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The Scent of a Romance
Fake dating was supposed to be simple… until real feelings got in the way.
Alexa Carter has two priorities: running her candle shop and avoiding romantic disasters, especially after her ex left her heart in pieces. So, when charming and infuriatingly handsome Caleb Sinclair proposes a fake relationship to keep their meddling families at bay, she figures, why not? It’s just a little harmless acting.
But Caleb isn’t just a good actor, he’s dangerously good at making Alexa feel things she swore she was done feeling. From over-the-top public displays of affection to a stolen moment that felt a little too real, she’s starting to wonder if she’s still playing pretend.
Caleb never imagined faking a romance could be this much fun. Alexa gets his humor, challenges him in all the right ways, and somehow, their fake dates have become the best part of his week. Caleb soon realizes he doesn’t just want to keep up the act—he wants the real thing. But a misunderstanding may threaten to unravel everything.
Can they turn pretend into something permanent, or will their charade fizzle out before it ever truly ignites?
Alexa Carter has two priorities: running her candle shop and avoiding romantic disasters, especially after her ex left her heart in pieces. So, when charming and infuriatingly handsome Caleb Sinclair proposes a fake relationship to keep their meddling families at bay, she figures, why not? It’s just a little harmless acting.
But Caleb isn’t just a good actor, he’s dangerously good at making Alexa feel things she swore she was done feeling. From over-the-top public displays of affection to a stolen moment that felt a little too real, she’s starting to wonder if she’s still playing pretend.
Caleb never imagined faking a romance could be this much fun. Alexa gets his humor, challenges him in all the right ways, and somehow, their fake dates have become the best part of his week. Caleb soon realizes he doesn’t just want to keep up the act—he wants the real thing. But a misunderstanding may threaten to unravel everything.
Can they turn pretend into something permanent, or will their charade fizzle out before it ever truly ignites?
86 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 18, 2025
8 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
T. Atkins
22 books43 followersT. Atkins' born in Charlotte, NC, began writing in the 3rd grade. Through her love of poetry and of all genres, ranging from horror, to drama, to romance, her passion for storytelling has led her to create her own stories. T. Atkins returned to school in October of 2016 and received a BA in Creative Writing and English in March of 2020. She has several works in progress, including poems, short stories, a memoir, and, of course, her duology Discontented Housewives series. T. Atkins still resides in her hometown of Charlotte, NC, with her boyfriend, two sons, and her 3-month-old Cavapoo, France. She now spends her time doing what she loves, giving voice to the characters of her supernatural and realistic fiction novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
May 14, 2025
4/5
The Scent of a Romance is a fast-paced, clean, closed-door romance novella. We meet Alexa and Caleb, who decide to fake date to avoid having their parents setting them up with the son and/or daughter of their friends. The chemistry between Alexa and Caleb was instant and the side characters are amazing. After finishing the story, I wished this was a full-length novel as I feel that more details could have been included in the story.
Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The Scent of a Romance is a fast-paced, clean, closed-door romance novella. We meet Alexa and Caleb, who decide to fake date to avoid having their parents setting them up with the son and/or daughter of their friends. The chemistry between Alexa and Caleb was instant and the side characters are amazing. After finishing the story, I wished this was a full-length novel as I feel that more details could have been included in the story.
Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
April 20, 2025
Review: The Scent of a Romance by T. Atkins
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
A short, sweet, and uplifting read! The Scent of a Romance delivers a heartwarming story of rediscovery and resilience. After being betrayed by her ex, the main character finds herself at a crossroads—and the journey that follows is both relatable and empowering.
The characters are instantly likeable, and the writing is light yet emotionally grounded, making it easy to fly through in one sitting. If you're in the mood for a feel-good romance with a strong touch of personal growth, this one’s for you.
A great pick for fans of quick reads with heart!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book — all thoughts in my review are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
A short, sweet, and uplifting read! The Scent of a Romance delivers a heartwarming story of rediscovery and resilience. After being betrayed by her ex, the main character finds herself at a crossroads—and the journey that follows is both relatable and empowering.
