom to be more.

But, what good is a great story without a little mind in the middle giving directions? Trust me, you will LOVE a certain little lady and her inputs.

When a strong man stands with his strong partner there is nothing sexier; no battle they cannot conquer. And that goes both ways. Self-doubt becomes minor when clarity settles questions that arise.

Fake It True could not be better at keeping your heart and mind full. So yes, this author definitely accomplished her goal. And in the end, the smile on your face will last a lifetime.

Well done J.H. Croix and well worth all the stars.

[Amy Crull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet book!

I'm writing this review for United Indie book blog.

I'm new to this series, and after realizing, Leo and Casey already had an encounter with each other. It confused me at first and thought I needed to be the previous book but not the case. This book may not have as many pages as other books, but it holds its own just fine.
Leo is a hotshot firefighter and just recently became a dad to a little girl. Despite the situation, Leo handles things pretty easily and has his parents close by to help. He's noticed Casey and frequently comes into the coffee shop where she works. He gets pulled into a fake fiancé by Casey and that's where the story get good.
Casey just recently moved to Alaska and holds many secrets. She's trying to move on and start a new life for her. Her family and a family friend is making that somewhat hard for her. Leo and the gang at the coffee shop make her feel so welcomed. She's apprehensive about making it real with Leo but he shows her how much of a good guy he is and how much he truly cares about her.
This book is sweet with a little drama and a whole lot of love.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steamy Fake Fiancé Romance
Neither Leo Massie or Casey is looking for a relationship. Leo is just learning to be a father to his six year old daughter and Casey is new to Willow Brook, Alaska as she gets over the death of her sister by overdose. When Cassey invents a fake fiancé and her mother has her enroll into couples therapy, Leo just happens to be in the right spot at the right time to be that fake fiancé. This fake relationship quickly becomes quite real as these two navigate how to make things work. In the meantime Casey keeps getting threatening messages from her deceased sister’s boyfriend, who her parents would like her to date and marry. This is a fast paced steamy read that pulled my heartstrings. I had tears and laughter as I read their story. An extra bonus was that many of the characters of past books in J.H. Croix’s “Wild Fire Series” reappeared in this one making for a great small town feel. Got love that.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Schellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey is running from a past that doesn't want her to forget. Text messages from her former neighbor Nathaniel haunt her & her parents pushing her towards him because he's their best friends son is driving her crazy.
Leo was living the bachelor, firefighter lifestyle until he got a call one day that he was a dad to s little girl. Now he is juggling wild fires & being a dad, good thing he has his parents to help out.
These two have been flirting with each other at the cafe, when one day Leo is pulled into Casey's therapy session as her fiance! He runs with it, but intends to get answers when she is ready to talk.
She has told her parents that she is engaged to Leo, in hopes that they will stop trying to get her to move back to NC & in a relationship with Nathaniel. When they all show up in Alaska......watch out!
This story was so fun to read! it had me laughing, crying & swooning through most of the book! Leo's daughter Dora is a spitfire & I absolutely adored her! Check this book & series out soon! Enjoy!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4-4,5 stars*
This one was truly a rollercoaster of emotions and had a bit of suspense to it as there were a few moments where I thought about Casey's past and what she went through was very relatable. Not to mention, I truly liked the relationship between Leo & Casey that was a bit unconventional but also loving throughout the story. There was some charm about both characters that was very likeable.

Casey has moved to Alaska to not only try to move on from what she has been through but also to hopefully make some peace with herself as she has lost someone very dear to her. Her parents aren't really making it easy on her but she's told a small white lie to get through all she's dealt with; Leo is the one person who is near to pull off everything together. Leo has dealt alth with a lot of things as he's now a single parent but there's something about Casey that makes him want to help her out. The more time they spend together, the feelings between them grow stronger. Will everything work out in the end?...

[Read.Review.Repeat Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I always seem to devour every JH Croix book that I read, and this one has just been added to the list.
Leo & Casey’s story is based on the fake relationship trope, and I have to admit the way they entered into this was totally new to me. The way Leo just rolled with it when Casey asked for his help was both funny and amazing for me to read.
Their relationship goes from fake to real quite quickly, but at no time did I feel it was rushed. I just felt like they both realized what they had was something special and it was worth pursuing.
Apart from this being a wonderful romance novel, I also enjoyed the storyline in regard to Casey’s sister. Her parents frustrated me at times, but it was resolved in the end the best way possible.
The sneak peek into the next book has me all excited and I hope that I don’t have to wait too long for it." ~Sharon


I am really enjoying this series and Casey and Leo's story is a great addition. The way they got together was a great meet-cute. They bonded over similar tragedies. Love was unexpected for them but worth the journey. ~Cindy

[Dara Wasalino Tremblay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fake It True by J.H. Croix is a fake relationship/engagement story. MMC Leo, is a charming and sweet, single dad, firefighter, who steps up in all the right ways for FMC Casey, a mysterious stranger in town. Leo, without hesitation, steps in to help Casey when she pulls him into a fake fiancé story to get her mom off her back.

