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The Pump Fake: Sexy as Sin Series

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Jade

All my life, basketball has been everything. The dream? The WNBA. Nothing else mattered. Now that I’m playing for the Los Angeles Stars, life should be perfect. That is until the team’s general manager throws me a hook shot I never saw coming—I need to be more approachable, more likable to my teammates and fans.

Enter Cliff—my best friend, my agent, the one person who has always had my back. His wild idea? A fake relationship to soften my image. Simple enough, right? Except I decide to take control and flip the script. If I’m going to fake date someone, why not him?

It’s just for show. Just for a little while. But somewhere between staged smiles and stolen glances, whispered secrets and touches that last a little too long, the lines blur. And suddenly, the game I thought I had mastered is playing me instead—because what started as pretend is starting to feel very real.

And this time, love is on the line.

CliffBecoming a sports manager for female athletes has been a dream come true. I’m thriving in Los Angeles, working with some of the best in the game. But when the general manager of one of my top clients issues an ultimatum—make Jade softer or she’ll be traded—I know I need to act fast. The problem? I have no idea how to pull it off.

That’s when Hunter, one of my co-workers, throws out a wild idea—have her fake date someone. Simple. Easy. No strings.

Then Jade flips the play on me and suggests that I be the one she fake dates.

I knew from the start this was a bad idea. I’ve had feelings for Jade since the moment I met her, but I’ve buried them deep. This is just business. Just an act.

But the more time we spend together, the harder it is to pretend. The way she looks at me, the way she fits so effortlessly into my world—none of it feels fake. And when the lines finally blur beyond recognition, I realize I might have just made the biggest play of my life—one that could cost me everything.

Because with Jade? Losing isn’t an option.


This book is a part of the Sexy as Sin Where badass female athletes don't mind working up a good sweat on or off the field.

101 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 13, 2025

3 people are currently reading
24 people want to read

About the author

Nichole Ruschelle

28 books80 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
Profile Image for Carrington.
325 reviews
March 13, 2025
Thanks to Happily Booked PR for the arc! Really enjoyed! Fast-paced & great characters. Will read others in this series.
Profile Image for tina maisonette.
155 reviews12 followers
April 8, 2025

Absolutely loved this book! It masterfully captures a woman fiercely chasing her dreams and prioritizing her career to the point where it feels like her entire existence revolves around work—until she’s challenged to show some emotion or risk losing everything she's built. Enter the plan: a daring transformation of her image!

What follows is the sweetest, most swoon-worthy friends-to-lovers story that hits all the perfect tropes—fake dating, guarded emotions, and a best friend/agent who truly *sees* her. Cliff is pure swoon material, Jade is bold and unapologetically fierce, and the chemistry between them? Off-the-charts electric. I loved every single interaction—they felt so real and raw.

This book is the ultimate feel-good read, balancing heart, humor, and heat perfectly. It left me grinning like crazy, and I’m *all in* for the next book in this series. Highly recommend if you’re looking to lose yourself in a romance that ticks all the right boxes!
Profile Image for Rachael Patera.
411 reviews4 followers
March 21, 2025
Jade is a WNBA star who is deemed by her team and the media as cold and unapproachable. The team owner wants her image to turn around or else he will think about trading her for someone more likable. In order to change the media's perception of her and give her image a boost, Cliff, her agent, thinks she should fake date someone to show a softer side of her and make her more approachable.

Jade doesn't want just any guy to fake date so she agrees but only if Cliff, who is also a good friend of hers, is the one to be her fake boyfriend.

Jade and Cliff both have feelings towards each other but they have always kept them secret and maintained a professional relationship. When they begin to fake date, they can't fake the true feelings anymore though. What you get is a spicy short novella that was a quick and enjoyable read!

I know this is a novella but I think I would have enjoyed a little more simmering before they went all in. It seemed that once they decided to fake date it turned into everything. thought they could have danced around a hit more before jumping all on.