The characters are instantly likeable, and the writing is light yet emotionally grounded, making it easy to fly through in one sitting. If you're in the mood for a feel-good romance with a strong touch of personal growth, this one’s for you.
A great pick for fans of quick reads with heart!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book — all thoughts in my review are my own.
May 22, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It was a fun, quick read but I would have liked to see some additional character development. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 13, 2025
If you're a fan of rom-coms with witty banter, lovable characters, and a fake-dating trope that actually works, The Scent of a Romance is a delightful read worth picking up.
From the start, the main character, Alexa (yes, her name is Alexa—don't worry, the author knows what they're doing), pulls you in with her charm and humor. The story quickly turns into a rollercoaster of unexpected twists, hilarious misunderstandings, and heartwarming moments, all set in a cozy small-town atmosphere with a strong supporting cast.
Caleb, the love interest, is equal parts charming and grounded, and the chemistry between him and Alexa is undeniable. Their banter is a highlight of the book—funny, flirty, and full of tension that builds just right. And let’s not forget Alexa’s fierce work bestie, Megan, who brings ride-or-die energy in the best way.
While some drama arises (as it always does), the story never veers too far into angst, instead keeping things sincere and emotionally grounded. There’s even a satisfying level of family involvement, particularly from Alexa’s mom, who starts off skeptical but brings depth and heart to the story.
In short: this is the kind of rom-com that makes you laugh out loud, root hard for the couple, and maybe even tear up just a little. It's charming, it’s cozy, and it leaves you smiling.
From the start, the main character, Alexa (yes, her name is Alexa—don't worry, the author knows what they're doing), pulls you in with her charm and humor. The story quickly turns into a rollercoaster of unexpected twists, hilarious misunderstandings, and heartwarming moments, all set in a cozy small-town atmosphere with a strong supporting cast.
Caleb, the love interest, is equal parts charming and grounded, and the chemistry between him and Alexa is undeniable. Their banter is a highlight of the book—funny, flirty, and full of tension that builds just right. And let’s not forget Alexa’s fierce work bestie, Megan, who brings ride-or-die energy in the best way.
While some drama arises (as it always does), the story never veers too far into angst, instead keeping things sincere and emotionally grounded. There’s even a satisfying level of family involvement, particularly from Alexa’s mom, who starts off skeptical but brings depth and heart to the story.
In short: this is the kind of rom-com that makes you laugh out loud, root hard for the couple, and maybe even tear up just a little. It's charming, it’s cozy, and it leaves you smiling.
June 11, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley for my copy 🥰📕
What a great way to spend my afternoon with a good read and a cuppa 🥰📕
Alexa has a candle shop so already I’m weak at the knees as I’ve an obsession with candles and who’s doesn’t !?
Alexa has just come out of a relationship snd good riddance I say !
So much her main focus was on her business and avoiding men but she didn’t expect Caleb aka “ muffin man “ to come her way
Caleb was in the store with his sister Mandy to arrange candles for her upcoming wedding and she was intrigued but at the time didn’t know they were siblings 😉
So her ex chase comes into the store and I can’t tell you why because that’s a spoiler but hat I can tell you is that he high tailed it out of there 🤣and just then Caleb arrives with his first basket bag …..
What starts off as fake dating to get whining mothers off their backs very quickly becomes real and from the start they should’ve just admitted it was real I think 🤔 but I’m grateful to have played along because they made me laugh , they gave me good candles and a warm fuzzy feeling to end my day off 🥰
Caleb is a honey he even sweeps and learns the art of candle making to “ prove” his devotion so I’d say he’s a real catch 🥰 great catch Alexa !
What a great way to spend my afternoon with a good read and a cuppa 🥰📕
Alexa has a candle shop so already I’m weak at the knees as I’ve an obsession with candles and who’s doesn’t !?
Alexa has just come out of a relationship snd good riddance I say !
