Play Pretend

Cedar Ridge #1

by Claire Brooks

A year ago, I told a lie...now, it's haunting me.

Ronan Caldwell is my grumpy, too-handsome-for-his-own-good neighbor. He’s the town’s brooding sheriff...and my fake boyfriend.

I’ve been lying to my family about dating him for the past year, convinced no one would ever know. But then they dropped a bomb—they’re coming to visit. Desperate to keep my story straight, I beg Ronan to play along. He agrees, but as the line between fake and real starts to blur, I keep reminding myself it’s all just for show. Right?

Everything changes the night my house is broken into, and Ronan insists I stay with him. Suddenly, we’re sharing more than just a lie, and the sparks between us feel anything but pretend.

With my family in town, our relationship feels fragile, uncertain, like walking a tightrope between reality and make-believe. And just when I think we might be finding our footing, my stepsister overhears a conversation that shatters our carefully constructed lie. Panicked, I do what I do best—I run.

But Ronan isn’t the kind of man who gives up easily. He finds me, and when he does, there’s no more pretending. This time, we’ll find out if what we’ve been playing at was real all along.

Genres: Fake Dating, Romance, Small Town Romance, Slow Burn, Forced Proximity, Mental Health, He Falls First

436 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2025

About the author

Claire Brooks is a romance author who writes stories full of charm, spice, and just enough suspense to keep you hooked.

When she’s not creating book boyfriends, she’s lost in a romance novel, gaming with friends, or binge-watching guilty pleasure TV with her partner.

Grab a cozy blanket and settle in—welcome to a world of small towns, big hearts, and unforgettable love stories!

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

They were so cute and sweet 🌝 and yeah they did move (really) fast, but I didn’t mind it. They were both so lonely that I was just happy they found happiness together 🥲 they were so awkward together at first, I loved it bc not enough authors show men who are awkward and don’t really know how to talk to women

I’m so annoyed that my highlights aren’t showing up😭😭😭😭

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was everything. Willow and Ronan have had a little beef with each other over trash cans, noise, and neighborly things. Willow and Ronan both have their own quirks with each other. But Willow sort of lied to her father about being in a relationship and asked Ronan to be her fake boyfriend when they visit. Now Ro has his own demons; he has OCD and PTSD, and the way the author did it was really good. I felt so much for Ro and what he had to go through, and having Willow in his house and being in a relationship, he wasn't faking anything, even if Willow thought he was.

Besides learning to date, we saw side characters that are getting a book. I really want to read Dean and Trinity's book and see if he knew what she went through.
The best friend and Theo, I might skip (which is the next book); I don't vibe with manwhores. Gracie and the other brother wonder what happened between them.
Plus, we get the drama with the dad and that family and another drama.

Low angst, no OW/tiny OM, no cheating, slight secondary character drama, sexy times, no. virgins

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶


Slowburn
27h/33H
Toxic family members
Ocd/Ptsd
Praise kink
Mentions of suicide and death of a parent
Rape/Drugged sexual Assault
Masturbation
Safe sex/no condom
Hea

[Chris ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf! 0.5 ⭐️ (and that’s me being generous)
I subjected myself to self-inflicted torture! *dramatic faint with hand on the forehead* I abused my eyes, my brain, and possibly my soul by attempting to read this… this… book!


First of all!
You know when psychopaths don’t actually feel anything, they just mimic emotions so they can blend into society?
Yeah. That’s exactly how this author was when it came to her sense of humor. She doesn’t know what that term means. I’m fairly sure she’s never experienced it for herself, but she tried to replicate it anyway.
And FAILED. Spectacularly. 😊

Second of all!
There weren’t two people on Earth more unfit for each other than these two!!!!
There is no way this could ever work. Trust me.
He has a severe case of OCD, and she has the exact opposite, whatever that’s called.
The best way to describe it? Imagine Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory being in a relationship with Penny.
Absolute disaster, right? Well, there you have it.
Except at least Sheldon was a genius, and Penny had a backbone.