Huge thanks to Happily Booked PR for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jessica.
129 reviews5 followers
March 13, 2025
A quick engaging read! We all fake dating never last long. The friends to lovers works well for a novella. The history between the two is assumed which works for a short story. They easily could be stretched into a longer story. The whole time I was thinking “had this been an NBA star, no one would care!”

Thank you Hambright for this ARC. All thoughts are my own and very much enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Anjana (bookishscrolls).
64 reviews
March 11, 2025
Thank you to the author and Happily Booked PR for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I don’t read a lot of contemporary romance, but I really enjoyed The Pump Fake! From the start, I loved how it tackled the challenges women face in sports, especially the contrast in how male and female athletes are treated. The MMC’s realization that a situation like this wouldn’t even be an issue in men’s sports was such a great touch.

Since this is a novella, the pacing is fast, and we dive right into the story—which made it even more fun. One of my favorite things was how the MMC was always supportive of the FMC. He never tried to change her, never questioned how much her game meant to her. He just got her, and that kind of unwavering support was so refreshing to see. And the same goes for the FMC—she truly knew and cared for the MMC, which made their dynamic even more compelling.

Even with the fast pacing, the romance didn’t feel rushed. The backstory of their feelings simmering under the surface for years made everything so much more satisfying. Plus, the spice? Definitely there, with open-door scenes that fit the intensity of their connection.

Overall, The Pump Fake was a fun, fast-paced, and swoon-worthy read. If you love fake dating, supportive love interests, and women absolutely owning their space in sports, this one’s worth picking up!
Profile Image for Demi P. Sewell.
155 reviews3 followers
May 21, 2025
The Pump Fake: Sexy as Sin Series delivers a delightful, short and sweet romance that hits all the right notes for fans of the fake dating and best friends to lovers tropes. 🏀 Set against the backdrop of the WNBA, Nichole Ruschelle weaves a story that's both sweet and steamy, with just the right amount of sports drama. Jade, a powerhouse basketball star, and Cliff, her longtime best friend, are compelling characters whose chemistry leaps off the page. 🔥 Both are wildly attracted to each other, but neither have shared their feelings, so it is interesting to read their inner monologues when they are around each other.

I really appreciated how the author showcased the challenges faced by women in professional sports, adding depth to the story beyond the romance. The "fake dating" scenario provided plenty of comedic and tender moments, and the "open-door" scenes added a satisfying level of heat. 🥰

While the story is relatively light and easy to read, it doesn't skimp on emotional connection. Ruschelle skillfully balances the demands of Jade's career with the blossoming romance, creating a believable and engaging narrative. If you're looking for a quick, enjoyable read with strong characters and a satisfying romantic payoff, this novella is a slam dunk! 💯

4/5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Profile Image for Mars Rads.
476 reviews11 followers
March 28, 2025
4.25 Stars

This was a short, fast paced read about a WNBA star that is known for being an “ice queen”. Her manager, that has also been in love with her since he first met her, tells her that the best way to fix her image is to fake date someone. This is a sweet, short fake dating story that was over before I even realized. It was a novella, so there was no time to dive too deep into these characters, but you were able to get a small glimpse at who these two people are. It was refreshing to read a sports romance where the athlete is the FMC. My only real issue was that I wanted more. I wanted a deeper dive into the FMC’s trust issues and I would have loved to extend the relationship between these two so we could see more dating. But I enjoyed these characters and I think it is a testament to the writer that I wanted more of these two.

Jade is a professional basketball player that is at the top of her game. She was the MVP and she is determined to reach the Championship. Because of an incident in college, she trusts almost no one and comes off as cold. The fans and her teammates are starting to close off to her because of her perceived coldness. But that isn’t who she is and Cliff, her best friend and manager, is one of the few people who really knows her. She knows that she doesn’t want to fake date anyone but Cliff because she doesn’t trust anyone else. These two are sweet together and it is easy to see the connection between them.