So much her main focus was on her business and avoiding men but she didn’t expect Caleb aka “ muffin man “ to come her way
Caleb was in the store with his sister Mandy to arrange candles for her upcoming wedding and she was intrigued but at the time didn’t know they were siblings 😉
So her ex chase comes into the store and I can’t tell you why because that’s a spoiler but hat I can tell you is that he high tailed it out of there 🤣and just then Caleb arrives with his first basket bag …..
What starts off as fake dating to get whining mothers off their backs very quickly becomes real and from the start they should’ve just admitted it was real I think 🤔 but I’m grateful to have played along because they made me laugh , they gave me good candles and a warm fuzzy feeling to end my day off 🥰
Caleb is a honey he even sweeps and learns the art of candle making to “ prove” his devotion so I’d say he’s a real catch 🥰 great catch Alexa !
March 20, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a cute romance about a lady who owns a candle shop. A couple walk into her store to order candles for a wedding and people get the wrong idea. I enjoyed the novella and it was funny in some parts. However the relationship between the two main characters always seemed to be unclear.
At 86 pages, it’s a quick light-hearted read.
This was a cute romance about a lady who owns a candle shop. A couple walk into her store to order candles for a wedding and people get the wrong idea. I enjoyed the novella and it was funny in some parts. However the relationship between the two main characters always seemed to be unclear.
At 86 pages, it’s a quick light-hearted read.
April 28, 2025
This was a cute quick read under 100 pages but it wasn’t lacking . I loved the story but I found it amusing the retribution she and her bestie bestowed upon her ex who had the audacity.the initial meet cute was a misunderstanding but then he comes back a few times being dubbed as the muffin man. They get pressured from families that they need to find some one and decide to fake date to appease the family
April 12, 2025
3⭐️ - I liked it
This feel good and fake dating novel started out so good! The candle store and the sweet characters felt like a warm bath which I couldn’t get enough of. The second part was really quick which resulted in a very short ending. I would have loved this novel even more if we had a longer ending and less miscommunication. Fun and feel-good short read!
This feel good and fake dating novel started out so good! The candle store and the sweet characters felt like a warm bath which I couldn’t get enough of. The second part was really quick which resulted in a very short ending. I would have loved this novel even more if we had a longer ending and less miscommunication. Fun and feel-good short read!
March 19, 2025
ARC Review:
I got this ARC for free and am willingly writing the review.
I loved how complete and satisfactory the book felt. It was such a warm, sweet and cozy love story. The pace was just right and engaging. Besides my adoration for Alexa and Caleb, Megan got my heart. Just loved how every character and every emotion was portrayed in a sweet and simple way. This 86 pages book has my heart 💞
I got this ARC for free and am willingly writing the review.
I loved how complete and satisfactory the book felt. It was such a warm, sweet and cozy love story. The pace was just right and engaging. Besides my adoration for Alexa and Caleb, Megan got my heart. Just loved how every character and every emotion was portrayed in a sweet and simple way. This 86 pages book has my heart 💞
April 20, 2025
The timing was just off with this book. I wish it had been longer to give the characters more time to breathe and develop.
The fake dating didn’t start until 50%, and then became more way too fast. It felt disjointed.
The copy was clean but perhaps if this hadn’t been 3rd person I would have connected more to it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The fake dating didn’t start until 50%, and then became more way too fast. It felt disjointed.
The copy was clean but perhaps if this hadn’t been 3rd person I would have connected more to it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 7, 2025
This was a quick and sweet read, with characters that I felt I had not yet encountered in other romance books - which at this point, is a feat in itself! The flirting is absolutely adorable, filled with witty banter and weighted words. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes (right after enemies to lovers - not sure what that says about me 😅), and I appreciate how satisfying this book was. If you're looking for something light-hearted to fill up a small window of time, or need a breather between heftier reads, this book is for you!
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an e-arc of this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an e-arc of this book!
May 5, 2025
Absolutely adored this little gem.