Third of all!
The author tried to do the whole “deep romance thingy”?
Yeaaah… NOOOO…that didn’t work either. 😅


Ronan:

• Personality of a flatbread. “Boring” is too kind a word to describe him!
• Riddled with anxiety. (Like my friend Lori said: I don’t understand how this guy could be a policeman! 😅)
• Punished by God with a sister like Trinity
• Hot and grumpy, also celibate for 10 years. (In what universe is that remotely possible for a hot guy? …but moving on 🙃)
• Allergic to joy in any form.
• Splitting wood is his THAANGGG 😒
• Hates sexist policemen.
• Hates germs but falls for a woman who is basically a biohazard herself.



Willow:

• Hates stinky bins… but also lives in one.
• Beautiful (of course 🙄).
• Her entire personality was going to the damn lighthouse.
• Hates her asshole dad… but also doesn’t.
• Insecure to the point where I wanted to slap some sense into her.
• No backbone.
• She was supposed to be this quirky sunshine fmc, but ended up being an annoying klutz!
• I found her soooo annoying with her victim mentality. Instead of speaking up when things clearly bothered her, she stayed silent, which made her seem more pathetic than sympathetic.


But I’m glad I gave it a go, because it was a BR with my good friends Lori and Olga, and we laughed our asses off every time something dumb happened. 😅

[(betts) ⚜ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐ / 3🌶️
[📱] ebook

— vibezz
🚓 neighbour bickering
⛯ fake relationship
🚓 baker x sheriff
⛯ mental health rep
🚓 forced proximity

mini blurb — ✍🏻
One single little lie to make her father appeased, brought Willow to ask her neighbour, Ronan, to be her fake boyfriend while her father and his new family visits her. But what begun as a fake relationship soon fades to something more.

//

I could do it—I could fall in love with her. It would be so fucking easy to do; maybe the easiest thing I’d ever done.

Well fuck me.


I took my 5 business days to get my bearings before writing this review, the book wrecked me, the plot broke me and the characters put me back together. 🥹

It all felt so raw and real, the relationship between Willow and Ronan is already established, they'd been neighbours for quite some time (at least 5 years? 6?) but never went beyond the bickering for trash, loud music or usual shit, LOL they were adorables
As soon as they start the "rouse" they were awkward af and I loved how their relationship evolved in time as they started to know and trust each other 🥹🥹

Their mental health was represented beautifully, he has OCD and PTSD and he evidently struggles with both, as soon as she learns it she's very patient with his and try to help him when he's at his lowest moments, my heart 🥹😭💔
h but don't worry, she's got a bunch of trauma and daddy issues thanks to that piece of shit that I just wanted to strangle throughout the whole book, thank fuck Ronan deals with him 🫶

Willow could be my everything. I could be her everything.
And that thought didn’t entirely terrify me the way I thought it should have.

I cannot wait to read more of this series, we've got introduced to new characters and I want to know more about the others Caldwell bros and sis 👀
DADDY THEO????? OMG 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠

A reconciliation perhaps between our brave soldier Adam and Gracie? Why does he feel guilty for Trinity's attempt to take her life?

[Paige (paigersturnspages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Review

Play Pretend by Claire Brooks

Welcome to Cedar Ridge

Where the neighbors bicker & pretend

🤎 small town
🤎 fake dating
🤎 sheriff x baker
🤎 mental health x ocd rep
🤎 age gap
🤎 slow burn
🤎 ott protective mmc
🤎 Dual pov
🤎 meddling friends

This debut novel by Claire Brooks! Oh my god! You absolutely NEED to read this small town romance! It has all the funny Banter between Ronan the grumpy but obsessed with her Sheriff and the shy baker who talks to her plants and wants nothing more than the broody sweaty neighbor who's chopping wood right outside her window to do stomp over and kiss the sh*t out of her. I mean my heart was pumping during those scenes, woooo he loves to talk her through it alright.

And....her family are a bunch of a*sholes so she has to lie and say they're dating but they really can't stand each other or can they? Hehe.