This is novella is short and fast paced. The relationship in it moves very fast and the spice is actually pretty plentiful for a book that is only about 100 pages long. When these two get together there is fireworks, and the spice is definitely hot. I know this was a novella and meant to be short, but I feel like the writer did a good job packing in so much information in a short story. Of course I wanted it longer, but that’s only because I enjoyed these characters and wanted more. This story is perfect if you want a very short, sports romance with two great characters.
Profile Image for Lindsey Adams.
1,083 reviews22 followers
March 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Although a quick read, this book doesn’t skimp on the storyline, plot, or spice. Nichole has perfected the art of writing novellas, but giving as much as a full length novel. I have never felt as though a story is too quickly paced, missing elements, or rushed. I enjoy being able to escape reality for a bit with her amazing novellas and really loved this one. I wish there were more basketball sport romances out there, so this one definitely caught my attention.

When I saw this book featured basketball as the sport and had a female pro player, I knew I had to read it. Playing basketball all my life, I was immediately hooked. The story between Cliff and Jade was a great read. With mutual pining for each other, but not wanting to put their careers at risk, they have pushed said feelings down and focused on staying friends. Now Jade is in need of a rebranding, as she currently comes across cold and disinterested. It is decided a fake relationship will help her seem less cold and more approachable.

She agrees with one condition, Cliff is her fake boyfriend. Cliff agrees but is worried he won’t be able to stay in the fake zone and the lines will begin to blur. Remember how I mentioned mutual pining? They don’t know the other shares the same pining feelings. With their relationship and careers on the line, will they be able to keep things professional or will their desires be too hard to ignore?

The witty banter between these two made the book filled with delicious tension and flirty moments. Their families add to the tension as well, which brings a great dynamic to the storyline. Nichole does an excellent job giving us everything we enjoy in a full length novel, but within a novella.

As always, review any author notes before reading.

Tropes:
🏀Basketball Romance
💋Sports Romance
🏀Female Player
💋Fake Dating
🏀Best Friends to Lovers
💋Novella
Profile Image for IaMeganF aka Booksinthebackseat .
51 reviews9 followers
April 5, 2025
Book Review: The Pump Fake by Nichole Ruschelle
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Short, spicy, and so sweet!)

If you love the fake dating trope—especially when it’s between best friends—this book is about to be your new obsession.

Cliff and Jade have been best friends for years. They friend-zoned each other early on… despite both secretly harboring major crushes. Jade is a star in the WNBA—fierce, unapologetic, and a total powerhouse. But off the court, her icy persona (hello, Elsa vibes) has given her a bit of a PR problem. When her team suggests a fake boyfriend to help soften her image, she turns to the last person Cliff expected—him.

Cliff, her manager and biggest cheerleader, never thought he’d get the chance to play the part of Jade’s boyfriend—even if it’s pretend. But once the “fake” part starts blurring into late-night talks, sizzling tension, and moments that feel a little too real… the truth becomes hard to ignore.

This was my first female basketball romance and I loved every second of it. Jade is strong and guarded. Cliff is sunshine, supportive, and the biggest softie when it comes to her. Their banter? Adorable. Their chemistry? Off the charts. And the way he’s always in her corner, lifting her up with zero hesitation? Chef’s kiss.

“You are perfect,” she says.
“Perfect for you, and only you,” I tell her.

My heart? Puddles.

And let’s not forget Layla—the sweetest little bonus to this story. Her relationship with Cliff was so heart-melting, it had me smiling like a goof. This novella may be short, but it’s packed with emotional moments, laughter, heat, and heart.