It’s a short, fast-paced story that gently pulls you in. A boy meets a girl, finds himself intrigued, and starts looking for reasons to be around her. She feels the same, though neither of them fully realizes it at first. With their parents nudging them toward marriage, they agree to fake date—just to buy some time.
But as they spend more time together, what starts as pretend slowly turns into something real.
This one’s a tender, feel-good read that’s sure to warm your heart. Perfect for when you need something sweet and comforting.
It’s a short, fast-paced story that gently pulls you in. A boy meets a girl, finds himself intrigued, and starts looking for reasons to be around her. She feels the same, though neither of them fully realizes it at first. With their parents nudging them toward marriage, they agree to fake date—just to buy some time.
But as they spend more time together, what starts as pretend slowly turns into something real.
This one’s a tender, feel-good read that’s sure to warm your heart. Perfect for when you need something sweet and comforting.
May 1, 2025
I knew before I started reading that this was a very short novella - which I don’t expect to have thorough character development or a deep plot, but I was still left a bit disappointed by this one.
I did like the meet-cute misunderstanding, where the MFC believed the siblings were the couple getting married. It provided some humour to this novella.
The ex boyfriend showing up to order candles for his upcoming wedding to the woman he cheated with, and being pelted with candles instead? Perfect. He deserved that.
The fake dating didn’t even begin until the 55% mark of the book - and I felt their relationship was quite unclear the entire time. There was also a scene after they almost kissed at the super-vague black tie corporate event where the main female, Alexa, was talking to her Mom about how she wanted to make things real and actually kiss Caleb - but the entire point of the fake dating was to get their parents (including Alexa’s Mom) off their backs - did I completely miss where they fessed up and admitted it was fake?
I’m sorry, but $4000 on custom candles to send as wedding invitations?! Is your entire 250 person guest list local? How are you mailing something like that? What is the point of something like that? Am I thinking about this too critically? The wedding industry baffles me (but I’m also someone who went against tradition and was married in a theme park known for a mouse, and ended my wedding day on an actual theme park ride in my wedding dress…)
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this novella. All thoughts are my own.
I do think I would have liked this more had the ideas and characters been fully developed and a few plot holes were filled in. The writing was decent (despite being third person, which is not my favourite)
I did like the meet-cute misunderstanding, where the MFC believed the siblings were the couple getting married. It provided some humour to this novella.
The ex boyfriend showing up to order candles for his upcoming wedding to the woman he cheated with, and being pelted with candles instead? Perfect. He deserved that.
The fake dating didn’t even begin until the 55% mark of the book - and I felt their relationship was quite unclear the entire time. There was also a scene after they almost kissed at the super-vague black tie corporate event where the main female, Alexa, was talking to her Mom about how she wanted to make things real and actually kiss Caleb - but the entire point of the fake dating was to get their parents (including Alexa’s Mom) off their backs - did I completely miss where they fessed up and admitted it was fake?
I’m sorry, but $4000 on custom candles to send as wedding invitations?! Is your entire 250 person guest list local? How are you mailing something like that? What is the point of something like that? Am I thinking about this too critically? The wedding industry baffles me (but I’m also someone who went against tradition and was married in a theme park known for a mouse, and ended my wedding day on an actual theme park ride in my wedding dress…)
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this novella. All thoughts are my own.
I do think I would have liked this more had the ideas and characters been fully developed and a few plot holes were filled in. The writing was decent (despite being third person, which is not my favourite)
May 7, 2025
Let me start off by saying.. this story certainly gave me the sudden urge to open my own candle shop. What a cool idea?!
The story opens up in a way that had me questioning what kind of book I’d picked up - was it going to be a “the other woman?” kind of story? I almost felt kinda silly when I realised what I was missing, it was extremely well written to mislead the reader. I’m not one to fall for things like this, but I sure did.
Megan was a fun and easy character to read about, and probably my favourite in the story. She is so very much so me in any situation ever; wanting to be useful but stumbling my way through everything clumsily.