While all this is going on, there's a burglar on the loose in the town and Ronan is doing everything he can to find them.

I teared up with the kitten scene, IYKYK. Ronan is a fckn big ol softie and is my new book boyfriend bc he's a man down bad. Go read it, you'll love it!!! Infinity fkn stars!!!

Thank you Claire for letting me read this early! 🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

[Belle (on hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

Stumbled upon this one and I loved it! MC's are neighbours for the last 5 years and have had a crush on each other but only bicker.

I loved the mental health rep with Ronan, as someone with diagnosed OCD I feel like it was portrayed really well - like yes we know what we're doing is unreasonable, but we still need to do it.

☆ Dual pov
☆ MMC celibate for 10 years/FMC at least 5 years
☆ Fake-dating/neighbours
☆ Sheriff MMC/baker FMC
☆ No cheating or OW/OM drama
☆ HEA ending + epilogue

[𝑨𝒂𝒔𝒉 ۶ৎ · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐☆☆☆☆ (Honestly should be illegal to give this more than 1 star)

What even was the plot? Oh wait—that’s right, it was just page after page of the FMC reminding me how she literally cannot make a single damn decision for herself. That’s it. That’s the book. “I don’t know what I want.” “I can’t do this.” “Please make a choice for me.” Girl, if I wanted to watch someone whine and wilt like week-old lettuce, I’d stand in line at Starbucks behind a customer who can’t pick a drink.

I swear, this book tested my patience like no other. The FMC was not just weak—she was pathetic. Yes, I said it. People defending her like, “But she has trauma” … trauma my ass. You had trauma, fine, but you also had TIME. Time to get therapy. Time to build a backbone. Instead, she spends chapters upon chapters calling her daddy, her family, her whatever-the-hell, and never once taking accountability. Sis, Google exists. Therapists exist. Friends exist. But no, she prefers to drown in self-pity and call it a personality.

The only halfway-functioning brain cell in this entire book belonged to the MMC. And honestly, I’m convinced he stayed around because someone had to babysit the disaster that is this FMC. I’m not even giving him a full star—just 0.5 for having enough sense not to drool like the rest of the cast.

And the people giving this book 4 or 5 stars? Blink twice if you’re okay. Actually, no, blink twice if you’ve lost your damn minds. Because what exactly are you all romanticizing? The “heroine” who couldn’t tell a creepy guy to back off? The heroine whose family emotionally abuses her while she just sits there like, “Okay :)”? Or maybe you just like watching spinelessness disguised as storytelling? No, seriously, explain yourselves. Explain.

And Claire Brooks—girl. What possessed you to write this mess? Were you bored? Was this a dare? Because this is not “angsty romance.” This is me suffering through a 300-page character study of how to be a doormat. You wrote an FMC with the personality of wet cardboard and then made her the center of a story. WHY.

I swear, this book makes me want to create 360 Goodreads accounts just to tank the rating until it disappears into the abyss where it belongs. It doesn’t deserve shelf space. It doesn’t deserve eBook memory space. It barely deserves the pixels it’s printed on.

Final thoughts: 0.5 star for me (because I endured this shitshow), 0.5 for the MMC (for keeping his neurons firing). Everyone else? Straight trash. To the readers hyping this up: seek help. To the author: seek therapy. To myself: seek bleach to rinse my brain after this.

[Amara F · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I was given this book as an eArc but my review is based solely on my own thoughts and opinions*