If you’re a fan of:
• Best Friends to Lovers
• Fake Dating
• Sports Romance
• Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
• Found Family Vibes
• Quick, Steamy Reads

…then The Pump Fake is exactly what your TBR needs. I devoured it in one sitting and already want to reread it. Nichole Ruschelle brought the heat and the heart with this one.
Profile Image for Sadie S.
42 reviews6 followers
March 18, 2025
⭐️3.5 ⭐️

🏀Novella
🖤Best Friends to lovers
🏀Fake Dating
🖤Woman Basketball Player
🏀Sports Romance

The Pump Fake by Nichole Ruschelle was a fun, quick, steamy (open door) and easy to binge read.

Jade is a WNBA star who is not fitting into the team's social standards and image. She comes across as cold and distant to both the fans and teammates on her professional basketball team. Jade’s lack of connection and approachability with her fans and team is putting her a risk of being traded if she doesn’t show improvement. Her agent and best friend, Cliff, steps in with a PR save. She must fake a romantic relationship to show her softer side and that she isn’t unapproachable.

Jade agrees on one condition. Cliff has to be the person she fake dates because she wants it to be someone she trusts.

Cliff agrees, knowing that he has to keep his feelings hidden and his hands to himself when they are not putting on a show of affection in public. Though he has no idea that Jade has the same feelings, the same fears and doubts as he does. If this goes bad not only could this plan ruin their friendship, it could cause tension and discord in their families because her sister is married to his brother.

I enjoyed their chemistry and wish that the novella would have been longer and that their tension could have built up more. I would have enjoyed this as a longer novel.

Cliff was a cute and very supportive MMC. I did not care for the nickname Cliff gave Jade.

Jade and Cliff knows see one another. They feel safe, comfortable, and just seem to get each other as if they were made to be end game.

Thank you so much Nichole and HappilybookedPR for sending me this arc to review! All opinions and reviews are my own!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Rebmay.
2,800 reviews50 followers
March 10, 2025
This might be a quick read, but it doesn’t lack for character or storyline development. Both Jade and Cliff are fascinating and engaging characters that make it easy to want to keep reading their story and discover how they got their happily ever after. Both have been attracted to each other from the moment they met, but buried that and any feelings other than friendship in order to concentrate on their fledgling careers. Now, Jade is in need of a public perception makeover, or she could be traded to another team. She comes across as cold and distant to both the fans and teammates on her professional basketball team. The solution, a fake romantic relationship, to make her seem softer, more approachable.

Jade throws Cliff, her manager, for a loop when she agrees to the plan if he is her fake dating partner. He agrees, wondering if he can keep his feelings hidden and his hands to himself when they are not putting on a show of affection in public. He has no idea that Jade has the same feelings, the same fears and doubts as he does. Not only could this plan ruin their friendship, it could cause tension and discord in their families because her sister is married to his brother. But what if they finally reveal their feelings to each other and they can have their own happily ever after?

I enjoyed the rapport and connection between Jade and Cliff. They really do see each other, know what the other likes and feel comfortable and safe with each other. When they are finally brave enough to say how they feel, the world doesn’t end, there is no rejection and a happily ever after is in sight.

I am happy to recommend this very engaging book.
Profile Image for Amanda Grier .
261 reviews3 followers
March 13, 2025
If you’re looking for a super cute, quick read - this is the one for you. I read this in about 1 hour, given that this novella is maybe 100 pages.

Jade’s reputation is on the line. & while I can understand, especially when you’re the face of a woman’s basketball team, I get that some people just don’t connect with others that fast. Especially when you’ve have a bad scenario happen before, so it makes it harder to open up and put yourself out there. In other words, try and be friendly.

Her manager/ best friend is the one that has to break the news to her about the possibility of a trade if she can’t improve her rep, but in the way of a fake relationship. Even though, he can’t imagine seeing her with anyone else. Cliff and Jade are best friends, but there are some hidden feelings. Against what he thought would be best, Jade only agrees to a fake relationship with him and no one else.

Jade is made to be so much worse than she is. Some people just like to keep to themselves and don’t feel the need to form those connections with others. Cliff has been there for her through it all, so it’s only natural she would only want to pursue this fake relationship with him.