I do appreciate this was a very short and punchy story, but I did walk away feeling like we were missing some key scenes to initially build up some tension between the two main characters, especially given that it was a fake dating story. It seemed like they escalated from fake dating to real dating without much of a pause in the story whatsoever.
Overall, the story was extremely relatable, both the main characters were similar in age to myself so I could easily empathise with the pressures their families were putting them under. When you reach a certain age, there’s suddenly all this pressure to hit milestones at the same rate as the people around you, whether it be settling down, your career or living situation, and this book showcased this perfectly.
The story opens up in a way that had me questioning what kind of book I’d picked up - was it going to be a “the other woman?” kind of story? I almost felt kinda silly when I realised what I was missing, it was extremely well written to mislead the reader. I’m not one to fall for things like this, but I sure did.
Megan was a fun and easy character to read about, and probably my favourite in the story. She is so very much so me in any situation ever; wanting to be useful but stumbling my way through everything clumsily.
I do appreciate this was a very short and punchy story, but I did walk away feeling like we were missing some key scenes to initially build up some tension between the two main characters, especially given that it was a fake dating story. It seemed like they escalated from fake dating to real dating without much of a pause in the story whatsoever.
Overall, the story was extremely relatable, both the main characters were similar in age to myself so I could easily empathise with the pressures their families were putting them under. When you reach a certain age, there’s suddenly all this pressure to hit milestones at the same rate as the people around you, whether it be settling down, your career or living situation, and this book showcased this perfectly.
March 28, 2025
The Scent of Romance
This is a cute, quick, sweet romance.
The author did an excellent job creating a lovely setting inside of a contemporary candle shop. The reader instantly gets the impression that Alexa, the owner of the shop and the FMC, is going to eventually make the shop a fantastic success. The author did a marvelous job of writing Alexa in a manner that makes her likeable, smart, and deserving of love.
The MMC is Caleb. Like Alexa he is confident, enjoyable, and has a bit of the beta hero going for him.
The two have an instant attraction and all the makings of a swoon worthy romance.
The problem is that while this book has the bones of an excellent romance novel, the storytelling is a bit off. While the two main characters are an adorable couple, they hardly spend any time in one another’s company. The reader is halfway through the plot before the pair devises a plan to fake date to appease their parents, and even once that happens, they don’t spend much time together.
Personally, I think this book shows that the author has a great deal of potential but maybe would be better off writing longer form romance novels which would allow them to introduce the MCs’ backstory and current troubles more while slowly building the romance.
I do love the concept of A Scent of Romance and appreciate that it’s a very clean, sweet romantic novella.
This is a cute, quick, sweet romance.
The author did an excellent job creating a lovely setting inside of a contemporary candle shop. The reader instantly gets the impression that Alexa, the owner of the shop and the FMC, is going to eventually make the shop a fantastic success. The author did a marvelous job of writing Alexa in a manner that makes her likeable, smart, and deserving of love.
The MMC is Caleb. Like Alexa he is confident, enjoyable, and has a bit of the beta hero going for him.
The two have an instant attraction and all the makings of a swoon worthy romance.
The problem is that while this book has the bones of an excellent romance novel, the storytelling is a bit off. While the two main characters are an adorable couple, they hardly spend any time in one another’s company. The reader is halfway through the plot before the pair devises a plan to fake date to appease their parents, and even once that happens, they don’t spend much time together.
Personally, I think this book shows that the author has a great deal of potential but maybe would be better off writing longer form romance novels which would allow them to introduce the MCs’ backstory and current troubles more while slowly building the romance.
I do love the concept of A Scent of Romance and appreciate that it’s a very clean, sweet romantic novella.
March 26, 2025
🕯️ 2.5 ☆ — ARC Review
Thank you NetGalley for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a cute and quick, easy to read romance novella as it sits at under 100 pages. The story per se was nice and interesting to read about, although the book did feel messy at times to the point I couldn't understand who's who or what was happening anymore.