These two had so many sweet little moments as they spent time together to get to know each other and the flow of their relationship was genuine. What started as mutual attraction grew into something real. Leo and Case both had past relationship baggage and their pasts made things trickier.

Casey’s family drama was a bit over the top. Casey’s parents interference in the relationship was too much. For them to completely ignore Casey and Leo’s relationship and try to push her into a relationship with a family friend was too much. I was relieved when Leo finally stepped up and showed them what was really going on.

That part was frustrating, but I did like Leo and Casey together!

[United Indie Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm new to this series, and after realizing, Leo and Casey already had an encounter with each other. It confused me at first and thought I needed to be the previous book but not the case. This book may not have as many pages as other books, but it holds its own just fine.
Leo is a hotshot firefighter and just recently became a dad to a little girl. Despite the situation, Leo handles things pretty easily and has his parents close by to help. He's noticed Casey and frequently comes into the coffee shop where she works. He gets pulled into a fake fiancé by Casey and that's where the story get good.
Casey just recently moved to Alaska and holds many secrets. She's trying to move on and start a new life for her. Her family and a family friend is making that somewhat hard for her. Leo and the gang at the coffee shop make her feel so welcomed. She's apprehensive about making it real with Leo but he shows her how much of a good guy he is and how much he truly cares about her.
This book is sweet with a little drama and a whole lot of love.

REVIEW BY AMY

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting things are happening in the small town of Willow Brook, Alaska!

Faking It True by J.H. Croix is a fantastic fake relationship/engagement story with Leo, a charming and sweet hot shot firefighter that also happens to be a single dad, who steps up in all the right ways for Casey- a recent transplant from the lower states who is shrouded in a little mystery and danger.

This story also deals with the topic of drug use and death caused by overdose- while only really mentioned and not on page the theme is a big part of some of the actions of the MCs- so if this is a sensitive subject matter for you, just proceed with a little care.

I always love the little world that J.H. creates in her small Alaskan towns and how there is so much that connects the characters to each other. Casey has been in the background for a bit but in a way that we hadn't really learned anything about her. I loved the easy flirtation and attraction that Casey and Leo had but I was just as surprised as her to find out that he was a single dad. Despite that fact, Leo without hesitation stepped in to help Casey out when she bombarded him and pulled him into her fake fiance scam to get her mom off her case.

These two had so many sweet little moments as they spent time together to get to know each other and I love the genuine flow of their relationship and the feelings that started out as a little crush grew into something real. Now both Leo and Casey had some hang ups when it came to actually pursuing something real between them and as their tragic pasts hang over their heads things get a little trickier.

Admittedly- I am generally here for some familial drama but Casey's parents were a little too much. Trying to push Casey out of a relationship she said was serious enough to consider marriage to date a family friend and then to take it a step further to literally put him in her path despite the other circumstances that Casey had clearly voiced to them was crazy even for what I'm sure was a very trying and emotional time in their lives. It literally took Leo showing them the dirt happening right in front of them to "wake up" and actually hear their daughter.

So while that little twist was a bit frustrating I did really like Leo and Casey and just how they seemed to perfectly click into each others lives even with a few additions along the way!

[Kelchickbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet, small-town, single dad romance where you feel like you are right there in Willow Brook. Ms. Croix writes stories where there are emotions, friendships, family and love at the turn of every page. Fake It True has it all and she gives us a hot firefighter, Leo, who is pulled into a fake relationship, actually a fake engagement, with Casey. Casey is a sweet and willful woman who thought she was just going to pass through, checking things off her bucket list, but fell in love with Willow Brook. She is dealing with a past where she has lost so much, as well as carrying a burden that has her trying to figure out how and when to take action.
Leo and Casey gave us laughs, tender moments, witty banter and flirt touches. Adding in his adorable daughter, whom he just found out about, and Leo will have you swooning over him. The two of them have such a chemistry that you would believe they are not faking, but the feelings they have for one another were real right from the start.