Such a fast paced read and to the point. Cliff was great and they were perfect for one another from the jump.
Profile Image for Josie Bookstagram.
325 reviews31 followers
March 29, 2025
"Ever since the moment I had her lips on mine, I haven’t been able to think of anything else." 🏀


Oh my goodness, where do I even begin? The Pump Fake by Nichole Ruschelle was such a fun book and a definite 5 🌟 read for sure!  As a devout lover of the fake dating trope, I’ve read my fair share, but I never get bored of it and this book did not disappoint.


From the very first page, I loved Cliff and Jade's fun dynamic. Cliff, with his sweet nature and hidden depths, was simply irresistible. And Jade? Strong, witty, and fiercely independent, she was a heroine I instantly rooted for. Their chemistry sizzled off the page, making their fake relationship feel anything but.  What I particularly adored about The Pump Fake was its efficiency. Being a novella, it didn't waste a single word. There was no drawn-out, tedious slow burn here – just pure, unadulterated romantic tension that built beautifully towards their happily ever after. Nichole Ruschelle masterfully balanced the humour and heart, creating a story that was both light-hearted and deeply emotional. I found myself laughing one minute and swooning the next. This is my second book by Nichole Ruschelle, and it has solidified her as an author whose work I will eagerly seek out in the future.
Profile Image for Chasing Silhouettes.
240 reviews26 followers
March 11, 2025
What do you do when your career, your dreams, and all that you have worked hard for are threatened to be deflated? Would dating your best friend / manager be out of bounds? Could it lead to the ultimate slam dunk, dribbling like it's hot... or a mistake that has them balling and bouncing... a friendship ruined?

“If I’m going to pretend to date anyone, I want it to be with someone I can trust. I want it to be you.”

Quick novella, as novellas ought to be. It was pretty predictable and tame, except for their wild hunger for one another once the game was on for free-throw. They just needed this perfect setup to score. It was easy. There was very little resistance to the play.

Ok, enough of the puns.

Fake dating opened up the possibilities of what could be, enabling them to have free reign to explore the feelings they already had, that they had kept buried for the sake of their friendship.

Overall, it was an ok read for me. The overuse of the nickname he had for her was kind of annoying, though. 🤷‍♀️

3 🌟 electronic Advance Reader Copy courtesy of Happily Booked PR.
Profile Image for Nora Ellen (Nbbookery).
684 reviews18 followers
March 14, 2025
When Jade's team's general manager tells her agent to make her more likable or she's getting traded, Cliff has to convince his best friend to fake date someone for a better public image. The tables turn on him when she agrees, only if she can fale date him. Cliff's been harboring a secret crush on Jade and agrees to her demands, knowing his heart is on the line. He has three months to convince his ice queen to fall in love or risk losing his best friend.

Best friends to lovers with that perfect little "aha" moment always get me. Cliff and Jade are best friends, with sizzling potential for more. He's infatuated with her, and now that she's giving him a chance, Cliff is determined to play for keeps. Jade is funny and loving, but only to those she trusts. Her skill on the court speaks for itself, even if she isn't a fan favorite. I love how it took one little push to topple this Jenga tower of feelings straight into romance territory. The spark between them was just screaming for some gasoline.
Profile Image for April.
477 reviews28 followers
April 7, 2025
This is a standalone Novella which forms part of the Sexy As Sin Series.

This story follows Jade and Cliff, best friends since school. With Cliff being Jade's Agent and Jade being forced to be more 'approachable', you know things are about to get interesting.

I found the reverse dynamic in this book really interesting as here we have a professional sportswoman and agent where usually it's the opposite.

We get to see sexism at play, with Jade (who enjoys playing and keeping her private life, private) being told she had to appear more approachable to the fans whereas if she had been a man, the managers would be loving the mysterious, dark horse persona.

Jade is a very private person, and I loved how she has secretly been crushing on Cliff for years.