I give this book a 4 stars. I really enjoyed this book, it started off great, I love a good fake dating story. I really appreciate how real this relationship felt. With her anxiety and imperfections and his ocd. He wasn’t rich, he was just a hot sheriff, yes please lol. Side characters were likeable. I did feel like there was a lot of backstory with a lot of these characters, it felt like a lot of them had side stories that I was missing like this was the second in the series, I felt like a whole other story happened beforehand that I was missing. I wanted this book to be more about the relationship and and their life, if that makes sense, there were aspects about the book that had serious undertones like cheating, suicide, mental abuse etc which I felt were mixed in so well, cause the book felt very real, not just some fake relationship trope, so the addition of the bad guy at the end felt so so out of place, it felt like a completely different story/book/tone of book. It threw me off and took me away from this amazing story that had been gripping me before it. There was a lot of repetitive thoughts, like they kept repeating the same thing over again, it’s like girl, use your words with him hahaha but I get it, humans, we are complex and are super emotional (including me). I thought the author did a great job and my tummy had butterflies through like 80% of this book which is one of my fav reactions to books. They are cute together and I’m happy to have read this book. Ronan is like a man of our dreams!

[Dawn Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the very first page! It is the perfect mix of fake dating, small-town charm, and slow-burning romance with just the right amount of tension. Ronan, the broody sheriff, and our relatable heroine have the kind of chemistry that makes you smile through every page.

What really stood out to me was the OCD representation—it was beautifully written and felt so authentic. I found myself oddly connected to these characters, their struggles, and their dynamic. The way their relationship shifts from pretend to something undeniably real was so heartwarming to watch unfold. Plus, Ronan’s protective side? Swoon-worthy.

If you love grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and fake dating that feels anything but fake, this one’s a must-read. It delivers a sweet, emotional romance that lingers long after the last page. 💙

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Arc Review*

This book was so cute. Ronan is the perfect protective partner.
I literally devoured this book so fast.

Tropes:
Fake Dating
Small town
Grumpy sunshine
Slow burn

[Shushi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice - 🌶🌶

Trope - mature MC's, neighbours, hate to love, age gap, bickering, mental health rep, grief, trauma, fake relationship, sheriff × baker, forced proximity, grumpy × sunshine, he falls first, he reads, romcom, found family, slow-burn, small town, strangers to lovers, suspense, emotional, no-third act breakup, HEA
TW- rape/drugged sexual assault, emotional abuse, suicide (recollection), death of a parent.
Bonus chapter - 1 novella

I can't speak highly enough about this book; it was the very definition of sweet, cosy romance with a touch of suspense, drama, emotion, and equally mature characters.

Willow's father is a narcissistic asshole who does nothing but pull her down; so to avoid his questioning, she lies that she is dating the town sheriff, Ronan, who loves bickering with her every day over anything related to their neighbouring duplex. Their banter was top-notch.

Soon enough, a year passes without a mention, and her lies come to bite her when her dad announces his sudden arrival. She has no option but to ask the grump of a neighbour to be her fake boyfriend.

The way their relationship began was awkward but also adorable.

Ronan was a complete grump, but the way he was a totally different person around his loved ones showed how much care and affection he carried within him. His OCD and trauma were so well expressed and written. He was an excellent cop and person—he was a character I wanted to keep in my heart forever.

Willow was a lovely FMC, and it pained my heart to read her story and thoughts. My heart plummeted when that break-in happened. It was one of the scariest scenes—I felt like I was gonna die with Willow. Her trauma was subtle, but the way it was highlighted with equal effectiveness made me like this book even more.

Both Ronan and Willow were remarkably emotionally intelligent, and the way they handled life, regardless of the challenges, made them truly human. Their relationship was gradual; they built a bond, flirted, and understood each other before they took the next step. They said it was 'fake,' but it was anything but that; their relationship was significant and wholesome.

These two grew together in their relationship; like the character development was just too good to miss. Their relationship was something you continuously adored and pinned for; it was grounding and beautiful. These two were the perfect match for each other.

Her dad and stepfamily made me boil with anger, and I was so happy that she had Ronan to stand beside her.

Things I loved -
* That one scene where he was trying to ask her out was so hilarious and cute.
* Trinity and her cute antics; she was so loving, and it hurt me so much to read about her past and struggles.
* Emotions were high in this book- I loved how they just didn't come and go, but stayed even after the book was done.
* The suspense element was really well written - I loved how it added a little kick to the book; it scared me but also made me hopeful for the best.
* The exploration of mental health and other trauma-related topics added depth to the story and was expertly written.
_______________________________

The spice hit around 70%, but damn, it was good. It just didn't happen out of the blue; you were made to wait for it, yearn for it, and then it hit you like a rock-hard punch and left an impact. I was rooting for the couple from the first chapter, even before they got together; that was how well their chemistry was.