The book follows Alexa, a Candle shop owner, and Caleb, who she meets at her candle shop. Caleb proposes a fake relationship to Alexa so they can both get their parents off their backs about relationships/marriage. Their bickering was cute and the chemistry was definitely there, but the story felt rushed and I didn't feel connected to the characters, I would have also preferred a smoother transition into their fake dating. If the book were a little bit longer I'd definitely rate it above 2.5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a cute and quick, easy to read romance novella as it sits at under 100 pages. The story per se was nice and interesting to read about, although the book did feel messy at times to the point I couldn't understand who's who or what was happening anymore.
The book follows Alexa, a Candle shop owner, and Caleb, who she meets at her candle shop. Caleb proposes a fake relationship to Alexa so they can both get their parents off their backs about relationships/marriage. Their bickering was cute and the chemistry was definitely there, but the story felt rushed and I didn't feel connected to the characters, I would have also preferred a smoother transition into their fake dating. If the book were a little bit longer I'd definitely rate it above 2.5 stars!
March 31, 2025
The Scent of a Romance delivers an adorable fake dating setup with plenty of charm. The story follows a candle shop maker and a businessman who agree to pretend to be a couple to keep their meddling parents at bay. It’s a fun premise with plenty of potential, and while the concept itself was enjoyable, the execution left me wanting more.
One of the highlights of the book was Caleb’s humor—his attempts at making jokes added a lighthearted touch and made the story more memorable. However, the chemistry between the main characters felt a bit off, and the romance seemed rushed, making it difficult to fully invest in their relationship. With a little more development, their connection could have been much more engaging.
Overall, The Scent of a Romance is a quick and sweet read, perfect for those who enjoy a lighthearted novella with a fun setup. While the romance didn’t fully deliver for me, Caleb’s humor and the charming premise made it an entertaining escape.
One of the highlights of the book was Caleb’s humor—his attempts at making jokes added a lighthearted touch and made the story more memorable. However, the chemistry between the main characters felt a bit off, and the romance seemed rushed, making it difficult to fully invest in their relationship. With a little more development, their connection could have been much more engaging.
Overall, The Scent of a Romance is a quick and sweet read, perfect for those who enjoy a lighthearted novella with a fun setup. While the romance didn’t fully deliver for me, Caleb’s humor and the charming premise made it an entertaining escape.
June 29, 2025
This was a quick and cute romance novella. If you’re looking for a quick read, this is under 100 pages. The idea of this book was promising, however, I found myself confused throughout the book. I had a hard time trying to decipher who was who, or what was happening. I found it skipped so much, and I know it’s a short story, but soooo much details were left out. And it skipped from weeks to week, to a year later. I just wish it was longer to give the characters more time to develop. I love myself a good fake dating trope, but I thought this jumped into it waaay too fast and there wasn’t really a transition at all. It felt as thought in one chapter they were just meeting and the next already fake dating. The story was just so rushed, and I didn’t feel connected to the characters. It was also written in 3rd person, and maybe that is why I didn’t enjoy it as much. If you’re looking to hit your reading goal, it is a good quick read. Thank you so much for the ARC T.Atkins!
August 4, 2025
Sweet, swoony, and full of heart, this is an enjoyable fake-dating romance. Alexa Carter, with her candle shop charm and guarded heart, makes a perfect match for Caleb Sinclair, the infuriatingly irresistible guy who suggests a fake relationship that quickly spirals into very real emotions.
Their chemistry crackles from the start, and the story delivers on all the rom-com beats—forced proximity, flirty banter, and just enough angst to keep you flipping pages. Alexa’s vulnerability and Caleb’s unexpected tenderness make their journey from pretend to possibly-permanent feel genuine and well-earned.
This book is like a warm hug with a hint of spice. If you enjoy fake dating, small business settings, meddling families, and characters who fall hard, then you are sure to enjoy this delightful read!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Their chemistry crackles from the start, and the story delivers on all the rom-com beats—forced proximity, flirty banter, and just enough angst to keep you flipping pages. Alexa’s vulnerability and Caleb’s unexpected tenderness make their journey from pretend to possibly-permanent feel genuine and well-earned.