Cliff was also great as he was very supportive both as a friend and also an agent, so this dynamic was entertaining to watch change and grow!

This Novella packs so much into its 100 pages, and Rochelle keeps the reader entertained and hooked from the moment you start to read!

A great little Novella!
Profile Image for aj.
151 reviews16 followers
March 12, 2025
one thing about me is i LOVE basketball so i was interested in this book from the beginning! i loved that there was actual game play in the story, it really helps bring it altogether. especially because i was a basketball player so i can accurately picture what’s going on LOL. i really liked the story but in some places it did feel a bit sped up in the timeline. i would’ve liked to have more emotional conversations between the main characters, especially since it is a fake dating trope. however, the characters fit so well together and i loved how the author described how their friendship came to be in the beginning. having that extra knowledge & explanation really helped me get excited for their fake dating! the dual POV really added to the story as well because it was nice to see how each character was feeling as the story progressed. it’s a quick read but it’s cute & there’s some spice in it too!
Profile Image for Madison Russell.
20 reviews9 followers
March 13, 2025
📖 BOOK REVIEW 📖

3.75🫶🏻⭐️

🏀 Sports Romance
🧡Best friends to lovers
🏆Fake dating
🏀Novella
🖤 Woman’s Basketball player

This was such a cute read!! Fast paced novella. A pro women’s basketball player not fitting into the team’s social standards and image.
I fell inlove with Jade(FMC) and Cliff (MMC)! A sweet and spicy HEA book!
Cliff was such a nice MMC! So cute, very handsy and such a supportive man. Anything she needed, he gave to her no questions asked. Was really nice and refreshing to see that in a book.
This was one of my first sports romance novellas. The plot was so enjoyable and well written! I do wish we got a bit more about them but sometimes you can’t! With the open door scenes it really fit their tension and connection. I didn’t like the waitress that I think leaked the photos ! 😂Overall this was a really nice and easy read! I do recommend reading.

Thank you so much Nichole and HappilybookedPR for sending me this arc to review! All opinions are my own!
Profile Image for Shana.
256 reviews
March 23, 2025

Jade has always wanted to be in the WNBA. Now that her dream is here and playing for the Las Angeles Stars, the teams general manger throws a wrench in her plans…that she is not likable or approachable. To help fix her image Cliff, her best friend and agent come up with a plan…fake dating someone to make her look softer. Instead of Cliff finding someone, Jade flips the script, he has to do it, in order for her to agree to this plan.

Faking dating is one of my favorite tropes, they never really end up fake after all lol. I thought this was a really fast paced novella, but had enough storyline and plot to keep me interested. Jade and Cliff were so relatable and could tell that Cliff had the longest crush on Jade.

While I have not read the other books in the series, I will be reading them.

This is book seven in the Sexy as Sin series, all about women athletes. This book can be read as a standalone. A novella that can be read in one sitting.
Profile Image for Poorvi.
221 reviews5 followers
March 9, 2025
For Jade, all her life have been basketball. When she is finally start playing for the Los Angeles Stars, the team’s general manager told her that she need to be more approachable, more likable to her teammates and fans. Cliff, her best friend and her agent suggested fake relationship to soften her image. In end she ended up fake dating him. It’s just for show. Just for a little while. Little did she know that Cliff had a life long crush on her, which he had under control. But somewhere between staged smiles and stolen glances, whispered secrets and touches that last a little too long, the lines blur. What started as pretend is starting to feel very real. And this time, love is on the line.
I love their story, it was so cutest. I love how Cliff loved her and worship the ground she walks on. I love how their connection slowly grew in the book.
Profile Image for Crystal Smith.
923 reviews57 followers
March 12, 2025
This was a quick and steamy novella. I love a good fake dating with best friends to lovers trope and this one was so good.

Jade is a NBA basketball player. Playing basketball is what she has loved her whole. But she now has a reputation of not being approachable or friendly.