The ending was sweet and exciting. I'm eager to begin book two: a Reformed Playboy becoming a single dad? SIGN ME UP.

The bonus novella was the cherry on top; what better way to end an excellent book? It was spicy, sweet, cosy, just like the main book was.

OMFG, I enjoyed it through and through.
I loved everything about it.
Highly recommended.
Overall 5/5

[Jen Altman · Rating 5 out of 5]

And award for best execution of the fake dating trope goes to…. 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅 by Claire Brooks! 🏆

From the charming small-town setting to the perfect slow burn romance, I was completely engrossed in this story. So much in fact that I read half the book in one sitting because I just could not put it down!

Ronan’s brooding sheriff persona paired with Willow’s relatable charm and insecurities creates an irresistible dynamic. Claire Brooks gracefully handles mental health rep – including OCD and PTSD, adding a layer of depth and emotional authenticity to the story. I really appreciate authors who allow their characters to be flawed, showing their humanity rather than presenting perfect facades. It’s so much easier to relate to.

The shift from fake dating to real relationship felt genuine. This is a couple who’s impossible not to root for. And let’s be honest that’s in part to Ronan’s protective side and filthy mouth... SWOON! 😍 This book gave me all the feels. I laughed, I cried, and I clutched my invisible pearls from the uncontainable fanny flutters. It’s just that good. I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE SECOND BOOK IN THIS SERIES! 👏 👏

These tropes though!
✦ Fake dating
✦ Sheriff & baker
✦ Grumpy x sunshine
✦ Just one bed
✦ Slow burn
✦ He calls her “Shortcake”
✦ Small town romance
✦ Bickering neighbors
✦ Romantic suspense
✦ Mental health rep
✦ He falls first and harder
✦ Over-protective MMC with a filthy mouth

❤️ 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅 is available now & FREE to read on Kindle Unlimited!

[Paige Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

HEAR ME OUT!!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣
I am a spice loving woman! 🌶️ I like spice immediately in my books! Play Pretend’s spice started at 70%! Do NOT let that turn you off from this book! The build up was natural and not forced. I was rooting for them to get together but it didn’t drag on to where it was frustrating. The way this story is written, it was perfectly placed and well worth the wait.

I was starting a reading slump before I started this book(IYKYK) This book had me HOOKED from the beginning. I absolutely loved this book!! Play Pretend is probably one of my favorite romance books ever!!

The representation of OCD and PTSD was astounding! I felt really connected with the MMC which is very unusual for me. Claire Brooks did a wonderful job giving readers that do not have OCD or PTSD an idea of how impactful it is on daily life.

The character development throughout the book gave me ambition to work on my own life! To bond with these characters as I did almost felt like a friendship!

This book is fantastic and I will share it with everyone but please check your ‼️‼️‼️TW‼️‼️‼️

[Ryana Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

i can't even comprehend how good this was. i also can't believe i read this as fast as i did but the dishes still dirty in the sink are evidence of how much this book consumed me. i don't even know where to start, i loved it all.

the characters, main and supporting, were so likeable. everybody had good chemistry and dialogue was fun to follow. i'm excited to see what theo brings but holy heck am i really anticipating adam because i love nothing more than a tortured mmc.

willow and ronan are so funny in the beginning because they clearly are attracted to each other but just don't know how to express it. but it becomes so evident that ronan never disliked her when he agrees to play the part and what happens after is a thing a beauty. ronan is not only silent support but he's THERE fighting with her and he does it in a way that doesn't take away her strength. and that's what i liked about willow as well, she does find herself, it's not perfect or easy but when is it ever? on and when he rescues her!?!?!? yeah i was so in, i saw all the posts on insta about it but when it actually happened? the impact was so much greater.