This book is like a warm hug with a hint of spice. If you enjoy fake dating, small business settings, meddling families, and characters who fall hard, then you are sure to enjoy this delightful read!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
March 31, 2025
The Scent of a Romance by T. Atkins is a charming, feel-good novella that completely won me over! Alexa, a small business owner, and Callum, a man who's never thought about love in a serious way, meet in the most adorable way—at Alexa's candle shop while Callum is helping his sister prepare for her wedding.
What follows is a sweet, emotional journey with a few surprises: an ex stirring up drama, Callum’s well-meaning but overbearing mother trying to set him up, and two people learning to take a chance on love. The romance is heartfelt, the writing is engaging, and the chemistry between Alexa and Callum is just perfect.
If you love stories that make you smile, swoon, and believe in love, The Scent of a Romance is a must-read!
What follows is a sweet, emotional journey with a few surprises: an ex stirring up drama, Callum’s well-meaning but overbearing mother trying to set him up, and two people learning to take a chance on love. The romance is heartfelt, the writing is engaging, and the chemistry between Alexa and Callum is just perfect.
If you love stories that make you smile, swoon, and believe in love, The Scent of a Romance is a must-read!
April 19, 2025
This was a short and pretty cute story.
Caleb and Alexa’s story was filled with playful banter, humor and heart.
It was a quick read, and the fake dating aspect of the story was good.
In a short amount of time our main characters go from strangers, to ‘friends’, to two people in a fake relationship.
I enjoyed reading this book, but would have loved to see something more.
There were some holes in the story — for example the reason behind the fake dating. It’s explained that our main characters want to fake date to get both their parents off their backs. But towards the end, it’s shown that Alexa’s mom knows they’re fake dating.
All in all, I think this was a pretty solid book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Caleb and Alexa’s story was filled with playful banter, humor and heart.
It was a quick read, and the fake dating aspect of the story was good.
In a short amount of time our main characters go from strangers, to ‘friends’, to two people in a fake relationship.
I enjoyed reading this book, but would have loved to see something more.
There were some holes in the story — for example the reason behind the fake dating. It’s explained that our main characters want to fake date to get both their parents off their backs. But towards the end, it’s shown that Alexa’s mom knows they’re fake dating.
All in all, I think this was a pretty solid book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 25, 2025
A cute quick fake dating romance complete with the drama of ex’s and family… and let’s not forget the muffins.
This was quick and easy to read novella, bit rough around the edges but could definitely have been bulked to a full blown in depth storyline, a bit more backstory on the characters, a smother progression between the fake dates and a bit more about the developing chemistry timeline and it would have been perfection!
But saying all that… I loved it!
It was effective and believable for the shortness of the novella, the banter was there and I liked the characters!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
This was quick and easy to read novella, bit rough around the edges but could definitely have been bulked to a full blown in depth storyline, a bit more backstory on the characters, a smother progression between the fake dates and a bit more about the developing chemistry timeline and it would have been perfection!
But saying all that… I loved it!
It was effective and believable for the shortness of the novella, the banter was there and I liked the characters!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
April 8, 2025
I like these characters. This novella was very readable. The story was cute. The problem was the length and depth of the plot. This has a lot of potential, but because it is a novella covering a span of time there are a lot of gaps and the story flow is hard to get into. Things don't even really "start" until you're 50% through it. I think if the last half had the depth the first half did, then it could really be good quick read. As it is, it's very jumpy and a little off putting.
So- the book has potential, just doesn't live up to it. I received this as an ARC but my opinions are my unbiased.
So- the book has potential, just doesn't live up to it. I received this as an ARC but my opinions are my unbiased.
March 27, 2025
3.5⭐️
Alexa, una joven de 29 años dueña de una tienda de velas, está tratando de superar una ruptura dolorosa con su ex, quien la engañó y la hizo quedar mal ante sus amigos. Sin embargo, su vida da un giro cuando Caleb, un hombre decidido a evitar el amor, le propone fingir una relación para calmar a sus insistentes familias. La relación, aunque ficticia, empieza a convertirse en algo más profundo, pero un malentendido podría destruirlo todo.