Cliff is Jades best friend and agent. He is told he is the one who has to make Jade more approachable. They want him to have her fake date someone, but he didn’t expect Jade to suggest it be him.

They both knew from the start it was not going to be a good idea. Secretly they both felt more than friendship between the two. The spice between the two was hot! I loved the friendship and connection the two shared. It was strong even before the began to fake date. When he nicknamed her “Elsa” because she is the ice queen, I giggled out loud.

4⭐️
2.5🌶️
Profile Image for Jordan Fiest.
2,054 reviews31 followers
March 12, 2025
The Pump Fake is part of the Sexy As Sin Series.

I love a good fake dating storyline and this was a good one.

Jade is seen as someone a bit stiff an impersonable, but she was betrayed by a fellow teammate in the past so doesn't want to get close to her teammates again. To change her image, Jade has to pretend to date someone - enter Cliff to the rescue. He is her best friend and manager and the only person she lets see the real her.

I really liked seeing their relationship develop into something more. We see them go from friends to so much more. By embracing her relationship with Cliff, Jade is able to really come out of her shell around others and we get to see a more fun side to her. She is able to let loose and enjoy every aspect of her life.

This was another great installment to the series!
Profile Image for Hana.
132 reviews12 followers
March 13, 2025
The Pump Fake by Nichole Ruschelle was a fun, quick read that gave me exactly what I expected—fake dating, best friends realizing hmm, maybe we should have been doing this all along, and some solid open-door steam.

Jade is a WNBA star who’s too intense for her team (because women can't be intense, apparently? ugh), so her agent/bestie Cliff steps in with a PR save: a fake relationship. Obviously, it spirals because they both have unrequited feelings for each other, duh, and suddenly, they’re not just faking it anymore.

Cliff was such a sweet MMC—so supportive and honestly just all in for Jade from the start. Their chemistry worked, though I could have done without the constant use of that the nickname.

If you’re looking for a low-drama, flirty sports romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this one’s a solid pick! Quick, steamy, and easy to binge.
Profile Image for Charlene Alana  Henderson .
1,071 reviews32 followers
March 15, 2025
This is the first book I've read in the sexy as sin series and Imma need the rest asap if they are anything like this book. Nichole has done it again and brought us another fantastic read. That captivates you from start to finish. I could not put it down at all. I'm obsessed with jade and cliff. They are just super cute and made for each other. They just work. The chemistry between them is fire.

It's a fast paced super quick read but doesn't lack in anything at all. It's just perfect. The characters, plot and storyline where perfectly written. It's action packed with loads. The spice is spicing. I love Nichole ruschelle and the way she creates her characters, their story and their worlds. I'm never disappointed. I can't wait to read more by her. Highly recommend.

“If I’m going to pretend to date anyone, I want it to be with someone I can trust. I want it to be you.”
Profile Image for Amanda Reads.
665 reviews10 followers
March 27, 2025
Cliff and Jade

If your looking for a sweet and spicy novella, definitely read this one! Jade and Cliff start out as best friends but when Jade's future is uncertain, they come up with a plan to help her..its simple, they are going to start "dating" but its really fake dating.
As they continue with the plan, feelings of more than friendship start and they have to decide if they want to try and make it work for real. Cliff is a total sweetheart who would do anything for Jade. He sees a side of her no-one else does. Jade has been hurt by a former teammate before so she's not big on trusting others. Will she learn that maybe this team is for real and they want her to be a friend and not just a teammate? Will Cliff help her see that not all people are bad and its ok to let your guard down?
5⭐
3.5 🌶
Profile Image for Kaylila.
159 reviews6 followers
March 11, 2025
⭐️⭐️.5
🌶��🌶️🌶️
This is a quick easy novella to read. It follows a professional WNBA player named Jade who has a reputation for being cold hearted and so her manager, Cliff, suggests she fake date someone to improve her image. Jade suggests Cliff fake date her since they are already best friends and so nothing could possibly go wrong. Cliff has wanted Jade to be his ever since they first met and so he agrees. This novella was easy to read and I did enjoy it. It made me giggle and root for the characters for sure. I will say the reason I feel it doesn’t quite hit 3 stars for me is because it felt too rushed and I would have loved to see the tension build more in a longer style novel. Overall I had a good time and I would read another story by this author!
674 reviews2 followers
March 11, 2025
📚🌶