now to the spice. this is my first 5 alarm spice book this year and it's because the effing mouth on this man. it always the silent and broody ones, i swear. the gasps i gusped!!! not to mention this man had me BLUSHING. yeah that good. so yeah, 5 🌶️ lol

what's inside:
-sheriff x baker
-next door neighbors
-fake relationship
-forced proximity
-one bed
-found family

cw/tw:
-emotionally abusive parents, toxic parental relationship
-burglary where FMC is in danger
-mentions of a drugged sexual assault (not fmc)
-mentions of a suicide attempt (not fmc)
-kidnapping and assault
-descriptive sexual content (!!!!)

thank you so much for the ARC and i'm so excited for what's next ❤️❤️❤️

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic read! I loved both Willow and Ronan. Their chemistry was great and the way they supported each other was so good and heartfelt. She has anxiety from her dad and his new family never choosing her and he has OCD and anxiety over something that tragically happened to his family. They start as neighbors that aren't that friendly but both have been pining for the other for years. They come together when she needs a fake boyfriend but soon the lines blur. When something happens to Willow, can Ronan save her? Will she stand up to her family?

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75/5 stars
such a sweet romance! they did move really quickly but they are such a cute couple i loved them!

[Beth J · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was okay, nothing to write home about but a nice easy book to read. I do want the cat though.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐-> ♾️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

🧁 Fake Dating
❤️ He Falls Fast & Hard
🧁 Mutual Pining
❤️ Small Town
🧁 Enemies To Lovers
❤️ Forced Proximity
🧁 Mental Health Rep

⚠️ Please Check Your Trigger Warnings ⚠️ 

When I read the Blurb for this book I was like SAY LESS. I knew this book was going to have me feeling some type of way. Less did I realize it would have me in my feels all the way through the book and feeling so seen. I told my bestie that I have never felt like an author has pulled things from my brain more than in this book. My heart resided in my throat through a good chunk of this book and I'm not mad about it. It was some great exposure therapy. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it. It's uncomfortable as hell, but darn do you feel better later on. 

Willow and Ronan were two souls who were meant to find each other at the most inopportune time. That they did, they just didn't realize why. I love that they had a Enemies To Lovers relationship because they were able to appreciate each other more for who they were. They each had their own things going, but couldn't do it alone like they could together. 

These two were perfect for each other, they could calm each other in ways that no one else had ever even tried. Seeing how much Willow already felt for him even before she could have easily asked him out and went from there. But thay doesn't make everything as much fun or interesting 😂. 

Ronan was definitely a sensitive soul who struggled with OCD and guilt. I felt for him when he struggled so hard. Being in a cycle that you can't break is so challenging mentalling and takes a toll on you physically as well. Even with his struggles this man was an ANGEL 😇. DO YOU HEAR ME IN THE BACK?? A whole angel. This man protected Willow to the DEATH! Literally and figuratively speaking. He stood up for her when she wasn't able to, he was her strength when she lost it. I was cheering this man on as he was going to battle for our girl. I couldn't have felt more vindicated on her behalf. 

I absolutely loved everything about this book, even if it had me in my feels and all over the place. Claire, you went and wrecked me but I'm here for it. And I can't wait to get wrecked all over again for Theo's story. 


🔥 Let's Talk About Sex Baby 🥵: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Willow and Ronan were two of the sexiest people I have read. And I have read some sexy people. They weren't sexy because they were humping each other everywhere all the time. They were sexy because there was a mutual attraction but it wasn't a meaningless one. It meant more than just sex for them. 

But thay doesn't mean they didn't get sexy in the car, on a tree or probably other places we just don't know about 😜. They had that tension and chemistry that really set off fireworks between them. And I was here for it all. 


I received a complimentary copy via the Claire Brooks. All opinions are my own, honest and voluntary.

[Bailey Peloquin(Baileys.fully.booked) · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did Claire craft such an incredible story in her debut novel? Play Pretend was exactly what I needed to shake off my book slump and dive into a world of heartfelt romance!