Una lástima que sea más corto.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Alexa, una joven de 29 años dueña de una tienda de velas, está tratando de superar una ruptura dolorosa con su ex, quien la engañó y la hizo quedar mal ante sus amigos. Sin embargo, su vida da un giro cuando Caleb, un hombre decidido a evitar el amor, le propone fingir una relación para calmar a sus insistentes familias. La relación, aunque ficticia, empieza a convertirse en algo más profundo, pero un malentendido podría destruirlo todo.
Una lástima que sea más corto.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2025
I loved that this started out making me think she was going to fall in love with the groom! Overall, a very cute romance. This was a novella, but I think it would have been better as a novel. The author created two characters that were very like-able, but they hardly interacted. It was mentioned that they hung out and talked, but we never got to experience it.
There were also some parts that didn’t make sense. If they were fake dating then why did she confess to her mom she wanted him to kiss her? That didn’t make sense.
Overall, charming story, like-able characters, and adorable setting.
There were also some parts that didn’t make sense. If they were fake dating then why did she confess to her mom she wanted him to kiss her? That didn’t make sense.
Overall, charming story, like-able characters, and adorable setting.
March 30, 2025
I received an ARC of this novella and am willingly providing a review.
This is a very cute, cozy romance that follows Caleb and Alexis, who meet in Alexis's candle shop. This story is very cute and involves a particular trope that I'm not a huge fan of and seems a bit unnecessary as it does not begin until halfway through the story. Overall, this story is a light-hearted read that can be finished in one sitting, but I believe the story would have been improved if told as a full-length novel.
This is a very cute, cozy romance that follows Caleb and Alexis, who meet in Alexis's candle shop. This story is very cute and involves a particular trope that I'm not a huge fan of and seems a bit unnecessary as it does not begin until halfway through the story. Overall, this story is a light-hearted read that can be finished in one sitting, but I believe the story would have been improved if told as a full-length novel.
April 2, 2025
There was certainly points of this book that I was giggling and kicking my feet. At 86 pages long, It is a novella so it isn't a long book. It could be a good entry point for this type of genre.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It isn't typically the genre I usually read, but it was a lovely story. The characters are nice and loveable, The story is well written. The main characters have a subtle emotional progression. Overall I liked this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It isn't typically the genre I usually read, but it was a lovely story. The characters are nice and loveable, The story is well written. The main characters have a subtle emotional progression. Overall I liked this book.
April 6, 2025
This story was SO cute! I was instantly transported into the world of Alexis, Caleb, and the candle shop, and honestly, I didn't want to leave. The writing is quick and witty, and I found myself smiling several times during my reading. The author is naturally funny, and that is a gift. Now, is this a romantic, light-hearted Hallmark-like novella? YES, and you know what, I want more. The character development was great, and each player had a unique personality (Megan! Lol!) The only negative thing I have to say is that I wish it was longer! T.Atkins- full novel coming when???
April 12, 2025
The Scent of a Romance is a sweet, no spice novella. It is funny and charming, with a witty fake dating trope that turns into the real deal. Both MC’s are approachable and kind and are really good people. I love the minor characters and would have loved to have learned more about them. They were funny and adorable. Protective yet also supportive and the FMC’s biggest cheerleaders. Would love to see books following their stories.
I received an ARC of #thescentofaromance from #netgalley in lieu of my honest review of the book.
I received an ARC of #thescentofaromance from #netgalley in lieu of my honest review of the book.
June 5, 2025
This was a very cute novella! Loved the short chapters, really enjoyed the premise but felt like things progressed maybe a little too quickly - which I understand being a novella, things won't stretch out like in a novel, but it still felt a bit rushed in terms of development of the characters' feelings. I would still recommend this as a fun, light read. Especially with summer around the corner, it's a perfect quick read in between longer books or as a 'palate cleanser' after maybe a not great read.
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