The Pump Fake was definitely a quick read for a novella, but it was so good in such a short amount of time! Nichole Ruschelle did an amazing job on keeping with professional women's basketball player plot!! This was novella #7 in the Sexy As Sin Series and was one of my favorites!

Jade is a professional WMBA player who has dreamed of this for so long. Now that she is playing for the Los Angeles Stars, life should be perfect. That is until the general manager tells me I need to be more approachable to her teammates and fans. Cliff, her best friend and agent, has this great idea to make up a fake relationship to make her more relatable. Jade chooses Cliff to be her fake boyfriend since he is the easiest to be around. Until the line between friends keeps blurring.
Profile Image for Dani.
83 reviews17 followers
March 28, 2025
ARC review – Thank you Happily Booked PR for this gifted copy of The Pump Fake by Nicole Ruschelle

Unfortunately, this book was a little too quick and lacking in tension for me. I was so excited when I saw the athlete in the book was actually the FMC, but it was such a small part of this book. I wanted to be able to root for her more and see her life as an athlete. Also, it seemed cliché in casting Jade as cold and aloof. Cliff, the MMC, is her agent and childhood friend, who is trying to help her fix her image so she doesn’t lose her job. He concocts a scheme to have her fake date someone to make her seem more approachable. Of course, Jade only wants to fake date Cliff.

The pacing of this book was very fast and felt rushed in quite a few parts. I think I prefer more of a slow burn, which can be hard to accomplish in a novella.

The storyline is supposed to be fake dating, but it seems like as soon as they were fake dating things escalated very quickly. I understand they were friends at first, but we really didn’t get to see any of that development. It went from friends to fake dating to spicy pretty quickly. There are quite a few spicy scenes for a novella.

If you are looking for a quick and spicy read this one is for you! I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a bit longer and built the tension up more. Overall, this was a decent read, and I think the right person will love it!

Tropes:
🏀 Best friends to lovers
🩷 Female Pro Basketball player
🏀 Fake Dating – kind of
🩷 Novella
🏀 Sports Romance
Profile Image for Lou Li Reads.
471 reviews11 followers
March 8, 2025
Love a fake dating trope, what better way to fake date, than to fake date your best friend! Best friends Cliff and Jade have know each other for years and friend-zoned each other right from the get go, despite both having crushes. Jade is a star WNBA player on court but off the court, she’s bristly, needing an image revamp, her manager suggests fake dating. Cliff is her manager but never expected Jade to ask him to be the fake date! Lines rapidly blur into some spicy hot scenes. A short and steamy read that has you pumped!

I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own
Profile Image for Lauren.
148 reviews3 followers
March 13, 2025
All Jade has wanted her entire life was to play basketball and reaching her goal of making it on a WNBA team is everything she hoped for. As a starter for the Los Angeles Stars, she feels like her impact on the record is enough. The team owners/management, however, feels like her personality is lacking.

Cliff, Jade’s manager and closest friend, is stumped on how to improve her image. So what does he land on? Fake dating. A fake relationship is sure to improve her public imagine when the paps catch her loved up.

Jade will agree on one condition: Cliff be a fake boyfriend.

Something I enjoy again and again with Nichole’s novellas is that I always want more (because I could read about Jade and Cliff in a full length novel if needed) but I never feel like I’m missing any information! There’s enough back story to know they have a friendship and who they are as individuals!

Thank you Happily Booked PR for the ARC!
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