From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. Ronan and Willow’s chemistry is truly something special. Their journey from bickering neighbors to fake dating is filled with delightful moments—think trivia nights, karaoke at a local bar, and even sharing a bed. It’s impossible not to root for their undeniable love!

Ronan, our charming male main character, is a protective 33-year-old sheriff with OCD, who has a quirky habit of organizing everything in sevens. I was really impressed with how Claire portrayed his disorder with such sensitivity and depth; it added layers to his character without feeling frustrating or overwhelming to the reader. Well done!

Then we have Willow, our lovely female main character, a 27-year-old baker who’s on a mission to perfect her chocolate croissants and cinnamon rolls at a cozy coffee shop. Her struggle to gain her father’s love leads her to concoct a clever plan: to tell him she’s dating someone in town. Enter Ronan, who can’t stand the way Willow’s father treats her. The tension and dynamic between them is electric!

But wait, there’s a twist involving Willow’s ex-boyfriend that adds even more intrigue to the story. You’ll want to read this book on Kindle Unlimited to discover the full journey of Willow and Ronan!

I absolutely adored this read, and I’m sure you will too! Huge congratulations to Claire on her debut novel! I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next. Happy reading! 💖📚

[Hannah Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Play Pretend

Cedar Ridge Series - Book 1

Read if you love:
Sheriff x Bakers
Enemies to Lovers
Romantic Suspense
Bickering Neighbors
Fake Dating
Tortured Past
OCD Rep

Ronan & Willow

He is the grumpy town sheriff of Cedar Ridge. She is a baker with an impossible to please father. She’s been lying about dating her grumpy neighbor for over a year to please her family so when a surprise visit threatens to blow her cover, Willow must persuade Ronan to go along with the lie. Ronan fights battle no one knows about and a girlfriend is the last thing on his mind, so he initially turns Willow’s request to “play pretend”. He ultimately has a change of heart…in more ways than one.

Play Pretend was such an amazing read. I loved the way they referred to fake dating as playing pretend. Ronan was an amazing MMC. His internal struggles were heartbreaking but the way he fought to overcome to get what he truly wanted was perfect. I was cheering for him the entire book. Willow was so patient and loving, I loved the way these two navigated their struggles and obstacles together. The slow burn was so good and so worth it when these two finally came together. I love great communication and Ronan and Willow communicated so well. The suspenseful plot had me flipping the pages and had me guessing until the end. The ending was awesome! Play Pretend was well paced and great read, highly recommend.

Coming to Kindle Unlimited March 14th!
Huge thanks to Claire Brooks for allowing me to read an ARC of Play Pretend!

[Sharon A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Play Pretend by Claire Brooks

4.5🌟🌟🌟🌟

Quote: “That’s the risk we take when we fall in love, sometimes it works out, and sometimes….. Sometimes they leave you high and dry, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. You just have to decide if it’s worth the risk.”

Willow has been lying for a year to her dad that she was dating her neighbor her grumpy Sheriff neighbor Ronan. Her relationship with her Dad has always been on shaky ground and she thought this would help til he decides they will be coming for a visit in three weeks. She isn’t going to tell him she lied or that her and Ronan broke up, so she does the only thing possible she asks Ronan to help her and fake date. He says he will do it but it has to appear real and they need to start immediately so when they get here it seems real. What could possibly go wrong? There is an added twist to this story that I absolutely loved.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Raianna Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books I COULD NOT PUT DOWN. From the start I was fully invested in Willow & Ronans story. I felt ALL the emotions. Wanted to cry & hug both of them but especially Willow with how her family treated her. Ro is a sweet baby angel who’s protective, grumpy (but not always with her), possessive, and has a filthy mouth. The pacing was great, I loved the writing style & the plot was done so well with the twist/ suspense. Mental health rep is a big thing & done seriously well. I just loved this book so so much. And I am SO EXCITED for the next book & hopefully more after that!!

🌊 sheriff x baker
🌊 small coastal town
🌊 suspense
🌊 overly protective MMC
🌊 fake dating
🌊 mental health rep
🌊 no third act break up
🌊 he falls first & harder

Thank you Claire for an arc! Opinions & review are honest & my own!

[Jessica's Book Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

Play Pretend (Cedar Ridge #1) by Claire Brooks had me all over the place. I felt like I was reading two different books and unfortunately that’s not a good thing…

The first half of the book was amazing!!! Written in duo POV between Ronan, a local sheriff with OCD, he’s grumpy and has kept to himself over the past 10 years and his neighbor Willow that has daddy issues and moved away from Ohio to this small town in Maine. She is closed off and both have severe emotional baggage. The two neighbors act like they despise each other but have been secretly crushing on one another for 5 years.

Willows daddy issues are severe and she begins to make up a “boyfriend” and has Ronan as said boyfriend and keeps up this secret for a year. Finally her father is visiting her and she needs Ronan to pretend to be this boyfriend…. This is where the story loses it for me.

First I want to say this book had a lot of potential. I think it needs to be cleaned up a little and more in depth. It started off really emotional and I love a good emotional book. However, 50% in this fake relationship becomes real and they immediately love each other. This isn’t your typical fake relationship. The feelings were already there The dialogue, particularly Ronan’s is pretty cheesy and there is way too much smutty scenes when the author could have kept up with the emotional angst. I also got a creeper vibe from Ronan the entire time. I also felt overall the characters were not developed enough. Like I said, this book has sooooo much potential. I just wish the angsty emotional pull that the first part of the book had continued all the way through.

I give Play Pretend (Cedar Ridge #1) by Claire Brooks 3 stars.

[Ashley Rockholt · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC REVIEW**

Ronan suffers with crippling OCD and PTSD. He goes through the motions of weird routines. No one knows why he has to lock his car several times everytime he exits it, or any of the other mundane tasks he has to do.

Willow, the cute neighbor next door is always taking a peek at him. Shes been watching him for years. Always curious what makes the town sheriff tick. And why must he always put his trash cans on HER side of the driveway? For years these two bicker back and forth as they interact with each other. But one day a lie slips from Willow that she can’t take back. Now she needs Ronan to play along…

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Play Pretend follows Ronan and Willow through it all it seems. From fake dating to a little thriller and drama, this book covers it all. I loved the mental health representation in this book, I feel like a lot of books don’t seem to do mental health representation well, if at all. I ate this book up and left no crumbs, I absolutely adored these characters. If you’re looking for fake dating a seemingly grumpy sheriff, this is the book for you.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s always the quiet ones who end up being the loudest in the bedroom 😏 Ronan Caldwell, you and your dirty mouth are welcome in my bedroom anytime.

I absolutely adored this book, the fake dating was cute as pie and I love the added suspense element. Both characters were adorably awkward and it just made this story so perfect. They both had their own insecurities and ‘flaws’ but all they needed was to be loved by the right person.

It’s the best start to a series and I can’t wait for more.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

They're neighbors, they bicker, she tells her (awful) dad that they're dating, and a fake relationship lasts all of three seconds before it's a real one and then there's some crazy stalker stuff and that sort of thing. I liked the hero (OCD, protective, cute) and heroine (a baker, cute). You know the type!

[maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this while in the waiting room during my dad’s brain surgery so while it wasn’t the best, it did keep me incredibly occupied so i can’t knock too many stars off for the insane timeline of this couple

[heavenscloud17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chemistry so good I felt like a third wheel... and I loved it. I gasped, I cackled, I reread some scenes 7 times. This book didn’t just raise the bar, it threw it into orbit. It deserves a whole galaxy of stars ✨✨

[Amanda (_sunshine_reads_) Hengen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one! Such a cute read! But, also, it does deal with some mental health topics. I think it was very well done. Willow & Ronan - loved them both! Fake dating? Say less. The audiobook was great! Now, I have to wait a week for book 2 audio. But I can’t wait to listen!